Compare TCL QM5K vs LG UA77

Mini LED contrast and crisp detail give the QM5K an appealing picture for the money, although factory settings can look too bright and somewhat washed out.

Casual viewing can look colorful and attractive, but gray blacks, weak HDR, glare and motion blur make overall image performance underwhelming.

Contrast is a genuine step above basic LED televisions, lending dark scenes more depth; complicated images expose some backlight compromises.

Native contrast is poor, turning dark scenes flat with little separation between blacks and highlights.

Mini LED local dimming improves black depth considerably, but precision is mediocre around fine bright objects and moving highlights.

There is no effective local dimming to deepen dark areas, leaving black backgrounds gray and flat.

Strong black levels are appealing after dark, but halos, movie cadence flaws, and limited HDR highlights undermine more demanding viewing.

Gray blacks, visible haze and low contrast make night viewing a major weakness across the family.

Sound modes and virtual surround options are plentiful, but the lack of a dedicated subwoofer level control is frustrating.

Built-in EQ presets and multiple output combinations provide extensive audio configuration choices.

Everyday HDR scenes are watchable, while sparkling highlights and intensely bright scenes lack the impact of stronger Mini LED sets.

HDR highlights struggle to stand apart from the rest of the image. The panel cannot deliver the luminous impact expected of strong HDR TVs.

SDR content holds up reasonably well in daytime conditions if a window or lamp is not reflected directly in the screen.

Brightness is not strong enough for significant direct glare, though lighter content can look acceptable and one hands-on test was satisfied.

Ordinary scenes can be adequately bright, but the set does not have the headroom for consistently punchy highlights and can look washed out when pushed too far.

Peak output is too low to make bright HDR highlights visually impressive.

Low-bitrate noise is reduced somewhat, at the cost of fine detail; heavily compressed video remains a compromise.

Low-bitrate compression artifacts are reduced well, at the expense of a slightly waxy image.

Factory calibration is uneven, especially in white balance, but a careful adjustment produces a much more accurate HDR picture.

Default HDR color temperature and tracking have notable inaccuracies, especially an overly cool cast.

Dolby Vision and HDR10+ compatibility is useful, but limited highlight brightness keeps HDR from looking truly dramatic.

Measured HDR performance is flat and low-impact because of brightness, contrast and color limitations. One hands-on account enjoyed its punchier HDR colors more than expected.

Lower frequencies generally lack weight and definition; larger variants can fare a little better but still lack convincing depth.

Low frequencies are weak and lack definition; speakers can sound thin without an external audio system.

Fine image texture can look excellent, even if sharpening is a little aggressive and the lowest-quality sources lose definition.

Fine image detail draws mixed impressions: one evaluation finds it excellent, while the 75-inch test looks soft and weaker for small text.

Standard-definition-range viewing is a relative strength, offering solid brightness and pleasing contrast despite occasional overly bright factory settings.

The standard and cinema picture presets look more natural than the overblown Vivid setting.

Exceptionally low input lag and useful gaming controls make this a lively budget gaming TV, with native 4K speed and Game Master HDR brightness as limits.

Gaming feels responsive to some players, while slow pixel transitions and the 60Hz cap hold back more demanding play.

A reddish-blue white-balance bias and overly cool HDR color temperature make professional or careful home calibration worthwhile.

The default picture has a distinctly cool, blue bias, especially in HDR; calibration can improve it.

Natural skin tones and pleasing colors are strengths in several hands-on evaluations, but factory settings can be too cool or uneven on some samples.

Color impressions vary widely: several hands-on assessments enjoy vivid or natural colors, while instrumented HDR and white-balance results are much less flattering.

Built-in speakers range from below average to acceptable depending on screen size, with limited bass and less impact on movie soundtracks.

Built-in sound is functional for everyday shows but light on bass and cinematic impact. A soundbar helps substantially.

Adjustable picture and motion controls provide flexibility, including a useful way to reduce unwanted smoothing.

Cinema, Filmmaker and expert settings provide ways to tame exaggerated colors and customize the presentation.

Results depend heavily on content and settings: one comparison praised factory smoothness, while other tests found blur, judder, and uneven interpolation.

