RGB LED TVs are flagship killers, but there is one big catch
As someone who reviews TVs for a living, I rarely see the negative side of praising older models. Take, for example, the 2025 LG C5 OLED. It’s one of the best TVs we’ve ever tested, for sure, but the LG C4 OLED 2024 is still an incredible TV that, for most people, can look great.
However, sometimes there is such a jump in performance between one year and the next, that it is difficult to recommend buying the previous year’s model.
That’s exactly how I feel about the TCL QM9K – the brand’s flagship Mini-LED TV from 2025 which is, by all accounts, a very good-looking screen, but which is already small compared to TCL’s latest model X11L and the upcoming 2026 Mini-RGB TV from Samsung, Hisense and LG. Here is the reason.
There is not enough color where you count
When we talk about color in TVs, we are talking about two different metrics – color volume and color accuracy. To make your favorite movies and shows look their best, you need both.
The QM9K has rock-solid color accuracy. In our lab tests, the QM9K was incredibly accurate with a Delta-E value of 1.8 (the lower the score, the more accurate). That’s against most OLED TVs. But its color vibrancy is relatively lacking – it only covers 97% of the DCI-P3 color space and 79% of the more advanced Rec.2020 spectrum.
Five years ago, these numbers would have blown my mind… But in 2026 these numbers are not as impressive as they were.
Five years ago, these numbers would have blown my mind. Even last year, these prices were relatively good. But in 2026, the year we get TCL’s Mini-RGB and SQD TVs, these numbers aren’t as attractive as they were.
So why aren’t they good enough? However, the QM9K has been replaced by the TCL X11L, the brand’s first SQD TV and its 2026 flagship model. In our lab tests, the X11L not only had the same Delta-E rating of 1.8, but also covered most of the DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 color spaces at 77%. That’s it a lot of more color.
We’re still waiting for new Mini-RGB TVs from Hisense, Samsung and LG, but each says their Rec.2020 coverage will all be 90% or better.
But light in spades
While color isn’t the QM9K’s strong suit, it’s pretty good at combating ambient light thanks to its high brightness stats. In our lab tests, we measured the QM9K’s maximum brightness at 4,207 nits in a 10% window in Normal mode — and we could probably push that number even further if we played with more settings.
To help combat potential haloing from this extremely bright backlight, the QM9K uses TCL’s new Halo control system that includes 5,000 brightness control points. I’ve never seen haloing in my time with TV so far, so that’s incredibly impressive.
I’ve been looking at it in a room with a side window that just pops in like you wouldn’t believe it. Also, QM9K is not cut by it.
The jury is still out on how bright these new Mini-RGB TVs will be – but I don’t think we’ll see a huge drop in brightness when they hit our test labs later this year. As it stands, the aforementioned X11L can reach upwards of 6,000 nits at the same settings without breaking a sweat, thanks to its Super Quantum Dot (SQD) display. Ambient light, be careful.
How good is enough?
This is the question that delayed my review of the TCL QM9K. It’s a great TV – and for the 2025 model I’d even say it’s great. But I keep coming back to the story for its fullness of color. Good enough for now, but very little compared to what’s to come.
The problem, however, is that those TVs can come at exorbitant prices. The X11L, for example, starts at $6,999 for the 75-inch model. In contrast, the 75-inch QM9K can be purchased for $2,299 at Best Buy.
Should we stop looking for a bright color with a low sticker price? I’m not sure. As a reviewer, it’s something I still struggle with.
All I know is, after seeing them in person, Mini RGB TVs are at the top of my 2026 wish list and the QM9K… well, they won’t be.
