For several months, the TCL QM7K has been one of my most-recommended TVs for one simple reason: It successfully blends a bright, impressive picture with a price tag that most people can justify. It’s the type of TV I typically refer to as a Goldilocks set, as it sits right in the middle of the value-to-performance spectrum.
Here’s the thing, though: For most of the time I’ve been recommending the QM7K, the 55-inch version has cost $799 or above. But because it’s rapidly being replaced by a newer model, the 55-inch QM7K is just $599 at Best Buy right now.
And, because of the whittling-down of the QM7K stock, the 55-inch version isn’t available at Amazon. This trending Best Buy deal might be its last hurrah.
While tons of budget-friendly, entry-level TVs make use of basic LED backlighting, the QM7K leverages a more advanced array of Mini-LEDs. These are smaller-sized LEDs that typically offer better backlight control due to their size.
The inclusion of Mini-LEDs is also why the QM7K is brighter than most garden-variety LED TVs in this price range. According to the testing we carried out for our TCL QM7K review, this set is capable of over 1,700 nits of highlight brightness during HDR content. Its full-screen brightness is also punchy enough to stand up during daytime viewing.
To put this into context, consider the QM7K's step-down series partner, the entry-level TCL QM6K. While plenty good for an entry-level model, the QM6K tops out at around 700 nits during HDR content. The QM7K is a much better choice for most people.
Casual and dedicated gamers are likely to squeeze even more value out of the QM7K.
The QM7K is built around the Google TV smart platform, and while it's not my top choice for streaming software (that honor goes to Roku), I still prefer Google TV over the vast majority of software suites that are packed into TVs these days. Its strong app support and easy-to-use interface makes it a trusty choice for daily use.
Casual and dedicated gamers are likely to squeeze even more value out of the QM7K, since it comes with a useful toolbox of gaming features for the price: It comes with a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports, and both of them support 4K gaming at 120Hz (the highest 4K spec for current-generation consoles) and up to 144Hz with a gaming PC connected.
It's no surprise that the 55-inch QM7K is currently unavailable on Amazon. When its stock finally runs out at Best Buy, we'll be one step closer to the newly released TCL QM7L taking the QM7K's place entirely.
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