I tested TCL's mid-range mini-LED TV against LG's most affordable OLED TV in
a head-to-head clash

Date:
Sun, 25 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Description:
Can TCL's affordable mini-LED match LG's entry-level OLED? I tested both TVs side-by-side using reference testing scenes to find out

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Mini-LED vs OLED has been a battle in the TV world for a few years now. While mini-LED always provided more brightness and better bright room viewing and OLED delivered better
black levels, thanks to its self-dimming pixels, that has changed in recent times, with both TV techs managing to cover more bases.

Both LG and TCL make some of the best TVs you can get, with the former delivering some of the best OLED TVs and the latter offering up some of the best mini-LED TVs . Both also deliver great value for the price you pay, especially TCL. The LG B6 is one of the best OLEDs Ive tested this year, offering great performance for a more affordable price. Now, the TCL C7L
(this is the UK model the TCL QM7L is the US equivalent) has arrived in our testing lab so I thought Id compare the C7L, the brands mid-range SQD
mini-LED for 2026, against LGs most entry-level OLED, as theyre available for similar prices. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

Can the mini-LED hold its own against OLED? A quick note that were using the LG B6E, a cheaper B6 that performs the same other than missing some AI
picture modes, and with a different back panel. Today's best LG B6E 4K OLED
TV (2026) deals 1,299.99 1,199.98 View Deal 1,999.99 1,599.98 View Deal 2,779 View Deal Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today's best TCL C7LQM7L deal voucher gift 999 View Deal 1,499 View Deal voucher gift 1,699 1,499 View Deal Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Brightness The TCL C7L (left) has a clear brightness advantage over the LG B6E (right) (Image credit: Future) Flagship and mid-range OLED TVs have seen a brightness boost over the years, with one example being the near 1,000-nit peak HDR brightness increase
between the LG G4 (1,489 nits) from 2024, and its 2026 successor the LG G6 (2,475 nits). Its taken until this year for entry-level OLED to get a brightness boost: and its not as significant as that. You may like LG C6 vs Sony Bravia 7 II: I tested these TVs side by side, and OLED had better watch its back LG G6 OLED vs Samsung R95H Micro RGB: which tech comes out on top? Sony Bravia 9 II vs Samsung R95H: which flagship RGB TV is best, and can they compete with OLED?

The LG B6E measured 808 nits HDR peak brightness (10% window pattern) in Filmmaker Mode in my tests: a nice boost over the B5s 668 nits. However, this 808 nits pales in comparison to the 2,083 nits peak HDR brightness achieved
by the C7L in its Filmmaker Mode. Mini-LED has always been the brighter tech, but do these results reflect real-life?

In practically every scene I tested, the answer was a resounding yes. With both TVs set to Dolby Vision Filmmaker, in a scene where Lawrence and his guide are by a well in the desert in Lawrence of Arabia , the white sands and blue skies were much more impactful on the C7L, showing off the brightness advantage. The B6E did a good job with the picture, but next to the C7L it looked dim in comparison. Switching to the B6Es Cinema Home mode did give it
a boost in brightness, but still the C7Ls picture dazzled in comparison. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

This was also apparent in HDR highlights in other movies. In Speed Racer ,
the brilliant white of the Mach 5 was much punchier on the C7L than the B6E, though the gap in luminance wasnt quite as obvious as it had been in Lawrence of Arabia .

For bright-room viewing, neither TV was perfect, with both showing
mirror-like reflections. The C7L did a better job in brighter conditions, thanks to that added brightness it's the clear winner for pure brightness, and for visibility in strongly lit rooms Contrast and dark scenes The LG B6E OLED (right) is better for black tones and dark room viewing compared to the TCL C7L (left), shown here during Project Hail Mary. A quick note: the C7L's backlight blooming does not appear this aggressive in-person (Image credit: Amazon / Future) OLEDs advantage when it comes to darker, more contrast-y scenes is its self-dimming pixels. As it doesnt rely on a backlight and it
can turn off individual pixels, this produces much deeper black tones that most mini-LEDs can achieve, and with precise borders between light and dark. However, more mini-LED TVs are demonstrating better backlight control and
more impressive black tones. What to read next Ive chosen the best TVs you
can buy to suit every budget, after hundreds of hours of real-world testing The best mini-LED TVs for all budgets, tested by our experts The best 55-inch 4K TVs for all budgets, all tested by our experts

In my time testing the C7L, Ive been impressed with its black levels: especially for a mid-range mini-LED. Yes, theres still some blooming going
on, but its greatly reduced from the previous generations of TCLs TVs Ive tested before not that long ago, this would've been premium performance. Still, when it comes to black handling, OLED is king.

