When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreThe TCL QM6K is an excellent entry-level Mini LED TV.Steven Cohen/Business InsiderThe QM6K is TCL's most affordable Mini LED TV, and it delivers a significant performance jump over most budget TVs. This set boasts impressive contrast control for the money, as well as a high refresh rate for gamers.The QM6K launched in 2025, but TCL has carried it over to 2026, and it remains a highly competitive option in this tier. The 65-inch model typically sells for $698 but sometimes drops to around $530, which is a great deal for this level of performance. Even the massive 98-inch model is often sold at a very reasonable $2,200, with occasional drops to $1,798.Given these typical street prices, I still recommend the QM6K as the top budget pick in my guide to the best TVs. It does have some new competition from Hisense's latest entry-level Mini LED TV, the U6SF Pro, but it's not yet clear how consistently that model will be discounted. Here's why the QM6K is such a great value for anyone who wants an entry-level HDR TV.Setup is simple, as long as you use your Google accountThe left and right feet are easy to attach and offer enough room for a soundbar.Steven Cohen/Business InsiderThe QM6K launched in 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, and 98-inch screen sizes, and a new 50-inch option is now available as well. Generally, buyers can expect small differences in brightness and contrast across sizes, but the core specifications are the same. For this review, I tested the 65-inch model.The TV's design is basic yet perfectly serviceable for this class. The build quality and aesthetics aren't as sturdy or elegant as those of pricier models that use heftier metal materials, thinner bezels, or flush wall mounts. Still, I don't have any specific complaints. Though pedestal stands look nicer, the QM6K's simple left and right feet work well and provide ample space to place a soundbar.At 2.2 inches, the screen is a bit thicker than the super-slim panels on pricier OLED TVs, but this depth is in line with many Mini LED sets. This type of panel typically has a deeper profile than others to accommodate the components required for its advanced backlighting.The QM6K's setup process is straightforward. Since it runs on the Google TV operating system, it's especially easy to get up and running if you use an existing Google account. The TV displays a QR code that you scan to open the Google Home app on your mobile device. This process automatically connects the QM6K to the same WiFi network as your phone without entering any network details or passwords. The mobile app then guides you through some other housekeeping items.Setup can also be done manually on the TV without the app or a Google account, but it's a bit more cumbersome and requires typing in more details. Likewise, without logging in to your Google account, you won't be able to use any of the display's Google services, such as the Google Play Store. So, though technically functional without a login, I don't recommend buying a Google TV unless you plan to sync it with a Google account.Once the setup is done, I suggest using the TV's Filmmaker Mode picture preset for the most accurate out-of-the-box image. I also recommend disabling Auto Brightness, which is turned on by default. This feature adjusts brightness levels based on the ambient light in your room, but you can get a more stable picture by manually choosing a brightness level you like and sticking with it.The QM6K delivers good entry-level HDR performance, but it's dimmer than pricier TVsThe TV's Mini LED backlight enables solid contrast for a display in this class.Steven Cohen/Business InsiderThe QM6K is positioned as the entry-level model in TCL's premier lineup of Mini LED QLED TVs. And within that context, its picture quality is impressive. Brightness and contrast can't match that of the brand's step-up QM7L or QM8L series, which both use new "SQD" technology for enhanced color — but for this tier, the QM6K is a great performer.I evaluated the QM6K's image performance using a mix of test patterns and real-world content from 4K Blu-ray discs and streaming services, all curated to highlight features like contrast, local dimming, black levels, color, and upscaling. I also used a colorimeter to measure the display's peak brightness, an essential component of a TV's high-dynamic-range (HDR) capabilities.With the TV set in Filmmaker Mode, I recorded a peak of 557 nits on a 10% HDR test pattern (a white box that takes up 10% of the screen). The brightest the TV got was on a larger 50% test pattern, which measured about 736 nits.Those are both decent numbers for an entry-level HDR TV like this, and they're a nice step up from TCL's older Q65, which could only hit about 400 nits. However, the QM6K's brightness is still notably lower than that of midrange TVs, which are capable of about 1,000 to 2,000 nits, and high-end sets that can offer 2,000 to 4,
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