CES 2026 is knocking, and among the exhibitors ringing in the new year with new products, TCL has an all-new LCD series with the X11L SQD-Mini LEDs. Those hoping for TCL’s take on the emerging RGB LED technology will likely have to wait for later in the year to see that take shape.
The X11L SQD-Mini LED Series
Sitting at the heart of the X11L series is TCL’s SQD-Mini LED display tech being paired with the company’s proprietary Deep Color System. According to TCL, this system combines quantum dot technology alongside its proprietary color filter and a “Color Purity Algorithm” to improve color accuracy and consistency while reducing artifacts such as blooming. TCL claims this helps the TVs achieve full BT.2020 color reproduction.
These new TVs also incorporate TCL’s Halo Control system, allowing for high-density local area dimming of the LEDs. The X11L series features up to 20,000 discrete dimming zones with the updated Halo system now including a 26-bit backlight controller.
Combining these features together, TCL claims the X11Ls can achieve 10,000 nits of peak brightness while maintaining a static contrast rating of 7,000:1. The new series will also be receiving support for Dolby Vision 2.0 Max later on in the year, which will arrive via an over-the-air update.
TCL’s ongoing partnership with Bang & Olufsen will also see the X11L series come pre-equipped with a B&O-tuned audio system. However, the company is also introducing an expandable, wireless home theater platform that will allow “larger,” more custom configurations as well.
Users can add an optional wireless subwoofer, along with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect speakers for rear, side, or wide channels, scaling up to a 4.1.4.
The X11L series will also come equipped TCL’s proprietary AI processor for added visual and audio fidelity alongside specific enhancements such as image upscaling. However, included in this technology stack will be Google’s Gemini AI, which TCL says has been added for more conversational voice control when users are looking up specific content on the TV.
AI Moving from Technology Backends to User-Facing Applications
If this isn’t the first instance of an AI agent being included on a TV for such a purpose, it’s definitely one of the first, and comes at an pivotal moment for Gemini (and AI agents in general), as not too long ago, Google had announced it would finally be adding Gemini into Google Home after years of teasing of the feature. A brief rundown of what has been promised can be found in the linked article, but the main features lean on AI’s capabilities for contextual voice control to generate bespoke automations on the Home platform.
Since they first broke out onto the scene, AI agents and LLMs have been pushed as being the next frontier in voice control, with promises at the high-end labeling them as that breakthrough innovation that will finally deliver on that futuristic-feeling control we often see with smart homes in fiction. It’s worth noting, however, that unlike other aspects of AI that have seemingly been rushed out the door, capitalizing the control aspect has been much slower.
If our conversations with manufacturers like Crestron, Josh.ai and Nice are anything to go by, a lot of that has to do with what’s at stake in these features, especially at the professional level. Considering that contextual voice control centers around the user experience, it’s a feature that has high pressure to get it done right the first time, as a bad user experience can easily tank public perception at a time when smart homes are already receiving some hefty scrutiny in the luxury segment.
As these features become more available at the consumer level, however, they will set a baseline expectation as to how professional-grade solutions should perform, meaning that as the Googles and TCLs start rolling out AI agents baked into their products, manufacturers at the top will need to do their part to raise the ceiling to the levels customers have come to expect.
Pricing, Availability and Additional Features
Despite its performance-first focus, the X11L also leans heavily into lifestyle design. The cabinet measures just 0.8 inches deep, with a completely flat back intended to sit flush on the wall, while Art Mode and Art Gallery features allow the display to function as wall décor when idle. TCL has even said that the display will feature a near-borderless design.
To start off, the X11L series will come in three select sizes:
- 75 inches ($6,999.99 MSRP)
- 85 inches ($7,999.99 MSRP)
- and 98 inches ($9,999.99 MSRP).
TCL has not specified a release date for the series just yet, however, anyone attending CES this week will be able to view the new models firsthand at Booth #18604 in Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
