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When it comes to high-end televisions in 2025, consumers face an interesting choice between competing display technologies that offer distinct viewing experiences. The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV and the Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV represent the pinnacle of their respective display technologies, each with compelling strengths that appeal to different types of viewers.
Before diving into the specifics of these two impressive TVs, it's worth understanding what makes modern premium televisions special. Today's high-end TVs deliver incredible picture quality that was unimaginable just a few years ago, with technologies that enhance contrast, color, motion, and overall visual fidelity. They've also become smarter, more responsive, and better equipped for gaming than ever before.
The fundamental difference between these two TVs begins with their display technology. The TCL QM6K uses Mini-LED backlighting combined with quantum dots, while the Sony BRAVIA 8 employs OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology. This core difference influences nearly every aspect of performance from brightness to contrast, color accuracy to viewing angles, and even longevity considerations.
The TCL QM6K, priced at around $998, is notable for being one of the first 2025 TV models to hit the market. TCL has been aggressively pushing Mini-LED technology forward since its introduction in consumer TVs around 2020, and the QM6K represents their latest refinement. The company has focused on increasing brightness and dimming zone count with each generation, addressing the historical limitations of LCD technology.
The Sony BRAVIA 8, released in 2024 with a price tag of approximately $2,030, builds upon Sony's OLED expertise that began with their first OLED TVs in 2017. Sony has consistently focused on image processing improvements while working within the inherent limitations of OLED panel technology, which they source from LG Display. The BRAVIA 8 represents their latest attempt to maximize brightness (traditionally OLED's weakness) while maintaining the perfect blacks that OLED is known for.
These release timelines matter because they represent different points in each technology's evolution. Mini-LED is the newer display approach for TVs and continues to see significant year-over-year improvements in dimming zone counts and brightness capabilities. OLED is a more mature technology that has seen more incremental improvements in recent years, focusing on addressing brightness limitations and burn-in concerns.
The TCL QM6K utilizes QD-Mini LED technology, which combines two innovative approaches to improve traditional LCD TV performance. Mini-LEDs are, as the name suggests, drastically smaller LED backlights than those used in conventional LED-LCD TVs. While a traditional LED TV might use hundreds of LED lights behind the screen, Mini-LED TVs employ thousands of these tiny lights. This higher density of light sources allows for more precise control of which areas of the screen get bright and which stay dark.
The "QD" in the name refers to quantum dots, which are microscopic particles that, when hit with light, emit extremely pure colors. These quantum dots enhance the color capabilities of the display, allowing for more vibrant and accurate color reproduction. In the QM6K specifically, TCL claims their Super High Energy LED Chip technology delivers 53% increased brightness compared to previous generations while improving energy efficiency by 10%.
The QM6K features approximately 500 local dimming zones, which means the backlighting can be controlled in 500 separate regions across the screen. More zones generally mean better contrast, as the TV can dim areas that should be dark while keeping bright areas bright, reducing what's known as "blooming" or "halo effect" (the glow you sometimes see around bright objects on dark backgrounds).
In contrast, the Sony BRAVIA 8 uses OLED technology, which works fundamentally differently. Instead of using a backlight, each pixel in an OLED display generates its own light. When a pixel needs to be black, it simply turns off completely, emitting no light whatsoever. This ability to control light at the individual pixel level gives OLED its signature perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio.
Sony doesn't manufacture OLED panels themselves but sources them from LG Display. What Sony brings to the table is their exceptional image processing, particularly their Cognitive Processor XR, which analyzes content much the way the human brain does to optimize dozens of elements simultaneously. Sony's XR OLED Contrast Pro technology aims to enhance brightness in highlights while maintaining those perfect blacks, addressing the traditional brightness limitations of OLED technology.
The BRAVIA 8 also features Sony's XR Triluminos Pro technology for wide color reproduction and accuracy. Unlike quantum dot technology which enhances color through physical light filtering, Sony's approach relies more heavily on sophisticated processing to ensure accurate colors across the spectrum.
When it comes to contrast—the difference between the brightest whites and darkest blacks—these two TVs take different approaches to excellence.
