In TCL’s 2025 4K QD-Mini-LED lineup, the TCL QM9K and TCL QM8K represent the brand’s highest-performing models for buyers who want cutting-edge brightness, refined contrast control, and top-tier gaming capabilities. The QM9K stands firmly as the flagship, while the QM8K sits just below it — above the mid-premium QM7K — offering exceptional HDR performance and premium build quality at a more accessible price point.
Both the QM9K and QM8K use TCL’s latest Quantum Dot Mini-LED technology, the AiPQ Ultra Processor, and support native 144 Hz for next-generation gaming. Yet the QM9K pushes performance even further with higher peak brightness, more dimming zones, and a more advanced optical layer, resulting in a more dramatic and precise HDR experience.
In this article, we’ll compare both models in detail and help you decide which one best fits your needs.
TCL QM9K (2025) Short Overview
The TCL QM9K serves as TCL’s flagship QD-Mini-LED 4K TV for 2025, designed for viewers who demand the highest brightness and contrast precision available in a Mini-LED television. It uses a CrystGlow HVA panel paired with a QD-Mini-LED ULTRA backlight system featuring up to LD5000+ dimming zones (depending on size), enabling near-OLED black depth with superior control over blooming.
The QM9K reaches a stunning peak brightness of up to 6,500 nits, making it one of the brightest consumer TVs of 2025. This allows HDR highlights to pop with exceptional clarity, especially in scenes with intense light sources or bright outdoor environments. The upgraded AiPQ Ultra+ Processor provides better tone mapping, advanced noise reduction, and scene-adaptive optimization.
For gamers, it supports 4K 144 Hz, VRR, ALLM, FreeSync Premium Pro, and Game Accelerator 240/288, ensuring ultra-smooth motion and responsive input performance. TCL’s Ultra Anti-Glare coating further enhances visibility in bright rooms by significantly reducing reflections.
The QM9K runs Google TV with Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, and built-in Dolby Atmos with a 2.1.2 or 2.2.2 speaker system depending on size. The ZeroBezel+ metal design gives it a premium, minimalist aesthetic ideal for modern setups.
| TCL QM9K Prices | |
| 98-inch (98QM9K) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
| 85-inch (85QM9K) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
| 75-inch (75QM9K) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
| 65-inch (65QM9K) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
TCL QM8K (2025) Short Overview
The TCL QM8K is positioned directly below the QM9K in 2025 and delivers near-flagship performance at a more approachable price. It uses a CrystGlow HVA panel combined with a QD-Mini-LED PRO backlight system featuring up to LD3500 dimming zones (size-dependent), providing excellent control over contrast and shadow detail.
The QM8K achieves up to 5,000 nits of peak brightness, giving it strong HDR impact and excellent visibility in bright viewing environments. The AiPQ Ultra Processor enhances clarity, depth rendering, and color accuracy for lifelike imagery.
Just like the QM9K, the QM8K supports 4K 144 Hz, VRR, ALLM, FreeSync Premium Pro, and Game Accelerator 240/288, making it a superb choice for fast-paced gaming. A standard anti-glare coating reduces reflections, though not as effectively as the QM9K’s upgraded layer.
Running Google TV with built-in Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Atmos support, the QM8K offers a refined all-around experience. Its premium metal design is sleek and modern, although it lacks some of the ultra-premium enhancements found on the QM9K.
