If you thought CES 2025 was a wild event for TV technology, brace yourself for IFA 2025, because it’s turning out to be a wilder show. Thanks to Dolby’s ground-breaking release earlier this week, TV manufacturers are leaving no stone unturned in riding the Dolby Vision 2 bandwagon. While many thought (and as was stated in the press release), HiSense was expected to take the first slice of the ‘Content Intelligence Tool’ of Dolby Vision 2, it turns out, TCL might not be far behind.
The China-based consumer electronics company has not only generated a serious buzz regarding their mysterious TV slated to launch at IFA, but also has announced the arrival of QM9K, its first Gemini-Powered Mini-LED TV. We’ll discuss both these aspects in detail, but first, let’s get some air off the TCL Dolby Vision 2 TV that is doing rumours on socials.
First spotted by What HiFi, the TCL’s mysterious 98-inch TV is mounted to a wall and surrounded by logos, with the most notable being ‘Dolby Vision 2.0’. There is no clarity on whether the specific TV on TCL’s IFA stand is an old model, a prototype, or simply a kind of placeholder. What HiFi notes, “TCL’s own stand staff seem curiously unsure about it.”
Our sources within the company suggest it’s C8K. However, we are not entirely sure about it. TCL reps don’t have a confirmation on it either, or are being secretive about it, since they don’t want to spill the beans. If sources are to be believed, and What HiFi’s on-field report is taken into consideration, it becomes quite evident that some existing TVs may get Dolby Vision 2 support via a software update. But the bigger picture is that TCL’s marketing gimmick (if I may call it so) may have left other TV manufacturers high and dry, with HiSense emerging as a sore loser, despite its first-hand advantage at the Dolby Vision 2 tech.
In other news, TCL has thrown down the gauntlet with its latest flagship, the QM9K Mini-LED TV. As per TCL, “this dazzling display promises to redefine home entertainment with its staggering brightness, cutting-edge Mini-LED technology, and a brainy boost from Google’s Gemini AI.” According to CNET, this flagship set leverages Mini-LED technology to achieve ultra-high brightness, making it a standout in environments where ambient light dares to challenge your viewing experience.
Unlike traditional LEDs, Mini-LEDs pack thousands of tiny diodes into the backlight, offering finer control over contrast and illumination. The result is a picture that pops with vivid highlights and deep shadows, even in a sun-drenched room. QM9K doesn’t stop at raw luminosity. TCL claims it delivers “contrast and color gamut comparable to OLED” thanks to its new “all-domain halo control technology.”
In addition to boasting a dazzling display, TCL’s latest innovation, QM9K, comes with Google Gemini support. As reported by Tom’s Guide, which has had a hands-on demo of the TV, “The TV features a bespoke mmWave sensor that detects your presence when you walk into the room.” The sensors further light up the screen with artwork, photos, and also AI-generated images that are easy to create with Gemini.
The presence sensor can turn on the TV to screensaver mode when it detects you, and it’s also very customizable. Instead of just knowing someone is nearby, TCL says you’ll be able to fine-tune this to the exact radius in the room, ensuring it doesn’t turn on just when you’re passing through, but only when you actually want the TV to turn on.
It is to be noted that the TCL QM9K series comes in 65-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch, and 98-inch sizes, all of which use 3840×2160 “ZeroBorder, CrystGlow WHVA” 144Hz QLED / QD-Mini LED panels. Overall, with the launch of QM9K has entered a crowded arena where OLED reigns as the king of picture quality. OLED TVs, like the LG G5 (which was one of the highlights of CES) and Samsung S95F, offer perfect black levels and jaw-dropping contrast, but they come with a premium price tag and the nagging risk of burn-in. There is no word on pricing, but TCL aims to make the TV available by the end of September. We’ll have more on both stories in days to come.
