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The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Absolutely Stunning TV - Looks and Sounds GREAT

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  The TCL QM9K Series is a wonderful TV, with an incredible picture, excellent sound, and features that define it as a flagship TV. Delivery of the TV was exactly as expected, with the courier company calling the day before and arranging a time window for us the following morning. They brought the TV, as agreed, as far as into the garage. My wife and I completed its journey into the house and down into the basement. At about 100 pounds, the weight was manageable between the two of us. Unboxing the unit was a bit different from larger TVs we have gotten in the past. Older sets had the box lift straight over top of the TV, which made it challenging in some locations in the house. However, this TV had the front of the box swing out, which is quite more flexible for unpackaging. The unit itself was very well packaged and protected, with the stand, remote, and abbreviated paperwork easily accessible. Even though the TV was eventually going to be wall mounted, we wanted to check the functionality of the TV before taking that effort. The stand took about 10 minutes to install, and is easiest to do with the TV laying flat. We used sofa cushions instead of the box to support the TV as we installed the stand. The stand is a single center stanchion which is very sturdy and unlike twin foot stands, does not require a TV console that is nearly as wide as the TV. Once we got to wall mounting the TV, I was a bit disappointed I could not use my existing wall mount (which was large enough to hang up to a 95” TV) because the VESA mount configuration on this TCL was not compatible with my mount. The TCL’s VESA pattern is 600mm X 500mm and I discovered that this is not a common VESA size, which made finding a compatible wall mount a bit more challenging. There were several options available to buy online, but be sure to check that the mount you buy accommodates this VESA pattern. The power cord is on the left side of the TV, and the A/V connections are on the right side of the TV. They are both located only a few inches in from the side of the TV and in a nicely recessed pocket. The TV also includes four cable management channels. The wall mount I chose (ProMounts brand) was a near-flush mount. Accessing any of the cables after mounting would be impossible, so I wound up putting in a wood spacer between the wall and the mount to create some additional space for access. It’s a good thing I did because one of my HDMI cables went bad and I had to change it out after mounting the TV. Overall, the TV looks absolutely stunning as a piece on its own—with a thin, matte chrome colored bezel and a nearly flat back. The remote is a matching matte chrome and has some heft. The haptics of the remote are excellent, and the backlighting on it was a pleasant surprise and looks great. As one of TCL’s flagship TVs, it has the hardware to back that up. I won’t recant the hardware features in this review, but just because a TV has top of the line hardware and specs does not mean it will automatically be a great TV. The software and algorithms controlling and leveraging that hardware is just as important. At the store, I viewed a few competitor’s flagship TVs in comparison to this TCL, and I was quite impressed with the similarity of TCL to their performance. There were some minor differences that would really not be discernable without having the two units right next to each other. Also note that in the store, the TVs highlight HDR content. Most content (with the exception of some gaming devices and titles) is not HDR, so the software and algorithms for SDR content is probably more important to most of us than for HDR content. As a Google TV, setup was a snap. The unit used my login configurations from Google Home to connect to my wi-fi network and sign into my Google account. In addition, my bluetooth earbuds paired without issue. Out of the box, the picture on this TV is absolutely stunning. I find RTINGS.com does a really nice job of sharing the most accurate picture settings for TVs. Referencing that website, I only made a few small tweaks to the picture settings for further refinement. The brightness is outstanding, the blacks are as deep as can be, the whites are very white, and the other colors are not over-saturated. There is quite a bit of customization that can be done with the picture settings, and I did appreciate that the motion blur could be turned off—as I find that feature creates very fake motion that looks cartoonish--except at the lowest setting. We christened the TV with “Wonder Woman” (on Blu-Ray), using the sound from the TV instead of my sound system. I think “wow” is the best way to describe the experience. There was absolutely no pixel dragging on fast motion scenes, and darker scenes did not obscure details. The sound from the B&O speakers (which are on the back of the TV) provided crisp and rich sound with decent bass. While certainly not a replacement for a theater sound system, it was legitimately a big step above TVs in lower price ranges. The next selection we watched was streaming “Star Trek: Discovery” Season 1, Episodes 1 and 2. It was just as impressive as “Wonder Woman.” The depth of color and contrast are incredible and the sound was impressive. In addition, there was no bleed or blooming between colors, or even between adjacent black and white. I also must comment that the viewing angle without significant loss of picture quality is very large with this screen. Even at nearly 40 degrees from straight-on, I estimated the picture was still at 95%+ for brightness and contrast. This is great for when the whole family is watching the TV from multiple vantage points. Next, my sons connected their PlayStation 5 and loaded up “College Football 25.” We normally have the PS5 connected to another TV that is several years old, but was considered a mid-range TV for that time. The difference between the two TVs is an incredibly large step function up. The improvement in color depth, sound quality, and pixel dragging was immediately noticeable. The TCL does an outstanding job to take advantage of the high refresh rate and local dimming zones for gaming. I often like to watch older programming on TV when I’m on my cycling trainer. An issue I’ve had with older TVs is that when the native resolution of the source is low, larger TVs just “stretch” the image and the results is grainy and almost unwatchable. Watching “Perry Mason” Season 1 from 1957, this TCL made the watching experience quite enjoyable, with a crisp back and white picture without any graininess. The algorithm for resolution upscaling is outstanding. During these cycling sessions, I have my bluetooth earbuds in. Unlike other TVs, I did not have to adjust the "lag" between the picture and the audio. They synced up on their own rather nicely. I will also add that when using VLC Media Player on my computer to cast to the TV, the connection is quick and reliable. I start the selection on my computer and the TV starts playing it almost immediately--no waiting! In general, the response of the TV is very snappy, navigating through menus, app selections, and such. I have not used the AI (Google Gemini) features of the TV that often, but the TV does offer several voice choices and was responsive by just saying “Hey Google” and then asking a question. I mostly asked where I can watch certain programming or movies, and it would give me a summary of that programming and on what streaming services I could find it on (both pay and free). I did like how I could continue the conversation with follow-up questions. The last feature I will talk about is TCL TV+, which is a free streaming app included with the TV. There is a very large selection of shows and movies that are categorized by genre and presented in a guide-like format. The app has a good search function, but I was only able to scroll through the guide about five hours ahead of the current time. You can “book” shows within the guide, which allows the system to provide you reminders that is coming on or set up recording. Overall, the TCL QM9K series TV is unbelievably impressive. The picture is nothing short of stunning in both SDR and HDR. The sound provided by the rear-facing B&O speakers is rich, crisp and with good bass level. The display really takes advantage of the TV’s top tier hardware specifications by maintaining detail in darker scenes, providing outstanding contrast between blacks and whites and eliminating blooming and pixel dragging. The viewing angle is also very wide. A delightful surprise was the backlit remote. This TV has been an incredible step up for our household for TV content and gaming enjoyment.

