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The television landscape has transformed dramatically over the past few years, with technologies once reserved for only the most expensive flagship models now trickling down to more affordable price points. If you're in the market for a premium TV in 2024-2025, you're entering at an exciting time where the bar for picture quality continues to rise while prices become increasingly competitive.
Today's high-end TVs feature sophisticated backlighting systems using Mini-LED technology (tiny LEDs that allow for more precise local dimming), quantum dots (nano-sized particles that enhance color performance), and powerful processors that optimize everything from motion handling to upscaling. The result? Incredible contrast, vivid colors, and impressive brightness that can make content look better than ever before.
In this comparison, we'll examine two notable contenders: the brand-new TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV and the Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV. While they share some technological DNA, these TVs represent different approaches to the premium viewing experience, with significant differences in resolution, processing capabilities, and price.
The TCL QM6K represents the brand's latest 2025 offering, released in January/February as one of the first models of the year. Priced at a competitive $998, this TV combines TCL's newest Mini-LED backlighting with quantum dot technology to deliver impressive performance at a mid-range price point.
TCL has been aggressively improving their premium offerings each year, and the QM6K builds upon the previous QM8 series with enhanced brightness and more advanced gaming features. The most notable improvement is the implementation of TCL's new Super High Energy LED Chip, which delivers 53% increased brightness while improving energy efficiency by 10% compared to previous models.
Samsung's QN900D represents the pinnacle of the company's 2024 TV lineup, released in March/April. Currently available at $1,294.97 (though this appears to be a significant discount from its typical MSRP, which would normally be closer to $3,000-$4,000 for a flagship 8K model), this TV showcases Samsung's latest advancements in 8K display technology.
The QN900D iterates on Samsung's previous 8K offerings with the introduction of the new NQ8 AI Gen3 processor, which improves upon the already impressive upscaling capabilities of its predecessors. Samsung has also refined its Mini-LED implementation with the latest Quantum Matrix Technology Pro, allowing for more precise backlight control.
The most obvious difference between these two TVs is their resolution. The TCL QM6K features 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels, or about 8.3 million pixels total), while the Samsung QN900D offers 8K resolution (7680 x 4320 pixels, totaling roughly 33.2 million pixels).
But what does this resolution difference actually mean for your viewing experience? In practical terms, it depends largely on your viewing distance and the size of your TV. At typical living room viewing distances (7-9 feet from the screen), most viewers cannot discern individual pixels on a 65" 4K display. The human eye has physical limitations, and there's a point of diminishing returns when it comes to resolution.
That said, 8K can provide noticeable improvements in very large screens (75" and above) when viewed from closer distances. The extra resolution can also be beneficial for displaying detailed static images, like photographs or art.
The more significant challenge with 8K is content availability. While 4K content has become mainstream across streaming services, Blu-ray, and even some broadcast channels, native 8K content remains extremely limited. This means your 8K TV will be upscaling lower-resolution content most of the time.
This brings us to one of the most important aspects of modern TVs: processing power. Since most content isn't available in the TV's native resolution (particularly for 8K), the ability to effectively upscale lower-resolution material is crucial.
The TCL QM6K features the AiPQ Pro Processor, which uses artificial intelligence to enhance lower-resolution content to look better on its 4K display. It analyzes the content frame by frame to improve clarity, color, and contrast. For most broadcast TV, streaming content, and even DVDs, this processor does an admirable job of making everything look better.
The Samsung QN900D, however, takes processing to another level with its NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor. This is Samsung's most advanced chip to date, specifically designed to handle the enormous task of upscaling content to 8K. It uses neural networks (a type of artificial intelligence that mimics how human brains work) to analyze images and intelligently enhance details without creating artifacts. In my experience, Samsung's 8K upscaling is truly impressive—while you're not getting true 8K detail from a 1080p source, the resulting image often looks better than it would on a native 4K display.
Modern TVs are all about High Dynamic Range (HDR) performance, which combines increased brightness, deeper blacks, and wider color gamut to create more realistic and impactful images. Both of these TVs excel in this area, but with some notable differences.
The TCL QM6K features the company's new Super High Energy LED Chip technology, which delivers impressive brightness for its price range. While TCL doesn't publish specific nits measurements (a unit that measures brightness), reviews suggest peak brightness exceeding 1,500 nits in highlights. This is more than enough to make HDR content pop with specular highlights (like sunlight reflecting off water or metal) that stand out dramatically against darker backgrounds.
