Chinese company to launch Super Quantum smart TVs in South Africa
Electronics brand TCL says it will be the first in South Africa to launch Super Quantum Dot (SQD) Mini LED smart TVs, with an executive promising premium products at non-premium prices.
Its popular TV offerings are heavily integrated with Google’s smart home features, and the company is planning to soon debut a slate of new Google-integrated appliances in South Africa.
TCL South Africa told MyBroadband that its focus for 2026 included launching a new range of SQD-mini LED premium smart TVs, along with new Google smart home appliances.
The company has gained significant traction in South Africa since launching in November 2021, having won over locals with its affordable, high-spec smart TVs.
According to its latest financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025, the company reported profit after tax of HK$2.53 billion (R5.29 billion) from its global operations — a 36.7% year-over-year increase.
The report cited Africa as one of its key emerging markets where the company promoted local operations and continued to push sales on offline channels and e-commerce platforms.
Across Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, TCL said its TV revenues grew 19.8% year on year, with markets “unleashing the potential for scale growth.”
It initially launched in South Africa with a 4K 65-inch smart TV selling for R11,999, and has since brought its latest displays to the local market with major yearly launches.
“South African consumers deserve premium picture and sound without the premium price tag,” Mike Chen, TCL South Africa general manager, said in an announcement in March.
He said that the upcoming range features cinema-grade colour accuracy and “exceptional brightness” at pricing that makes flagship smart TVs more accessible than ever before.
TCL’s SQD-Mini LED use a refined blue LED backlight that maintains colour accuracy and reduces colour bleeding, resulting in deeper, more vibrant colours than older TVs.
Compared to its own previous generation, these TVs can deliver a 33% improvement in the range of colours available. The SQD-Mini range can also conserve colours while reaching high brightness levels.
The upcoming flagship model of the series, the X11L, is claimed to reach 10,000 nits, while the entry-level C7L can reach 3,000 nits.
Its latest range of TVs is also being paired with full-range audio systems from Bang & Olufsen, a Danish audio brand founded in 1925, known for luxury speakers and headphones.
TCL to debut Google-powered smart home appliances in South Africa
Chen announced that the new range of SQD-Mini LED smart TVs would debut alongside a range of Google smart home appliances.
In 2024, TCL launched a range of home appliances for its Middle East and Africa markets, including new air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines.
Locally, the company offers two-door, top-mounted, and bottom freezer refrigerators, as well as both domestic and commercial air conditioning systems. It only offers front-load washing machines.
Excluding the air conditioners, these appliances do not feature smart home integration. TCL later introduced smart air purifiers and robot vacuums in South Africa that worked through the TCL Home App.
Through this app, which runs on Google’s technology, TCL allows users to issue voice commands to their smart TVs or devices, such as air conditioners or robot vacuum cleaners.
The TVs themselves can serve as control hubs for other TCL smart appliances within range, as they also integrate with the Home App.
The company has yet to reveal what appliances are set to be launched locally featuring “Google Smart Home.” Brands like LG, Bosch and Samsung offer Google-compatible washing machines in South Africa.
Through Google Nest, Google sells branded smart home security cameras and smart thermostats, which can be purchased in South Africa from brands like Leroy Merlin or through parallel imports.
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