TCL QM8 2023 After the craze

Main points

• The TCL QM8 is an unparalleled flagship TV that offers premium features at a very competitive price, making it the best value for money TV currently available.
• The QM8 features a gorgeous 4K QLED panel with quantum dot technology that delivers over 1 billion colors and outstanding HDR support. It also has a high refresh rate and multiple HDMI ports for gaming.
• The TV is powered by Google TV, which provides a fast and complete user interface. The only downside is that the user interface could use some improvement in terms of accidentally navigating away from content. Overall, the TCL QM8 is one of the best smart TVs on the market.

I think the last time I reviewed a TV was in 2021, mostly because most of the great TVs in the world are the $2 to $5,000 LG and Samsung flagships, and the sub-$1500 high-end TV category is good, but not great. Sure, technologies like QLED are permeating them now, but there’s always something missing. Either their UI is slow, or they don’t support the latest HDMI on your new PS5, or the screen quality is great…but for the money. So what if I told you that the best value TV you can buy right now is under $1,000? Sort of.

Well, this is the TCL QM8 2023, which the company calls an unparalleled flagship and I must agree now that I have spent some time with it. I know we’ve already seen the 2024 variants at CES, which we’ve covered extensively, but since those are due in the spring, this might be the best deal you can find right now. I’ve actually been wanting this QM8 since TCL demoed it to me last year, but I’ve just been traveling so much that I haven’t had the time to buy one.

So, why should you care? Well, technically this is a flagship TV in every way no matter which size you choose, but the footprint determines the price you pay. For context, the 98-inch version costs a whopping $12,000, and every expert says it’s worth it. The price obviously goes down when you choose the 85-inch and 75-inch models, but the reason I went with the 65-inch model is because it has the best price. It’s listed for $1,299, but right now, you can pick it up for $800 through a Super Bowl deal. Yes, for under $1,000, it has the quality of a large 12-inch TV, and is big enough to be imposing, but fit anywhere.

To do this, you get a very elegant design with a brushed metal finish that I love, a matte back, and sharp corners that look great from any angle. Best of all, with the height-adjustable center base, there’s no need to buy new furniture unless you opt for the 98-inch model with legs, for obvious reasons: It’s big. The thing is, 65 inches isn’t small, so I think this would be the best option for any area, especially if you want to corner it somewhere.

QM8 Features: Excellent value for money

All four versions feature the same gorgeous 4K QLED panel. This quantum dot technology enables over 1 billion colors, which means full support for HDR Ultra, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR 10+, HLG, and even IMAX Enhanced certification. This is also possible thanks to its miniLED backlight, which allows for up to 2300 crazy local dimming zones depending on size, which means great image quality and awesome contrast thanks to almost zero blooming to deeper blacks close to OLED territory, but up to an insane 2000 nits peak brightness, which helps with HDR highlights. Paired with two 10-watt speakers and a 20-watt subwoofer at the rear, it delivers an excellent content consumption experience even without a soundbar.

But wait, there’s more. Once you notice the input panel, you’ll see four HDMI ports that support different speeds, because, yes, the panel has a 120hz refresh rate by default, but it can go up to 144hz in some games and even supports Motion Rate 480 for a smoother experience. Just make sure you use the right port for the right console and you’ll be fine. My experience with any console, from the PS5 to the Nintendo Switch, has been like butter, both in how the game looks and how full the sound is, so immersive. Other connections include Ethernet, USB 2.0, composite video and audio inputs, a headphone jack for convenient audio output, Bluetooth (if you prefer to use headphones), Wi-Fi 6, and in addition to casting, it supports Apple’s AirPlay.

Software: Google TV is faster than ever

In fact, Google TV is powering the show. My experience with TCL TVs has been primarily on Roku, which is fine, but I think Google TV is more complete in terms of user interface and product. But the problem has always been that the autofocus is slow on every other TV I’ve used, even Chrome Casts. It ends here. I’m not sure what processing power TCL is using here, but this TV is fast. It’s so fast that I almost feel like it makes more expensive TVs look bad. Google TV has had voice commands since day one, but this is the first time I’ve used it because it actually works. Also, in my opinion, this controller is very stylish and functional and makes navigation even better. All I hope is that these shortcuts lead to things I care about, even if I know how much it costs the company. That said, entering the menu does lead to a quick panel that can be used for shortcuts. Also, another clever TCL solution, if you decide to cut the cord and don’t want to pay for YouTube TV, press TV Plus for another free, ad-based solution.

As for scaling, I will tell you that I spend most of my time on YouTube TV without paying for a 4K subscription, and I think the TV does a pretty good job of making it look good even from a 1080p source, even if I At Work While I work out, I watch old clips from Beach Body On-Demand. Obviously, once you watch any 4K movie on a TV, the clarity of detail gets better, so I’m happy with its versatility.

Cons: User interface may need some changes

Obviously, no product is perfect, but I think this is the first time I’ve only had one complaint in a review, and it’s not even TCL’s fault.

I think the biggest problem with Google TV, Roku, Fire TV, and other devices compared to Samsung and LG’s UI is that these UIs don’t pull you away from the content for any reason. If you accidentally touch these shortcut buttons on the bottom of your controller in any way while watching TV, it’s everyone’s worst nightmare. If anything, I give TCL credit because this TV has so much horsepower, it’s the first TV I’ve ever used and the moment I find my way back to the app I’m in, it changes from the last time Continue where you left off. Still, I think Google and others should prompt you if you’re sure you want to leave your content. I’d prefer a quick menu under content like Samsung and LG do, but at this point, a prompt is better than nothing.

TCL QM8 Final Thoughts: One of the best smart TVs I’ve ever used

All in all, can I just say this is like TCL’s magnum opus? We’ve seen the company make a name for itself on value, to the point where I don’t think their flagship products get the reputation they deserve. Maybe it’s because the previous 8 Series was too similar to the cheaper model, but that’s where it ends.

This TCL QM8 is probably one of the best smart TVs I’ve ever used, even the more expensive smart TVs I’ve used in the past. This will be my first recommendation for best TV for most people, even those who are picky. Of course, you can wait until spring to find out everything we covered at CES. Sure, these improvements are great, but you just can’t get it for the $900 price tag at launch. I’ll be sure to leave some links in the description for you to decide.

The bottom line is, yes, buy it. The price right now is too good to pass up the opportunity to try.