The UA77 divides opinion: slow measured transitions hurt sport and gaming clarity, while some lighter motion demonstrations look smooth.

Controller inputs register very quickly in Game Master, making responsiveness one of the QM5K's standout strengths.

Low input delay is a consistent strength, making commands register quickly even when the pixels blur moving action.

Backlit controls, sensible remote buttons, and an approachable smart-TV interface make daily operation straightforward.

webOS is generally straightforward to navigate, with abundant apps and accessible everyday functions.

Two feet attach easily with basic screws and an ordinary screwdriver.

Aligning the two plastic feet can be frustrating and may take several attempts.

Basic clips behind the panel provide a neat, convenient place to secure loose cables.

No built-in cable-routing aids are provided, leaving exposed wires harder to organize.

Side-facing HDMI connections are easy to reach, even with the screen installed on a wall.

Wall mounting can make the central input panel hard to reach, and a rear-facing HDMI connection may need a right-angle adapter.

Dark areas can look impressively deep for a budget TV. The backlight still has trouble around small bright objects and some letterbox bars.

Blacks look noticeably gray instead of deep, the most consistent and consequential image complaint.

Adjustable foot positions on applicable larger sizes help fit the TV onto narrower furniture.

Widely separated feet require a broad console, especially for large sizes, with no narrower alternative position.

The 55-inch and larger versions support up to 144Hz with lower-resolution signals; the 50-inch version lacks that option.

The 60Hz panel cannot serve high-refresh-rate console or PC gaming; 4K/120fps is not available.

Colors lose saturation and may shift red from the sides; some larger samples fare noticeably better.

Colors stay remarkably consistent from side seats; some brightness loss remains at wider angles.

Mini LED dimming produces convincing dark areas and mostly even near-black shades, but raw backlight uniformity is poorer with dimming disabled.

Dark scenes often appear cloudy, with backlight bleed undermining black-screen uniformity.

The owner is very happy with the 50-inch replacement, particularly its impressive picture and discount price.

The UA77 offers a useful low-cost screen for light viewing, but assessments range from enthusiastic budget approval to a recommendation to shop elsewhere.

The picture looks best from near center; the 65- and 75-inch Consumer Reports samples fared better off-axis than its 50- and 55-inch samples.

Colors remain impressively stable from the sides, making wide seating the clearest picture advantage.

Game Master gives fast response, but HDR brightness falls markedly when enabled, making highlights look flatter.

Game Optimizer makes controls responsive, but opinions diverge on how smooth games look and black levels remain poor.

Expect visible halos around subtitles, stars, and small highlights against black. The effect can become more noticeable from an angled seat.

Without local dimming zones, distinct halos are uncommon, although the entire image can look hazy and raised.

The 4K VRR window is narrow and cannot use low-framerate compensation below its floor. Lower resolutions work across a more useful range.

VRR stops being effective below roughly 48Hz, so lower-frame-rate games can still tear.

Color has reasonable substance in darker scenes, yet strong reds, greens, and brighter saturated tones are not its specialty.

Low measured color volume makes HDR hues look muted, despite positive impressions of colorful demo scenes.

Treble ranges from notably good on the 65-inch sample to lacking in detail on several other sizes.

High frequencies come through clearly, although their presentation can sound thin or bright.

Darker scenes generally retain useful texture, though certain picture modes and low-end gamma behavior can obscure fine shadows.

Poor native contrast loses depth in dark scenes, though one assessment finds subtle shadow gradations surprisingly well preserved.

VRR reduces screen tearing, especially at 1080p and 1440p, but the narrow 4K range limits how well it handles drops in frame rate.

VRR is a welcome addition over older entry-level models, but its narrow range cannot prevent tearing at lower frame rates.

Most moving edges avoid serious artifacts, but trails and unintended color fringes can appear in fast scenes.

Fast-moving edges can show minor color artifacts alongside the more obvious blur.

Dark-to-bright pixel transitions are sluggish enough to create trails, especially in shadowy games.

Slow pixel transitions create long blurry trails, especially in shadowy fast-moving scenes.

Moderate motion is reasonably clear, yet dark transitions and quick-moving edges leave visible blur or smearing.