| 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)… |
TCL QM9K vs QM8K: Specs Comparison Table
Here’s a quick side-by-side look at how they compare:
| Feature | TCL QM9K (2025) | TCL QM8K (2025) | ||||||||
| Position in Lineup | Flagship QD-Mini-LED | Upper-Premium, Below QM9K | ||||||||
| Screen Sizes | 65”, 75”, 85”, 98” | 65”, 75”, 85”, 98” | ||||||||
| Panel & Backlight | CrystGlow HVA + QD Mini-LED ULTRA (up to LD5000+ zones) | CrystGlow HVA + QD Mini-LED PRO (up to LD3500 zones) | ||||||||
| Peak Brightness (HDR) | Up to 6,500 nits | Up to 5,000 nits | ||||||||
| Refresh Rate / Gaming | 144 Hz native (4K up to 144 Hz), Game Accelerator 240/288 | 144 Hz native (4K up to 144 Hz), Game Accelerator 240/288 | ||||||||
| Processor / Engine | AiPQ Ultra+ Processor | AiPQ Ultra Processor | ||||||||
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | ||||||||
| Smart Platform | Google TV (Chromecast & AirPlay 2) | Google TV (Chromecast & AirPlay 2) | ||||||||
| Anti-Reflection | Ultra Anti-Glare Panel | Standard Anti-Glare | ||||||||
| Audio System | Integrated 2.1.2 / 2.2.2 speakers | Standard Dolby Atmos-ready | ||||||||
| Design | ZeroBezel+ Premium Metal Frame | Premium Metal Design | ||||||||
| Price | Higher | Lower | ||||||||
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The Differences Between TCL QM9K and QM8K
Although both TVs deliver high-end performance, there are several important differences that separate the flagship QM9K from the QM8K:
- Peak Brightness & HDR Impact
The QM9K delivers up to 6,500 nits, giving it a clear advantage in HDR intensity and overall luminance. Highlights appear more dramatic and refined, especially in bright outdoor scenes or high-contrast moments. The QM8K, at up to 5,000 nits, remains impressively bright but does not reach the same punch or dynamic range as the QM9K.
- Backlight System & Local Dimming Zones
TCL equips the QM9K with the QD-Mini-LED ULTRA system and over 5,000 dimming zones, allowing it to handle dark scenes with smoother transitions and lower blooming. The QM8K’s QD-Mini-LED PRO system with up to 3,500 zones still performs very well, but it cannot match the QM9K’s finer luminance control, especially in demanding HDR sequences.
- Anti-Glare and Screen Handling
The QM9K uses an Ultra Anti-Glare layer that significantly reduces reflections and helps maintain contrast in rooms with windows or bright lighting. The QM8K’s standard anti-glare coating is functional, but not as effective at controlling reflections or preserving shadow detail in challenging lighting conditions.
- Processor Power & Picture Refinement
With the AiPQ Ultra+ Processor, the QM9K offers slightly more polished motion handling, smarter tone mapping, and cleaner upscaling. The QM8K’s AiPQ Ultra Processor is already strong, but the Plus version enhances dynamic scenes and low-quality sources with better clarity and more accurate depth rendering.
- Audio System & Built-In Speakers
The QM9K includes a 2.1.2 or 2.2.2 integrated Atmos speaker system, giving it richer sound, stronger bass, and better channel separation. In comparison, the QM8K’s built-in speakers are simpler and rely more on virtual processing, making a soundbar more desirable for users wanting cinematic audio.
- Design & Premium Feel
Both TVs use a metal chassis, but the QM9K’s ZeroBezel+ design gives it a sleeker, more polished appearance. The integrated speaker housing and thinner frame make it feel more premium overall, especially when wall-mounted. The QM8K still looks modern, but the QM9K has a more refined flagship aesthetic.
- Pricing & Overall Value
The QM9K’s higher cost reflects its flagship hardware — brighter panel, denser dimming zones, upgraded processor, and enhanced sound system. The QM8K, however, offers most of the same performance at a more approachable price, making it the better value for many buyers who want high-end Mini-LED quality without paying top-tier pricing.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you want the absolute best Mini-LED TV TCL offers in 2025, the TCL QM9K is the clear winner. Its 6,500-nit brightness, over 5,000 dimming zones, advanced anti-glare layer, and more powerful processor give it unmatched HDR punch, deeper contrast, and superior control over blooming. Combined with its built-in 2.x.x audio system and ZeroBezel+ design, the QM9K is ideal for enthusiasts who want a true flagship experience.
| TCL QM9K Prices | |
| 98-inch (98QM9K) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
| 85-inch (85QM9K) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
| 75-inch (75QM9K) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
| 65-inch (65QM9K) | Check Today’s Price (BestBuy.com)… |
However, the TCL QM8K remains one of the best premium TV values of 2025. It delivers excellent brightness, deep contrast, strong local dimming, and flagship-tier gaming performance at a noticeably lower price. For most buyers, the QM8K offers more than enough HDR impact and performance while keeping cost in check.
| 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)… |