TCL QM8 Mini-LED TV (2024) review: better, bigger, and brighter
After receiving numerous awards in 2023, the TCL QM8 Mini-LED TV is making a comeback in 2024 with some significant improvements. The biggest ones are that the larger model has 5,000 local dimming zones and a higher peak brightness of 5,000 nits. One of the brightest TVs we’ve ever tested was last year’s model, and the QM8 this year seems to be continuing that trend.
Design And Display:
As far as design goes, the new TCL QM8 (2024) doesn’t seem to have much new. Actually, under the hood is where most of the changes happen. The new anti-glare coating and the 2.1.2 speaker system located on the rear of the TV are the two exceptions to that rule. Most of them are positive additions, however we’ll discuss the implications of those below.
However, the true innovation is taking place within. To better manage blooming, TCL is increasing the TV’s total brightness this year and including additional local dimming zones. Considering that previous year’s model didn’t bloom very much and ambient light was hardly ever a problem when the TV was on, that’s pretty good. As far as design goes, the new TCL QM8 (2024) doesn’t seem to have much new. Actually, under the hood is where most of the changes happen. The new anti-glare coating and the 2.1.2 speaker system located on the rear of the TV are the two exceptions to that rule. Most of them are positive additions, however we’ll discuss the implications of those below.
However, the true innovation is taking place within. To better manage blooming, TCL is increasing the TV’s total brightness this year and including additional local dimming zones. Considering that previous year’s model didn’t bloom very much and ambient light was hardly ever a problem when the TV was on, that’s pretty good.
Connectivity:
The QM8’s design’s only true drawback is that its back panel will still only feature two full-spec HDMI 2.1 connectors. It’s not as fantastic as having four full-spec HDMI 2.1 ports, as we’ve seen on the LG C3 OLED from last year or the Samsung QN90C, but you will still receive two more HDMI 2.0b ports, one of which doubles as the eARC port.
Performance:
Performance is what counts most, not specifications. The QM8 gave everything a fantastic appearance, even though all we’ve seen on TV is pre-canned content. The TV’s enormous color saturation was on full display in scenes including a blue-and-purple chameleon creeping on a branch, as well as scenes with a golden ring on a perfect black background with outstanding black levels and zero blooming.
You may be concerned that seeing the QM8 can occasionally be somewhat uncomfortable due to its maximum brightness of 5,000 nits. Fortunately, that did not come to pass. Remember that even though a TV has a high peak brightness, it can typically only achieve that level for brief periods of time within a tiny window. This improves effects such as a firework that illuminates small areas of the screen for a few seconds, or a dawn. It’s not as though you’re constantly blinded by light when watching TV.
Sound:
Impressive was also the TV’s sound output, with a built-in subwoofer and two upfiring speakers in its 2.1.2-channel setup. With the TV turned up to thirty, the big demo room was readily filled, and the soundstage was widened by the upfiring speakers. If the bass had been a little bit deeper, we would have been even more amazed, but that would not have been totally the speaker’s fault and could have been a problem with the sound settings.
Conclusion:
The QM8 (2024) seems to have really upped its game from the award-winning model from last year, with tiny new additions like the ATSC 3.0 tuner and anti-glare screen, to improved brightness and number of dimming zones.
Though it’s not a definite at this point, it’s likely that we’re looking at the next inclusion in our best TV list of 2024 based on what we witnessed at our CES 2024 presentation. The newest TVs from Sony, LG, Samsung, and Hisense—all of which are probably going to up our game this year—have still not been released.
This one can be the TCL 40-Inch Class S3. The tcl qm8 mini-led tv may not be available yet. But the TCL 40-Inch Class S3 is! Buy it here on Amazon!🚀
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