TCL QM8 (QM851G) vs Hisense U8N - Which Should You Choose?

The TCL QM8/QM851G QLED and the Hisense U8N share a price point that many people find appealing: high-end performance for a mid-range price. While the Hisense has better contrast and is slightly more accurate, the TCL gets brighter, especially in Game Mode. So, which one should you buy? You’re about to find out.

Models Tested: TCL 65QM851G and Hisense 65U8N

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0:00 Intro 
0:44 Build Quality & Design
3:24 Inputs
4:52 Contrast
5:20 Blooming
5:29 Lighting Zone Transitions
5:57 HDR Brightness
6:47 PQ EOTF
7:03 SDR Brightness
7:37 Reflections
8:19 Upscaling: Sharpness Processing
8:44 Low-Quality Content Smoothing
8:55 HDR Native Gradient
9:10 24p Judder
9:35 HDR Brightness in Game Mode
10:19 VRR
11:31 Supported Resolutions
11:28 Verdict
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[RTINGSdotcom]

We were made aware that there is a potential firmware update for the TCL QM8 that aims to improve its PQ EOTF tracking, but we haven't seen it yet. We will add a new pinned comment with an update if there is a significant change after the new update!

[adleneboulebtateche]

Thank you Abby. I've been waiting for this comparison for months now.

[OTNaugrim]

Hisense and TCLs refusal to unify their global lineups and ranges and naming schemes ist just horribly anti consumer....Europeans have been getting shafted for years by them, with similarish model names despite being absolutely worse in every way than their NA counterparts....less dimming zones, worse

Really bad :/

[chroma]

my preference is for the hisense again. I've been impressed with the value they offer ever since U8H

[Davidcharrod]

My U8N 65 is beautiful. A couple glitches in menu speed occasionally. But the picture is stellar. The peak brightness is crazy and shocking at first. I dialed it back a bit

[xwing]

I'm not sure if it's just my screen or YouTube, but the U8N color looks richer and better. I doubt that I'd be able to tell if they weren't next to each other.

[JamesRussoMillas]

Like you guys said, can't go wrong with either. Got my U8N back in May before the TCL was out.

[tommyzorera]

Waiting for the "No thanks, I'll stick to the twice-as-expensive TV I don't actually own" comments to arrive in droves.

[jimreeves]

Great comparison Abby! Thanks for posting it! I already bought the 75 inch U7N (with less brightness and contrast) and it's fantastic! Still had to lower brightness for my taste for a average bright room. Guess I'm not a nit nut like so many...

[the_gr_brandino]

I was debating between these two in July. I ended up with the 65" TCL cause it was on sale at Best Buy for $1399. Two weeks later, they had it for $999. Fortunately, I was in the price match window. So I feel like I got that TV for a steal.

[ryanbaker]

The Hisense seems to at least show that the flowers are purple. They are almost completely blown out and white on the TCL (at least when viewing on YouTube).

[beerninja]

thanks for the reviews! Looking forward to the LG QNED90 review this year since it's the first time they have ever used a VA panel

[studlygoorite]

Great stuff thanks. In Canada, the 100" U8N was/is as low as 6, 400.00 Cdn right now and the TCL QM8 98" hasn't been on sale yet that I have seen, it's 7, 999.00. Still think the U8N will go down to 5, 900.00 Cdn by Xmas....so whoever is the lowest at Xmas gets my money :) If anyone sees better please post here thanks!!

[budthecyborg]

6:03 I'm surprised they didn't compare the "real scene" brightness for this video, the TCL QM8 gets twice as bright in small highlights.
The TCL QM8 gives the best contrast of any LCD in scenes with small bright points of light, which is especially relevant for gaming.

[michaelwyckoff]

Great review Abby. Based on your review I'd go for the TCL.😊

[gokhan]

U8N won the Eisa award for “premium mini led tv”

[Theshilling]

I jut got the 98" TCL QM851G, have had it for around a week, and MAN it's utterly spectacular! I got it on sale at Bet Buy for $3, 999, which is a major bargain compared to the competition. Compared to my old 79" LG, it's not in the same Universe, the TCL is so bright, the blacks are SO black, the colors are spectacular. I just think we've reached a point where we are splitting microscopic hairs to even see differences between all the top tier TV's. As many have said, It's hard to go wrong these days. I have it connected up via optical output to a pair of Devialet 108db Phantom I speakers, and the combination is beyond amazing!

[asafblasbergvideographer]

Hi Abby! Panasonic released OLED models in the US market. Any chance you might be able to review them ?

[vicentecabrera]

Abby I got the lg C4 and I think is amaizing tv just need some calibration…. I really apreciate your fantastic reviews thank you !!!😊

[amirshabani]

What about the Hisense U8NQ ??in Europe we habe the U8NQ, is it the same tv?For all i know it has its own OS called Vidaa instead of google tv!