Is This Entry-Level Mini LED TV Worth It?

The QM6K is TCL’s most affordable Mini LED TV for 2025, and it delivers a big jump in performance over the model it replaces, the 2024 Q65. This set boasts a brighter picture, deeper black levels, and a higher refresh rate, all of which help redefine what a TV in this class can deliver.

Compared to other 2025 TV models, the QM6K is a true standout for the money. But despite all that praise, I can’t fully recommend it. At least, not yet. The reason? You can still find 2024 TVs with better picture quality that are selling for less money.

For instance, TCL’s 65-inch QM7 from last year is often discounted to $680, which is more than $100 less than the 65-inch QM6K is selling for. Though the QM6K has a few benefits over that older model, the QM7 is a better TV overall.

This makes assessing the QM6K’s current value a little tricky. TCL models like this typically lower in price as the year goes on. Tariffs could impact costs, but I still expect this TV to get good discounts. Likewise, the QM7 will eventually sell out. In time, I’m confident the QM6K will become one of the best budget TVs of 2025, but right now, you’re better off grabbing a step-up model from last year while they’re still in stock.

TCL 65-inch QM6K QLED 4K TV

The QM6K is an excellent entry-level Mini LED TV with solid contrast, vibrant colors, and decent black levels. However, its HDR brightness capabilities are limited compared to step-up models.

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Setup is simple, as long as you use your Google account

The left and right feet are easy to attach and offer enough room for a soundbar.

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The QM6K is available in 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, and 98-inch screen sizes. A 50-inch model is also set for release this year, but is not yet available. Small differences in brightness and contrast are expected across each size, but general specifications are the same. For this review, I tested the 65-inch model.

The TV’s design is basic yet perfectly serviceable for this class. The build quality and aesthetics aren’t as sturdy or elegant as those of pricier models that use heftier metal materials, thinner bezels, or flush wall mounts. Still, I don’t have any specific complaints. Though pedestal stands look nicer, the QM6K’s simple left and right feet work well and provide ample space to place a soundbar.

At 2.2 inches, the screen is a bit thicker than the super-slim panels found on pricier OLED TVs, but this depth is in line with that of other Mini LED TVs. Mini LED panels typically have deeper profiles than other types of TVs to accommodate the components needed for their advanced backlights.

The QM6K’s setup process is straightforward. Since it uses the Google TV operating system, it’s especially simple to get up and running if you use an existing Google account. The TV displays a QR code you scan to pull up the Google Home app on your mobile device. This process automatically connects the QM6K to the same WiFi network as your phone without entering any network details or passwords. The mobile app then guides you through some other housekeeping items.

Setup can also be done manually on the TV screen without the app or a Google account, but it’s a bit more cumbersome and requires typing in more details. Likewise, without logging into your Google account, you won’t be able to use any of the display’s Google services, like the Google Play Store. So, though technically functional without a login, I don’t recommend buying a Google TV unless you plan to sync it with a Google account.

Once the setup is done, I suggest using the TV’s Filmmaker Mode picture preset for the most accurate out-of-the-box image. I also recommend disabling Auto Brightness, which is turned on by default. This feature adjusts brightness levels based on the ambient light in your room, but you can get a more stable picture by just manually choosing a brightness level you like and sticking with it.

The QM6K delivers good entry-level HDR performance, but it’s dimmer than pricier TVs

The TV’s Mini LED backlight enables solid contrast for a display in this class.

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The QM6K is positioned as the entry-level model in TCL’s premier lineup of QLED TVs. And within that context, its picture quality is impressive. Brightness and contrast can’t match that of the brand’s step-up QM7 or QM8 series, but for this tier, the QM6K is a great performer.

I evaluated the QM6K’s image performance using a mix of test patterns and real-world content from 4K Blu-ray discs and streaming services, all curated to highlight features like contrast, local dimming, black levels, color, and upscaling. I also used a colorimeter to measure the display’s peak brightness, an essential component of a TV’s high-dynamic-range (HDR) capabilities.

With the TV set in Filmmaker Mode, I recorded a peak of 557 nits on a 10% HDR test pattern (a white box that takes up 10% of the screen). The brightest the TV got was with a larger 50% test pattern, which put out about 736 nits.

