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Model: TCL 65-Inch QM8 QLED 4K Smart Mini LED TV with Google TV (65QM850G, 2023 Model) Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR Ultra, Game Accelerator up to 240Hz, Voice Remote, Works with Alexa, Streaming Television
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The price difference between the Hisesne and the TCL is pretty significant
I am thinking you can get a Samsung QN90B for the price of the TCL
Not in a place where I can watch the video but I believe the answer is no. It's a hardware constraint. Same happened with a Sony 900 model a few years back. Just not powerful enough.
Rtings problem is that they are messing with review methodologies & rescoring old TVs.
U8H originally scored 8.7 overall, then they went back & rescored it with a new method & dropped it to 8.3. QM8 was scored with the new method only & scored 8.3 overall.
I don't think anyone would say the U8H is equivalent to the QM8, with double the dimming zones & better processing, so that's an issue
Rtings scored qd-oled & MLA OLED at 9.1 or 9.2, so this gives them back more room between plain QLED & MLA OLED & QD-OLED scores.
Yea, if I am on rtings comparing TVs I look at the specs and ignore the ratings.
In their defense it's tough, tech is changing and what is a 8/10 TV 10 years ago is not an 8/10 TV today. I don't know if there is really a good way to compare TVs from different years.
Rtings problem is that they are messing with review methodologies & rescoring old TVs.
U8H originally scored 8.7 overall, then they went back & rescored it with a new method & dropped it to 8.3. QM8 was scored with the new method only & scored 8.3 overall.
I don't think anyone would say the U8H is equivalent to the QM8, with double the dimming zones & better processing, so that's an issue
Rtings scored qd-oled & MLA OLED at 9.1 or 9.2, so this gives them back more room between plain QLED & MLA OLED & QD-OLED scores.
Probably better to look at the measured numbers versus the scoring
Additionally, what you need to take into account is what you value
For me..picture quality trumps features. So I am hyper focused on panel uniformity, upscaling, color accuracy, motion.
While others may value gaming features and accept lower picture quality measurement
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank spectheintro
Quote
from mgftp
:
The U8H halves vertical res in 4k120 and disables local dimming in VRR.
For people not gaming the U8H is probably a better bang for the buck but those two issues are a deal breaker for me.
This isn't quite the full story, unfortunately. The U8H can run true 4K120, but in order to do it, it drops color depth. There are two settings: "Text Clarity Optimization" and "Picture Quality Optimization."
If you choose the latter, you get full color depth, but it halves 4K resolution at 120Hz. If you choose the former, you get true 4K120, but the color depth is noticeably reduced. I haven't been able to quantify it (I don't know if it's 4:2:0 or something else), and you can somewhat calibrate around it (blacks look very raised at first), but it's not perfect.
The VRR/local dimming issue was fixed in a firmware update. I can't personally confirm as I no longer own my Hisense, but it was pretty widely discussed on the Hisense subreddit.
I have no experience with TCL, so I can't speak to the ownership experience. I liked my Hisense a lot--it was a shockingly good picture and feature set for what I paid--but I knew I was gambling. Quality control appears to be really variable. So just keep that mind if you want to purchase one: if you care about cutting edge features AND want to "set and forget", Hisense are *not* the TVs for you. It took a series of firmwares and tweaks before I felt like the TV behaved the way I wanted it.
Yes, I'd gain the benefits of HDMI 2.1, which as a gamer is a big deal. The TCL is also brighter, with better contrast, many more dimming zones handling darks better, and less blooming. Being that I don't upscale I'd essentially be giving up better motion handling to get those picture improvements. That's how I see it from the research I am done but happy to hear the opinions of others.
I think your research is right on. I'd make the switch in a heartbeat.
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This isn't quite the full story, unfortunately. The U8H can run true 4K120, but in order to do it, it drops color depth. There are two settings: "Text Clarity Optimization" and "Picture Quality Optimization."
If you choose the latter, you get full color depth, but it halves 4K resolution at 120Hz. If you choose the former, you get true 4K120, but the color depth is noticeably reduced. I haven't been able to quantify it (I don't know if it's 4:2:0 or something else), and you can somewhat calibrate around it (blacks look very raised at first), but it's not perfect.
