The Samsung QN90A is a premium-priced LCD TV with great overall picture quality, gaming performance, and bright room handling, making it a solid choice for mixed usage. It also boasts very good sound quality. On the downside, it's significantly more expensive than the TCL QM8.
The TCL QM8, which comes at a more midrange price, offers excellent picture quality and contrast, along with superior black uniformity which can be great for movies. However, it falls short in sports content viewing and viewing angle, which could be important if you frequently watch live events or have a wide seating arrangement.
If you prioritize gaming, movies in darker environments, or need a TV with better sound and are willing to pay more, the Samsung QN90A may be the right choice. But if you're looking for better value, watch a lot of movies, and are comfortable with compromising on sports viewing and wider viewing angles, the TCL QM8 could be a better option. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Samsung QN90A (LCD)
Good for sports
Very good for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for use as monitor
Very good for upscaling
Very good motion processing
Excellent reflections
Advantages of the TCL QM8 (LCD)
Very good for dark room
Key differences
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.9/10
6.8/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
4.8/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) is very good for news, talk, & other TV, while the TCL QM8 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90A is known for its excellent upscaling and SDR brightness, ensuring clear and bright image quality for news and talk shows, coupled with optimal colors straight out of the box. In contrast, the TCL QM8, while offering the best SDR brightness, has only fair upscaling, which may result in lower picture quality, and its colors out of the box are less accurate, requiring potential adjustments for optimal viewing.
Cost
$1,498
$1,795
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) has a price of $1,498 and the TCL QM8 (LCD) costs $1,795.
The TCL QM8 (LCD) and Samsung QN90A (LCD) both have very good picture quality.
Movies & TV
8.0/10
8.3/10
7.00/10
CONTRAST
8.00/10
7.0/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
8.5/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
4.8/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The TCL QM8 (LCD) and Samsung QN90A (LCD) are both very good for movies & TV.
The Samsung QN90A provides exceptional contrast with effective local dimming and very good black uniformity, which enhances the viewing experience for movies and cinematic TV, especially in dark scenes. Meanwhile, the TCL QM8 also boasts high contrast, local dimming, and black uniformity, alongside excellent color volume, offering vibrant and varied colors that enrich movie-watching with lifelike imagery.
Sports
7.0/10
6.5/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
4.8/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung QN90A (LCD) to be good for sports, while the TCL QM8 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90A provides a better experience for watching sports due to its superior motion processing and reflection handling, which maintains clear images without much distraction from light reflections, whereas the TCL QM8 falls short in these areas, delivering less clear movement and being more susceptible to reflections, therefore not handling very bright rooms as well. Additionally, the Samsung has better viewing angles which means it's easier for multiple people to watch the game from different spots in the room without color and contrast degradation experienced with the TCL model.
Gaming
8.3/10
8.3/10
8.3/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
8.1/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
70.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
90.0/100
9.3/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.3/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) and TCL QM8 (LCD) are both very good for gaming.
The Samsung QN90A has an excellent response time and the best input lag performance, which makes it a great choice for gaming where quick reflexes are crucial. In comparison, the TCL QM8 also offers very good response time and good input lag performance, along with the ability to support a higher refresh rate at 144Hz, meaning it can handle more frames per second for an even smoother gaming experience.
Cartoons & Animation
8.8/10
8.9/10
7.8/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
8.1/10
8.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
9.2/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
9.5/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
7.6/10
6.4/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
7.5/10
The TCL QM8 (LCD) and Samsung QN90A (LCD) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
The Samsung QN90A showcases brilliant colors out of the box, which is essential for the vibrant and varied hues often found in cartoons and animation, coupled with a wide color gamut that ensures a broad range of colors are displayed accurately. On the other hand, while the TCL QM8 offers very good color volume, providing depth and variety to on-screen colors, it may not match the immediacy of the Samsung's out-of-the-box color fidelity.
Bright Room
9.7/10
9.9/10
6.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.3/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
9.3/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.3/10
9.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
8.9/10
The TCL QM8 (LCD) and Samsung QN90A (LCD) are both best in class for bright room.
The Samsung QN90A excels in very bright rooms due to its excellent SDR and HDR brightness and best-in-class reflections handling, whereas the TCL QM8, while providing the best SDR brightness, doesn't handle reflections as well as the Samsung model; however, it still performs very well in bright rooms. The Samsung TV also offers better contrast and color volume, which contribute to a more vivid picture in bright conditions.
