TCL’s latest QD mini-LED TVs want to beat Samsung and LG on contrast and brightness, but there’s new updates to the more reasonably-priced TVs like the S5.
Most folks who walk into a room with an 85-inch TV, let alone a 98-inch TV, offer one of two impressions, often verbalized with some screech of surprise. One is, “Wow, look at the size of that thing.” The other is, “That’s just too damn big.” TV Maker TCL, a company more known as the quality brand for those looking to spend a little less on their screen, now emphasizes big, big, big TVs. Still, they’re promising that those without extra deep pockets could spend a little less for quality pictures and good contrast with the new QM7 and QM8 mini-LED TVs and the new and improved S5.
Just as last year’s TVs emphasized that quality 4K quality with good brightness, the new TVs are a mix of the S-series entry-level direct LEDs and the Q-class that pique at QD mini-LED TVs. The latter includes the QM8 model, which is supposed to rival other major brands’ top televisions, such as Samsung and LG, but at a slight discount. Gizmodo already considered last year’s QM8 one of the best 4K mini-LEDs you can get at a starting price of $1,700 (and probably on sale as well). However, this year, TCL is trying to claim you’ll have best-in-class brightness and picture quality, and still, you won’t spend as big a premium as other brands.
I had the chance to glance at each of TCL’s 2024 TVs in a controlled environment. The S-series remains the most budget-friendly of them all, with the S2 (720p) and S3 (1090p FHD with HDR10 and HLG support). The big update on that side is the S5. What about S4, you ask? Oh, never mind that. TCL skipped a number to try to emphasize the difference in quality. It’s still a direct LED backlit TV, but it includes the AiPQ processor found in the Q-series, the game bar, and Game Accelerator that can push the max PS5 and Xbox Series X settings of 120 FPS at a 120 Hz variable refresh rate.
