If you are looking for 4K LED TV with Mini LED Backlight in 2023, I’m sure that TCL QM8 and TCL R655 (6-series) are two options that should be on your choice list. TCL QM8 is introduced as MINI-LED QLED 4K UHD TV from TCL’s 2023 TV lineup while TCL R655 was released as part of TCL 6-Series from TCL’s 2022 TV lineup. Both TCL QM8 and R655 are offered with 4 screen size options. TCL QM8 comes with 98-Inch (98QM850G), 85-Inch (85QM850G), 75-Inch (75QM850G) and 65-Inch (65QM850G) screen size options while TCL R655 was released in 85-Inch (85R655), 75-Inch (75R655), 65-Inch (65R655) and 55-Inch (55R655) screen size options. What are their similarities and differences? Let’s find out the similarities and differences between TCL QM8 and TCL R655 in this article to decide which of them is the better choice.
TCL QM8 and R655 Similarities
TCL QM8
Since they are both introduced as Mini-LED QLED 4K UHD TV from TCL, we can find that there are a number of similarities between TCL QM8 and R655. What are their similarities? Let’s talk about the similarities between TCL QM8 and R655 together.
1. Mini-LED Backlight with Local Dimming
Both TCL QM8 and R655 come with Mini-LED backlight completed with local dimming. Mini-LED backlight with local dimming is able to deliver excellent contrast vibrancy with more realistic textures and details. But we can indeed find that the number of local dimming zones integrated with TCL QM8 and R655 are different.
2. QLED Display
Both TCL QM8 and R655 come with QLED display. QLED display is able to bring Wide Color Gamut that allows us to enjoy rich and accurate color details on the screen of those two TVs.
3. Picture Processor and HDR Support
The picture processor integrated with TCL QM8 and R655 are similar. They are both powered by TCL AIPQ Engine that can optimize the color, clarity and contrast of the picture delivered on the screen of those two TVs. Both TCL QM8 and R655 already support Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG so that we can enjoy enhanced details and expanded contrast from wide range of HDR content sources.
4. Refresh Rate and Gaming Technology
Both TCL QM8 and R655 already come with 120Hz native refresh rate. 120Hz native refresh rate is already able to deliver smooth motion images for our favorite action movies and sports while also can bring minimum input lag when we use those two TVs as our gaming monitor. Both TCL QM8 and R655 already support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Freesync Premium Pro that allow us to enjoy more immersive gaming experience.
5. Operating System and Remote Control
The operating system integrated with TCL QM8 and R655 are Google TV. Google TV is able to deliver wide range of premium entertainment from our favorite content providers while also allows us to run wide collection of smart apps with access to Play Store. 802.11ac dual band wireless is also integrated with TCL QM8 and R655 to help us easily connect those two TVs to our home network. We can control TCL QM8 and R655 conveniently with their included voice remote control as well as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit/AirPlay2 that already supported.
The similarities between TCL QM8 and R655 can be summarized in the table below.
| TCL QM8 | TCL R655 | |
| Resolution | 4K UHD | 4K UHD |
| Display Type | LED | LED |
| Display Technology | QLED | QLED |
| Backlight Technology | Mini LED | Mini LED |
| Dimming Technology | Local Dimming | Local Dimming |
| Color Technology | Quantum Dot Color | Quantum Dot Color |
| HDR Support |
|
|
| Motion Technology | 120Hz Native | 120Hz Native |
| Gaming Technology |
|
|
| Picture Processor | TCL AIPQ Engine | TCL AIPQ Engine |
| Operating System | Google TV | Google TV |
| Control Support |
|
|
| Built-in Wifi | 802/ | WiFi5 |
| Sound Technology |
|
|
| HDMI/USB | 4/1 | 4/1 |
TCL QM8 and R655 Differences
TCL R655
There are few differences between TCL QM8 and R655 besides a number of similarities that we have talked about above. What are their differences? Let’s talk about that together.
