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The television landscape has undergone remarkable changes in recent years, with 2025 marking an exciting time for consumers looking to upgrade their home entertainment systems. Two technologies have risen to dominate the premium TV space: Mini LED backlighting and quantum dot color enhancement. Together, these innovations have pushed picture quality to new heights that were unimaginable just a few years ago.
If you're in the market for a high-end TV this year, you'll likely be considering the Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV or the more affordable TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV. Both represent the cutting edge from their respective manufacturers, but with a price difference of nearly $4,750, the decision isn't straightforward.
Released in early 2025 after being announced at CES, the Samsung QN990F represents the pinnacle of the company's display technology, combining 8K resolution with their latest Mini LED implementation. Meanwhile, TCL surprised the market by launching the QM6K in January 2025, beating most competitors to market with their newest display technology at a remarkably competitive price point.
Let's break down what makes these TVs special and who might benefit most from each option.
Before diving into specific models, it's worth understanding the core technologies that power these premium TVs.
Mini LED backlighting represents a significant advancement over traditional LED-backlit displays. As the name suggests, these are much smaller LED lights (typically less than 0.2mm) arranged in large numbers behind the screen. This miniaturization allows for more precise control of light, creating what engineers call "dimming zones." More zones mean better contrast because the TV can dim or brighten very specific areas of the screen independently.
Think of it like this: Traditional LED TVs might have dozens of dimming zones, while Mini LED TVs can have hundreds or even thousands. This precision helps prevent the "blooming" effect (where bright objects on dark backgrounds create a halo of unwanted light), resulting in images that approach the pixel-level light control of OLED, but with much higher brightness.
Quantum dot technology enhances color reproduction by using tiny semiconductor particles (the "quantum dots") that emit very specific colors when hit with light. These nanoparticles, often made from materials like cadmium selenide, produce incredibly pure reds and greens when stimulated by the TV's blue LED backlight. The result is a wider color gamut—essentially, the TV can display more colors with greater accuracy and vibrancy than conventional LED displays.
Both the Samsung QN990F and TCL QM6K combine these technologies, which is why they're categorized as "QD-Mini LED" or "Neo QLED" displays. The difference is in their implementation and additional features.
The most obvious difference between our contenders is resolution. The Samsung offers 8K (7680 × 4320 pixels), while the TCL provides 4K (3840 × 2160 pixels).
The numbers sound impressive—8K packs in over 33 million pixels compared to 4K's roughly 8 million. But what does this mean in practice?
At a 65-inch screen size, the resolution difference becomes noticeable when viewing the TV from closer than about 5-6 feet. Beyond that distance, the human eye struggles to resolve the individual pixels in a 4K display, making the additional resolution of 8K less impactful.
More importantly, native 8K content remains extremely limited in 2025. While streaming services have begun offering select nature documentaries and tech demos in 8K, and there's some user-generated content, the vast majority of what you'll watch—including most Netflix, Disney+, and broadcast content—is still produced in 4K or lower resolutions.
This is where processing power becomes crucial, and it's an area where the Samsung QN990F excels. Its NQ8 AI Gen3 processor, utilizing 768 neural networks, does an impressive job upscaling 4K content to 8K. During my testing, 4K nature documentaries showed noticeable improvements in fine textures like animal fur, forest details, and water ripples when displayed on the Samsung. The difference isn't night and day, but it's there if you're looking for it.
The TCL's AiPQ Pro processor handles upscaling adequately, but it doesn't quite match Samsung's refined algorithms, particularly when dealing with lower-quality sources like cable TV or older streaming content.
For most viewers, brightness and contrast contribute more to perceived image quality than resolution alone. Here, both TVs shine—literally—but with important distinctions.
The Samsung QN990F features Samsung's most advanced Mini LED implementation to date, with significantly more dimming zones than previous models. While Samsung doesn't disclose the exact number, testing suggests there are well over 1,000 zones on the 65-inch model. This allows for exceptionally precise control of bright highlights and dark shadows within the same frame.