Watching any space scenes from Project Hail Mary , the B6E clearly produces richer, deeper black tones that are consistently strong throughout. The C7L, while rendering strong black tones of its own, dont quite have the same consistency, as some shots of the stars in space demonstrate blooming, a common occurrence with backlit TVs. Both TVs deliver very good contrast, but the B6E (right) has a more satisfying picture for darker movies like The Batman (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future) When it comes to contrast and shadows however, theres a bit of give-and-take. Watching The Batman , with
its array of contrast-rich scenes, the B6E clearly produces a more balanced image thanks to its deeper dark tones and well-handled bright tones. The TCLs picture however is more impactful thanks to those punchier highlights. As Bruce works at his desk in the Batcave, the dark crevices and wood of the
desk blend well with the lamps and monitors on both TVs.

In fact, some black tones can actually look crushed on the B6E, leading to a loss of shadow detail, such as the wall at the rear of a subway platform in The Batman . The same surface is much more legible on the C7L. Switching from Filmmaker to Cinema Home on the B6E does rectify this, without compromising significantly on dark tones.

The Batman has proven to be a challenge for backlit TVs in my time testing, due to its low brightness. While The C7L did a great job overall, occasional blooming would appear behind bright objects, which was more noticeable when viewed in dimmed conditions. For dark scenes and dark rooms, the B6E proved
to be the better choice. Color Both TVs have great colors, but I personally preferred the B6E's (right) richer color profile (Image credit: Nintendo / Universal Pictures / Future) Color is probably the most contentious subject when it comes to mini-LED vs OLED, as both tech can deliver great colors in their own way, and I found this to be true putting these two TVs
side-by-side.

Watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie , both TVs deliver vibrant, bold colors that accurately delivered the pop youd want from this movie. The C7Ls colors were punchier overall, thanks to that higher brightness, but the B6Es colors looked richer, with more depth. This was obvious whenever the Lumas were on screen, where they had more of a 3D-look on the B6E, but were much brighter
on the C7L. Mario and Luigis overalls showed that both TVs delivered great colors, but the B6Es looked that bit more 3D and solid.

Switching to Speed Racer , both TVs again captured the cartoon-ish, candy-colored aesthetic of the movie well. The C7L had the more shimmering colors, but the B6Es were more true-to-life, as shown by the grass in Trixies flashback early in the movie. I also found that different colors looked
better on different TVs, with reds and greens standing out more on the B6E, but yellow and orange looked better on the C7L. The Batman was the most obvious demonstration of the B6E's (right) sometimes questionable color temperature and green tint (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future) One advantage that the C7L did have was in its color temperature accuracy. The B6E demonstrated a green tint in comparison, which can be an issue for some
OLEDs. In isolated viewing this isn't so obvious, but next to the C7L, it was noticeable. In the subway scene in The Batman , the surroundings had a green hue to them on the B6E visible above, but the C7Ls cooler color temperature helped render more accurate gray tones.

This scene was the most obvious case of the B6Es green tint I found during my testing, and it wasnt legible in other movies such as Project Hail Mary and Speed Racer .

In terms of which TV delivers the better color, they both have their
strengths and both have great color reproduction overall, but if I had to
pick one, it would be the B6E purely because I prefer the richer color profile. But the C7Ls colors were very good. The best buy Both TVs are great and have their own advantages: it really comes down to budget (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future) When it comes to value for money, both these TVs tick plenty of boxes. Both TVs have a feature set up there with the best gaming
TVs , with 4K 120Hz, variable refresh rate, auto low latency mode and Dolby Vision gaming supported, although the B6E has four HDMI 2.1 ports to the C7Ls two but they both have razor-sharp performance.

Picture quality comes down to preference, and both deliver adequate built-in sound, though both could benefit from one of the best soundbars .

When it comes to price, it's close in most places. For the 55-inch models I tested, youll be looking to pay $799 for both in the US, with the QM7L going for $100 cheaper in the larger 65-inch size. In the UK and Australia, the C7L is better value, with the 55-inch costing 899 / AU$1,495 while the 55-inch
B6E costs roughly 1,099 in the UK (though it has dropped to 999 before) and the standard B6 costs 1,199 / AU$2,495.

Honestly, you cant really go wrong with either TV. The TCL is the much better pick for bright rooms, while the B6E is the better choice for darker, cinematic viewing and I really am torn on which is the better pick, as this was such a close contest.

Purely from a price standpoint, the TCL is the winner (especially when you go beyond 65 inches mini-LED's price advantage grows as sizes do), and is the more practical choice for a bright room.

But if you can get the B6E for a good price and you'll watch in a room with controlled lighting, then the better contrast and color depth make it my
pick. Today's best LG B6E 4K OLED TV (2026) deals 1,299.99 1,199.98 View Deal 1,999.99 1,599.98 View Deal 2,779 View Deal Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today's best TCL C7L/QM7L
deals voucher gift 999 View Deal 1,499 View Deal voucher gift 1,699 1,499
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