TCL QM8L review

Display

The QM8L uses a Mini LED backlight behind an LCD panel. Small areas of that backlight can brighten or dim separately, helping a sunlit window stand out without lighting up the whole scene. TCL’s SQD technology also broadens its color capabilities. That combination makes this a particularly interesting TV for a room where you watch in daylight as well as after dinner.

Tom’s Guide measured 3,719 nits on its 75-inch sample using a 10% HDR window in Filmmaker Mode. ¹ That is substantial headroom for bright highlights, although it is not the brightness of an entire screen or a promise for every size. I would put more weight on that tested result than on the family’s highest advertised peak.

Room layout still matters. RTINGS found that colors washed out fairly quickly from the sides. ² A seat facing the screen is the better place to enjoy it; spreading a large group around an L-shaped sofa exposes its limitations.

Picture Processing

The broad HDR support is convenient when your viewing moves between streaming services and discs. You can use either Dolby Vision or HDR10+ where the content provides it, with Filmmaker Mode available as a straightforward starting point for movies.

The picture favors impact over strict accuracy. RTINGS found good upscaling and useful cleanup of rough video, but less faithful HDR reproduction than on the previous QM8K. ² Older shows can benefit from the processing; viewers particularly concerned with reproducing a film exactly as mastered should weigh that HDR compromise more heavily.

Gaming

All four HDMI inputs handle high refresh rates, so connecting several demanding devices is easier than on the QM8K, which offered that bandwidth on only two. ² You can leave a gaming PC and consoles connected without reserving one special port for each change of plans. The eARC connection shares HDMI 1, leaving three other inputs when you use it for a sound system.

Variable refresh rate helps keep the picture together when frame rates fluctuate, and automatic low-latency mode takes care of switching into game settings. The optional 288Hz mode works at 1080p, rather than 4K. RTINGS found low input lag but noticeably blurred fast transitions in Game Master mode. ² That makes the QM8L easier to recommend for varied living-room gaming than for someone whose main priority is tracking rapid competitive action.

Smart TV & Connectivity

Google TV puts streaming apps and recommendations in one place, while casting gives you another way to start something from a phone. AirPlay 2 is useful in an Apple household; Google Cast covers a different set of apps and devices. The remote is backlit, a small convenience that makes more sense when you are trying to find a button during a film.

There is also an Ethernet connection if you prefer a cable to Wi-Fi. An ATSC 3.0 tuner adds support for compatible over-the-air broadcasts, although reception and programming depend on your local stations and antenna. It is an extra route to television, not a replacement for checking what is actually broadcast where you live.

Sound

The Bang & Olufsen name is attached to the built-in sound system, but I would treat it as a useful starting point rather than a reason to rule out separate speakers. Tom’s Guide found the sound better than many built-in systems without being a dramatic leap. ¹ For everyday dialogue, try the available sound modes before buying anything else.

For a fuller system, eARC connects a compatible soundbar or receiver. Dolby Atmos FlexConnect offers another option using compatible wireless speakers, sold separately. That can make speaker placement more flexible, but it is still an additional purchase rather than surround sound supplied in the box.

Sizes & Installation

The 65-, 75- and 85-inch versions use a central pedestal, while the 98-inch model uses widely spaced feet. That last detail is easy to miss when shopping by screen size: the largest version needs a suitably broad piece of furniture, or a compatible wall mount. Check the dimensions and mounting pattern for the particular size you choose.

The core features are shared, but bigger sizes do not have identical backlight hardware. Independent testing retained for this review covers the 65- and 75-inch versions, not four separately tested televisions. Choose the size around your viewing distance, seating and available space; a larger headline brightness figure is not a good reason to buy a screen that overwhelms the room.

Alternatives

LG’s C6 is worth considering if dark-room films and fast pixel response matter more than the QM8L’s bright-room appeal. Its OLED panel lights each pixel individually, and the family includes smaller sizes for rooms where a 65-inch TV is already too much.

If you already own a QM8K, the extra high-bandwidth HDMI inputs and stronger color are useful improvements, but the HDR-accuracy regression keeps this from being an automatic upgrade. ² I would keep a satisfactory QM8K unless one of those specific changes solves a problem in your current setup.

Verdict

The QM8L is an appealing choice for a lively living room: bright HDR, generous screen sizes and convenient connections are its strengths. It is less convincing for viewers who put precise HDR reproduction or the clearest fast game motion first. For everyday streaming, shared viewing from central seats and occasional gaming, its priorities make good sense.