Tech & Gadgets · Head-to-head
LG C5 OLED (OLED65C5) vs TCL QM7K QD-Mini LED (65QM7K)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best 4K TVs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The LG C5 is the safest great TV on this list: strong contrast, real brightness, and full gaming connectivity at a price below flagship OLEDs. If your room is bright or your budget is tighter, the TCL QM7K delivers a startling share of that experience for meaningfully less.
LG C5 OLED (OLED65C5)
Buy itA strong all-around picture-per-dollar choice: deep blacks, serious brightness, and the gaming features that matter.
- OLED evo panel with per-pixel contrast and strong HDR highlight brightness
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports with up to 144Hz, VRR, and low input lag
- Strong color accuracy and wide viewing angles
- Owner reports are generally very positive
- Bright-room reflections and daytime sports punch trail the best mini-LEDs
- No HDR10+ support (Dolby Vision only)
TCL QM7K QD-Mini LED (65QM7K)
Buy itA quantum-dot mini-LED that gets shockingly close to OLED contrast with much higher brightness - for a lot less money.
- High peak HDR brightness with a dense local-dimming array that keeps blooming in check
- Native high-refresh panel with VRR support and responsive game mode
- Supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+
- Widely regarded as a strong value among TVs
- Contrast and color shift at off-center seating positions, as with most VA-panel LCDs
- Upscaling and motion processing trail Sony and LG on lower-quality sources
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| LG C5 OLED (OLED65C5) Our pick | TCL QM7K QD-Mini LED (65QM7K) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Movie lovers and gamers who want reference-grade picture quality in a mixed-light living room without paying flagship money. | Bright living rooms, sports and daytime viewing, and anyone who wants much of the flagship experience at a mid-range price. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Panel technology | OLED evo (self-emissive) | QD-Mini LED (full-array local dimming) |
| Contrast & black level | Deep per-pixel blacks | Excellent, minor blooming |
| Peak HDR brightness | High | Very high |
| Gaming | 4x HDMI 2.1, up to 144Hz, VRR | High-refresh native panel, VRR |
| HDR format support | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| Processing & upscaling | Excellent | Good |
| Best room | Mixed light to dark | Bright rooms |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the LG C5 OLED (OLED65C5) if
movie lovers and gamers who want reference-grade picture quality in a mixed-light living room without paying flagship money.
Know before buying: bright-room reflections and daytime sports punch trail the best mini-LEDs.
Pick the TCL QM7K QD-Mini LED (65QM7K) if
bright living rooms, sports and daytime viewing, and anyone who wants much of the flagship experience at a mid-range price.
Know before buying: contrast and color shift at off-center seating positions, as with most VA-panel LCDs.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the LG C5 OLED (OLED65C5) - A strong all-around picture-per-dollar choice: deep blacks, serious brightness, and the gaming features that matter. Choose the TCL QM7K QD-Mini LED (65QM7K) instead if bright living rooms, sports and daytime viewing, and anyone who wants much of the flagship experience at a mid-range price.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best 4K TVs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).