Compare TCL QM9K vs LG UA77

Pictures are punchy, detailed and often spectacular, particularly with HDR. Image accuracy and moving objects are less consistently polished than the raw brightness suggests.

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

Extreme light output is the QM9K's defining strength, with unusually intense highlights and plenty of brightness for bright rooms. Some scenes do not exploit all that measured headroom.

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

Small HDR highlights and larger bright scenes have formidable impact, making HDR one of the strongest reasons to buy. Unusual mastering or tone-mapping behavior can reduce that advantage.

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

The dense Mini-LED backlight contains blooming effectively and preserves strong contrast. Rapid zone changes can still introduce visible flicker or occasional halos.

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

Powerful contrast makes bright objects pop against dark backgrounds. The refinement is not uniform across all HDR scenes, and OLED still offers stronger pixel-level control.

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

Deep blacks and effective dimming create cinematic dark-room images, but accuracy-focused viewers may notice blooming, shadow crush and motion imperfections.

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

Standard-range content is exceptionally luminous even in daylight, with enough headroom to overpower ordinary room light without sacrificing obvious contrast.

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

HDR images can be dazzling, with exceptional highlights and bold contrast. Uneven tone tracking and occasional black crush are the main compromises.

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.

Daytime viewing is superb thanks to extraordinary SDR brightness and contrast. Positioning matters because direct reflections can still show through.

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

SDR color, contrast and clarity are frequently excellent, especially in Filmmaker Mode, with some warmer factory defaults.

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

White balance is generally adjustable but can run cool or warm depending on format and luminance. Carefully chosen modes help, yet some HDR deviations remain.

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

Bass output is a divisive area: some large-set listening finds genuine punch, while other tests report little low-frequency weight.

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

Built-in audio earns both enthusiastic praise for presence and Atmos effects and criticism for thin bass or muddled dialogue in busy scenes. A soundbar remains an upgrade.

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

Low-quality signal cleanup is useful but not foolproof; aggressive AI clarity options can amplify flicker or create strange artifacts.

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

The image can look attractive before calibration, but imperfect temperature and brightness tracking hold it short of consistently faithful reproduction.

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

Fine textures in animation and films remain clearly rendered, helping detailed 4K material look almost three-dimensional.

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

Powerful HDR, low input lag and modern gaming modes make it a strong gaming TV. Motion smearing, occasional tearing or firmware quirks temper its appeal for the most demanding players.

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

Colors can be extremely accurate in the best settings, especially SDR, but HDR mapping, factory temperature and white balance vary enough to make accuracy a caveat.

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

Filmmaker and custom picture presets offer meaningful improvements, though correct HDR balance can take tinkering.

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

The Beosonic audio control allows tonal adjustments, helping tame bright sound without complicated equalizer work.

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

Sports and ordinary TV can look fluid, but rapid pans and challenging gaming motion can reveal blur, judder or tearing.

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

Game mode is usually fast and responsive, although measurements differ and leaving the mode off can cause extreme lag. Some OLED competitors remain faster.

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

Google TV's straightforward content organization helps day-to-day use, even if initial account setup can take longer than desired.

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

Deep blacks are a major Mini-LED achievement here, creating convincing dark scenes without OLED pixels. The darkest details can still be crushed, and isolated highlights may produce halos.

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

Fast PC modes and console-friendly refresh rates are big strengths, though a reported PC handshake problem and slower pixel transitions keep performance from being flawless.

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

Cable channels and clips in the stand help tidy connections and keep the installation organized.

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

Near-black and full-black uniformity can be excellent, though comparisons sometimes favor the QM8K's cleaner dark panels.

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

The speakers remain clear during loud music and busy effects without obvious distortion in the favorable listening assessment.

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

PC text benefits from the regular RGB subpixel layout and high-bandwidth chroma support, producing unusually clean lettering for a television.

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

Low-frame-rate compensation helps preserve tear-free play when frame rates drop, making VRR useful across a broad range.

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

Rich, highly saturated colors remain vibrant even in bright scenes. Some side-by-side comparisons find the palette a little less full or faithful than competing OLED sets.

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

The high native refresh rate supports smooth sports and fast PC play, although display response and mode compatibility matter as much as the headline number.

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

A wide HDR color range makes animation and brightly lit landscapes especially vivid, though the most extreme hues do not always match reference targets.

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

Four total HDMI connections provide practical room for a pair of consoles and other devices, though their bandwidth capabilities differ.

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

Colors can fade and shift when viewed far off-axis, particularly versus some competitors, even though the WHVA panel improves upon standard VA designs.

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

The compact adjustable pedestal fits narrower furniture and accommodates different screen heights; the larger 98-inch model uses feet instead.

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

Fine HDR highlight textures can survive extreme brightness well, although some tone settings overblow intense areas.

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

The pedestal can be assembled without unusual difficulty, although its interlocking pieces take some care.

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

Reflections are a real tradeoff. Massive brightness compensates for general daylight, while direct lamps and windows can remain distracting on the glossy screen.

