TCL X11L/TCL X965: SQD-Mini LED Review: Is It Better Than OLED?

The TCL X11L uses SQD-Mini LED technology. Its display system combines advanced colour technology with a Mini LED backlight designed to control how light is distributed across the screen.

Think of a television picture as a painting in a gallery. The colours create the image, but the lighting determines how vivid, bright and dimensional that painting appears. The display’s colour system and backlight need to work together to produce a convincing picture.

Mini LED uses small LEDs behind the display. By controlling different backlight areas, the television can make some parts of a scene brighter while keeping other areas darker.

The X11L also lists a 100% BT.2020 All Scenes Wide Color Gamut. Together, these specifications position it as a television intended for detailed, colourful viewing, especially with compatible high-quality content.

Remember that SQD-Mini LED is the specified display technology; it should not be confused with a generic QLED label or used as proof of a particular real-world result without testing.

The X11L features a WHVA 2.0 Ultra panel.

A panel is the part of the television that forms the image. Its design influences factors such as contrast and how the picture looks from different seating positions.

Contrast is the difference between bright and dark areas. Strong contrast can help a night-time movie scene feel more realistic, with dark surroundings and clearly visible highlights.

Panel technology is only one part of the result. Backlight control, picture processing, content quality and viewing conditions also influence what you see.

The WHVA 2.0 Ultra name identifies the panel technology used in the X11L. The catalogue does not provide a specific native contrast ratio or viewing-angle measurement, so it would be misleading to attach an unverified numerical claim to it.

For a large 85-inch or 98-inch television, consider your seating arrangement carefully. If people regularly watch from the sides, viewing-angle performance is worth checking in person before buying.

One of the headline specifications is up to 20,736 precise dimming zones.

A local dimming zone is a controllable area of the backlight. More zones can allow the TV to control brightness in smaller sections of the screen.

Imagine a starry night scene. The television needs to show tiny bright stars while keeping the surrounding sky dark. If too large an area of the backlight stays illuminated, a glow can appear around bright objects. This effect is commonly called blooming.

More precisely controlled zones can help reduce this issue, although the result also depends on the dimming algorithm, panel behaviour and scene being shown.

The phrase “up to 20,736” is important. It is the maximum figure listed, not a guarantee that every X11L size or regional configuration uses precisely that number.

For movie lovers who often watch dark scenes, this is a useful specification to investigate. Just remember that dimming-zone count alone cannot tell you everything about picture quality.

The X11L lists up to HDR 10,000 nits.

A nit is a unit of display brightness. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, a technology designed to preserve detail across bright highlights and darker areas in compatible content.

Think about a film scene showing sunlight reflecting off the sea, followed by a darker scene inside a room. HDR aims to present bright reflections and shadows with a greater sense of range.

A higher listed peak brightness can be useful for HDR presentation, but it does not mean the TV will display every scene at 10,000 nits. The figure is a maximum specification, and actual output depends on factors such as the content, picture settings and display configuration.

The X11L also lists Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+. These are HDR formats designed to manage compatible content’s picture presentation. Their benefits depend on supported content and the television’s processing.

If you mainly stream movies, check whether the services and titles you watch support the HDR formats you want. A format listed on a TV does not mean every video will use it.

The X11L lists 100% BT.2020 All Scenes Wide Color Gamut.

A colour gamut describes the range of colours a display can reproduce. BT.2020 is a wide colour standard used for ultra-high-definition video.

In everyday viewing, colour reproduction matters in nature documentaries, animated films, sports broadcasts and colourful cinematic scenes. A wide colour gamut is intended to support a broad range of shades when the source content and display pipeline are compatible.

However, this specification should be presented as TCL’s listed figure, not as an independent laboratory measurement conducted for this review.

The final picture also depends on content quality and picture settings. A wide colour gamut is one part of the overall display system, not a guarantee that every video will look equally vibrant.

The X11L lists both IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker Mode, along with Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+.

IMAX Enhanced is a certification and content format associated with compatible viewing experiences. Filmmaker Mode is designed to preserve the intended presentation of supported films by reducing certain picture-processing effects.

These features are particularly relevant if you enjoy watching movies at home and want to explore the presentation options available to you.

Their presence does not mean every streaming service or movie supports all the formats. Content availability and service compatibility still matter.

The X11L lists a 144Hz refresh rate, VRR up to 288Hz, DLG up to 288Hz, ALLM and FreeSync Premium Pro.

A refresh rate describes how often a display refreshes its picture per second. A 144Hz refresh rate can support smoother motion in compatible operating modes and with suitable content or gaming hardware.

VRR stands for Variable Refresh Rate. It helps a compatible display synchronise its refresh timing with a compatible gaming device, which can reduce screen tearing when frame rates change.

DLG is a separate display feature. Its listed maximum should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every game will run at 288 frames per second.

ALLM, or Auto Low Latency Mode, can automatically switch a compatible setup into a lower-latency mode. FreeSync Premium Pro is designed to improve gaming with compatible devices and content.

For console and PC gamers, these are useful specifications. Actual performance depends on the connected device, game, settings and supported display mode.

The X11L/X965 is listed with up to HDR 10,000 nits. This is a maximum specification, not a guarantee that the television will maintain that brightness across the entire screen or in every scene. Actual output can depend on content, picture settings and configuration.

The catalogue lists up to 20,736 precise dimming zones. Local dimming lets the TV control different backlight areas independently, which can help manage bright highlights and darker parts of a scene. The exact configuration may vary by screen size and country.

Yes, the X11L lists a 144Hz refresh rate, VRR up to 288Hz, DLG up to 288Hz, ALLM and FreeSync Premium Pro. These features have different purposes, and the actual experience depends on compatible gaming hardware, content, settings and supported operating modes.

The TCL X11L is listed in 85-inch and 98-inch sizes. The catalogue also provides metric measurements of 206 cm and 239.5 cm, respectively. Before buying, confirm the exact model variant, physical dimensions, stand arrangement and installation requirements.

The X11L lists Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ for picture, plus Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual for audio. These technologies support compatible content and equipment. Their presence does not mean every film, app or audio setup will use all features.