Main ways Tell how big is the TV? Look at the bezel. Until about 10 years ago, they were all thick photo frames, but as the model turned over, they got smaller and smaller. With its new QM8K QLED, TCL completely removed it.
Innovation in panel design means that this blind bright screen looks like it floats in space on its pedestal. This is an elegant party trick that can be easily hidden on the wall with images or artwork and improves the perspective of the startup.
This flagship model is priced more than TCL’s other value-priority options, but there’s good reason: It competes directly with Samsung and Sony’s more expensive mini LED models, and the excellent viewing angle and brightness even offers a sum of money for high-end OLED models. If you want one OK Pictures and great apps with less speeds, you can get it with a more affordable HESSENS or TCL model, but if you want a good photo, this is the most affordable way to get it this year.
Use out of the box
Photo: Parker Concert Hall
The experience of setting up the QM8K is basically the same as other TVs. The QM8K is packed in a large cardboard box surrounded by foam, which you will want two people to pull out, place on a soft surface like a bed or table with a blanket, and then install the included base mount. It comes with a power cord and a backlit (!) remote, but if you want to connect anything to any of its four ports (two HDMI 2.1, two HDMI 2.0), you’ll need to provide your own HDMI cable.
I always like TVs with a dock mount and the mount is sturdy and easy to connect. It also allows you to tilt the TV. Again, the included Google TV interface is very easy to use, and the QR-based login is basically every modern streaming app, as well as a quick exchange between applications (I had a problem with last year’s TCL model).
The TV supports Chromecast and Airplay 2, which makes playing music and YouTube clips very easy to access and on Wi-Fi. The TV has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 support, and it can keep up with 4K streaming on the network network at home. It also has Ethernet if you want to join as fast as possible.
No border
Photo: Parker Concert Hall
If you’re not looking for a loop style, the lack of bezel won’t immediately attract attention, but once you see the TV’s brush frame now transitions immediately to the screen just 3.2mm behind instead of having a 10mm black edge, the old model seems old and tired. The gorgeous crystal WHVA panel is capable of up to 3,040 local dimming areas (depending on the size of the TV you purchased), which is an amazing image and the lack of frame makes it look like a picture hovering in space.
