TCL unveils SQD-Mini LED TV flagship capable of 10,000 nits

TCL aims to play a more prominent role in the Mini LED TV market in 2026, with a new generation of screens built around its SQD-Mini LED technology.

The announcement, made at CES 2026 positions Super Quantum Crystals (Super QLED) rather than RGB Mini LED as its premium commercial proposition. The company cites a continued focus on improving colour accuracy, contrast control and viewing consistency, areas of increasing importance for both premium residential installations and design-led living spaces.

SQD-Mini LED underpins TCL’s eighth-generation Mini LED displays and represents the company’s most advanced implementation of the tech to date. At its core is a revised panel structure that refines how light is filtered at the colour level, reducing colour crosstalk and helping maintain stable, accurate colour reproduction, even in complex scenes with high brightness and saturation.

The system integrates TCL’s Deep Color System, combining Super QLED, an UltraColor Filter and advanced colour algorithms to extend the usable colour spectrum while preserving contrast. Working alongside this is the TCL Halo Control System, designed to minimise blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds. The promise is a cleaner, more controlled image that remains consistent in both darkened cinema rooms and brighter everyday environments.

Compared with previous generations, TCL says the new SQD-Mini LED panels deliver up to a 33 per cent increase in colour gamut performance and a 69 per cent improvement in colour dot accuracy.

All SQD-Mini LED models are built into cabinets measuring less than 20mm in depth.

Google Gemini Interactive AI is also integrated across the range, enabling voice control and personalised content interaction.

Topping the brand's SQD-Mini LED line sits the X11L. Aimed squarely at high-end home cinema and premium installations, the X11L Super QLED series will ship in 78-, 85- and and 98-inch screen sizes, and combine dense local dimming with high peak brightness and wide colour support.

We're told the X11L employs up to 20,000 precise dimming zones and is rated for peak brightness levels of up to 10,000 nits. This high zone density allows more granular light control, helping the display retain contrast and structure in demanding scenes where bright and dark elements appear side by side. There’s also support for up to 100 per cent of BT.2020.

VTCL’s WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel is designed to maintain brightness and colour accuracy across wider seating positions, while its TSR AI Processor and 144Hz Refresh Rate ensure that picture quality is optimised and motion is always smooth, even during fast moving scenes.

The X11L features a ZeroBorder aesthetic and an ultra-thin profile, developed in partnership with CMF design specialists, allowing the screen to integrate discreetly into contemporary interiors. Audio is provided by an integrated Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Alongside the X11L, TCL has confirmed that the SQD-Mini LED platform will extend across a broader range of screen sizes and models, though full line-up details are expected to be announced at CES. The company will also showcase additional developments, including RGB Mini-LED technology and an expanded lifestyle TV range, broadening its portfolio for different installation scenarios.