Latest news with #QM8
Business Insider
23-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
TCL is known for great value TVs, but its new flagship QLED rivals premium brands. Here's why it's so impressive.
For the last few years, TCL and Hisense have been going head-to-head for supremacy in the midrange TV market. The two companies have proven that they understand what's needed to offer a value-driven television that doesn't skimp on image quality. But with the release of its new flagship QM8K TV, TCL isn't competing just with Hisense anymore. It's going after high-end offerings from Sony, Samsung, and LG — and the QM8K QLED 4K TV has the performance chops to pull it off. Compared to last year's QM8, the 2025 QM8K delivers significantly improved Mini LED backlight control, wider viewing angles, and an even brighter screen. But with that step up in performance comes an increased price. The QM8K's list price is $500 more than the QM8 was when it launched in 2024. This puts the TV just under the suggested list price of Samsung's latest flagship QLED, the QN90F. Considering its capabilities, the QM8K's cost isn't unreasonable at all, and it's already getting great deals. Compared to other 2025 TVs I've seen, the QM8K holds its own as one of the best, particularly for bright room performance at its price. However, the biggest knock against the QM8K has nothing to do with rival options from other brands. Instead, it's the fact that the 2024 QM8 is still available at an incredible discount. This new model is a better TV, but given the current price difference, the older QM8 remains an enticing option. The QM8 will eventually sell out, though, and I expect the QM8K to get even better deals as the year goes on. Once that happens, the QM8K will become one of the easiest TV recommendations of 2025. The TV's design is more premium and comes with some welcome features The QM8K comes in four sizes, ranging from 65 inches (the sample size provided by TCL) to 98 inches. There isn't a new 115-inch model this year; instead, the older QM891G will carry over to 2025. The pedestal stand, which I prefer over wide-set feet, is solid and supports the TV well. It's a slight change in design from last year's QM8, and it isn't quite as heavy, which I appreciate. There are two height options (for the 65-, 75-, and 85-inch models) at 2.94 inches or 1.8 inches, although the stand is quite deep, at 14.5 inches. If you're planning to put a soundbar in front, make sure your console depth can accommodate both. At two inches, the TV is slightly slimmer than last year's model but still thicker than OLEDs from LG and Samsung. That said, TCL has made some strides regarding the panel's border. On most TVs, the frame of a display consists of a bezel and a black border that runs along the edge of the screen. This thin black border is visible even when a TV is on, so the entirety of its screen isn't used to display its picture. However, the QM8K uses TCL's new ZeroBorder panel, which virtually eliminates that black space. This means that nearly the entire screen is used to display the TV's picture. The remote has also been redesigned. It has a silver face with squared-off corners instead of the curved edges of previous iterations, and the button organization and sizing have adjusted slightly. Thankfully, it is still backlit. When picked up, the buttons glow just enough to be seen easily in a dark room and stay unobtrusive. On the downside, TCL has stuck with just two HDMI 2.1 ports for this model. HDMI one and two are 2.1, while ports three and four (also the eARC port) are HDMI 2.0. This means that if you route your game console or computer through an AVR or soundbar connected to the eARC port, you won't be able to get 4K/120Hz (or 144Hz with your PC). Instead, you'll have to use the HDMI one or two ports to unlock higher refresh rates. The QM8K has a built-in Bang & Olufsen sound system that includes up-firing Dolby Atmos speakers and some rear-firing woofers to handle the lower frequencies. While I always recommend adding a soundbar or an AVR with a surround sound setup to get the best audio performance, the QM8K's sound is pretty good for a TV. Dialogue is clear, and the TV is capable of a high volume without added distortion. You won't get a cinematic rumble, but that's a physics limitation you'll run into on any TV's built-in speakers. A notable audio feature that I was unable to test is the QM8K's support for Dolby Flex Connect. This allows multiple compatible speakers to be connected wirelessly to the QM8K to create a fuller, surround sound experience. The first Flex Connect speaker scheduled to be released is the TCL Z100, expected later this summer. I heard a demo of the system with four Z100 speakers connected and placed around a room. These speakers also work alongside the TV's built-in speakers. The TV runs a setup process, determining the location of the speakers and setting the levels. It was an impressive demo, and I'm optimistic about Flex Connect's potential to make surround sound setups easier and more accessible. The QM8K has exceptional brightness with fantastic backlight control The TV world is in the midst of a brightness battle, and even though OLED displays continue to boost their outputs, QLED TVs with Mini LED backlights like those used on the QM8K still lead by a decent margin. In fact, the QM8K is one of the brightest TVs available, able to reach a peak HDR luminance of around 5,000 nits — nearly 500 nits higher than I measured on last year's QM8. With my X-Rite i1 Pro 3 spectrophotometer, I recorded 4,999 nits from a 5% HDR window (a white box taking up 5% of the screen on a black background). Now, that measurement does require some qualification. It was in the TV's Vivid mode with the color temperature set to Normal. Though blazingly bright, that mode isn't very accurate as it creates an image that's way too blue. To get the most accurate image out of the box, you should use the TV's Filmmaker mode. The QM8K's grayscale still leaned slightly blue using this preset, but this error wasn't visible to the eye. In Filmmaker mode, the TCL was still able to achieve an impressive 3,648 nits on a 10% window (the brightest window in that mode), and with a far more accurate image. For comparison's sake, the brightest OLED available right now maxes out at around 2,400 nits using the same test and settings. This makes the QM8K an excellent TV for bright-room viewing where you need to overcome glare. It also allows the TV to produce HDR highlights (like explosions) in high-brightness content with the intensity that the filmmakers intended. For HDR, the TV supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. You can learn more about these formats in our HDR TV guide. When watching movies and TV shows, skin tones look natural, green plants and trees are lush, and colors have a wonderful vibrancy. This is easily seen in colorful films like "La La Land," where the TV exhibits rich yet accurate saturation on the vivid hues of various cars during the opening number and Emma Stone's bright yellow dress in the dance scene at night later in the film. If you do decide to use a preset other than Filmmaker mode, such as Gaming mode, I suggest changing the color temperature to Warm 5. Other settings are less accurate and too blue. Like other TVs in TCL's QM series, the QM8K uses a Mini LED backlight with local dimming. This feature allows the TV to dim and brighten specific areas across its screen, called zones, to achieve better contrast and deeper black levels. However, even the most expensive Mini LED models can't match the infinite contrast provided by an OLED TV, since OLEDs can dim each individual pixel, and Mini LEDs are restricted to a more limited number of zones. You can learn more in our QLED vs. OLED comparison. In practice, this makes Mini LED TVs susceptible to an issue called blooming. Image blooming is caused when light spreads from a bright portion of an image into the darker zone surrounding it, creating a halo effect that shouldn't be there. Each year, companies make progress in containing blooming, usually by increasing the number of dimming zones and improving the processing used to control them. The QM8K makes a big leap in this regard, offering an impressive upgrade over its predecessor. This improved performance comes from a suite of backlight optimizations that TCL is calling its Halo Control System. A new lens enables better control over the directionality of the light, and the optical distance between the backlight and the diffuser plate is smaller than before, which means there's less opportunity for unwanted light scatter before hitting the screen. A 23-bit backlight controller allows for greater granular control over levels of brightness (TCL says it's up to 65,000 levels of brightness). This degree of backlight control is similar to what Sony offers on its premium Bravia 9 Mini LED TV, which costs notably more than the QM8K. The result is some of the best delineation between light and dark portions of the screen that I've seen on a Mini LED TV. The backlight doesn't cause the halos that can typically be seen around subtitles. I also didn't notice blooming in a scene around bright parts of a spaceship cruising through space, which is normally prone to halos. I moved directly from my LG C5 OLED review to the QM8K, and while the TCL's contrast control still isn't quite at the level of an OLED, it's exceptionally close. I probably wouldn't have noticed much of a difference between the two TVs if I hadn't just been using the C5 for a few weeks. Another area where the QM8K rises above its predecessor is with its viewing angles. QLED TVs have always struggled with off-axis viewing, causing image quality to noticeably fade when sitting to the side of the screen rather than right in front. The QM8K has wider viewing angles than many competitors. There isn't a dramatic color shift off-axis, but brightness does still decrease (although not to an amount that makes the TV look washed out). The Google TV OS is reliable, and the gaming interface is easy to use Google TV has become the dominant name in smart TV operating systems over the past couple of years, since Roku has seemingly fallen out of favor with the major TV manufacturers. And there's good reason behind it. Google TV navigation is fast and smooth, and its catalog of streaming apps is robust, including options like F1 TV, which isn't supported on LG's webOS or Samsung's Tizen OS. If you're in Google's ecosystem, the TV integrates easily. (The QM8K also has Apple HomeKit integration and supports Amazon Alexa.) Setting the OS up is simple, especially if you have an existing Google account, and signing into apps can be done by scanning QR codes on the screen and signing in with your device (with a few exceptions). Including adding and signing into a half dozen apps, I moved through setup and updates in less than 10 minutes. TCL also includes its Game Master UI on the QM8K. Thanks to Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), the QM8K automatically switches into game mode when it senses the signal from a gaming console. This also allows for the Game Master UI to be called up on screen, where you can adjust any gaming settings, including VRR (the QM8K supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), a Shadow Enhancer to improve shadow detail by lifting the brightness a little bit, an Aiming Aid, and a frame rate display. The QM8K supports a refresh rate of up to 144Hz at 4K resolution when connected to a compatible gaming PC. This is toward the high end of what TVs offer right now, but it's not quite as fast as the 4K/165Hz mode that some top-tier LG and Samsung models have. Should you buy the TCL QM8K QLED 4K TV? The QM8K is an impressive TV and a notable step forward for TCL. It rightfully stands toe-to-toe with the best TVs of the year so far. It has exceptional brightness and backlight control, improved HDR and color accuracy, and some nice quality of life tweaks. But with all of those upgrades comes a higher price, with the 65-inch QM8K listing at $500 more than the 2024 model cost at launch. This puts it near the price range of OLED competitors, like the LG C5 and Samsung S90F. While neither of those TVs can match the QM8K's brightness, both handle black levels and overall contrast better. However, there's a big caveat to my criticism about the QM8K's list price. Historically, TCL TV prices drop significantly a couple of months after release, and indeed, the 65-inch QM8K is already seeing deal prices under $2,000. That makes it a much better value. Still, it's important to remember that last year's 65-inch QM8 remains available for only $900. The QM8K is certainly the better TV — and by a good bit — but that is a steep price difference. If the QM8K's improved contrast control and better viewing angles aren't huge selling points for you, the cheaper 2024 QM8 is a better option while it's still in stock. But the QM8K is unquestionably one of the year's top new TVs, especially for bright rooms.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best 4K TV Deals: Level Up Your Screentime With Amazing Offers From Sony, Samsung, Insignia and More
