TCL QM7L Series 85QM7L 84.6"

3,000 nits of peak brightness and 100% BT.2020 color make this one of the best Mini-LED TVs we've tested. The 144Hz panel and FreeSync Premium Pro are great for gaming. Just budget for a soundbar, because the built-in 2.0 channel audio is average at best.

The headline number is 3,000 nits peak brightness. That's top of the charts for Mini-LED and it means HDR highlights actually pop the way they're supposed to. The LD2100+ Precise Dimming Series handles local dimming across a huge number of zones, so you get near-OLED contrast without the burn-in anxiety. The HVA 2.0 Pro panel adds an anti-reflective coating that makes this thing usable in a sunny living room.

Color is where this TV really flexes. The Super QLED layer hits 100% of BT.2020, which is the widest color gamut currently available. The TSR AI Processor and Advanced Color Purity Algorithm keep that color accurate frame by frame. Motion Rate 480 smooths out fast action, and the 144Hz panel means sports and gaming look crisp. The 493W power draw is hefty, but that's the price of 3,000 nits on an 85-inch screen.

Against the Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L, the TCL wins on raw brightness and color volume, but Sony's processing and motion handling are still the gold standard for movie purists. The Samsung Neo QLED QN75QN990FFXZA is a closer match on paper, but Samsung's 75-inch size gives up 10 inches of screen real estate. The Hisense U8 Series 100U8QG is bigger at 100 inches, but Hisense's dimming algorithm doesn't match the LD2100+ zone count here. The LG OLED evo C5 is the contrast king, but it can't touch 3,000 nits and costs more per inch. For pure brightness and color at this size, the TCL is the value play.

Pricing is all over the place right now. US listings range from USD 1,498 to USD 2,500, a spread of USD 1,002 across six vendors. That's a huge gap, so shopping around matters. At the low end, you're getting 98th percentile picture quality for less than many mid-range OLEDs. At the high end, you're paying a premium for the same panel. The single Mexican listing at MXN 51,504 is a different market entirely, so don't try to compare those numbers directly. If you can find this near the USD 1,498 mark, it's a steal.

The TCL QM7L Series 85QM7L is an 85-inch Mini-LED TV that hits 3,000 nits of peak brightness and covers 100% of BT.2020 color. That puts it in the 98th percentile for picture quality in our database, which is about as good as it gets without spending OLED money. The LD2100+ dimming zones and HVA 2.0 Pro panel mean deep blacks and minimal glare, even in a bright room.

It's also a serious gaming display. A 144Hz native refresh rate, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and HDMI 2.1 put it in the 93rd percentile for gaming. Google TV with Gemini, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.4 round out a smart platform that lands in the 96th percentile. The built-in 2.0 channel audio is the weakest link here, sitting at the 77th percentile, but Dolby Atmos FlexConnect gives you an upgrade path with optional speakers.

If you're buying for a dark, dedicated home theater and audio quality matters as much as picture, look elsewhere. The built-in speakers are a weak spot at the 77th percentile, and the 493W power draw will show up on your electric bill. OLED buyers who prioritize perfect blacks over peak brightness should stick with the LG C5 or Sony A95L. And if you need something portable or smaller than 85 inches, this isn't your TV, the portable score of 53.7 out of 100 is one of the worst in that category.

The TCL QM7L 85QM7L is the brightest, most colorful TV in its price class right now. The 3,000 nits and 100% BT.2020 coverage put it in the top tier of our picture quality rankings, and the 144Hz panel makes it a legit gaming monitor replacement. The built-in audio is the weak spot, but that's fixable with a soundbar or Dolby Atmos FlexConnect speakers. If you want maximum HDR impact without OLED prices, this is the one to beat.