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  stirfry Posted 2 weeks ago

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Top-tier experience!

  • Tech Insider Network Member
  • Top 250 Contributor

  This TV is massive, and I am all for it. The unboxing can get a bit laborious as the TV came in very well packaged. The process definitely requires at least two able people, and the instructions could have been better, so be ready. The TV is beautiful with a brushed aluminum ultra-slim frame. The stand is made of plastic but surprisingly holds the TV steady. The power cord goes on the left, while all other connections go on the right. I hooked up three consoles and my eARC soundbar. There’s also room for a couple of USB-A devices, an over-the-air antenna (or RF device), optical cable, and an Ethernet port (my preference). The setup was easy. My Pixel phone immediately recognized the TV automatically. All I had to do was to press one button and all Wi-Fi, account, and settings were transferred. Even my most-used apps downloaded, and some were signed-in. After answering a few questions, accepting the agreements, and making some choices, I was up and running in a matter of minutes. My first impression on default settings is pure awe. The picture simply pops, the contrast is well defined, and boy is it bright! On “standard” picture mode in sunny conditions, SDR (regular) content looked vibrant and maybe a bit too bright. There were almost no blooming or haloing effects at lower resolutions. The anti-reflective coating works rather well. The AI and frame insertion smoothed out pictures and movement, creating a cleaner, albeit somewhat unnatural effect. I am still deciding if leaving this feature on is worth it since low-res or older content can get quite grainy and blurry without it. HDR and Dolby Vision content looks simply stunning in this 4k panel. The picture is super-sharp with impressive color depth and saturation. Blacks are deep and whites are clean with distinctive separation with virtually no blooming or haloing. The motion is smooth without blurring, especially when watching UHD disk media. The “Zero Border” display allows IMAX content to be enjoyed at its full potential. The wide viewing angles make for more side seating arrangements. I was pleasantly surprised by the B&O sound signature which was clear and actually had some bass (yes, a TV with actual bass!). While there is decent stereo channel separation, the sound seemed to have a weak soundstage and imaging (even with ATMOS on). Content with lots of dialogue was best. If you do not have a dedicated sound system, which is still highly recommended, this should be good enough. Although the picture presets are welcome and Filmmaker Mode is impressive, I relish micro-managing my settings. I was struck by the number of options in front of me. After getting to know the system and customizing it to my liking, which took quite a while, I was able to finally enjoy the TV on my terms. I am sure I will continue to tinker. I am an avid gamer, and this TV outperformed my previous TV. The TV automatically switches to game mode where the 144Hz VRR takes over and makes gameplay buttery smooth. This is especially noticeable in high-precision, fast-moving competitive and racing games. There is very little lag which helps with response times. There are almost no noticeable screen tearing or stuttering, even when using a mouse and keyboard. This set comes with the full Chrome Chromecast OS experience. If you have a Pixel Tablet, you will find yourself at home. I was able to find most of my streaming apps. The Home screen still feels a bit congested with too many recommendations that make it distracting. Still, navigating is easy. The TV can also become a Home Hub that can manage an entire Google ecosystem. There is also compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. Then there is Gemini AI, which can provide information and search content on the fly. The TV can be controlled via voice with or without the remote. The remote is sleek and feels premium, but there are some sharp edges. I love that it lights up when picking it up and that my most-used streaming platforms have a dedicated button. Some cool additions include a light sensor, which handles the picture’s brightness and tone depending on the room’s lighting conditions surprisingly well. There is also a proximity sensor which wakes up the TV when approaching the set. I found this feature a bit annoying since my TV kept turning on at the slightest movement (even at the lowest setting). And finally, putting the TV in screen saver mode shows some beautiful art, personal pictures, and interesting AI-generated visuals before turning off. All of these features, bells, and whistles do come at a price. This TV set is a top-tier flagship model and I can certainly see it. I’d say if your budget allows it, and you are looking for an all-inclusive smart-TV experience with excellent picture quality and deep customization, I believe you’d be more than pleased.

