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The television market has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years. Not long ago, if you wanted top-tier picture quality, OLED was your only option – but that came with limitations in brightness and the risk of burn-in. Today, mini-LED technology has changed the game, offering near-OLED black levels while delivering substantially higher brightness and eliminating burn-in concerns.
Two standout contenders in this space are the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV and the Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED Smart TV. These TVs represent different approaches to mini-LED technology at vastly different price points, creating an interesting value proposition for consumers.
Before diving into the specifics, it's worth understanding what makes mini-LED special. Unlike traditional LED-backlit TVs that use relatively large diodes, mini-LED TVs employ thousands of tiny LED lights (roughly 1/40th the size of conventional LEDs) arranged in numerous dimming zones. This allows for much more precise control of brightness across the screen, resulting in deeper blacks, reduced blooming (the halo effect around bright objects), and improved contrast – all while maintaining the high brightness levels that LED technology is known for.
The Samsung QN90D was released in March 2024 as part of Samsung's flagship Neo QLED lineup. It represents the fourth generation of Samsung's mini-LED technology, with each iteration bringing improvements in brightness control, processing power, and dimming precision. The QN90D builds upon previous models with Samsung's NQ4 AI Gen2 processor, which leverages artificial intelligence to enhance upscaling, motion handling, and contrast.
By comparison, the TCL QM6K is significantly newer, having been announced at CES 2025 and released in January 2025. This makes it one of the first 2025 TV models to hit the market. TCL has been rapidly advancing its mini-LED technology since introducing it several years ago, and the QM6K represents their latest refinement. It incorporates TCL's newest Super High Energy LED Chip, which delivers 53% increased brightness while improving energy efficiency by 10% compared to previous generations.
This timing difference is significant when considering your purchase. The QM6K benefits from being almost a year newer in development, which often translates to improved components and more refined technology implementation. However, Samsung's longer history with premium TV development means their processing capabilities and overall refinement may still hold advantages despite the older release date.
While both TVs utilize mini-LED backlighting, their implementations differ in meaningful ways.
The TCL QM6K employs what TCL calls QD-Mini LED technology. This combines quantum dots (microscopic particles that produce highly saturated colors when light passes through them) with mini-LED backlighting. TCL's approach focuses on maximizing the color volume and brightness while keeping costs more reasonable. The TV features TCL's innovative Micro-OD (Optical Distance) technology, which reduces the gap between the backlight and the LCD panel. This engineering choice allows for a slimmer design while simultaneously improving halo control around bright objects.
Samsung's QN90D uses their proprietary Neo QLED technology, which represents Samsung's most advanced implementation of mini-LED. Samsung combines their Quantum Mini LEDs with a sophisticated local dimming algorithm and their Neural Quantum Processor to maximize contrast and minimize blooming. Samsung also uses a special lens design for their mini-LEDs that helps focus light more precisely, reducing light spread and improving contrast.
In real-world viewing, these technological differences manifest in how each TV handles challenging content with extreme bright and dark elements appearing simultaneously. The Samsung typically exhibits better control over blooming and more precise highlights, but comes at a significant price premium.
Brightness and contrast represent the main selling points of mini-LED technology, and both TVs excel in these areas – though with notable differences.
The Samsung QN90D is the brighter of the two, capable of reaching peak brightness levels of approximately 2,000 nits in HDR content. This exceptional brightness makes it particularly well-suited for brightly lit rooms where combating glare is essential. In real-world viewing, this means HDR highlights like sunlight reflecting off water, explosions, or starfields have a realistic, almost three-dimensional pop that's impressive even in daylight viewing conditions.
Samsung pairs this brightness with advanced local dimming algorithms that help minimize blooming. When watching content with bright objects against dark backgrounds – like credits scrolling on a black screen or a streetlight in a night scene – the QN90D does an excellent job containing the light to where it belongs, though some minimal blooming is inevitable with any LCD-based technology.
