TCL QM7 Review

TCL has become the brand that resets expectations for what a price can buy, and the QM7 is a good example. The Mini LED backlight is bright enough for any room and the local dimming is far better than anything at this price from Samsung or LG, so HDR highlights have genuine punch and blacks in a dark scene are respectable. Gaming support is generous, with 144Hz and variable refresh.

The compromises are in the details a demanding viewer notices. Motion processing is a clear step behind Sony and LG, with judder on slow pans that the settings never fully cure, the processing of poor sources is basic, and Google TV on TCL hardware is slower to respond than on a flagship. Build quality is adequate and no more. It is the right choice for a big screen on a budget and for anyone who watches sport in a bright room, and the wrong one for a film purist.