The TV market has never been more saturated with all of the top brands now having dozens of different models, making the decision behind which to get even more difficult. Well, the good news is that 4K models are now more affordable, so upgrading is more viable than ever. If you're making the jump from an older model, you'll be rewarded with incredible imagery that can be a real leap in sharpness and color while generally improving your watching experience overall. Rising concerns over tariff price increases may have you chomping at the bit to get a new TV now, so we've culled some of the best deals out there for you to consider. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. TV deals are plentiful pretty much year-round, which is great for your wallet, but it can also make it a little tough to find the actual bargains. The good news is that CNET is here to help find the perfect fit for your needs and budget at any time of year. With more than two decades of experience reviewing personal tech, David Katzmaier is our resident TV expert, and he has personally tested and reviewed several of the models you'll find on this list. Those that have not been tested by CNET directly have been selected based on the size, specs, features, design, brand and price. Just note that deals come and go fairly fast, so if you find the right fit, you'll probably want to act quickly. We update this page frequently, so keep an eye out here for the latest offers. If you're shopping on a tight budget, you can also check out our roundup of all the best cheap TV deals and you'll find a few high-end options in our full roundup of all the best TV deals overall. Picking the overall "best" 4K TV deal can be tough, as several variables come down to personal preference. Amazon's current TCL QM8 offer stands out from the crowd, as it is our top pick for the overall best TV to buy in 2025. The online retailer currently has the 65-inch model on sale for just $898, which is a substantial $602 discount. It's equipped with a stunning mini-LED display with exceptional brightness, automatic AI optimization, Dolby Vision IQ support and many other convenient features that make it one of the best TVs in this price range. Thanks to its stunning mini-LED display, best-in-class brightness and relatively affordable price, the TCL QM8 series claimed the top spot as our overall favorite TV of 2025. This QM85 model is a pretty great value when you grab one at a discount like this. It's packed with all kinds of convenient features, including Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2 built-in and an AI processor that automatically optimizes your picture settings. Plus, it supports Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos for a seriously immersive viewing experience. See at Amazon The Samsung S90D offers superb picture quality, an easy-to-use interface and great contrast and off-angle viewing. We talk more about all this in our review, with the only negatives being the reduced black levels in a bright room and its high price. The latter is much less of a concern right now thanks to this massive $800 discount. See at Samsung Insignia is Best Buy's TV brand that's aimed toward the more budget-friendly market, but that doesn't mean it's not a good TV. Not only is this model large for the price, but it's 4K, comes with HDR10 and is run on the Amazon Fire TV platform, so it's perfect if you're in the Amazon ecosystem. See at Best Buy This is one of the cheapest ways to get a 4K TV from arguably the best TV brand on the market. On top of that, it's a 2024 model with a $160 discount attached, so it will be hard to beat at this price. Note that the list price on Best Buy is significantly lower than the price at LG, which is still listed at $380. See at Best Buy The popular Samsung DU7200 has the South Korean tech giant's proprietary crystal UHD built-in with an additional 4K upscaling, a Motion Xcelerator to reduce lag and blur as well as HDR. See at Best Buy One of the cheapest ways to get a 4K TV from a reputable brand is this 50-inch model from TCL. It has everything you need to enjoy films in style with HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Google Assistant and a bit of a discount. See at Amazon Stretching your budget gets you this stunning Sony Bravia TV from 2024 with a beautiful OLED screen. It's almost half off, with a savings of $1,200. Bravia TVs are known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks, this is an immersive TV that turns anything you watch into an experience. See at Walmart Marked down by a steep $800, this 2024 Samsung QN90D is a stunning model with a Neo QLED panel, 4K capability, HDR, a 120Hz refresh rate and a 3D-like picture. See at Best Buy A $100-plus discount has been applied to this gorgeous 4K Insignia smart TV that comes with a 60hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, an LED panel three HDMI ports and a huge 65-inch screen. See at Best Buy CNET's team of deals experts have years of experience scouring the web to bring our readers the best TV bargains out there from trusted brands like LG, Samsung, TCL, Vizio and more. We evaluate the size, resolution, gaming compatibility and smart features, and how the models we've personally reviewed performed in our rigorous tests, to ensure that you're getting the most bang for your buck. Additionally, we only source deals from trusted and legitimate retailers, so you never have to wonder if an offer is too good to be true.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
The Best 85-Inch TV for 2025: Extra-Large TVs Tested by Experts
