TCL QM8L Series 65" Class 64.5" Review
TCL's QM8L delivers a flagship 6000-nit picture for hundreds less than Sony or Samsung. It's the best value in high-end TVs right now.
The 30-Second Version
The TCL QM8L has the best picture you can buy without spending Sony money. For $1800, it's an absolute steal that makes the competition look overpriced.
Overview
The TCL QM8L is a picture quality monster that punches way above its price tag. Forget everything you think you know about budget TV brands. This thing hits a staggering 6000 nits of brightness, making HDR content absolutely explode off the screen. It's the best picture we've tested in its class, period. The one thing to know? You're getting flagship-level performance for hundreds less than the big-name competition.
Performance
The brightness is the star, but the whole package is impressive. That 6000-nit peak is best-in-class, and the HDR performance is nearly perfect. Gaming is a dream with full 144Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro, and HDMI 2.1. The audio is strong too, landing in the top 10% of TVs we've tested. The only real letdown is the display's basic panel tech, which sits in the middle of the pack. But when the picture is this good, you stop caring about the spec sheet.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong picture quality (100th percentile) 100th
- Strong hdr (99th percentile) 99th
- Strong connectivity (98th percentile) 98th
- Strong smart (98th percentile) 98th
Cons
- Below average social proof (20th percentile) 20th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 65" |
| Resolution | 4K (2160p) |
| Panel Type | Mini-LED QLED |
| Backlight | Full Array Local Dimming |
| Curved | No |
Picture Quality
| Brightness | 6000 nits |
| Motion Tech | Motion Rate 480 |
| Processor | HDR Compatible |
HDR
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes |
| HDR10+ | Yes |
| HLG | Yes |
Gaming
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| VRR | FreeSync Premium Pro |
Smart TV
| Platform | Google TV |
| Voice Assistant | Google Assistant |
| Screen Mirroring | Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2 |
| Works With | Google Home, Apple Home |
Audio
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Surround Sound | Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS:X |
| eARC | Yes |
Connectivity
| HDMI Ports | 4 |
| HDMI Version | 2.1 |
| USB Ports | 3 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Ethernet | Yes |
| VESA Mount | 300x300 |
Power & Size
| Power | 362 |
| Energy Star | No |
| Annual Energy | 362 |
| Weight | 21.1 kg / 46.5 lbs |
Value & Pricing
This is a no-brainer. At $1800 for a 65-inch Mini-LED with this performance, the value is incredible. You'd pay $500 to $1000 more for similar picture quality from Sony or Samsung. TCL is eating their lunch.
Price History
vs Competition
The Samsung Neo QLED is the direct competitor, and the TCL beats it on pure brightness and value. The LG OLED evo C5 has perfect blacks and better viewing angles, but it can't touch the QM8L's eye-searing HDR highlights. The Hisense U6 is cheaper, but its picture and gaming features fall well behind. For most people, the TCL offers the best blend of performance and price.
| Spec | TCL QM8L Series 65" Class 64.5" | Sony Bravia Sony BRAVIA 5 98" 4K HDR Smart Mini-LED TV | LG OLED evo - C5 series LG - 77" Class C5 Series OLED evo AI 4K UHD Smart | Samsung Neo QLED Samsung - 65” Class QN80F Series Neo QLED Mini LED | Hisense U65QF Mini-LED Hisense - 75" Class U6 Series MiniLED QLED UHD 4K | Roku Mini-LED QLED 4K - Pro Roku - 65" Class Pro Series 4K QLED Mini-LED Smart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 65 | 98 | 77 | 65 | 75 | 65 |
| Resolution | 4K (2160p) | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 |
| Panel Type | Mini-LED QLED | MiniLED | OLED | Neo QLED | MiniLED | MiniLED |
| Refresh Rate | 144 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 144 | 120 |
| Hdr | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Google TV | Google TV | webOS | Tizen | Fire TV | Roku TV |
| Dolby Vision | true | true | true | false | true | true |
| Dolby Atmos | true | false | true | true | true | true |
| Hdmi Version | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | - | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Hdr | Audio | Smart | Gaming | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Picture Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCL QM8L Series 65" Class 64.5" | 98.8 | 90.4 | 97.7 | 97.2 | 42.2 | 97.8 | 19.6 | 99.7 |
| Sony Bravia K98XR50 98" LED Compare | 92.9 | 73.8 | 91.6 | 94.9 | 75.4 | 97.2 | 99.5 | 86.1 |
| LG OLED evo - C5 series 77" Class C5 Series Compare | 92.9 | 90.4 | 95.3 | 99.9 | 95.6 | 98.6 | 99.5 | 43 |
| Samsung Neo QLED 65” Class Series Neo Compare | 89.9 | 90.4 | 96.6 | 92.8 | 80.1 | 92.4 | 97.6 | 86.1 |
| Hisense U65QF Mini-LED 75" Class U6 Series MiniLED Compare | 98.8 | 90.4 | 93.8 | 96.5 | 69.1 | 97.2 | 97.6 | 97.1 |
| Roku Mini-LED QLED 4K - Pro 65" Class Pro Series Compare | 96.5 | 90.4 | 92.5 | 97.4 | 62.4 | 99 | 98.8 | 86.1 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the 6000 nits brightness a gimmick?
Nope. Our data shows it hits those peaks in real HDR content. It's what makes specular highlights in movies and games look incredibly real.
Q: How's the Google TV experience?
It's one of the best smart platforms. Fast, clean, and it has all the apps. It's a strong point, not an afterthought.
Q: Should I be worried about the low number of reviews?
It's a new 2026 model, so that's normal. The performance data from our tests is rock-solid. We trust the numbers.
Who Should Skip This
If you watch in a very bright room with wide seating, skip this. The viewing angles are just okay. Go get an LG OLED instead for its perfect wide-angle view. Also, if you absolutely need brand-name prestige, this isn't it. Go spend more on a Sony.
Verdict
Buy it. If your priority is a breathtaking, bright, and detailed picture for movies and gaming, this is the TV to get. The lack of user reviews is the only hesitation, but the spec and benchmark data are so strong that we're confident recommending it. This isn't a compromise pick. It's a leader.