I won this soundbar at a giveaway hold by r/TCL_Official_UK and r/malelivingspace, by making the second place.

It’s my first soundbar and I connected it to my LG OLED C3 and it’s absolutely amazing! It’s the first soundbar I personally own and it makes me feel the sound. Everything is better. Gaming, Movies, World Cup… I love it!

On this point: congratulations to u/tagalong3 for winning the giveaway! Have fun with your new TV. You played fair and deserve it.

I plan to sit back for the next week and really play about and test it so I can put together a decent review, but from initial impressions, I'm actually blown away by the picture quality and the glare resistance, i was having problems with the C6KS during the day, with the reflections from the various windows, but the C8L has completely eliminated that issue.

This year, TCL has three key portable AC stock models:

The F4 Series, F5 Series and F3 Series. ---- Picture 1*

Hey, Dan TCL here. Live in UK

With Europe getting hotter and hotter, and the current heatwave taking things to another level, I think a lot of people are having the same thought:

We need better ways to cool our home.

The issue is that installing a full air conditioning system is not always simple. It can be expensive, it may need professional installation, and for people renting, living in flats, or only needing cooling in one room, it might not be realistic.

That is where portable air conditioning units start to make a lot more sense.

TCL have a few different options available.

A portable air conditioner is designed to actively cool the room, while still being easier to set up and move around than a fixed air conditioning system.

The TCL F4 Series - P07F4CSW1K - P09F4CSW1K --- Picture 2*

[Available in 7K and 9K cooling options / A Class energy rating.]

Compact design, flexible installation, good cost performance

Its more compact design makes it easier to place in everyday spaces like bedrooms, living rooms, flats and home offices, without taking over the room.

The F4 Series has a 3-in-1 function, meaning it can be used for cooling, fan mode and dehumidifying. That is especially useful during humid weather, where the room can feel uncomfortable even when the temperature itself is not extreme.

It also has two fan-speed settings, so you can choose between lower or higher airflow depending on the room and how much cooling you need. The adjustable fan blade helps direct airflow more effectively, rather than just pushing cold air in one fixed direction.

The F4 Series is also designed around flexible installation. As a portable AC unit, it can be set up without the same work needed for a fixed wall-mounted system, making it a more realistic option for renters, flats, home offices or anyone who only needs cooling in one room.

For maintenance, the F4 Series uses a removable and washable filter, so it can be cleaned and reinstalled. That matters because dust build-up can affect airflow and performance over time.

It also has universal wheels, making it easier to move from room to room. For example, it could be used in a living room during the day, then moved into a bedroom in the evening.

Key selling points：

1. WIFI Smart Control
2. Remote Controller
3. Timer 24H
4. Auto Mode
5. Sleep Mode
6. Self-diagnosis
7. Auto Restart
8. Easy-washable Filter
9. Universal Wheel (Castors)Key selling points
10. Body size: 388*356*630mm

The TCL F5 Series - P07F5CSW0K - P09F5CSW0K---Picture 3"

[Available in 7K and 9K cooling options / A Class energy rating.]

Stylish appearance, auto swing, good cost performance

As a portable air conditioner, it is designed for people who want proper room cooling without needing a permanent wall-mounted installation. That makes it a practical option for bedrooms, living rooms, flats, rented homes or home offices during hotter weather.

The F5 Series also has a cleaner, more modern appearance, so it does not look too out of place in a bedroom, living room or home office. For portable AC, I think that matters, because unlike a fixed system, the unit is visible in the room.

One of the useful features is automatic wind swing, which helps distribute cool air more evenly around the room. You can also adjust the airflow direction depending on where you want the cooling focused.

The F5 Series is also designed around portable and quick installation. The accessories are included for window setup, including vertical or horizontal windows, so the unit can be positioned, connected and used without the same installation process as a fixed air conditioning system.

Key selling points :

1. WIFI Smart Control
2. Remote Controller
3. Timer 24H
4. Auto Mode
5. Sleep Mode
6. Self-diagnosis
7. Auto Restart
8. Easy-washable Filter
9. Universal Wheel (Castors)
10. Auto Swing
11. Body size: 280*290*675mm

The TCL F3 Series - P12F3CSW1K---Picture 4*

[Available with 12K cooling / A Class energy rating.]

12K high capacity, fast cooling

The F3 Series is the highest-capacity portable AC model in this line-up, offering 12K cooling, meaning 12,000 BTU/h cooling capacity, for people who need more cooling power in larger or warmer spaces.

It keeps the same practical idea behind portable air conditioning: proper room cooling without needing a permanent installed system. This makes it useful for bedrooms, living rooms, home offices or any space where fixed air conditioning is not realistic.

It also includes a remote controller, 24-hour timer, Auto Mode and Sleep Mode, giving more flexibility depending on whether you are using it during the day, overnight, or while working from home.

