TCL’s 2024 QM8 photographed in the ZDNET testing lab.
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Last year’s TCL QM8 made our list of the best 85-inch TVs; the other model sizes were equally impressive. It features a QLED panel, as well as support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, for enhanced picture quality and virtual surround sound. This TV’s dedicated gaming mode lets you set the frame rate and VRR status. Additionally, our testing confirms that the QM8 is a well-rounded TV — and at a price that is slightly more wallet-friendly than competing brands.
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I’m sure you’ve heard of TCL and even seen its more budget-friendly TVs at Walmart or on Amazon. The QM8 is part of the company’s midrange line. It boasts a QLED screen supporting Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which helps create bolder colors and deeper contrasts.
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Setting up the HDR is a quick, two- to three-minute process. You can always make changes later in the TV’s settings. Additionally, when setting up game consoles like the PlayStation 5, you can configure game-specific HDR settings.
Taylor Clemons/ZDNETThere’s also a dedicated game mode, which you can access by holding the hamburger menu button while using a game console via HDMI. The mode creates a top and bottom bar that allows you to monitor your frame and refresh rates, choose different color temperature settings, or even share screenshots and videos of your gameplay.
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The picture quality of the QM8 is significantly better than I expected, given my familiarity with TCL’s budget TVs. The QLED panel is bright, clear, and vibrant, making it an excellent choice for gaming and rewatching old favorite shows and movies.
I sat down for my semi-regular re-watch of the original Teen Titans show from Cartoon Network, and even though the cartoon is 20 years old, the resolution upscaling was clean, eliminating that odd “fuzziness” that older, pre-1080p media can have.
By adjusting the picture settings, I was able to fine-tune the contrast and color to capitalize on the dynamic art style, which features dark shadows and bright, colorful superhero costumes.
For gaming, the QM8 worked wonderfully with both my PS5 and Nintendo Switch, offering smooth playback and great picture quality. Keep in mind that your Switch hardware may not support 4K output, especially if it’s a first-iteration model (which is what I have).
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Although the Switch graphics looked chunky with some titles, especially Wheel of Fortune (it added to the charm), they never looked bad, per se. Other games like Hades looked amazing, with smooth animations, dynamic on-screen action, and vivid colors.
Taylor Clemons/ZDNETThe QM8’s built-in speakers produce respectable sound, albeit quietly, so I recommend pairing it with a soundbar like the TCL Alto 6+ to boost dialogue and enhance the sound in movies, music, shows, and games.
Another drawback to the QM8 is that it doesn’t automatically turn on when a connected device is powered on. I own several other televisions, and each of them automatically turns on when I power on a game console or DVD player. It’s a minor gripe, but it’s a quality-of-life feature that I personally appreciate in my TVs.
ZDNET’s buying advice TCL’s QM8 (2024) may not be the company’s latest model, but it remains one of the best QLED TVs available for purchase today. Its price point undercuts competing models from Samsung, Sony, and LG. For almost all visual applications, including gaming, the TV gets the job done. To enhance the experience even further, I suggest pairing the set with one of the top soundbars available.
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