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TCL C7K evaluation: Two minute evaluation
The TCL C7K has a powerful checklist of options and delivers strong efficiency. It’ll have a troublesome battle out there towards the best TVs, but it surely’s nonetheless nice worth for cash.
With its dynamic and vibrant colours, surprisingly wealthy black ranges and distinction, practical textures and minimal blooming, the C7K’s total image outperforms its price ticket. The C7K’s movement settings will profit from tweaking, however as soon as that’s adjusted, it is good for sports activities as nicely. Sadly, the C7K is held again from being really nice because of display screen uniformity points, however these are largely noticeable with black and white motion pictures.
The C7K’s audio efficiency is respectable, with clear dialogue, punchy total sound and good reference to the onscreen motion. Its bass and soundstage are a blended bag, nevertheless, missing the affect and immersion you’d count on from a 6.2.2-channel system. Cinema followers will need to spend money on one of many best soundbars for the C7K.
The C7K performs it secure with a practical design that’s light-weight but sturdy, and an adjustable pedestal stand that may make house for a soundbar. Its Google TV good TV platform is responsive and has loads of settings, though the massive banner advert on the homescreen is an eyesore.
Avid gamers will likely be happy with the C7K’s efficiency, and its gaming options are up there with the best gaming TVs, particularly within the mid-range class. Gaming feels snappy, clean and responsive, particularly for an inexpensive TV.
With reductions already taking place throughout its many sizes solely weeks after launch, the C7K is a wonderful worth for a TV with this stage of efficiency and options. It actually does put itself in competition with the best mini-LED TVs.
TCL C7K evaluation: Costs & launch date
- Launch date: Could 2025
- 50-inch: £799
- 55-inch: £999
- 65-inch: £1,399
- 75-inch: £1,799
- 85-inch: £2,199
- 98-inch: £4,299
- 115-inch: TBC
The C7K is the mid-range mannequin in TCL’s 2025 C-series mini-LED TV lineup. It sits above the TCL C6K and under the flagship TCL C8K. There are additionally TCL C9K and X11K flagship fashions, however the firm at the moment has no plans to carry these to the UK from Europe.
Since its launch in Could 2025, C7K costs have already dropped for many sizes. The 65-inch mannequin I examined is now obtainable for £1,099 and the 75-inch mannequin is right down to £1,349. These will doubtless be the traditional costs going ahead. There may be at the moment no value for the 115-inch mannequin.
TCL C7K evaluation: Specs
|
Display sort |
Mini-LED |
|
Refresh charge |
144Hz |
|
HDR assist |
Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
|
Audio assist |
Dolby Atmos, DTS:X |
|
Good TV |
Google TV |
|
HDMI ports |
4 (2x HDMI 2.1) |
TCL C7K evaluation: Benchmark outcomes
TCL C7K evaluation: Options
- Dolby Imaginative and prescient & HDR10+ HDR assist
- CrystGlow HVA panel
- 4K 144Hz, VRR and Dolby Imaginative and prescient for gaming
The TCL C7K makes use of a mini-LED backlight with various numbers of native dimming zones relying on measurement (the 65-inch I examined has 1,008 native dimming zones). It additionally has a brand new CrystGlow HVA panel that is designed to enhance viewing angles and decrease display screen reflections. The C7K additionally introduces ‘Halo Management’ know-how, which goals to cut back backlight blooming.
There may be full HDR assist on supply, together with each Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+ codecs. There may be additionally assist for IMAX Enhanced and, for the primary time in TCL TVs, a Filmmaker Mode image mode.
For audio, the C7K has a Bang & Olufsen built-in 6.2.2-channel speaker array with 60W whole energy. There may be assist for Dolby Atmos & DTS:X soundtracks, quite a lot of preset sound modes and an equaliser the place bass and treble might be adjusted.
The C7K has a considerable checklist of gaming options together with 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Professional), ALLM and Dolby Imaginative and prescient gaming. There may be additionally a Sport Grasp mode with Sport Board for adjustable settings comparable to Intention Help. As normal with TCL TVs, it solely has two HDMI 2.1 ports.