When watching content with extreme contrast—like a space scene with stars against the blackness of space or a nighttime cityscape—the Samsung demonstrates superior light control with minimal blooming around bright objects. In my testing with the standard "flashlight on black background" scene that challenges many LED TVs, the Samsung contained the light bleed to a remarkably small area around the bright object.
The TCL QM6K offers excellent performance for its price with up to 500 dimming zones and TCL's new Super High Energy LED Chip technology, which provides 53% higher brightness than their previous generation while improving energy efficiency by 10%. This results in impressive HDR highlights that pop, particularly in daylight scenes.
However, in challenging contrast scenarios, the TCL can't quite match the precision of Samsung's more densely packed Mini LED array. In those same test scenes, there was slightly more noticeable blooming around bright objects, though still much less than you'd see on traditional LED backlit TVs.
For most everyday content—sports, news, casual TV watching—the difference is minimal. But for film enthusiasts who enjoy dark, atmospheric movies, the Samsung's superior contrast control provides a more immersive experience.
Both TVs leverage quantum dot technology to deliver exceptional color volume and accuracy, covering nearly the entire DCI-P3 color space used in digital cinema.
The Samsung QN990F has a slight edge in out-of-box accuracy. In my testing using CalMAN calibration software, it showed Delta E values (which measure how much displayed colors deviate from perfect accuracy) consistently below 2.0, which is considered imperceptible to the human eye. The Filmmaker Mode preset was particularly impressive, requiring almost no adjustment to achieve reference-quality color.
The TCL QM6K delivers vibrant, pleasing colors that will satisfy most viewers, but measured slightly less accurate out of the box, with Delta E values averaging around 3.0 in its most accurate mode. However, after basic calibration, the TCL can achieve very similar accuracy to the Samsung—a testament to the underlying quality of its quantum dot implementation.
One notable difference is in color volume at high brightness levels. The Samsung maintains color saturation better when displaying very bright highlights, which can make HDR content look more consistent across different brightness levels.
Speaking of HDR (High Dynamic Range), there's an important format distinction between these TVs. The Samsung supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG formats, while the TCL adds Dolby Vision IQ support—a dynamic HDR format that optimizes content based on your room's ambient light conditions.
Dolby Vision is widely used by Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and other streaming platforms, giving the TCL an advantage for streaming content. The Samsung processes this content using HDR10, which still looks excellent but doesn't benefit from the scene-by-scene metadata optimization that Dolby Vision provides.
In real-world testing with identical Dolby Vision content (played in HDR10 on the Samsung), the differences were subtle but noticeable in certain scenes, particularly those with complex lighting. A sunset scene from "Dune" showed more nuanced gradations in the sky on the TCL's Dolby Vision rendering, while the Samsung's HDR10 version, while still beautiful, lost some of the finest highlight details.
The brain of a modern TV is its processor, which handles everything from upscaling lower-resolution content to reducing noise and enhancing motion clarity.
The Samsung QN990F's NQ8 AI Gen3 processor represents the company's most advanced chip to date. Using 768 neural networks trained on millions of images, it analyzes content in real-time to enhance details, reduce noise, and optimize contrast. This is particularly important for an 8K display since virtually all content needs upscaling.
In practice, the Samsung's processing prowess is most evident when handling challenging content like older movies, broadcast TV, or compressed streaming video. During my testing, I played some classic films from the 1980s, and the Samsung did a remarkable job cleaning up film grain while preserving intentional texture and enhancing apparent detail. Sports content also benefited from Samsung's motion processing, with noticeably cleaner movement during fast action.
The TCL QM6K's AiPQ Pro processor represents a significant step up from previous TCL models, with enhanced AI capabilities for scene recognition and object-based processing. It handles 4K content beautifully and does a decent job with lower-resolution sources, though it doesn't quite match the Samsung's refinement with very challenging content.
Where the TCL does excel is in motion handling for gaming, thanks to its 144Hz native refresh rate (compared to Samsung's 120Hz). This higher refresh rate, combined with the Game Accelerator technology that supports variable refresh rates up to 288Hz, makes for exceptionally smooth gameplay.
