TCL QM6K Review: Amazing picture, sexy price tag

It’s February and we’re already reviewing a brand new TV. What does this imply and the way good is it? Right here is my first 2025 TV evaluation: the TCL QM6K.

First, slightly backstory. Yearly, a couple of weeks earlier than CES, many of the TV manufacturers have a press pre-briefing. The video displays are slightly cringe typically, however we do be taught slightly about every model’s lineup for the brand new 12 months and get a really feel for what we’ll see on the present. It helps us get ready to cowl the present and helps me plan out what my 12 months will appear like. Usually, we get a have a look at the product roadmap for the 12 months and listen to about a number of fashions; for instance, LG advised us concerning the G5, the C5, and a few of its new QNED lineup, together with some soundbar and projector stuff. (It’s been this manner for the 15 or so years I’ve been doing this.)

When TCL introduced solely one TV throughout its press briefing, I didn’t know what to suppose. Had been they maybe making an attempt too arduous to push this one mannequin? Possibly that wasn’t a superb signal? Then I assumed, “The oldsters at TCL have one thing up their sleeve — this can be a technique play.” When the TCL QM7 made an look at CES, I used to be relieved. Maybe TCL caught wind that their technique didn’t resonate and so they wanted to point out they’d different secrets and techniques in retailer.

The TCL QM6K was not solely the primary fixture at CES, however TCL dropped the bomb that you may pre-order it, with a free soundbar tossed in, and you may have it in your house in February.

And individuals are paying consideration. TCL is getting press in contrast to another TV model proper now. In contrast to Sony, who waits till later within the 12 months to personal the limelight, TCL went arduous in the wrong way and now owns the highlight earlier than another model holds their first-look occasions, sends out evaluation models, or places a 2025 mannequin on a retailer shelf.

This begs the query: Is the TCL QM6K only a advertising stunt, or is it a TV it is best to significantly think about shopping for? My reply: Sure. There’s one disappointing side of this TV (extra on this later), however it’s not a deal-breaker.

TCL QM6K specs

Substantial settings

With regards to unboxing, the field itself is unusually flimsy, however it ought to survive a visit from, say,  Amazon’s warehouse to your private home. The legs on the unit I acquired have been plastic, which isn’t exceptional for a lower-tier TV, Nevertheless, I’ve been knowledgeable that prospects receiving this TV acquired metallic legs with their units, so I’m left to imagine this was an anomaly for my evaluation pattern. When putting in the legs it was arduous to get them to seat, making screw insertion slightly extra work than anticipated. Fortunately, this essentially clumsy job goes to be a one-and-done deal for most folk, and that provided that the TV isn’t wall mounted.

The distant, although? I like it. The brand new design doesn’t really feel just like the cookie-cutter remotes I are likely to see with Google TVs. Additionally, it’s backlit, which I like. I additionally love that I’ll truly use nearly the entire scorching keys. (YouTube? About time!)

For inputs there are two 4K 144Hz ports (sure, a 144Hz native panel) and two 4K 60Hz ports — one is the eARC port. So, you possibly can join two recreation consoles or a recreation console and a gaming PC and nonetheless have your eARC port free for connecting a soundbar or receiver.

Talking of gaming, there’s a Sport Grasp setting. It may be assigned to the HDMI enter you’ll use most for gaming. This removes a bunch of the query marks round whether or not HDMI CEC and EDID communication will activate your recreation mode, which I additionally love.

With regards to settings, TCL has added an Eco settings suite that permits you to resolve the way you need your TV to save lots of or not save energy. There’s additionally now a Filmmaker Mode within the Image Settings menu.

Navigation can also be fast and snappy — I’ve zero complaints about working this TV.

You may want a soundbar

The TCL QM6K has an ATSC 1.0 tuner and helps HDR 10, HDR 10+, HLG, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Dolby Imaginative and prescient Gaming, and Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ (which I by no means use). HDR codecs are nicely coated.

As for audio codecs, the TV seems to assist many of the Dolby Suite, passing by means of proper as much as uncompressed Dolby Atmos. It’s going to additionally assist DTS: Digital X, however it doesn’t seem to assist DTS:X DTS-HD Grasp Audio, and so on. In case you are a DTS lover and wish the perfect DTS audio expertise in your A/V receiver, you’ll most likely need to run exterior sources to your receiver first after which to the TV, relatively than attempt to cross them by means of.

I used to be optimistic concerning the Onkyo branding and the 2 “subwoofers” (we’re utilizing that time period very loosely when speaking about most TV audio system). Sadly, the sound high quality of this TV is nothing to get enthusiastic about. My greatest criticism: the dearth of clear treble replica, which leads to less-than-crystal-clear voices and dialog. For the perfect expertise a soundbar (at the very least) might be an vital addition to this TV — a set with this excellent image high quality deserves equally nice sound.

Good numbers for Nit Nerds

Let’s dive into the metrics. I first examined inventory Filmmaker Mode utilizing Calman, a VideoForge PRO, and a Calibrite Show Plus HL colorimeter.

In SDR and with no changes, the TV put out 150 nits, which is strictly what a strict interpretation of SDR requires. Of us could need to brighten up the TV after turning off the Ambient Brightness Sensor within the Eco settings space. Most individuals choose extra brightness for daytime viewing and watching SDR content material, which is usually considered throughout the day by means of cable or satellite tv for pc or stay streaming TV companies. (When the brightness and the native dimming settings have been maxed out, I might get about 650 nits in a ten % window.)

