Latest news with #Mini-LED
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Tom's Guide
TCL launches QM8K Mini-LED TV with 144Hz refresh rate, Atmos FlexConnect and powerful B&O sound system
TCL has finally announced its flagship Mini-LED TV for 2025 in the QM8K, which takes up a slew of incredible features that make it stand out against the rest. Confusing as it might sound, the QM8K isn't an 8K model, but a 4K LCD TV with a 144Hz refresh rate. It replaces last year's QM851G, sporting a whole new panel, "ZeroBorder" design, and an enhanced audio system made by Bang & Olufsen. You can already scoop one up today in both a 65-inch and 85-inch sizes at participating retailers, starting at $2,499. TCL has gifted the new and improved QM8K Mini-LED TV a fresh new VA panel that purportedly improves upon the dreaded off-axis viewing issues on many such TVs. Even some of the best TVs with Mini-LED backlighting have poor angled viewing, but thanks to its WHVA (Wide Horizontal Viewing Angle) panel that leverages sophisticated subpixels, the QM8K amends these complaints. TCL has also gifted the QM8K a new 'Precise Dimming" Mini-LED system that makes HDR content look superb. The technology essentially enhances contrast and also targets minimal lag between Mini-LED zones, specifically in Game mode. We'll have to get the TCL QM8K in for testing before we can nominate it among the best gaming TVs, but all signs are looking positive. Kitted with a 144Hz refresh rate that can even ramp up to 288Hz in 1080p resolution, it's got some serious spunk that's made all the better with its incredibly thin border. Of all the features you can praise the QM8K for, its bear-bezel-less design is an immediate standout. The screen looks as if it's floating in front of you with a 3-4mm "ZeroBorder" framing that will look fantastic when wall-mounted. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. If you thought the design and base specs of this new Mini-LED TV were enough, there's more to love. TCL has partnered with Bang & Olufsen to design a punchy sound system that fills the room using up-firing speakers with Dolby Atmos support. Speaking of Dolby Atmos, the TCL QM8K is the first TV to come equipped with a new FlexConnect feature that aims to rid the entertainment setup of pesky wires. You'll be able to seamlessly combine FlexConnect-supported speakers throughout the living room to expert surround sound directly with your TV. You can already buy the TCL QM8K Mini-LED TV today at Best Buy in both the 65-inch and 85-inch models. TCL says the 75-inch and 98-inch models are bound for official debut in June. At $2,499 for its 65-inch set, the TCL QM8K does have a steep asking price, especially in the face of Hisense's rather budget U8QG that's just $1,397 on Amazon at the time of writing.
Tom's Guide
14-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
Help me, Tom's Guide: Which OLED TV should I get for my new home theater?
As a veteran TV reviewer of over ten years, I get frequent emails from folks who are trying to figure out which is the best TV for them. However, rarely does the question come with convenient criteria that makes it easy to narrow down options. That's why I was excited when a letter from Rick reached my desk. Rick is looking to upgrade to a new TV, and conveniently, his email arrived with detailed information. Let's take a look. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Do you have any questions you'd like to ask the experts at Tom's Guide? Please email us at helpme@ There's a lot to unpack here, but I want to start with two key pieces of information: Rick is looking to furnish a dark room and has been considering one of the best OLED TVs for the job. Rick's research is spot-on — OLED TVs are fantastic dark-room options. This is because their self-lit pixels allow for perfect black levels and surgical contrast control. Rick doesn't necessarily need one of the brightest, priciest OLED models. Not only do OLED TVs look fantastic in a darkened home theater, a lack of windows means we don't have to worry about missing out on the glare-defying qualities of an incredibly bright Mini-LED TV. By the same token, we also don't necessarily need one of the brightest, priciest OLED models, either. Knowing that Rick's next TV probably won't see a ton of gaming time also frees us up to start with a more affordable option. After all, why spend more on features that won't be used? Taking all of this into consideration, my first impulse is to recommend the LG B4 OLED. This TV doesn't get as bright as higher-end OLEDs, nor does it arrive with cutting-edge gaming features. Critically, though, it will look amazing in a proper, darkened home theater. And, because this model has been on shelves for a year, a 77-inch LG B4 is just $1,599 at Best Buy right now. Of course, if Rick is fearful of missing out on the newest models, the B4's successor — the LG B5 OLED — is worth a look, too. I've previously written about how the LG B5 might be the most value-packed OLED TV of 2025, and while we haven't had an opportunity to test it yet, I still stand by that forecast. Unfortunately, as a brand-new TV, shoppers won't enjoy the same discount as its predecessor. Right now, the 77-inch LG B5 is $2,799 at Best