Recently, my home renovation has finally entered the final stage, with only household appliances left to be installed. The TV is the appliance I've put the most thought into purchasing. As Mini LED is recognized as the next generation of large-screen display technology, offering better overall picture quality performance and a longer lifespan compared to LCD and OLED, I am quite optimistic about Mini LED TVs. After researching both online and offline, my personal conclusion is: brand really matters! It's best to choose reputable brands with good word of mouth, such as TCL, Samsung, Sony, as they offer quality assurance and more reassuring after-sales service.
In addition, we can pay attention to the detailed and practical evaluations from professional bloggers, which can help us avoid many pitfalls in our purchases. I came across a comprehensive review of "Mini LED TVs in the Xisha Islands," compared it with other brands, and finally chose the TCL X11H TV. After using it, I feel very satisfied overall - the picture quality, sound quality, and design all exceed my expectations.
Image Quality: Bringing a Halo-Free Image Quality Experience
In terms of image quality, the TCL X11H achieves top industry standards in two key factors influencing the picture quality of Mini LED TVs: the number of backlight zones and peak brightness. With 14,112 backlight zones and XDR 6500 nits, even when watching suspenseful movies with many dark scenes, the picture depth is remarkably rich, enhancing the mystery of the plot and immersing viewers in tense and thrilling storylines. The ultra-high peak brightness delivers a visual experience with rich and clear image details. Even when watching animated films, every frame is vivid and lively, capturing the subtle changes in the characters' facial expressions with great detail, making it feel like we are being transported into the animated world.
The online video "Comprehensive Evaluation of the Xisha Islands" claims that the TCL X11H performs remarkably well in night scenes, showing no grayness or whitening, no halo effect, and clear, distinct stars. After my own testing, I found that the X11H's picture quality does have its merits. Even in scenes with complex lighting and strong contrast between light and dark, the X11H can deliver high-definition reproduction, with clear object boundaries and distinct outlines, without any halo issues.
Actually, scenes like nighttime grassy lawns and trees, or the sea under the setting sun, really put the display capabilities of a TV to the test. Regular TVs often struggle with these scenes, showing black areas that tend to appear washed out or gray, with bright objects surrounded by halos or glare. However, these issues are non-existent on the X11H. Its display is clean and pure, able to show dark details clearly without distortion in bright areas, delivering a powerful visual impact and immersing viewers in Hollywood blockbusters with perfection.
I later learned that the reason X11H can present such a halo-free image quality is mainly because it is equipped with TCL's Global Halo Control Technology. Let's first explain the five core elements that affect halos, including the light-emitting chip, lens technology, backlight response algorithm, OD (optical distance), and screen. Each of these elements requires top-notch technology support to eliminate halos. This is also the challenging point that most manufacturers are still striving to overcome. With TCL's leading technology accumulation in the Mini LED field, X11H successfully incorporates TCL's Global Halo Control Technology. Through Six Crystal Square Core II, super-convergent microlens, transient response, bidirectional 16-bit, micro-distance OD, and A++ butterfly wing star screen, it precisely controls the light from generation to imaging in the entire chain, completely solving the halo problem of Mini LED.
Like lens technology, X11H utilizes a super-collimating micro-lens with 24 self-developed patents, unlike ordinary lenses that can only adjust a single light beam, it can control light multiple times, converging the surrounding light towards the center and dispersing the center light to the sides, precisely controlling the light layer by layer. Therefore, compared to ordinary Mini LEDs, X11H has significantly improved halo control and backlight uniformity.
In terms of optical distance, the X11H achieves micro-level optical distance (OD). OD is actually the distance between the backlight panel and the diffusion panel. Simply put, the smaller the OD value, the better the halo control capability. 20mm is the passing line for Mini LED TV OD. Most TVs on the market hover around this passing line, with a few outstanding ones able to achieve around 10mm. The OD value of the X11H is only 2mm, which is explosive in the entire industry. This also determines that the X11H has a stronger halo control capability, resulting in a more extreme picture performance.
In addition, the luminous chips, backlight response algorithm, and screen used in X11H surpass those of its peers. For example, the Hexa Crystal Core II can deliver a 33.5% increase in brightness and a 40.2% improvement in energy efficiency compared to ordinary luminous chips. Its self-developed light control algorithm supports both transient response and bidirectional 16-bit backlight control, further enhancing picture quality. The screen used in X11H is the A++ Butterfly Wing Star Screen, a TCL CSOT high-end HVA screen with a native contrast ratio of up to 7000:1, making it more suitable for Mini LED TVs. In summary, X11H excels in all five dimensions affecting halo effects, explaining its exceptional halo-free picture quality performance and justifying its claim as the "2024 Picture Quality Ceiling."
Sound Quality: Sound effects rival those of an IMAX theater
As a music enthusiast myself, I am naturally quite discerning when it comes to sound quality. From my experience, the X11H's sound quality is impressive. With the configuration of the Anky 6.2.2 Hi-Fi audio system, the audio effects are comparable to those of an IMAX theater. Additionally, it features 10-channel hardware-level true surround sound, 160W of super power, 12 independent audio units, and the support of 5 sound processing chips. Watching shows like "Sisters Who Make Waves" with this system is simply unbeatable, making you feel as if you are right there in the recording studio. Coupled with the 360° starry sound field and dual-drive subwoofer, watching movies becomes even more enjoyable, with realistic reproduction of explosion sounds, footsteps, and other environmental effects. The tension and immersion in the storyline are instantly heightened, providing a fully immersive movie-watching experience.
Appearance: Industry-leading design standard
The TCL X11H TV has an amazing design! With its sleek flat-panel ultra-thin body, the entire TV is slim, resembling a giant tablet. Unlike other thin TVs on the market where the top is thin but the bottom protrudes like a "mini backpack," which looks quite mismatched. Another type that my friend often complains about is the modular ultra-thin TV, where the TV body is thin but the power supply and drivers are housed in a separate external unit, like dragging a "suitcase," taking up space and causing inconvenience. The X11H with its "flat and thin" design is more exquisite and attractive, looking good no matter how it is installed. In terms of appearance alone, the X11H outshines many TVs on the market.
Overall, the TCL X11H can be described as a TV with a 360-degree viewing experience, boasting top-notch picture quality technology, premium sound, and a design that is on par with high-end standards. Watching movies at home feels like being in a cinema. Even when turned off, it elevates the living room's ambiance. For those who are still hesitating about purchasing the TCL X11H, they can rest assured.
