TCL P89K QLED TV Review 65" 4K Display
Overview
Buying a new TV for the living room is always a bit of a journey. It's not just about getting a sharper image or better sound, it's about finding the right fit for your lifestyle, your space, and how you experience content. These days, a TV is more than just a screen. It's a central design element in the room, something you see all the time, even when it's just playing in the background.
Back in 2020, I bought my first smart TV, a 55" Hisense, and it actually surprised me. Despite being surrounded by tech most of the time, I had stuck with older displays for years, relying on cable boxes or PC connections. That Hisense model was a solid pick at the time, and served me well.
Now, five years later, I felt it was time for an upgrade. Naturally, I dove into the research, exploring what's out there, what's changed, and what truly justifies the price. I knew I wanted a larger screen, better specs, and future-proof features like a 120Hz refresh rate. Last time, I had settled for 60Hz, a limitation I felt once next-gen gaming consoles came out.
I considered going for a high-end Samsung or LG, which are known for their cutting-edge display technologies. But their prices are significantly higher across the board. TCL, on the other hand, caught my attention. Their QLED lineup is getting a lot of buzz, and the P89K model seemed to offer the right balance between performance, specs, and price. A solid deal came up at the right time, and I decided to go for it.
While this review focuses on the product itself, I'll also share a few important notes about the local customer experience, since in my case, the purchase process wasn't as smooth as expected. It's something worth being aware of, especially if you're planning to buy this model in specific regions. Full hands-on review coming soon.
Product details
The TCL P89K is a QLED TV available in five screen sizes: 55", 65", 75", 85", and 98". It uses TCL's Colorful Quantum Crystal technology, which combines quantum dot materials with an organic layer structure. TCL states this delivers over a billion color hues and up to 93% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, based on internal lab testing.
The panel is built on TCL's HVA (Halo Vertical Alignment) technology, which the manufacturer says improves contrast and reduces image halo and ambient light interference compared to conventional panels. TCL also lists a viewing angle greater than 178 degrees for this panel type. Image processing is handled by TCL's AiPQ Pro Processor, which the company describes as enabling scene-based, pixel-level adjustments across contrast, color, clarity, motion, HDR, and content type.
The TV has a native 144Hz refresh rate, along with gaming-oriented features TCL markets as Game Master, including ALLM, HDMI 2.1 support, and multiple gaming picture modes. Audio is handled by an ONKYO-branded 2.1 Hi-Fi system with three built-in speakers, including a rear-mounted subwoofer, according to TCL's specifications.
The P89K runs on Google TV, TCL's smart TV platform, which includes personalized content recommendations, Google Assistant voice control, and a Kids Profile mode. The chassis uses a slim, bezel-less uni-body design, as described on TCL's official product page.
Specifications
Display & Picture
| Screen & Image Quality | |
| Screen Size | 65 inches |
| Display Type | QLED LCD (DLED backlight) |
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz (supports VRR) |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Color Gamut | ~93% DCI-P3 |
| HDR Support | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG |
| Brightness | 350 nits (typical) |
Audio & Sound
| Built-in Speakers | |
| Audio | 2 x 10W + 15W Subwoofer, 2.1 Channel |
| Sound Technology | Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual X, DTS Premium |
Smart Features & Connectivity
| Platform, Gaming & Wireless | |
| Operating System | Google TV |
| Voice Control | Google Assistant Built-in, Hands-free |
| Gaming Features | Game Master, AMD FreeSync, HDMI 2.1 (incl. eARC), ALLM |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi, Miracast |
| Quick Settings | Yes |
Dimensions & Weight
| Mounting & Physical Specs | |
| VESA Mount | 400 x 300 mm VESA is the standard measurement used by TV wall mounts |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 1444 x 831 x 69.5 mm (without stand) 1444 x 893 x 295 mm (with stand) |
| Stand Size (WxD) | 1130 x 295 mm |
| Packaging Dimensions (LxWxH) | 1608 x 155 x 1000 mm |
| Weight (Net / Gross) | 17.1 kg (without stand) 17.4 kg (with stand) 24.8 kg (with packaging) |
Inside the box
- TCL P89K QLED TV ×1
- Remote control (with batteries) ×1
- Power cable ×1
- TV stands and screws (set) ×1
- Quick Start Guide and Warranty Card ×1
- Cable management clips (set) ×1
Pros
Picture Quality That Rises to the OccasionWith everyday, average-quality content, the picture looks solid without necessarily showing off everything this panel is capable of. But feed it high-quality material, such as 4K sports broadcasts, live concert streams, or Disney+ and Prime Video, and the P89K rises to the challenge convincingly, the image quality jumps noticeably. The same held true gaming on a Nintendo Switch 2. Give this TV a quality source, and it delivers.
Solid Gaming PerformanceTested with a Nintendo Switch 2, which caps out at 120Hz when docked, this TV's 144Hz refresh rate handled it smoothly. On paper, the spec sheet, including VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support, lines up well with what consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X offer, though that hasn't been tested firsthand yet. A solid standard for casual and enthusiast gamers alike, though competitive players chasing every last bit of performance may still find room to spend more elsewhere.
Price That Makes SenseSignificantly cheaper than comparable Samsung or LG models, and competitively priced against other Chinese-brand TVs entering the market with similar specs. The price also tends to drop further as the model matures, making it an even stronger deal down the line.
Extensive, Accessible ConnectivityPlenty of ports, and they're easy to reach. Wi-Fi speeds are strong enough that a wired Ethernet connection ends up unnecessary for most everyday use.
Built-In Google AssistantThe microphone-equipped smart remote genuinely impressed. Voice control works well, and it's a feature that becomes more useful the more it's used.
