Hisense U8QG vs. TCL QM8K: which Mini-LED TV is right for you?

In my opinion, the Hisense U8QG Mini-LED TV is one of the best TVs in 2025. But so is the TCL QM8K. Making matters tricky is that both 65-inch models of both TVs come in at the exact same price, sitting just under $1,300, which isn’t half bad when considering the performance curve. So, which one is the better buy?

It’s Hisense U8QG vs TCL QM8K to see which Mini-LED TV is the better Mini-LED TV. Read on below to see which one wins in this faceoff.

Hisense U8QG vs. TCL QM8K: Specs compared

Hisense U8QG vs. TCL QM8K: Design

Both the Hisense U8QG and TCL QM8K are very similar displays, leveraging Mini-LED backlighting and a quantum dot film. The QM8K has a WHVA panel, while the U8QG has an ADS Pro panel, both of which boast several advantages over IPS and VA types.

Neither is slim and light, however. The 65-inch U8QG, in particular, weighs about 53 lbs without the stand and 10 lbs more with the stand, making it a pretty hefty display. The TCL QM8K, on the other hand, weights less at just 46 ponds without the stand, but you’ll still want some help if you decide to wall-mount it.

In terms of their audio, the U8QG has a 4.1.2-channel system with a power output that varies across screen sizes. The 65-inch model sits at 72W, and supports Dolby Atmos surround sound. Meanwhile, the QM8K has a 2.2.2-channel Dolby Atmos system designed by Bang & Olufsen.

It’s tough to pick out a major winner here, given the similarities between these two TVs. If there is one thing the U8QG has over its flagship Mini-LED TV rival, it’s that punchier sound system, which could be a particular highlight for users who don’t want to spend extra on one of the best soundbars.

For that, I feel the Hisense U8QG is the better choice here in terms of design.

Winner: Hisense U8QG

Hisense U8QG vs. TCL QM8K: Ports

The Hisense U8QG is a bit of an oddball when it comes to its port selection. Instead of having four HDMI ports like most TVs, it’s equipped with just three HDMI 2.1 inputs and a USB-C port video output and charging.

While that’s an interesting addition on the U8QG, I find it a little niche for most TV buyers. It would make a whole lot more sense for the U8QG to have four HDMI slots with the USB-C port, as it’s intended primarily for PC gamers.

The TCL QM8K does have four HDMI ports, but only two of them are the higher HDMI 2.1 spec. This is common for most budget Mini-LED models, but with so many sets moving away from HDMI 2.0 and the introduction of HDMI 2.2 making waves in the market, it’s about time TV makers start offering a full range of 2.1 ports.

From this, you can deduce the U8QG is a slightly better display for gaming, but only if you’re running one of the best gaming PCs. I do like the addition of a USB-C port, but I think it’s a little niche right now. Even so, the U8QG still has three HDMI 2.1 ports, giving it a slight edge against its counterpart.

Winner: Hisense U8QG

Hisense U8QG vs. TCL QM8K: Remote

Both Hisense and TCL have some great remotes to offer. There isn’t too much of a difference between them, though I do like how the U8QG has a bit more button variety.

I think all-in, both are fantastic pieces of equipment and work well in bringing out the full range of use across your TV. It’s also handy having a backlight on both remotes, so hats off to both contenders here.

Winner: Tie

Hisense U8QG vs. TCL QM8K: Performance

Let’s take a peek at the test results of both Mini-LED TVs to see how they stack up before diving into their performance.

As I already mentioned, the U8QG sports some of the highest metrics we’ve seen this year and doesn’t hold back in either SDR or HDR content.

That being said, the QM8K still topples it in the HDR category, which is really interesting, but the excess brightness might not be very valuable: Although Dolby Vision and HDR10 can spit out HDR images at up to 10,000 nits, most HDR content is mastered between 1,000 and 4,000 nits.

This means the U8QG hits the perfect number of 3,916 nits for HDR content. It also has a wider range in color coverage, if only very slight, with a Rec2020 gamut of 83.98% and UHDA-P3 of 97.53%. Those are especially superb, seeing as most TVs can barely top 70% of the Rec2020 gamut. Of course, the QM8K isn’t too far behind.

