When you're looking to spend north of $1000 on a TV, the choice often comes down to two leading technologies: OLED and Mini-LED. Let's compare two excellent examples - the new Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV ($1,698) and the TCL 65" QM8 Mini-LED Smart TV ($998) - to help you make the best choice for your specific needs.
Today's premium TVs use radically different approaches to create their images. OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays work by having millions of tiny pixels that each create their own light. Mini-LED, on the other hand, uses thousands of tiny LED lights behind an LCD panel to create brightness and contrast.
These fundamental differences lead to distinct advantages for each:
The Sony BRAVIA 8, released in early 2024, represents the latest in OLED technology. It uses Sony's newest XR processor, which I've found handles motion and upscaling (making lower-quality content look better) exceptionally well. In a dark room home theater setting, it's simply stunning - blacks are perfectly black, and colors have a richness that's hard to describe until you see it.
The TCL QM8, launched in mid-2023, shows how far Mini-LED technology has come. With up to 5,000 dimming zones (areas that can be brightened or darkened independently), it gets remarkably close to OLED's contrast while offering significantly more brightness. In my testing, it handled bright room viewing noticeably better than the Sony.
Your viewing environment should heavily influence your choice:
If you have large windows or bright lighting, the TCL QM8's higher brightness (reaching up to 2,000 nits in HDR content) makes it the better choice. It simply cuts through ambient light better, maintaining picture quality even in challenging conditions.
In a dedicated home theater or evening viewing environment, the Sony BRAVIA 8's perfect blacks and infinite contrast create an unmatched cinematic experience. There's something special about watching a movie in a dark room on an OLED display.
Both TVs support 4K gaming at 120Hz, but there are differences:
For movie watching:
For sports viewing:
The TCL QM8 at $998 represents exceptional value, offering about 90% of the performance of premium TVs at 60% of the cost. The Sony BRAVIA 8 at $1,698 is more expensive but offers the absolute best picture quality possible in the right conditions.
Since their releases:
For dedicated home theater use:
A few things to keep in mind:
Consider these key factors:
Both TVs represent excellent choices in their respective categories. The TCL QM8 offers remarkable value and versatility, especially for bright rooms and mixed-use scenarios. The Sony BRAVIA 8 provides the ultimate picture quality for those who can control their viewing environment and want the absolute best.
Choose the Sony if:
Choose the TCL if:
Remember, both are excellent TVs that will serve well for years. The choice ultimately comes down to your specific needs, environment, and budget rather than one being definitively "better" than the other.
| Sony BRAVIA 8 65" OLED ($1,698) | TCL 65" QM8 Mini-LED ($998) |
|---|---|
| Display Technology - Fundamentally affects image quality and viewing conditions | |
| OLED (perfect blacks, infinite contrast, better angles) | Mini-LED (higher brightness, no burn-in risk) |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| 800-1000 nits (good for controlled lighting) | 2,000+ nits (excellent for bright rooms) |
| Local Dimming - Affects contrast and black levels | |
| Perfect pixel-level dimming (each pixel self-illuminates) | 5,000 zones (very good but some subtle blooming) |
| Processor - Impacts upscaling quality and motion handling | |
| XR Processor (best-in-class upscaling and motion) | AIPQ Pro (good but not quite Sony's level) |
| Gaming Features - Important for next-gen console gaming | |
| 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM (excellent gaming features) | 4K/144Hz, VRR, ALLM (slightly better for gaming) |
| Color Accuracy - Matters most for movie watching | |
| Superior out-of-box accuracy (minimal calibration needed) | Good accuracy (may benefit from calibration) |
| Smart Platform - Affects daily usability | |
| Google TV (premium implementation, very responsive) | Google TV (standard implementation, occasionally lags) |
| Sound Quality - Important if not using external speakers | |
| 50W 2.1 channel (above average TV audio) | 80W 2.1.2 channel (surprisingly good built-in audio) |
| Value Proposition - Overall price-to-performance ratio | |
| Premium price for best-possible image quality | Excellent value with 90% of premium performance |
The Sony BRAVIA 8 OLED ($1,698) is superior for dark room viewing. Its OLED technology provides perfect blacks and infinite contrast, creating an unmatched cinematic experience in controlled lighting conditions. The TCL QM8 ($998) performs well but can't match OLED's dark room performance.
The TCL QM8 is significantly brighter, reaching over 2,000 nits peak brightness compared to the Sony's 800-1,000 nits. This makes the TCL better for bright rooms or daylight viewing.
Yes, the Sony BRAVIA 8 costs $1,698 while the TCL QM8 is $998, a $700 difference. The TCL offers excellent value, while the Sony commands a premium for its superior processing and OLED technology.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 is better for movie watching, especially in a home theater setting. Its perfect blacks, superior motion handling, and better processing create a more cinematic experience. However, the TCL QM8 still provides excellent movie performance at a lower price point.
Both TVs support 4K/120Hz gaming, but the TCL QM8 edges out with 144Hz capability and slightly lower input lag. Both offer VRR and ALLM, making either an excellent gaming choice.
Only with the Sony BRAVIA 8, as OLED technology can experience burn-in with static images displayed for extended periods. The TCL QM8 uses Mini-LED technology which has no burn-in risk.
Both TVs use Google TV, but the Sony BRAVIA 8 has a more premium implementation with better processing power and responsiveness. The TCL QM8 is still very capable but may occasionally lag.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 has better motion handling, but the TCL QM8 has higher brightness for daytime sports viewing. Choose based on when you typically watch sports.
While both TVs have decent built-in audio, a soundbar is recommended for a proper home theater experience. The TCL has slightly more powerful speakers (80W vs 50W), but neither matches dedicated audio equipment.
Both TVs should last many years with proper care. The TCL QM8 might have a theoretical advantage due to no burn-in risk, but the Sony BRAVIA 8 is built with premium components and should be equally durable with normal use.
Yes, both TVs support standard VESA wall mounting. Be sure to use appropriate mounting hardware for their respective weights and sizes.
For a dedicated home theater with controlled lighting, the Sony BRAVIA 8 is the better choice due to its superior contrast, better processing, and excellent movie performance. However, if budget is a concern, the TCL QM8 still provides excellent picture quality at a lower price point.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: bestbuy.com - bestbuy.com - crutchfield.com - avsforum.com - electronics.sony.com - sony.com - store.sony.co.nz - sony.com - displayspecifications.com - rtings.com - rtings.com - techradar.com - tcl.com - the-gadgeteer.com - nfm.com - ecoustics.com - careyscommunications.com - pcrichard.com - tcl.com