The user interface you'll interact with daily represents another significant difference between these TVs.
Samsung's latest Tizen OS on the QN990F offers a polished, content-forward experience with excellent integration of streaming services and Samsung's growing ecosystem of smart home devices. The interface is responsive and intuitive, though somewhat advertising-heavy compared to previous generations.
The TCL runs Google TV, providing superior voice search capabilities through Google Assistant and excellent integration with Google services like YouTube and Photos. For those already invested in the Google ecosystem, this integration feels more natural than Samsung's Tizen environment.
In my day-to-day use, I found Google TV on the TCL slightly more intuitive for content discovery, while Samsung's interface excelled at quick settings adjustments and device control. Both are light-years ahead of smart TV interfaces from just a few years ago in terms of responsiveness and app support.
Modern TVs serve double duty as premium gaming displays, and both of our contenders offer impressive gaming features.
The Samsung QN990F supports 4K gaming at 120Hz with variable refresh rate (VRR) technology to eliminate screen tearing. It also features an expanded Game Bar interface that provides quick access to critical settings and real-time FPS information. With HDMI 2.1 ports supporting the full 48Gbps bandwidth, it's well-equipped for next-gen consoles and PC gaming.
One of Samsung's standout gaming features is Motion Xcelerator 240, which can interpolate frames to simulate a 240Hz experience from a 120Hz panel when playing at 4K resolution. While purists might prefer native framerates, this can provide smoother-looking gameplay in single-player experiences.
The TCL QM6K counters with a native 144Hz refresh rate—already higher than Samsung's 120Hz—and Game Accelerator technology that supports variable refresh rates up to 288Hz. It's also certified for FreeSync Premium Pro, ensuring compatibility with AMD graphics cards and Xbox consoles.
In my testing with an Xbox Series X and a gaming PC, both TVs demonstrated excellent input lag in their respective game modes—under 10ms for both—which feels instantaneous even in fast-paced competitive games. The TCL's higher native refresh rate gave it a slight edge in motion clarity for PC gaming when running at 144fps, though the difference was subtle.
The physical design of a premium TV contributes significantly to its presence in your living space.
The Samsung QN990F exemplifies premium design with its nearly edgeless screen and sleek metal frame. At just over an inch thick at its thinnest point, it presents a striking profile. Samsung's Wireless One Connect box is a standout feature, allowing you to connect all your devices to a separate box that communicates wirelessly with the TV, dramatically simplifying cable management and enabling a cleaner installation.
In a home theater environment, this wireless solution is particularly valuable, as it allows you to route cables to an equipment rack without running multiple HDMI cables to the TV itself. During my installation, this feature saved considerable time and resulted in a much cleaner look.
The TCL QM6K features what the company calls a "FullView 360" bezel-less design that looks more premium than its price would suggest. While it uses more plastic components than the Samsung, the build quality feels substantial, with minimal flex and good attention to detail. Unlike the Samsung, all connections are made directly to the back of the TV, which is the traditional approach but requires more attention to cable management in a clean installation.
The most dramatic difference between these TVs is price. At $5,499.99, the Samsung QN990F represents a significant investment, while the TCL QM6K at $748.00 costs roughly one-seventh as much.
This price disparity raises the critical question: Is the Samsung seven times better? The objective answer is no. In terms of core picture quality for everyday content, the TCL delivers perhaps 80-90% of the premium TV experience at a fraction of the cost.
However, the Samsung does offer tangible benefits that matter to certain users: superior processing, slightly better contrast, the convenience of the Wireless One Connect box, and the future-proofing of 8K resolution.
In my home theater setup, where I'm typically sitting about 9 feet from a 65" screen, the 8K resolution of the Samsung wasn't a decisive factor. However, the superior contrast handling and processing did enhance the movie-watching experience in a darkened room, particularly with challenging films like "Dune" or "The Batman" that feature many dark scenes with bright highlights.
For most consumers who watch a mix of content in rooms with some ambient light, the TCL represents an exceptional value, delivering picture quality that would have cost three times as much just a few years ago.
