tcl-announces-xl-collection-line-of-tvs,-vows-to-take-8k-mainstream-this-year

TCL announces XL Collection line of TVs, vows to take 8K mainstream this year

TCL makes some of the best under-$1,000 TVs you can buy, and it was also early to adopt the Mini LED technology that TV makers like Samsung and LG are only starting to use in their 2021 lineups. (TCL’s 8-Series and 6-Series both already include Mini LED backlighting.) For 2021, the company is hoping to combine its aggressive pricing strategy and technological head start on Mini LED for a new 6-Series that also goes all in on 8K resolution.

“In the year ahead, all 2021 6-Series TCL Roku TV models being launched will feature 8K resolution,” TCL announced in a press release today, noting that last year’s models will remain available as well. TCL’s AiPQ engine will be able to upscale 4K content to higher clarity and sharpness on the new 6-Series. The main problem facing 8K is a dearth of native content at that resolution — and that situation isn’t going to change anytime soon. But it seems like TCL is intent on at least pushing 8K TV prices down. Now the question becomes how much more expensive this 6-Series will be over its predecessor. We don’t know yet.

Image: TCL

TCL thinks it’s well ahead of competitors in LCD TV technology, and that’s because of the company’s vertical integration and manufacturing expertise. This year, it’s introducing a new panel branded as “OD Zero” because the gap between the display and backlight system is zero millimeters. The result is what TCL describes as an “ultra-slim display with tens of thousands of Mini LEDs and thousands of contrast control zones.”

Image: TCL

After LG announced it would start making LCD TVs with Mini LED, TCL published a prickly blog post that criticized OLED’s low overall market share. “There are TVs with a display technology that hasn’t notably changed since it was first used in TVs in the early 2010s and still only accounts for less than 3 percent of global TV sales,” TCL’s Aaron Dew wrote before talking up the faster evolution of LCD sets and benefits of Mini LED. “To those brands excited to introduce Mini LED in 2021, my only question is ‘what took you so long?”

TCL’s most recent 6-Series received strong reviews and was also a great choice for gamers — though it couldn’t quite pull off 4K resolution at 120Hz. Presumably, that’s something TCL will look to resolve with this upcoming model.

In 2021, TCL will also debut The XL Collection, a lineup of 85-inch displays at different price points and resolutions. Here’s what the company says you can expect:

Three different models will make up the XL Collection this year and each 85-inch TV will feature performance levels for every kind of home theater. From a simply smart 85-inch 4-Series TCL Roku TV that delivers the easiest way to enjoy 4K HDR streaming and an 85-inch 4K HDR TCL Roku TV with QLED picture quality to the ultimate 85-inch Mini LED powered 8K TCL TV with QLED wide color technology, the XL Collection will fit any budget and exceed the highest performance standards to deliver larger-than-life home entertainment.

TCL’s XL Collection is a line of 85-inch TVs that start as low as $1,599.
Image: TCL

The 4-Series will be first out of the gate among the XL Collection: it’s coming this quarter for $1,599. Not bad for a huge 4K display. The pricier XL sets with better QLED (quantum dot color) picture quality will come later in the year. Pricing on those is to be announced — and the same goes for the 8K 6-Series.

tcl-nxtpaper-is-a-full-color-e-reader,-tab-10s-and-tws-earphones-tag-along

TCL Nxtpaper is a full color e-reader, Tab 10S and TWS earphones tag along

It is a big day for TCL, first announcing its new phones, followed by two new tablets – TCL Tab 10S and TCL Nxtpaper. While the first one is a pretty straightforward slate the second one is really intriguing – it comes with a new display technology that protects the eyes, saves battery and still delivers full color.

TCL Nxtpaper

The Nxtpaper switches the typical LCD for an NCVM-composite sheet. The abbreviation stands for non-conductive vacuum metallization, and the technology uses special materials that do not conduct electricity. TCL revealed it basically works like an e-ink display, but will full color support and much higher 1440 x 1080 pixel resolution.

Such a panel does not need any backlight, meaning there’s no blue light that usually strains the eyes during prolonged use. The goal for TCL was to create a device that can be used for the whole day, especially in these times were a lot of kids are studying at home.

Due to the NCVM panel’s specifics, it is extremely thin, requires literally very little battery power, and brings the total thickness of the tablet to 7.4 mm, weighing just 316 grams. The 10” screen has certifications from the German Rhine laboratory and 26 unique patents for ultimate eye protection.

The chipset inside is a Mediatek MT8768 with an octa-core CPU at 2.0 GHz and a PowerVR GE8320 GPU. RAM is 4 GB, while storage is 64 GB and can be expanded through the microSD slot. The battery is 5,000 mAh and supports 18W charging, but due to the display’s low-power capabilities, it can last for 400 hours of standby time. And the OS is full Android 10, so no worries about compatibility or anything like that.

TCL Nxtpaper will cost €349 once it launches in April 2021 and will even throw in cellular support – up to 4G. The color is only one – Ultramarine Green.

TCL Tab 10S

The Tab 10S is a pretty straightforward tablet – a Mediatek MT8769 chipset, 3GB or 4GB RAM, and up to 64GB of storage, with a microSD slot for more. It has a big 10.1” Full HD+ panel with a resolution of 2000 x 1920 pixels, an 8MP camera on the back, and another 5MP on the front for video calls.

This tablet’s selling point is its massive 8,000 mAh battery and the dual speakers, making it a great option for home fun for everyone. The UI, based on Android 10, provides profiles for all members of the family. It also comes with a stylus in the retail box and supports a cover keyboard accessory that can be purchased separately.

