TCL TVs sold in the U.S., from budget 4-Series models to high-end QLED and Mini LED sets, include a wide range of picture settings. With a few careful adjustments, users can unlock much better image quality across all content types.

This guide outlines how to set up your TCL TV for Movies, Gaming, Live TV and Streaming, and Sports. It covers both SDR and HDR (including Dolby Vision) content and explains platform differences between Roku TV and Google TV.

Before You Start: Turn Off Eco and Adaptive Settings

Before adjusting any picture controls, users should disable automatic features that interfere with consistency. On Google TV models, go to Settings > System > Power & Energy and turn Energy Saver off. Also, turn off Adaptive Brightness, Contrast, or any Intelligent Picture options in the settings. On Roku TVs, set TV Brightness to Normal under the general settings menu. These steps ensure the TV will not override manual picture settings.

Movies and Cinematic Content

To get a film-accurate image in a dark room, start with the Movie picture mode. This preset reduces backlight intensity, warms the color temperature, and disables motion smoothing. On Roku TVs, press the star (*) button during playback to access the picture menu and select Movie. On Google TV, go to Settings > Picture > Picture Mode and choose Movie.

Adjust the backlight based on the lighting in your room. For a dim home theater, a 40–50% backlight level works well. In a brighter room, raise it to around 70–80%. Set contrast to 90 or higher for strong highlights. Use the Warm color temperature setting for more natural skin tones. Set Sharpness to 0 to avoid artificial outlines and turn off any motion smoothing options like Action Smoothing or Motion Clarity.

For HDR10 content, keep the Movie mode active, set Backlight and Contrast to 100, and turn Local Dimming or Local Contrast to High. On Dolby Vision content, choose Dolby Vision Dark for night viewing or Dolby Vision Bright in a well-lit room. TCL locks most settings in Dolby Vision mode, but users can still adjust brightness based on viewing conditions.

Gaming (Console and PC)

TCL TVs include a Game Mode that reduces input lag by disabling unnecessary processing. On Roku TVs, access this under Advanced Picture Settings. On Google TVs, either switch to the Game picture mode or ensure Game Mode or ALLM is enabled when a console is connected.

Keep contrast high and backlight at maximum for HDR gaming. Use Warm color temperature for accurate colors. Set Sharpness to 0 and turn off noise reduction. In HDR games, verify that Local Dimming is still set to High if available. Users should also calibrate HDR using their console’s built-in utility.

For Xbox and PC users with supported TCL models, enable VRR and connect through HDMI 2.1 ports. TCL automatically detects variable refresh signals when Game Mode is active. If the TV shows brightness fluctuations during VRR gameplay, consider setting Local Dimming to Low to stabilize the image.

PC users should rename the HDMI input to “PC” or “Computer” to force 4:4:4 chroma and better text clarity. Set the GPU to output Full Range RGB and ensure the TV’s black level is not clipping shadow detail.

Live TV and Streaming

For general TV watching, use the Standard picture mode. This profile balances brightness, contrast, and color for a wide range of content. Raise the backlight to suit your room lighting. On Roku TVs, select a brighter preset if you are watching during the day. On Google TVs, push the Brightness slider to around 70–100, depending on ambient light.

Keep contrast high and adjust color temperature to Normal or Warm if faces appear too cool. Moderate sharpness, around 10 to 20 on a 0–100 scale, helps with cable news or older YouTube content. Use Low or Auto noise reduction if the signal is low-quality. For motion, enable Low smoothing if you want smoother camera pans, or leave it off for a more natural feel.

In HDR or Dolby Vision streaming, use HDR Bright or Dolby Vision Bright modes for daytime viewing. These modes raise midtones to prevent images from appearing too dim in well-lit rooms. For evening or dark-room viewing, switch to HDR Dark or Dolby Vision Dark for a more accurate tone curve.

Sports Viewing

TCL’s Sports mode is tuned for fast motion and bright environments. Activate this mode during live games to boost clarity and motion smoothness. It increases backlight, contrast, and sharpness and often sets the color temperature to Cool.

Set Backlight and Contrast to 100 to maintain visibility in bright rooms. Sports mode typically enables aggressive motion interpolation by default. On Google TVs, set Blur Reduction and Judder Reduction sliders to high values. On Roku TVs, use Action Smoothing = High. This ensures players and fast-moving objects remain visible during pans.

Use a higher color saturation level (around 55–60) to make team jerseys and field colors look more vibrant. Avoid pushing this too far, or faces may look unnatural. Leave Clear Motion or LED Motion off to avoid flickering and loss of brightness.

