The TCL QM6K Trades Picture Punch for Refined Performance

It’s been a while since I had to take off my metaphorical sunglasses to review a TV. As brands dive deeper into the brightness wars, with each new model cranking up the heat, TCL’s new QM6K takes an increasingly rare path. Instead of aiming to be the brightest model in its price class, the TV’s new screen tech brings refinement to virtually every other attribute we look for, from rich black levels and natural colors to remarkable screen uniformity.

The TV’s new miniLED backlighting system still brings a serious brightness boost over last year’s Q6, but it’s no longer the austere budget buy of years past. At $1,000 MSRP, the entry point into TCL’s revamped QLED TV lineup has moved up a level, now more comparable to midrange options like Hisense’s U7N (8/10, WIRED Recommends).

Thankfully, the QM6K adds plenty of other new goodies to go along with its upgraded picture performance. The result is an impressively well-rounded package that makes a strong argument as one of the best TVs you can get for your money.

Compact Utility

Pulling the 65-inch QM6K from its box reveals a remarkably thin and light panel for its class, stretching just 2.2 inches deep and weighing a mere 37.8 pounds assembled. The papery frame feels more on par with cheaper models, at first blush, and the use of wiry stand legs in place of the pedestal stands in some competitors doesn’t do much to dispel that perception. TCL made some clever choices to the layout though, adding nearly three inches of clearance and your choice of wide or narrow stand positions for convenient soundbar placement.

I love how easy the TV is to move and it looks pretty good on its feet, with thin chrome bezels up front and clean lines at the back. Frankly, I’m amazed TCL could fit so much into such a compact package. The secret seems to stem from the new mini LED backlighting that signifies TCL’s new Precise Dimming Series. The system comprises several new technologies, including a new LED chip for improved brightness and efficiency, and better dimming control via a new Condensed Micro Lens and a reduced “optical distance” between the backlight and panel. TCL says the tighter array also greatly improves backlight uniformity, while its new quantum dot tech provides more accurate colors.

The QM6K gets multiple gaming upgrades, including a new high-refresh panel for smooth gaming at up to 144 Hz. HDMI 2.1 support across two of its four HDMI ports provides features like VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), and the pop-up gaming bar is as feature-packed as I’ve encountered. There’s also a new Zero-Delay Transient Response that claims “virtually no lag.” I’m no gaming guru, but the response felt very fast in the games I played, to the point that God of War Ragnarok was almost disorienting at first.

Unlike some TVs we test, the QM6K’s HDMI eARC port is separate, letting you connect a soundbar or network receiver without sacrificing a gaming input. That’s crucial because the thin frame does not provide much room for sound quality. The 2.1-channel system is anemic and metallic, accounting for the most budget-y feature in the package.

As with previous TCL TVs we’ve tested, the QM6K offers support for all major HDR flavors, including HDR10/10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG. You’ll also get plenty of smart features, including Chromecast and Apple AirPlay streaming, support for Apple Homekit, and hands-free Google Assistant courtesy of the onboard Google TV operating system that runs the show.

Swift Setup, Easy Access

Google TV is one of my favorite TV operating systems, and a big part of that is how easy it is to set up and use. A few taps on the Google Home app gets the TV up and online in minutes. It’s especially quick if you’ve previously signed up for Google services like Gmail or Gsuite, and the system will even remember past recordings for personalized voice search. Search works great across apps, as does the Continue Watching feature. Oddly, the QM6K didn’t seem to log my Netflix shows as usual, but I’m not sure which mega brand to blame there.

My favorite feature by far is the ability to use Google Photos as backgrounds. I’ve said this before, but I cannot stress enough how much joy this has brought me over the years, statically serving up blasts from the past that span over a decade of memories.

You will, of course, have to sign a bit of your life away as far as personal data, so pay close attention before accepting terms. You may also want to mute the TV’s onboard microphone and just use the new angular remote’s central key to summon Google Assistant. As for the remote, it’s backlit and generally well laid out but TCL’s decision to move the mute key away from the volume to the very top left is … a choice.