A big TV is a big investment and at CNET, our general advice for TV shoppers is that bigger is usually better, especially if you want to maximize 4K content. To help you find the right big-screen TV -- whether it's this year's model or, in some cases, last year's -- we've rounded up some of the best 85-inch TVs on the market right now. The list below represents the best TVs we've reviewed in CNET's test lab, where we've compared them side by side. We've reviewed the 65-inch sizes in the series for most of the models listed below, but the 83- and 85-inch versions are virtually identical, beyond screen size. After testing a handful of the best TVs for the money, we've found that the TCL QM8 (2024) series tops the list for several reasons. The latest QM8 offers superb picture quality overall, all the features you need in a modern television -- including 4K/120Hz input and variable refresh rate that can get the most out of consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X -- and an affordable price. When a friend asks us what 85-inch TV to buy, we tell them the TCL QM8 series. That said, the Hisense U8N is currently discounted to $600 less than the TCL and offers a picture that is almost as good. There are plenty of other excellent choices available. Although this year's QM8 is our favorite for most people, it might not be right for your preferences or budget. TCL continues to lead the 85-inch TV pack with its new 2024 QM8. In our comparison tests it stood out with superior brightness and better contrast than other 85-inch TVs at this price, thanks to its mini-LED technology and well-implemented full-array local dimming. The TV has a modern, sleek design with a center-mount stand. The QM8 uses Google TV as its operating system, which we don't like as much as Roku TV, but it's still a solid smart TV. This model replaces the TCL QM8 from last year. See at Amazon If you're looking for the best value 85-inch TV and find the TCL QM8 just a bit too expensive, consider the Hisense U8N your go-to. In our side-by-side comparison of the two 2024 models, the QM8 came out just ahead, but the U8N still impressed us with its great performance. Both TVs boast outstanding image quality featuring mini-LED backlights and full-array local dimming. They also share similar gaming features and run on the Google TV operating system. Both models are considerably cheaper than other TVs with comparable image quality from more established brands. See at Best Buy OLED TVs have the best picture quality, but they don't come in 85-inch sizes, so that's why we're listing this 83-inch size instead. The C4 represents better picture quality than any non-OLED TV on this list at a price that's higher but still not stratospheric. It excels with perfect black levels, unmatched contrast and excellent off-angle viewing, standing out against the mini-LED models in my comparison tests. While it may not be as bright as some other models, it still performs exceptionally well in all kinds of room lighting. The C4 is also one of the lightest TVs we've ever reviewed thanks to carbon-fiber construction. See at Best Buy If you're in the market for a top-notch 85-inch TV but prefer not to go with OLED, the Samsung QN90B is an excellent choice. This TV features QLED TV technology with mini-LEDs for a brighter image than any OLED TV. Although OLED TVs still won the contrast battle in our side-by-side tests, the QN90B QLED screen is closer than ever to matching it. Among Samsung's lineup of its many QLED TVs, the QN90B stands out as a premium model, second only to their versions with 8K resolution. It's a 2022 model, and while the 2024 version QN90D looks very similar in terms of features, we expect it to deliver similar image quality, though we have yet to review it. See at Amazon With all the TVs available today, and all the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what's important. Here's a quick guide to help cut through the confusion. Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive, and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It's also best to shop for a TV in the fall when prices are lower. Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV, and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other "feature," stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we've heard is from people who didn't go big enough. We rarely hear people complain that their TV is too large. Capability: When it comes to entry-level TVs, the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture, in our experience. Among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet. For more TV buying advice, check out How to Buy a TV. Our TV reviews follow a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over nearly two decades of television reviews. Our primary TV test lab has specialized equipment for measuring light and color, including a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer, a Murideo Sig-G 4K HDR signal generator and an AVPro Connect 8x8 4K HDR distribution matrix. We use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate every television we review. In every CNET TV review, three or more similar TVs are compared side by side in various lighting conditions, playing different media, including movies, TV shows and games, and across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR. Our reviews also account for design, features, smart TV performance, HDMI input and gaming compatibility among other factors. One important aspect of image quality we test is overall brightness. Here's how it compares in nits across select TVs listed above. Check out How We Test TVs for more details. It depends on your room size, seating distance and personal taste. For a large living room or den, an 85-inch TV is generally excellent, but it's too big for smaller living rooms or most bedrooms. If you sit closer to the screen you don't need as large a TV for the best experience. Most 85-inch TVs measure around 74 inches wide. Because the frames around newer TV screens are typically quite narrow, 85-inch TV widths don't vary much. Models with very slim frames are on the lower end; the 85-inch Samsung QN90A is 74.5 inches wide, for example, while the slightly thicker-framed 85-inch TCL 4-Series is 74.9 inches wide. If you're not planning to wall-mount the TV, you generally want the piece of furniture supporting the TV to measure at least as wide as the TV