The TCL QM6K delivers impressive contrast for an LED-based display. Its local dimming system allows for deep blacks in dark scenes, though not as perfect as what OLED can achieve. In mixed scenes (where bright and dark elements appear simultaneously), you'll notice the QM6K can make bright elements pop dramatically against relatively dark backgrounds. However, if you look closely at dark scenes, especially from off-angle viewing positions, you might notice some blooming around bright objects.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 simply excels at contrast in a way that no LED technology, including Mini-LED, can match. Since each pixel controls its own light emission, when a pixel displays black, it's truly, completely black—not just very dark. This creates an infinite contrast ratio that makes dark scenes look remarkably realistic and gives content a sense of depth that's hard to achieve with backlit displays. The BRAVIA 8 handles shadow detail (subtle differences in very dark areas) with particular finesse, revealing textures and details in dark scenes that might be crushed or lost on lesser displays.
In my experience watching darker content like horror movies or space-based sci-fi, the difference between these technologies becomes most apparent. The starfields in "Interstellar," for example, look noticeably more realistic on the BRAVIA 8, with perfect pinpoints of light against the absolute black of space.
The brightness battle clearly favors the TCL QM6K. Its Mini-LED technology can push significantly more nits (the unit used to measure display brightness) than the OLED panel in the BRAVIA 8. This brightness advantage is particularly noticeable in HDR (High Dynamic Range) content, which relies on brightness to create that eye-catching, realistic look in highlights like sunlight reflecting off water or metal.
The QM6K supports various HDR formats including Dolby Vision IQ (which adjusts HDR performance based on ambient room lighting), HDR10+, regular HDR10, and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma, used primarily for broadcast content). Its higher brightness allows it to more closely match the creative intent of HDR content, which is often mastered for brightness levels beyond what most TVs can actually display.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 but lacks HDR10+ support. While it can't match the QM6K's raw brightness, Sony's sophisticated tone mapping (the process of adapting HDR content to the TV's capabilities) is among the best in the industry. This means that while highlights won't be quite as bright, the overall HDR experience still feels rich and detailed, with excellent preservation of highlight detail.
In a bright room with lots of windows, the TCL's higher brightness gives it a clear advantage for daytime viewing. In a darker, more controlled environment like a home theater, the Sony's perfect blacks and excellent tone mapping might make its HDR performance more appealing despite the lower peak brightness.
Both TVs offer exceptional color performance, but with slightly different characteristics.
The TCL QM6K's quantum dot technology excels at producing vibrant, saturated colors with impressive volume—meaning it can display bright, saturated colors better than displays without quantum dots. This creates a visually striking image with colors that seem to pop off the screen, especially in HDR content.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 tends to focus more on color accuracy than maximum saturation. Its XR Triluminos Pro technology delivers highly accurate colors with smooth gradations between similar tones. This often results in a more natural, lifelike image that might not immediately wow you with vibrancy but impresses with its subtlety and precision.
For movie purists who want to see content exactly as filmmakers intended, the Sony's color accuracy gives it an edge. For those who enjoy vibrant, striking visuals (particularly for animated content, sports, or video games), the TCL's quantum dot-enhanced colors might be more appealing.
Image processing—how a TV handles the conversion of source content to its display—is where Sony has traditionally excelled, and the BRAVIA 8 continues this tradition. Its Cognitive Processor XR is particularly effective at upscaling lower-resolution content to 4K, reducing noise without sacrificing detail, and handling motion without introducing artifacts.
The QM6K's AiPQ Pro processor is no slouch, offering good upscaling and motion handling, but in side-by-side comparisons (particularly with challenging content like fast sports action or 24fps movies), Sony's more refined processing is noticeable to discerning viewers.
For motion specifically, the TCL QM6K has a native 144Hz refresh rate with Game Accelerator 288 technology for even higher effective refresh rates during gaming. The Sony BRAVIA 8 features a 120Hz panel with XR OLED Motion technology. Both handle motion well, but they use different approaches: TCL relies more on raw refresh rate while Sony leans more heavily on sophisticated processing.
