Future so bright…
I have reviewed a ton of TCL TVs over the past couple years, and with every iteration they continue to improve. With technology this is standard fare, but that doesn’t mean it is any less impressive to see. This company has gone from the budget-conscience brand to become more of a premium experience without jumping to an astronomical cost. 2025’s lineup was stellar as I reviewed the QM6K and the QM7K and both were excellent for their price points. I currently use the QM8K as my personal set, which I did not review, I purchased simply because it had all the features I wanted, then TCL sent over the QM9K for review, and I wasn’t sure how much better it could possibly be than the QM8K. Let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised.
Out of the box, the QM9K checks all the boxes you could possibly want. It supports all the display options such as Dolby Vision IQ, HDR, HDR 10+, as well as HLG. It has their excellent game mode and game bar, and the refresh rate goes up to 144Hz. We have all flashed these numbers and settings over and over. It isn’t as impressive anymore, just to say it, you have to see it. One thing TCL TVs have always showcased is that ‘wow’ factor when first powering it on.
MSRP: $1799.99
Price I’d Pay: $1799.99
The design of the TV is fairly similar to the QM8K with a similar remote and quality look that I have come to expect. These new models feature a brushed gray around the sides and a borderless design on the screen. The inputs are on the right side, if you’re facing the TV and it features the same ones found on every other model from 2025. There are two HDMI 2.1 inputs, two 2.0 (one is the eArc port) as well as USB slots and an ATSC 3.0 TV Tuner. The quality is here, but you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference just glancing at it from the QM8K.
So, you may be wondering what the QM9K offers above the fairly similar QM8K considering it has a higher price tag. There are certainly some advanced features for this unit. For starters the panel has some upgrades including using a better version of the CrystGlow WHVA for an even brighter image. It also has the upgraded anti-glare coating to help with bright rooms. The QM9K hits peak brightness levels of up to 6500, which is eye-searing in practice. I was never able to run this set with the brightness at 100. It is simply too much. There are also more dimming zones. The QM9K features up to 6000 zones as opposed to the QM8K’s around 4000 for better contrast control.
In practice this certainly can make a difference. I watched a series of movies that take advantage of these features and while most won’t notice without seeing them side-by-side, it does make a difference. Highlights in some scenes are just more impressive on the QM9K. I like to think that this is the set the more fickle cinema fans are going to want. The differences are not game-changing, but they are noticeable for those looking for it. The QM9K just handles things at a higher level with a better processor for motion handling and better contrast ratios. The black levels are incredible, while still not hitting OLED levels, they are impressive.
The gaming performance is basically on par with the QM8K. I didn’t notice any differences between the units. They both feature extremely low latency, and the game bar has the same options. I tested very fast-paced shooters, fighting games, and everything in between. Both TVs handled them all without issue. I would need a counter that could show me the differences as they are so minimal it is impossible to tell in real world testing. That is to say they are excellent. It handles the motion extremely well and supports the standard VRR and game mode doesn’t significantly dim the screen, which is a huge plus for me.
The QM9K does have a better audio system that features a more robust speaker system with more range and deeper bass. It does a decent job, but much like the QM8K, I still recommend at least a soundbar to compliment the outstanding picture. I have yet to find a TV with built-in speakers good enough to not recommend a complimentary audio system.
The operating system is once again Google TV, which continues to be excellent. The only difference here is that the QM9K includes a more robust use of Gemini AI. This will be user preference. If you like using the system to search for movies and have conversations with your TV, the QM9K is for you. If these features don’t mean anything to you, this is no loss. I for one am not a huge fan of talking to my electronics, but understand others enjoy it. I did like the screensaver creator. Otherwise, this version of Google TV feels fairly similar even if the version number is different.
The TCL QM9K can be boiled down to this, it is the premium version of the QM8K. If you want to burn your eyes with brightness and love the AI implementation, this is the set for you. For most users the QM8K will more than suffice as it is a very premium set, but if you want to take that extra step up, the QM9K delivers. TCL continues to impress me each year with their updates and features. This is the brand I recommend to most people, and it accounts for every set in my household. I just love the combination of features, quality, and price. It has everything I want and more.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