The TCL QM6K is no slouch in the brightness department, though it doesn't quite reach the extraordinary peaks of the Samsung. Its Super High Energy LED Chip technology allows it to deliver brightness levels that far exceed what you'd expect at its price point. The QM6K features up to 500 local dimming zones, which provide very good contrast control, though you might notice more blooming around bright objects compared to the Samsung.
When watching challenging content like the famous "diner scene" in the third season of Stranger Things (a notoriously difficult scene with neon signs against a dark background), both TVs perform admirably. The Samsung maintains slightly better black levels with less light bleed, but the TCL handles the scene better than almost any other TV in its price range.
Both TVs utilize quantum dot technology to achieve wide color gamuts, resulting in vibrant, lifelike colors that fully leverage 4K HDR content.
The TCL QM6K delivers impressive color accuracy out of the box, and supports the full range of HDR formats including Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. Dolby Vision support is particularly noteworthy, as it's generally regarded as the premium HDR format with dynamic metadata that adjusts picture settings scene-by-scene for optimal viewing. The TV's AiPQ Pro processor does a good job optimizing color performance across different content types.
Samsung's QN90D offers exceptional color accuracy after calibration, though it typically requires more adjustment out of the box to achieve its best performance. Samsung continues to avoid supporting Dolby Vision, instead focusing on HDR10+ as their dynamic HDR format of choice. While HDR10+ offers similar scene-by-scene optimization to Dolby Vision, it's not as widely supported across streaming platforms. That said, the QN90D's color volume – its ability to maintain color accuracy at different brightness levels – is superb, particularly at higher brightness levels where other TVs often struggle.
In real-world viewing of colorful content like nature documentaries or vividly colored animated films like "Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse," both TVs shine. The Samsung may have a slight edge in the technical precision of its color rendering, but the difference is subtle enough that most viewers would be thoroughly impressed by either display.
Motion handling is critical for enjoying sports, action movies, and gaming, and there are significant differences in how these TVs approach this aspect of performance.
The TCL QM6K boasts a 144Hz native refresh rate, which is higher than the typical 120Hz found in premium TVs. This higher refresh rate theoretically allows for smoother motion rendering, particularly in gaming applications. For gaming, TCL includes Game Accelerator 288 technology, which enables variable refresh rates up to 288Hz. This means the TV can synchronize its refresh rate with your gaming console or PC's output frame rate, eliminating screen tearing (when the top portion of the display shows one frame while the bottom shows another) and stuttering.
The Samsung QN90D features a 120Hz native refresh rate, which is still excellent and represents the current standard for premium TVs. Where Samsung excels is in its motion processing, leveraging its powerful NQ4 AI Gen2 processor to reduce motion artifacts in complex scenes. When watching sports like basketball or soccer, the Samsung typically shows less blur on fast-moving objects and smoother camera pans. Samsung's upscaling of lower resolution content is also superior, making cable TV sports or 1080p content look closer to 4K quality.
For movie purists concerned about the "soap opera effect" (where motion processing makes films look unnaturally smooth), both TVs offer cinema modes that preserve the natural 24fps cadence of films while still reducing unwanted judder.
Modern premium TVs have become serious gaming displays, and both of these models offer impressive gaming features – though they cater to slightly different gaming priorities.
The Samsung QN90D offers industry-leading input lag (the delay between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the action on screen) of under 10ms in Game Mode. Its pixel response time – how quickly pixels change from one color to another – is excellent, resulting in minimal ghosting or smearing during fast-paced games. For competitive gamers playing first-person shooters like Call of Duty or Apex Legends, this responsiveness can make a meaningful difference in gameplay.
The TCL QM6K also performs very well in this area, with low input lag in Game Mode and good pixel response times. While not quite matching the absolute speed of the Samsung, it's responsive enough that only the most competitive gamers would notice any difference. Its 144Hz native refresh rate is actually an advantage for PC gamers who can output at these higher frame rates.