Gaming has become an increasingly important consideration for TV buyers, and both of these TVs offer impressive gaming credentials, albeit with different strengths.
The TCL QM6K boasts a native 144Hz panel and supports Game Accelerator 288 technology, which can create an effective 288Hz variable refresh rate (VRR) experience. VRR synchronizes the TV's refresh rate with the output of your gaming device, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering for smoother gameplay. The QM6K supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ensuring compatibility with various gaming platforms.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 features a 120Hz panel with standard VRR support. While this is lower than the TCL's refresh rate on paper, it's worth noting that most current gaming consoles (including the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X) max out at 120Hz anyway, so the practical difference may be minimal for console gamers. PC gamers with high-end graphics cards might find more value in the TCL's higher refresh rate capabilities.
Input lag—the delay between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the action on screen—is crucial for competitive gaming. Both TVs perform admirably in this regard.
The TCL QM6K boasts extremely low input lag in Game Mode, with measurements under 10ms at 4K/120Hz. This responsiveness makes it excellent for fast-paced, competitive games where every millisecond counts.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 also offers very good input lag performance (around 8-16ms depending on the mode and resolution), though it's worth noting that Sony TVs typically prioritize image quality over absolute minimum lag. The BRAVIA 8 also benefits from OLED's near-instantaneous pixel response time, which means no motion blur caused by the display itself—something that even the best LED displays can struggle with.
Both TVs support the key gaming features that matter for current-generation consoles and PCs:
The TCL QM6K supports:
The Sony BRAVIA 8 offers:
For serious gamers, particularly PC gamers who can take advantage of frame rates above 120Hz, the TCL offers more gaming-focused features. For those primarily using consoles, both TVs will deliver excellent gaming experiences.
Both the TCL QM6K and Sony BRAVIA 8 run on the Google TV platform, which provides access to thousands of apps and streaming services through the Google Play Store. The interface organizes content by recommendations across services, making it easier to find something to watch without having to open multiple apps.
While the core smart platform is the same, Sony's implementation tends to be more refined and stable based on my experience. The BRAVIA 8 also benefits from Sony's typically more polished user interface design and slightly faster navigation. That said, both TVs offer essentially the same app support and core functionality.
Both TVs support voice commands through Google Assistant, with built-in microphones in their remotes for hands-free control. They also work with Alexa-enabled devices and support Apple AirPlay 2 for streaming content from Apple devices.
Built-in TV audio has improved dramatically in recent years, though most serious home theater enthusiasts will still opt for a separate sound system or soundbar.
The TCL QM6K features a 2.1 channel Onkyo speaker system, which includes left and right channels plus a woofer for improved bass response. The sound quality is good by built-in TV standards, with clear dialogue and reasonable volume capabilities. It supports Dolby Atmos passthrough to compatible sound systems but doesn't claim to reproduce Atmos effects from its built-in speakers.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 employs Sony's innovative Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which actually uses actuators to vibrate the screen itself, turning the entire display into a speaker. This creates a more immersive sound experience where audio seems to come directly from the action on screen. The BRAVIA 8 includes a 2.1-channel system with 50W total power.
In my experience, Sony's Acoustic Surface technology provides a noticeable improvement in audio positioning and clarity compared to traditional TV speakers. Dialogue in particular benefits from this approach, as voices seem to emerge directly from the characters' mouths rather than from below the screen.
Another unique feature of the BRAVIA 8 is Acoustic Center Sync, which allows the TV's speakers to work in harmony with compatible Sony soundbars, using the TV's speakers as the center channel in a surround sound setup.
Perhaps the most striking difference between these two excellent TVs is their price points, with the TCL QM6K at approximately $998 and the Sony BRAVIA 8 at around $2,030.
The TCL represents exceptional value for a premium TV, offering many features that were exclusive to much more expensive models just a couple of years ago. Its brightness capabilities, gaming features, and overall performance make it one of the best values in the premium TV market.