A Light Touch

Adjusting the picture is nearly as simple as setup. I recommend starting with the Filmmaker Mode, as it offers good default settings and disables garish ones like motion smoothing. I made a few tweaks, starting with turning off the Adaptive Brightness under the Eye Health tab. In SDR mode, I backed off the Contrast a smidge and raised the backlight significantly. Don’t hesitate to crank it in SDR—some modes, like Standard, have the backlight maxed which is telling, and anything below the halfway point keeps the TV in Eco mode. In HDR, the backlight is already set to the highest level as it should be.

For Dolby Vision shows and movies, I think most people will appreciate the splashier Dolby Vision Bright, though you’ll want to turn off the motion smoothing. Unlike many budget (and some premium) TVs, the QM6K’s Dolby Vision Dark mode is perfectly usable even with darker content, but it can look a little dim and lackluster.

Balanced Beauty

Once I locked in the QM6K, I was pleased to discover it provides one of the most balanced and well-rounded performances you’ll find at this level, and even above. The TV doesn’t bank on its brightness to be sure. TCL claims a 53 percent increase over last year, but that still puts the TV well below 1,000 nits, while Hisense’s fiery U7N pushes well above that mark. The QM6K doesn’t have the same vivid pop as that model, but it adds enough punch to satisfyingly light up HDR highlights like sunlight splashing on water, laser bursts, and explosions.

Brightness plays a big part in any TV’s impact, but contrast is key and the QM6K’s black levels are among the best I’ve seen in its class. It can’t match the depths of premium QLED TVs with the lights off like Sony’s Bravia 9 (9/10, WIRED Recommends), let alone OLED TVs, but it holds its own admirably. Even in low lighting, picture aspects like letter boxes or the depths of space look positively oily.

As promised, the TV avoided any noticeable blooming across virtually everything I watched. Using one of my most torturous demos, the Starfield test, I finally noticed some slowed dimming and raised black levels, but even premium LED TVs like Samsung’s QN90D get tripped up there. The QM6K’s shadow detail is solid in both SDR and HDR, even with reflection handling that’s average at best. I tried swapping to Dolby Vision Dark on some of my murkiest test videos and found the majority of details shining through in most environments.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given TCL’s claims, colors look strikingly natural, from minor variations in skin tones to emerald trees and ocean blues. Scott Lang’s jacket in Ant-Man can look almost black on budget-forward TVs, but the QM6K perfectly rendered its midnight blue. I found myself noticing little details like the forest green of the coffee machine in his boss’s office at Baskin Robbins (they always find out) or Scott’s comically hot pink polo. Like nearly all LED TVs, the colors and brightness fade off-axis, but it’s hardly noticeable until you take a hard angle. OLED TVs and a few premium QLED models like Samsung’s QN90D do better, but it’s surprisingly good.

The TV’s fabulous screen uniformity is similarly impressive, almost fully avoiding the “dirty screen effect” common in budget and midrange TVs. The QM6K stomps the otherwise excellent U7N in this department. Hisense’s model easily showed noticeable columns and other aberrations, while TCL’s looks crystal clear across even tough scenes like sunlit skies. I had to really seek out issues to find them, only noticing some tiny discoloration in grayscale demos and a few mildly perceptible columns when panning skylines in video games.

Motion response is a major step up from previous models thanks to the QM6K’s high-refresh panel, showing only minor blur in fast-moving video. There’s some noticeable stuttering in camera pans which can be fixed with the judder reduction setting, but even the mild setting looked a bit off to me and it’s not a major issue anyway. It’s the final checkmark on an accomplished picture across the board.

TCL’s first “Precise Dimming” TV already seems to live up to the hype. It’s worth considering at full price, but I expect that to drop before long for even better value. You won’t get eye-tingling brightness, so those with tough rooms may want to go for the U7N or if your budget allows, the brighter and more dazzling U8N (8/10, WIRED Recommends). Apart from an odd HDR issue I experienced, TCL’s QM7 from last year is also a great buy on sale. Otherwise, if you’re after a brilliantly balanced TV for the money, the QM6K is a hot ticket.