Fast objects blur badly in measured testing, despite a particularly enthusiastic hands-on impression of 60fps motion.

The remote is straightforward and pleasant to handle, with practical shortcuts and an uncomplicated layout.

The bundled remote has familiar physical controls but lacks voice input and the Magic Remote pointer; ease of use is otherwise decent.

Bright green transitions and certain HDR gradients can show distracting steps, although some test content appeared smoother.

One test sees banding in dark blue and green, while another finds smooth tonal gradients with little obvious banding.

Color coverage is serviceable rather than expansive, with saturated greens and reds showing limitations in demanding material.

The panel covers a limited range of saturated colors, especially for demanding HDR material.

The glossy panel does little to diffuse direct lamps and windows, making placement important in bright rooms.

The glossy coating reflects lights and windows too strongly for a consistently comfortable bright-room image.

Three HDMI inputs are enough for some setups but fewer than the four found on many competing televisions.

Three HDMI inputs are enough for simpler setups but can become restrictive with multiple consoles and a soundbar.

Compression smoothing is only fair. Heavily compressed streams and older broadcasts reveal soft textures and residual artifacts.

Compression smoothing cleans up low-bitrate streams nicely, but images can appear waxy or soft at lower resolutions.

HD images generally hold together well, but DVD-quality or very low-resolution video remains soft, with fine details and edges degrading.

The scaling picture is mixed: some HD material looks clean and detailed, but technical tests find soft edges and text.

Slow camera pans can stutter, although one assessment considered the effect relatively mild with basic settings.

Slow pixel response reduces some 24fps stutter, but slow camera pans can still show issues and blur remains.

Center-screen uniformity is generally good for sports, although the sides of some samples show uneven patches or blotches.

One test finds distracting central blotches for sports, while the hands-on 55-inch unit looks comparatively uniform.

Natural colors and lifelike images are recurring strengths, even if some factory scenes look overly bright or washed out.

Flesh tones and some cinema presets can look pleasingly natural when the image is adjusted properly.

Fine highlight information can clip, while peak highlights lack the visual separation found on more capable HDR sets.

Clipping in the brightest HDR areas loses subtle gradients and fine highlight structure.

Google TV includes ads. Disabling personalized targeting does not remove them, and the ad-free basic mode sacrifices many smart functions.

Ads appear on the webOS home screen and cannot be fully disabled.

The 55- and 65-inch samples showed a slight buzz on bass-heavy music, preventing completely clean playback.

At maximum volume, pumping artifacts become noticeable and weaken audio quality.

Moving highlights can trigger obvious local-dimming flicker against dark areas, which may be distracting in action scenes.

The slow PWM dimming persists at all brightness settings, an issue for flicker-sensitive viewers.

Adjustable smoothing can make some 24fps material look fluid, but consistency is poor and certain settings create obvious jerks.

TruMotion can look smoother in hands-on use, but technical testing finds inconsistent results and little improvement in stutter.

Full chroma support helps, but the BGR subpixel arrangement can reduce text clarity when used as a desktop monitor.

The picture can appear soft and make small text difficult to read, even though the TV accepts PC-friendly chroma signals.

Local dimming keeps darker areas fairly even, but patchy sides and occasional blotches can show up, particularly on gray test images.

Gray-screen uniformity is inconsistent between the tested examples, with visible patches in some scenes.

Adjustments can substantially improve white balance, color temperature, and accuracy, making this set rewarding to tune.

Expert controls improve color and white balance substantially, even if the panel cannot achieve excellent accuracy in every mode.

There is enough SDR brightness for ambient light, but direct reflections remain intrusive and can spread across the image.

Direct lamps and windows produce distracting reflections on the glossy screen; a hands-on impression finds them tolerable in a gentler room.

Some screen sizes play fairly loudly, but the overall volume headroom is not consistently impressive.

The speakers can get reasonably loud, although high-volume compression and pumping reduce sound quality.

Shaded areas can look smooth on some tested sizes, but HDR gradients may show visible banding, especially in greens.

Gradients are generally acceptable, but dark blue and green areas can show visible steps and softness.