The Sony commands a significant price premium, more than double the TCL's cost. What you're paying for is Sony's renowned image processing, OLED's perfect blacks and viewing angles, the innovative Acoustic Surface audio technology, and arguably a more premium brand reputation. Whether these advantages justify the price difference depends entirely on your priorities and budget.
Choosing between the TCL QM6K and the Sony BRAVIA 8 ultimately comes down to your specific viewing environment, content preferences, and budget.
Choose the TCL QM6K if:
Choose the Sony BRAVIA 8 if:
For home theater enthusiasts, the decision largely depends on your viewing environment. In a dedicated, dark home theater room, the Sony BRAVIA 8's perfect blacks and excellent shadow detail will create a more immersive cinema-like experience. In a multi-purpose living room with significant ambient light, the TCL QM6K's superior brightness might make for a better viewing experience.
Remember that both of these TVs represent excellent examples of their respective technologies. The TCL delivers exceptional value with brightness and gaming features that exceed its price point, while the Sony offers the premium OLED experience with class-leading processing that serious cinephiles will appreciate. Your specific needs and viewing habits should guide your decision more than any absolute declaration of which TV is "better."
Whichever you choose, both the TCL QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV and the Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV represent the cutting edge of their respective display technologies and will provide years of excellent viewing experiences.
| TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV | Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV |
|---|---|
| Price - Base investment required | |
| $998 (excellent value for premium features) | $2,030 (premium price reflecting OLED technology) |
| Display Technology - Fundamentally affects picture quality and viewing experience | |
| QD-Mini LED (bright, high contrast, some blooming) | OLED (perfect blacks, pixel-level precision, wider viewing angles) |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and viewing in bright rooms | |
| 1,000+ nits (excellent for bright rooms, impressive HDR) | 700-800 nits (adequate for dim to moderately lit rooms) |
| Contrast Ratio - Difference between brightest whites and darkest blacks | |
| Very good (up to 500 local dimming zones) | Infinite (each pixel can turn completely off) |
| Refresh Rate - Important for smooth motion, especially in gaming | |
| Native 144Hz with Game Accelerator 288 | Native 120Hz with XR OLED Motion |
| Color Performance - Affects vibrancy and accuracy of colors | |
| Quantum Dot technology (vibrant, saturated colors) | XR Triluminos Pro (highly accurate, natural colors) |
| HDR Support - Enhances realism with brighter highlights and deeper shadows | |
| Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Gaming Features - Reduces lag and improves smoothness for gamers | |
| HDMI 2.1, VRR up to 288Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro | HDMI 2.1 on 2 ports, VRR up to 120Hz, PS5 Auto HDR Tone Mapping |
| Input Lag - Delay between controller input and screen response | |
| Under 10ms at 4K/120Hz (excellent for competitive gaming) | 8-16ms depending on mode (very good for most gaming) |
| Audio System - Built-in sound quality before adding external speakers | |
| 2.1 channel Onkyo speaker system | Acoustic Surface Audio+ (screen vibrates to create sound) with 50W output |
| Smart Platform - Interface for accessing streaming and apps | |
| Google TV (good implementation with wide app support) | Google TV (refined implementation with excellent stability) |
| Viewing Angles - Picture quality when viewed from the side | |
| Limited (typical for LED technology) | Excellent (maintains color and contrast at extreme angles) |
| Longevity Considerations - Long-term durability factors | |
| No burn-in risk, lower power consumption | Potential burn-in with static images, improved burn-in resistance vs older OLEDs |
| Best Use Case - Optimal viewing environment | |
| Bright rooms, gaming, sports viewing | Dark/controlled lighting, movie watching, premium home theaters |
The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV is significantly better for bright living rooms due to its higher peak brightness. Mini-LED technology allows the TCL QM6K to output much more light than the Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV, making it easier to see the screen clearly even with sunlight or bright indoor lighting. If you have a room with lots of windows or bright overhead lighting, the TCL QM6K would be the better choice.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV has superior black levels and contrast. OLED technology allows each pixel to turn completely off, creating perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio. While the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV has impressive contrast for an LED TV with its 500 dimming zones, it still can't match the pixel-level precision of the Sony BRAVIA 8, which is particularly noticeable in dark scenes and when watching movies in a dimly lit room.
