When you want a better picture than a budget TV but don’t want to shell out for a premium model, you’re in the midrange tier. But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a “mid” TV. TCL’s QM8 is an excellent example: the 2024 version is reasonably priced and produces a very good picture, thanks to tech such as quantum-dot LED and mini-LED backlighting. You give up some extras in exchange for the savings, but for most of us, it’s more than good enough.
Among midrange TVs, the two standouts of 2024 are TCL’s QM8 and Hisense’s U8N. They’re very similar TVs, and the right one for you is likely to come down to which one is on sale when you’re ready to buy.
TCL QM8 4K UHD HDR QD-Mini LED Smart TV with Google TV
Packing in some of the latest tech while staying affordable, the TCL QM8 delivers good color and contrast that bring shows and movies to life on the screen. It handles Google TV fairly well and has decent sound — though you’ll still want to add a soundbar to your setup.