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TCL QM8K Mini LED Review - Great TV, With Big Flaws
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TCL QM8K Mini LED Review - Great TV, With Big Flaws

TCL QM8K Review: Is It Worth the Hype?

Overview of the TCL QM8K

  • The 2025 QM8K is TCL's flagship QD miniLED WHVA panel, offering 4K resolution at 144Hz with improved brightness and viewing angles compared to previous models like the QM6K and QM7K.
  • The review focuses on the 65-inch variant, which is priced at $1,799.99, marking a higher price point than typical TCL offerings.

Picture Quality Expectations

  • The QM8K features higher zone counts and a glossy screen aimed at delivering superior picture quality, potentially rivaling high-end models like Sony's Bravia 9.
  • The reviewer expresses skepticism about whether it can truly compete with established flagships but acknowledges its potential for better color accuracy.

Color Accuracy and Performance

  • In SDR mode, the TV performs well out of the box with an average delta E of 1.5, indicating minimal noticeable errors in color reproduction.
  • HDR performance presents challenges; initial settings show under tracking issues that can be adjusted but not fully resolved, particularly near black levels.

HDR Performance Insights

  • The QM8K achieves nearly 80% BT2020 color gamut coverage, which is commendable for a miniLED display but still shows some noticeable errors in HDR content.
  • While colors are more vibrant compared to budget options like the QM6K, there are significant issues with HDR performance that need addressing.

Brightness and Contrast Measurements

  • Despite being one of the brightest miniLED displays measured (second overall), it underperformed against last year's model in certain tests.
  • Real-world HDR content testing reveals mixed results; while some content appears brighter than standard tests suggest, overall performance remains inconsistent.

Contrast Ratio Analysis

  • The contrast ratio test yields impressive results: over 19,000:1 in macro contrast and over 7,600:1 in micro contrast—ranking among the best for miniLED displays.

TV Comparison: QM 6K, QM 7K, and QM 8K

Overview of TV Models

  • The QM 6K is highlighted as an excellent value TV, performing closely to the more expensive QM 7K and QM 8K models.
  • Affiliate links for purchasing the TVs are mentioned, indicating a recommendation for viewers interested in these models.

Blooming and Contrast Performance

  • Discussion on blooming issues with the QM8 Cam; improvements claimed due to local dimming zones and backlight technology.
  • Notable blooming observed in challenging scenarios like off-angle viewing, particularly during fireworks footage.
  • While blooming is less noticeable from a direct front view, it remains an issue at slight angles; text on black backgrounds may still show blooming artifacts.

Gaming Performance Insights

  • Game mode performance shows similar results to filmmaker mode; overall gaming experience rated positively.
  • Impressive latency of just 29 milliseconds at 144 Hz makes it one of the fastest mini LEDs measured, comparable to OLED performance.

Motion Performance Analysis

  • Motion performance is decent but exhibits some dark smearing against dark backgrounds compared to competitors like LG G4.
  • Despite minor drawbacks in motion clarity, HDR format support (Dolby Vision, HDR10 Plus, etc.) enhances both movie and gaming experiences.

Display Clarity and Coating Quality

  • Text clarity is surprisingly good due to RGB subpixel layout; this leads to sharper images than previous generations.
  • Glossy coating improves detail visibility while managing reflections effectively compared to other models reviewed previously.

Ambient Light Handling and Viewing Angles

  • The QD mini LED excels in ambient light handling compared to QD OLED displays; better contrast can be achieved even with minimal ambient light.

TCL QM8K vs. QM6K: A Comparative Review

Viewing Angles and Performance

  • The TCL QM8K shows improvement in viewing angles compared to the QM6K, but the enhancement is not drastic. Some scenarios may exhibit better performance, yet it retains some LCD-like properties that affect contrast and color at off-angles.
  • While the QM8K offers better viewing angles than its predecessor, whether it's worth the price difference over the QM6K is debatable, especially for those with specific seating arrangements.
  • Slight off-angle views are significantly improved in the Q8 model; however, extreme angles still present issues like blooming and loss of picture quality.

Sound Quality Concerns

  • Despite claims of upgraded sound in premium models, user experience indicates that sound quality on the QM7K and QM8K may be inferior to that of the QM6K.
  • Issues such as rattling at certain frequencies were reported, suggesting a need for external sound systems rather than relying solely on built-in speakers.
  • The overall audio performance lacks depth in mids and bass, indicating potential areas for improvement in future iterations.

Flickering Issues

  • Users experienced flickering during low frame rate content; this issue was inconsistent and primarily observed with streamed content or 24 fps material.
  • Communication with TCL regarding flickering yielded mixed responses about reproducibility; uncertainty remains if this is a widespread problem or isolated to specific units.

Motion Interpolation Experience

  • The only effective workaround for flickering was using motion interpolation, which performed well on lower settings but may not appeal to all users due to personal preferences against it.

