One of the brightest QLED TVs I've tested isn't made by Samsung or LG (and it's $500 off)

As this year’s top-of-the-line offering, TCL’s latest flagship TV, the QM8, promised to be a notable upgrade from the 2023 version. I spent some time with it over the past month to see what the hype was about.

Also: The 55+ best Black Friday TV deals 2024: Early sales live now

The first pleasant surprise I encountered was how TCL made it very easy to unbox the 65-inch model we had sent to the ZDNET lab. With a single slice of the cardboard on the bottom of one side of the box, the top lifted off to liberate the TV for setup. 

While this is super convenient, handling the TV and attaching its base stand — as with any other large TV — is best executed with a two-person job. (By the way, the 65-inch is the smallest of the QM851G series, with 98 inches at the high end of the scale.)

One notable change compared to last year’s model is that the QM8 now has a single central platform for its base instead of two separate feet. This assemblage equates to a sturdy unit with plenty of stability and allows the TV to sit on a coffee table or media stand that is less than the screen’s total width.

Powered off, the QM8 looks like a sleek, black rectangle with virtually no bezel surrounding its 57 x 32.5-inch frame. The slim sides of the unit have a brushed gunmetal finish — giving it a subtle and elegant appearance. You’d normally have to pay a fraction more of the price to get something of a similar definition.

The unit’s remote feels comfortable to hold at a rather narrow 1.25 inches wide. The keys are fully backlit and include a mic button for voice commands via Google. It also features shortcut buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV, Pluto, and, of course, TCL+tv. Naturally, these are the default apps appearing on the home page of the TV’s interface. I found it curious that the TCL+tv app appeared twice in the list of available apps (instead of Apple TV or Pluto) — but it is a TCL television, after all.

Knowing very few people read the instructions for using a TV, I grabbed the remote and gave it an “intuition test” to see how quickly I could connect to the internet and get started. The QM8’s user interface is clean and straightforward, and it runs on the Google TV platform, an operating system that leans more minimal than feature-rich — a good thing, in my book. Overall, getting started was a fairly breezy process.

Also: Changing these 6 TV settings can drastically speed up its performance

Okay, I’ll get to the part about performance and picture quality.

The QM8 is a QLED TV with mini-LED backlighting, meaning it’s even brighter than most OLED models. In fact, the QM8 boasts up to 5,000 nits peak brightness, which is significantly higher than most of TCL’s competitors in the same price range. Many high-end TVs, including other mini-LED models, typically max out at around 2,000 nits.

Mini-LED TVs use an array of LEDs to create precise dimming zones, and with up to 5,000 local dimming zones, the QM8 offers superior contrast control. This high number of zones allows for more precise backlight modulation and deeper blacks.

The QM8’s other advanced technologies, like Quantum Dot color enhancement and Dolby Vision IQ, result in exceptional image quality, high contrast, and vivid colors. Ultra-high definition 4K resolution helps, as does its HDR10+ support, which yields a wider range of colors and brightness levels than the standard dynamic range. As a boost over last year’s model, the QM8 comes with an upgraded processor (the AiPQ Pro), which leverages machine learning to activate AI-based enhancements such as AI Clarity and AI Motion.

Positioning myself off-center, however, I found the TV’s viewing angles to be relatively narrow, degrading the picture quality in terms of color accuracy and contrast. This is a minor complaint, but something to consider in setting up your seating arrangement.

Also: Don’t plug these 7 devices into extension cords – the risk isn’t worth it

The QM8’s panel has a variety of connection options, including four HDMI 2.1 ports, two of which support 4K 120Hz pass-through, FreeSync Premium Pro, and 144Hz VRR. Additionally, there are three USB ports and a 3.5mm audio output for connecting headphones.

Other 3.5mm port options include a composite video and stereo audio input, plus an optical digital audio output. It has an ATSC 3.0 tuner jack (in case the grid collapses?), but you’ll mostly be relying on its Wi-Fi 6 for zippy connectivity. The QM8 also has an Ethernet port, covering the bases for those who prefer wired internet.

For gamers, the QM8 has some attractive features. It supports up to 144Hz variable refresh rate at 4K resolution, which I’ve found very enjoyable. But it also has a “Game Accelerator 240” feature that can make gameplay seamless at 240Hz VRR — at the cost of gaming at half resolution 1080p. No less, combined with the inherent brightness and contrast in this model, the gaming experience is secretly one of the QM8’s best assets.

Also: OLED vs. QLED TV: Which panel type is best suited for your home?

The QM8’s Onkyo-designed speaker system has an 80-watt, 2.1.2-channel configuration — a notable improvement from the 2023 model, which had relatively puny 20-watt, 2.1-channel speakers. The new model includes two up-firing Dolby Atmos speakers positioned on the left and right sides of the frame. In addition to Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, the audio quality is certified as IMAX Enhanced.

Watching old episodes of Lost, I found the QM8’s sound crisp and bold. What I appreciate most is the TV’s auto volume control, which levels out sudden decibel boosts like explosions — and especially pesky commercials.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Going for less than $1,000 on Best Buy at the time of this writing, the TCL QM8 offers crazy value for its size and assortment of features. Comparable models from the likes of Sony could be priced for twice as much. If you want to go larger, sizes like the 75-inch QM8 are on sale for $500 off, too, starting at $1,499. You can even supersize it to the 98-inch for $3,999 — a whopping $2,000 off.

If you prioritize brightness, contrast, and high-level gaming, the QM8, at any size, is a solid investment for the cost. Just make sure you’re able to position the TV (and yourself) well enough to get the best, centered viewing angle and, hopefully, have a helping hand when first unboxing the set.