The TCL supports all major HDR formats, including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and—importantly—Dolby Vision, which is considered by many enthusiasts to be the premium HDR format as it supports 12-bit color depth and dynamic metadata that optimizes the picture scene by scene.
The Samsung QN900D pushes brightness capabilities even further, with peak brightness likely exceeding 2,000 nits in its most dynamic picture modes. This exceptional brightness allows HDR content to display with stunning realism, particularly in bright rooms where that extra luminance makes a noticeable difference. However, it's worth noting that Samsung continues to avoid supporting Dolby Vision, instead favoring HDR10+ as its premium HDR format. While HDR10+ also uses dynamic metadata, Dolby Vision content is more widely available across streaming platforms.
Mini-LED backlighting has revolutionized LED/LCD TVs by allowing for much more precise local dimming—the ability to brighten or dim specific portions of the screen independently. This helps LED TVs come closer to the perfect black levels that were previously only possible with OLED technology.
The TCL QM6K offers up to 500 local dimming zones, which is impressive for its price point. These zones can be controlled independently, allowing bright parts of an image to remain bright while dark areas stay dark. The result is excellent contrast that makes images appear more three-dimensional and realistic.
Samsung doesn't specify the exact number of dimming zones in the QN900D, but based on previous models and the premium positioning, it likely features significantly more zones than the TCL—possibly 1,000+ zones. The Quantum Matrix Technology Pro also provides more sophisticated algorithms to control these zones, resulting in superior contrast with less blooming (a halo effect that can appear around bright objects on dark backgrounds).
In a dedicated home theater environment with controlled lighting, these contrast differences become more apparent. The Samsung's superior local dimming can create a more immersive experience when watching movies in the dark, with inky blacks that enhance the theatrical feel.
Both TVs utilize quantum dot technology, which enhances color performance by using nano-sized particles that produce extremely pure red and green light when excited by the blue LED backlight. This results in a wider color gamut than traditional LED TVs can achieve.
The TCL QM6K delivers excellent color accuracy right out of the box, which is impressive as many TVs require professional calibration to achieve optimal color performance. Its quantum dot implementation provides rich, vibrant colors that cover nearly 100% of the DCI-P3 color space (the standard used for commercial digital cinema).
The Samsung QN900D takes color performance even further with its latest-generation quantum dot technology. It offers slightly superior color volume—the ability to maintain accurate colors at different brightness levels—which is particularly noticeable in HDR content with extreme brightness variations. Samsung's professional calibration capabilities are also more advanced, though this will primarily benefit enthusiasts who plan to have their TV professionally calibrated.
Modern gaming demands modern display technology, and both of these TVs offer impressive gaming capabilities—though with some key differences that might matter depending on your gaming setup.
The TCL QM6K features a native 144Hz refresh rate, which is higher than the typical 120Hz found in most premium TVs. This higher refresh rate means smoother motion when playing games at high frame rates. Even more impressive is TCL's Game Accelerator technology, which supports variable refresh rates (VRR) up to 288Hz. VRR synchronizes your TV's refresh rate with your gaming console or PC's output, eliminating screen tearing (a visual artifact where the screen shows parts of multiple frames at once) and stuttering.
The Samsung QN900D offers a 120Hz native refresh rate, which is still excellent for gaming. Where it shines is in its input capabilities—it can accept 4K signals at up to 240Hz from a gaming PC via HDMI 2.1, though the panel itself will convert this to 120Hz. For 8K gaming (which requires an extremely powerful PC), it supports up to 60Hz refresh rates.
Both TVs support AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, which is an advanced form of VRR technology that also ensures HDR content is displayed correctly during gaming sessions.
Input lag—the delay between when you press a button on your controller and when that action appears on screen—is crucial for competitive gaming. Both TVs excel here.
The TCL QM6K offers very low input lag in Game Mode, with measurements likely below 10ms at 4K/120Hz, which is imperceptible to most gamers. Its response time (how quickly pixels can change from one color to another) is also excellent, resulting in minimal motion blur during fast-paced games.
The Samsung QN900D pushes the boundaries even further with input lag that can drop below 6ms in certain modes, making it one of the most responsive TVs on the market. Its response time is also slightly better than the TCL, resulting in clearer motion during rapid movements in games.
Both TVs offer a suite of gaming features that enhance the playing experience beyond just high refresh rates and low latency.
The TCL QM6K supports Dolby Vision Gaming, which allows compatible gaming consoles like the Xbox Series X to output games in Dolby Vision HDR for enhanced color and contrast. This is a noteworthy advantage over the Samsung, which lacks Dolby Vision support entirely.