itself, and preferably a few inches wider. Refer to the manufacturer's website for the exact dimensions of a particular 83-inch or 85-inch TV. An 85-inch TV weighs between 90 and 120 pounds with its stand, but this varies significantly depending on the type of TV. The carbon-fiber LG C4 83-inch TV weighs 92 pounds with the stand, for example, while the 85-inch Samsung QN90C weighs 110 pounds with the stand. Removing the stand allows you to wall-mount the TV and reduces its weight (stands can weigh up to 20 pounds). Shipping weight (box, accessories and so on) adds another 10 to 20 pounds. Refer to the manufacturer's website for the exact weights of a particular 85-inch TV. 4K resolution delivers a sharp, detailed image on an 85-inch TV. Most 85-inch TVs (or any TV over 50 inches) are made in 4K, meaning they have 8 million pixels that compose the picture on the TV. A single pixel, or discrete picture element, consists of a tiny dot on the screen. However, newer and much more expensive 85-inch TVs may be available in 8K resolution (33 million pixels), but we don't think those are worth buying just yet. Stick with 4K for now when buying a 85-inch TV and check out our guide to TV resolutions for more short, yes -- our general advice for TV shoppers is that bigger is usually better, especially if you're looking to maximize 4K content. However, the value of an 85-inch TV largely depends on your room size, viewing distance and budget. If you're TV shopping for a living, family room or den, an 85-inch TV is generally "worth it" to get the best cinematic experience, provided that you can sit the recommended 13 to 15 feet away from the screen. But if you don't have the space or budget, a smaller 75- or 65-inch TV may be best suited for your needs. Read more in CNET's TV screen size guide if you need a bit more information before choosing an 85-inch TV. According to THX and SMPTE, you should sit between 13 and 15 feet from an 85-inch screen for maximum theatrical impact, although many viewers will find it more comfortable to sit a bit further back than that. Most 85-inch TVs have 4K resolution, and if you have 20/20 vision you can sit as close as about 4.5 feet from the screen and still not discern individual pixels.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Best TVs of 2025, Tested by CNET Experts
If you're looking to buy a new TV, you may be overwhelmed by the choices available. That's why we're here: to help you narrow down the options, and pick the best TV for your space and budget. We test for gaming features such as 4K/120Hz as well as streaming movies on the best smart TV platforms. In our CNET lab, we've looked at all the top brands including Samsung, Roku, LG, Hisense, Vizio and TCL side-by-side. From cheap 4K televisions to QLED and high-end OLED TVs, and everything in between, these are the top TVs we've reviewed in 2025. Read more: How We Test TVs Given the multitude of options, the latest TCL QM8 series has replaced the 2023 model at the top of our best TV list for a number of reasons. The TCL QM851 offers a number of upgrades on the previous year, including a better backlight, superb picture quality overall and an affordable price tag. When a friend asks me what TV to buy from 65 to 98 inches, I tell them the TCL QM8 series. Although the QM8 is my current favorite, it may not be right for your preferences or budget. If you want the best TV for the least amount of money, the Samsung DU7200 series is the best we've tested. TCL has topped our list of the best TVs for the last few years and the QM8 is even better than before. In my comparison tests, it continues to stand out with superior brightness and impact while still maintaining excellent contrast: a combination no other TV could match at this price. The key is mini-LED tech and well-implemented full-array local dimming. It also has a sleek design with a center-mount stand. The operating system is Google TV, which I don't like as much as Roku TV, but it's still a solid smart TV. The main downside of the TCL QM8 is that it's available only in large sizes (65 inches and up). If you're looking for a 55-inch TV, I recommend the Hisense U8N instead. Note that prices shown here are for the 65-inch size in the QM8 series. See at Best Buy If CNET had a best bang-for-buck award one of the first winners would be the Samsung DU7200, a TV which delivers a really good picture for an affordable price. The black levels and shadow detail are excellent for the money, and while our test unit looked a little desaturated out of the box that's easily fixed by adjusting the Color control. It has onboard streaming and the sound quality isn't too bad either. If you're looking for a bedroom unit or a gaming TV then the Samsung DU7200 is the model we would choose. See at Amazon If you're looking for the best TV for the money and the TCL QM8 is just too big, the Hisense U8N should be your go-to. I compared the two TVs side by side, and while I liked the picture quality of the QM8 better, the U8N has one medium-size advantage: a 55-inch screen option. If 65 is too large for your room, your budget or your tastes, the choice between the two is simple: Get the 55-inch Hisense U8N. Both offer excellent image quality and affordable prices thanks to mini-LED backlights and full-array local dimming, as well as similar gaming features and the Google TV operating system. Both cost hundreds less than you'd have to pay to get similar image quality from a better-known brand. Note that while I tested the 65-inch size in the U8N series, the prices shown here are for the 55-inch size. See at Amazon The C4 has better picture quality than any non-OLED TV on this list at a higher price, and it's still not outrageously expensive. Its perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast and superb off-angle viewing kept it a notch above the mini-LED models in my comparison tests, and while its overall brightness isn't quite as impressive, it's still an incredible performer in all kinds of room lighting. The C4 replaced the C3, and while we'll almost always recommend buying last year's version of a TV, the C4 is available for around the same price and so is the model to go for. The prices shown here are for the 65-inch size of the LG C4 series. See at Best Buy The Samsung S95D's matte finish does