TCL is making its presence felt again in the high-end TV space. At CEDIA Expo 2025, the company unveiled the QM9K, the top-of-the-line addition to its QD-MiniLED 4K TV lineup. Joining the QM8K, the QM9K helps define TCL’s “ULTIMATE SERIES,” bringing what the brand promises as ultimate performance to a broader segment of enthusiasts without cutting corners on technology or features.
TCL ULTIMATE SERIES
TCL’s new ULTIMATE SERIES now includes the QM8K (The Ultimate Choice) and the QM9K (The Ultimate Performance), both packed with four key Technology Advantages:
- CrystGlow WHVA Panel for an ultrawide color viewing angle
- ZeroBorder “edge-to-edge” design with virtually no black matrix border
- Halo Control System delivering ultimate dimming zones and peak brightness levels
- Google Gemini Integration (built into the QM9K, coming to the QM8K via future firmware update)
These TCL models set new benchmarks for picture performance, and with Gemini onboard, they represent a significant leap in the evolution of interactive TV.
From Chris Hamdorf, Executive Vice President, TCL North America: “This year, TCL took a different approach with launching our world-class home theater products – releasing our QD-Mini LED TVs one at a time, to showcase the continual innovation and demonstrable upgrades as you step up in our Precise Dimming Series,” said “Our flagship QM9K has next generation picture quality with ultimate brightness and ultimate black levels. And it’s the first TV in America with Google’s Gemini AI – providing consumers with the ultimate performance in a television.”
CrystGlow WHVA Panel: Ultra-Wide Color and Viewing Angle
The QM9K features TCL’s CrystGlow WHVA LCD Panel, a high-contrast, anti-reflective display engineered for superior off-axis performance. It offers a 40% wider color viewing angle and dramatically reduces color shift, ensuring accurate, vibrant picture quality from virtually any viewing position.
ZeroBorder Bezel: Edge-to-Edge Design for an Immersive Viewing Experience
Just as the QM8K, the bezel is a refined combination of panel design and advanced materials; the combined bezel and border width has been cut down to an impressively slim 3–4mm.
Dimming Zones & Peak Brightness
Building on the earlier QM8K, the QM9K series pushes performance further with HDR6500 (6500 nits) for up to 30% higher peak brightness and LD6000 offering up to 57% more precise dimming zones, delivering deeper blacks and superior contrast for truly cinematic picture quality.
TCL Halo Control
The TCL Halo Control System features Micro OD, which reduces the optical distance between the backlight and diffuser plate to virtually eliminate image blooming. Its enhanced Color Optimization Algorithm, combined with more vibrant Quantum Crystals, delivers improved color accuracy, while the 23-bit Backlight Controller precisely manages over 65,000 brightness levels per LED, enhancing grayscale precision for more lifelike images.
From Scott Ramirez, VP, Product Marketing and Development, Home Theater: “Since its introduction, the QM8K series has been seen as one of the best TV series in the industry, solidifying its position as The Ultimate Choice. Now, the new QM9K series takes its position as The Ultimate Performance, taking picture quality to an all-new level by building on the highly accurate Halo Control System with up to 57% more precise dimming zones…Being the first Google TV with Gemini, the QM9K series also adds a new level of conversational interaction, which makes finding content and information simple and natural, creating the Ultimate Experience.”
Google Gemini Integration: Next-Level Interactive TV Experience
The QM9K is the first Google TV to feature Google Gemini—essentially Google Assistant on steroids—paired with Ambient Display. With Gemini, the TV can wake when it senses someone nearby, display dynamic screensavers, and respond to voice commands hands-free. Leveraging a Presence Sensor (mmWave), far-field microphones, and the Gemini voice assistant, the QM9K lets users enjoy artwork, access information, or get help on the largest screen in their home without touching a remote.
Gemini understands conversational queries and follow-up questions in context, making interactions more natural than ever. On Google TV, Gemini delivers fast, accurate responses and extensive content discovery, from entertainment to educational information.
Sound by Bang & Olufsen with Dolby Atmos Flex Connect: Premium Audio for Immersive Home Entertainment
Like the rest of the TCL QM series (except the QM6K), the QM9K features Sound by Bang & Olufsen with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect compatibility. This ensures the TV’s premium visuals are matched by equally premium audio. Its built-in system includes upfiring speakers designed to fully leverage Dolby Atmos, producing a wide, cinematic soundstage that adds depth, realism, and immersion to every scene.
In addition, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect enables wireless pairing with compatible external speakers, such as the TCL Z100. The system automatically optimizes the sound field based on your room layout, offering flexible setup options without sacrificing audio performance.
