TCL QM7 Review – Price for Performance and Feature Value
We go hands-on with TCL’s latest QLED television, the TCL QM7, to find out whether or not it’s a good television, not only for watching content, but for also playing video games.
What’s in the Box, Design, Features, and Setup
For our review unit, we were sent the 65″ version of the TCL QM7. It’s a big and heavy (about 68 lbs) TV to work on alone, and as the setup instructions advise, you should have a second pair of hands to help you take it out of the packaging and set it up. Inside the box is your standard styrofoam packaging, which comes in multiple parts and has inserts for the TV to slide in for a snug and secure fit during transit. It took hundreds of miles and days later for the TV to arrive at my location, and it came in perfect condition, with no damage to the screen or any parts of it. That’s not to say things can’t get damaged during transport, as with all things, but I’ll say that the packaging material and setup that TCL used for this particular model did feel reassuring when I opened the box to remove the set from it.
The remote is also your everyday standard smart TV remote, supporting most basic control of functions, with the bottom portion having buttons dedicated to apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Youtube, TCL TV, Apple TV, and Pluto TV. There’s no motion cursor, which I hate in most TVs, but the remote supports talk-to-text searching, voice commands, and hands-free talking.
Then there’s the stand, a large and sturdy center-style pedestal. This stand type is available only in the 55, 65, 75, and 85-inch displays, whereas the 98″ display uses a foot on each side to stand. Though center stands typically mean it comes with a wobble, the stand with the TCL QM7 does a great job stabilizing the set. A central stand also expands the size of desks or entertainment centers that can be used for the TV, as you don’t need to account for the full size of the TV due to feet placement. My current setup had the TV sitting on a desk that was smaller than the width of the TV, with no issues at all.
Though the power plug, HDMI, and other inputs are off to the side in your usual spots, the stand does offer a way to manage cables as it has a large removable plate with entries and exit points to run cables through. It’s a clever little way of adding more without impacting or changing the design drastically, and since the insert of the stand on the TV is high, cables won’t dangle from behind to be visible from the front since they flow into the stand so nicely. The back panel does have a curve on each side. It’s not the thinnest TV out there, but it definitely isn’t bulky by any means. With the right VESA WALL mount, you can probably get it pretty flushed to a wall.
As for speakers, they’re located on the upper back, one on each side. Something I was not expecting to be located in the back center was a built-in subwoofer for added bass. Optional, and the TV does support optical, HDMI ARC, and analog audio out (3.5mm) for those wanting to use their own soundbar or AV system that may support Dolby Atmos Audio and DTS Virtual:X.
The panel type is a QD-Mini LED (Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diode) with a glossy matted-like finish, like in most TV sets outside of OLEDs, which are mostly glassy. That does mean reflective lighting can be a bit distracting if there’s a light source directly in view of it, though indirect lighting is practically unnoticed when the TV is off. It is not much of an issue, at least in our lighting condition when the TV is turned on. On the right side of the panel, there’s a small branding clip that says “Premium QD-MiniLED.” It dips a bit into the screen, but thankfully, it is within the black border, though it does stick out a smidge to the right. It’s tiny and doesn’t really impact anything, but personally, I would have rather had it on the bottom of their screen near the TCL logo and built-in buttons or at least on one of the lower corners. It’s a nitpick, and you probably wouldn’t even notice it anyway, given it has no impact on the viewing area.
The overall design is about what you’d expect from a TV, with the stand and speakers being the big standouts of its out-of-the-box look. It’s not a complaint, as there’s only so much you can do with a TV for build quality. It definitely feels well-built when handling it. I’ll say the display and framing are pretty durable and much better than traditional UHD LED displays. There is no sign of warping caused by shipping, nor any when moving the display with another person, something we experienced firsthand last year with a 75″ Samsung LED where we could see the panel warp whenever we moved it. It was a stressful experience, made only worse by slight crackling noises when installing the feet on the side of that specific Samsung LED. There was not much, if any, of that on the TCL QM7, as installing the stand was quick and easy, with the display holding firm and in place during lifting, laying, and lifting again.
As long as you have someone else to help you, getting the TCL QM7 all set should be hassle-free and stress-free. As for the OS, it uses Google TV, which is pretty great considering the support the Play Store has. After the first initial update, getting all that set takes only a few minutes. It is very easy for anyone with any tech knowledge to set up on their own.
