TCL is throwing down the gauntlet in the increasingly competitive battleground for mid-range TVs with its new T7 Series. These are Google TVs with QLED displays and advanced gaming features, and they’re astonishingly affordable, with the largest 85-inch version priced at just $1,399 (around ₤1,063).
Admittedly, that’s still over a grand, but a quick look at the specifications of the T7 Series shows why we consider the pricing to be impressive – in addition to the QLED display that enhances colour accuracy, most of the models boast a refresh rate of 144Hz with VRR and Auto Low-Latency support, with only the smallest 55-inch option dropping to a 120Hz refresh rate, which is still good enough for most gamers.
This means they’re an extremely cost-effective option for dedicated console gamers, and there’s more to say about them too. They feature TCL’s AIPQ Pro AI processor, which helps to optimise picture performance, and they also support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, as well as Dolby Atmos sound.
There are four HDMI ports, with one of them supporting enhanced Audio Return Channel or eARC, and the Google TV operating system adds in Chromecast and Air Play 2 for smartphone mirroring. Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant (likely to be replaced by Gemini soon) and Apple HomeKit are also onboard. We don’t know the full specifications just yet – for instance, nothing was said about how bright these TVs are, but given the QLED displays, we’d imagine that they should more than suffice in that department.
TCL said the 55-inch model will cost $599, with the 65-inch model priced at $699 and the 75-inch variant coming in at $899, providing a nice range of low-cost options.
The TCL T7 Series looks like a great bet for the millions of consumers who lack the cash to splurge on a higher-end TV such as Samsung’s and LG’s OLED models, and it will likely provide a noticeable leap in performance for anyone upgrading from an older 60Hz LCD television. They’ll see substantially brighter HDR movies that pop out more, and benefit from more stable video streams and smoother gaming.
Given the shape of the economy, the reality is that not everyone can afford to buy a high-end TV, and that’s why the mid-range segment of the market is becoming increasingly competitive, with advanced features trickling down to such models at an accelerating rate. It was only a few years ago that you’d have to pay several thousand dollars to get your hands on a “gaming TV”, but these capabilities are rapidly becoming more standardised thanks to brands like TCL.
With its rapid refresh rates, QLED panels and premium HDR support, the T7 Series raises the bar by enabling performance that was once limited to much more expensive Mini-LED models. TCL has not yet announced an equivalent model for the U.K., but it usually ends up doing so, which means it may not be long before we see similary competitive, low-cost options over here, too.