Buy. Just when I was ready to close the case, I received a follow-up email from Rick with additional information: I have been "warned" about LG's webOS, as well as the Magic Remote. Just when I thought I was out, Rick pulls me back in! Rick is right that we've previously harbored some mixed feelings about LG's own smart platform, webOS — particularly when compared with the easy-to-use functionality of a platform like Google TV. In our LG B4 OLED review, Ryan Epps describes the webOS experience as "rather slow and clunky." However, if you were to ask me to choose between an LG TV loaded with webOS and a Samsung TV loaded with Tizen OS (Samsung's software suite), I'm honestly not sure which I'd pick. Both operating systems have their own quirks, and I'll probably always be the type of person to pair my personal TV with one of the best streaming devices, anyway. But by letting me know that there was at least some interest in higher-end OLEDs like the Samsung S95F and the LG G5, Rick opened up the door to more options. You don't need to get too far into our Samsung S95F OLED review to get the sense that it's a special TV. Our reviewer, Stephen Lambrechts, absolutely loves it. 77" Samsung S90F OLED: $3,599 at Best BuyThe Samsung S90F represents a middle ground between the brand's entry-level and flagship OLED TVs. You're getting quantum-dot color and plenty of gaming features, but like all Samsung TVs, it doesn't support Dolby Vision. Given the ideal conditions of Rick's darkened home theater, the S95F's incredible HDR brightness of over 2,000 nits isn't a necessity. That said, this TV should look fantastic in Rick's theater. (And yes, it would look better than the LG B4, whose HDR brightness tops out between around 650 and 700 nits.) And, while we're still in the process of testing and reviewing the G5 (LG's flagship OLED for 2025), Rick is right that the G5 might very well be at the top of the heap this year when it comes to picture quality. You can read all about how much this TV blew me away in my LG G5 hands-on review. The S95F and G5 are eye-wateringly pricey. Here's the bad news: At the 77-inch size point, the S95F and G5 are eye-wateringly pricey. Right now, the 77-inch Samsung S95F is $4,499 at Best Buy, and the 77-inch LG G5 is $4,499, too. Rick also wants to know if these TVs — specifically the S95F — is worth the added cost when compared to a mid-range OLED like the Samsung S90F. At the time of publishing, the 77-inch Samsung S90F is $3,499 at Best Buy, so it comes in at exactly $1,000 less than its souped-up sibling. We're still evaluating the S90F and can't report test results yet, but I'll let you in on a secret: Even though the S90F features a quantum dot-enhanced OLED display like the flagship S95F, it doesn't get as bright. The S95F is pricier for very good reason. Them's the breaks. But wait — we've already established that, while it's nice to have the best and brightest picture money can buy, Rick doesn't necessarily need the high-octane, grab-your-shades brightness of a top-shelf TV like the S95F. With this in mind, I'm beginning to come around to the Samsung S90F being a perfect compromise between the more modest LG B4 and the ultra-expensive S95F. Before we sign off on this recommendation, let's discuss one more angle: features. Rick has mentioned that, unless things change in the next few years, there's no immediate need for high-end gaming features. Still, TVs like the LG B4 and Samsung S90F do arrive with a decent amount of gaming features, so Rick will be getting them regardless. However, the like all Samsung TVs, the S90F does not support Dolby Vision, the most popular HDR format. Without Dolby Vision support, the S90F won't take full advantage of movies and shows across platforms like Netflix and Apple TV+ that have been mastered for the format. They'll still look fantastic, but the TV won't be leveraging dynamic metadata to ensure that the picture is dialed in precisely as the creator intended on a frame-by-frame basis. To figure out what to do, I'd direct Rick to my guide on whether or not Dolby Vision support is necessary. If Rick decides that Dolby Vision support is a must-have for the home theater, an LG OLED might be the better pick. And, if Rick is wiling to splash out on higher-end flagships, the answer might lie with LG's mid-range rival to the S90F: the LG C5 OLED. 77" LG C5 OLED TV: $3,699 at Best BuyThe LG C5 is a five-star TV with a laundry list of features including Dolby Vision support. It's not as flashy as a top-shelf OLED, but it's plenty bright for most rooms and arrives with outstanding out-of-the-box accuracy. Rick doesn't need to worry about getting the brightest OLED unless the best possible picture takes over as the number-one priority. Rick also doesn't need an extensive list of features. But Rick might ultimately decide that Dolby Vision support is the most important distinction between options like the Samsung S90F and the LG C5. If Rick asked me which of those two TVs I'd choose, it would be the LG C5 for its Dolby Vision support alone. If I were choosing between the Samsung S95F and the LG C5, I would go with the S95F based on its superior performance profile and end up missing Dolby Vision dearly. Let us know where you land, Rick!