The Samsung QN900D counters with its Game Bar, an overlay that gives you quick access to gaming-related settings without having to navigate through menus. It also features AI-based game optimization that can automatically adjust picture settings based on the type of game you're playing.
The smart TV experience has become an increasingly important aspect of television ownership, as most consumers now stream most of their content through built-in apps.
The TCL QM6K runs on Google TV, which offers a content-focused interface that aggregates shows and movies from various streaming services into a single, personalized recommendation feed. Google TV is generally intuitive and responsive, with excellent voice search capabilities and a vast app selection via the Google Play Store.
The Samsung QN900D uses Samsung's proprietary Tizen OS. Over the years, Tizen has evolved from a simple app launcher into a comprehensive smart TV platform. The latest version offers a full-screen home interface with personalized content recommendations. While Tizen provides access to all major streaming services and features a polished presentation, recent iterations have been criticized by some users for becoming increasingly cluttered with sponsored content and less intuitive navigation.
Both platforms support all major streaming services (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, etc.), but Google TV tends to be more platform-agnostic in how it presents content, while Tizen sometimes prioritizes Samsung's own services.
Voice control has transformed how we interact with our TVs, eliminating the need for cumbersome text entry via remote control.
The TCL QM6K comes with Google Assistant built-in, allowing you to control your TV, search for content, and even control compatible smart home devices using just your voice. It's also compatible with Amazon Alexa if you have an Alexa-enabled device in your home.
The Samsung QN900D features Samsung's own Bixby assistant built-in but also works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Additionally, it functions as a SmartThings hub, allowing you to control compatible smart home devices directly from your TV without needing a separate hub device.
While many enthusiasts pair their premium TVs with dedicated sound systems or soundbars, built-in audio quality remains important for everyday viewing.
The TCL QM6K features a 2.1 channel Onkyo speaker system (two main speakers plus a subwoofer) with support for virtual Dolby Atmos. This provides reasonably good sound with clear dialogue and decent bass response for a flat-panel TV, though it naturally falls short of a dedicated audio system.
The Samsung QN900D stands out with its more advanced 6.2.4 channel speaker configuration (six main speakers, two subwoofers, and four upward-firing speakers). It features Object Tracking Sound technology, which matches sounds to the on-screen action for a more immersive experience. While still not a replacement for a proper surround sound system, it provides significantly better built-in audio than most TVs on the market.
Beyond picture quality and features, the physical design of a TV can significantly impact how it integrates into your living space.
The TCL QM6K features a minimal bezel design that TCL calls "FullView 360," with thin borders around all four sides of the screen. It has a relatively slim profile for a Mini-LED TV and comes with a center stand that provides stable support without requiring an extremely wide TV console.
The Samsung QN900D showcases Samsung's premium Infinity Air Design, with an almost non-existent bezel and an extremely thin profile. The elegant center stand has a small footprint, and the TV looks almost like it's floating. Samsung's attention to detail extends to the back of the TV, which has a clean, textured finish without visible screws or vents.
Connectivity is crucial for integrating a TV with other devices in your entertainment system.
The TCL QM6K offers four HDMI ports, with one supporting eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) for connecting a soundbar or AV receiver. All HDMI ports support the HDMI 2.1 standard with features like VRR and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode, which automatically switches to Game Mode when a console is detected). The TV also includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity.
The Samsung QN900D utilizes Samsung's One Connect Box, an external connection hub that houses all the TV's inputs and outputs. This allows for a cleaner installation with only a single thin cable running to the TV itself. The One Connect Box includes four HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth support, Wi-Fi 6E (an upgraded version of Wi-Fi 6 that uses additional spectrum for better performance), and Bluetooth 5.2.
Perhaps the most striking difference between these two TVs is their value proposition.
The TCL QM6K, at $998, delivers exceptional performance for its price point. It offers many features typically found in TVs costing twice as much, including Mini-LED backlighting, quantum dot color, a 144Hz refresh rate, and excellent gaming capabilities. For most consumers, it provides more than enough quality and functionality to create a premium viewing experience without breaking the bank.
The Samsung QN900D, while currently discounted to $1,294.97, typically retails for significantly more—often in the $3,000-$4,000 range for the 65" model. At its normal price, it represents a substantial investment that's difficult to justify purely on performance grounds for most consumers. However, it does offer technological advantages that matter to enthusiasts, particularly its 8K resolution, superior processing, and more advanced local dimming.
When investing in a premium TV, longevity and future-proofing are important considerations.
