Until recently, TCL was probably best known for its Roku-branded TVs that offered decent picture quality and features and competed well with most TVs in the lower end of the market. But with the launch this year of its flagship QM8 TV line of mini LED QLED equipped 65” and 75” sets, featuring the Google TV platform, TCL is now squarely taking on the very best TVs offered by Sony, LG and Samsung.
Focus on the QM8 screen
The QM8 screen is framed by a thin band of black, brushed metallic material on the top and sides, with a strip running along the bottom edge with the TCL logo placed in the middle. The TV is supported by two wide plastic support arms that can be attached to the screen at one of two heights, either close to the base or lifted up a few inches, to make room for a soundbar.
Google all the way
The TV’s smart TV platform from Google supports most major streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Hulu, Max, Netflix, Sling, Twitch, and YouTube for video, along with hundreds of other apps and services. For viewers who want to stream from a local device, Google TV supports Google Cast for Android smartphones and tablets and Chrome browser tabs. TCL has also added Apple AirPlay 2 to the QM8 so you can stream from iPhones, iPads, and Macs as well.
So, you think you are smart?
If you are like me, and have a habit of misplacing your remote, fear not, with the QM8 you can still control the TV with Google Assistant which is accessible through the TV’s far-field microphones using the wake words “Hey Google,” or by using the remote. With Google Assistant, not only can you search for content and control the TV directly with voice commands you can also check your calendar for appointments, have general questions answered and control compatible smart home devices such as live feeds from doorbells and home security cameras.
It’s gonna be a bright, sunshiny day
So yes, the QM8 has just about all the smart TV features you could ever want. But what about the picture? I tested the image quality of the 65” QM850G in a 12’ by 20’ room that has some natural lighting coming from two windows. I evaluated the TV using 4K content from Netflix and Disney +, as well as using Sony’s UBP-X700 4k Blu-ray player. Gaming performance was tested on an Xbox One.
When you first turn on the QM8 the first that hits you is how amazingly bright the set is, with an incredible peak brightness of 2321 nits. Unless you are in a room bathed in sunlight, you will never want to watch it at those peal levels. Fortunately, the QM8 line boasts up to 2300 dimming zones which helps it deliver deep and uniform blacks characteristic that rival even the best OLED TVs, and at a fraction of the cost. The 65” QM850G is currently on sale in the U.S. for $899 or EURO 1390 for the equivalent 65C93 Series. At these prices, there are very few sets that can compare to TCL’s flagship model line.
I threw the best 4K content I could find at the QM8 and it consistently provided a superb picture. It was at its best when displaying HDR content where the improved contrast and deeper, more realistic colours provided an almost lifelike image.
If you are an avid gamer then the QM8 could be your dream TV, as it supports a 144Hz refresh rate that can be further boosted to 240Hz using the Game Accelerator mode which lowers resolution for a higher refresh rate, cutting the resolution down to 1080p from 4k.
While the QM8 can’t quite match the image quality of the very best 4K sets in the market (viewing angles are limited and it doesn’t do a great job with upscaling low-resolution content), when you compare its features and price to other competitors, it comes out at the very top.
Price
$899 U.S. or 1390 EUR at the time of the review
Technical details
TCL Q Class – QM850G/65C93 Series (Equivalent model in Europe)
Model: 65QM850G – Ultimate 4K Mini LED TV
Screen size: 65″
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Audio
Audio Power (Watts): 10W + 10W (Speakers) + 20W (Subwoofer)
Audio passthrough: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital +, Dolby Digital, PCM
Dolby processing: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital +
Display
Display technology: QLED
Panel refresh rate: 120Hz
Panel resolution: 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160)
Display colors: 1.07 billion
Local dimming type: Full array ultra local dimming
High Dynamic Range Format: HDR ULTRA, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Connections – Inputs/Outputs
AV input: composite video + L&R audio In (mini 3.5mm connector)
Audio output: 1
RF input (NTSC, ATSC): 1
Ethernet: 1
USB: 1 USB 2.0
HDMI: 4 HDMI (1 eARC)
SPDIF digital audio optical: 1
Audio output headphone: 1
Product & package information
Product size (WxHxD) with Stand: 56.9″ x 34.1″ x 11.7″
Product size (WxHxD) without stand: 56.9″ x 32.6″ x 1.7″
Stand separation distance: 13.4”
Product weight with stand (lbs): 54.7 lbs
Product weight without stand (lbs): 50.1 lbs
Package size (WxHxD): 65.1″ x 39.4″ x 6.9″
Review setup
TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV
Netflix
Disney +
Sony’s UBP-X700 4k Blu-ray player
Xbox One
TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV
1390 EURWhile the QM8 can’t quite match the image quality of the very best 4K sets in the market (viewing angles are limited and it doesn’t do a great job with upscaling low-resolution content), when you compare its features and price to other competitors, it comes out at the very top.
Pros
- Beautiful overall imaging with high-resolution sources
- Super bright
- Great contrast and black uniformity (so even dimly lit scenes look amazing)
- Unbeatable price for this performance
Cons
- Some minor backlight blooming
- Viewing angles limited
- No ATSC 3.0 tuner
- Upscaling low resolution content