Available in March 2021, the TCL Tab 10S will cost €199 for the Wi-Fi-only version, while the 4G variant will be €249.

TCL Moveaudio S600 & TCL Movetrack PetTracker

The online launch also saw TCL introducing the Moveaudio S600 TWS earphones. They are extremely light, come with a big 500 mAh battery in the case (with each bud holding an extra 55 mAh charge), and have a dynamic 10mm speaker. Each bud has three ANC microphones, and the stems come with a touch sensor as well.

The S600 can connect like most Bluetooth earphones but you have the option to customize their sound via the TCL Connect app. They are compatible with Android and iOS and will sell for €149 in four colors – Graphite Gray, Pure Marble, Silver Chrome, Turquoise Blue.

The TCL Movetrack Pettracker is exactly what the name suggests – a smart tracker you attach to the collar of your home pet. Its job is to detect movement and upload location every 60 seconds. It supports Safe Zones, automatically sending you the location of your pet if it leaves your house.

There’s also a feature called Virtual Leash – the PetTracker connects via Bluetooth to the phone (that’s about 5-10 meters), and once the pet is too far from its owner, the tracker starts sending push notifications. The device and its app can store 24-hour history of paths and locations, which can be searched by time and date. Storage time is six months. The price of this gadget is €99.

Finally TCL also demonstrated a Wearable Display that looks like glasses, but actually sits higher up on your nose and lets you get a cinematic experience on the go. The two 1080p OLED displays put so close to your eyes have the same viewing angle as 140-inch screen. It connects through a USB-C cable to any device that can output image over USB-C. More details will be disclosed in a “few weeks,” according to company officials.

tcl-20-5g-and-tcl-20-se-are-new-affordable-smartphones-for-entertainment

TCL 20 5G and TCL 20 SE are new affordable smartphones for entertainment

TCL has announced its 2021 lineup, predictably called TCL 20. It will consist of no less than five different smartphones, with the first two being TCL 20 5G and TCL 20 SE, and coming to the stores this very month. The rest of the family includes TCL 20 Pro 5G, TCL 20L, and TCL 20S, which should be detailed later on and released by the summer.

TCL 20 5G

The TCL 20 5G phone is the most affordable 5G handset by TCL and comes with a Snapdragon 690 chipset, coupled with 6GB RAM. On the front, we have a 6.67” LCD Dotch Display, which is how TCL branded its panel with a punch hole for the 8MP selfie camera.

The resolution is Full HD+, with a tall 20:9 ratio, and according to press materials, it has a 91% screen-to-body ratio. Since the fingerprint can’t make it under the panel, TCL has put it on the right side, under the power key.

The setup on the back is aligned vertically and features a 48MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide-angle shooter with 118-degree FoV, and a 2MP macro shooter.

Other highlights of the TCL 20 5G include a 4,500 mAh battery with 18W fast charging over Qualcomm’s QC 4+ standard. In addition to 5G with downlink speeds of up to 2.7 Gbps, you also get Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC.

Available in Black or Blue, the TCL 20 5G is already selling in Italy for €299 and should arrive in other countries by the end of the month.

TCL 20 SE

The TCL 20 SE claims to be a great phone for entertainment, thanks to its big 6.82” LCD, although it only offers HD+ resolution. There’s a small waterdrop notch on the top with an 8MP selfie camera tucked inside.

Under the hood we have a Snapdragon 460 chipset, 4/64 GB memory, plus a microSD slot for up to 256GB more. The setup on the back includes a 16MP main and 5MP ultrawide-angle cameras as well as a couple of 2MP auxiliary units.

The TCL 20 SE gets an ample 5,000mAh power cell, supporting up to 18W fast charging, although you only get a 10W adapter in the box. It comes with Android 11 offers FM Radio, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, and NFC.

The TCL 20 SE will be sold in Black or Green at the price of €149 and will start appearing at markets before the end of January.

ces-2021:-lg-shows-its-first-qned-tvs-backlit-by-miniled-diodes

CES 2021: LG shows its first QNED TVs backlit by MiniLED diodes

LG has shown several products today that revolve around its screen technology, and although we have just seen a new range of televisions with a new generation of OLED panels, we also find a range called QNED that has LCD panels with a peculiarity, and that is that are backlit by MiniLED diodes.

According to the data provided by the brand, we come across televisions capable of providing a clearer image, with better blacks and more vivid colors than traditional LCD panels, something that is to be expected in the case of one of the most sophisticated LCD panels that we can find in a television.

Although the matrix that gives life to the panel carries Quantum NanoCell technology , is in front of a grid of approximately 30. 000 MiniLED diodes providing close to 2500 zones of illumination, allowing dark zones to be shown with the diodes off or in low light, providing greater contrast and fidelity.

The new LG QNED MiniLEDs will arrive in diagonals between 85 and 99 inches , so this is definitely not TVs for all dining rooms, and especially, for all pockets, And it is that although prices at which these new televisions can reach have not been mentioned, it is very possible that they exceed the barrier of 2000 euros.

End of Article. Tell us something in the Comments or come to our Forum!

Jordi Bercial

Avid enthusiast of technology and electronics. I mess around with computer components almost since I learned to ride. I started working at Geeknetic after winning a contest on their forum for writing hardware articles. Drift, mechanics and photography lover. Don’t be shy and leave a comment on my articles if you have any questions.