TCL 50C6KS

A Mini LED TV this cheap can't actually be good... can it?

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Thanks to this TV's Mini LED back light, local dimming and universal HDR support, we're heading into potential bargain of the year territory here. Especially when, as we'll see, the 50in TCL C6KS's price isn't getting you the stripped-back, ultra-basic TV you might expect.

As you probably would expect at the price, build quality is heavy on the plastic - but you really notice this only when you handle the TV. It's not obvious from looking at it from a normal viewing distance.

The Mini LEDs used to illuminate the C6KS are many times smaller than the regular LEDs used in most very affordable LCD TVs. This enables TCL's TV to deliver, on paper at least, both more brightness and more localised light-control. What's more, the 50C6KS backs up its Mini LED lighting with 160 local dimming zones.

Getting any sort of local dimming on a TV this cheap is impressive enough; three figures-worth of dimming zones is unheard of. Though, as ever, it's not as much about the number of zones, but how they're used.

The C6KS uses a VA-type panel, which almost always results in better contrast. In fact, it uses one of TCL's new HVA panels, which brings a number of enhancements to the table compared with the brand's equivalent 2024 models. These improvements include wider viewing-angles and a suite of new 'halo control' innovations designed to minimise the strength and scope of the distracting backlight blooms and leaks that LCD TVs - especially those using local dimming - can throw up around bright highlights when showing HDR pictures.