The television market has reached an interesting inflection point in 2025. Technologies that were exclusive to flagship models just a few years ago—like Mini LED backlighting and quantum dot color—have now diffused throughout the market, enabling exceptional performance even in mid-range options like the TCL QM6K.
Meanwhile, premium brands like Samsung continue to push the envelope with the QN990F, implementing more refined versions of these technologies alongside cutting-edge processing and design elements.
For most consumers, the TCL represents the smarter purchase, delivering remarkable picture quality and features that would have cost thousands more in the recent past. The Samsung, while objectively better in several measurable ways, exemplifies the law of diminishing returns—charging significantly more for incremental improvements that matter primarily to enthusiasts and those seeking the absolute best.
Whichever TV you choose, you'll be getting a display that far surpasses what was available at similar price points just a few years ago—a testament to how quickly display technology continues to evolve and how competitive the premium TV market has become.
| Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV 2025 | TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV |
|---|---|
| Price - The primary consideration for most buyers | |
| $5,499.99 (premium flagship pricing) | $748.00 (exceptional value for performance) |
| Resolution - Determines image detail and future-proofing | |
| 8K (7680 × 4320) - Future-proof but limited native content | 4K (3840 × 2160) - Current standard with abundant content |
| Display Technology - Affects brightness, contrast, and color accuracy | |
| Neo QLED Mini LED (Samsung's premium implementation) | QD-Mini LED (Excellent implementation at a fraction of the cost) |
| Processing - Impacts upscaling quality and motion handling | |
| NQ8 AI Gen3 with 768 neural networks (industry-leading) | AiPQ Pro (Good but not as refined as Samsung's) |
| Local Dimming - More zones mean better contrast and less blooming | |
| 1,000+ dimming zones (estimated) | Up to 500 dimming zones |
| HDR Support - Affects compatibility with streaming content | |
| HDR10, HDR10+, HLG (No Dolby Vision) | Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG (Complete format support) |
| Refresh Rate - Critical for gaming and sports performance | |
| 120Hz native with Motion Xcelerator 240Hz | 144Hz native with Game Accelerator up to 288Hz |
| Smart Platform - Determines user experience and app ecosystem | |
| Tizen OS (Polished but ad-heavy) | Google TV (Better integration with Google services) |
| Design Features - Affects aesthetics and installation | |
| Wireless One Connect box for cable management, premium metal frame | FullView 360 bezel-less design, standard rear connections |
| Gaming Features - Important for console and PC gamers | |
| VRR, ALLM, 4K@120Hz, lower input lag in Game Mode | VRR, ALLM, 4K@144Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro certification |
| Audio Quality - Built-in sound system performance | |
| Premium multi-speaker system with Object Tracking Sound Pro | 2.1 channel Onkyo speaker system with Dolby Atmos |
| Power Consumption - Impacts energy bills over time | |
| Higher consumption due to 8K processing and premium backlighting | More efficient with Super High Energy LED Chip technology |
| Best For - Ideal user scenarios | |
| Home theater enthusiasts, Samsung ecosystem users, those wanting absolute best quality | Value-conscious buyers, gamers, Google ecosystem users, streaming enthusiasts |
The main difference is resolution and price. The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV offers 8K resolution (7680 × 4320 pixels) at a premium price of $5,499.99, while the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV provides 4K resolution (3840 × 2160 pixels) at a much more affordable $748.00. Both use Mini LED technology with quantum dots for enhanced brightness and color, but the Samsung QN990F delivers more refined performance with better processing and contrast at a significantly higher cost than the excellent value TCL QM6K.
For most viewers in 2025, 8K resolution isn't worth the substantial price premium. The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV costs over $4,700 more than the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV, but the visible difference in resolution at normal viewing distances (6+ feet) is minimal. Native 8K content remains limited, so you'll mostly be watching upscaled 4K content. The 8K Samsung QN990F is only worth considering if you sit very close to your TV, want the absolute best upscaling quality, or are future-proofing for eventual 8K content.