For its good TV platform, the C7K makes use of Google TV, which has entry to the standard streaming apps like Netflix, plus UK-specific apps comparable to BBC iPlayer and ITVX. There are a number of settings for image and sound adjustment, an Ambient Mode for when the TV is in standby, and assist for a number of person profiles for better customisation of apps and suggestions.
TCL C7K evaluation: Image high quality
- Vibrant colour
- Excessive brightness for a mid-range TV
- Display uniformity may very well be higher
The C7K hit spectacular brightness ranges for a mid-range mini-LED TV in my measurements. In Filmmaker Mode, it yielded 1,790 nits peak brightness (measured on a ten% white HDR window sample) and 578 nits fullscreen brightness (measured on a 100% white HDR window sample). And in Commonplace image mode, it hit 2,784 nits peak brightness and 678 nits fullscreen brightness on the identical HDR window patterns.
This places the C7K in the same area to the Samsung QN90D, the model’s flagship 2024 mini-LED TV, which hit 2,192 nits peak brightness and 735 nits fullscreen brightness in Filmmaker Mode once I measured it.
Measuring the C7K’s HDR colour gamut, it hit 97.1% of the UHDA-P3 color house and 78.4% of the BT.2020 color house in Filmmaker Mode. These are glorious outcomes for a TV of this value vary.
The C7K does a strong job upscaling lower-resolution sources, with an HD stream of Combat Membership displaying improved textures. For 480p and under sources, the C7K nonetheless does an honest sufficient job, although textures are unsurprisingly fuzzy.
For my testing, I typically used Filmmaker Mode, however those that need a brighter image might use Film Mode. I discovered setting gamma to 2.4 improved distinction, though the default 2.2 appeared good as nicely. Luminance ranges might be adjusted within the setup menu, and I discovered Excessive-light to be probably the most constant setting, although Commonplace additionally labored nicely.
Color is without doubt one of the C7K’s strengths. A 4K Blu-ray of Depraved in Dolby Imaginative and prescient Darkish mode revealed spectacularly brilliant and vivid colours within the pink flowers, blue particulars and Elphaba’s inexperienced pores and skin within the Wizard & I scene. The identical held for a 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient stream of Elemental, with Ember’s glass-making showcasing shimmering, vibrant, and deep oranges and reds.
I used to be additionally impressed with the C7K’s black ranges and distinction. In each Alien: Romulus and The Batman, photographs with lamplight slicing via darkish hallways not solely showcased the C7K’s distinction chops, but additionally the advantages of its new ‘Halo Management’ function, which drastically diminished backlight blooming in comparison with what I’ve seen on different mid-range mini-LED TVs such because the Hisense U7N.
Textures and particulars all through my viewing had been lifelike and pure. The C7K’s sturdy distinction additionally added depth to textures, making a 3D-like impact.
It wasn’t all clean crusing for the C7K throughout my viewing, nevertheless. Watching the black and white scenes in Oppenheimer revealed display screen uniformity points, with brown tones seen alongside the perimeters of the black, widescreen bars – one thing I didn’t discover in colour motion pictures.
Though viewing angles are fairly good for a mid-range mini-LED, the C7K’s image nonetheless loses distinction and colour saturation when seen from off-centre seats – one thing to notice in case you plan to observe with large teams.
I additionally discovered every so often that areas with dense textures, comparable to a bunch of leaves on a tree, would generally lose readability and look ‘muddied’ though this occurred very hardly ever.
For movement, I discovered that sports activities had been finest seen in Sports activities or Commonplace mode (Sports activities had considerably brighter colours). Watching a stream of a soccer match, both utilizing the default Medium movement readability setting or setting judder discount to the center level, and blur discount to 2 or 3, resulted in a clearer image.
The identical was true for motion pictures. A panning shot of a rocky panorama in No Time to Die revealed excessive ranges of judder and strongly benefited from some movement interpolation. However when utilizing the above settings, the identical scene appeared clean with out being overprocessed.