Key Features
What sets the TCL QM7 above most midrange budget QLED is how feature pack it is, sporting plenty of functions you’d typically get from a high-end television, only at a fraction of the actual cost. Here’s a breakdown of some of those key features:
- 4K UltraHD Resolution
- QD-Mini LED
- QLED ULTRA – Quantum Dot Technology
- High Brightness ULTRA LED Backlight
- 120Hz Panel Refresh Rate (144 Hz Variable Refresh Rate)
- TCL AIPQ PRO Processor with Deep Learning AI
- HDR ULTRA with Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, & HLG
- Motion Rate 480 with MEMC Frame Insertion
- Game Accelerator 240 – 240Hz support at 1080P
- Auto Game Mode (ALLM) with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
- IMAX Enhanced Certification
- Dolby Atmos Audio
- DTS Virtual:X
- Bluetooth Personal Audio
- FullView 360 Metal Bezel-less Design with Height Adjustable Pedestal Stand
- 4 HDMI Inputs, including one with eARC. – 2 HDMI Inputs are 2.1, with 1 supporting 144 Hz and the other 120 Hz. The other 2 HDMI Inputs are 2.0.
- Wi-Fi 5 – Can support up to 3.5 Gbps wirelessly.
- Google TV Smart OS with Hands-Free Voice Control and Backlit Voice Remote
- Google Chromecast Built-in
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit
It’s a good list of features, with most of those being major ones that have only been introduced to TV sets over the last few years. A lot of those features have been more gamer-focused, with many sets now going above the traditional 60fps support. The TCL QM7 supports 120 Hz, 144 Hz, and even 240 Hz with VRR; granted, you do have to drop the resolution down to 1080P to support 240 Hz, but it’s still an impressive offering nonetheless. Auto Game Mode (ALLM) is also supported with AMD FreeSync, ensuring you get the lowest latency (below 10ms) on the set. We’ll talk more about performance and gaming-exclusive features in a bit.
The TCL QM7 is also IMAX Enhanced Certified, meaning it can display IMAX-enhanced films in their natively shot IMAX ratio. That’s a big deal, as it gives you much more viewing from a scene than the non-IMAX versions. I’m a sucker for Marvel movies, and rewatching some of my favorite films that support IMAX Enhanced is like entering a whole other world.
I didn’t expect to see this feature on a TCL TV, especially one with a midrange budget like the TCL QM7.
HDR and SDR are impressively bright on the TCL QM7, bringing out colors with richness and vibrancy that enhance a scene. It may not be an OLED, and while the blacks aren’t always perfect, it does come close to that level of coloring you would get from an OLED screen. Plus, being a Mini-LED, you don’t have to worry much about burn-in, even if that issue has been mostly resolved in most modern OLED sets. Pair the HDR with Dolby Vision IQ, which automatically adjusts the picture based on the ambient lighting in the room, and you get quite a stunning picture from the set. Even when playing with SDR, the TCL QM7 does an impressive job of displaying color accuracy, though that is after some much-needed calibration, as the out-of-the-box picture preset did need some tweaking. It’s not a whole lot, and it’s pretty easy to do since the menus are readily accessible and responsive, thanks to Google OS.
Brightness levels are pretty high up there, too, with TCL saying it can reach peaks of 2,400 nits, with up to 1500 local dimming zones. Black levels are pretty uniform, though there are some instances it does have a bit of “gray” to it from some of the lighting. Still, when you are sitting in the pitch dark with little to no lighting, watching or playing something, those black levels get pretty black, bringing out all the other colors around them to an impressive level comparable to an OLED.
The TCL QM7’s overall TV shows and movie viewing experience is superb. It’s a definite upgrade for those looking to upgrade from a standard 4K LED to something better, though an even bigger one for those gamers looking to finally take advantage of their consoles and PCs without breaking the bank. As a gaming screen, the TCL QM7 excels in nearly every aspect, offering one of the best gaming experiences you can get from a television, all at a midrange price.
The Ultimate Gaming Experience
The TCL QM7 offers quite a lot for both casual and gaming enthusiasts. On the console side, the set supports full HDR 4K at either 60fps or 120fps, resolutions, and frame rates that both the PS5 and Xbox Series support. Regardless of the platform, the TCL QM7 also supports and enables Game Mode automatically, which puts it into a low-latency mode for better responsiveness with VRR support. From my testing, I was pulling between 6-8 ms for input lag while in game mode, which is well below anything noticeable for gaming on a television.
VRR has been a feature on PCs since, well, almost forever, but for console gamers, it’s relatively new, with it only just being introduced in this generation. Despite that, several titles offer support for VRR, which has allowed titles to go beyond their 60fps cap, with some even achieving 120fps without any screen tearing to accompany them. It’s a massive game-changing feature for those who have experienced it on consoles, as it offers better responsiveness and, in general, better-looking games due to smooth movement and animations.
With TCL being the official TV and sound partner for Call of Duty, I decided to test out Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (Black Ops 6 isn’t out yet!) with 120fps enabled—initial impressions, I can say that the TCL QM7 can produce a buttery smooth experience without sacrificing image quality. No strange ghosts trailing that you may have heard from other sets, and no insane amount of blur, pixelation, or other odd artifacts are produced from the set. It’s a crystal-clear image that looks fantastic and feels good to control. Response times are some of the lowest I’ve had from a TV and even PC monitor, and in a game like Call of Duty, that makes for a massive advantage. That’s not to say it will suddenly turn you into a better player, but better equipment does aid you in becoming a better one when it makes things look and play so much better.