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hisense's U8 TV: Mini-LED, 165Hz Refresh, Dolby Vision, and $500 Off
This site may earn affiliate commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use(Opens in a new window) . Big screen, bold specs, and a hefty discount? The Hisense U8 Series 55-inch Mini-LED TV is now down to $999.99, which is a full $500 off. If you're hunting for a TV that nails both gaming and movie nights, this one's stacked with features that punch way above its price. This TV's 4K QLED panel with Mini-LED backlighting means deep contrast and bright, vibrant colors, whether you're streaming in Dolby Vision or just watching cable. It also has full-array local dimming for sharper blacks and better control over lighting in every frame. For gamers, this TV is a beast. The native 165Hz refresh rate keeps action smooth, and Game Mode Ultra supports VRR up to 288Hz for super-responsive play. It's also equipped with HDMI 2.1, so your PS5 or Xbox Series X can actually flex. Sound-wise, this TV is rocking Dolby Atmos and a 4.1.2 channel setup built in, pretty impressive for a TV this slim. You also get Google TV smarts out of the box, making it easy to find your apps, control stuff with your voice, and binge your usual lineup without needing extra boxes. At $999.99, the Hisense U8 checks basically every box for gamers and binge-watchers alike—and $500 off makes it a much easier yes. Want to check out more screen-worthy deals? Head to The Best TV Deals.
Tom's Guide
09-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
Your TV screen is definitely overdue for a cleaning — here's how often you should clean it
I make a living telling folks how to get the most out of their TV, so you can imagine my embarrassment the other day when I noticed that my own TV screen was covered in a fine layer of dust. As someone who studies TVs for a living, how could I miss this? In the days since, I've let myself off the hook. In fact, we should all let ourselves off the hook for our dusty, fingerprint-laden TV screens. It's easy to ignore a dirty screen — we're not really paying attention to them when they're off, and when they're on, grime, gunk and spots are tougher to here's the deal: A dirty screen can make even the brightest and best TVs look not-so-hot, especially under certain lighting conditions. Don't let the dust win. Contrast and clarity are two terms that are frequently thrown around when discussing TV performance, and it makes sense, as they're key aspects of an immersive picture. Details in the brightest and darkest regions of the picture are at risk of being obscured. When dust and fingerprints accumulate, they can have an adverse effect on both contrast and clarity. Details in the brightest and darkest regions of the picture are at risk of being obscured, and it can be especially noticeable during daytime viewing. Whether you own a budget-friendly TV or high-end OLED or Mini-LED TV, dust is going to be a problem. Affordable, entry-level TV screens tend to be more affected by blemishes due to the limitations of their display hardware, and if you spent a pretty penny on a premium model, you'll surely want it looking its best. Thankfully, cleaning a TV isn't as big of a time suck as you might think it'd be. We've put together an extensive guide to cleaning a TV screen, but if you're looking for the basics, here's what you need to know: Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. I recommend cleaning your TV screen every one to two weeks in order to keep your picture looking its best. If you notice a fingerprint or smudge, it's in your best interest to clean it as soon as possible. The longer a blemish hangs around, the harder it may be to clean later. Additionally, if your TV is situated near a frequently opened window or sliding door, you may want to clean it more often. (My TV is set next to a living room window, and over the last several weeks, the screen has accumulated a fine layer of pollen that drifted in through the open window.) Developing a screen-cleaning routine will ensure that your TV looks its best for years to come.
Stuff.tv
30-04-2025
- Stuff.tv
OLED vs Mini LED: which of the top 4K TV technologies should you choose?