- Image high quality rating: 4/5
TCL C7K evaluation: Sound high quality
- Good placement and positioning
- Blended bass efficiency
- Slender soundstage
The C7K’s Bang & Olufsen 6.2.2 channel, 60W sound system is a major improve over the two.1 Onkyo system discovered within the step-down TCL C6K. The C7K options the standard slew of preset sound modes, and I discovered myself sticking with the Film mode all through.
Through the Batmobile/Penguin chase scene in The Batman, the C7K’s audio system delivered a convincing reference to the onscreen motion, with screeching tyres and crunching crashes all realistically positioned. In Depraved, vocals all through had been delivered with actual readability and there was a great steadiness between the rating and the background results.
I skilled blended outcomes with bass. The Batmobile’s engine felt impactful in The Batman, however I didn’t hear the identical rumble I’m used to getting with the best TVs for sound. The C7K’s soundstage might additionally really feel slender and contained to the confines of the TV itself. For instance, Depraved’s rousing soundtrack by no means felt totally fleshed out, and the Dolby Atmos results weren’t very audible.
Whereas most customers will likely be happy with the C7K’s total sound high quality for day-to-day viewing, these wanting a cinematic expertise will need to spend money on a soundbar.
TCL C7K evaluation: Design
- Light-weight however sturdy construct
- Purposeful, sensible design
- Pedestal stand
The C7K’s design isn’t going to show heads, however it’s practical and does the job. The TV itself is surprisingly light-weight, but it surely feels strong when connected to its pedestal stand.
The stand itself is product of a darkish plastic and feels a little bit on a budget aspect. It’s a little bit fiddly to place collectively, however it may be adjusted for peak to compensate for a soundbar.
The included distant is longer and now has a black, metallic end (versus the silver within the TCL C855), which provides it a extra ‘premium’ look. It’s nonetheless mild and feels a little bit flimsy, however it’s not totally different from the remotes that include TVs in the identical value vary.
TCL C7K evaluation: Good TV & menus
- Google TV
- Giant banner advertisements on the homescreen
- A superb variety of image settings
Google TV supplies entry to a lot of apps, together with Netflix and Disney Plus in addition to UK-based apps comparable to BBC iPlayer and ITVX, and it feels responsive and clean throughout navigation on the C7K. A Google login (which is required to entry the complete vary of apps) supplies custom-made content material suggestions on the homescreen.
One factor that’s robust to disregard is Google TV’s giant banner advertisements on the high of the homescreen, which take up giant quantities of house, pushing suggestions and apps additional down the display screen.
Menus are straightforward to navigate and there are many image settings to tweak, together with white steadiness changes for image calibration in addition to brightness, color, readability and movement. There are additionally sound changes, together with an equaliser.
- Good TV & menus rating: 4/5
TCL C7K evaluation: Gaming
- 4K 144Hz, FreeSync Premium Professional and Dolby Imaginative and prescient gaming
- 13.5ms enter lag time
- Solely two HDMI 2.1 ports
The C7K’s gaming options embody 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Professional), Dolby Imaginative and prescient gaming and ALLM, in addition to a Sport Board for settings changes. It is a stacked checklist for a TV of this value vary.
Gaming efficiency is excellent on the C7K. Taking part in Battlefield V on Xbox Sequence X, battle sequences had been nicely dealt with and focusing on and fight felt responsive and reactive to my enter. The C7K measured a 13.5ms enter lag time, a good end result that’s underneath the 15ms threshold most players search for.
The C7K solely has two HDMI 2.1 ports, whereas TVs from manufacturers aside from LG and Samsung TVs are beginning to atone for that entrance. The brand new Hisense U8QG has three HDMI 2.1 ports, for instance.