For a dedicated home theater, the Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV offers superior performance with better contrast, more precise local dimming (1,000+ zones vs. TCL's 500), and advanced processing that enhances dark scenes. Its Filmmaker Mode provides exceptional accuracy for cinematic content. However, the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV supports Dolby Vision (which Samsung lacks), benefiting many streaming movies. While the Samsung QN990F delivers the absolute best home theater experience, the TCL QM6K offers tremendous value that will satisfy most viewers at a fraction of the cost.
For gaming, the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV offers better value and some technical advantages with its 144Hz native refresh rate (versus Samsung's 120Hz) and Game Accelerator technology supporting up to 288Hz variable refresh rates. It also features FreeSync Premium Pro certification and excellent input lag performance. The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV provides slightly better picture quality and motion processing but at a much higher price. Unless you need 8K for PC gaming, most gamers will prefer the TCL QM6K for its performance-to-price ratio.
Both TVs support major streaming services, but they differ in HDR format support. The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV supports all major HDR formats including Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG, making it more versatile for streaming content. The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG but lacks Dolby Vision support, which is used by Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+. This gives the TCL QM6K an advantage for streaming despite the Samsung QN990F's superior overall processing.
The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV uses Samsung's Tizen OS, which offers a polished interface with excellent app support and integration with Samsung ecosystem devices, though it has become increasingly ad-heavy. The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV runs Google TV, providing superior voice search through Google Assistant and better integration with Google services like YouTube and Photos. The Google TV platform on the TCL QM6K tends to be more intuitive for content discovery, while Samsung's interface on the QN990F excels at quick settings adjustments.
Both TVs perform excellently in bright rooms, but the Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV has a slight edge with its higher peak brightness and anti-glare screen technology. Its precise Mini LED backlighting system can produce more intense highlights while maintaining deep blacks, even in well-lit environments. That said, the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV is no slouch, featuring TCL's Super High Energy LED Chip that delivers 53% higher brightness than previous models. For most bright living rooms, the TCL QM6K provides more than enough brightness at a much lower price point.
The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV features a premium nearly edgeless design with a metal frame and the innovative Wireless One Connect box, which allows all devices to connect to a separate box rather than directly to the TV, creating a cleaner installation with minimal visible cables. The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV offers a FullView 360 bezel-less design that looks more premium than its price suggests, though it uses more plastic components and requires traditional cable connections directly to the back of the TV. The Samsung QN990F's design is more refined but comes at a significant price premium.
The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV features a premium multi-speaker system with Object Tracking Sound Pro technology, which uses top, side and bottom-firing speakers to create three-dimensional sound that tracks on-screen action. The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV comes with a competent 2.1 channel Onkyo speaker system with Dolby Atmos support. While both provide better audio than average TVs, the Samsung QN990F delivers a more immersive audio experience. However, for the best home theater setup, external speakers or a soundbar would be recommended with either TV.
The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV at $748.00 offers significantly better value for money, delivering approximately 80-90% of the premium TV experience at roughly one-seventh the cost of the Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV at $5,499.99. While the Samsung QN990F does offer better contrast, processing, and build quality, the price difference is disproportionate to the performance gains for most viewers. Unless you specifically need 8K resolution or the absolute best picture quality regardless of cost, the TCL QM6K represents an exceptional value proposition.
Both TVs should remain current for 5-7 years, but in different ways. The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV is more future-proof with its 8K resolution, which may become more relevant as 8K content increases over the next several years. Samsung also typically provides longer software support for its premium models. The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV features current-generation 4K technology that will remain the mainstream standard for years to come. While the Samsung QN990F may stay ahead of the curve longer, the TCL QM6K represents a better value proposition considering typical upgrade cycles.
The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV excels at upscaling thanks to its NQ8 AI Gen3 processor with 768 neural networks, which does an impressive job converting 4K and lower-resolution content to 8K. It handles challenging content like older movies and broadcast TV with noticeably better clarity and noise reduction. The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV uses its AiPQ Pro processor for upscaling, which performs well with HD and 4K content but doesn't match Samsung's refinement with very challenging sources. If you watch a lot of older content or broadcast TV, the superior upscaling of the Samsung QN990F might justify some of its premium cost.
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