Samsung has positioned the QN90D as a premium gaming display, and its feature set reflects this. All four HDMI ports support the full HDMI 2.1 specification, allowing for 4K gaming at 120Hz from multiple devices simultaneously. The TV includes both FreeSync Premium Pro and G-SYNC compatibility, ensuring smooth variable refresh rate performance regardless of whether you're using an AMD or NVIDIA graphics card.
Samsung's Game Bar feature provides quick access to important gaming settings and information, showing your current frame rate and allowing you to adjust aspect ratios on the fly. The QN90D also supports Super Ultrawide Game View, which allows PC gamers to play in 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratios (similar to ultrawide monitors) for a more immersive experience in supported games.
The TCL QM6K offers a strong but more streamlined gaming package. It supports HDMI 2.1 features but only on select ports, so you'll need to be more mindful about which devices are plugged into which inputs. It offers FreeSync Premium Pro support for variable refresh rates and its 144Hz native refresh rate is actually higher than the Samsung's 120Hz.
For most casual to serious gamers, both TVs will provide an excellent experience. The Samsung offers more gaming-specific quality-of-life features and potentially better performance for competitive gaming, while the TCL offers excellent core gaming performance at a much lower price point.
How you interact with your TV has become almost as important as picture quality for many users, and there are significant differences in the smart platforms these TVs employ.
The TCL QM6K runs on Google TV, which offers a content-focused interface that aggregates shows and movies from your various streaming services. Google TV is generally regarded as intuitive and user-friendly, with excellent search capabilities powered by Google's search expertise. The platform offers extensive app support, covering virtually all major streaming services. Voice control is handled through built-in Google Assistant, which can not only control the TV but also integrate with your smart home devices and answer general questions.
Samsung's QN90D uses their proprietary Tizen OS, which has evolved into a sophisticated smart platform. Tizen offers a polished interface with a focus on content discovery and quick access to frequently used apps. The platform supports multiple voice assistants including Samsung's Bixby, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, giving users flexibility in how they control their TV. Samsung's Gaming Hub is a standout feature for gamers, providing access to cloud gaming services directly from the TV without requiring a console or PC.
In day-to-day use, both platforms are capable and responsive, though Google TV tends to be more straightforward while Tizen offers more customization options but with a steeper learning curve. Software updates tend to come more regularly to Google TV, but Samsung typically provides longer-term support for their premium models.
While many serious home theater enthusiasts will pair their TV with a separate sound system, built-in audio quality remains important for casual viewing and secondary rooms.
The Samsung QN90D features an impressive 4.2.2 channel sound system that delivers room-filling audio with surprising clarity. Its Object Tracking Sound+ technology uses multiple speakers positioned around the TV to match audio with on-screen action, creating a more immersive experience. When a car moves from left to right across the screen, you'll actually hear the sound follow its movement. This spatial awareness makes dialogue easier to understand and action scenes more engaging, even without a separate sound system.
The TCL QM6K includes a 2.1 channel Onkyo speaker system with Dolby Atmos support. While it can't match the spatial precision of Samsung's system, it delivers clear dialogue and reasonable bass response for built-in TV speakers. The Atmos support allows for some height virtualization to create a more immersive soundstage, though the effect is naturally limited compared to a full Atmos setup with dedicated height speakers.
For a true home theater experience, I'd recommend pairing either TV with at least a good soundbar, but for casual viewing, the Samsung offers noticeably better built-in audio performance.
Perhaps the most striking difference between these TVs is their price points. The TCL QM6K is priced at $998, while the Samsung QN90D comes in at approximately $2,700 – nearly three times the price.
This substantial price gap forces consumers to consider exactly how much the Samsung's performance advantages are worth to them. The TCL delivers roughly 80-90% of the Samsung's performance in most areas that matter to average viewers, at roughly one-third the price. For most consumers, this represents an exceptional value proposition that's difficult to ignore.
The Samsung justifies its premium price with superior brightness, more precise local dimming, better motion processing, more comprehensive gaming features, and a more premium design. For videophiles, serious gamers, or those with very bright viewing environments, these advantages may well be worth the additional cost.
Choosing between the TCL QM6K and Samsung QN90D ultimately comes down to your specific needs, preferences, and budget.
