TCL QM8 (2024) Evaluation: Mini LED TV Will get Brighter, Richer Image

8.5/ 10
SCORE

TCL QM8 (2024)

Execs

• Vibrant display
• Punchy, cinematic pictures
• Nice for avid gamers

Cons

• LG C4 just a few hundred extra
• Occasional grey-blue blacks
• Final 12 months’s TV is comparable and less expensive

With the introduction of mini-LED know-how — to not be confused with MicroLED — trendy LCD-based TVs have been in a position to provide higher, extra dynamic footage than ever earlier than. Consequently, televisions such because the TCL QM8 — particularly, the QM851 mannequin from 2024 that I am reviewing right here — characteristic not solely exceptionally vibrant pictures however backlights exact sufficient for the subtlety of shadow element in darkish scenes. 

The TCL QM8 is not simply vibrant. It is one of many the brightest we’ve but examined, and this interprets to glorious distinction and a cinematic wallop together with your favourite films. The TCL options colours that come out of the display, and that is particularly noticeable in in the present day’s blockbusters, with the TV’s assist for Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10. The show additionally contains loads of methods to stream them, with the inbuilt Google TV interface.

The TCL QM851 is a wonderful TV, however it’s nonetheless not good. For example, all that tech results in a higher-than-most value which is at present near the OLED-based LG C4, and for under $300 extra, you will get its even-better image. Additionally, relying on the scene, the TV’s black ranges can typically be inconsistent — being blue-black as an alternative of darkish gray or black, as an illustration — in a approach that OLED merely by no means is. In distinction (ahem), the TCL is vibrant in a approach that OLED simply cannot be.

If you need a TV that provides dynamic footage and is solely enjoyable to make use of, the TCL QM851 is a very nice instance of what an LCD tv can do. That stated, remember that the QM850 from 2023 could be very comparable and as much as $500 cheaper, and so it might nonetheless be the one to purchase as an alternative.

TCL QM851 collection TV sizes

I carried out hands-on testing of the 65-inch TCL QM851, however this assessment additionally applies to the opposite display sizes within the collection. All sizes have comparable specs and may exhibit comparable image high quality.

65QM851G (65-inch)

75QM851G (75-inch)

85QM851G (85-inch)

With the introduction of the 115-inch 115QM891G, the QM851 is now not the official TCL flagship. Whereas I have not formally reviewed the 115-inch, I’ve used that TV over the previous few months in CNET’s TV lab and it is particularly enjoyable for immersive gaming. Nonetheless, as you’d anticipate, the much-cheaper QM851 is the higher worth by an enormous margin. Nobody wants to purchase a 115-inch TV, not simply but.

In the meantime, the less-expensive QM751 collection has fewer native dimming zones — 1,500 versus 5,000 on the QM851 — and this is able to possible have a noticeable impact on image high quality, particularly on darkish scenes. As well as, the QM751 dispenses with add-on options like an ATSC 3.0 tuner and the Onkyo 2.1.2 Speaker System, plus it makes use of Wi-Fi 5 as an alternative of the much-newer Wi-Fi 6.

Placing your films on a pedestal

Like its predecessor, the QM851 makes use of a pedestal stand that makes situating the TV on a media unit simpler — particularly if the AV stand is somewhat smaller than the TV. The stand has two settings — flush with the underside of the unit, or elevated by 2.5 inches — that would assist present clearance for a soundbar. The TV includes a refined silver accent across the bezel, and I significantly just like the Mini-LED “tab” on the suitable hand facet.

The plastic distant is rounded, and maybe it is as a result of Halloween is across the nook, however the vertical “brushed” look jogs my memory of a mummy’s bandages. And even an unwrapped Twix.

Content material-first is the Google TV approach

Whereas some good TV interfaces go for an apps-first method — Apple TV and Roku — there are others that prioritize content material like Hearth TV and Google TV. But, the issue with the latter method is two-fold: they are often very busy to take a look at, they usually do not at all times give customers a selection as to which content material is served up. Google’s Android-based system has develop into more and more locked down, particularly within the transition from Android TV to Google TV. Whereas up to now you might add content material rows from companies equivalent to Netflix and transfer these rows round, customers’ residence screens at the moment are locked into no matter classes the search big deems greatest. The one exception to this lack of customization is you could reorder the app shortcut bar on the backside although you too can do that on competitor’s app drawers.   

In the event you use Google Assistant or have a Nest-based good residence, the Google TV ecosystem will combine very properly. You’ll be able to ask your Nest mini to play the newest episode of Agatha All Alongside, for instance, and it’ll play on the TCL.

Utilizing the TCL’s Google TV interface I did not expertise any sluggishness in any respect and located loading particular person apps to be comparatively zippy. If you need extra energy or customization, you might add a separate set-top from Apple or Roku although most customers will not have to.

In the event you lengthy for the simplicity of Apple TV or Roku, there may be an apps solely mode, however sadly that is probably the most restrictive of all. It appears to be like tremendous easy with a primary carousel picture and rows of apps, however search is weirdly disabled.

Options

As I discussed within the introduction, the QM8 makes use of a mini-LED backlight, and it is the small measurement of those LEDs that permits the TV to have 5,000 native dimming zones — a far cry from the handfuls and even fewer zones of some TVs. Full-array native dimming permits the display to dim and brighten totally different areas concurrently and this finally will increase distinction and due to this fact image high quality.