more than reduce reflections, it nearly eliminates them, improving image quality in bright rooms more than any OLED TV we've tested. Some non-OLED models have matte screens, but this is the first time they've been available in an OLED TV, a display technology that has always delivered the best picture available. That matte finish really works, reducing windows and other glare to dimmer blobs instead of super-bright, mirror-like distractions. The S95D also has an external box, allowing for a cleaner look with the option to store HDMI connections and the power cord out of sight. Between its versatile matte screen and awesome picture overall, the Samsung S95D delivers the best image quality of any TV we've tested, beating both the G4 and last year's winner, the G3, as well as any other non-OLED TV. But it also costs a ton, and most people -- even those with bright rooms -- will be perfectly happy with a less expensive TV. See at Samsung In our tests over the years, Vizio TVs have produced very good picture quality without breaking the bank. The Vizio Quantum Pro continues this trend: it's a solid midpriced TV option, though not without a few notable drawbacks. In side-by-side comparison tests in our lab, the Quantum Pro performed well for the money, with better contrast than the similarly priced Roku Plus Series, for example. On the other hand, as expected, slightly more expensive models like the TCL QM8 and Hisense U8K were better, with brighter images and higher contrast. One major drawback is the Quantum Pro's lack of size offerings; it comes only in 65- or 75-inch sizes. We reviewed the 65-inch model, but the review also applies to the 75-inch version since the specs and picture quality should be similar regardless of size. If you're looking for a smaller TV in this price range, you might instead turn to the Roku Plus Series, which offers a 55-inch model and a superior smart TV system. Vizio will also continue to offer this TV's predecessor, the M-Series Quantum X, in the 50-inch size. See at Walmart Competition among TVs in the middle pricing band is heating up, and the Plus Series is the latest entrant. Unlike the TCL Roku TVs higher on this list, this one is all Roku, with no other brands on board. It adds a couple of step-up extras, including QLED and full-array local dimming, which help deliver a better picture than the TCL 4-Series, for example. This is the first TV Roku has produced under its own brand, as opposed to partnering with a brand like TCL, Sharp, Pioneer or Hisense. The company also released a version with fewer features and no local dimming, called the Roku Select Series. The price shown below is for the 65-inch size. With all of the TVs available today, and all of the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what's important. Here's a quick guide to help cut through the confusion. Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV -- and 65 inches or larger is best. More so than any "feature," stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we've heard is from people who didn't go big enough. And we rarely hear people complain that their TV is too large. Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It's also best to shop for a TV in the fall when prices are lower. Capability: Among entry-level TVs the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in our experience. Among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet. Our TV reviews follow a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over nearly two decades of TV reviews. Our primary TV test lab has specialized equipment for measuring light and color, including a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer, a Murideo Sig-G 4K HDR signal generator and an AVPro Connect 8x8 4K HDR distribution matrix. We use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate every TV we review. In every CNET TV review, three or more similar TVs are compared side by side in various lighting conditions playing different media, including movies, TV shows and games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR. Our reviews also account for design, features, smart TV performance, HDMI input and gaming compatibility, among other factors. LG C3: When we reviewed the C3 in 2023 it was one of our favorite TVs, and this impression continued into the following year. It's still a great TV, but with the pricing on this and the C4 being identical right now it makes sense to go for the newer TV. Samsung S90D: The S90D performed well, but it suffered some contrast loss compared to the C4. Any differences between the C4 and S90D were subtle. One important aspect of image quality we test is overall brightness. Here's how brightness compares in nits across select TVs listed above. Check out How We Test TVs for more details. For more TV buying advice check out How to Buy a TV. We'll post the answers to commonly asked TV questions below. If you have any others, feel free to reach out on Twitter (@dkatzmaier), or by clicking the little envelope icon on my CNET profile page. Doing so will let you send a message straight to my inbox. Prices vary widely by size and features, from less than $100 for basic 24-inch TVs to more than $2,000 for big OLED models. TVs last a long time, so we think it's worthwhile to spend a little extra beyond the bare minimum to get a bigger screen, better picture quality or better features. With that in mind, here are some ballpark prices that will get you a very good TV in 2025. 55-inch: $700 65-inch: $1,000 75-inch: $1,300 You could pay (much) more or less. The fact is just about any TV will produce a picture decent enough to satisfy most viewers. Most complaints you read in user reviews aren't about picture quality. Instead, they're about ease of use, smart TV menus or sound (or a broken TV). In our opinion bigger is better, and your money is best spent on large screen sizes rather than a slight upgrade in image quality. The answer also depends on room size and seating distance: If you have a big room and sit farther away, you'll want a bigger TV. In our reviews, OLED TVs, which use organic light-emitting diode technology, have always had better picture quality than LED TVs, which are essentially LCD TVs that use LED backlights. The main reason is that OLED TVs can produce a perfectly dark shade of black with no stray illumination of blooming, which leads to better contrast and pop. LED TVs can get brighter, and usually cost less than OLED TVs. At CNET our favorite is Roku for its simplicity, but different systems like Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung and LG have different strengths, in particular for voice commands. In any case, we don't consider the built-in smart TV system that important because you can always connect a streaming device to any TV. Most TVs sound terrible because their thin cabinets don't have room for decent-sized speakers or a bass. If you want to get good sound you should buy an external audio system. Even an inexpensive soundbar will deliver much better audio quality than a TV's built-in speakers.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Best 65-Inch TV for Super Bowl LIX