Backlit, simplified buttons make the remote easier to navigate, particularly in a dark room.

Traditional keys, a number pad and application shortcuts make routine control convenient.

The native 4K ceiling is 60Hz. Larger models can trade resolution for up to 144Hz, but that does not make this a native high-refresh 4K display.

A native 60Hz panel handles regular TV and conventional gaming, but it cannot meet 120fps demands.

Film-rate content is a weak point, with visible 24p judder despite options to modify the look of motion.

Film cadence handling varies by source: 1080i film-based content performs well, but many 60Hz external sources retain 24p judder.

The LCD panel is effectively immune to permanent OLED-style burn-in, making varied and static content less concerning.

Direct-lit LCD construction keeps the risk of permanent static-image burn-in very low.

Its full-array backlight and LCD construction are judged low risk for common panel failures, though long-term results are necessarily prospective.

The direct-lit LCD panel has a low predicted burn-in risk, though some backlight faults could affect large areas.

Dolby Vision adds a broadly useful streaming and gaming format option, although it does not overcome the panel's modest HDR brightness.

Dolby Vision playback is not available, a drawback for viewers with Dolby Vision streaming or disc libraries.

Support for both major dynamic HDR formats makes the QM5K flexible across streaming services and compatible sources.

HDR10 and HLG cover basic HDR playback, but the lack of Dolby Vision and HDR10+ leaves important formats unavailable.

Its appealing Mini LED contrast, low-lag play, and Google TV features make the QM5K a convincing bargain when deeply discounted.

A low sale price is the chief justification for buying it. At similar prices, stronger contrast and motion elsewhere make the value harder to defend.

eARC supports uncompressed multichannel audio to compatible external audio gear, making a separate sound system easy to incorporate.

eARC provides a useful path to higher-quality audio through a compatible soundbar or receiver.

Stand attachment is straightforward and Google TV configuration is manageable once the needed account details are available.

Initial software setup is quick and straightforward, typically taking only a few minutes after the stand is attached.

No QM5K size displays 4K at 120Hz; this is a key limitation for high-end console and PC setups.

The UA77 is a 60Hz display and cannot show 4K games at 120fps. Its gaming conveniences do not remove that ceiling.

Brightness tracking follows intended HDR levels very closely, one of the QM5K's clearest technical strengths.

HDR tracking is uneven: midtones fare better than shadows, while the brightest details clip abruptly.

Brightness curves are followed closely through most midtones, although very bright masters still run into the TV's limited output.

HDR mids track reasonably well, but dark shading is raised and bright highlights clip.

Menus remain manageable despite occasional sluggish reactions; the experience is not consistently instant.

Most accounts find webOS somewhat slow and delayed, while another reports smooth, fast app navigation.

Google TV is usable but shows a small amount of lag while moving around the interface.

Menu delays show up in several evaluations, but one reviewer finds app switching exceptionally quick.

Google TV provides broad access to major streaming services and downloadable apps, a clear convenience on an inexpensive TV.

webOS offers a broad selection of major streaming services, free channels and other entertainment applications.

Assembly is mostly plastic and feels fairly inexpensive, but examined units had no major structural defects.

The budget construction is basic but solid enough, with no major fit or assembly defects beyond the troublesome feet.

The QM5K looks surprisingly polished for its price, with a textured back and simple feet despite its plastic construction.

The appearance ranges from straightforward and utilitarian to surprisingly sleek, depending on expectations.

The 50-inch model stays at 60Hz at every resolution, whereas 55-inch and larger models can reach 144Hz at 1080p or 1440p.

Every size remains limited to 60Hz, so choosing a larger model does not unlock 120fps gaming.

Native 4K gaming works at up to 60Hz, but players must lower resolution for faster refresh on supported sizes.

Lack of common DTS formats makes this a less convenient match for some Blu-ray audio systems.

HDMI 2.0-class bandwidth limits the UA77 to conventional signals rather than advanced 4K/120 gaming.

HDR10+ broadens compatibility with dynamic-HDR material, a welcome capability at this price.

More screen area does not bring local dimming, 120Hz, or better HDR. Large-size value depends on the actual discount.

