When I lugged the massive TCL 85QM6K into my living room, I had two immediate thoughts. First: “Wow, this thing is truly huge.” Second: “Can something this big and this seemingly feature-packed really live up to the “Affordable Premium” branding TCL’s been pushing lately? After spending a good chunk of time with it, I’ve come away impressed by just how much value TCL manages to squeeze into this panel… though it’s not without a few quirks along the way.
If you’re looking to make a big splash (literally and visually) in your home theater setup, this 85-inch TV offers a pretty compelling mix of tech-forward specs, gaming chops, and size-to-cost ratio.
Let me walk you through what stood out, what fell a bit short, and why this might just be the right upgrade for a whole lot of people.
It’s the kind of TV that makes you rethink your living room, and your expectations. TCL’s QM6K delivers flagship-level size and contrast with Mini-LED tech, gamer-ready performance, and a price that still feels grounded.
Size That Redefines “Big TV Energy”
The QM6K’s 85-inch screen (technically 84.6 inches) is the kind of size that makes you reconsider your entire living room layout. It’s not just big, it’s cinematic.
The last few years saw me upgrading from a 55-inch to a 65-inch TV, placing them on the same hutch/cabinet. My wife and I like to move furniture around on our main floor about twice a year for the different seasons. As part of that we tend to have two places we’ve kept our TV sets.
When this one arrived I had to go all-in on a location. That is to say I mounted it on the wall as it was just a bit too wide to place the feet on the hutch. And to be fair, that was fine with us as the panel would look completely out of place in one of the two spots. So, now we’re married to the wall.
With a panel this size, even the small details feel like they’ve been magnified in a good way, and you really get the sense that TCL wanted to make this a flagship experience for those of us who aren’t dropping four grand on a television.
Right away I started to soak in just how big and beautiful of a unit this was, and at a really nice price. I’m old enough to remember selling 32-inch TVs that were at least $3,000 back in the day. Now we’re almost triple the size, and a fraction of the weight and cost.
The panel uses QD-Mini LED tech, which is essentially TCL’s way of bringing quantum dot color with the precision of mini-LED backlighting. Paired with full-array local dimming across around 500 zones, it delivers excellent contrast and deep, satisfying black levels. TCL’s “Halo Control System” is also doing some heavy lifting here, helping to cut down on blooming around bright objects in dark scenes. It’s not OLED-level perfection, but it’s surprisingly close for the price.
Keep in mind as we move forward that reviewing TVs isn’t my strong suit, but I do know a good thing when I see it. Moreover, I’ve come to appreciate certain things in the different models that I have had the privilege to test over the last few years.
Picture Quality: Better Than You Might Expect
I’ve reviewed a handful of TVs over the years, and this one genuinely surprised me in a few key areas. Let’s start with brightness. In real-world use, the HDR performance is solid. It hits somewhere between 700 and 900 nits depending on your picture mode, which is plenty bright for most living rooms, even with some daylight spilling in from the sides.
Black levels are impressive too. Watching moody content like Blade Runner 2049, Mad Max: Fury Road, or dark-as-night shows (Game of Thrones), I noticed how well the QM6K preserved detail without lifting the blacks. That’s a tough balance to strike, especially on an LED panel.
Color performance was another pleasant surprise. Out of the box, skin tones looked natural, and vibrant content (like animated movies or sports) really popped. TCL’s Quantum Dot layer is clearly pulling its weight, and color gamut coverage comes in at an impressive 94–98% of DCI-P3, depending on the measurement.
Motion Handling & Upscaling: Mostly Smooth Sailing
This TV’s 120Hz native refresh rate (with support for up to 144Hz VRR) is a big plus if you watch sports or play video games. Fast action stays clear and smooth, and the motion interpolation options are there if you like that soap opera effect. Me, personally? I keep it dialed down.
Upscaling is generally decent, though it’s not the TV’s strongest suit. Broadcast TV or lower-quality streams can look a little soft or fuzzy at times, which is likely where TCL’s AiPQ Pro Processor hits its limits. Most people won’t notice, but if you’re used to watching 4K-native content, you may pick up on it with older shows or lower-res streams.
I don’t really own much physical media anymore so I don’t always have the best 4K content or source material. Some YouTube channels and broadcasts on YouTube TV are in 4K, but there’s always a touch of artifacting and less-than-perfect look to the picture. Video games and Blu-ray movies, though? Man, that’s chef’s kiss stuff.
Design & Setup: Clean, Modern, and a Bit of a Workout
Design-wise, TCL leans into a minimal, modern look here. The bezels are thin on three sides, with a slightly thicker bottom chin. The build has a metal feel that’s more premium than you’d expect at this price point, and it doesn’t scream “budget TV” the way some TV’s do.
The adjustable-width stand is a nice touch, especially if your TV console isn’t oversized. But let me be honest—this is not a one-person setup. The TV weighs over 70 pounds with the stand, and wrestling the legs into place would be somewhat of a chore for those opting for that setup. Definitely enlist some setup help whether you’re wall-mounting or not.
Connectivity is solid, with four HDMI ports (two of them full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1), USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, Ethernet, optical audio out, and side-facing port layout that makes things easier to reach if you’re wall-mounting. eARC is supported too, so audio passthrough to your soundbar or receiver is seamless.
Google TV Experience: Snappy, Familiar, Occasionally Cluttered
Like most of TCL’s 2025 lineup, this TV runs on Google TV, and for the most part, it’s a great experience. It’s my preferred way of interacting with a smart TV even if it has evolved to be a little more “in your face” with ads and recommended content.
Setup is smooth, especially if you’ve already got a Google account. The interface is fast, easy to navigate, and still less ad-heavy than some other platforms.
