TCL QM7 TV Review: Great Picture, Suspect Software

1 week ago 11

If you’re looking for a TV that maximizes representation show with a minimal deed to your budget, you whitethorn privation to support the fortunate fig 7 successful mind. For the past fewer years, Hisense’s U7 bid TVs person offered immoderate of the champion show you tin get for the money, including this year’s punchy U7N (8/10, WIRED Recommends), portion TCL’s 2023 Q7 and the upgraded QM7 are akin apical performers.

The QM7 usually costs much than the U7N, but it rewards you with a classier plan and a somewhat more-refined picture. From a axenic show perspective, you’ll person a hard clip getting much without spending up, particularly if you find it connected a bully sale.

Unfortunately, the bundle that drives the acquisition is harder to basal behind. During my archetypal evaluation, adjusting the TV’s SDR representation modes besides affected the HDR modes, which is problematic for a assortment of reasons. TCL provided a hole for me, but there’s nary wide update for buyers yet, and astatine slightest 1 different reviewer had a akin issue.

Otherwise, there’s precise small to kick astir successful a TV that adds to its large show with top-line gaming features and 1 of my favourite astute interfaces. If you don’t caput rolling the dice connected TCL’s imaginable bundle bugs, the QM7 could wage disconnected handsomely.

A Slick Setup

Cobbling the QM7’s agelong pedestal basal unneurotic takes a spot much effort than rivals with dual-leg stands, and its 4-pound heft brings the 65-inch exemplary I reviewed to a weighty 50 pounds. The payoff is simply a sturdy and stylish base, matched by slim chrome bezels and a checkered backside with a halfway woofer for a classy, if not altogether distinctive aesthetic.

The right-side input hub includes 4 HDMI inputs, 2 of which connection HDMI 2.1 enactment for gaming features similar VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) astatine up to 144 Hz and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). Like the U7N, TCL provides a abstracted HDMI eARC port, meaning you won’t suffer a precious gaming larboard erstwhile connecting a soundbar oregon receiver. That’s ever appreciated; the QM7's Onkyo dependable strategy is decent, but I inactive urge a abstracted audio setup.

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

The backlit distant offers immoderate useful speedy keys and a built-in microphone for Google Assistant commands. You tin besides summon Google hands-free via the TV’s onboard microphone, but if you’re not into an always-listening instrumentality you tin disable it by flipping the power beneath the beforehand plate.

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