It ’s February and we ’re already critique a new TV . What does this mean and how good is it ? Here is my first 2025 TV review : the TCL QM6K.
First , a minuscule backstory . Every year , a few weeks beforeCES , most of the television firebrand have a press pre - briefing . The picture presentations are a little cringe sometimes , but we do learn a little about each brand ’s batting order for the new year and get a feel for what we ’ll see at the show . It aid us get prepared to cover the show and serve me plan out what my year will take care like . Typically , we get a look at the product roadmap for the year and discover about several models ; for example , LG evidence us about the G5 , the C5 , and some of its new QNED lineup , along with some soundbar and projector stuff . ( It ’s been this way for the 15 or so years I ’ve been doing this . )
When TCL announced onlyoneTV during its press briefing , I did n’t hump what to recall . Were they perhaps hear too voiceless to push this one model ? Maybe that was n’t a proficient mark ? Then I thought , “ The folks at TCL have something up their sleeve — this is a strategy play . ” When the TCL QM7 made an appearance at CES , I was alleviate . Perhaps TCL caught wind that their strategy did n’t resonate and they require to show they had other secrets in store .
TheTCL QM6Kwas not only the master regular at CES , but TCL dropped the bomb that you could pre - order it , with a gratuitous soundbar tossed in , and you could have it in your home in February .
And people are paying attending . TCL is catch pressure unlike any other idiot box marque right now . Unlike Sony , who wait until later in the year to own the glare , TCL went hard in the polar direction and now owns the spot before any other trade name holds their first - look consequence , sends out follow-up units , or puts a 2025 model on a store shelf .
This beg the question : Is the TCL QM6 K just a merchandising stunt , or is it a TV you should seriously consider buy ? My answer : Yes . There is one disappointing scene of this goggle box ( more on this later ) , but it ’s not a deal - ledgeman .
TCL QM6K specs
Substantial settings
When it amount to unboxing , the box seat itself is strangely unconvincing , but it should survive a trip-up from , say , Amazon ’s warehouse to your home base . The legs on the unit of measurement I receive were plastic , which is not unheard of for a lowly - level television , However , I ’ve been inform that client obtain this TV got metal legs with their set , so I am entrust to assume this was an anomaly for my review sample distribution . When instal the legs it was strong to get them to sit , making screw insertion a minuscule more employment than expected . gratefully , this necessarily clumsy task is going to be a one - and - done mess for most family , and that only if the TV is n’t rampart mounted .
The remote , though ? I love it . The new design does n’t feel like the cooky - cutter remotes I tend to see with Google video . Also , it ’s backlit , which I love . I also screw that I ’ll actually apply almost all of the hot keys . ( YouTube ? About metre ! )
For inputs there are two 4 K 144Hz interface ( yes , a 144Hz aboriginal panel ) and two 4 cat valium 60Hz embrasure — one is theeARCport . So , you could connect two game consoles or a secret plan console and a gaming PC and still have your eARC larboard free for connecting a soundbar or pass catcher .
Speaking of gaming , there is a Game Master setting . It can be assign to the HDMI input you will employ most for gaming . This get rid of a caboodle of the question marks around whether HDMI CEC and EDID communication will activate your game mode , which I also love .
When it comes to options , TCL has tote up an Eco options suite that permit you resolve how you desire your television to save or not write power . There ’s also now aFilmmaker Modein the Picture preferences menu .
Navigation is also quick and snappy — I have zero complaint about operate this TV .
You might need a soundbar
The TCL QM6 K has an ATSC 1.0 tuner and supports HDR 10,HDR 10 + , HLG , Dolby Vision , Dolby Vision Gaming , and Dolby Vision IQ ( which I never use ) . HDR formats are well cover .
As for audio format , the television receiver appears to support most of the Dolby Suite , passing through decently up to uncompressed Dolby Atmos . It will also support DTS : Virtual X , but it does not appear to support DTS :X DTS - HD Master Audio , etc . If you are a DTS lover and want the respectable DTS audio experience for your A / V receiver , you will credibly desire to pass outside source to your receiver first and then to the TV , rather than stress to pop off them through .
I was optimistic about the Onkyo stigmatization and the two “ subwoofer ” ( we ’re using that term very broadly when talking about most TV Speaker ) . unluckily , the intelligent quality of this TV is nothing to get excited about . My bragging complaint : the lack of vindicated treble reproduction , which lead in less - than - crystal - clear voice and dialogue . For the secure experience asoundbar(at least ) will be an important addition to this idiot box — a set with this salient moving picture quality deserves equally enceinte phone .
Nice numbers for Nit Nerds
Let ’s dive into the metric unit . I first test stock Filmmaker Mode using Calman , a VideoForge PRO , and a Calibrite Display Plus HL colorimeter .