That said, it can get a little cluttered. Google TV tries to surface recommended content across apps, but sometimes it feels like too much is going on. Deep settings menus aren’t always intuitive either, but once you learn where things live, it’s not hard to tweak things to your liking. It takes just a little bit of time and playing around to figure out what’s Google’s doing and what’s TCL’s.
Voice control via Google Assistant works as expected, and there’s compatibility with Alexa and Apple HomeKit too, which gives it decent smart home flexibility. The included remote is a win: nicely backlit, responsive, and well-sized. It even lights up automatically when you pick it up in the dark. It’s an underrated convenience that I’ve come to appreciate much in the same way I do on a laptop keyboard. Once you have, you tend to want it going forward.
Gaming: This Thing Is Ready to Play
This is where the TCL 85QM6K really punches above its weight. Gamers will find a lot to love here. And really, the TV sort of fanned a tiny little flame for me, giving me the urge to play different games, if not just spending more time with them.
With a 144Hz panel, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, support for Dolby Vision Gaming, and input lag around 13ms at 4K 120Hz, this TV is well-equipped to handle just about anything you throw at it. A few games I tested on the PS5 looked and played beautifully, with sharp detail, punchy colors, and no noticeable ghosting or tearing.
There’s also an Auto Game Mode (ALLM), a Game Master menu for quick adjustments, and what TCL calls “Game Accelerator,” which theoretically hits 240Hz or 288Hz by reducing resolution. Personally, I stuck to native 4K at 144Hz, which looked incredible and felt ultra-responsive. Unless you’re chasing competitive frame rates, this setup will be more than enough.
I’m reminded of that space between a nice office monitor and one that’s designed specifically for gaming. Given the chance to use a more powerful and feature-rich unit, you can come to appreciate finer tuning — but you don’t have to go all-in with a high-end model. That’s kind of how I feel with this TV; it’s a step up from other panels in the spots I notice, with more cool stuff available should I get the urge to dial things up.
Audio: Better Than Expected, But Still Not Theater-Grade
The built-in 2.1-channel Onkyo speaker system includes a dedicated subwoofer, which gives it a bit more punch than most TVs in this price range. Dialogue is crisp, and there’s enough volume to fill a room, but you’re still dealing with the limitations of a slim speaker enclosure.
Bass is there, to be sure, but it doesn’t rumble the floorboards. Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X support are onboard, but their impact is modest unless you add an external sound system. I’d recommend a soundbar if you want a more immersive experience. The TV does support eARC, so sending lossless audio to a capable soundbar or receiver is easy.
I am actively weighing whether or not I’m going to put a soundbar on the hutch for a more robust audio experience. It’s just my wife and I and we tend to keep things pretty low-key as it is, but when we stream music or want a full “date night, no phones” movie we cannot help but feel like opening things up.
Viewing Angles: Surprisingly Good for a VA Panel
I was ready to dock this TV points for off-angle viewing, especially since it uses an HVA-type panel. But TCL has done something interesting here. Maybe it’s the matte finish or a new optical layer, but off-axis performance is better than I expected. Thankfully, we can see this TV from all angles of a wide, rectangular room. And that’s helpful when the room fills up with guests.
There’s still a bit of vignetting and contrast falloff when you get to extreme angles, but from most seating positions in a standard living room, it holds up quite well. This is a nice bonus for families or setups where people aren’t always parked directly in front of the screen.
Price and Value: Here’s Where It All Comes Together
At the time of writing, I’ve seen the 85QM6K selling for about $1,250, (Amazon)depending on sales. That’s incredibly competitive for a Mini-LED TV of this size, especially one with a solid feature set and gaming chops.
Compared to other brands and models I used for reference, the TCL often comes out ahead on either price or specs (and sometimes both). TCL’s move here is clear: bring flagship-adjacent features to a price point that undercuts the competition. And in many ways, it works.
If you want the absolute best brightness or color accuracy, you’ll still want to move up to something like TCL’s QM8 or a pricier OLED. But the QM6K delivers an excellent sweet spot for people who want a huge screen and impressive performance without maxing out their credit card. Seriously, a few years ago you would have never convinced me that I’d be able to get a screen this big at this price by 2025.
Warranty: Standard, But Consider Extended Options
The standard one-year warranty is pretty typical for TVs in this class. TCL’s support seems straightforward but you’ll want to keep your proof of purchase handy, and know that replacements might be refurbished. If you’re spending north of a grand on a TV, it’s not a bad idea to look into an extended warranty, especially if you’re not keen on rolling the dice after that first year.
Final Thoughts: A Big Win for Big Screens on a Budget
This product has earned the Pinnacle Selection award, reserved for those with an average rating of 4.25 stars or higher. Recognized as best in its class, it excels in innovation, design, and user satisfaction. Our review confirms its outstanding quality and performance, setting a high standard in its category.
So, who is the TCL 85QM6K for? I’d say it’s perfect for anyone who wants that theater-like experience at home, especially if you’ve got a little gaming habit on the side. It handles fast content like a champ, puts out rich colors and deep contrast, and has a user-friendly Google TV interface that makes switching between Netflix, YouTube, and your Xbox a breeze.
It’s not perfect. The audio, while decent, could benefit from a soundbar. The upscaling isn’t top-tier. And there are a few small quirks here and there with software or universal remote compatibility. None of those dealbreakers overshadow just how much TV you’re getting for the money, though.
The phrase “Affordable Premium” gets thrown around a lot, but TCL earns it here. This is a TV that plays in the big leagues, both literally and figuratively, without commanding a flagship price. If you’ve been eyeing an 85-inch upgrade and don’t want to sacrifice modern features for cost savings, the QM6K deserves a serious look.