TECH Signal 372
The TCL QM8L proves it's worth the upgrade in our lab testing
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ZDNET's lab testing of seven TVs found the 2026 TCL QM8L achieved 99.9% of the BT.2020 color spectrum via Calman testing, a jump from the 2024 QM8K's 90%.
The QM8L moves from QD-Mini LED to SQD-Mini LED panel technology, using blue LEDs instead of white to expand color reproduction, but carries a $700 price increase to a starting price of $1,800. For anyone working on display calibration or HDR pipelines, near-complete BT.2020 coverage is notable, though this result comes from a single source without independent corroboration.
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The 2026 TCL QM8L uses a Super Quantum Dot Mini LED panel with blue LEDs, achieving 99.9% BT.2020 color accuracy in ZDNET's Calman testing versus 90% on the 2024 QM8K.
Peak brightness increased from 5,000 nits to 6,000 nits, and HDR support moved from Dolby Vision to Dolby Vision IQ.
The starting price rose by $700 to $1,800, with audio upgraded to Bang & Olufsen speakers from the prior model's IMAX Enhanced certification.
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