The QM8 has a real 120Hz refresh price, which results in higher movement efficiency than 60Hz TVs. Like most TVs in its class, QM8 makes use of quantum dots that assist enhance shade efficiency. The TCL helps each Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10 excessive dynamic vary codecs (today, principally the one producer that does not is Samsung). The QM8 additionally provides Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ, which works with an ambient mild sensor to routinely alter the image. The TCL’s speaker system relies on Dolby Atmos and includes a 2.1.2 configuration, although primarily based on a fast take heed to its onboard audio any funds soundbar will sound higher.

Connections embody:

• 4 HDMI inputs (one with eARC).
• Analog (composite) AV enter. 
• 2 x USB 2.0 port (2.0), 1 x USB 3.0.
• Ethernet.
• Headphone jack.
• Optical digital audio output.
• RF (antenna) enter.

The most important step-up in connections in contrast with the sooner TCL 6-Collection Roku TVs is the power to just accept 4K/120Hz enter indicators, from an Xbox Collection X or PlayStation 5, for instance. The TV options each a 120Hz and a 144Hz enter really able to accepting a 144Hz enter, in keeping with TCL. But, just some PCs are able to utilizing these additional hertz, and this means is price discounting for now. Different gaming extras are par for the course, particularly VRR, or variable refresh price, and ALLM (auto sport mode). 

The QM851 makes up for its predecessor’s lack of built-in ATSC 3.0 by offering a NextGen TV over-the-air tuner. Nonetheless, given the format’s glacially sluggish rollout it is potential that many patrons of this TV won’t ever use nor even want it. 

TCL QM8 vs. Hisense U8N vs. Roku Professional: Image high quality in contrast

For this assessment, I arrange a shootout of three 2024, 65-inch LED TVs at numerous value factors — the TCL QM851 at $1300, the $1,100 Hisense U8N and the $900 Roku Professional. I examined them with a procession of each HD and 4K content material, in addition to in in a darkened room and with the lights on.

TV and films

I watched numerous check scenes from films, together with It, Oppenheimer and Mission Unimaginable 3, and in each HD and 4K HDR. Of the three TVs, although, it was the daring colours and cinematic really feel of the TCL that saved my consideration whatever the film performed.

As half of final 12 months’s Barbenheimer juggernaut, Oppenheimer proved to be an amazing check of those TVs’ capabilities with its dirty black-and-white scenes and actually explosive colours. For example, at daybreak, on the day of the Manhattan Mission check (1.51.26) the digicam lingers on the “launchpad” of the explosive system. With each the Roku and the TCL I may make out the hills within the background, in addition to numerous lights across the check space. On the Hisense, nevertheless, I could not see the pre-dawn sky — it seemed like midnight as an alternative — and a shining mild within the prime third of the display was additionally obscured. The Hisense was just too darkish for this and different shadow-detail heavy scenes, even in a darkish room.

Normally, I discovered that the TCL had the most effective shadow element of all three TVs, although on the very odd event the shadows confirmed a bluish tinge. This was evident within the scene instantly earlier than the launchpad as Oppenheiner (Cillian Murphy) and Leslie “Dick” Groves (Matt Damon) enter the barracks and there was a darkish blue strip down the left hand facet of the display, however this was a darkish gray shadow on the Hisense and the Roku.

It was pores and skin tones that had been probably the most spectacular factor in regards to the TCL — like a lot of the TV’s pictures they tended to pop. On the different finish of the dimensions the Hisense seemed a inexperienced at instances or eye-poppingly pink in caucasian pores and skin tones. Although it is shadow element and black ranges had been poor, the Roku did exhibit correct colours throughout my testing.

Gaming 

With its devoted Gamemaster display and separate Gaming mode it is easy to attach a console and set the TCL up so you’ll be able to get pleasure from low-lag gaming. A fast check with the Xbox Collection X additionally confirmed that the TV is ready to do 4K/120Hz decision and I used to be quickly enjoying one of many supported video games — Ori and the Will of the Wisps — with out lag or tearing points. Moreover, the picture merely burst from the TV with the Ori character getting the complete, eyeball searing good thing about HDR. The sport seemed higher than on any system I might performed it on ever earlier than.  

Vibrant lighting

The TCL has one of many highest mild outputs of any TV we have measured, and this is not merely a knowledge level on a graph — this translated to real-world image high quality enhancements, particularly in HDR. Whereas it was solely a few factors greater on the graph than the Hisense it translated to noticeably higher highlights.

Whereas the coating on the TV is not utterly matte, it was in a position to reject mild in a lit room successfully, and it offered distraction free pictures — particularly when mixed with its excessive mild output. 

Settings and movie mode notes

Regardless of its head-turning image, the TCL is not probably the most correct TV we have examined. The closest modes to “true” had been both Filmmaker Mode or Film they usually every featured a gamma of two.27, which is near the best 2.2 for blended lighting situations. The gray scale check rated as solely “common,” whereas the “common” shade checker measurements would appear to translate a number of the hyper-real colours I noticed in real-world testing. In the meantime, the Hisense had its gamma set to 2.4 and I discovered this to be be too darkish for many environments — it result in crushing of a lot of the shadow element.

Geekbox

Portrait Shows Calman calibration software program was used on this assessment. 

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