Latest news with #TCL
Tom's Guide
4 hours 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.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Amazon shoppers race to buy ‘superb value' budget TV slashed from £179 to £109
Hunting for a small TV on a small budget? Head to Amazon. The retail giant has slashed the cost of a 32-inch TCL smart TV: it was originally £179 but is now just £109. 1 TCL SF540K Smart TV, £109 (was £179) Since it got slapped with a 39% discount on Amazon, this cheap-as-chips telly has become the retailer's number 1 best-selling TV. It's a great option for bedrooms, kitchen counters, or a budget-friendly pick for any kids who want a TV of their own. This 32-inch model from TCL doesn't have all the fancy extras or high-tech features of pricier, bigger models. But it's a solid choice if you're keeping an eye on your spending. The screen is Full HD (1080p), not 4K - but honestly, on a TV this size that's not important. Ultra HD screen resolution can't be appreciated on TVs beneath a certain size. The sound quality comes with a stamp of pedigree, thanks to Dolby Audio. Plus, it's got Amazon's Fire TV platform built in (that's the same streaming hub you'll find in the retailer's Fire TV streaming sticks). You can jump straight into Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and all your favourite streaming apps without needing any extra gadgets. Perhaps the standout feature - for a telly that's barely over £100 - is the voice control. The remote comes with Alexa, so you can press a button and ask her to change the channel, adjust settings, or even control other smart devices like Ring doorbells or Echo speakers. For a TV at this price, that's a nice little bonus. This TV has already got over 2,400 reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5. Shoppers are impressed by how much it offers for the price. One reviewer said it's 'a no-brainer... This TV is feature-packed with the Amazon connectivity and ability to install apps... "The colours pop and the built-in picture modes really make a huge difference. It's just the right size on my desk and makes a nice screen to work from home on as well with my laptop.' Another shopper described it as 'excellent value, great picture, great price... This is a light, sturdy, modern looking television, easy to use and responsive." A third reviewer called it 'superb value compared to other similar televisions: it's a bargain and really good quality. "The picture is sharp, colours stand out, it's a slim design, easy to set up, a good quality remote control and decent sound quality.' It's worth taking note, if you're looking for a slightly larger television, the 43-inch model has been reduced from £279 to £170.10. If you're shopping around and have more of a budget at your disposal, head to our pick of the best cheap 4K TV deals available to buy now. Not sure what size to go for? Check out our what size TV to buy article, where we've got screen sizes and viewing spaces explained. Head to our TV deals hub for more of the latest discounts we've spotted on all televisions great and small.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is one of the coolest bits of tech I've seen in years, and it's finally coming in a speaker you can buy
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The first speaker that works with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, the TCL Z100, has finally been unveiled – though as with most announcements in these days of regularly changing tariffs, there's no exact price or release date yet. Announced back in 2023, the idea with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is that you don't need to think about where you're placing the speakers to get home theater sound – you don't even need to have pairs of them placed symmetrically. Put one next to the TV, one on the shelf to your right, one directly behind you – whatever's convenient for your space is fine. The system will then map the placement acoustically and will adjust the speaker output to give the best version of Dolby Atmos-powered surround sound that it can from those positions. You can have up to four of the TCL Z100 speakers in one configuration, and each speaker is a 1.1.1 audio configuration on its own (a forward-facing driver, a bass driver, and an upfiring driver) – though when combined, they can produce something akin to virtual 7.1.2 audio, according to TCL. That includes a compatible TV providing two channels, including the center channel. Speaking of which, the speakers must be connected to a suitable Dolby Atmos FlexConnect hub, which can handle the mapping and processing. Right now, that means getting one of TCL's 2025 mini-LED TVs. TCL is the only company offering products for the launch of FlexConnect, though other companies have pledged support in the future – and it should also be possible for one of the best soundbars to be the FlexConnect hub in the future. They also support playing music over Bluetooth – two can work in a stereo pair to play music from your phone. As you might expect for a Dolby-specific product, there's no built-in DTS support. However, the TCL TVs that are necessary to make the system work all support DTS:X, and the idea is that they'll decode the DTS sound (including DTS:X), process it in 7.1.2 channels, and then convert it for the virtual surround system for your configuration, so you should get something close to full-fat DTS. Although there's no price, we've been told by TCL's European arm to expect a price approaching €300 – and usually Euro and US Dollar prices convert very closely, though the final amount will depend on the latest tariffs. UK prices will be close to the Euro price. I've seen this technology in action a few times since its announcement in 2023, and it's very impressive – though the speakers I saw it demoed with were more elaborate than the TCL Z100 have turned out to be. Those had side-firing drivers as well as forward and up-firing drivers, potentially giving them more control over the steering of virtual sound. It was amazing in my demos how two speakers – one at the front to the right of the TV, and one behind and to the left of me – could create a broadly immersive sound with steering of sounds in basically all directions. Whether the Z100 can do this as well remains to be seen, and either way, the system isn't going to match just having speakers in all the right places – but that's just not possible for everyone. I think there's real value in having speakers that can be placed not just imperfectly, but in totally odd places, and still get something more immersive than TV sound alone from them. The one other thing missing from this announcement, though, is bass. I've been told that the FlexConnect system can support a subwoofer, but there's no sign of one here – hopefully that will come before too long. Update: Dolby and TCL have informed me that a subwoofer that's compatible with the system is coming in summer 2025, which also gives us an indication of when to expect these speakers to launch. Loewe unveils a wireless Dolby Atmos TV speaker system that's half the price of Sony's Bravia Quad, and I'm tempted Dali's mega-powerful 16-inch ported subwoofer wants to shake your home theater to bits, in a good way I've been watching the latest 4K Blu-rays with a flagship OLED TV and soundbar setup for six months – here are my 7 favorites so far