The VRR/local dimming issue was fixed in a firmware update. I can't personally confirm as I no longer own my Hisense, but it was pretty widely discussed on the Hisense subreddit.
I have no experience with TCL, so I can't speak to the ownership experience. I liked my Hisense a lot--it was a shockingly good picture and feature set for what I paid--but I knew I was gambling. Quality control appears to be really variable. So just keep that mind if you want to purchase one: if you care about cutting edge features AND want to "set and forget", Hisense are *not* the TVs for you. It took a series of firmwares and tweaks before I felt like the TV behaved the way I wanted it.
Interesting info regarding the local dimming "fix". Perhaps something for me to look into before I buy. Although that 4k120 issue is still bothersome to me, even with the two options.
Also, I bet the TCL will be a bigger upgrade than you think. I have a Samsung KS8000 which is about 7 years old and considered one of if not the best of it's time (even has quantum dots). I bought the $200 (last Black Friday deal) TCL S546 for my kid and I had to admit that the picture overall was as good or better than my Samsung. Contrast ratio and local dimming (not to mention the jump to quantum dots that you will experience) have a greater impact on picture quality than color accuracy, which is somewhat relative. Didn't notice any obvious motion issues in my brief testing, but I guess if you're really sensitive to that you might notice something.
As someone who also has the ks8000 i have idk even what TCL in my room and the ks8000 in my family room and I think the TCL is better.
I may look to upgrade sooner than later because I need/want a tv in my basement and the ks8000 will probably be moved there, but yeah at the time the ks8000 was pound for pound the best around.
As someone who also has the ks8000 i have idk even what TCL in my room and the ks8000 in my family room and I think the TCL is better.
I may look to upgrade sooner than later because I need/want a tv in my basement and the ks8000 will probably be moved there, but yeah at the time the ks8000 was pound for pound the best around.
Any idea which firmware you're on with the KS8000? I never updated mine, but I remember at least one was great, one nerfed the tv, and then another brought it back close to it's peak performance.
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Probably better to look at the measured numbers versus the scoring
Additionally, what you need to take into account is what you value
For me..picture quality trumps features. So I am hyper focused on panel uniformity, upscaling, color accuracy, motion.
While others may value gaming features and accept lower picture quality measurement
You can create your own ratings on Rtings. You can adjust all your preferences and get a new rating for all tvs. https://www.rtings.com/user/ratin...SJUebYgNaw click on "Edit Rating" to change the values.
For example, I have mine set at:
28.9%Picture Quality
13.3%TV Shows
8.5%SDR Brightness
8.4%Real Scene Peak Brightness
7.0%Color Volume
5.6%Local Dimming
5.4%Contrast
5.4%Contrast with local dimming
4.3%HDR Brightness
4.2%Motion
4.1%Sports
1.7%Movies
1.7%HDR Movies
1.5%Color dE
Using my chosen values, the U8H is 8.6 and the QM8 is 8.7.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2zAOkj
The price difference between the Hisesne and the TCL is pretty significant
I am thinking you can get a Samsung QN90B for the price of the TCL
U8H originally scored 8.7 overall, then they went back & rescored it with a new method & dropped it to 8.3. QM8 was scored with the new method only & scored 8.3 overall.
I don't think anyone would say the U8H is equivalent to the QM8, with double the dimming zones & better processing, so that's an issue
Rtings scored qd-oled & MLA OLED at 9.1 or 9.2, so this gives them back more room between plain QLED & MLA OLED & QD-OLED scores.
In their defense it's tough, tech is changing and what is a 8/10 TV 10 years ago is not an 8/10 TV today. I don't know if there is really a good way to compare TVs from different years.
U8H originally scored 8.7 overall, then they went back & rescored it with a new method & dropped it to 8.3. QM8 was scored with the new method only & scored 8.3 overall.
I don't think anyone would say the U8H is equivalent to the QM8, with double the dimming zones & better processing, so that's an issue
Rtings scored qd-oled & MLA OLED at 9.1 or 9.2, so this gives them back more room between plain QLED & MLA OLED & QD-OLED scores.
