QM7 65-inch QLED 4K Smart TV

A Bright, Beautiful Budget TV That Actually Delivers

If you're shopping for a 65-inch TV without wanting to spend $2,000 or more, the TCL QM7 is honestly impressive. Reviewers loved the picture quality, and I get why. This TV is genuinely bright and vibrant, which matters way more than you'd think in real life. When you're watching movies with the lights on or catching the game during daytime, you actually see what's happening on screen instead of squinting at a dark image.

The picture itself is where the QM7 shines. The mini-LED backlight delivers excellent contrast, deep blacks, and vivid colors that make everything look polished. HDR content, especially Dolby Vision, looks stunning with bright highlights and natural-looking skin tones. Reviewers noted the colors are mostly well-balanced, and the shadow detail is impressive, which means you see texture and detail in darker scenes. For families who love watching movies together, this is a real treat.

Design-wise, it's elegant and modern. The slim bezels and brushed metal accents make it look more expensive than it is. It doesn't scream "budget TV" at all, which is a huge win if you care about how your living room looks. The 50-pound weight is manageable for most people to install.

Gaming is solid too. The 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 support with variable refresh rates up to 144Hz mean you can get smooth gameplay if you have a PS5 or Xbox. Input lag around 7-13ms is acceptable for casual and competitive gaming, though hardcore gamers might want something faster.

Now, the catches. The Google TV interface can feel sluggish sometimes, with occasional delays loading shows. Some reviewers mentioned quirks that were annoying. Also, viewing angles aren't great. If you're sitting to the side, colors will look dimmer and less vibrant. For a family room where everyone sits in front, it's fine. For a space where people watch from different angles, it's worth considering.

The speakers are decent but lack bass, so most people will want a soundbar or separate audio setup. That's pretty standard for budget TVs though.

Honestly, at $800 MSRP (even at the current $998 price), you're getting excellent picture quality and features that usually cost way more. If you can find it on sale, it's an absolute steal. Just know you're not getting perfect viewing angles or premium software, but for everyday family viewing, movies, and gaming, it's really hard to beat.

The Brightness-First Bet That Software Betrays

The TCL QM7 presents a straightforward value proposition: exceptional brightness and mini-LED contrast at a price that undercuts flagships by hundreds of dollars. And in isolation, the display hardware delivers. Peak HDR brightness of 1732 nits and SDR brightness of 836 nits put it in the top tier for brightness, with excellent black levels and minimal blooming. For HDR content, this TV shines.

But here's where the business case falls apart. Google TV stumbles with loading delays and interface quirks. TCL had to issue a firmware patch for an HDR backlight issue, which suggests the hardware-software integration wasn't fully validated before launch. That's not acceptable at any price, but it's particularly frustrating when you're paying for a budget product that should be straightforward to operate.

The viewing angle problem is another red flag. Colors noticeably dim and bloom increases when viewing from the sides, which matters if you have a wide seating arrangement. For a TV positioned in a typical living room, this is a genuine limitation that reviewers consistently flagged.

The gaming features are genuinely good. 144Hz support, VRR, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro are solid additions at this price. Input lag at 7-13ms is acceptable for casual gaming, though not competitive-grade. The design is clean and elegant, which counts for something.

Where does this land? The QM7 is a bright, contrast-rich display hamstrung by software that isn't ready and viewing angles that limit real-world flexibility. At $800, it's a compelling proposition for someone who values brightness and sits directly in front of the TV. At the current $998 price, you're paying too much for those compromises. The Hisense U7N offers similar performance at lower cost, and the U8N is worth stretching for if brightness is your priority.

If you can find this on sale and you're willing to accept software quirks and limited off-axis viewing, the picture quality justifies the spend. Otherwise, look elsewhere.