TCL is pushing harder than ever in 2026. The company has already become one of the biggest TV manufacturers in the world, and this year’s lineup feels designed to attack every price segment at once. The TCL P8L sits right in the middle of that strategy, offering Mini LED technology, high refresh rate gaming features, Google TV, and surprisingly solid picture quality at a price that undercuts many rivals.
The 65-inch version reviewed here aims to deliver premium features without the premium price tag. And honestly, TCL has managed to create something far more impressive than the specs alone might suggest
Design And Build Quality
At first glance, the TCL P8L looks much more expensive than it actually is. The TV uses slim bezels around the panel and a brushed titanium-style finish that gives it a clean, modern appearance. While the chassis is still mostly plastic, the overall build quality feels noticeably more refined than older TCL models.
The stand design deserves some credit too. Instead of basic flat feet, TCL uses wide angled supports that give the TV a more premium look while also leaving enough room underneath for a soundbar. That small detail matters more than you might think in everyday use.
Around the back, TCL has improved things as well. The textured rear panel feels sturdy and doesn’t attract fingerprints easily, and all the ports are side-facing, making wall mounting far easier than on many competing TVs.
The included remote is surprisingly nice for this class. It has a metallic finish, responsive buttons, and built-in voice control through Google Assistant. There’s even a physical microphone switch for privacy-conscious users.
Google TV Still Feels Like One Of The Best Smart Platforms
One of the biggest strengths of the P8L is the software experience. TCL continues to use Google TV, and it remains one of the best smart TV systems available today.
The interface is fast, responsive, and easy to navigate. Apps open quickly, menus load without hesitation, and recommendations from streaming services are integrated directly into the home screen. Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, and other major platforms all work exactly as they should.
Powering everything is MediaTek’s Pentonic 700 chipset paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, which is more than enough for smooth daily performance. TCL has also cleaned up the menus considerably this year, making picture settings and customization much easier to understand.
Another nice surprise is playback stability. Streaming content works flawlessly, and local playback from USB drives or network storage is reliable as long as you aren’t pushing extremely high bitrate files through the limited 100 Mbps Ethernet port.
Sound Quality Is Better Than Expected
Most TVs in this price category sound thin and lifeless. The P8L is different.
TCL partnered with Onkyo again for the built-in speaker system, and while it won’t replace a dedicated audio setup, it performs well enough for casual viewing. Dialogue is clear, volume is surprisingly strong, and the integrated 2.1-channel setup adds more low-end presence than most slim TVs manage.
The configuration includes dual 10-watt speakers alongside a 15-watt woofer mounted on the rear panel. Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X support are also included, although the immersive effect is naturally limited by the physical speaker size.
For movies and gaming, a soundbar still makes a huge difference, but for everyday TV watching, the P8L sounds comfortably above average.
Picture Quality Delivers Excellent Value
The biggest reason to consider the P8L is simple: Mini LED.
TCL has brought QD-Mini LED technology into a far more affordable category, and the results are impressive considering the price. The TV uses a 10-bit HVA panel with Full Array Local Dimming and quantum dot enhancement for richer colors.
Brightness peaks around 450 nits, which means HDR performance isn’t truly spectacular, especially compared to TCL’s higher-end models. Bright highlights don’t explode off the screen the way they do on premium Mini LED sets, but HDR content still benefits from improved contrast and color volume.
Where the P8L really shines is everyday viewing. SDR content looks vibrant, sharp, and punchy. Streaming quality from Netflix and YouTube is excellent, black levels are respectable for the class, and blooming around bright objects is surprisingly controlled.
TCL’s local dimming algorithm deserves credit here. Even though the TV uses fewer dimming zones than the more expensive C-series models, halo effects remain fairly subtle in most scenes.
Viewing angles are decent too, thanks to the HVA panel coating, although there’s a slight tradeoff in black depth compared to traditional VA panels.
Upscaling performance is another strong point. Lower-resolution content still looks clean and detailed, and compression artifacts are handled better than expected in this price range.
Gaming Features Are Shockingly Good For The Money
This is where the P8L becomes genuinely impressive.
TCL includes two HDMI 2.1 ports with support for 4K gaming at up to 144Hz, along with VRR, ALLM, and FreeSync Premium support. Input lag is also excellent, dropping as low as 8ms at 120Hz.
What makes this even more impressive is that local dimming remains active in Game Mode. Many affordable TVs disable advanced picture processing to reduce latency, but TCL manages to preserve image quality while still delivering fast response times.
The redesigned gaming dashboard is another welcome addition. It displays frame rate, VRR status, HDR information, and aspect ratio settings in real time without interrupting gameplay.
For PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or gaming PC users, the P8L offers features normally reserved for far more expensive TVs.
Connectivity Covers Almost Everything
TCL has packed the P8L with plenty of modern connectivity options.
You get:
- Two HDMI 2.1 ports
- Two HDMI 2.0 ports
- eARC support
- USB 3.0
- Optical audio output
- Ethernet
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Wi-Fi 5
- Headphone output
- Composite AV input
That combination makes the TV flexible enough for both modern gaming setups and older legacy devices.
The Weaknesses
The P8L isn’t perfect.
Peak brightness remains its biggest limitation. HDR content looks good, but not truly cinematic in bright rooms. If you want the most impactful HDR experience possible, TCL’s higher-end Mini LED models are noticeably better.
Motion handling can also become messy when aggressive motion smoothing is enabled. Lower settings are usable, but pushing interpolation too far introduces artifacts and unnatural movement.
And while the sound system is decent, movie enthusiasts will still want external speakers to fully unlock the experience.
Conclusion
The TCL 65P8L feels like a TV designed for real-world buyers rather than spec-sheet enthusiasts.
It delivers excellent gaming performance, solid Mini LED picture quality, a fast and polished smart TV experience, and surprisingly respectable audio, all at a price that makes many competing models look overpriced.
No, it doesn’t reach flagship OLED or premium Mini LED territory. But that’s not really the point.
What TCL has created here is one of the strongest value-focused 4K TVs of 2026 so far. For gamers, streamers, and anyone wanting modern features without spending a fortune, the P8L is incredibly easy to recommend.