TCL QM8L 65-Inch Review: 6,000-Nit SQD-Mini LED With 144Hz Gaming

The TCL QM8L 65-inch is a premium 2026 SQD-Mini LED TV built for extremely bright HDR, deep black levels and high-refresh-rate gaming.

It combines TCL’s new Super Quantum Dot technology, up to 4,000+ local dimming zones, up to 6,000 nits peak brightness, a native 144Hz panel, Google TV and Audio by Bang & Olufsen.

TCL QM8L 65 Specs

TCL confirms that all four HDMI inputs support 4K at up to 144Hz, with HDMI 1 also handling eARC.

SQD-Mini LED Picture Quality

The QM8L introduces TCL’s SQD-Mini LED system, combining Mini LED backlighting with upgraded Super Quantum Dot color technology.

TCL claims up to 100% BT.2020 color coverage, while the WHVA 2.0 Ultra panel is designed to improve contrast and off-angle viewing.

Independent testing found:

• Extremely deep blacks
• Very little blooming
• Excellent local dimming
• Extremely bright highlights
• Very strong color volume

RTINGS found the QM8L especially impressive in dark rooms thanks to strong Mini LED control and minimal haloing around bright objects.

Up to 6,000 Nits HDR

Brightness is one of the QM8L’s biggest strengths.

TCL advertises up to 6,000 nits peak brightness on the 65-inch model.

Independent testing also measured more than 6,000 nits in a small HDR window under certain conditions, although real-world brightness varies depending on picture mode and scene size.

This makes the QM8L especially strong for:

• HDR movies
• Bright living rooms
• Sports
• Gaming
• Daytime viewing

4,000+ Local Dimming Zones

TCL officially lists the 65QM8L with up to 4,000+ precisely controlled local dimming zones.

Combined with TCL’s Enhanced Halo Control System and new 26-bit backlight controller, this helps reduce blooming around subtitles and bright objects against dark backgrounds.

RTINGS found local dimming extremely precise with very little haloing.

HDR Formats

The QM8L supports:

Dolby Vision IQ
HDR10+
HDR10
HLG

It also supports IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker Mode.

Support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ gives the QM8L broad compatibility across streaming services and UHD content.

144Hz Gaming

The QM8L uses a native 144Hz panel.

Gaming features include:

• 4K up to 144Hz
• VRR
• ALLM
• FreeSync Premium Pro
• Game Bar
• Game Accelerator 288

RTINGS found input lag extremely low, making the TV responsive for gaming.

Game Accelerator 288

The advertised 288Hz Game Accelerator mode is designed for lower resolutions, while maximum native 4K gaming is 144Hz.

That makes the QM8L particularly attractive for PC gamers chasing very high frame rates.

Four HDMI 2.1 Ports

Unlike the previous QM8K, the QM8L provides four HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 4K/144Hz.

That is a major advantage if you want to connect several devices at once:

• PS5
• Xbox Series X
• Gaming PC
• eARC soundbar

RTINGS also confirms full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth across all four HDMI inputs.

TSR AI Pro Processor

The TSR AI Pro Processor handles:

• 4K upscaling
• Motion processing
• Contrast
• Color
• Backlight control
• Image clarity

Independent testing found upscaling excellent and low-quality streaming cleanup very good.

Bright-Room Performance

The QM8L is extremely bright in SDR and can easily overcome most ambient light.

RTINGS found it bright enough for even very well-lit rooms.

However, direct reflection handling is only average, so bright windows or lamps directly facing the screen can still be visible.

Motion Handling

The 144Hz panel is excellent for high-frame-rate gaming, but motion performance is not perfect.

RTINGS found the TV has a relatively slow pixel response in some transitions, which can create visible blur during fast movement.

For cinematic motion processing, Sony remains stronger.

Audio by Bang & Olufsen

The QM8L features Audio by Bang & Olufsen and supports:

• Dolby Atmos
• DTS passthrough
• Optional wireless subwoofer
• Optional wireless surround speakers
• Dolby Atmos FlexConnect

This gives the QM8L more ambitious built-in audio than many competing TVs.

Google TV

The QM8L runs Google TV and supports:

• Netflix and major streaming apps
• Chromecast
• Apple AirPlay 2
• Google Assistant
• Hands-free voice control
• Google Gemini integration

It also includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4.

Pros

✓ Up to 6,000 nits peak brightness
✓ Up to 4,000+ local dimming zones
✓ Excellent black levels
✓ Minimal blooming
✓ Native 144Hz panel
✓ Game Accelerator 288
✓ Four HDMI 2.1 ports
✓ Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+
✓ FreeSync Premium Pro
✓ Google TV
✓ Bang & Olufsen audio

Cons

✗ Direct reflection handling is only average
✗ Motion blur can appear in fast content
✗ HDR accuracy is not class-leading
✗ Picture can look overly bright in some HDR scenes
✗ Viewing angles still trail OLED
✗ Premium price compared with lower TCL models

RTINGS found HDR accuracy disappointing, with some content appearing brighter than intended even after calibration.

TCL QM8L 65 Rating

Picture Quality: 9.5/10
HDR: 9.7/10
Black Levels: 9.6/10
Gaming: 9.6/10
Brightness: 10/10
Smart Features: 9.4/10
Sound: 9.1/10
Value: 9.2/10

Overall: 9.5/10

Verdict

The TCL QM8L 65-inch is one of TCL’s strongest 2026 Mini LED TVs, combining extreme brightness, deep blacks and an excellent gaming feature set.

Its biggest strengths are up to 6,000-nit HDR brightness, up to 4,000+ dimming zones, 144Hz gaming, four HDMI 2.1 ports and support for both Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+.

The biggest compromises are average direct-reflection handling and HDR accuracy that prioritizes a punchy image over strict creative intent.

For buyers who want a very bright 65-inch Mini LED TV for HDR, gaming and bright-room viewing, the QM8L is a powerful premium option.