Thanks to an all-new spin on quantum-dot technology, the TCL X11L delivers some of the best (and brightest) performance we've ever seen on a Mini-LED TV. That said, it's much pricier than last-year's QM9K, and the marginal difference in performance might not be enough for most people to justify the price jump.

The QM9K is one of TCL's last top-shelf TVs to feature a traditional blend of quantum-dot color and Mini-LED backlighting, so it's not as colorful as the Super Quantum Dot-equipped X11L. Nevertheless, it's an order of magnitude cheaper, making it a better buy for most people.

Both sets leverage Mini-LED backlighting for a bright, punchy picture. But these two TCL TVs diverge when it comes to performance, features and price.…