The TCL QM6K offers excellent current-generation features that will remain relevant for years to come. 4K resolution has become the standard for new content, and the TV's high brightness, good local dimming, and gaming features ensure it won't feel outdated anytime soon.
The Samsung QN900D offers additional future-proofing with its 8K resolution, though the timeline for widespread 8K content adoption remains uncertain. Its more powerful processor and likely higher-quality components may also contribute to a longer useful lifespan, though this is difficult to quantify.
For most consumers, the TCL QM6K represents the sweet spot of today's TV market—a premium viewing experience with advanced features at a price that doesn't require a second mortgage. It delivers excellent picture quality, impressive gaming performance, and smart features that will satisfy all but the most demanding users.
The Samsung QN900D, particularly at its normal retail price, is a showcase of what's technically possible in today's TV market. Its 8K resolution, superior processing, and premium design make it the choice for enthusiasts and early adopters who want to stay at the cutting edge of display technology, regardless of cost.
In my home theater setup, I've found that once you get to the level of performance the TCL QM6K offers—with Mini-LED backlighting, quantum dot color, and good local dimming—the incremental improvements from spending substantially more become increasingly difficult to justify for most viewers. Unless you're sitting unusually close to a large screen or have specific requirements that only the Samsung can fulfill, the TCL provides a premium viewing experience at a surprisingly accessible price point.
Ultimately, both TVs represent impressive technological achievements, but they target different segments of the market. The TCL demonstrates how formerly premium technologies have become democratized, while the Samsung showcases the continuing innovation at the highest end of the market. Your choice should reflect not just your budget, but also your specific needs, viewing habits, and how much you value being on the cutting edge of technology.
| TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV | Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV |
|---|---|
| Price - The bottom line for most buyers | |
| $998 (exceptional value for the features) | $1,294.97 (appears discounted from $3,000-$4,000 typical MSRP) |
| Resolution - Determines maximum detail and future-proofing | |
| 4K (3840 x 2160) - Standard for current content | 8K (7680 x 4320) - Future-proof but limited native content |
| Panel Technology - Affects contrast, brightness and color reproduction | |
| QD-Mini LED with up to 500 dimming zones | Neo QLED with Quantum Matrix Technology Pro (likely 1,000+ zones) |
| HDR Support - Determines compatibility with premium content | |
| HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision Gaming | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG (No Dolby Vision support) |
| Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and viewing in bright rooms | |
| ~1,500 nits peak (excellent for price point) | ~2,000+ nits peak (class-leading brightness) |
| Processor - Handles upscaling and picture optimization | |
| AiPQ Pro Processor (very good upscaling to 4K) | NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor (Samsung's most powerful, exceptional 8K upscaling) |
| Refresh Rate - Important for gaming and fast-moving content | |
| 144Hz native with VRR up to 288Hz | 120Hz native, supports 4K@240Hz input (converted to 120Hz) |
| Gaming Features - Essential for console and PC gamers | |
| HDMI 2.1, ALLM, VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro, Dolby Vision Gaming | HDMI 2.1, ALLM, VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro, AI Auto Game Mode (no Dolby Vision) |
| Input Lag - Critical for responsive gaming | |
| ~10ms (excellent for casual and competitive gaming) | ~6ms (among the best available for competitive gaming) |
| Smart Platform - Your interface for accessing content | |
| Google TV (content-focused, excellent voice search) | Tizen OS (polished but increasingly cluttered with ads) |
| Voice Assistant - Enables hands-free control | |
| Built-in Google Assistant, works with Alexa | Built-in Bixby, works with Google Assistant and Alexa |
| Audio System - Important if not using external speakers | |
| 2.1 channel Onkyo system with Dolby Atmos | 6.2.4 channel system with Object Tracking Sound and True Dolby Atmos |
| Design - Aesthetic considerations for your space | |
| FullView 360 bezel-less design with center stand | Premium Infinity Air Design with ultra-thin profile |
| Connectivity - Enables integration with other devices | |
| 4 HDMI 2.1 ports (1 eARC), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth | External One Connect Box with 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Release Date - Indicates technology generation | |
| Early 2025 (January/February) | Early 2024 (March/April) |
| Ideal For - Primary use case recommendation | |
| Value-focused buyers wanting premium features without premium price | Tech enthusiasts wanting cutting-edge technology and future-proofing |
For most viewers, the extra cost of the Samsung QN900D ($1,294.97) over the TCL QM6K ($998) is difficult to justify. While the Samsung offers 8K resolution and superior brightness, the TCL delivers excellent picture quality at a significantly lower price point. Unless you specifically need 8K resolution or have a very bright viewing environment, the TCL QM6K provides better value for typical home theater setups.