In SDR and with no allowance , the tv set put out 150 nit , which is precisely what a strict version of SDR holler for . sept may want to brighten up the TV after turning off the Ambient Brightness Sensor in the Eco preferences expanse . Most people prefer more brightness level for daytime viewing and watch SDR content , which is typically viewed during the day through cable or satellite or live on streaming boob tube services . ( When the brightness and the local dimming scope were maxed out , I could get about 650 nit in a 10 percent window . )
The QM6 K ’s two - point lily-white residue is special for a television set of this monetary value . Thirty per centum stimulation had barely a registerable error and 100 percentage stimulus had a Delta E of less than two . The 20 - breaker point grayscale was a dissimilar story : There were errors up to four in the mid - tones , however that ’s still fairly in effect for a mid - level telly . My subject : The 20 - point calibration toolset appeared to fix the RGB balance , but the gamma was still off and the Delta E remain the same irrespective . ( Calibrators : Any thought what ’s happening here ? )
Now , for the expectant news . This is the most colour - accurate TV of its terms that I can recall testing . The color in SDR and HDR is undischarged . In fact , the skin timber on this TV are better than the now-$15,000QM891 G 115 - inch monster TV — the colour accuracy is just so dialed - in . The QM6 K , at just under $ 1,000 , has prima out - of - the - corner performance . We ’re look at 94 percent of DCI - P3 and about 72 pct of BT.2020 , which is just a little bit down . Some of that may be the TV ’s HVA venire , and some is likely the TV ’s cleverness capableness — at least for the BT . 2020 number . ( It ’s not a meaningful defect for most viewer , but if you are a nit swot , you wish to cognize . )
When it comes to bill brightness in HDR , I was able to get the idiot box to understand 931 nits once under the good potential conditions . However , the highest quotable number was about 750 nits ; that was in a 25 percentage and not a 10 percent window . ( I ’m o.k. with that . How TCL use its dimming algorithm might mean that in many real - human race cases it will be able-bodied to get out off decent mirrorlike highlights by activating more zone . However , it point to something about the density of the miniskirt - LED backlighting system of rules or how power management work . ) The colour is just so respectable at this toll . TCL ’s engineers are obviously on the case , and I think that mean that TCLs mellow - end models are going to be competitive with Samsung , LG , and Sony in ways we have n’t fancy before .
Stellar picture quality, remarkable accuracy
Here ’s the takeaway : This telecasting has remarkable color truth — the sound I ’ve seen out of the box for the toll , as far as I can recall . The ashen correspondence is excellent , too . The fateful levels and backlight ascendence — blooming and anchor ring mitigation — is remarkably adept . The only affair that leaves me want more is the luminousness . Most folks will be quite glad with it — it get plenty bright — but I expected a turn more .
The motion looks solid so far ( there ’s still so much more content I want to determine ) . There is some stutter in pour substance , but judder in 24 Federal Protective Service movies is minimal to the head of scarcely worth mentioning . If you like motion smoothing , TCL has a great organization that , go for judiciously , results in a clear , slur free , stammer - free pic without throwing into full - on , fake - lookingsoap operamode .
The picture quality on this TV is prima for the price — perhaps the best I ’ve seen from some perspectives . However , I desire more brightness for HDR highlighting . The QM7 from last yr was brighter , so it ’s decipherable that TCL has offered more brightness at this terms dot . However , the QM7 does not feature the color accuracy of the QM6 K , and does not have as clean a delineation or noteworthy fateful levels . Most noticeably perhaps , the QM7 does not have the same HVA jury .
The off - angle viewing experience on this TV is not OLED - level awesome , but it is so much better than the previous VA - type liquid crystal display panel that TCL has used in the past . I ’m almost jumping for joy . ( If any reviewer does n’t recognise that this is plain superscript for off - slant screening , I question their integrity . It is blatantly obvious how much better it is . ) Off - slant is n’t perfect , but it is nice , at least . In the past times , it was big — borderline trash . It ’s not just TCL — all the VA jury had tripe off - slant showing . Panel manufacturer TCL CSOT ( China Star Optoelectronics Technology ) is selling this control board to several brands . So , there will be a exchangeable report from competing brands . However because TCL is out with it first , they get the rain of praise .
The most exciting part …
family , the QM6 K is a heavy idiot box . I just want a small more sparkle for HDR . ( That ’s what Hisense is go to bring , but unless they abuse it up in a major way , I do n’t think we ’ll see the same color and grayscale carrying out . ) I will be recommend it to so many people this class . I have wondrous confidence that this TV is go to make a lot of folks very , very glad . For now , the QM6 K is my go - to , and not just because it is blade new .
When compare the QM6 K to other TCL models , I would 100 percent recommend it over the QM7 from 2024 . However the QM8 , also from last year , can be fine-tune for really practiced colour accuracy and the total light for both SDR and HDR might be worth drop about the same for the TV and little more for a standardisation . apparently , Hisense is in the conversation with itsU7N , but colour accuracy go a foresighted way with me , so I ’m baffle to this TV in that comparison .
What has me most frantic about the QM6 K ? The damage tatter . If the TV is this skillful at this price , when it comes to the QM7 K and the QM8 K , I intend partizan are about to see the expert boob tube public presentation under $ 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 ca n’t look to find out .
For now , the TCL QM6 K is the TV that most of the TV - watching public in the US should get . It has what you want , and it will treat you to an awful experience at a very nice price . Also , if you need a 2025 TV , this is theonly one out there . Maybe TCL ’s scheme work after all .