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  insomniak1 Posted 2 weeks ago

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  The Best TV I Have Ever Used!

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  This TCL 85” QM9K Smart TV is a stunning piece of technology! I have been using this this tv to play games and watch movies for over a month, and I can confidently say it is the best television I have ever used! At a whopping 85 inches, this mini-led behemoth looks stunning in my game room. I did contact a professional company to help me move this tv and set it up. You can do it yourself, but keep in mind that the box weighs over 100 pounds, and is very large. The team that set up the TV had no issues, and were able to get everything done in about 20 minutes, with 2 people. Once it’s all set up, the tv sits perfectly on its stand, which is placed at the middle of the unit. The bezel on the screen is small, meaning once you’re watching something, it appears to be all screen. The build quality is fantastic, with every material feeling and looking premium and well made. I’ve been primarily watching movies using my Apple TV to stream services like Hulu, Paramount +, and Amazon Prime, and the 4k picture quality is amazing. With the high refresh rate, action scenes are smooth, and images are crystal clear. Colors are vibrant, and the overall picture quality is jaw droppingly gorgeous. I’ve also been playing PS5 games, and with the HDR10 capability, my games are able to go from pitch black scenes, to bright, vivid images at a moment’s notice. The mini-led technology does an absolutely phenomenal job of pumping out the brightness, to the point that I have had to turn down the overall brightness settings on my different picture modes. Fast paced games are displayed perfectly, with the TCL able to keep up to speed with intense and visually demanding scenes in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Gran Turismo 7. So far, there hasn’t been a game that hasn’t looked insanely good with the TCL, and the built in “Game Master” mode ensures everything stays running smoothly. The TCL has a variety of built in picture modes. I use the movie setting for streaming, and “Game Master” for gaming. The tv will auto detect which input is being used, and will activate the appropriate setting once it is set up. My picture settings are slightly different for each mode, and I love that it automatically keeps everything organized and separate. There are 4 HDMI inputs, with 2 capable of outputting 4K at 120 Hz. I have tested this with my PS5, and if your game supports this feature, it’s pretty cool to see in action! I should note, I did have to upgrade my HDMI cables to ones that support this, as my old ones were outdated (something to keep in mind). Something I love about this TV is that it is easy to use! With past TVs, I rarely changed settings due to how cumbersome the process was. With this TCL, I can easily (and quickly) access menus that lead me to settings, and actually changing the settings is a breeze. While I don’t always fully understand what each setting does, the TV does have a brief explanation of the settings to help you out, if you decide to alter them. The sound quality on this TV is amazing. With sound from Bang & Olufsen and support for all of the latest audio formats, it is no surprise that this TV packs some seriously good speakers. The speakers are placed on the back of the TV and fire towards the wall behind the TV, which really helps with the sound. I’ve been using this TV without my soundbar and subwoofer, to really see what the speakers are capable of. While it lacks the true low end a subwoofer provides, it is surprisingly full-bodied sound, with great mid-range, and high-end performance. Additionally, it is extremely easy to understand dialogue in movies, without having to repeatedly adjust the volume from action scene, to quiet scene. If you do want to use an external soundbar, there is an optical port to ensure the connection is top notch. Another thing I love is that there are no ads with this TV! While there is a “home page” when you turn on the TV, and it shows different types of free content you can access, there are no popup ads, or any other type of ads, EVER with this TV. The TCL has other quality of life features that make it a joy to use. The remote will subtly light up when you move it, to help you see the icons in the dark. The TV will automatically turn itself off after a period of time; if you turn off your PS5, and forget to turn off the TV, for example. You can also set the TV to come on when powering up devices (like a game console or Apple TV), making things streamlined and easy. Overall, I am just impressed with this TV from TCL. As I have used this everyday for over a month, I simply can’t think of anything I would fault, it’s really that good. If you are in the market for an 85” TV, the TCL QM9K should be at the TOP of your list! This is a 5-star product, all the way!

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  JohnR Posted 1 week ago