Now, I’ll admit, the jump from 60fps to 120fps isn’t quite as noticeable for the eyes to spot as the jump from 30fps to 60fps is for many, but anyone who has experienced it will tell you that it feels incredibly better once you use it long enough. Your eyes eventually adjust, though, for those who want more of a visual aid to show the difference, I’ve prepared short video recordings (@120fps) with my iPhone, showing the difference between 120fps and 60fps on the TCL QM7. It’s slowed down to about 25% of the normal playback speed to highlight the differences better.
It’s a lot more noticeable when it’s slowed down, as you can see that 120fps provides not only a much smoother experience but also a less blurry overall image. Now, I had to slow down recorded footage to 25% of its normal speed, and truth be told, discerning the differences between 120fps and 60fps with the human eye can be extremely difficult.
But it does feel different, and anyone who has played at such high frames will tell you the same. There’s a benefit, but most of that comes in the form of reduced input lag, which can make a difference in a competitive shooter like Call of Duty. Couple that with smoother animations and less blurry pictures, and you have something that adds to the overall experience that feels meaningful and impactful. I’m glad to see a TV like the TCL QM7 being able to deliver such an experience when it comes to performance and image quality. Sure, the monitor market has benefited from those features for decades, but it’s only really become recent in the realm of consumer televisions, and with how midrange priced of an entry the TCL QM7 is, there’s not a whole lot that can beat it. Console gamers aren’t looking for a monitor to put in their entertainment system; at least I’m not in my living room setup. The TCL QM7 gives me everything I want and expect in that living room experience while taking in all those advantages you expect from a high-end gaming monitor. It is a perfect blend of technology that is far more accessible.
There are a few other cool features that the TCL QM7 offers for gamers, too. One such is the “Aiming Aid,” a crosshair overlayed on the screen. It’s not a feature I would personally use, as I’ve had it in other monitors and TV sets and have found it to be more distracting, but I get why it’s there since we’ve seen some people out there tape a dot to their screen. It’s more of a preventative measure from damaging the screen for those who do that.
On the PC side, you push things even further than what is capable when running a console on it, as there’s support for 4K 144Hz and even 240Hz. The latter support does mean you need to drop your resolution down to 1080p, which can be rougher on the eyes, but that high framerate support through VRR is quite a staggering feat for consumer television. Yes, you can pick up monitors that support 4K and 240 Hz, and even more, but those are pretty up there in pricing, and if you can afford to go all out, then by all means, go all out.
Another PC-exclusive feature is the aspect ratios, allowing you to experience games in full-screen and ultra-widescreen formats whenever supported. There’s your standard 16:9 ratio, which is full-screen, then there’s 21:9, followed by 32:9, both of which are ultra-wide options. Though 32:9 is a bit much for me, after playing and testing a few games with the 21:9 ratio, the expanded view transformed the experience to another level. Ghost of Tsushima, for example, was just pure eye candy with its stunning art direction, and being able to take more of that in just felt so right. The TCL QM7 really brought all those lush and bright colors out, with it perfectly being displayed on the screen, regardless of the aspect ratio.
The images were taken with an iPhone 8 Plus, so given the phone’s age, there’s a lot of quality lost. However, this is to show what the different aspect ratios look like on the TCL QM7.
It was truly a stunning experience that, for the longest time, I thought was something only exclusive to ultrawide monitors.
On the audio front, the TCL QM7’s built-in speakers were pretty impressive. They’re on the backside like most thin TVs, and despite that, they did an excellent job at making it feel like they were coming from the front. They can be loud and crystal clear, and though they won’t beat a multichannel AV system, playing games like Call of Duty and such, it was very easy to tell which direction footsteps were coming from. Additional sound enhancements include surround virtualization to reproduce surround sound virtually. It’s ok; again, it won’t beat an AV setup. There are also some intelligent options for both the sound and picture that auto-adjust based on brightness and incoming audio. It’s pretty neat and works nicely overall to help enhance your experience in real time without adjusting anything.
All in all, the TCL QM7 excels in performance expectations, being able to deliver an experience that you would expect from a high-end television at just a fraction of the cost. This does bring up our next point, the cost.
How Does the Price Compare to the Competitors?
Undoubtedly, TCL’s biggest advantage over most competitors is its price for performance and feature value. At a standard MSRP of $1099, the TCL QM7 is considered more of a midrange budget television, though, like any television, if you wait long enough, you can get one at a pretty steep discount. In fact, at the moment of writing this review, the TV is currently discounted across multiple retailers to roughly $699.
