TCL QM7K Series: Advanced Halo Control System & Bang & Olufsen Audio

Last year at CES 2024, TCL unveiled its impressive new 115" TV, setting a new benchmark for home entertainment displays. As the world’s largest QD Mini LED TV, this colossal display combined cutting-edge technology with stunning design, featuring advanced Quantum Dot technology for “exceptional color accuracy and vibrant visuals”. We also looked at their smaller Q and S class display options and their Dolby Atmos soundbars and found them all to be very well made products. For the sixth year in a row TCL still ranks as the second leading seller of displays surpassed only by Samsung and commands 20% of all premium TV sales.

Now TCL has officially launched the highly anticipated QM7K series as part of its 2025 TV lineup. The QM7K is the latest addition to TCL’s Precise Dimming Series, taking the next step in home entertainment technology with a new Halo Control System and premium Audio by Bang & Olufsen. This TV series features an extensive range of screen sizes, from 55 inches all the way up to 115 inches, catering to a variety of home entertainment needs and spaces.

Our first Precise Dimming Series with the new Halo Control System, the QM6K, stunned reviewers with its amazing leap in picture accuracy. With the new QM7K Series, we continue that extraordinary picture accuracy but then add a demonstrable step above in HDR Impact. Plus, with the new premium Audio by Bang & Olufsen, we complement the picture with noticeably more accurate home theater sound. The TCL QM7K series is available in a wide variety of screen sizes to suit any home environment but now includes the XXL 115” for those ready to build a truly impressive home theater.

--Scott Ramirez, VP, Product Marketing and Development, Home Theater TCL

The QM7K promises to redefine the viewing experience, with notable improvements in Mini LED technology, HDR performance, and color accuracy, alongside cutting-edge audio enhancements. TCL’s new partnership with Bang & Olufsen brings premium sound quality to complement the improved visual performance, making the QM7K a well-rounded solution for home theaters, gaming setups, and high-end living spaces.

TCL QM7K : What is the Halo Control System?

At the heart of the TCL QM7K is the Halo Control System, a next-generation technology designed to provide a more accurate and immersive viewing experience. This advanced system combines several key innovations that contribute to better picture performance, particularly in terms of brightness, contrast, and light control.

A standout feature is the Super High Energy LED Chip, which boosts brightness while improving light efficiency. This is paired with a Super Condensed Micro Lens, designed to refine the light path, resulting in more precise light control. These improvements help to eliminate blooming effects and haloing, two issues often seen in high-brightness displays. Additionally, the Micro OD technology reduces the optical distance between the backlight and the diffuser plate, which significantly improves contrast by producing sharper, more defined edges between bright and dark areas on the screen.

The system’s bi-directional 23-bit precision backlight technology enhances grayscale accuracy, ensuring fine control over brightness levels for more natural color transitions and smoother images. Furthermore, TCL’s Dynamic Light Algorithm (DLA) works to optimize incoming video signals, upscaling standard dynamic range (SDR) content to near high dynamic range (HDR) levels, regardless of metadata. This ensures a consistently high-quality viewing experience across a variety of content types.

In terms of contrast, the QD-Mini LED backlight technology pairs with a high-contrast HVA panel, offering up to five times the native contrast of previous models. This collaboration improves black levels and enhances HDR content, providing more realistic and detailed visuals.

TCL QM7K Color Accuracy and Gaming Performance

The QM7K also makes significant strides in color reproduction with an upgraded QLED technology and a new Color Optimization Algorithm. By using more vibrant quantum crystals, the TV is capable of displaying 97% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, a significant improvement in color accuracy that ensures more lifelike images. For home theater enthusiasts, this translates to a richer, more immersive visual experience with a broader color range and more precise hues.

The TV also addresses the needs of gamers with its 144Hz native refresh rate and Game Accelerator 288, which supports up to 288Hz variable refresh rate (VRR). This makes the QM7K an excellent choice for fast-paced gaming, minimizing motion blur and ensuring smooth, responsive gameplay. Additionally, the inclusion of AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and IMAX Enhanced certifications enhances the TV’s suitability for high-performance gaming and cinema experiences alike.

TCL QM7K Audio by Bang & Olufsen

While the QM7K’s visuals are impressive, TCL hasn’t overlooked the importance of sound. The Audio by Bang & Olufsen collaboration delivers high-quality, immersive audio that matches the TV’s enhanced picture performance. The premium audio system includes Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, creating an enveloping soundstage that heightens the sense of immersion. Whether you’re watching movies, gaming, or listening to music, the QM7K ensures clear, dynamic audio.

To further enhance the sound experience, the TV features a 2.2 channel sound system and a new backlit remote for better usability in low-light settings. For those who prefer voice control, hands-free voice control with far-field recognition allows easy interaction without the need to grab the remote.

TCL QM7K Design and Usability

I'm still amazed at how thin TVs have gotten.  From a side view this TV is nearly invisible, and the bezel is almost non existent. The TCL QM7K boasts a modern aesthetic with a thinner "bezel-less design" on select models, making it an attractive centerpiece for any room. The pedestal stand option on sizes ranging from 65” to 85” offers added elegance, ensuring the TV doesn’t just perform well but also looks good in your living space.

TCL has also introduced Art Mode and Art Gallery features, allowing users to display curated artwork or photos when the TV is not in use, blending technology with home décor seamlessly.

For ease of use, the QM7K runs on Google TV, providing access to a wide range of streaming apps and services. Integration with Google Assistant also enables voice control for convenient hands-free operation. All models come with 4 HDMI Inputs including one with eARC.

TCL QM7K Available Sizes and Pricing

The TCL QM7K series is available in a variety of sizes, from more compact 55-inch models to massive 115-inch displays, allowing customers to choose the right fit for their entertainment needs:

• 55-inch: $1,299.99 MSRP
• 65-inch: $1,499.99 MSRP
• 75-inch: $1,999.99 MSRP
• 85-inch: $2,499.99 MSRP
• 98-inch: $3,999.99 MSRP
• 115-inch: $19,999.99 MSRP

The 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch models are available now at www.tcl.com, and for a limited time, customers can receive a $500 Visa gift card with their purchase (terms and conditions apply).

TCL QM7K Conclusion

With the launch of the QM7K series, TCL continues to push the boundaries of television technology. By integrating the Halo Control System, enhanced QD-Mini LED backlighting, and premium Audio by Bang & Olufsen, TCL is offering consumers a versatile and high-performance TV lineup that delivers both exceptional picture quality and immersive sound. 

We’re proud of this latest version that pushes the boundaries of QLED, QD-Mini LED and XXL screens. While only the second entry in our Precise Dimming Series, the QM7K is a testament to the premium quality and unprecedented value TCL is known for.

--Chris Hamdorf, Executive Vice President, TCL North America

Whether for a home theater, gaming setup, or any premium entertainment environment, the QM7K series is a strong contender in the 2025 TV market, offering consumers a range of features and sizes at competitive price points.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.