TCL C7K evaluation: Worth
- Wonderful options for the cash
- Pretty priced for the efficiency
- Higher mini-LED TVs will value extra
The C7K is fairly priced contemplating its inventory of options and total image efficiency. The 65-inch mannequin I examined is now extensively obtainable for £1,099, and its closest specced competitor, the Samsung QN80F, prices £1,699. We have not examined that TV but, but it surely’ll have a mountain to climb to justify the £600 value hole.
In case you’re searching for a extra funds choice, the C6K is TCL’s entry-level mini-LED, with its 65-inch costing £799, although you’re sacrificing options, audio and native dimming zones.
The Step-up C8K will value you £1,599 (although that is more likely to drop). Right here, you’re getting improved efficiency and extra options and native dimming zones, however you’re paying fairly a bit extra for it. The C7K does show itself to be the candy spot within the C-series vary.
Do you have to purchase the TCL C7K?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Score |
|
Options |
Full HDR assist, loads of gaming options and an improved show panel |
4.5/5 |
|
Image high quality |
Vivid and vibrant with wealthy distinction, however there are points with display screen uniformity in black and white motion pictures |
4/5 |
|
Sound high quality |
Clear speech and correct placement, however a blended bass response and slender soundstage |
3.5/5 |
|
Design |
Sensible and secure design with improved distant management from final 12 months’s fashions |
4/5 |
|
Good TV & menus |
Google TV has good settings and loads of apps, however is hampered by banner advertisements |
4/5 |
|
Gaming |
Sturdy checklist of gaming options and good efficiency. Solely two HDMI 2.1 ports |
4.5/5 |
|
Worth |
Nicely priced for the efficiency and options it presents |
4.5/5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally think about
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
TCL C7K (2025) |
TCL C855 (2024) |
Hisense U7N (2024) |
Samsung QN90D (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Value (65-inch) |
£1,399 |
£1,299 |
£1,599 |
£2,699 |
|
Display sort |
Mini-LED |
Mini-LED |
Mini-LED |
Mini-LED |
|
Refresh charge |
As much as 144Hz |
As much as 144Hz |
As much as 144Hz |
144Hz |
|
HDR assist |
Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG |
Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ/HDR10+/HDR10HLG |
Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG |
HDR10+/HDR10/HLG |
|
Good TV |
Google TV |
Google TV |
VIDAA (UK) Google TV (US) |
Tizen |
|
HDMI ports |
4 (2x HDMI 2.1) |
4 (2x HDMI 2.1) |
4 (2x HDMI 2.1) |
4 x HDMI 2.1 |
How I examined the TCL C7K
- Subjective viewing exams made utilizing HDR and SDR sources
- Examined in TechRadar’s testing room for over every week
- Measurements made utilizing Portrait Shows’ Calman colour calibration software program
I spent the primary portion of my testing by doing a little informal viewing to determine the C7K’s most correct image modes, touchdown on Filmmaker Mode for SDR and HDR sources and Dolby Imaginative and prescient Darkish for Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material. Film and Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ had been additionally good options.
I carried out my subjective viewing exams utilizing each SDR (HD and low-resolution) and HDR (4K Blu-ray and streaming) to analyse the C7K’s image high quality, specializing in color, black ranges and distinction, element, movement dealing with and upscaling.
I used these similar reference discs to analyse the C7K’s built-in sound high quality as nicely.
For goal measurements, I used a check sample generator and colorimeter and recorded the measurements with Portrait Displays’ Calman colour calibration software.
I analysed the C7K’s brightness utilizing SDR and HDR white window patterns from 1-100% in measurement, specializing in 10% (peak brightness) and 100% (fullscreen brightness) specifically.
I additionally analysed the C7K’s SDR grayscale and color accuracy, averaging out the Delta-E values (the margin for error between the check sample and what’s proven on display screen) for each.
I measured HDR color gamut protection for the UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color areas, which reveals how nicely a TV can show the prolonged color vary in HDR sources.
Lastly, I analysed the C7K’s enter lag time utilizing a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Enter lag Tester.
For a full run-down of how we test TVs here at TechRadar, take a look at the hyperlink.
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