TCL QM8 Mini-LED TV (2024) overview
The TCL QM8 (2024) goes to attraction to anybody in search of a superb TV on a funds. It provides sturdy specs and spectacular video output for a comparatively cheap value of $1,499. It competes towards Tom’s Information’s finest TV of the 12 months, the Hisense U8N Mini-LED, and virtually matches it spec for spec — although, we’d nonetheless suggest the latter for causes listed under.
In comparison with final yr’s QM8, this yr’s mannequin comes with an ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV Digital Tuner in addition to a extra highly effective 2.1.2 Speaker System. (Thanks for listening to our suggestions, TCL!) This sound system permits Dolby Atmos proper out of the field whereas additionally supporting Dolby’s largest rival, DTS Digital:X.
Like its largest rival, the U8N, the QM8 makes use of an AI-enhanced processor for higher upscaling and may attain a refresh charge of 144Hz when linked to a PC — at the least on its high port. So as to add onto all that, this is among the few TVs that may assist all types of HDR, together with each Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+.
On-paper that is an absolute OLED-killer. And whereas its real-world efficiency largely lives as much as that title, it’s arduous to get this degree of efficiency with out making a couple of cuts — and those TCL made right here become simply sufficient to make it barely much less interesting than rival fashions.
TCL QM8 (2024) Value and launch date
When you really feel such as you’ve seen a overview of the TCL QM8 pretty not too long ago, it’s as a result of you may have — the TCL QM8 (2023), also called the TCL QM850G, was simply launched in the midst of final yr. This yr’s mannequin is the TCL QM851G, however you’ll see it referred to by most retailers because the QM8. It’s fairly complicated, truthfully, so simply be sure you have a look at the mannequin quantity earlier than making a purchase order when you’re useless set on shopping for the newer mannequin.
The smallest and most inexpensive QM8 mannequin begins at 65 inches and retails for $1,499. If a 65-inch display is a bit smaller than what you want, there’s three bigger sizes: the 75-inch, 85-inch and 98-inch QM8 that promote for $2,699, $3,999 and $7,999, respectively. Our overview pattern was the 75-inch mannequin, however the 65-, 85-inch and 98-inch fashions must be virtually equivalent give or take a small little bit of distinction because of the differing variety of native dimming zones.
- TCL 65QM851G (65-inch): $1,499.99 | $1,399 on sale
- TCL 75QM851G (75-inch): $1,999.99 | $1,799 on sale
- TCL 85QM851G (85-inch): $2,999.99 | $2,499 on sale
- TCL 98QM851G (98-inch): $5,999.99 | No sale value
If you need absolutely the largest display with the very best variety of dimming zones and finest brightness, there’s a step-up mannequin referred to as the TCL QM89 that’s out there in a whopping 115-inch display measurement and presently sells for $19,999. It’s a giant funding actually, but when it suits comfortably in your lounge and also you’ve bought $20,000 to spare, why not?
Unsure which measurement is best for you? Take a look at our information on ‘What measurement TV must you purchase?’
Design
There’s not a ton to say in regards to the QM8’s design, particularly when you’re coming from final yr’s QM850G mannequin — it’s nonetheless a comparatively skinny display with little bezel. At practically 2 inches, it’s not as skinny as some OLED TVs, but it surely received’t jut out too far out of your wall must you determine to make the most of its 300×400 VESA mounting holes.
The one two modifications which can be arduous to disregard are the brand new light-reflecting metallic brand TCL positioned on the upper-right nook of the display and a checkerboard sample on the again of the TV. You received’t discover the latter a lot, however the former is usually a bit distracting once you’ve bought overhead lighting.
By way of ports, there’s no actual surprises right here: There’s Composite Video + L&R Audio In (which requires a separate adapter), 2 x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB 3.0 port, digital optical audio and a 3.5mm audio jack alongside an RF antenna socket and 4 HDMI ports. Take additional care when plugging exterior units into the HDMI ports as HDMI 1 helps 4K/144Hz enter; HDMI 2 helps 4K/120Hz enter; and ports 3 and 4 solely settle for 4K/60Hz enter. The latter are HDMI 2.0 ports whereas the previous are HDMI 2.1. Fortunately TCL is upfront about this and all of the ports are labeled.