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How the Samsung QN90A (LCD) and the TCL QM8 (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
Samsung QN90A (LCD)
TCL QM8 (LCD)
GENERAL
Price
Price
$1,498
$1,795
Brand
Brand
Samsung
TCL
Release Date
Release Date
February 5, 2021
May 2, 2023
Full name
Full name
QN75QN90A
75QM850G
Screen Size
Screen Size
75"
75"
Screen Resolution
Screen Resolution
4K
4K
Screen Type
Screen Type
LCD
LCD
Screen Sub-type
Screen Sub-type
miniLED FALD VA
miniLED FALD VA
Smart TV
Smart TV
Yes
Yes
TV FEATURES
Operating System
Operating System
Tizen
Google TV
Sound Quality Score
Sound Quality Score
8.3/10
7/10
NextGen Ready
NextGen Ready
Yes
No
HDMI Ports
HDMI Ports
4
4
Coax Ports
Coax Ports
1
1
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
HDR Supported formats
HDR Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
Accessibility
Accessibility
None
Voice Commands
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES
Picture Quality Score
Picture Quality Score
8.2/10
8.6/10
Bright Room Score
Bright Room Score
9.8/10
9.9/10
Gaming Score
Gaming Score
8.4/10
8.4/10
Movies & TV Score
Movies & TV Score
8.1/10
8.3/10
Sports Score
Sports Score
7/10
6.6/10
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
9/10
6.9/10
Cartoons & Animation Score
Cartoons & Animation Score
8.8/10
8.9/10
Use as Monitor Score
Use as Monitor Score
8.2/10
8/10
PHYSICAL
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
37.7" x 65.7" x 1.1"
37.9" x 65.8" x 1.9"
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
40.2" x 65.7"
39.3" x 65.8"
Weight without Stand
Weight without Stand
77.2 lbs
68.6 lbs
VESA Mount
VESA Mount
400 x 400
400 x 400
DISPLAY
Color Depth
Color Depth
10 bit
10 bit
Black Frame Insertion
Black Frame Insertion
Yes
Yes
Auto Low Latency Mode
Auto Low Latency Mode
Yes
Yes
Contrast
Contrast
7/10
8/10
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
8/10
8/10
Gaming Local Dimming
Gaming Local Dimming
7/100
9/100
Game HDR Brightness Score
Game HDR Brightness Score
9.3/10
9.4/10
SDR Brightness Score
SDR Brightness Score
9.4/10
10/10
HDR Brightness Score
HDR Brightness Score
9.3/10
9.3/10
Gray Uniformity
Gray Uniformity
6.4/10
7.5/10
Black Uniformity
Black Uniformity
7/10
8.5/10
Viewing Angle
Viewing Angle
6.5/10
5.4/10
Reflections Score
Reflections Score
9.1/10
9/10
Upscaling
Upscaling
8/10
4.8/10
Motion Processing
Motion Processing
8/10
4.6/10
Color Gamut Score
Color Gamut Score
7.9/10
8.2/10
Color Volume Score
Color Volume Score
8.2/10
9.3/10
Response Time Score
Response Time Score
8.4/10
8.2/10
Input Lag Score
Input Lag Score
10/10
7.7/10
Colors Out of the Box Score
Colors Out of the Box Score
9.5/10
7.6/10
Quality Control
Quality Control
8/10
6.3/10
Chroma Subsampling Score
Chroma Subsampling Score
8/10
10/10
SOUND
Speaker Setup
Speaker Setup
4.2.2
2.1
Speaker Power
Speaker Power
60 W
40 W
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos
Bypass only
Yes
DTS:X
DTS:X
No
Yes, Bypass only
Get a great deal on the Samsung QN90A (LCD) or the TCL QM8 (LCD)
About Samsung
Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, holds the title of being the largest global TV vendor in terms of units sold. They offer a diverse lineup of TV products that cater to various budget ranges. A notable achievement in recent years is the development of Quantum Dots, a technology that enhances color reproduction, resulting in richer and more vibrant hues. Samsung TVs are well-regarded for their high manufacturing quality and user-friendly software, making them an excellent choice for consumers seeking an intuitive viewing experience.
About TCL
TCL, the highly recognizable TV brand from China, has firmly established itself as the second-largest manufacturer in terms of sales volume. Renowned for striking an impressive balance between affordability, picture quality, and design, TCL TVs deliver a compelling overall package. While they have traditionally excelled in the low-end and midrange TV segments, TCL has recently made remarkable strides in the realm of high-end televisions, introducing impressive models that rival top competitors. Most TCL TVs use Roku software which is very user friendly and easy to use, but they have a few other models that use Google TV which has the largest app selection, but is not as user friendly as Roku.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec TVs team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest TV information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the TV team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and TVs Editor
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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TVs Expert
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