If you’re looking for a high-performance 4K Mini-LED TV that delivers premium picture quality, strong brightness, and modern gaming features, the Samsung QN90F and TCL QM8K are two of the most competitive options available today. They sit in the same class as other high-impact Mini-LED models such as the Hisense U8QG, all aiming to provide near-OLED cinematic contrast without burn-in concerns.
While the Samsung QN90F focuses on refined processing, anti-glare perfection, and four HDMI 2.1 ports for advanced gaming setups, the TCL QM8K counters with brighter HDR peaks, Dolby Vision support, and a more aggressive price-to-performance advantage. In this comparison, we’ll break down their real-world strengths so you can confidently choose the perfect match for your room and viewing style.
Samsung QN90F — Short Review
Samsung QN90F
The Samsung QN90F (2025) is a premium Neo QLED 4K TV designed for bright living rooms and mixed usage. Its Mini-LED backlight with Samsung’s Quantum Matrix dimming and NQ4 AI Gen3 processor helps deliver high brightness, strong clarity, and accurate upscaling from any source.
One standout strength: it handles reflections extremely well thanks to Samsung’s Glare Free screen, which maintains color accuracy even in daylight viewing conditions.
For gaming, it offers 4K up to 165 Hz, plus VRR and ALLM across all four HDMI 2.1 ports — perfect for users with multiple next-gen consoles or a gaming PC.
Running on Tizen OS with Vision AI, the smart platform feels polished and reliable, with excellent voice control, app support, and smart-home integration.
Built-in speakers include a multi-channel system (~60W, 4.2.2) with Dolby Atmos passthrough — good clarity for everyday viewing but still best paired with a soundbar for cinematic impact.
| Samsung QN90F Prices | |
| 98-Inch (QN98QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 85-Inch (QN85QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 75-Inch (QN75QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 65-Inch (QN65QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 55-Inch (QN55QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 50-Inch (QN50QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 43-Inch (QN43QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
TCL QM8K — Short Review
TCL QM8K
The TCL QM8K represents one of the brightest and most powerful Mini-LED TVs in its class. It uses TCL’s Halo Control dimming system with thousands of dimming zones (size dependent) to achieve deep blacks with excellent uniformity, making it a strong competitor even for dark-room movie watching.
Peak HDR brightness reaches around ~3,600 nits (10% window), making HDR movies and games look more dynamic and intense with incredible specular highlight detail.
Gamers will especially love the QM8K’s native 144 Hz panel and Game Accelerator 288 feature, supporting up to 288 Hz at 1080p/1440p. It also includes VRR, ALLM, and FreeSync Premium Pro — though only 2 of its 4 HDMI ports support full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
With Google TV, content browsing feels fluid and familiar, and integration with Google Assistant and Chromecast makes streaming seamless.
Audio is another pleasant surprise — Bang & Olufsen tuning (varies by size) gives it a fuller, cleaner out-of-the-box sound experience than most TVs without immediate need for a soundbar.
| TCL QM8K Prices | |
| 98-Inch (98QM8K) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 85-Inch (85QM8K) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 75-Inch (75QM8K) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 65-Inch (65QM8K) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
Specs & Key Feature Comparison
Before diving into detailed comparisons, here’s a concise look at the core specs and features that set the Samsung QN90F and TCL QM8K apart.
| Feature | Samsung QN90F | TCL QM8K | |||||||||||
| Display Technology | Neo QLED Mini-LED (VA panel) | QD-Mini LED with wide-angle panel | |||||||||||
| Screen Size Options | 43″, 50″, 55″, 65″, 75″, 85″, 98″ | 65″, 75″, 85″, 98″ | |||||||||||
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG (No Dolby Vision) | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | |||||||||||
| Picture Engine | NQ4 AI Gen3 + Neo Quantum HDR+ | AiPQ Pro Processor + HDR Ultra | |||||||||||
| Peak HDR Brightness (10% Window) | ~2,100 nits | ~3,600 nits | |||||||||||
| Refresh Rate & Gaming | 4K 165 Hz (55-Inch and larger); VRR; ALLM; 4× HDMI 2.1 | 4K 144 Hz; 1080p/1440p 288 Hz; VRR; ALLM; 2× HDMI 2.1 | |||||||||||
| Smart TV Platform | Tizen OS with Vision AI | Google TV | |||||||||||
| HDMI Ports | 4× HDMI 2.1 | 2× HDMI 2.1 + 2× HDMI 2.0 | |||||||||||
| Price | Higher | More affordable pricing | |||||||||||
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Samsung QN90F vs TCL QM8K Comparison
Now let’s compare Samsung QN90F and TCL QM8K across the most important aspects to help you decide which one is the better choice for your setup.
Picture Quality
The QN90F delivers excellent brightness and clarity in mixed lighting, paired with solid black levels. Its picture feels very polished for everyday viewing, especially for streaming and sports.
The QM8K pushes Mini-LED to a deeper contrast level with less blooming and richer black depth, making movies and nighttime content more immersive.
Winner: TCL QM8K — more cinematic contrast performance
HDR Support & Performance
The QN90F reaches ~2,100 nits peak brightness and handles HDR10/HDR10+ extremely well in bright rooms. However, the absence of Dolby Vision limits future-proof compatibility for high-end streaming content.
The QM8K delivers a massive boost in HDR dynamics with ~3,600-nit peak brightness and full HDR format support including Dolby Vision IQ, allowing Dolby Vision content to look even more accurate and dynamic in all room lighting conditions.
Winner: TCL QM8K — stronger HDR and format support
Motion & Gaming
Samsung leads in connectivity: four HDMI 2.1 ports make multi-console PC setups hassle-free. 4K up to 165 Hz ensures smooth gameplay on any device.
TCL leads in high-refresh performance: up to 288 Hz at lower resolutions is ideal for competitive PC players — though limited HDMI 2.1 ports may require compromises.
Winner: Depends on your setup
• Multi-device gamers → Samsung QN90F
• Competitive high-FPS gaming → TCL QM8K
Smart TV Platform
Tizen OS = polished, stable, great Samsung ecosystem
Google TV = better content discovery + Chromecast built-in
Both are excellent → Draw
Audio Quality
Samsung has clear, well-balanced speakers, especially for dialog.
TCL offers fuller, more powerful sound — better out-of-the-box immersion.
Winner: TCL QM8K
Price & Value
Samsung pricing leans premium.
TCL delivers more performance per dollar, especially in large screens.
Winner: TCL QM8K
Which Is the Better Choice?
If you want a bright and premium everyday TV with excellent motion handling, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and one of the most polished smart platforms available, the Samsung QN90F is the best fit. It performs smoothly across all types of content and is particularly ideal for bright viewing environments and multi-console gaming setups.
| Samsung QN90F Prices | |
| 98-Inch (QN98QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 85-Inch (QN85QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 75-Inch (QN75QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 65-Inch (QN65QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 55-Inch (QN55QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 50-Inch (QN50QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 43-Inch (QN43QN90FAFXZA) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
If your focus is cinematic picture impact, Dolby Vision streaming, and aggressive HDR performance — while saving money in the process — the TCL QM8K is the smarter choice. It delivers deeper contrast, brighter highlights, better sound, and more value overall. For movie lovers and competitive gamers, the QM8K is extremely hard to beat.
| TCL QM8K Prices | |
| 98-Inch (98QM8K) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 85-Inch (85QM8K) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 75-Inch (75QM8K) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |
| 65-Inch (65QM8K) | Check Today’s Price (Amazon.com)… |