TVs / Samsung M80H vs TCL QM7L
Samsung M80H vs TCL QM7L
TCL QM7L
TCL's 2026 mid-range SQD Mini LED — Bang & Olufsen sound at a value price.
Wins overall by 0.5 points
Quick Verdict
The TCL QM7L is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 0.5 points. TCL's 2026 mid-range SQD Mini LED — Bang & Olufsen sound at a value price.
The Samsung M80H and TCL QM7L are both current-generation TV models, and they're priced almost identically ($799.99 vs $799.99). On Built-in Sound, the TCL QM7L leads (7.8 vs 6.2/10) — onboard speaker power, clarity, and Dolby Atmos support. On Picture Quality, the TCL QM7L leads (8.3 vs 7.6/10) — panel technology, contrast, and color accuracy. On Brightness & HDR, the TCL QM7L leads (8.6 vs 8.0/10) — peak nits and HDR format support for highlight detail. Overall, the TCL QM7L scores 8.3/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.8/10 for the Samsung M80H. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Samsung M80H | TCL QM7L |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.99 | $799.99 |
| Release Year | 2026 | 2026 |
| Screen Size (in) | 65 | 65 |
| Panel Type | Mini LED LCD | SQD Mini LED (HVA 2.0 Pro Panel) |
| Resolution | 3840x2160 (4K UHD) | 3840x2160 (4K UHD) |
| Peak Brightness (nits) | Not independently confirmed | 3000 |
| Refresh Rate (Hz) | 144 | 144 |
| Processor | NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor | TSR AI Processor |
| HDMI 2.1 Ports (ports) | Not independently confirmed | 4 |
| HDR Formats | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG (Mini LED HDR) | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Tizen (Samsung Vision AI, One UI Tizen) | Google TV (Gemini for Google TV) |
| Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Audio System | Not officially specified | Bang & Olufsen speaker array, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect (3.1.3-channel) |
| Built-in Dolby Atmos | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The TCL QM7L leads clearly here, 8.3 against 7.6 — a 0.7-point margin on panel technology, contrast, and color accuracy. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung M80H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Brightness & HDR
The TCL QM7L leads clearly here, 8.6 against 8.0 — a 0.6-point margin on peak nits and HDR format support for highlight detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung M80H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Gaming Features
The TCL QM7L is marginally ahead, 8.2 to 8.0. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if refresh rate, VRR, input lag, and console support is your priority.
Smart Platform
The Samsung M80H is marginally ahead, 8.5 to 8.3. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if OS responsiveness, app ecosystem, and voice assistant support is your priority.
Built-in Sound
The TCL QM7L leads clearly here, 7.8 against 6.2 — a 1.6-point margin on onboard speaker power, clarity, and Dolby Atmos support. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung M80H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The TCL QM7L is marginally ahead, 7.8 to 7.4. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if panel thinness, bezels, stand/mount options, and finish is your priority.
Connectivity
The Samsung M80H and TCL QM7L are level here, at 8.3/10 each. HDMI 2.1 port count and other I/O for consoles and soundbars is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The TCL QM7L is marginally ahead, 8.7 to 8.3. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if performance and features relative to price is your priority.
Best For
Choose the Samsung M80H if…
- • You prefer the Samsung ecosystem, app, and design language.
Choose the TCL QM7L if…
- • Built-in Sound matters most to you — the TCL QM7L scores 7.8/10 here (onboard speaker power, clarity, and Dolby Atmos support).
- • Picture Quality matters most to you — the TCL QM7L scores 8.3/10 here (panel technology, contrast, and color accuracy).
- • Brightness & HDR matters most to you — the TCL QM7L scores 8.6/10 here (peak nits and HDR format support for highlight detail).
- • Design & Build matters most to you — the TCL QM7L scores 7.8/10 here (panel thinness, bezels, stand/mount options, and finish).
- • Value matters most to you — the TCL QM7L scores 8.7/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
Pros & Cons
Samsung M80H
Pros
- +Same NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor as the pricier QN80H Neo QLED, at a much lower price
- +Genuine Mini LED backlighting — a real step up from basic edge-lit QLED
- +DLG 240Hz for PC gaming plus Motion Xcelerator 144Hz
- +Available from 55" up to 85"
Cons
- −Fewer dimming zones and less precise local dimming than Neo QLED
- −No Dolby Atmos
- −Peak brightness and HDMI 2.1 port count not independently confirmed
TCL QM7L
Pros
- +Bang & Olufsen-tuned speaker array with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect — unusually good built-in sound for the price
- +Up to 2,100 local dimming zones (98" model) with the same 26-bit backlight controller as the QM8L
- +Four HDMI 2.1 ports, though 144Hz is limited to 2 of them
- +Aggressive pricing versus the outgoing QM7K
Cons
- −Only 2 of 4 HDMI ports support the full 144Hz refresh
- −Lower peak brightness and fewer dimming zones than the QM8L above it
- −Google TV platform has more ads/sponsored content than Tizen or webOS
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Samsung M80H or TCL QM7L better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the TCL QM7L comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Built-in Sound, the Samsung M80H or the TCL QM7L?+
The TCL QM7L scores higher on Built-in Sound (7.8/10 vs 6.2/10) — onboard speaker power, clarity, and Dolby Atmos support.
Which is better for Picture Quality, the Samsung M80H or the TCL QM7L?+
The TCL QM7L scores higher on Picture Quality (8.3/10 vs 7.6/10) — panel technology, contrast, and color accuracy.
Which is better for Brightness & HDR, the Samsung M80H or the TCL QM7L?+
The TCL QM7L scores higher on Brightness & HDR (8.6/10 vs 8.0/10) — peak nits and HDR format support for highlight detail.
Which is better for Design & Build, the Samsung M80H or the TCL QM7L?+
The TCL QM7L scores higher on Design & Build (7.8/10 vs 7.4/10) — panel thinness, bezels, stand/mount options, and finish.
Is the Samsung M80H worth the price difference over the TCL QM7L?+
They're priced the same ($799.99), so the decision comes down to which specific features and scores matter more to you rather than budget.
What's the warranty on the Samsung M80H vs the TCL QM7L?+
The Samsung M80H ships with a 12-month warranty; the TCL QM7L ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Samsung M70H — $529.99
Premium Option
Hisense U8QG — $1499.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.