Why I recommend this TCL Mini LED TV over pricier OLED models (especially at $700 off)

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The TCL QM8K (65-inch) is presently disposable for $2,199.
It handles HDR contented with eye-popping, true-to-life brightness.
The summation of a soundbar would marque its audio much immersive.

Various TCL QM8K sizes are presently discounted (up to $1,500) crossed large retailers similar Amazon and Best Buy.

TCL continually punches supra its weight, offering awesome TV tech astatine prices that request a cost-benefit investigation erstwhile considering different brands.

For that reason, I've recommended a fewer caller TCL models to readers, friends, and family. After spending respective weeks with the 65-inch QM8K successful our investigating lab, I recovered retired what separates the company's 2025 flagship exemplary from others successful its class.

First impressions and setup

Not agelong ago, I reviewed the step-down QM7K, which is simply a terrific Mini LED. My superior critique was the contented of installing the base/stand connected that TV, which required 12 screws and much head-scratching clip than I attraction for. Disappointingly, the QM8K required the nonstop aforesaid procedure; determination was nary betterment determination contempt the $1,200 quality successful the 2 models.

Also: Why I urge this Amazon Fire TV soundbar to astir radical - particularly astatine this caller debased price

The QM8K boasts a "ZeroBorder" design, which is close, but not precisely accurate: its existent bezel is astir 4mm wide. That's not atrocious astatine all, but "zero" means none, not 4 millimeters. Still, you'll beryllium looking astatine a floating rectangle of bright imagery that holds up good adjacent successful a sun-drenched country with tons of windows.

Its distant power is identical to the QM7K's, a spot plasticky for a flagship product. While it doesn't consciousness arsenic premium arsenic the TV it controls, it is simply a backlit distant (thankfully), and you tin run the TV hands-free with dependable power done Google Assistant.

Once you person the QM8K connected its feet -- oregon its 1 large ft -- the setup process is straightforward and reasonably quick. Getting my assorted streaming apps up and moving was painless, guided by the acquainted Google TV interface. With built-in Chromecast, it offers entree to each the accustomed streaming apps similar Netflix, Hulu, and Prime (it's besides compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit).

Bright, bold, but not perfect

The main lawsuit for immoderate TV is representation quality, and this is wherever the QM8K's strengths and weaknesses go evident. The QM8K boasts a highest brightness of up to 5,000 nits. Our investigating concluded with highest brightness levels conscionable implicit 4,500 nits astatine 70% of the screen, which is nary joke. Translation: its HDR contented tin beryllium dazzling. Brightly lit scenes look stunning, and the QM8K is plentifulness capable to flooded glare successful a room.

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Brightness is lone portion of the equation, though. While the QM8K has 35% much dimming zones than its predecessor and a "new halo power system," it's not immune to a faint blooming effect astir agleam objects. For a Mini-LED astatine $2,200, that's not a disappointment, but it is simply a consideration.

Deep, inky blacks are getting ever person to OLED territory successful TCL's evolution. In a pitch-black room, with a precise circumstantial trial pattern, you mightiness inactive spot a hint of blooming connected the QM8K. But successful real-world viewing, watching a movie similar "Dune 2" with its stark, high-contrast scenes, the achromatic levels were outstanding. For 99% of my viewing, it was a non-issue.

Picture absorption and gaming

The QM8K's AiPQ Pro processor is the aforesaid crossed the 3 products successful this series. However, the carnal assemblage of this TV (the panel, backlight, and different components) combined with its bundle optimizes it for superior wide representation show implicit the QM7K.

One specified constituent is the sheet itself, which TCL calls a CrystGlow WHVA Panel. This sheet offers a wider viewing space and decreased glare compared to the QM7K. The QM8K's viewing angles, portion improved, inactive amusement immoderate colour and opposition degradation erstwhile you determination off-center -- a noticeable contented for a household dispersed retired connected a wide couch.

Even the QM6K, successful fact, is equipped with the CrystGlow WHVA. While this is simply a diagnostic that performs champion with the QM8K's hardware advances, I person to accidental the quality is hardly disposable to the bare oculus successful presumption of viewing space among the QM6K done the QM8K.

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The QM8K's autochthonal 144Hz refresh rate, coupled with enactment for VRR and ALLM, makes for a fluid and responsive gaming experience. Hooking up a PS5, I recovered "Helldivers 2" to beryllium incredibly smooth, and the debased input lag is simply a wide vantage successful competitory play.

While the TV has 4 HDMI ports, it's important to cognize which ones enactment the afloat HDMI 2.1 diagnostic acceptable needed for 4K astatine 144Hz due to the fact that lone 2 of the 4 ports bash that. This could beryllium a regulation if you ain aggregate next-gen consoles oregon a high-end PC. It's an country wherever flagship competitors often supply much flexibility.

Great sound, though not rather cinematic

TCL's concern with Bang & Olufsen successful the QM8K's talker strategy is simply a commendable measurement up for this year's series. The dependable strategy is robust, dialog is clear, and there's capable assemblage to the dependable to marque movies and shows enjoyable without instantly reaching for different remote.

That said, the B&O branding mightiness not unrecorded up to an audiophile's expectations, chiefly due to the fact that the carnal limitations of speakers packed into a bladed TV chassis inactive apply. The bass is contiguous but lacks the deep, room-shaking rumble of a dedicated subwoofer. While it's a superior built-in system, it won't regenerate adjacent a midrange soundbar for those who prioritize immersive audio.

ZDNET's buying advice

As I indicated above, successful a brightly lit room, wherever my OLED sometimes struggles with reflections and washed-out colors, the TCL QM8K is simply a torch. HDR content, successful particular, is explosive. Sunsets successful 4K samples, submersed coral reef exploration, the airy bluish glow of Frodo's sword, "Sting" -- each travel with a wow origin for a TV conscionable nether $2,200.

Also: I replaced my TV with a 4K UST projector - and the ocular upgrade was massive

But here's the thing. You tin get a 98-inch TCL QM7K for lone $600 more. That size is little of a TV and much of a wall. And with that size successful a Mini LED, you're getting adjacent higher worth due to the fact that with much and smaller dimming zones connected a larger screen, Mini LED TVs tin much precisely power airy distribution, importantly enhancing opposition and item successful some acheronian and agleam areas.

If you deficiency the existent property for that size of TV successful your viewing room, past conscionable instrumentality your expectations down a notch and acquisition the TCL QM7K astatine 65 inches, redeeming yourself $1,200. Upgrades and all, you apt won't beryllium dismayed by immoderate ocular difference.

Ultimately, though, it's just to accidental the QM8K is simply a morganatic contender for the champion "bright room" TV connected the market.