Additionally, what you need to take into account is what you value
For me..picture quality trumps features. So I am hyper focused on panel uniformity, upscaling, color accuracy, motion.
While others may value gaming features and accept lower picture quality measurement
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank spectheintro
For people not gaming the U8H is probably a better bang for the buck but those two issues are a deal breaker for me.
If you choose the latter, you get full color depth, but it halves 4K resolution at 120Hz. If you choose the former, you get true 4K120, but the color depth is noticeably reduced. I haven't been able to quantify it (I don't know if it's 4:2:0 or something else), and you can somewhat calibrate around it (blacks look very raised at first), but it's not perfect.
The VRR/local dimming issue was fixed in a firmware update. I can't personally confirm as I no longer own my Hisense, but it was pretty widely discussed on the Hisense subreddit.
I have no experience with TCL, so I can't speak to the ownership experience. I liked my Hisense a lot--it was a shockingly good picture and feature set for what I paid--but I knew I was gambling. Quality control appears to be really variable. So just keep that mind if you want to purchase one: if you care about cutting edge features AND want to "set and forget", Hisense are *not* the TVs for you. It took a series of firmwares and tweaks before I felt like the TV behaved the way I wanted it.
I think your research is right on. I'd make the switch in a heartbeat.
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If you choose the latter, you get full color depth, but it halves 4K resolution at 120Hz. If you choose the former, you get true 4K120, but the color depth is noticeably reduced. I haven't been able to quantify it (I don't know if it's 4:2:0 or something else), and you can somewhat calibrate around it (blacks look very raised at first), but it's not perfect.
The VRR/local dimming issue was fixed in a firmware update. I can't personally confirm as I no longer own my Hisense, but it was pretty widely discussed on the Hisense subreddit.
I have no experience with TCL, so I can't speak to the ownership experience. I liked my Hisense a lot--it was a shockingly good picture and feature set for what I paid--but I knew I was gambling. Quality control appears to be really variable. So just keep that mind if you want to purchase one: if you care about cutting edge features AND want to "set and forget", Hisense are *not* the TVs for you. It took a series of firmwares and tweaks before I felt like the TV behaved the way I wanted it.
Per ccc in april:
"Lowest * $1,543.96 Apr 14, 2023"
Also, I bet the TCL will be a bigger upgrade than you think. I have a Samsung KS8000 which is about 7 years old and considered one of if not the best of it's time (even has quantum dots). I bought the $200 (last Black Friday deal) TCL S546 for my kid and I had to admit that the picture overall was as good or better than my Samsung. Contrast ratio and local dimming (not to mention the jump to quantum dots that you will experience) have a greater impact on picture quality than color accuracy, which is somewhat relative. Didn't notice any obvious motion issues in my brief testing, but I guess if you're really sensitive to that you might notice something.
I may look to upgrade sooner than later because I need/want a tv in my basement and the ks8000 will probably be moved there, but yeah at the time the ks8000 was pound for pound the best around.
I may look to upgrade sooner than later because I need/want a tv in my basement and the ks8000 will probably be moved there, but yeah at the time the ks8000 was pound for pound the best around.
Any idea which firmware you're on with the KS8000? I never updated mine, but I remember at least one was great, one nerfed the tv, and then another brought it back close to it's peak performance.
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Additionally, what you need to take into account is what you value
For me..picture quality trumps features. So I am hyper focused on panel uniformity, upscaling, color accuracy, motion.
While others may value gaming features and accept lower picture quality measurement
For example, I have mine set at:
28.9%Picture Quality
13.3%TV Shows
8.5%SDR Brightness
8.4%Real Scene Peak Brightness
7.0%Color Volume
5.6%Local Dimming
5.4%Contrast
5.4%Contrast with local dimming
4.3%HDR Brightness
4.2%Motion
4.1%Sports
1.7%Movies
1.7%HDR Movies
1.5%Color dE
Using my chosen values, the U8H is 8.6 and the QM8 is 8.7.
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