Their low Delta-E scores (the lower the better) are particularly noteworthy for their excellent color accuracy right out of the box. These TVs are truly neck-and-neck, showing just how far Mini-LED TVs have come in the last five years.

In terms of non-quantifiable qualities, both TVs have an anti-glare film to diminish reflections, but I found the U8QG still suffered from them. This was especially true for late-night viewing with the lights on, which is really unfortunate.

On the other hand, the QM8K seemingly didn’t standout in its off-axis viewing potential. That’s a common complaint on a lot of Mini-LED TVs, so it only makes sense seeing it here on TCL’s flagship 2025 set.

We also noted some poor audio performance on the QM8K, which is certainly not the case on the U8QG. The latter display has a truly bombastic system.

Give its higher SDR brightness metrics, subtle improvements in color volume and accuracy, improved input latency, and better audio, the standout winner here is the U8QG. But, it’s still a very close competition.

Winner: Hisense U8QG

Hisense U8QG vs. TCL QM8K: Smart platform and features

Both the Hisense U8QG and the TCL QM8K run on Google TV, making them both pretty adept in navigation and content curation. I’ve mentioned it before, but Google TV is probably the best interface you can ask for, even if it doesn’t see many updates like its rivals in webOS and Tizen.

That being said, you still have access to all of the best streaming services, with the addition of tons of free content to dive into. Google TV has its own slew of channels to enjoy, but also has the Roku Channel for even more coverage of free FAST channels, which is great if you’re not glued to one particular platform.

Google TV is also equipped with several smart home features, making it a great combo piece if you have smart shades, lights, or other smart tech around the house with hands-free voice controls. Gemini AI is also set to be added to Google TV later this year, which could give such sets a major boost in quality, especially in search and recommendations.

We can’t recommend Google TV enough here at Tom’s Guide. It’s great on both TVs. Thus, both TVs get the win in my book.

Winner: Tie

Hisense U8QG vs. TCL QM8K: Gaming

It’s here where things get a little tricky. The TCL QM8K is built with several awesome features that make it stand out for gamers, even though it skimps on HDMI 2.1 ports. Meanwhile, the U8QG has a really low input latency and a USB-C video output for wider PC adoption.

What stands out for me on the QM8K is its dynamic refresh rates: It can run games at higher speeds in lower resolutions, like 1080p and 1440p content in 288Hz, which is pretty awesome but really only pertains to PC gamers.

Both have pretty extensive gaming hubs and they’re both equipped with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, which is great if you have an AMD GPU in your PC. Otherwise, it won’t be that much of a major improvement for most users.

I find both TVs are fine for gaming, though I do think the U8QG might be the better comprise here for console players given its low input latency and additional HDMI 2.1 port. If you’re more of a PC gamer, though, it really won’t matter which TV you pick, as they’re both some of the best gaming TVs.

Winner: Hisense U8QG

Hisense U8QG vs. TCL QM8K: Outlook

The Hisense U8QG is one of the best TVs you can buy right now for the price, but given it shares the same price as the QM8K, you really can’t go wrong with either one.

Both displays are built on the robust Google TV smart platform, offering you tons of free content to enjoy. Design-wise, they share almost identical qualities. Their panel types differ only ever-so-slightly, but you’ll still get largely the same results out of both.

You can find the 65-inch QM8K for $1,297 and the 65-inch U8QG for $1,297 on Amazon at the time of writing. That’s pretty incredible, especially seeing as the QM8K has dropped in price by a lot since its launch.

I think what matters here is the type of content you’re watching on the regular. The U8QG has a better overall color volume and accuracy, but I find the QM8K will be beneficial most for those who want to get the best performance in HDR.

If you’re more of a gamer, especially someone running a PS5 or Xbox Series X, the U8QG might be the better option. Then again, the QM8K does have some interesting features for PC players, but seeing that it doesn’t have anything lower than 65-inch, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Overall, the Hisense U8QG ekes out a win, but I wouldn’t fault you for picking either.

More from Tom’s Guide