TCL’s RM9L model.
Credit: TCL
TCL has launched its RGB Mini-LED TV series in the US, including the RM9L model with up to 9,000 nits peak brightness. To give that a little perspective, the iPhone 17’s peak brightness is 3,000 nits, while most modern TVs range from a mere 500 to 1,500 nits.
The RM9L series uses narrow-band red, green, and blue LEDs instead of traditional white LEDs with color filters. This helps cover 100% of the BT.2020 wide color gamut, delivering improved color purity. The model’s display has over 5,600 discrete dimming zones and more than 16,000 color zones, and TCL built the panel with WHVA 2.0 Ultra technology that achieves a 7,000:1 static contrast ratio, as reported by Notebook Check.
The model’s impressive color quality could make it a nice option for gaming, as the TV has a native 144Hz refresh rate that boosts to 288Hz through Game Accelerator 288 VRR. The model includes HDMI 2.1 connectivity, Auto Game Mode, and ultra-low input lag and comes in 85-inch, 98-inch, and 115-inch sizes. Of course, this technology doesn’t come cheaply: The 85-inch model costs $5,999.
TCL, which is also facing a lawsuit for allegedly bricking Roku TVs via software updates, equipped the TV with its TSR AI Pro Processor for AI-enhanced picture quality, plus Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos audio in partnership with Bang & Olufsen. The TV runs on Google TV with Google Gemini integration.
While the 9M9L certainly offers a uniquely bright display, it’s not quite the brightest TV on the market. TCL’s own X11L SQD-Mini LED reaches up to 10,000 nits peak brightness, and the 98-inch version boasts 20,736 precise dimming zones. Real-world tests (including this one from our colleagues at PCMag) show that the TV delivers around 3,000 nits of sustained brightness, which is well short of the advertised figure but still visually pleasing. This TV isn’t exactly affordable, either: The X11L starts at $6,999 for the 75-inch and maxes out at just under $10,000.
