What's great
- 5,000 nits peak HDR brightness
- WHVA panel with wide viewing angles
- Anti-reflective screen filter built in
- 4K @ 144Hz
- Google TV
- $500-700 below QM8L at street pricing
What's not
- Only 2× HDMI 2.1 (QM8L doubled to 4×)
- TCL reliability tier
- Older TSR chip vs QM8L's TSR AI Pro
What's new for 2026
The QM8K was TCL's 2025 upper-tier Mini-LED. Direct predecessor to the QM8L. Same WHVA panel + anti-reflective screen + 5,000 nits peak — minus the 2026 jump to 6,000 nits and the doubling of HDMI 2.1 ports.
Smart TV experience & OS
Google TV.
Picture quality & panel tech
QD-Mini LED + WHVA panel. 5,000 nits peak HDR. 144Hz refresh. Anti-reflective screen filter.
Gaming performance
2× HDMI 2.1 only — this was the QM8K's weakness (QM8L fixed it). 144Hz + VRR + ALLM.
Audio & soundbar pairing
2.1 built-in.
Mount & install notes
Standard VESA.
Who should buy this TV
Buy if: Single console household (2× HDMI 2.1 is fine) · want premium Mini-LED at $1,800-$2,000 · don't need GeForce Now 4K@120 or 6,000 nits.
Skip if: Multi-console household (need QM8L's 4× HDMI 2.1).
Rick's final verdict
Rick's verdict: the value pick of 2025 TCL. $500-700 below the 2026 QM8L. The HDMI 2.1 limitation is the only real reason to step up.
Final score: 8.5 / 10 — Rick's 2025 TCL Value Pick.