For day-to-day use, the F3 Series also includes Auto Swing to help distribute cool air around the room, plus universal wheels so it can be moved between spaces more easily.

Maintenance is covered with an easy-washable filter, designed to be removed, cleaned and reinstalled. It also includes self-diagnosis and auto restart, which are useful convenience features if the unit detects an issue or if power is interrupted.

There is also a safety-focused design detail, with a metal protective grille/net on the air outlet for added protection. That is especially useful in homes with children or pets, where the unit may be used in shared living spaces.

Key Selling Points:

1. WIFI Smart Control
2. Remote Controller
3. Timer 24H
4. Auto Mode
5. Sleep Mode
6. Self-diagnosis
7. .Auto Restart
8. Easy-washable Filter
9. Universal Wheel (Castors)
10. Auto Swing
11. Metal Protective
12. Body size: 358*419*688mm

---Picture 5*

Another useful feature across the portable AC range is Wi-Fi/app control. Rather than always needing to use the buttons on the unit, you can control supported models through the TCL Home App, including changing settings, switching modes and setting timers.

That is especially useful during hot weather. You can start cooling a room before you go into it, adjust the unit from the sofa or bed, or manage it more easily while working from home.

Would you consider a portable air conditioner?

TCL C8L- UK 98” Review

Picked up the 98” TC8L at launch due to the screen being the final piece of my new dedicated home cinema.

I currently own a 55” LG C3 and 65” Lg G4 so was really intrigued to see how SQD and TCL stacks up against OLED and a more premium brand. I also previously had an 86” NANOCELL also from LG in my home cinema so that’s my reference of comparison.

I think I could be considered an enthusiast for the last 4/5 years but I’m by no means an expert. I haven’t performed any ‘tests’ just what my eyes see.

Connected to:

Onkyo RZ70 AVR
7.2.4 (B&W 606 series & Dali altecco atmos speakers, Dali Sonik side surrounds)
Panasonic 820 UHD Blu-Ray player

Design:

It’s really big. Like you don’t even realise until you have the tv how much so.
It’s clean and feels premium. On the wall i can see the silver bezel but at the same time appreciate the end to end screen with no black area.
It pretty much vanishes into my wall as a floating screen in the dark. I like it.
But it’s thicker than I thought it would be.

SDR:

It’s fine. I’ve always felt the better the tv the WORSE the quality looks for older formats and 1080p and below. It’s ok. But once you’ve experienced a 4k image with proper hdr it always looks a bit meh. I’d also caveat that with the fact I’m in a 3x3m room and pretty close to the screen. Certainly not the ‘recommended’ viewing distance.

HDR:

Wow. Just wow. Now, I’ve got it mounted in my home cinema which is a dark room. I’ve played around with the presets and decided I prefer the ‘movie’ mode over my normal ‘filmmaker’ not sure why… just feels like there’s more pop but also the detail remains. I’ve had to turn the brightness down by 10 tho. It lights up the whole room otherwise.
It’s stunning whilst watching 4k blu rays in Dolby vision and hdr10. Truly stunning.

Motion:

I’d seen a fair bit of negativity around the motion handling and although I don’t game I did watch the World Cup on it today and didn’t notice any problems. It felt ok. But that said I do notice motion issues on my oleds and kind of accepted it for what it is now. Over the potential soap opera effect alternative anyway.

Black levels:

I love OLED and have one flagship (G4) and another standard OLED as my bedroom tv.
What I would say is it’s not OLED. The contrast and pitch black that type brings is incomparable. But it’s miles better than my nanocell that was previously in here that was grey for the most part. It’s really dark in a dark room. But not QUITE OLED black.

Blooming control:

Ok so now this is OUTSTANDING compared to what I came from. I could barely watch a film in my home theatre (nanocell86) after I bought an OLED due to the awful blooming on my old set. I couldn’t not see it.
On the C8L? It’s not noticeable whatsoever. Granted I’m watching straight on but I can’t see it at all.
Impressive stuff for an LCD.

UI/OS

First time I’ve used Google tv but I’d say I think it’s great. Feels more ‘open’ compared to my lg’s and just a little bit snappier. I feel more in control of the content too. With less changes to dumb down the ads etc.
This is an area I was concerned with coming from an LG

Overall I’m really pleased and don’t think I could have got a better 98” for the money I paid. Will be my home cinema screen for a good few years or until OLED get to a reasonable price level in 98-100”.
Now which film should I watch next?

Thinking I could have gone to 115” 😂

Can’t get it mounted until Monday though now… arrived a little later than originally on anticipated

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who advised me to get the TCL! I haven't had much time to play with it yet, however once I'm off from work on Monday I will be sure to be all over it!