That’s a much better price to budget, especially for a 65″ display. To put things into perspective, I bought my LG C2 42″ OLED at a discount of $900 last year, with an LG C4 42″ OLED running at $1099 with promos at the moment. To get a 65″ C4, we are talking about $1699 with promos; otherwise, the standard MSRP is a whopping $2,699. The LG G4 Evo series for that size ranges between $2800 and $3400, depending on whether you get it with promos or at its standard MSRP.
The costs of Samsung and Sony TVs for the current year and the OLED screen display are also around those price ranges, with searches showing that the smallest sizes (LG OLED C4 42″, for example, MSRP at $1399) are more expensive than the 65″ TCL QLED display.
Of course, those are OLED displays, with the TCL QM7 being a QD mini-LED display. But I bring those offerings up because, comparably, the QM7 shares many features offered in those higher-end displays at just a fraction of their costs, whether full MSRP or promotional. There’s VRR, HDMI 2.1, 120fps (and more) support and local dimming. Such features have become major selling points in those higher-end displays, so they’ve become viewed as a “luxury” given the high price tag those sets are accompanied by, but for TCL, it feels more like a “standard” something everyone should be able to experience without giving up an arm and leg to do so.
Compared to other brands of QD mini-LED displays of around the exact cost, Sony, Samsung, and LG offer displays within the range of the QM7 cost, if not some being either $100 more or less at standard MSRP. However, those sets at the price of the QM7 severely lack features. I bought a Samsung 85” Class QE1C QLED 4K earlier this year at a steep discount (their employee /EDU program slashed the price by $600, on top of running promotions) of $1000, but it came with no HDMI 2.1, lacked VRR, as well as being capped at 60fps. The Samsung 85” Class QE1C QLED 4K has an MSRP of a staggering $2799; the 85″ QM7 comes in at an MSRP of $1999, $800 less, with more features that not only make it suitable for all of today’s content but also future proofs you for probably the next decade or so.
At 65-inches, something like the QM7 from LG, Sony, or Samsung would cost $1000-$2000 more than the TCL QM7. I will say that some of those more expensive sets handle black levels better, have more HDMI 2.1 (the QM7 has two), and have some branding-exclusive features, but the difference, at least to me, isn’t worth paying twice or triple the cost.
If two 2.1 HDMI ports are a deal breaker, consider this: HDMI 2.1 is becoming more and more standardized, and a great HDMI splitter with four ports and support for full HDR, 2.1, VRR, etc, can now be found for less than $100 nowadays. Couple that with one of the next-gen consoles, like the PS5, Xbox Series X, or both, and you would still be coming up cheaper than going with Samsung, Sony (Bravia), or LG QLED alone while being able to take full advantage of those consoles. You could even buy the PS5 Pro ($699) and still have enough for a few games (even after taxes) while coming up cheaper than the mentioned QLEDs with the same features. That’s an excellent value for what might just be one of the best TVs you can get.
Verdict
For a midrange set, the TCL QM7 packs a punch far above its weight class, offering an experience you’d expect from paying thousands upon thousands for a high-end television. It may not be an OLED, but it certainly shows it doesn’t need to be to compete with one. QLEDs have come a long way since their introduction, and TCL proves they have plenty of juice, or in this case, picture quality and performance, left to offer with the TCL QM7. It’s perfect for watching movies and shows but shines even more when it comes to gaming, delivering one of the most immersive experiences that takes full advantage of a gamer’s setup at an unbeatable price.
I didn’t think I’d be so impressed by a TCL television set, yet here I am, astonished by how comparable it was to my LG C2 OLED. It almost makes me wish I had held off on buying an OLED because what TCL is doing with QLED technology is nothing short of amazing, making it a worthwhile option to explore. It may not flaunt it, but it doesn’t need to because it feels like TCL wants to set a standard of what QLEDs, and even OLEDs, should offer. The TCL QM7 is a TV that knows you deserve best and gives you exactly that, and more.
Score: 9.5/10
Pros:
- A vibrant and bright picture that makes both HDR and SDR content look good.
- Even if not perfect, the black levels are pretty dark and comparable to an OLED level of black.
- It supports 60fps, 120fps, 144fps, and 240fps, with VRR, which makes it pretty future-proof, at least for console gamers.
- Low latency makes gaming feel responsive, especially in a competitive game like Call of Duty.
- Plenty of game-exclusive options,
- Fast OS (Google)
- Motion is fluid, with little to no added blur in gaming.
Cons:
- Not all HDMIs are 2.1; strangely, of the two 2.1, one supports 144Hz, and the other only 120Hz.
Where to buy?
Disclaimer: Links are NOT affiliated, meaning we do not earn commissions from sales.
TCL USA provided a 65-inch TCL QM7 for review purposes. You can read MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.
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