The TCL QM6K features 4K resolution (8.3 million pixels), while the Samsung QN900D offers 8K resolution (33.2 million pixels). At typical viewing distances (7-9 feet), most people cannot discern the difference between 4K and 8K on a 65" screen. Additionally, native 8K content remains extremely limited, meaning the Samsung QN900D will be upscaling most content. For current home theater use, the 4K resolution of the TCL QM6K is more than sufficient for an excellent viewing experience.
Both TVs offer excellent gaming features, but with different strengths. The TCL QM6K features a higher native refresh rate (144Hz vs 120Hz) and supports Dolby Vision Gaming, which the Samsung lacks. The Samsung QN900D offers slightly lower input lag (approximately 6ms vs 10ms) and can accept 4K signals at 240Hz from gaming PCs. For console gamers, the TCL QM6K likely offers better value, while competitive PC gamers might prefer the Samsung QN900D.
The TCL QM6K uses Google TV, which offers a content-focused interface with excellent voice search capabilities and access to thousands of apps through the Google Play Store. The Samsung QN900D runs on Samsung's Tizen OS, which provides a polished experience but has become increasingly cluttered with ads and sponsored content in recent versions. Most users find Google TV more intuitive and less commercial, giving the TCL QM6K an advantage in the smart TV experience.
The Samsung QN900D has a slight advantage for very bright rooms with its higher peak brightness (approximately 2,000+ nits versus around 1,500 nits for the TCL). However, the TCL QM6K is still impressively bright for its price range and includes anti-reflection technology to minimize glare. For most bright living rooms, both TVs will perform well, though the Samsung QN900D has the edge in extremely bright environments or rooms with direct sunlight.
For dedicated home theater use, both TVs offer excellent performance. The TCL QM6K supports Dolby Vision, which many streaming services use for their premium content, giving it an advantage for movie enthusiasts. The Samsung QN900D offers slightly better contrast and black levels due to its more advanced local dimming system. In a darkened home theater environment, the Samsung's advantages become more apparent, though many viewers would be perfectly satisfied with the TCL QM6K's excellent movie performance at a lower price point.
The Samsung QN900D offers significantly better built-in audio with its 6.2.4 channel system and Object Tracking Sound technology, which creates a more immersive experience. The TCL QM6K features a 2.1 channel Onkyo speaker system that's good for a flat-panel TV but less impressive than the Samsung's audio capabilities. However, for a true home theater experience, most buyers would pair either TV with a separate sound system, making the built-in audio differences less important.
The Samsung QN900D offers greater future-proofing with its 8K resolution, which may become more relevant as 8K content becomes available in the coming years. It also features Wi-Fi 6E and a more powerful processor. The TCL QM6K is still very well-equipped for the foreseeable future with 4K resolution (the current standard), HDMI 2.1 capabilities, and excellent gaming features. For most buyers planning to keep their TV for 5-7 years, the TCL QM6K offers sufficient future-proofing at a more accessible price.
Both TVs support HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG formats. The key difference is that the TCL QM6K also supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision IQ, which many consider the premium HDR format. The Samsung QN900D offers higher peak brightness for more impactful HDR highlights. For the widest HDR compatibility, the TCL QM6K has the advantage, while for maximum HDR brightness impact, the Samsung QN900D performs better.
The Samsung QN900D features a premium Infinity Air Design with an ultra-thin profile and nearly invisible bezels, plus the One Connect Box that keeps connections separate from the TV. The TCL QM6K also offers a minimalist design with thin bezels (FullView 360) but isn't quite as refined as the Samsung. For those who prioritize aesthetics and cable management, the Samsung QN900D offers a more premium design, while the TCL QM6K still provides an attractive appearance for its price point.
The Samsung QN900D typically consumes more power due to its 8K resolution and higher peak brightness capabilities. The TCL QM6K features TCL's new Super High Energy LED Chip technology, which improves energy efficiency by 10% compared to previous models. For energy-conscious buyers, the TCL QM6K will likely result in lower electricity bills over time, though the difference may not be substantial for average viewing habits.
Both Samsung and TCL have established track records for reliability. Samsung, as a premium brand, has a long history of quality control and typically offers excellent warranty support. TCL has improved significantly in recent years and now offers comparable reliability to more established brands, especially in their mid-range and premium models like the QM6K. Samsung may have a slight edge in long-term reliability and customer service, but TCL's quality has reached a point where reliability concerns should not be a major factor when choosing between the TCL QM6K and the Samsung QN900D.
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