When you're buying a TV for the Super Bowl, we always say go big if you have the space for it. A 65-inch TV might seem excessive in size, but I consider it the "sweet spot" for most living rooms. It's not too big to crowd or dominate the space, and it offers an immersive watching and gaming experience. Plus, it's one of the most common and popular TV sizes out there, so you've got plenty of options to choose from. To help you find the best 65-inch TV for your living room and your budget, I've rounded up some of the overall best models on the market. Plus, as 2024 TVs are available now, many of their 2023 versions are on sale -- and have most of the same features. After testing many of the best TVs for the Super Bowl, my favorite 65-inch TV for most people this year is the TCL QM8 series (2023). The QM8 offers superb picture quality overall, all the features you need in a modern television -- including 4K/120Hz input and variable refresh rate that can get the most out of consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X -- and an affordable price tag. When a friend asks me what 65-inch TV to buy for the big game, I tell them the TCL QM8 series. Plenty of other excellent choices are available, especially if you want a TV smaller than 65 inches. Although the QM8 is my current favorite for most people, it might not be right for your preferences or budget. Read on for our top picks to watch the Eagles-Chiefs matchup this Sunday. Read more: How to watch the Super Bowl TCL has topped our list of the best TVs for the last few years but the QM8 is something different, and even better than before. In my comparison tests, it stood out with superior brightness and impact while still maintaining excellent contrast; a combination no other TV could match at this price. The key is mini-LED tech and well-implemented full-array local dimming. It also has a sleek design with a center-mount stand. The operating system is Google TV, which I don't like as much as Roku TV, but it's still a solid smart TV. This model replaces the TCL 6-Series Roku TV from last year. See at Amazon If you're looking for the best TV for the money and the TCL QM8 is significantly more expensive at the time you read this, the Hisense U8K should be your go-to. I compared the two 2023 TVs side-by-side, and while I liked the QM8 just a bit better, the U8K is an excellent choice as well. Both offer superb image quality and affordable prices thanks to mini-LED backlights and full-array local dimming, as well as similar gaming features and the Google TV operating system. Both cost hundreds less than you'd have to pay to get similar image quality from a better-known brand. See at Amazon The C3 represents better picture quality than any non-OLED TV on this list at a price that's definitely higher, but still not stratospheric. Its perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast and superb off-angle viewing kept it a notch above the mini-LED models in my comparison tests, and while its overall brightness isn't quite as impressive, it's still an incredible performer in all kinds of room lighting. The C3 is also one of the lightest TVs we've ever reviewed thanks to its carbon-fiber construction; the 65-inch version weighs just 37 pounds with its stand. See at Amazon In 2023 we awarded the G3 the title of the best TV for picture quality, and this year's version, the G4, is even better. In our side-by-side comparisons it beat its predecessor in brightness and overall image quality with the kind of jaw-dropping images you can only get from a topflight OLED TV. In a bright room, the G4 fell short of the performance of its direct competitor, the Samsung S95D, which is the best TV for picture quality that we've seen this year. The Samsung uses an all-new matte screen finish, which in our tests did a better job fighting reflections than the more typical glossy screen of the LG. The S95D's matte finish has its downside, namely a reduction in contrast, but overall we preferred its bright-room image quality over the G4's. The major caveat here is that both TVs performed well (and practically identically) in a dark room. So unless you routinely have a bright viewing environment, the G4 performs just as well as the S95D. The G4 also comes in significantly more sizes than the S95D, making it a more versatile option. Glare-free or not, here's where we mention that most TV viewers will be perfectly satisfied with something less expensive but still excellent, like the step-down LG C4 or a mini-LED model. The G4 is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a high-performance television and is willing to pay for it. See at Best Buy The picture quality of the TCL 4-Series Roku TV was a step behind the Vizio V-Series in our budget TV test, but the differences between the two are slight enough that you'd really have to have them set up side by side to notice anything at all. The 4-Series lacks Dolby Vision, Bluetooth connectivity and AMD FreeSync with a variable refresh rate, all of which the Vizio offers. The 4-Series' advantage over the Vizio is that it comes with the excellent Roku Smart TV system built in. That makes it a great choice for those looking for a one-stop smart TV solution, without having to add an external streaming device. Note that TCL has been selling the 4-Series for the last few years with little to no change in image quality or features in our tests. See at Walmart The Samsung S95D's matte finish does more