Choose the TCL QM6K if:
Choose the Samsung QN90D if:
For most consumers, the TCL QM6K represents the better overall value, delivering exceptional performance at a price point that's much more accessible. However, if you're seeking the absolute best picture quality and are willing to pay a premium for it, the Samsung QN90D delivers a noticeable step up in performance that discerning viewers will appreciate.
In a home theater setting specifically, both TVs excel, though their strengths cater to different environments. The Samsung's exceptional brightness and anti-glare coating make it better suited for partially lit rooms, while the TCL performs best in more controlled lighting conditions where its excellent contrast and Dolby Vision support can shine. Whichever you choose, both represent how far TV technology has advanced, bringing truly cinema-quality experiences into our living rooms at increasingly accessible price points.
| TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV | Samsung 65" QN90D Series 4K Neo QLED Smart TV |
|---|---|
| Price - The bottom line for most buyers | |
| $998 (exceptional value for the feature set) | $2,700 (premium pricing for top-tier performance) |
| Display Technology - Foundation of picture quality | |
| QD-Mini LED with up to 500 dimming zones | Neo QLED with advanced precision dimming (more zones) |
| Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| Very good peak brightness (~1,000-1,200 nits) | Exceptional peak brightness (~2,000 nits) |
| HDR Formats - Affects compatibility with streaming content | |
| Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG (comprehensive support) | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG (no Dolby Vision) |
| Refresh Rate - Important for smooth motion and gaming | |
| 144Hz native with VRR up to 288Hz | 120Hz native with excellent motion processing |
| Processor - Determines upscaling quality and smart features | |
| TCL AiPQ Pro (very capable for the price) | Samsung NQ4 AI Gen2 (superior upscaling and processing) |
| Gaming Features - Critical for console and PC gamers | |
| HDMI 2.1 on select ports, FreeSync Premium Pro, low input lag | HDMI 2.1 on all ports, FreeSync Premium Pro, G-SYNC compatibility, lowest input lag, Game Bar 3.0 |
| Smart Platform - Your daily interface | |
| Google TV (intuitive, content-focused) | Tizen OS (feature-rich but steeper learning curve) |
| Audio System - Impacts whether you'll need a separate soundbar | |
| 2.1 channel Onkyo speakers with Dolby Atmos (good) | 4.2.2 channel system with Object Tracking Sound+ (excellent) |
| Design - Aesthetic value and build quality | |
| FullView 360 bezel-less design (attractive but less premium materials) | Ultra-slim premium design with better cable management |
| Energy Efficiency - Affects long-term operating costs | |
| Improved efficiency with Super High Energy LED Chip | ENERGY STAR certified with Eco Sensor technology |
| Release Date - Indicates technology generation | |
| January 2025 (newer technology) | March 2024 (more established performance) |
| Best For - Bottom line recommendation | |
| Value-conscious buyers seeking excellent performance at a reasonable price | Videophiles and gamers seeking absolute best performance regardless of cost |
The Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED Smart TV offers superior overall picture quality with higher peak brightness (around 2,000 nits vs. 1,000-1,200 nits), more precise local dimming, and better contrast control than the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV. However, the TCL QM6K delivers excellent picture quality that rivals much more expensive TVs, making it an exceptional value. The difference is most noticeable in very bright rooms where the Samsung QN90D has a clear advantage.
The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV is priced at $998, while the Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED Smart TV costs approximately $2,700. This represents a significant $1,700 price difference, with the Samsung QN90D being nearly three times more expensive than the TCL QM6K.
Both TVs offer excellent gaming performance, but they have different strengths. The Samsung QN90D offers lower input lag, HDMI 2.1 on all four ports, and advanced gaming features like Game Bar 3.0 and Super Ultrawide Game View. The TCL QM6K has a higher 144Hz native refresh rate (vs. 120Hz) and supports variable refresh rates up to 288Hz, but only has HDMI 2.1 features on select ports. Serious competitive gamers might prefer the Samsung, while casual to moderate gamers will be well-served by the TCL at a much lower price.