2025 TCL TV Comparison
| X11K | QM9K | QM8K | QM7K | QM6K | |
| Screen Sizes (diagonal inches) | 85, 98 | 65, 75, 85, 98 | 65, 75, 85, 98 | 55, 65, 75, 85, 98, 115 | 55, 65, 75, 85 |
| LCD Display Technology | QD-Mini LED with Halo Control System | QD-Mini LED with Halo Control System | QD-Mini LED with Halo Control System | QD-Mini LED with Halo Control System | QD-Mini LED with Halo Control System |
| LCD Panel Type | CrystGlow HVA Panel | High Contrast CrystGlow WHVA Panel | High Contrast CrystGlow WHVA Panel | CrystGlow HVA Panel | High Contrast HVA Panel |
| ZeroBorder | – | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| Panel Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | 144Hz | 144Hz | 144Hz |
| Dimming Zones (Max)* | 14,000 | 6,000 | 3,800 | 2,800 | 500 |
| Peak Display Brightness | 6,500 Nits | 6,500 Nits | 5,000 Nits | 3,000 Nits | 2,600 Nits |
| Audio System | Bang & Olufsen | Bang & Olufsen | Bang & Olufsen | Bang & Olufsen | Onkyo 2.1 |
| Dolby Atmos Flex Connect Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Total Audio Power Output | 120W | TBA | TBA | 60W | 40W |
| Bluetooth Personal Audio | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DTS:X (pass-thru) | – | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| Presence Sensor | – | Yes | – | – | – |
| Google Gemini | – | Yes | Yes (via future firmware update) | – | – |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
* The max local dimming zones stated above are only for the largest screen size. A TCL representative told us total dimming zones are proportionally less per smaller screen size.
Features in Common
- 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) Resolution
- HDR10, HDR 10+, HLG, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision gaming, Dolby Vision IQ
- Displays 1.07 billion colors
- IMAX Enhanced
- Filmmaker Mode
- Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) up to 144Hz
- Backlit Voice Remote
- Sleep Timer
- Parental Control (V-Chip)
- JPEG / MP3 for USB
- Works With Amazon Alexa / Google Assistant / Apple HomeKit
- Chromecast / Apple AirPlay 2
- Connections:
- 1 x RF Input (ATSC 3.0 / ATSC 1.0 / NTSC)
- 1 x Ethernet
- 1 x USB 3.0
- 1 x USB 2.0
- 4 x HDMI (1 eARC)
- 1 x SPDIF Digital Audio Optical
The Bottom Line
At CEDIA 2025, TCL reinforced its position as a major player in the premium TV space with the QM9K QD Mini-LED, showcasing upgrades over the QM8K such as more dimming zones, higher peak brightness, a refined Halo Control System, a CrystGlow WHVA panel, and a ZeroBorder design.
The integration of Google Gemini set a new benchmark for interactive, voice-controlled TV experiences, far surpassing standard Google Assistant, while the Z100 Dolby Atmos Flex Connect wireless speaker system added flexible, high-quality audio options.
With Hisense and LG absent from the show, TCL and Samsung dominated attention in the Mini-LED segment, though TCL has not indicated plans to adopt RGB or Micro RGB backlighting.
Given TCL’s history of bold moves—such as scaling IJP OLED technology for niche applications and dominating the 98-inch TV market—it’s clear the brand is positioning itself to continue shaking up the high-end TV landscape, potentially challenging Samsung’s Micro RGB and LG’s WOLED/RGB Tandem OLED offerings in the near future.
Pricing & Availability
The TCL QM9K series will be available at Best Buy and select regional retailers in sizes ranging from 65” to 98”.
- 65-inches: $2,999.99
- 75-inches: $3,499.99
- 85-inches: $3,999.99
- 98-inches: $5,999.99
Related Reading
- TCL’s Best 98-inch TV of 2025: X11K QD-MiniLED 4K TVs Are Available Now
- Detailed Specs/Pricing Emerge for TCL’s QM7K QD MiniLED TV
- TCL’s QM6K TV Series Might Become A Big Headache for LG and Samsung: CES 2025
- Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is Coming to Select TCL TVs
- Bang & Olufsen Partners with TCL for Premium Sound on TCL TVs
Anton the Cheap
September 9, 2025 at 7:28 pm
Only $6,000 for the 98-inch model?
That seems like a bargain if the image quality is excellent and the color accuracy and black levels are comparable to the best OLEDs.
Best Buy has this already?
Ian White
September 10, 2025 at 10:38 am
Anton,
Under $6,000 for this large of a TV is not that unusual anymore, but certainly a lot less than a comparable OLED in the same size. TCL and Hisense are making some excellent TVs right now.
IW