For HDR sports, use HDR Bright or a bright Sports HDR mode if available. Keep Local Dimming on High to maintain image depth.

Final Thoughts

Each TCL model may have slight differences in menu structure, but the core settings remain consistent. Disable adaptive features, choose a mode based on the content type, and fine-tune color and brightness to suit your environment. Calibrating each HDMI input separately ensures every source looks its best, whether you are watching a film, gaming online, or streaming daytime TV.

In related news, we recently broke down how TCL’s inkjet-printed OLED technology works and explored what makes the TCL Z100 soundbar stand out.

TCL is stepping up its efforts in chemical safety and sustainable manufacturing by rolling out a full-lifecycle chemical management system across its supply chain. The company has introduced stricter safety protocols aimed at reducing environmental and health risks linked to hazardous substances.

In 2024, TCL’s display arm, TCL CSOT, reported zero chemical leak incidents. The company conducted Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) on 40 types of specialty gases and 46 general-use chemicals. This process helped identify 4,160 potential risks, generate 192 analysis reports, and resolve 240 hazards. To strengthen safety, TCL CSOT implemented measures such as dual-person dual-lock systems, mandatory protective gear, and gas leak alarms. It also held regular emergency response drills and safety training sessions across all production facilities, all of which are now ISO45001 certified.

TCL is also focused on building a greener supply chain. TCL CSOT works with upstream suppliers to encourage the use of low-power, non-toxic, and recyclable materials, while supporting downstream partners in developing green-certified products. By the end of 2024, all panel production facilities were certified under IECQ QC 080000. The company enforces strict compliance with international regulations such as RoHS, REACH, and TSCA, and requires all suppliers to sign hazardous substance declarations.

To stay ahead of regulatory requirements, TCL upgraded its Green Product Management System (GPMS), which tracks chemical content and supplier data. The system monitors high-risk substances like REACH SVHCs and PFAS and provides early alerts on policy updates. In 2024, after seven new SVHCs were added to the REACH list, TCL surveyed 400 suppliers and updated its database accordingly.

As part of its long-term sustainability goals, TCL began phasing out PFAS materials. It issued a PFAS ban policy to suppliers and started validating safer alternatives. The company aims to eliminate PFAS materials from all its product lines by the end of 2026.

In related news, TCL has already secured $644 million in display profits just halfway through 2025, signaling strong momentum in its display business. At the same time, TCL and Xiaomi have taken a significant step toward challenging Samsung’s dominance in the OLED market, hinting at a major shift in the global display technology landscape.

Via

Xiaomi and TCL CSOT have officially launched Phase 2 of their Innovation Display Lab at TCL CSOT’s Wuhan campus. The inauguration ceremony took place on July 12, marking a significant step forward in the long-term collaboration between the two companies.

TCL CSOT confirmed the development through its official WeChat account, stating that the expanded lab will strengthen the joint research and development efforts that began in 2017. The partnership has evolved from initial component supply to a comprehensive strategic alliance, focused on advanced display technologies.

The first phase of the Innovation Display Lab was established in 2021. Since then, Xiaomi and TCL CSOT have co-developed several breakthrough technologies. These include the first Xiaomi smartphone with a TCL CSOT LTPS panel in 2017, the Mi 10 Ultra’s adoption of TCL CSOT OLED panels in 2020, and the global debut of the first under-display camera phone in 2021.

In 2022, the companies jointly defined the 1.5K screen standard and launched China’s first 2K LTPO display. In 2023, they accelerated development of an isometric micro four-curved display two years ahead of schedule and filed over 130 patents related to the technology. In 2024, the collaboration led to the launch of the Mix Fold series, featuring flexible displays developed through their joint efforts.

In 2025, Xiaomi and TCL CSOT are pushing for Real RGB OLED displays, which are expected to feature in next-generation Xiaomi flagships such as the Xiaomi 16 Pro and Redmi K90 Pro.

TCL CSOT stated that the lab now operates as a closed-loop system combining joint R&D with production coordination. This setup enables faster transitions from early-stage innovation to final product manufacturing, improving efficiency and shortening the time-to-market for new technologies. The Phase 2 expansion reflects a deeper commitment to advancing China’s domestic display capabilities and setting new industry benchmarks through shared innovation.

In related news, TCL CSOT is reportedly planning to launch its first OLED monitor panel in 2026. Meanwhile, TCL has introduced its C72K 4K QD-Mini LED TVs in India, featuring a 144Hz refresh rate and Dolby Atmos support.