TCL brought its new Smart TV X925 to Brazil in November 2022. It stands out for combining technologies such as QLED imaging, a Mini LED layer and 8K resolution, in addition to a series of extra functions.
Will the consumer have a good experience if he chooses this model as his next TV? TudoCelular answers this and other questions now, in this full review.
Design, connectivity and control
The X925 has a design aimed at the more premium segment. This includes its construction with aluminum edges and a metallic central base, which delivers a finish to match the television.
In addition to use on a rack or other piece of furniture, you can also mount it to the wall using the VESA 400 standard. This TV has ultra-thin bezels on the top and sides, while underneath is a built-in Onkyo soundbar, complete with a woofer. centered at the rear. But we’ll talk about sound later.
And speaking of the back, the connections are located in the right corner. The TV provides four HDMI ports, two of them standard 2.1 and two 2.0. There’s still a composite video input, an RF for antenna, an Ethernet, a USB 3.0, a digital optical audio output and a P2 for headphones.
It has a very thin thickness that does not exceed 75 mm, even with the camera input on top, something that we will also discuss later. The weight reaches almost 42 kg, something justifiable by its size of 75 inches.
Moving on to connectivity, we find sixth-generation Wi-Fi compatibility here. That means you’ll be able to connect to a 5 GHz network with maximum coverage and without worrying about speed. We also have Bluetooth here, in case you want to connect a headset or a wireless keyboard.
The control is the same one sent with other simpler models of the brand, such as the C635 and the P635. The accessory is not as compact as the one used by Samsung, nor is it as polluted with buttons as the one from LG.
We have a dedicated button for using the Google Assistant, as well as some shortcuts for streaming services. The list includes YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Globoplay and TCL Channels.
But we understand that, despite the appeal to use the voice command present in the device, there would be a way to be more premium, for the type of TV we are talking about here.
System and apps
The TCL X925 comes with Android TV version 11 as the operating system, along with Google TV. The search giant’s interface stands out for providing a much more intuitive and personalized user experience.
From the initial configuration, it is already possible to have above-average practicality. One of the possibilities is to use your Google Account to install apps and have some settings of your preference predefined.
In the software’s menus, you can access a tab with movies only, another with series, or even enjoy a home screen with your favorite shows and recommendations for titles that you might like from the various platforms available. It’s a facility to dispense with looking for something to watch on each service.
The list of applications is quite complete, a characteristic of TV models with Android. You can take advantage of both the apps we’ve already mentioned with shortcuts on the controller, as well as some other important ones, such as Star Plus, HBO Max, Apple TV Plus and Claro TV Mais.
The system still stands out for its native support for Google Assistant. You can control the entire TV via voice commands, whether to change the channel or ask it to open a specific title on a streaming platform. Apart from commands for the other smart devices in your home.
I am a body
This Smart TV features QLED and Mini LED technologies. In other words, it contains both a layer of quantum dots, to improve color definition, and an extra one for lighting with 240 dimming zones.
Despite this combination, the device provides a maximum brightness of only 1,000 nits, a number well below what Samsung’s direct competitor delivers, for example. The contrast pleases, despite still lagging behind LG models. Another point that we noticed is the color calibration, which makes the images warmer in the standard than other rivals in the market.
At the very least, the sharpness won’t disappoint, thanks to the AiPQ Engine Gen 2 processor, which uses Artificial Intelligence to enhance images and perform efficient upscaling of lower resolutions. It is possible to notice in particular when we put the open channels in HD through the digital antenna signal, but not so much when the station signal still does not go beyond SD.
Yes, we know very well that there is practically no 8K content on the market, apart from a few YouTube videos. So pixels will almost always need to be filled in whatever is displayed. In any case, if you don’t get too close to the screen, the experience will be satisfactory.
This TV still delivers a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which pleases gamers on duty. You can play on a new generation console and feel great fluidity in the game’s movements, as we can see in God of Warand a few other titles on PlayStation 5.
And in the case of streaming services, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision IQ technologies are still present, a standard that allows changes in ambient light, not to mention IMAX certification. In other words, this TV is packed with the main resources available to watch your movies and series with better quality.
On the audio side, Onkyo’s integrated sound bar has a power of 60 W. It has a 2.1-channel output, consisting of two front speakers and a rear woofer. This combination generates a very powerful sound, with full-bodied bass, even without activating their reinforcement in the settings.
And there is still support for Dolby Atmos and the possibility of combining the integrated equipment with a Bluetooth headset or another additional sound device. Overall, we can say that this TV has an experience above a conventional TV in this regard. This is one of the great differentials that we saw in this product.
extra features
The X925 offers some interesting additional features for the user. One of them is the presence of a camera that can be attached to the top, to make video calls directly through the TV. We tested it through Google Meet and found the tool to be quite functional, both for the generated image and the microphone sound.
And if you don’t have a video game console at home, you can download some games from the Play Store to enjoy them directly on your TV. But the experience will usually depend on an extra app to turn your phone into a joystick.
This model also has an integrated Chromecast function, in case you want to mirror your cell phone screen to view a photo or video directly on your television.
Final considerations
We can say that the TCL X925 consists of a very complete 8K TV, but it is not for any consumer. It comes with a premium design and only one size option, for those who want something different and have the space for it.
The system does not disappoint in terms of features and the list of available applications, from the main streaming services to games to enjoy directly on television. The camera is a nice addition, as it makes it possible to take advantage of Google Meet to videoconference without relying on an external PC or smartphone.
The image quality pleases in this model. The combination of QLED and Mini LED allowed for great sharpness. Not to mention the 120 Hz rate, which gives the necessary fluidity for the latest generation consoles. It’s a pity that there isn’t as much 8K content available in the segment yet, but the upscaling manages to enlarge images of lower resolutions well, even far from perfect when viewed up close.
We can’t help but highlight the sound of this TV, thanks to Onkyo’s built-in sound bar. It has bass boosted by the rear woofer and a power that doesn’t need any external equipment. That is, an audio compatible with the category that this model fits.
As negative points, we have the control, as it is the same as more basic models, and some image characteristics, such as the level of brightness and contrast, which still lag behind televisions from other brands.
Control equal to base modelslow brightness levelContrast below competitorshigh price
The X925 is available in Brazil only in this 75-inch version. It arrived in the country for a suggested price of R$ 20,000, but can be found for around R$ 15,000 in the current market. A cost that still leaves this television niche for a more demanding audience that wants the maximum of technologies available for a television.
For the same price, you can find Samsung’s QN800B, which also has a 75-inch option, but delivers four times more brightness and a more modern remote control. LG’s NANO95 is a slightly less expensive alternative, which provides better contrast and Alexa support, but its panel does not exceed 60 Hz.
Do you think it’s worth investing in an 8K TV right now? What did you like most about the TV? Do you think this model is a good option on the market? Feel free to comment in the space below.