The spotlight of the design, for my part, is the built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner. Watching an NFL recreation over-the-air in Dolby Imaginative and prescient was a monumental second and an actual achievement for broadcasters that for too lengthy have solely broadcast in SDR. As extra native stations roll out ATSC 3.0 assist, having a TV outfitted with an ATSC 3.0 tuner will turn into extra necessary.
I additionally fairly just like the QM8’s distant — it’s the suitable measurement and it’s arduous to lose within the seat cushions. It might not have fancy performance like LG’s Magic Distant, but it surely’s a lot less complicated to make use of.
Efficiency and check information
By way of total brightness, the TCL QM8 is among the brightest TVs we’ve ever examined. In its Vivid mode that, admittedly, is unappealing to observe for quite a lot of minutes at a time, it will possibly attain over 5,000 nits. For normal day-to-day use, count on brightness within the 2,000-nit space, which is greater than sufficient to take care of any ambient brightness within the room.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | TCL QM851G | Hisense U8N | LG OLED Evo C4 | Samsung QN90D |
| SDR Brightness (10%, in nits) | 3220 | 1258 | 332 | 1910 |
| Delta-E (decrease is best) | 12.534 | 3.2403 | 1.8201 | 2.6029 |
| Rec. 709 Gamut Protection | 99.9655 | 98.3141 | 98.9136 | 99.7672 |
| HDR Brightness (10%, in nits) | 5085 | 3296 | 1049 | 2040 |
| UHDA-P3 Gamut Protection | 97.4 | 96.77 | 98.15 | 94.43 |
| Rec. 2020 Gamut Protection | 73.86 | 82.07 | 72.27 | 77.3 |
| Enter Lag (ms) | N/A | 13.1 | 12.9/9.2 (Increase) | 9.6 |
This excessive degree of brightness can assist remedy one of many TV’s largest points — reflectivity. When you may have vivid, vibrant content material enjoying on the display, you received’t see any glare, even when you place the TV proper subsequent to a window. Take that vivid, vibrant content material off the display and depart the ambient gentle, nonetheless, and glare turns into a giant situation. Your finest guess is to maintain this TV away from ambient gentle like open home windows and sliding glass doorways, and stick it in a darkish room.
The flip aspect is that its excessive degree of brightness coupled with TCL’s Mini-LED expertise signifies that the QM8’s distinction is an actual sight to behold. With Dolby Imaginative and prescient or HDR10+-enabled content material like Home of the Dragon on Max or The Rings of Energy on Amazon Prime Video, you’ll have the ability to take pleasure in stunning starlit evening time scenes free from black-level crushing and replete with element.
However whereas the brightness and distinction are undoubtedly one thing to write down residence about, shade vibrancy and accuracy can current issues. In our lab checks taken at a TCL occasion earlier this yr, the QM8 was solely in a position to cowl 73.86% of the Rec2020 shade gamut and had a excessive out-of-the-box Delta E rating of 12.5, which might make some scenes look unnatural. To provide this TV a good shot, I examined primarily in its Film image mode with the brightness turned up, and that helped make scenes look extra pure than within the Normal or Vivid image modes.
The opposite situation I had was that each upscaling and movement dealing with proved to be a problem for the QM8. Whereas watching a soccer recreation on an area ATSC 3.0 station, gamers working down the sector had wild quantities of movement blur each in entrance and behind them. Quick-moving scenes in movies and reveals had been arduous to comply with, and colours routinely appeared a shade askew.
The great distinction and excessive brightness outweigh the negatives right here, for certain, however the points I discovered marred what would’ve in any other case been top-class image efficiency.
Sound
The TCL QM8 comes with an 80W 2.1.2 speaker system built-in — the entrance left and proper channels are 20W apiece, the 2 up-firing audio system are 10W, and the sub is 20W. With that type of firepower this technique can get loads loud, nonetheless, except you actually dial within the audio settings, you may simply lose the dialogue in sure scenes with numerous background noise.
