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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Samsung AU8000 is typically less expensive and is a decent all-rounder for various content types, but it falls short in dark room performance, making it less ideal for watching movies in dim environments. It's also not as bright, which may affect its performance in very well-lit rooms. On the other hand, the TCL QM8 is typically more expensive, but offers superior overall picture quality and gaming performance. It also has better dark room performance, making it great for movies, and brighter output, which helps in sunny rooms. However, it might not significantly enhance the viewing experience for regular TV shows or news compared to the Samsung. 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 AU8000 (LCD)
- Good for upscaling
Advantages of the TCL QM8 (LCD)
- Best in class for bright room
- Very good for dark room
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for movies & TV
- Very good for cartoons & animation
- Good for use as monitor
- Very good reflections
Key differences
Picture Quality
6.6
8.5
6.71/10
CONTRAST
8.00/10
6.3/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
9.2/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
miniLED FALD
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The TCL QM8 (LCD) has very good picture quality, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) has only fair picture quality.
Movies & TV
5.9
8.3
6.71/10
CONTRAST
8.00/10
6.9/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
8.5/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
4.8/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The TCL QM8 (LCD) is very good for movies & TV, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung AU8000, due to its lower contrast and lack of local dimming, doesn't display as deep blacks, making it less suitable for movies and cinematic TV compared to the TCL QM8, which has higher contrast and excellent black uniformity, providing a richer viewing experience with better dark scene representation.
Gaming
5.8
8.3
5.9/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
8.1/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
6.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
0.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
90.0/100
5.8/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.3/10
The TCL QM8 (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung AU8000 has a poor response time, which may result in motion blur during fast-paced games, despite its input lag being the best, which means it's very responsive to controller inputs. On the other hand, the TCL QM8 has a very good response time, providing clearer motion clarity for gaming, but with good input lag, which is slightly less responsive than the Samsung AU8000.
Cartoons & Animation
6.9
8.9
6.1/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
8.1/10
6.3/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
9.2/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
7.2/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
7.6/10
6.8/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
7.5/10
The TCL QM8 (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The TCL QM8 is rated better for cartoons and animation mainly due to its wider color gamut, which allows for a more vibrant and diverse color representation, while the Samsung AU8000 has fairer performance in color gamut and volume, resulting in less vivid colors. Additionally, even though both TVs are rated good for colors out of the box, the TCL QM8 has an excellent score in color volume, which contributes to richer color reproduction at varying levels of brightness compared to the Samsung AU8000's fair score in the same aspect.
Bright Room
6.3
9.9
5.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.3/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
5.7/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.3/10
7.8/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
8.9/10
The TCL QM8 (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The TCL QM8 outshines the Samsung AU8000 in a bright room due to its 'best' SDR brightness and 'very good' reflections handling, which ensure clear and vibrant viewing even in well-lit environments. Meanwhile, the Samsung AU8000 offers a 'good' performance in both SDR brightness and reflections, but it might not combat glare as effectively as the TCL QM8, which could be significant if you frequently watch TV with lots of ambient light.
Cost
$1,498
$1,304
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) has a price of $1,498 and the TCL QM8 (LCD) costs $1,304.
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Key similarities
Sports
6.5
6.5
6.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
4.8/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The TCL QM8 (LCD) and Samsung AU8000 (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
The Samsung AU8000 has a slower response time compared to the TCL QM8, leading to more motion blur during fast sports scenes, but it manages reflections better, which could be useful in brighter rooms. However, the TCL QM8 has a better viewing angle and motion processing which helps maintain a consistent image when multiple viewers are spread out, but its reflection handling is not as strong as the Samsung's, possibly causing glare in well-lit environments.
News, Talk, & Other TV
6.7
6.8
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
4.8/10
The TCL QM8 (LCD) and Samsung AU8000 (LCD) are both only fair for news, talk, & other TV.
The Samsung AU8000 delivers a good upscaling of lower resolution content and fair SDR brightness, which is important for clear visibility when watching news, talk shows, and TV programs. However, the TCL QM8, while boasting excellent color gamut and very good local dimming that enhance picture quality, has weaker upscaling, meaning standard definition content may not look as crisp.
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How the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) and the TCL QM8 (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung AU8000 (LCD) | TCL QM8 (LCD) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,498 | $1,304 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | TCL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 6, 2021 | May 3, 2023 | |
Full name | |||
Full name | UN85AU8000 | 85QM850G | |
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 85" | 85" | |
Screen Resolution | |||
Screen Resolution | 4K | 4K | |
TV FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Tizen | Google TV | |
Sound Quality Score | |||
Sound Quality Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
NextGen Ready | |||
NextGen Ready | No | No | |
HDMI Ports | |||
HDMI Ports | 3 | 4 | |
Coax Ports | |||
Coax Ports | 1 | 1 | |
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Picture Quality Score | |||
Picture Quality Score | 6.6/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Bright Room Score | |||
Bright Room Score | 6.4/10 | 9.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Movies & TV Score | |||
Movies & TV Score | 5.9/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Sports Score | |||
Sports Score | 6.5/10 | 6.6/10 | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | |||
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | 42.7" x 74.6" x 2.4" | 43" x 74.6" x 2.1" | |
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | |||
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | 46.7" x 74.6" | 45.6" x 74.6" | |
Weight without Stand | |||
Weight without Stand | 88.6 lbs | 105.6 lbs | |
VESA Mount | |||
VESA Mount | 600 x 400 | 600 x 600 | |
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 | 6.7/10 | 8/10 | |
Local Dimming | |||
Local Dimming | 2.5/10 | 8/10 | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Speaker Setup | |||
Speaker Setup | 2.0 | 2.1 | |
Speaker Power | |||
Speaker Power | 20 W | 40 W | |
Dolby Atmos | |||
Dolby Atmos | Bypass only | Yes | |
DTS:X | |||
DTS:X | No | Yes, Bypass only | |
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Samsung AU8000 (LCD)
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USA Today
Michael Desjardin | April 2023
"To put it directly: you’d never see a mid-range 4K TV hitting this black levels half a decade ago. AU8000 plays the part of a higher-end TV thanks to its sleek design. If you’re upgrading to a smart TV for the first time, the software is a great way to dip your toes in the streaming water."
Get a great deal on the Samsung AU8000 (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.
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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.
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