than reduce reflections, it nearly eliminates them, improving image quality in bright rooms more than any OLED TV we've tested. Some non-OLED models have matte screens, but this is the first time they've been available in an OLED TV, a display technology that has always delivered the best picture available. That matte finish really works, reducing windows and other glare to dimmer blobs instead of super-bright, mirror-like distractions. The S95D also has an external box, allowing for a cleaner look with the option to store HDMI connections and the power cord out of sight. Between its versatile matte screen and awesome picture overall, the Samsung S95D delivers the best image quality of any TV we've tested, beating both the G4 and last year's winner, the G3, as well as any other non-OLED TV. It also costs a ton, and most people -- even those with bright rooms -- will be perfectly happy with a less expensive TV. See at Samsung In our tests over the years, Vizio TVs have produced very good picture quality without breaking the bank. The Vizio Quantum Pro continues this trend and holds up as a solid midpriced TV option, with a few notable drawbacks. In side-by-side comparison tests in our lab, the Quantum Pro performed well for the money, with better contrast than the similarly priced Roku Plus Series, for example. On the other hand, as expected, slightly more expensive models like the TCL QM8 and Hisense U8K were better, with brighter images and higher contrast. The Quantum Pro differs from Vizio's less expensive TVs by offering full-array local dimming, our favorite feature to improve LCD picture quality. It has somewhat more local dimming zones than the Vizio MQX we reviewed previously, but that won't necessarily make a big difference in image quality. The Quantum Pro also doesn't have mini-LED technology. See at Amazon Competition among TVs in the middle pricing band is heating up and the Plus Series is the latest entrant in 2023. Unlike the TCL Roku TVs higher on this list, this one is all Roku, with no other brands on board. It adds a couple of step-up extras, including QLED and full-array local dimming, which help deliver a better picture than the TCL 4-Series, for example. It's not as impressive as the Vizio MQX since it lacks 120Hz for gaming and has worse picture quality overall. If you value those extras, the Vizio is worth saving for, but if not the Roku Plus Series is a good value. This is the first TV Roku has produced under its own brand, as opposed to partnering with a brand like TCL, Sharp, Pioneer or Hisense. The company also released a version with fewer features and no local dimming, called the Roku Select Series. See at Best Buy With all of the TVs available today, and all of the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what's important to watch the game. Here's a quick guide to help cut through the confusion. Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It's also best to shop for a TV in the fall when prices are lower. Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV and 65 inches or larger is best. Stepping up in TV screen size is a better use of your money than any feature. One of the most common complaints we've heard is from people who regret that they didn't go big enough when they bought a TV. We almost never hear people complain that their TV is too large. Capability: Among entry-level TVs the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in our experience. Among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet. Our TV reviews follow a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over nearly two decades of TV reviews. Our primary TV test lab has specialized equipment for measuring light and color, including a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer, a Murideo Sig-G 4K HDR signal generator and an AVPro Connect 8x8 4K HDR distribution matrix. We use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate every TV we review. In every CNET TV review, three or more similar TVs are compared side by side in various lighting conditions playing different media, including movies, TV shows and games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR. Our reviews also account for design, features, smart TV performance, HDMI input and gaming compatibility, among other factors. One important aspect of image quality we test is overall brightness. Here's how it compares in nits across select TVs listed above. Check out how we test TVs for more details. For more TV advice, check out our guide to buying a TV. It depends on your room size, seating distance and personal taste. For a standard living room or larger bedroom, a 65-inch TV is excellent, but for massive rooms, we recommend a larger TV, say a 75- or even 85-inch model, if you can afford it. If you sit closer to the screen you don't need as large a TV for the best experience. For maximum theatrical impact, according to THX and SMPTE, you should be between 6.5 and 9 feet from a 65-inch screen, although many viewers will find it more comfortable to sit a bit further back than that. Nearly every 65-inch TV has 4K resolution, and if you have 20/20 vision you can sit as close as about 4 feet and still not discern individual pixels. Most 65-inch TVs measure between 56 and 58 inches wide. Because the frames around newer TV screens are typically quite narrow, 65-inch TV widths don't vary much. Models with slim frames are on the lower end -- the 65-inch LG C3 measures 56.7 inches wide for example, while the thicker-framed 65-inch TCL 4-Series is 57.4 inches wide. If you're not planning to wall-mount the TV, you generally want the piece of furniture supporting the TV to measure at least as wide as the TV itself, and preferably a few inches wider. Refer to the manufacturer's website for the exact dimensions of a particular 65-inch TV. A 65-inch TV weighs between 37 and 75 pounds with its stand, but this varies significantly depending on the type of TV. Removing the stand -- which often consists of a pair of little legs under the panel -- allows you to wall-mount the TV and reduces its weight slightly (stands weigh between 1 and 8 pounds). Shipping weight (box, accessories, etc.) of 65-inch TVs ranges from 45 to 91 pounds. Refer to the manufacturer's website for the exact weights of a particular 65-inch TV.