Attempting to observe The Rings of Energy on Amazon Prime Video with this TV was a problem. The dynamic vary of audio meant having to decrease the amount for combat sequences, solely to boost it again up when the situation shifted from Mordor to Numenor or Eregion.
You could have two choices to attempt to fight this situation. The primary, and more practical of the 2, is to activate Quantity Leveling within the settings. With leveling on, you’re going to lose a few of that dynamic sound, however the dialogue shall be a lot clearer. The opposite possibility is to have leveling turned off, put the TV into its film mode for audio, and fiddle with the amount to get it loud sufficient for the dialogue to be audible with out blowing out the audio system throughout motion scenes.
Neither possibility is sweet, per se, and the audio efficiency bothered me a lot that I finally needed to join the TV to one in every of Tom’s Information’s finest soundbars.
Sensible Platform
Like most different TCL TVs, the QM8 makes use of a barely modified model of Google TV. It’s among the best sensible platforms attributable to its velocity and deep app library, and the one actual modification TCL makes is including a brand new space of the UI merely referred to as “TCL”. Right here you’ll discover all types of free content material from TCL’s varied companions, much like what we’ve seen on Roku, Samsung and LG TVs.
So far as app protection goes, Google TV has all of the bases coated with Netflix, Prime Video, Max, Apple TV and extra, alongside some extra area of interest apps like Philo. The advisable content material row is a pleasant contact, and will be a useful useful resource once you’re undecided what to observe subsequent.
Lastly, must you need to forged out of your telephone, Google TVs have Chromecast Constructed-in that permits you to ship movies to the TV once you’re linked to the identical Wi-Fi community. There’s additionally Google Assistant, which is useful to have when you’ve constructed up a sensible residence round merchandise like Google Nest Thermostat and Google Nest Cams.
Gaming
TCL takes gaming significantly and the QM8 is not any slouch on this space. The truth is, when linked to a gaming PC, you will get 4K/144Hz playback from the HDMI 1 port. If you wish to step up the refresh charge on the expense of decision, the TV additionally helps 1080p/240 — which is good if you need the buttery-smooth refresh charge of a monitor however sitting in your lounge.
The dangerous information is that it’s solely the HDMI 1 port that helps these options. HDMI 2 is restricted to 4K/120 assist, whereas HDMI 3 and 4 ports high out at 4K/60. This isn’t an enormous situation proper now given the truth that there are solely a handful of consoles in the marketplace that assist 4K/120, however that is one thing you’ll need to bear in mind when you’re planning on shopping for Sony and Microsoft’s subsequent console era once they arrive in a couple of years.
The video games I had an opportunity to play appeared superior, nonetheless, and I’d say it’s a superb TV for avid gamers trying to get nice efficiency and don’t need to overspend by shopping for an OLED TV.
Verdict
The TCL QM8 is an efficient different to the Hisense U8N, matching it spec-for-spec and coming shut in real-world efficiency. Sadly, there’s only a few too many points right here that preserve the TCL from surpassing the U8N, inconsistent sound high quality and shade accuracy chief amongst them. These points are fixable by way of exterior {hardware} like an AV receiver or sound system and by diving into the superior image settings. However out of the field, I had points.
Fortunately there are a number of different positives right here that may win again any naysayers. For me, the distinction and brightness are large pluses, as are the inclusion of all the assorted HDR codecs and ATSC 3.0 tuner. The latter particularly has been lacking on a lot of this yr’s flagship TVs from Samsung and LG, so its inclusion right here doesn’t go unappreciated.
Clearly, value goes to be the deciding issue for lots of parents and it’s right here that the QM8 provides an actual benefit. In comparison with most of its opponents, the 65-inch QM8 is a good worth. Its efficiency isn’t good, however for beneath $1,500, you’re getting a really strong display with a number of nice options. I’d nonetheless go for the Hisense U8N, as it may be had for across the identical value and provides very comparable specs and efficiency, however the QM8 is an efficient stand-in when you can’t discover a Hisense U8N in your neck of the woods.