Overall Impressions and Recommendations

  • When functioning properly, the TV delivers impressive visuals and design quality that positions it competitively within its price range. However, concerns about HDR tracking and other issues raise questions about its value relative to similarly priced OLED options.

TV Recommendations and Insights

Evaluating TCL's QM Series

  • The speaker critiques the pricing of last-generation OLED TVs, suggesting they are overpriced at around $1,300. They recommend considering the QM 7K for those willing to sacrifice a bit of quality for better value.
  • The QM 6K is highlighted as nearly comparable to the QM 8K in terms of contrast, making it a strong budget option. However, brightness levels are significantly higher in the Q8K.
  • While acknowledging that the QM 6K isn't technically superior to the QM 8K, its affordability makes it an attractive choice for budget-conscious consumers.
  • The speaker advises against purchasing the QM 7K and Q8K until firmware improvements are made, recommending instead to opt for an OLED from another manufacturer.

Final Thoughts on TV Choices

  • Despite recognizing the potential of the Q8K, the speaker believes it requires further development before being fully endorsed. They plan to provide affiliate links and settings recommendations in future content.

HDMI Cable Recommendations

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Thank you to Ruipro for sponsoring this video! Buy the Ruipro HDMI 2.1 Certified Fiber Optic Cable (6FT): https://amzn.to/3wvHB7j Buy the Ruipro HDMI 2.1 Certified Fiber Optic Cable (25FT): https://amzn.to/432NDGS Buy Ruipro Cables: https://ruipro.store/displayguy Patreon Monitor Settings Here (Guides & Discord): https://patreon.com/TheDisplayGuy Buy The TCL QM8K Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3ZTyQzJ (75" - 98" Version /\) Best Buy Affiliate Link: https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/o4JJzY (65" - 98" Version /\) Watch 4K HDR Display Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS0sx6xYHN0&list=PL5tcDDlxmnwAMvNVj7CzfrGB9UV9_yMsF&index=3 Buy the 2025 TCL QM7K (Affiliate Links V) 65" QM7K (Amazon): https://amzn.to/43eTBYB 65" QM7K (Best Buy): bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/raR6qd Buy the TCL QM6K Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/4emwNtW Best Buy Affiliate Link: https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/aOYkr TCL QM8K Mini LED Review - Great TV, With Big Flaws I reviewed the 2025 TCL QM8K Mini LED TV, and while it’s easily TCL’s most premium offering yet—with a new QD Mini LED WHVA panel, 4K 144Hz support, nearly 1,800 local dimming zones, and excellent HDR color accuracy—it’s not without flaws. Compared to the QM6K and QM7K, the QM8K delivers better brightness, improved viewing angles, strong SDR and HDR performance, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, and impressive gaming responsiveness with low input lag. But it also suffers from some issues like HDR undertracking, visible blooming at off angles, motion smearing, sound distortion, and flickering in low frame rate content. While this TCL flagship competes with OLEDs in many areas, its \$1,799 price tag makes it harder to recommend over last year’s OLEDs or even TCL’s own QM6K, which still offers exceptional value. Watch Display Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ihdqQ2lJB4&list=PL5tcDDlxmnwCKe1lzCP_fM80xwCxs3ba-&index=2 TCL QM8K - 0:00 What to Expect - 0:28 Specs & Price - 1:02 Data For Enthusiasts - 1:39 The Short Version - 3:18 HDR & Brightness - 3:58 Contrast - 5:21 Gaming - 8:18 Clarity & Coating - 10:12 Viewing Angles - 12:14 Audio - 13:52 Issues - 14:50 Motion - 16:12 Menu & Features - 16:57 Who's This For - 17:10 #miniledtv #miniled Best OLED TVs LG G4 65" (4K 165Hz OLED): https://amzn.to/43c356S Samsung 77" (4K 144Hz OLED) S90F: https://amzn.to/4d4xtDN LG C5 77" (4K 144Hz OLED): https://amzn.to/4cXXzbi Best Mini LED TVs Sony 75" (4K 120Hz Mini LED) Bravia 9: https://howl.me/cmwF3dvyEla TCL 75" (4K 144Hz Mini LED) QM851G: https://howl.me/cmwF2POsCEn Hisense 75" (4K 144Hz Mini LED) U8N: https://howl.me/cmwF4irnyW3 My Favorite Mounting Hardware. Affiliate links below. Commission earned. VESA Adapter: https://amzn.to/4cO7Nuq VESA Adapter: https://amzn.to/4aQ6Pw6 VESA Wall Mount (For TV Mounting): https://amzn.to/3xvAFYc VESA Monitor Arm (For Heavy Displays): https://amzn.to/4aqiDoT VESA Extender Plates: https://amzn.to/4cIG3Y2 Music https://www.davidcuttermusic.com My Favorite HDR Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5tcDDlxmnwDh5BZz4LXubXRXnLuW61G2