For serious gamers, the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV has a slight edge with its higher 144Hz native refresh rate and Game Accelerator 288 technology that supports variable refresh rates up to 288Hz. It also features very low input lag and FreeSync Premium Pro certification. The Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV is still excellent for gaming with its 120Hz refresh rate and PS5-specific optimizations, but competitive gamers might prefer the TCL QM6K's higher refresh rate capabilities.
For a dedicated home theater with controlled lighting, the Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV typically provides a more cinema-like experience with its perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and excellent shadow detail. Dark scenes in movies look more realistic on OLED displays like the Sony BRAVIA 8. However, if your home theater has ambient light issues or you watch a lot of HDR content, the higher brightness of the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV might be preferable. The best choice depends on your specific home theater lighting conditions and viewing preferences.
The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV at $998 offers significantly better value than the Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV at $2,030. The TCL provides premium features like high brightness, good contrast with local dimming, excellent gaming capabilities, and quantum dot color technology at less than half the price of the Sony. While the Sony offers superior black levels and processing, many consumers will find the TCL QM6K delivers exceptional performance for the price.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV has improved burn-in resistance compared to older OLED models, but burn-in remains a potential concern with any OLED display. Static images displayed for extended periods (like channel logos, game HUDs, or news tickers) could potentially cause permanent image retention over time. The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV doesn't have this risk since Mini-LED technology isn't susceptible to burn-in, making it a safer choice for viewers who frequently watch content with static elements.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV has significantly better viewing angles than the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV. OLED technology maintains consistent picture quality, contrast, and color accuracy even when viewed from extreme side angles. The TCL QM6K, like most LED-based TVs, experiences some color shifting and contrast reduction when viewed from the side. If you have wide seating arrangements or people often watch TV from various positions in the room, the Sony BRAVIA 8 will provide a better experience for all viewers.
For sports viewing, the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV has advantages with its higher brightness that helps maintain clarity during daytime sports broadcasts and its 144Hz refresh rate for smooth motion. The quantum dot technology also creates vibrant team colors that pop on screen. While the Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV offers excellent motion handling and perfect blacks, sports content typically benefits from the higher brightness and color volume that the TCL QM6K provides, especially in rooms with ambient light.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV offers superior built-in audio with its innovative Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which turns the screen itself into a speaker. This creates more precise sound positioning where audio seems to come directly from the action on screen. With 50W of power and a 2.1 channel system, it outperforms the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV's Onkyo 2.1 speaker system. However, serious home theater enthusiasts will likely want to pair either TV with a dedicated sound system or soundbar.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV has superior upscaling capabilities with its Cognitive Processor XR, which is widely regarded as one of the best in the industry. It's particularly effective at converting 1080p content to 4K without introducing artifacts. While the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV's AiPQ Pro processor provides good upscaling performance, Sony's more sophisticated processing gives the BRAVIA 8 an advantage when watching cable TV, DVDs, or older streaming content that isn't native 4K.
Both TVs support Dolby Vision, but they handle it differently. The Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV excels with Dolby Vision content in dark or dimly lit rooms due to its perfect blacks and precise highlight control, creating a more cinematic experience. The TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV offers Dolby Vision IQ, which adjusts HDR performance based on ambient room lighting, and its higher brightness can make Dolby Vision highlights more impactful. For movie purists in controlled lighting, the Sony BRAVIA 8 provides a more accurate Dolby Vision experience.
Both the TCL 65" QM6K QD-Mini LED 4K TV and Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV run on the Google TV platform, providing access to the same streaming apps and content recommendations. The core functionality is identical, but Sony's implementation tends to be slightly more refined and stable. Both offer voice control through Google Assistant, support for Apple AirPlay 2, and compatibility with Alexa devices. The smart TV experience is very similar between both models, so this shouldn't be a major deciding factor when choosing between the TCL QM6K and Sony BRAVIA 8.
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