Those are both decent numbers for an entry-level HDR TV like this, and they’re a nice step up from last year’s Q65, which could only hit about 400 nits. However, the QM6K’s brightness is still notably lower than that of midrange TVs, which are capable of about 1,000 to 1,500 nits, and high-end sets that can offer 2,000 to 4,000 nits.

The QM6K can produce rich colors, but its brightness is limited compared to higher-end models.

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In practice, the QM6K’s brightness leads to good but not great HDR image quality. Vivid movies like « Aquaman » appear relatively vibrant with rich colors, but highlights like explosions, shimmering armor, and sunsets lack some of the boldness and overall pop they offer on higher-end TVs with more intense brightness.

« Mad Max: Fury Road » reveals similar limitations. Lightning bolts and rippling flames look duller than on step-up TV models, lacking the extreme impact that the movie’s exaggerated style demands. Don’t get me wrong, the QM6K still offers a solid HDR picture, especially for this tier, but the set’s dimmer image is noticeable when watching high-contrast HDR movies.

The QM6K uses a Mini LED backlight with local dimming to control its light output. This enables the TV to brighten and darken specific areas of its screen across multiple zones. Last year’s Q65 didn’t have local dimming at all, so the QM6K offers a huge jump in contrast performance.

The QM6K doesn’t have as many zones to work with as pricier models, but TCL’s dimming algorithm works well to produce solid black levels and very minimal blooming (halos around bright objects).

The TV’s dimming behavior favors slightly raising black levels to preserve shadow detail and avoid halos. Though this often prevents the QM6K from producing black levels that completely disappear into a dark room, it does help to create a more even image that’s free from the patchy brightness that sometimes plagues dark scenes on TVs with more aggressive dimming.

The burning church scene in the film « 1917 » is a great example. Though I’ve seen deeper black levels and brighter highlights on other Mini LED TVs, those displays tend to create a vignetting effect around light sources. The QM6K has lighter black levels and dimmer highlights overall, but it presents more seamless transitions between this sequence’s dark and light portions.

The QM6K isn’t completely free from blooming, as I did notice some faint halos around lights during panning shots in « The Matrix » and an episode of « Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. » But these instances are subtle, and the QM6K actually handles blooming a bit better than brighter Mini LED TVs I’ve tested, like last year’s mid-tier QM7 and Hisense’s premium U9N.

The QM6K supports a 4K/120Hz signal with gaming consoles like a PS5.

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Overall, color smoothness and stability are also great. I didn’t encounter any egregious signs of banding or false contouring (blocky and pixelated colors) when watching various sources. I ran into this problem when testing last year’s Hisense U6N, which offers similar specs, so it’s nice to see a TV in this class avoid this issue.

The QM6K slightly improves upon another area where many QLED TVs falter: viewing angles. The TV’s colors and contrast still noticeably fade and distort when you sit off-center from the screen, but this effect is less severe than I’ve seen on some other entry-level sets. However, OLED TVs and pricier Samsung QLEDs still have a big edge with viewing angles, so this remains a factor to remember when deciding between a budget-friendly TV and a more expensive model.

On the plus side, the QM6K’s gaming capabilities are a nice upgrade from previous-generation models in this class. Sets in this tier used to max out at 60Hz, but the QM6K supports up to 144Hz with variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM). This means the TV can receive 4K/120Hz signals from a PS5 or Xbox Series X, enabling you to enjoy the smoothest gameplay possible on those systems.

The TV’s interface works well, with fewer glitches than previous TCL models

Google TV does a good job of recommending content that suits your viewing habits.

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The QM6K uses the Google TV operating system, and this interface has become one of my favorites. It does a nice job of highlighting your downloaded apps at the top of the homepage while still offering useful rows of content recommendations below. Unlike some other platforms (like Fire TV), which put too much emphasis on sponsored content, Google TV does a solid job of curating picks you might actually want to watch.