The QM6K’s two-point white stability is outstanding for a TV of this worth. Thirty % stimulus had barely a registerable error and one hundred pc stimulus had a Delta E of lower than two. The 20-point grayscale was a special story: There have been errors as much as 4 within the mid-tones, nevertheless that’s nonetheless fairly good for a mid-tier TV. My subject: The 20-point calibration toolset appeared to repair the RGB stability, however the gamma was nonetheless off and the Delta E stayed the identical regardless. (Calibrators: Any thought what’s occurring right here?)

Now, for the good information. That is essentially the most color-accurate TV of its worth that I can recall testing. The colour in SDR and HDR is excellent. Actually, the pores and skin tones on this TV are higher than the now-$15,000 QM891G 115-inch monster TV — the colour accuracy is simply so dialed-in. The QM6K, at slightly below $1,000, has stellar out-of-the-box efficiency. We’re taking a look at 94 % of DCI-P3 and about 72 % of BT.2020, which is just a bit bit low. A few of which may be the TV’s HVA panel, and a few is probably going the TV’s brightness capabilities — at the very least for the BT. 2020 quantity. (It’s not a significant shortcoming for many viewers, however in case you are a nit nerd, you wish to know.)

With regards to peak brightness in HDR, I used to be capable of get the TV to learn 931 nits as soon as underneath the absolute best circumstances. Nevertheless, the very best repeatable quantity was about 750 nits; that was in a 25 % and never a ten % window. (I’m happy with that. How TCL makes use of its dimming algorithm may imply that in lots of real-world instances will probably be capable of pull off first rate specular highlights by activating extra zones. Nevertheless, it factors to one thing concerning the density of the mini-LED backlighting system or how energy administration works.) The colour is simply so good at this worth. TCL’s engineers are clearly on the case, and I believe that signifies that TCLs higher-end fashions are going to be aggressive with Samsung, LG, and Sony in methods we haven’t seen earlier than.

Stellar image high quality, exceptional accuracy

Right here’s the takeaway: This TV has exceptional coloration accuracy — the perfect I’ve seen out of the field for the value, so far as I can recall. The white stability is superb, too. The black ranges and backlight management — blooming and halo mitigation — is remarkably good. The one factor that leaves me wanting extra is the brightness. Most folk might be fairly proud of it — it will get lots shiny — however I anticipated a bit extra.

The movement appears to be like stable to this point (there’s nonetheless a lot extra content material I need to watch). There’s some stutter in streamed content material, however judder in 24 fps films is minimal to the purpose of barely value mentioning. In case you like movement smoothing, TCL has a terrific system that, utilized judiciously, leads to a transparent, smear free, stutter-free image with out throwing into full-on, fake-looking cleaning soap opera mode.

The image high quality on this TV is stellar for the value — maybe the perfect I’ve seen from some views. Nevertheless, I need extra brightness for HDR highlights. The QM7 from final 12 months was brighter, so it’s clear that TCL has provided extra brightness at this worth level. Nevertheless, the QM7 doesn’t characteristic the colour accuracy of the QM6K, and doesn’t have as clear an image or exceptional black ranges. Most noticeably maybe, the QM7 doesn’t have the identical HVA panel.

The off-angle viewing expertise on this TV will not be OLED-level superior, however it’s so significantly better than the earlier VA-type LCD panels that TCL has used prior to now. I’m nearly leaping for pleasure. (If any reviewer doesn’t acknowledge that that is clearly superior for off-angle viewing, I query their integrity. It’s blatantly apparent how significantly better it’s.) Off-angle isn’t excellent, however it’s first rate, at the very least. Prior to now, it was dangerous — borderline trash. It’s not simply TCL — all of the VA panels had trash off-angle viewing. Panel producer TCL CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Know-how) is promoting this panel to a number of manufacturers. So, there might be an identical story from competing manufacturers. Nevertheless as a result of TCL is out with it first, they get the rain of reward.

Essentially the most thrilling half …

Of us, the QM6K is a superb TV. I simply need slightly extra sparkle for HDR. (That’s what Hisense goes to convey, however except they step it up in a serious approach, I don’t suppose we’ll see the identical coloration and grayscale efficiency.) I might be recommending it to so many individuals this 12 months. I’ve super confidence that this TV goes to make quite a lot of of us very, very completely satisfied. For now, the QM6K is my go-to, and never simply because it’s model new.

When evaluating the QM6K to different TCL fashions, I’d one hundred pc suggest it over the QM7 from 2024. Nevertheless the QM8, additionally from final 12 months, might be calibrated for actually good coloration accuracy and the added brightness for each SDR and HDR could be value spending about the identical for the TV and little extra for a calibration. Clearly, Hisense is within the dialog with its U7N, however coloration accuracy goes a good distance with me, so I’m sticking to this TV in that comparability.

What has me most excited concerning the QM6K? The worth tag. If the TV is that this good at this worth, in the case of the QM7K and the QM8K, I believe fanatics are about to see the perfect TV efficiency underneath $1,500 and $2,000 that we’ve ever seen from a QLED TV. That’s my prediction. I hope I’m proper, and I can’t wait to seek out out.

For now, the TCL QM6K is the TV that many of the TV-watching public within the US ought to get. It has what you want, and it’ll deal with you to a tremendous expertise at a really good worth. Additionally, if you need a 2025 TV, that is the just one on the market. Possibly TCL’s technique labored in spite of everything.