Tom's Guide
15 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
The Hisense U8QG test results reveal mind-blowing brightness — but there's one glaring issue with this TV
Hisense has upped the ante with its 2025 TV lineup, and at the top of the range is the Hisense U8QG Mini-LED TV that offers a peak brightness of nearly 4,000 nits. With a starting price of $1,499 (now at just $998 in the heat of the sales season), this new premium Mini-LED TV has a lot going for it. After our initial testing, it's clear this could be one of the best gaming TVs and it's got some serious brightness to boot. But while it might topple many of its rivals in the OLED realm with its brighter Mini-LED backlight, that's not the full story with this TV. Let's take a peak under the hood and see just how far the Hisense U8QG goes when it's put to task. If Hisense TVs are known for anything, it's budget pricing and incredibly high brightness metrics. These are some of the best TVs for those looking to save a few bucks and get expert features with incredible picture performance. The same is true for the new U8QG, which takes over for last year's Hisense U8N. We gave that TV a near-perfect score due in large part to its affordable pricing with tons of specs and, as Managing Editor of TVs Nick Pino put it, "Bonkers brightness." This shows in its 1,258 nits in standard content and blown to even higher extremes in HDR at 3,296 nits. That's some incredible firepower that's only improved upon in the U8QG, which tops out at 2,908 nits in standard and 3,916 nits in HDR. On paper, those are incredible numbers. You're getting ample HDR coverage and more vibrant colors. These are aided by the higher color coverage numbers on the Hisense U8QG, hitting 83.98% and 97.53% of the Rec2020 and UHDA-P3 color gamuts, respectively. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It blows most OLED TVs out of the water and even topples many of TCL's offerings. But brightness isn't the full story. In practice, the U8QG has some more debilitating factors to contend with: Although it might have great brightness metrics, it still lags behind many alternatives when it comes to glare mitigation. Despite high brightness specs, the U8QG still doesn't compare to some of the best OLED TVs. That's because it skimps on some of the key additions those TVs have, namely an anti-glare coating as seen on the Samsung S95F OLED TV. Of course, it's hard to compare a more budget Mini-LED offering against one of Samsung's most premium OLED TVs, but it's clear that even some of the highest brightness metrics we've seen in testing doesn't equate to superior picture performance. The U8QG's minimal glare mitigation creates issues in darker scenes when watching at night ... and it didn't fare that much better in the daytime when the room was filled with ambient light. The U8QG's minimal glare mitigation creates issues in darker scenes when watching at night. Dimmer overhead lights can still detract from the experience, requiring you to shut off all the lights to get the most out of your TV. And it didn't fare that much better in the daytime when the room was filled with ambient light. There's also the problem of poor off-axis viewing. This is true for many of the best budget TVs with Mini-LED backlighting, and the U8QG similarly falls prey to this setback. While this might only pertain to those sitting far off to the side of the TV, it's rather unfortunate given the stellar lab results we saw. Keep in mind, too, that higher brightness can lead to other issues like a hotter TV panel. The hotter a TV gets, the more likely other factors could persist, like artifacting, discoloration, flickering and — worse among them — a severe malfunction. Over time, brighter TVs can even lead to higher energy bills. While we don't yet know how far the problems persist on the U8QG, there is cause for concern — even in the face of notable wins in terms of its performance metrics. All told, the U8QG still could be one of the better Mini-LED TVs to launch this year. Another particular highlight is one serous internal speaker, which boasts a 4.1.2-channel system on a 72W output (specifically on the 65-inch model). That means you won't have to shell out for one of the best soundbars, and Dolby Atmos makes it even more immersive. This TV also has a 165Hz refresh rate with an input latency of just 9.7ms. That's a boon for gamers. Trust me, Armored Core 6 over 100fps never looked so good. I'll have a more complete opinion on the TV when my Hisense U8QG review goes live later this week, but for now, I'll simply say that this is a premium TV with great specs and an even better price that might require the use of curtains to get the best picture quality.
Engadget
a day ago
- Engadget
TCL's newest TVs will automatically calibrate wireless speakers
Dolby's automatic speaker calibration tech FlexConnect finally comes to market via TCL's 2025 QD-Mini LED TVs. The company had originally announced the technology back in 2023, and was set to debut it with TCL's 2024 TV lineup. FlexConnect lets users place wireless speakers anywhere in a room without worrying about perfect configuration. The surround sound will then be optimized automatically based on the layout of the room and the position of the speakers. The first audio device to support this tech will be TCL's Z100 smart speaker, which is designed to pair with TCL's FlexConnect-enabled TVs. TCL's Precise Dimming Series, which includes the QM6K , QM7K and the newly announced QM8K , will all be FlexConnect-compatible. Users will be able to pair up to four Z100 speakers with their TCL TVs, which will work in concert with the TV's built-in speakers to deliver intelligently calibrated Dolby Atmos sound. This innovation allows for immersive spatial sound without the need for a perfectly symmetrical speaker setup. In today's joint press release , John Couling, Senior VP of Entertainment at Dolby Labs, said 'With Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, consumers can unlock even more flexibility and adaptability in how they design their home entertainment systems, while removing the stress of whether their speakers are in the right location to get an incredible Dolby Atmos experience.' In the same release , TCL said the Z100 speakers are expected this summer. The Z100 and the TCL Precise Dimming Series represent the first FlexConnect products launched in the United States. Along with the QM8K launch, TCL also announced its first model of party speakers, as well as the Q65H, its latest Dolby Atmos soundbar.