The tech that makes your computer display or TV work can seem incomprehensibly arcane, millions of tiny dots compressed into a thin sheet, somehow supplied with power and light and colour. Trends come and go, as once we were enthralled with the intense picture quality of plasma screens, only for them to fall away, replaced by lighter and less power-hungry methods of making a moving picture. Legends even tell of huge, boxy things that used magnets to steer a beam of electrons that made the inside of the screen glow, but it was so long ago we're not sure they were even real. Still, today's best screens are better and thinner than ever, and that's down to their underlying technology. Two of the leading lights are OLED and Mini-LED, and you'll find many of the best screens – computer and laptop displays, and even TVs – using these methods of getting pixels to light up in the right order. To do this you need light, and Mini-LED and OLED use slightly different methods to achieve pixels that light up, and – importantly – don't light up. Sponsored: protect Your Privacy. Unlock the World ExpressVPN gives you the freedom to browse the internet safely, securely, and without limits. With ultra-fast servers in 94 countries, your data stays private and your connection stays lightning-fast—whether you're at home or on the go. ✅ Top-tier encryption to keep your data safe ✅ No activity logs—your privacy is our priority ✅ Bypass geo-restrictions and access content worldwide ✅ 24/7 customer support ready when you need it ✅ Easy-to-use apps for all your devices Experience the internet the way it's meant to be—open, private, and secure. Join millions of users who trust ExpressVPN to keep them safe online. What is Mini LED? For years, flat displays have relied on a backlight to make them work. This has taken many forms, from light that comes from the edge of the screen, to a folded up fluorescent tube behind the panel itself. Next came LED backlights, a grid of lights behind the screen that could be turned on and off individually to reflect the lighter and darker parts of the scene being displayed, a technique known as local dimming. Mini LED takes local dimming to its logical conclusion, by having many more, much smaller LEDs providing the light. The problem with a lot of backlit screen tech, such as IPS or VA, is that blacks are never really black. They use a liquid crystal layer that twists when a voltage is applied, blocking out the light coming from below and creating darker colours, but the blocking isn't absolute, and areas that are meant to be black are often more like dark grey. This leads to an overall picture that is lower in contrast than it might otherwise be, and a less satisfying viewing experience. There can be less detail in darker parts too, as the darkest parts aren't sufficiently different from one another. Mini LED attempts to solve this problem by having more backlights – numbering in the thousands – that can be switched off completely, producing something akin to a true black, and much better than mere dark grey. There's another technology coming through right now, called Micro LED, which takes this even further, with a tiny LED lighting each pixel from behind, but it's still pretty expensive. Otherwise, the pixels are the same as any other LCD TV, though some use Quantum Dots to provide extra colour saturation. There's a three-colour sub-pixel assembly over each pixel, and different combinations of these produce different hues and brightnesses, over eight million of them for a 4K TV, changing 60 times a second (or even faster). What Mini-LED accomplishes is enhanced contrast in its pictures, with darker areas that are more convincing to look at and show more detail. Mini-LED TVs often come with more complex local dimming algorithms than standard LED-backlit screens, so you get a more realistic picture without areas that appear less vibrant,and the best examples can outdo any other display tech in terms of brightness. Examples of Mini-LED screens include the iPad Pro with an M1 processor (known as a Liquid Retina XDR display), MSI's Raider 18 HX AI A2XW gaming laptop, and the LG QNED93 TV, but Mini-LED screens are rarer than those built using other backlighting methods. What is OLED? The acronym OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, and it refers to the ability of each pixel in an OLED display to light itself thanks to an organic layer that glows when you put electricity across it. This means each pixel lights itself, and there's no need for a backlight. This means panels can be thinner and lighter, as there's less to squeeze between the layers of plastic and glass that make up their frames. OLED is currently taking the worlds of computer displays and living-room TVs by storm, because it results in large screens that have excellent colour and contrast. As the pixels are individually lit, OLED screens can turn them off completely, which leads to excellent black levels, the complete removal of light 'blooming' from bright areas into darker ones, and huge detail within the shadows of an image. Newer screens that combine OLED with Quantum Dots are taking this even further, with high refresh rates and enhanced colour saturation over plain OLED screens, which were already pretty good in this area. The downsides of OLED are that they're more expensive than LED-backlit displays, and they can be prone to screen burn, just like older plasma displays. This means that, if a static image is displayed for a long time, it can become permanently etched on the panel. It's easy enough to avoid, by watching moving images and allowing the screen to go into a screensaver mode when your movie or TV show is paused, but things like the Windows taskbar can be an issue if you're using an OLED computer monitor, and channel ID logos may stay on the screen as foggy after-images if you're watching TV news. However, as OLED versions of the Nintendo Switch and Valve's Steam Deck have shown, along with myriad living room TVs, this is rarely an issue. Which is for me? OLED is more common than Mini-LED, and the latter isn't getting the same sort of market share as its thinner, lighter competitor. As Micro-LED screens become more frequently seen and cheaper, they may become popular, but right now many of the best screens – be they computer monitors or huge living room TVs – are OLEDs. They provide excellent brightness, contrast and colour reproduction, are coming down in price, and make your movies, TV shows and games look fantastic.