Though Google TV tends to be a bit sluggish on entry-level displays, that’s not the case here. The QM6K offers smoother navigation and snappier app selection than competing Hisense Google TVs that I’ve tested in this class. I also ran into fewer glitches than I have on other TCL and Hisense sets. In the past, I’ve run into odd quirks like incorrect picture modes activating and certain settings applying incorrectly on some TCL TVs. But on the QM6K, none of those issues popped up. This is a promising sign that TCL may have finally solved some of its most prevalent software bugs.

That’s not to say the system is completely without hiccups. I encountered lag when playing 4K HDR videos on YouTube (a common issue on many entry- and mid-tier smart TVs), and moving through various services and menu screens isn’t quite as seamless as it is on the best streaming devices. But in general, most people should be more than satisfied with the built-in interface.

The included back-lit remote supports Google Assistant voice search with a button press, and the TV is also capable of hands-free commands after speaking the wake phrase « Hey Google. » For those with privacy concerns, hands-free control can be manually disabled via a physical switch at the bottom of the TV’s front bezel.

Should you buy it?

TCL’s QM6K compares favorably to similar 2025 TVs from other brands, but cheaper 2024 models with better performance are still available.

Steven Cohen/Business Insider

The TCL QM6K is poised to be one of the top budget TVs in 2025. It offers a big upgrade over last year’s Q65, and easily rivals direct competitors in this performance tier. However, it’s hard to recommend this model while older 2024 TVs with better picture performance are still in stock for less money.

Specifically, last year’s QM7 QLED 4K TV remains available in several sizes at a big discount. The QM7 can get much brighter and offers higher contrast, resulting in a better HDR image. The QM6K does handle blooming better, but its black levels aren’t as deep.

The QM7 will eventually sell out (some sizes are already getting hard to find), and the QM6K will likely go down in price as the year progresses. But until that happens, the QM7 remains the better value of the two.

steven cohen author photo

Steven Cohen

Senior Tech Editor

Steven is a home entertainment product expert with over a decade worth of service journalism experience. He oversees coverage around home entertainment products, including TVs, streaming devices, headphones, and soundbars.ExperienceSteven is a Senior Tech Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. He is responsible for developing buying guides, reviews, and deals coverage for all of the latest TV, video, and audio products. Steven works with a team of experienced freelancers to establish testing methodologies, test products, and select the best of the best for our buying guides. He also has a background in film criticism, having reviewed over 400 movies and TV shows. Steven studied filmmaking and uses his knowledge of video and audio production workflows to help inform his testing parameters when reviewing home entertainment devices. Before joining Business Insider in 2019, he was High-Def Digest’s Gear Editor. His work has appeared on Ben’s Bargains, Steve’s Digicams, Big Picture Big Sound, and Consequence. Why you can trust StevenSteven is not only passionate about TVs, he is also one of the industry’s foremost experts in display quality. In 2019, he was one of a select number of journalists invited to get a hands-on first look at LG’s debut 8K OLED TV. He was also among the earliest journalists to demo Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies for home theaters in 2014 and 2015, respectively.In 2018, Steven served as a judge for TV Shootout, the premier annual display competition that crowns the best TVs of the year. He also attends yearly industry launches and reviewer workshops for new TVs and audio products from top brands, like LG, Samsung, Sony, and Sonos.Steven knows that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by tech jargon and premium prices on high-end gear, which is why he is passionate about recommending quality options for all price ranges and explaining which features are really worth the money. ExpertiseHis expertise includes:

Televisions
Soundbars
Speakers
Streaming devices
Headphones
HDR video formats
Spatial audio technologies

EducationSteven holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Central Florida.Outside of workSteven lives in Orlando, Florida, with his girlfriend, their dog, and cats. When he’s not covering tech products, Steven loves to explore the theme parks of Orlando and watch movies on his dream home theater setup, complete with the biggest Dolby Atmos speaker system he could fit in an apartment.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Learn more about how we test tech and electronics.

Is This Entry-Level Mini LED TV Worth It?

Setup is simple, as long as you use your Google account

The QM6K delivers good entry-level HDR performance, but it’s dimmer than pricier TVs

The TV’s interface works well, with fewer glitches than previous TCL models

Should you buy it?

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