You asked: What is QLED+? Can the Mini LED TV be lit?

In this episode of You Asked, we discuss TV reliability, explain what QLED Plus means, and decide whether the ultra-bright Hisense U9 is worth the price. Plus, we clear up the confusion about Mini LED vs. edge-lit TVs so you know exactly what you’re buying.

When TVs fail quickly

@RatchetDuck asks: My TCL expired after 3 years and I’m trying to find a replacement that won’t charge money but I need to be honest, will this (TCL QM6K) expire after only 3 years?

So… Mr. Duck… you shouldn’t. TCL QM6K is a solid Mini LED TV, among the best models made by TCL. Personally, I would like to know which particular model you burned and if it was really one of the budget TVs.

And that’s like crossing the board. I really try not to come across as a TV person on this channel because I am absolutely NOT a TV person in real life. And you don’t need to for a good TV these days, especially with the TCL QM6K options, which now start at under $500.

But it’s important to remember that you get what you pay for. So if you choose to go the really budget-friendly route to some low-end TVs that DO NOT have new, improved processors and backlight systems, you can find a TV that can keep up with what’s available. And it may not last long if you drive it hard.

Like… 15 dollar cross trainers won’t hold up on a rocky road like 150 dollar riding boots.

So regardless of the brand… Samsung, LG, TCL… whoever… many of them make really cheap models, but don’t expect any of them to last as long as some of the higher priced options.

Also… electronics and things happen and parts fail all the time. TVs, phones, cars, cameras, home appliances… that’s life.

So yes I think the TCL QM6K is a good buy, especially at the discounted price. But if you’re looking for a replacement product in the same price range, the Hisense U65QF is another solid choice.

What is QLED+?

@theplayernkc asks: What about QLED+?

So that’s what Philips uses to describe its QLED TVs and differentiate them from the competition with a few improvements.

What you usually find in those QLED+ models are heat-resistant materials, sometimes panels that do a better job of polishing, and some game improvements like a 144 hertz refresh rate.

If that doesn’t sound special to you… well… it’s because some of those things are available on TCL, Hisense, Samsung, Sony and LG TVs we talk a lot about this channel.

It’s like how Hisense calls their QLED TVs “ULED.” It’s a big change in processing and some panel differences than definitely better than other Mini LED TV.

Do what you want. But don’t think you’re getting a huge improvement over the competition because there’s a “plus” at the end of the word.

Is the Hisense U9 worth it now?

@mattgriesbachhh406 asks: Is the u9 75 inch worth buying at its current price of $1388?

The next question Matt asks… Is the 75-inch Hisense U9 worth buying at its current price of $1,388?

I think so. It certainly does not lack brightness with up to 6500 nits. So if you’re in a bright house like all the other people who have asked about the perfect TV for such situations, the U9 should be on your short list.

My main reservation is… do you need it? The Hisense U8QG offers you a lot of what this TV does, including the ability to hit a maximum brightness of 5000 nits, which is still more than most people need. So you can save a little money going with the U8 instead of the U9.

It’s not a ton of money right now. I think you can only save 100 bucks or so, but it’s nice to see this TV slip into the significant price and performance gap between the U8QG and the rest of the 2025 lineup that includes a 116-inch 25K RGB backlit TV and a more expensive Micro LED option.

In any case, keep an eye out for sales. Hisense has a lot of them right now, and they seem to be changing by the day as they try to clear their stock for 2025. If you’re looking for a new TV, now is a good time to weigh your options.

Can the Mini LED TV be lit?

@trebleclefjones4899 asks: I see LG saying it’s on the edge and the small LED? Does that sound right? LG 75-Inch Class QNED evo AI QNED85A Series Mini LED 4K Smart TV. The spec sheet says the edge is lit???

Many of you have had this question. And it’s confusing. And just crying for 15 seconds… I think most of what TV manufacturers are doing in terms of new ways to improve panels and picture quality is really good. Technology is being used in ways we never knew it could be used.

But for every new technology label or acronym… QNED… QLED… SQD… ULED… etc… there are always a few models that pollute the water and hope you don’t see the difference, all in the name of selling more TV than you should.

Case and point… the QNED 85A, which is not alone in creating edge-lit TVs and Mini LEDs. The trick is… those little LEDs are placed on the edge of the TV where the backlight is, giving you very dimming spots, but still not as efficient as full spot dimming. That’s what you expect to find in a Mini LED TV, a dimming system that provides areas for the entire panel, not just for certain parts.

And the results, as you would expect, tell a story. That QNED 85A doesn’t give you good contrast, and it won’t be bright enough to get the HDR experience you’d get from a TV with a full local dimming system.

On the Best Buy site, they list the type of backlight as Edge Lit. RTINGS, which does thorough testing, knows that this is an Edge Lit TV. But on LG’s site, there is no mention of Edge Lit. They prefer to just highlight its Mini LED capabilities and not go into more details.

All I can say is… if you can watch the TV in person or watch it next to a Mini LED TV with a full local dimming system, do that and see if one stands out or if someone bothers you. Try not to take it only from online advice.

But then again… I’m not going to pay what they’re asking for that TV. Not where you can get the most bang for your buck with other brands of TVs that come with full surround dimming and cost less.