Smooth Google TV ExperienceSetup took a bit of time up front, about what you'd expect from any modern smart TV or smartphone the first time you set it up. After that initial process and a few early hiccups, likely network-related, the day-to-day experience has been smooth and responsive, with everything needed built in and only occasional minor lags.
Slim, Clean DesignThe TV has a genuinely slim profile with a clean, uncluttered look that doesn't come across as cheap despite its accessible price point. The rear panel is tidy too, a nice touch if your setup leaves the back visible.
Strong Volume for Built-In SpeakersEspecially considering the price point, the ONKYO 2.1 setup pushes real volume with noticeable bass, more than expected from a TV's built-in speakers. It's not a refined, audiophile-grade sound experience, but for everyday viewing without external speakers, it holds up well.
Cons
Frame Quality: A Telltale Sign of Cut Corners The frame of the TV was one of the first things that caught my attention, and not in a good way. Upon close inspection, both top corners exhibited subtle bulges and uneven curvature, giving the impression that the bending or molding process wasn't executed with precision. Rather than a smooth, refined finish, the edges appeared roughly shaped, as if the materials had been forced into place without proper attention to detail. In some spots, it's hard to tell whether the issue lies with the paint or the material underneath, but either way, it reflects poorly on the build quality. This isn't just a minor cosmetic issue. When you're unboxing a brand-new TV, especially one meant to be a centerpiece in your living space, details like these set the tone, and in this case, they suggest a lower manufacturing standard than expected from a brand-positioned QLED model.
Slight Color Uniformity Issue Near the Edges A narrow strip, just a few millimeters wide, along the screen's border shows a slightly different shade or a subtle blur compared to the rest of the panel. It's noticeable in both bright and dark content, for example, a visible tint shift on a soccer pitch, and while it's not extreme, it is consistently present.
Remote Ergonomics Could Be Better The remote is functional but unremarkable. Several buttons, particularly the left column with preferences and volume controls, feel too close together, making it easy to mix them up by feel alone without looking.
Overall Verdict
Before wrapping up with the final verdict, here's a brief, factual account of how the purchase itself went. None of this reflects on the TV, but it's worth knowing before you decide where to buy one.
Frustrating Purchase Experience & Poor Post-Sale Support. The buying process was riddled with issues:
- I called about a promotional benefit I had originally been promised, but the seller wasn't willing to honor it. During that same call, they offered me a lower price instead.
- When I mentioned I had already placed my order about 30 minutes earlier, they said the lower price couldn't apply since the purchase was already made.
- I asked to cancel the order. Only after that did they agree to honor the lower price, but not before a full day of unnecessary back-and-forth, phone calls, and delays.
- A delivery was scheduled a week in advance, but no one showed up, and I wasn't informed of the cancellation. I waited at home for hours for nothing.
- In total, it took 10 full days from purchase to delivery.
- Throughout this time, customer service was nearly impossible to reach, and when I did get through, responses were slow, dismissive, and unhelpful.
This was handled by the local authorized dealer, TCL's official representative in the region. Whether that makes it TCL's responsibility or the dealer's is beside the point, from a buyer's perspective, there was no one to turn to on either side.
Nearly a year into daily use, the TCL P89K has handled a genuinely wide mix of use cases, from casual streaming to gaming to background viewing, and it holds up well across all of them. It's the kind of TV that quietly does what you need without demanding attention, which is exactly what most people want from a living room centerpiece.
Design-wise, it fits naturally into the room, slim and clean enough not to feel like the bulky centerpiece TVs used to be. The build quality has a couple of rough edges, quite literally, around the frame corners, but that only really became apparent on close inspection early on. Day to day, it blends into the space well and doesn't draw attention to itself for the wrong reasons.
Picture quality is genuinely strong once you feed it good source material. Most broadcasts and streams still don't fully push this panel to its limits, and when the TV is on for hours at a time, that becomes easy to stop noticing. But every so often, high-quality content comes through, and the jump is obvious. As more services catch up to what 4K panels like this one can actually do, that gap should keep closing.
Audio holds its own for a built-in TV speaker system, with real volume and noticeable bass. It's not a refined, audiophile-grade sound, the bass in particular can feel a bit dominant rather than precise, but for casual, everyday viewing without an external speaker setup, it gets the job done.
On the smart TV side, Google TV has been reliable since an initial settling-in period, with a clean interface and a genuinely useful built-in Google Assistant that only gets more convenient the more you lean on it.
Gaming is a slightly different story worth being upfront about. Testing was done with a Nintendo Switch 2, which caps out at 120Hz when docked to a TV, meaning this TV's 144Hz ceiling isn't something I've been able to push yet. Switch 2 also doesn't support VRR while docked, only in handheld mode, so that feature's benefit here is theoretical rather than tested on my end. On paper, the P89K's spec sheet, including 144Hz and VRR, lines up with what consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X support, but I haven't tested it with those systems myself, so I can't confirm how it performs in practice.
The TCL P89K checks nearly every box a modern living room needs: strong picture quality, capable gaming specs, a genuinely smart Google TV platform, and solid built-in audio, all at a price well below Samsung or LG equivalents. The frame finish and minor picture inconsistencies are the clearest signs of where the savings come from, but for the vast majority of households, this is more than enough TV. From here on, the real question isn't performance, it's trust.
Where to buy
Below is the link to purchase the TCL P89K QLED TV (65"):
Where to buy the remote
Below is the link to purchase a replacement remote control for the TCL P89K (Model G0401-000253):
Photos
Additional Links
TCL Official Product Page
tcl.com
Additional Links
TCL Official Product Page
tcl.com
FAQ
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