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

Motion interpolation can tame judder and stutter without necessarily adding much lag, but settings require adjustment and results can be inconsistent.

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

High-frequency backlight flicker should be unobtrusive for most people, although one low-quality video test exposed amplified content flickering.

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

The backlit metallic-looking remote is a welcome upgrade, particularly in dark rooms, though buttons and battery choices are not ideal for everyone.

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

Response times vary by transition, with slow movement between very dark and bright shades. Gaming remains responsive overall, but the panel is not an OLED-speed performer.

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

The larger panels are substantial enough to need two people for safe unpacking or wall mounting, even when their construction feels manageable for the size.

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

The QM9K is widely admired for flagship-level light output and strong all-around features, though the value case and a handful of processing flaws split opinions.

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

Properly configured 24p movies look judder-free; some 25p signals and challenging pans still show periodic jitter.

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

Automatic game switching is convenient because the TV selects its responsive gaming settings when a console starts.

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

Side-facing sockets are neatly concealed but sit too far inward to access easily once the television is mounted close to 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.

Natural-looking colors are achievable in restrained presets, but the brighter default look and HDR tone errors can move away from creator intent.

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

At 85 or 98 inches, the high-contrast image is particularly immersive without needing an oversized OLED budget.

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

VRR works well on most modern gaming devices, but there are reports of tearing with particular PC settings and high-motion gameplay.

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

The glossy finish struggles with bright light sources directly opposite the panel, even though it performs well in diffuse daylight.

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

Voices are often crisp and clear, but deep dialogue can become indistinct and complex mixes may mask speech.

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

The WHVA panel fares well against conventional VA LCDs, yet opinions differ on how much color and contrast shift off-center. Front-and-center seats remain best.

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

FlexConnect offers an appealing route to room-calibrated wireless surround with compatible speakers, without requiring conventional fixed speaker placement.

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

Fast motion is acceptable for a bright LCD, though dark-to-bright pixel transitions and quick action trails are less crisp than on OLED.

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

Advertising is built into the smart interface and cannot be disabled, a notable drawback for anyone wanting a cleaner home screen.

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

Height effects and directionality are unusually convincing from the TV itself, but very busy scenes can merge different sounds.

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

The on-screen Game Bar provides quick gaming adjustments without interrupting play to navigate deeper menus.

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

The internal speakers can fill a room at useful volume without immediately needing external amplification.

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

Rapid pans, fast athletes and gaming action can show edge blur, flicker or judder that distract from an otherwise powerful picture.

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

Some panels look uniform in dark scenes, but one detailed evaluation found conspicuous edge vignetting and uneven light distribution.

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

Upscaled sources generally remain clear without excessive artificial sharpening, but fine details and lower-quality streams can still be less convincing than premium processing rivals.

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

Filmmaker Mode and calibration controls can yield excellent SDR accuracy, but HDR correction is more limited and some errors persist.

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

Game mode preserves impressive image brightness while cutting lag, but normal modes can be much slower and do not suit gaming.

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

Slow movie pans can visibly stutter even though most film motion looks good. Interpolation offers an effective workaround for those who prefer smoother motion.

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

Dirty screen effect is restrained in some testing but prominent in another large sample, where streaks remain visible on pale images.

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

Shadow detail is a significant point of disagreement: some dark scenes retain excellent texture, while others show crushed near-blacks that calibration cannot fully resolve.

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

Controls are fairly uncluttered with handy app shortcuts, but the unused space could accommodate additional services.

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

Halos are restrained compared with many LCDs but remain visible around subtitles, stars and other isolated lights, especially off-axis.

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

Visible banding is mostly restrained, although certain gray gradients reveal uneven steps that smoothing options do not fully eliminate.

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

The LCD panel avoids permanent burn-in, a reassuring trait for users worried about static images and long sessions.

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

Gradients are usually smooth, but subtle gray bands remain visible and some rivals clean them up more completely.

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

Compressed video is smoothed competently, at the cost of a little fine texture. Poorly encoded sources remain more noticeable on very large screens.

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

Treble can sound clear and natural for TV speakers, even when the bass lacks deeper punch.

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

The LCD design avoids permanent OLED burn-in, but unresolved software glitches and one reported electrical buzz raise quality-control questions.

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

4K at 120Hz console play looks sharp and responsive, making full-resolution high-frame-rate games satisfying.

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

Dolby Vision material can look deep and striking, revealing textures and atmosphere. Its accuracy depends on mode and processing choices.

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

High-bandwidth HDMI enables excellent console and PC modes. The practical limitation is how many full-speed inputs are available.

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

The integrated over-the-air tuner operated properly in a real-world trial, making antenna reception a useful option.

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

Large 85- and 98-inch sizes can be compelling compared with giant OLEDs, especially when the QM9K is sold at a steep clearance price.

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

eARC supports high-quality audio to an external sound system and sits separately from the two full-bandwidth gaming inputs.

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

Physical installation is manageable with assistance, while Google TV and Gemini setup can require more prompts and updates than expected.

