TCL's QM8 redefines what you should expect from a QLED TV

TCL’s flagship TV for 2023, the QM8 Class, is a high brightness mini-LED model, and its impressive local dimming delivers deep and detailed shadows. Available in screen sizes ranging from 65 inches up to 98 inches, QM8 class sets are affordably priced compared to much of their mini-LED competition, and they offer a full suite of features that will appeal to movie fans, sports fans, and gamers alike. Unlike with earlier mini-LED TVs from the company which had a Roku TV option, Google TV is the only available smart interface, but it’s completely serviceable and the Google Assistant feature can be operated hands-free on QM8 Class sets.

The TCL QM8 is a great TV overall. It's a fantastic gaming TV as it supports up to 4k @ 144Hz (with some caveats), is compatible with every variable refresh rate (VRR) technology for nearly tear-free gaming, and its brightness is stellar in both SDR and HDR so all games look bright and vibrant. It also has incredibly low input lag in Game Mode.

The TCL 85QM8 has a few annoying ergonomic issues, and like most LED/LCD sets its off-center viewing won't challenge an OLED. But its performance is impressive, and its price unexpectedly affordable. Properly adjusted, and on source material ranging from the routine to the awesomely difficult, its performance was consistently irresistible.

Thanks to its use of Mini LEDs and other technologies, the TCL QM8 is one of the brightest TVs you can find on the market. But its lack of an ATSC 3.0 tuner, unimpressive sound and strong competition mean that rival TVs offer more features for less.

TCL's flagship QM8 Class TV delivers excellent picture quality and the Google TV platform along with plenty of other features, though it's priced higher than the company's previous models.

TCL C805 features the Pentonic 700 SoC. While CPU and GPU performance remains roughly the same based on our benchmarks and practical testing, it enables Dolby Vision 4K 120Hz gaming (with Xbox Series X) and comes pre-installed with Android 12. Unfortunately, it is still limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports, and there is a Dolby Vision bug that sometimes makes the picture too dark and lifeless. TCL promises to soon fix it with a firmware update.