On today’s episode of You Asked: Is Mini LED worth the money you save instead of going with OLED? When to save your money and put it toward something besides the TV. And what we’re looking forward to at CES this year.
Mini LED for a kids’ room: TCL QM7K vs QM6K
@rwings091 asks: Is the 55-inch TCL QM7K worth it for 250 Canadian dollars more than the 55-inch QM6K for the kids’ room? They will mostly be watching sports and playing their Xbox Series X. Happy New Year to you and your family.
Same to you, my friend, and thank you for the question. I would say go with the TCL QM6K in this case. While the QM7K is technically brighter and a bit better with contrast, I don’t think you’d be upset with the QM6K at all, and you won’t know any different unless you saw them side by side running at full brightness.
Outside of brightness, the differences aren’t enough to warrant spending the extra money, in my opinion, for a TV that’s not going to be the main cinema viewing display of the house. Any kid would be elated to have a TV of the QM6K’s caliber in their room for gaming. I know I would have been thrilled to have a screen like that growing up.
If anything, with that extra $250 you save, I’d suggest putting it toward an all-in-one soundbar that will make the gaming experience come alive with a bit more punch in the sound. Finding something really noteworthy for $250 can be a little tough, but if you can find a good sale, or if you put that money aside until your budget grows, upgraded audio is always worth it.
HDMI cables and eARC explained
Kyle asks: What type of HDMI cable is needed for eARC?
You’re going to want a certified High Speed HDMI cable that supports HDMI 2.0, or you can go the extra mile with a certified HDMI 2.1 cable, which is sure to support every format you can throw at it. Monoprice has some great options that won’t break the bank.
In my opinion, as long as it’s not putting you out financially, it’s always a good idea to future-proof. Who knows what’s coming down the line in terms of audio and video advancements that could require HDMI 2.1 and its increased bandwidth. It seems like a good time to get ready.
OLED loyalty vs Mini LED value: Choosing a 75-inch TV
Scott says: I currently own an LG 65B8 OLED from 2019, along with a smaller LG 55B* OLED. They are still working well so I am putting them in other rooms and looking to add a 75 inch in my main viewing room (living room). I saw your reel about the LG OLED C5 so I am considering it heavily, however here is where I am landing.
- LG OLED 77C5. $1800 -$100 best buy promo making it $1700
- LG OLED 77B5. $1500 – $100 best buy promo making it $1400
- TCL 75 QM6K $800
- Hisense U7 $1000
Right now I can’t seem to get away from the TCL for the price. It is just under half the price and you give it great reviews (as do others). However, you giving the LG such high marks makes me think twice about TCL. I want to stay brand loyal and my current LG’s are almost 7 years old. So I keep thinking stay LG. If I go TCL and save the money and with the other 2 being older I can use the savings to upgrade those as well soon. A little more input this TV is not our gaming TV, that was will be upstairs and for now the 55″ 2019 OLED will go up there in the rotation. This TV is primarily a streaming content TV with a sound bar in a somewhat bright room that can be controlled. Not sure, looking for your input.
Scott, we appreciate the detail, and I do have a few opinions, starting with my own opinions, ironically.
You mention that all of these TVs receive high marks, and that’s because they’re all great TVs. Whether it’s picture quality, features, or overall value, you’re starting from a baseline of really solid options.
However, it’s time to think about your opinion. You’re currently living with OLED TVs. Even if they’re getting a little long in the tooth, they still offer outstanding picture quality with inky blacks and great contrast. Going from OLED to Mini LED, especially the QM6K, which is probably just average in terms of contrast, could bother you, and that’s not fun.
It also sounds like money plays a significant role here, so we can probably rule out the LG C5 since it’s the most expensive option.
I really think the LG B5 is the answer here. OLED picture quality, check. Premium features and LG’s quality control, check. Saving a few hundred dollars, check. Plus, it may come down even more as newer TVs start getting announced at CES this week.
Since you can control the light in your living room and want to stay brand loyal, it makes a lot of sense. Worry about upgrading those auxiliary TVs down the road when they actually give out. When that happens, there will almost certainly be a sub-$600 Mini LED TV that gets the job done.
What to expect at CES beyond the usual upgrades
Kathryn M asks: What can we expect to see at CES this year outside of the norm? Size and brightness are common upgrades, but what other improvements or new features could we see?
That’s a great question, and one I need to answer carefully. It’s safe to say that RGB backlight technology, which started popping up last year, will continue to move forward. We know Sony has an RGB TV on the way at some point, maybe not at CES, and everyone is itching to call it an OLED killer. We’ll see.
I’d also expect to learn more about Dolby Vision 2. This new HDR format caught our attention a few months ago when it was announced, with Hisense named as the first brand to introduce it in its TVs. Hopefully, we get more information and maybe even a visual preview.
In general, we know the players and what they’ve offered in the past. The OLED and Mini LED TVs that are updated each year are outstanding, and I expect they’ll continue to improve. It feels like the industry is itching for what’s next. What can definitively top the TVs considered the best right now? That’s what I’m looking forward to.
Keep an eye out as CES gets underway. The news will come fast, and we’ll bring you as much of it as we can, as quickly as possible.
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