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

At a substantial discount the QM9K is a tempting flagship, but the much cheaper QM8K frequently looks similar in everyday content. The price gap determines the recommendation.

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.

Software responsiveness is good much of the time, but at least one extended test found frustrating issues that remained unresolved after waiting for updates.

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

Menus and apps usually feel quick, though isolated freezes and setup delays keep the software from feeling completely seamless.

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

Hands-free voice search can answer questions and control connected devices, though not every command works as expected.

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

Most navigation is responsive, and picture settings are easy to reach, but occasional freezes and long initial configuration can frustrate.

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

Google TV is capable, convenient and content-rich, with the newer Gemini experience. Ads and occasional bugs make the interface less universally appealing.

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

The set can push highlights well beyond intended levels and darken shadow regions, even while looking exciting. Some picture modes improve the balance without fully fixing it.

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

A wide range of popular streaming and game-streaming services is available without needing an extra box.

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

HDR tracking can raise highlights too much, crush shadows and deviate from intended brightness. This is one of the biggest concerns for film purists.

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

Customizable quick settings let enthusiasts reach preferred picture adjustments rapidly without scrolling through deep menus.

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

The premium screen-forward appearance and metal accents earn broad praise. A few find the stand and finishing details less luxurious than the flagship price suggests.

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

Construction feels sturdy and carefully assembled despite substantial use of plastic, with little flex or looseness noted.

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

Thin, nearly invisible bezels create an immersive edge-to-edge picture that looks more premium than a typical LCD TV.

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

High-bandwidth inputs enable 4K at 144Hz gaming, but at least one PC tester could not make the mode work reliably with their graphics hardware.

4K games can look detailed and vividly colored with responsive control, especially on current-generation consoles.

A reduced-resolution high-refresh mode caters to twitchier PC games, trading 4K sharpness for exceptionally fast frame updates.

Casting support makes sharing from compatible phones and tablets convenient, including Apple's AirPlay and Google's Cast ecosystem.

Google TV includes several cloud-gaming apps, adding options beyond connected consoles, though app availability is not universal.

Atmos effects can extend above and beside the screen surprisingly well for built-in speakers. Full external surround remains more immersive.

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

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

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

Generated artwork can create a personal ambient canvas, though it is more of a novelty than a core picture-quality advantage.

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

Extra AI clarity enhancements can create strobe-like artifacts on lower-quality films; leaving those settings off produces a cleaner result.

Backlight strobing supports both 60Hz and 120Hz, providing a useful motion-clarity option at two common refresh rates.

Content discovery is flexible, with platform-based recommendations and smart searches. Context can change depending on whether an app or the TV home screen is active.

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.

G-SYNC-style VRR has a specific problem at a locked 60Hz desktop setting on certain older NVIDIA cards; higher-refresh connections perform normally.

Low-lag interpolation is especially useful for smoothing game motion without paying the usual large responsiveness penalty.

Gemini makes searching and follow-up questions feel more conversational, but complicated commands can produce misleading or incomplete answers. Its convenience does not outweigh privacy concerns for everyone.

Only two high-bandwidth HDMI connections are confirmed in detailed testing, which limits elaborate console-and-PC setups despite four physical inputs.

The processor produces excellent-looking high-quality video, but enhancement settings sometimes introduce artifacts or handle brightness inconsistently.

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.

Local-dimming transitions generally follow moving highlights quickly, but visible zone flicker can still occur in certain scenes.

Protective packaging allows large models to accept the stand while still supported in foam, reducing the difficulty of a two-person unpacking.

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 TV turns on quickly and is ready to navigate with little noticeable delay.

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.

Presence detection can wake an ambient display and shut it down when the room empties, but sensitivity and accidental activations can require adjustment.

The clear glossy finish preserves image crispness and saturation, although it sacrifices some direct-glare control.

Gemini is helpful for conversational recommendations and follow-up questions, but it sometimes misunderstands device-specific requests and complex tasks.

The central stand feels stable in ordinary use, although one assessment cautions that a pedestal design is easier to tip with children nearby.

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

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

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.

A physical microphone switch and optional AI features provide meaningful control, although always-listening hardware may still make privacy-conscious buyers uncomfortable.

The TV can work with connected smart-home devices, giving its Google TV interface a useful role beyond streaming.

Conversational voice requests often work naturally, but complicated instructions can yield incorrect answers or fail altogether.

Artwork, photos and information can take over the screen when not watching TV, making the large display more useful between sessions.

Broad audio-format passthrough helps connect receivers and soundbars without significant compatibility anxiety.

Ambient-light adaptation keeps the picture comfortable across changing daylight and dimmer evenings, although manual control is still useful.

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

One large sample exhibited an intrusive constant buzz, audible during quiet viewing regardless of picture settings; other assessments did not report this problem.

The raised pedestal setting gives most soundbars enough space without blocking the screen.

Large bright areas retain remarkable impact for an LCD, although peak output can decline over longer intervals and depends on the material.

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

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

The four offered sizes cover large living rooms well, but the absence of smaller options limits installation flexibility.