There are of course a few key differences between the 2022 and 2023 models. The C835K can’t hit the same levels of brightness as its successor, with peak brightness of 1,500 nits compared to 2,000 nits. It also uses an older processor – AiPQ 2.0 – meaning HDR tone-mapping and general processing aren’t quite as impressive. There’s no 98in option either, and the speaker system is powered differently, with two 15W drivers and a single 30W driver in place of the pair of 25W drivers and single 20W driver on the C835K.

When it comes to upscaling HD sources to 4K, the C81 QLED delivers pretty solid results. Noise is gently massaged away without leaving the picture looking processed, although the results look more like good HD than 4K. The results of this combination of brightness and contrast contribute to far and away the most cinematic and high-end feeling image I’ve seen from a UK TCL TV, and actually the most aggressive HDR-friendly image I’ve seen from any TV at its price point.Xbox Series X and some PC gamers will also be pleased to find a Dolby Vision Game preset, so you don’t have to put up with a sluggish experience when gaming in DV, while a dedicated Game Bar menu system provides both information on your gaming signal and a couple of game-specific features. This includes a Shadow Enhancement feature that elevates the brightness of dark game areas to make it easier to spot lurking enemies, and an onscreen aiming assistant. So remember that these things are rarely as straightforward or as smart as they pretend. Persistence and cups of tea get you there in the end. When first detecting an HDR10 signal, the TV defaults to IMAX for some reason, but we’d recommend switching to the more accurate Movie picture mode, which offers an extensive choice of picture controls. One of these settings is Dynamic Tone Mapping, and while there’s a choice of options, the default balance setting appears to deliver the best overall performance. The TCL C845 supports every version of HDR – HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, which means you’ll never have to compromise, and the dynamic metadata in HDR10+ and Dolby Vision allows the TV to produce some genuinely impressive tone mapping.

There is also a ‘TCL Channel’ with a dedicated button on the remote, leading through to 80+ live channels and quite the collection of on-demand content, a lot of B-level stuff but some goodies too, partly by including Plex inside the TCL content.The comic book colours of The Flash enjoyed plenty of vibrant punch, while the lightning that surrounds his ‘speed-force’ was seared into my retinas thanks to those dynamic highlights. The more subdued visuals of First Man are still appropriately muted, and the C845 does a great job of handling the scene where the Apollo 11 command module goes into the shadow of the moon – a challenging sequence for any local dimming system. While the TCL C641K focuses on delivering impressive visuals, it focuses on audio. It features advanced audio technologies to create a captivating soundstage. The television supports Dolby Atmos, which provides immersive and multi-dimensional audio. This technology enhances the depth and detail of sound, making you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action. The built-in speakers produce clear and well-balanced audio, eliminating the need for external sound systems in most cases. Remote Control TCL has brought its largest-ever Mini LED TV to market in 2023. Its Mini LED flagship, the C845 series, is now available in a whopping 98in as well as 55in, 65in, 75in and 85in, and delivers the brightest, most consistent picture TCL has produced to date according to the manufacturer.