1. Number of Local Dimming Zones
Although both TCL QM8 and R655 come with Mini-LED backlight and local dimming, we can find that the number of local dimming zones integrated with TCL QM8 and R655 are different. TCL QM8 comes with up to 2,300+ dimming zones while TCL R655 only comes with up to 448 zones. With up to 2,300+ dimming zones, we can enjoy more excellent details, textures and depth across the LED screen of TCL QM8.
2. Peak Brightness
We can find that the peak brightness of TCL QM8 and R655 are different. TCL QM8 comes with up to 2,000 Nits peak brightness while TCL R655 comes with only up to 1,500 Nits peak brightness. With higher peak brightness, we can enjoy greater contrast vibrancy between the brightest and darkest part of TCL QM8 screen.
3. Dolby Vision IQ
While both TCL QM8 and R655 already support Dolby Vision as well as HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG, we can find that TCL QM8 is the one that already supports Dolby Vision IQ. Dolby Vision IQ is not supported by TCL R655. Dolby Vision IQ is an improvement Dolby Vision that can bring more realistic HDR contrast based on the contrast of the environment’s lighting condition.
4. Audio Power Output
We can also find additional difference in the audio power output integrated with TCL QM8 and R655. TCL QM8 comes with 10W + 10W + 20W audio power output while TCL R655 only comes with 10W + 10W audio output. With 10W + 10W + 20W audio power output, we can enjoy more powerful sound with TCL QM8. But we can surely attach additional speaker system or soundbar to enjoy richer and more powerful surround sound for those two TVs since they already support eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel).
5. Price
If we look at the price of TCL QM8 and R655, we can find that TCL QM8 that comes as the newer series is normally offered at a higher price for similar screen size option. It’s a good idea to check the price of TCL QM8 and R655 before we can find their latest price difference since TV prices often change from time to time.
We can summarize the differences between TCL QM8 and R655 with the table below.
| TCL QM8 | TCL R655 | |||||||||
| Introduced | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
| Screen Size Options |
|
|
||||||||
| Local Dimming Zones | up to 2,000 nits | up to 1,500 Nits | ||||||||
| Peak Brightness | 2023 | 2021 | ||||||||
| Dolby Vision IQ | YES | NO | ||||||||
| Audio Power Output | 10W + 10W + 20W | 10W + 10W | ||||||||
| Price | More Expensive | Less Expensive | ||||||||
|
|
Which One is the Better Choice?
As the successor series, TCL QM8 comes with few improvements from TCL R655. The most important improvements that we can find from our discussion above come from more local dimming zones and higher peak brightness of TCL QM8. With more local dimming zones, we can enjoy more excellent depth and textures while higher peak brightness brings greater contrast ratio. We can also get Dolby Vision IQ support and more powerful integrated audio output in TCL QM8. TCL QM8 is indeed offered at a higher price than TCL R655. So, if you don’t mind spending more for more realistic contrast depth and textures, greater contrast ratio and Dolby Vision IQ support, then TCL QM8 is your better choice.
| TCL QM8 Prices | |
| 98-Inch (98QM850G) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
| 85-Inch (85QM850G) | Check Today’s Price (Walmart.com)… |
| 75-Inch (75QM850G) | Check Today’s Price (Walmart.com)… |
| 65-Inch (65QM850G) | Check Today’s Price (Walmart.com)… |
TCL R655 is the more affordable Mini-LED QLED 4K UHD TV series from the older TCL 4K TV lineup. It’s indeed less excellent in contrast depth and texture as it comes with less local dimming zones while it’s also lower in peak brightness. TCL R655 also doesn’t support Dolby Vision IQ yet. But TCL R655 is indeed lower in price while it’s still basically still able to deliver good contrast vibrancy and uniformity with its Mini LED Backlight as well as Wide Color Gamut with its QLED display. So, if you are looking for Mini-LED QLED 4K UHD TV and your budget is more limited, then TCL R655 is the better choice for you.
| TCL R655 Prices | |
| 85-Inch (85R655) | Check Today’s Price… |
| 75-Inch (75R655) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
| 65-Inch (65R655) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
| 55-Inch (55R655) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |