Head-to-head

TCL QM8K vs Sony Bravia 9 vs LG C5 OLED

TCL QM8K

8.5 $999.99

Sony Bravia 9

8.8 $2,499

LG C5 OLED

9.0 $1,399.99

Verdict

TCL

The big-screen value champion: flagship mini-LED brightness and an anti-glare screen for far less than premium OLED — if you can live with only two HDMI 2.1 ports.

Sony

The brightest, most controlled mini-LED for bright rooms and sports — OLED-like blacks without OLED's brightness ceiling.

The default OLED for most movie-and-gaming rooms: flagship picture fundamentals and a complete 144Hz gaming suite at a mainstream price.

Best for

TCL

Buyers who want a large, very bright 4K screen for movies and sports in a well-lit room — and the most screen and brightness per dollar — without paying premium OLED or flagship mini-LED prices.

Sony

Sports fans and anyone with a bright, sunny living room who wants searing, glare-fighting brightness and clean motion, paired with OLED-like black levels.

Most buyers who watch movies and game in dark-to-moderately-lit rooms and want perfect blacks plus a full HDMI 2.1 gaming setup without paying flagship prices.

Avoid if

TCL

You game on more than two HDMI 2.1 sources, want the deepest OLED blacks in a dark home theater, or want the most polished image processing — premium OLEDs like the LG C5 or the brighter Sony Bravia 9 handle those better.

Sony

You sit at wide angles, need four HDMI 2.1 ports for multiple consoles, or want the best value — premium OLEDs and the Hisense/TCL mini-LEDs cost less.

Your room is bright and sunny, or you want the highest possible brightness — a mini-LED like the Sony Bravia 9 or Hisense U8QG, or the brighter Samsung S95F, will suit you better.

Score breakdown

size value

TCL

9.5

Sony

7.0

8.5

gaming features

TCL

8.0

Sony

8.0

9.5

motion handling

TCL

8.0

Sony

9.5

8.5

picture quality

TCL

8.5

Sony

9.2

9.5

brightness room fit

TCL

9.0

Sony

9.5

7.5

Specs

HDR

Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (no HDR10+)

Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG

Audio

Audio by Bang & Olufsen, Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X (85W)

Acoustic Multi-Audio+ beam tweeters, Dolby Atmos

2.2ch Dolby Atmos

Panel

QD Mini-LED (CrystGlow WHVA)

Mini-LED QLED (Quantum Dot)

OLED evo (WOLED)

Sizes

65, 75, 85, 98 in

65, 75, 85 in

42, 48, 55, 65, 77, 83 in

Tuner

ATSC 3.0

—

Gaming

VRR, ALLM, Game Accelerator to 288Hz, Filmmaker Mode

VRR, ALLM, Perfect for PS5 (2x HDMI 2.1)

VRR, G-Sync, FreeSync, ALLM, ~10ms lag

Screen

Anti-glare, Ultra Wide Angle, ZeroBorder

Anti-reflective

—

Smart OS

Google TV

Google TV (ATSC 3.0 tuner)

webOS 25

Backlight

Halo Control System, 23-bit controller

XR Backlight Master Drive (High Peak Luminance)

—

Refresh rate

144Hz

120Hz

144Hz

HDMI 2.1 ports

2 (of 4)

—

Peak brightness

~2,200-2,300 nits HDR (10% window)

~2,800 nits (18% window), up to ~4,000 nits

~1,200 nits HDR (3% window)

Processor

—

XR Processor

Alpha 9 AI Gen8

Buy →Buy →Buy →

	TCL QM8K TCL	Sony Bravia 9 Sony	LG C5 OLED LG
Score	8.5	8.8	9.0
Price	$999.99	$2,499	$1,399.99
Verdict	The big-screen value champion: flagship mini-LED brightness and an anti-glare screen for far less than premium OLED — if you can live with only two HDMI 2.1 ports.	The brightest, most controlled mini-LED for bright rooms and sports — OLED-like blacks without OLED's brightness ceiling.	The default OLED for most movie-and-gaming rooms: flagship picture fundamentals and a complete 144Hz gaming suite at a mainstream price.
Best for	Buyers who want a large, very bright 4K screen for movies and sports in a well-lit room — and the most screen and brightness per dollar — without paying premium OLED or flagship mini-LED prices.	Sports fans and anyone with a bright, sunny living room who wants searing, glare-fighting brightness and clean motion, paired with OLED-like black levels.	Most buyers who watch movies and game in dark-to-moderately-lit rooms and want perfect blacks plus a full HDMI 2.1 gaming setup without paying flagship prices.
Avoid if	You game on more than two HDMI 2.1 sources, want the deepest OLED blacks in a dark home theater, or want the most polished image processing — premium OLEDs like the LG C5 or the brighter Sony Bravia 9 handle those better.	You sit at wide angles, need four HDMI 2.1 ports for multiple consoles, or want the best value — premium OLEDs and the Hisense/TCL mini-LEDs cost less.	Your room is bright and sunny, or you want the highest possible brightness — a mini-LED like the Sony Bravia 9 or Hisense U8QG, or the brighter Samsung S95F, will suit you better.
Score breakdown
size value	9.5	7.0	8.5
gaming features	8.0	8.0	9.5
motion handling	8.0	9.5	8.5
picture quality	8.5	9.2	9.5
brightness room fit	9.0	9.5	7.5
Specs
HDR	Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG	Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (no HDR10+)	Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
Audio	Audio by Bang & Olufsen, Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X (85W)	Acoustic Multi-Audio+ beam tweeters, Dolby Atmos	2.2ch Dolby Atmos
Panel	QD Mini-LED (CrystGlow WHVA)	Mini-LED QLED (Quantum Dot)	OLED evo (WOLED)
Sizes	65, 75, 85, 98 in	65, 75, 85 in	42, 48, 55, 65, 77, 83 in
Tuner	ATSC 3.0	—	—
Gaming	VRR, ALLM, Game Accelerator to 288Hz, Filmmaker Mode	VRR, ALLM, Perfect for PS5 (2x HDMI 2.1)	VRR, G-Sync, FreeSync, ALLM, ~10ms lag
Screen	Anti-glare, Ultra Wide Angle, ZeroBorder	Anti-reflective	—
Smart OS	Google TV	Google TV (ATSC 3.0 tuner)	webOS 25
Backlight	Halo Control System, 23-bit controller	XR Backlight Master Drive (High Peak Luminance)	—
Refresh rate	144Hz	120Hz	144Hz
HDMI 2.1 ports	2 (of 4)	—	4
Peak brightness	~2,200-2,300 nits HDR (10% window)	~2,800 nits (18% window), up to ~4,000 nits	~1,200 nits HDR (3% window)
Processor	—	XR Processor	Alpha 9 AI Gen8
	Buy →	Buy →	Buy →

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