Lack of ATSC 3.0 means this set cannot receive 4K over-the-air broadcasts directly.

Supported larger models can use 1440p at up to 144Hz, a helpful compromise between sharpness and smoother play.

An optional Magic Remote can add pointer and voice controls absent from the bundled remote.

Full Google TV setup comes with account and connectivity expectations; the more private basic setup gives up key smart features.

The built-in chatbot offers handy shortcuts into settings and app management, making troubleshooting less of a hunt through menus.

The automatic Intelligent picture mode can produce an appealing image without extensive manual adjustments.

ALLM detects gaming and switches to a low-lag mode automatically, a useful convenience within the 60Hz limit.

Virtual surround processing adds some spatial presentation, but the two built-in speakers cannot deliver genuine multi-channel immersion.

A rear-mounted subwoofer on certain larger variants is a welcome inclusion, although its presence does not guarantee powerful bass or fine control.

Dialogue is usable for news, but an uneven speaker response can make voices less clear than ideal.

Filmmaker Mode can provide a warmer, more restrained picture, but it cannot restore missing contrast or HDR brightness.

LG Channels adds convenient free content alongside the familiar webOS app library.

Game Bar exposes frame rate, VRR and other settings without requiring deep menu navigation.

The TV can render impressive fine detail, but sharpening may look exaggerated and processing becomes less persuasive with poor sources.

Soft scaling can make fine lines and small text harder to make out.

The central connector area is awkward to reach after the TV is mounted against a wall.

The big sizes provide affordable scale, though the larger picture still has entry-level blacks and motion.

Backlight zones respond too slowly to moving bright objects and can briefly flicker or trail.

Protective foam and packing keep the TV securely cushioned during unboxing.

Wide IPS-like viewing is useful for side seats, but contrast can suffer, and panel variations by size complicate assumptions.

The attached power lead is inconvenient for routing and would be harder to replace than a detachable one.

The traditional remote is easy to handle and access settings with, though it does not offer Magic Remote pointer navigation.

Native 4K content can look crisp and detailed when the source is good.

The two simple feet function as a base but are awkward to align during assembly.

Wall mounting is possible but can obstruct rear inputs, complicate cables and require careful model-specific planning.

The 55-inch unit feels manageable enough that one capable person can handle installation, apart from the awkward feet.

Compatible wired, optical and wireless speaker options broaden audio configurations beyond the built-in stereo speakers.

Apps load quickly on one video test, contributing to a fluid streaming experience.

Flexible zoom options can fill the screen or accommodate different sources, although zooming in can crop part of a film.

The option to use a Bluetooth speaker alongside the TV's own speakers makes audio routing unusually flexible.

Picture menus are easy to reach, with multiple presets and advanced adjustments.

Personalized advertising can be disabled, but that does not remove on-screen ads or all associated tradeoffs.

Google TV is easy to navigate and rich in apps, though its menus may lag and its home screen includes advertising.

Full webOS, familiar apps and free content make the smart platform useful, with occasional complaints about sluggish navigation.

LG's Re:New commitment offers additional platform upgrades for the next several years.

A well-stocked Google TV catalog covers mainstream shows, movies, and live-streaming apps without requiring an external box.

Voice and pointer control require a separate Magic Remote or phone, so the bundled setup is comparatively limited.

Some owners reported severe audio delay through ARC or optical connections, although the issue appears setup-dependent.

eARC passes the major high-quality audio formats to a compatible receiver or soundbar, offering flexibility beyond the TV's speakers.

Dynamic brightness can change picture output unexpectedly; turning it off is suggested for users seeking predictable manual settings.

The IPS-type panel favors wide viewing angles over deep blacks, an important image-quality tradeoff.

Basic daylight output is limited and cannot overcome strong glare. A brighter daytime preset helps only so much.

The tested 75-inch stand leaves generous clearance beneath the panel for most soundbars.

Relatively thin bezels give this affordable display a clean, modern look.

Uncertainty about IPS versus VA panels across versions makes it important to check the exact size rather than assume identical viewing angles and contrast.

There is a useful range of screen sizes, but the 50-inch version lacks Game Accelerator and larger sizes may add audio advantages.