Buying a new TV is supposed to be an exciting experience—picking the perfect screen size, imagining how crisp the picture will be, and looking forward to those movie nights. But what if the TV you just spent your hard-earned money on wasn’t exactly what the manufacturer promised? That’s the situation at the heart of two class-action lawsuits against TCL and Hisense in the U.S.

Both companies are being accused of misleading consumers by marketing their QLED TVs as having advanced quantum dot (QD) technology—when, according to the lawsuits, that technology was either missing or present in such tiny amounts that it didn’t actually improve performance.

In California, a man named Stephan Herrick filed a lawsuit against TCL’s North American division. Herrick bought a 55-inch TCL Q651G QLED TV on Amazon last year, believing he was getting a TV with QD technology that would enhance colors and image quality. But after digging into the specs, he claims the TV either had no quantum dots at all or such a small amount that it made no real difference.

His lawsuit argues that if he and other consumers had known this, they wouldn’t have paid as much—or might not have bought the TV at all.

"TCL is committing fraudulent acts with the intention of deceiving consumers," Herrick said, "Due to TCL's business practices, owners of TCL QLED TVs have suffered losses by paying unjustly higher prices."

Over on the East Coast, a similar case is playing out against Hisense. Robert Macioce, a New York resident, is suing the company after purchasing a 43-inch Hisense QLED TV from Best Buy in November 2023. He says Hisense falsely advertised its TVs as containing quantum dot technology, which is supposed to enhance colors and brightness. But the lawsuit claims the TVs either lacked QD materials altogether or contained such a minimal amount that it made no real impact on picture quality.

"The product description included that 'quantum dot color technology is included, providing more vivid colors,' but in reality, that technology was absent," Macioce said, "Had I known this, I would not have purchased it, or I would have paid a lower price."

Both lawsuits accuse TCL and Hisense of deceptive business practices, arguing that consumers were tricked into paying a premium for TVs that didn’t actually deliver on their advertised features.

The controversy doesn’t stop with these lawsuits. TCL is also under investigation in South Korea for similar reasons. A Korean company, Hansol Chemical, conducted tests on three TCL TV models—C655, C655 Pro, and C755—through independent global testing firms SGS and Intertek. The results reportedly showed that these TVs didn’t contain key quantum dot elements like indium or cadmium, which are typically needed for real QD performance.

Hansol filed a complaint with South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission, arguing that TCL’s advertising was misleading. TCL responded by releasing its own test results, claiming that its TVs do contain QD materials—specifically, 4 mg per kilogram of cadmium. However, industry experts have pointed out that this amount is so minimal that it’s unlikely to produce the improvements that QLED technology is known for.

Hisense has yet to respond publicly to the allegations, but the lawsuit against the company calls out several models, including the QD5, QD6, QD65, QD7, and U7 series, as being falsely marketed with QD technology.

If you’re shopping for a QLED TV, how can you make sure you’re getting what you pay for?

• Check detailed specs – Don’t rely only on marketing terms. Look at independent reviews and research whether the model actually uses quantum dot technology.
• Read reviews from trusted sources – Tech review sites and consumer reports can often verify whether a TV’s advertised features hold up in real-world use.
• Be cautious of budget QLED models – If a TV is significantly cheaper than other QLED models from established brands, it might be worth investigating whether it actually includes the technology it claims to have.

QLED TVs have become a popular choice for buyers looking for better color accuracy and vibrancy. According to market research firm Omdia, 2.75 million QLED TVs were sold in 2024, making up nearly 11% of global TV sales. Samsung remains the leader in this space, holding almost half of the market by revenue.

But misleading advertising could shake consumer confidence. Industry experts warn that if companies sell TVs under false pretenses, it could hurt the reputation of QLED technology as a whole.

For now, TCL and Hisense could face legal consequences, financial penalties, and damage to their reputations. If the plaintiffs win, the companies may have to compensate affected buyers and rethink how they market their TVs in the future.

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