Both the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV and Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED Smart TV perform well in dark rooms thanks to their mini-LED backlighting technology. The Samsung QN90D has better black levels and less blooming around bright objects, providing a more cinema-like experience. However, the TCL QM6K supports Dolby Vision, which many movie enthusiasts prefer for movie content. The Samsung lacks Dolby Vision support but compensates with superior contrast control. For most viewers, both will provide excellent dark room performance, with the QN90D having a slight edge in pure picture quality.
The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV uses Google TV, which offers a more user-friendly and intuitive interface with excellent content recommendations and voice search. The Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED Smart TV uses Tizen OS, which provides more advanced features and customization but with a steeper learning curve. Google TV typically receives more frequent updates, while Samsung's platform offers unique features like Gaming Hub for cloud gaming. Most users find Google TV easier to navigate, making the TCL QM6K more accessible for everyday use.
The Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED Smart TV is significantly better for bright rooms due to its exceptional peak brightness (approximately 2,000 nits) and effective anti-glare screen coating. While the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV offers good brightness for its price range (approximately 1,000-1,200 nits), it can't match the Samsung's ability to combat glare and maintain vibrant images in well-lit environments. If your viewing area has lots of windows or bright lighting, the Samsung QN90D would be the better choice despite its higher price.
The Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED Smart TV delivers superior sound with its 4.2.2 channel system and Object Tracking Sound+ technology, which matches audio to on-screen action for a more immersive experience. The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV features a 2.1 channel Onkyo speaker system that provides good but less impressive audio. For the best experience with either TV, a separate soundbar or home theater system is recommended, but the Samsung provides noticeably better built-in audio if you're not planning to add external speakers.
For a dedicated home theater setup, both TVs excel but with different strengths. The Samsung QN90D offers superior contrast, better motion processing, and higher peak brightness that makes HDR content more impactful. The TCL QM6K supports Dolby Vision (which Samsung lacks) and provides excellent picture quality at a much lower price point. If your home theater has controlled lighting and you're budget-conscious, the TCL offers tremendous value. For the absolute best performance regardless of price, the Samsung QN90D delivers a more premium home theater experience.
Both the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV and Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED Smart TV work excellently with current gaming consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X. Both support 4K gaming at 120Hz, variable refresh rate (VRR), and auto low latency mode (ALLM). The Samsung has HDMI 2.1 on all four ports, allowing you to connect multiple gaming devices simultaneously with full features. The TCL only has select ports with full HDMI 2.1 capabilities. Both TVs will showcase your console games beautifully, but the Samsung offers more connectivity flexibility if you have multiple gaming devices.
The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV has a slight edge in future-proofing due to its newer release date (January 2025 vs. March 2024 for the Samsung), higher native refresh rate (144Hz vs. 120Hz), and support for all major HDR formats including Dolby Vision. However, the Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED Smart TV compensates with superior processing power, better build quality, and Samsung's history of long-term software support. Both TVs are well-equipped for the next several years of content and gaming, with the TCL offering better value and the Samsung providing higher peak performance capabilities.
Samsung has historically had a stronger reputation for reliability and build quality than TCL. The Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED Smart TV uses premium materials and benefits from Samsung's extensive experience in manufacturing high-end displays. TCL has improved significantly in recent years, and the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV represents their flagship model with good build quality, but Samsung still maintains an edge in long-term reliability and quality control. Samsung typically offers more comprehensive warranty service, though specific terms vary by region and retailer.
For most consumers, the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV at $998 offers better overall value, delivering approximately 80-90% of the Samsung QN90D's performance at about one-third of the price. The Samsung's additional $1,700 premium is justified only for those who demand the absolute best picture quality, need maximum brightness for very bright rooms, want premium design and materials, or require specific Samsung features like Gaming Hub. For average viewers and most home theater enthusiasts, the TCL QM6K provides exceptional performance at a much more accessible price point, making it the better choice for value-conscious buyers.
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