We just tested the TCL QM8L and it's better than I expected in this one key way

In 2026, nearly every major TV brand — including TCL — is rolling out a whole new type of TV: RGB LED. But TCL wasn't satisfied to simply follow the rest of the industry and call it a day. In addition to launching its own RGB LED TVs in the coming months, TCL is also busy debuting a new type of quantum-dot TV, too.

Dubbed Super Quantum Dot (or SQD for short), the TCL QM8L and QM7L are souped-up Mini-LED TVs that shake up the tried and true formula for quantum-dot color. These sets will live alongside the RM9L as an alternative to TCL's RGB Mini-LED TV this year.

Recently, we put the flagship-level QM8L through its paces in our test lab, and there's one aspect of its performance that truly surprised me: its color.

The TCL QM8L delivers incredible color

If you're looking for the brightest, purest color money can buy in 2026, there are three types of TV that ought to be on your radar: quantum dot-enhanced OLED (QD-OLED), RGB LED, and now, SQD Mini-LED.

We got our first taste of SQD Mini-LED earlier this year when we tested and reviewed the TCL X11L, the top TV to tap this cutting-edge technology this year. The X11L's gobsmackingly good color immediately made an impression, setting the stage for how this display type might perform on a more-affordable model like the QM8L.

We'll publish a full list of the TCL QM8L's test results soon, but for now, let's take a look at how its color volume compares to its both its predecessor and some of the most colorful TVs we've ever reviewed.

The QM8L delivers significantly brighter, purer color than its predecessor, the TCL QM8K. The QM8K is a Mini-LED TV that leverages quantum dots the good ol' fashioned way, so this gives us a pretty clear indication that color volume has improved quite a bit year over year.

The Samsung S95F is a quantum dot-OLED TV that has set the bar for color within the entire OLED class. According to our tests, the QM8L just barely edges out the S95F when it comes to color volume. That's nothing to sneeze at.

Most impressive is how close the QM8L's color result is to the wildly expensive TCL X11L, a TV whose color is at the very center of its own marketing campaign. The QM8L starts at $2,499 for the 65-inch model, while the 75-inch X11L starts at a whopping $6,999. If you're looking for a similar presentation at a lower cost, the QM8L could be your best bet this year.

The power of Super Quantum Dot color

The Super Quantum Dot recipe is made up of a few ingredients: reformulated quantum dots, a new color filter for said quantum dots and some algorithmic tweaking (which TCL is calling its Advanced Color Purity Algorithm) designed to keep colors consistent.

Together, all of these elements make up TCL's all-new Deep Color System. To date, the X11L, QM8L and QM7L are the only three SQD Mini-LED TVs slated for 2026.

As mentioned, the QM8L starts at $2,499 for a 65-inch model. A 75-inch version will set you back $2,999, and an 85-inch QM8L is available for $3,999.

I expect the step-down QM7L to be a popular choice for A/V enthusiasts on the hunt for a good deal, as this version is available in a smaller, 55-inch screen size and costs less than the QM8L. The 55-inch QM7L starts at $1,199, and the 65-inch version comes in at $1,499.

TCL QM8L SQD Mini-LED TV: outlook

There are a ton of TVs hitting shelves this year that promise bright, captivating color, and the QM8L is right in the mix. We've only just begun to measure some of the recently released RGB LED TVs from Samsung and Hisense, but from what we've seen so far, their red-, green- and blue-colored backlights appear to have a slight edge over TCL's reformulated quantum-dot display.

Nevertheless, it's exciting to see some of the biggest names in the TV industry upping the ante in the LED space. For a while now, QD-OLED TVs have been the top option for viewers looking for the most-colorful experience, but there seems to be a worldwide effort at work to rewrite the script.

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More from Tom's Guide

• TCL’s “Super QLED” TV is the new king of color — here’s what our test results say
• I tested TCL’s $8,000 SQD Mini-LED TV — here's my verdict
• TCL and Sony are joining forces to sell more TVs — but is that bad news for shoppers?