TCL MQLED85 / C765 vs Samsung QN80F

Direct compare

C765 / MQLED85

Info

QN80F

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”85”98”

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”85”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2024

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Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Tizen

Model year: 2025

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Overall rating

7.2

7.3

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    6.8

    6.9

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    6.6

    6.8

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    6.5

    6.7

  • Gaming on console

    8.6

    8.5

  • TV as a computer monitor

    8.6

    8.8

  • Watching in bright light

    6.3

    6.6

  • Utility functions

    7.1

    7.5

  • Apps

    9.6

    8.7

  • Sound quality

    6.9

    6.7

Advantages

  • Great choice for gamers - plenty of features, low input lag, 144Hz

  • High brightness of the panel - good performance during the day

  • Good black levels and contrast

  • Advanced Google TV

  • Premium build at a low price

  • Impressive blacks and contrast - VA panel combined with MINI-LED backlighting.

  • Great brightness - up to 1000 nits in HDR

  • Fast and responsive panel - 144 Hz

  • Rich support for gamers - 4xHDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM, GameBar, Game Motion Plus

  • Very good usability in daylight

  • Advanced Tizen operating system

  • Simple operation

  • PiP function

Disadvantages

No like
  • Average viewing angles

  • Missing recording function

  • No support for DTS format – a limitation when connecting a home cinema

  • No recording function to USB

  • Relatively few dimming zones

  • Issues with the HGiG function (for gamers) – the update removed this option*

Our verdict

TCL MQLED85, or model C765, is a television that can truly surprise, especially in this price range. It is one of the cheapest models with mini-LED technology, which is immediately evident from the picture quality. The blacks are deep, and the brightness is sufficient even in a brightly lit room. Thanks to the large number of dimming zones, watching films in the evening is a pure pleasure – the blacks are genuinely deep, and the image in dark scenes appears clear. However, it is not perfect – in some shots, you can notice minor issues with small bright elements, but this is really a trifle compared to what this model offers. Google TV works excellently here – there are plenty of applications, and using the system is simply convenient. Voice control in Polish operates flawlessly, which can be particularly useful if you don’t want to type film titles using the remote. Of course, there are minor shortcomings, like the lack of recording features, but these are not things that hinder everyday use. For gamers, it is also a great option. Support for HDMI 2.1, VRR, and low input lag make the television handle consoles well and compete effortlessly with more expensive models from Korean or Japanese manufacturers. It's hard to find something better in this price range concerning smooth and responsive gameplay. During testing, we encountered a few minor software issues, but it's difficult to say if this is a significant drawback. We hope that TCL will release updates, so there is a chance this issue will be resolved quickly. TCL MQLED85/C765 is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a television with good picture quality and modern features at a reasonable price. This model combines accessible mini-LED technology with a convenient Google TV system, while also performing exceptionally well in gaming. The minor software shortcomings are something you can live with, especially considering what this television offers in its class.

The QN80F is the first "eighty" from Samsung to enter the series of televisions with Mini LED backlighting. And it does this very well. Although the number of dimming zones isn't particularly impressive, the quality of black levels is solid, and combined with high brightness, it allows for a very decent picture in HDR content. Additionally, there's a 144Hz panel that ensures excellent motion fluidity, and the set of gaming features – VRR, ALLM, Game Motion Plus – makes the QN80F a model practically designed for those gaming on consoles or PC. The television operates quickly and responsively, and the Tizen system runs like lightning – whether you're searching for apps or switching sources. Is there anything to criticise? Of course, as always – there are shortcomings in the system (like USB recording), there's no DTS support, and Mini LED isn't without its limitations. But the QN80F is a fantastic television for everyday use – versatile, refined, and... with great pricing potential. Because looking at the history of this series, we can expect that this "eighty" will mix things up significantly once it hits the first sensible promotions. At that point, it could be virtually unmatched in its price range – especially if Samsung resolves the minor teething issues.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
Other inputs
RCA (Chinch)
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Good
Stand type
stand-type-
Central
Stand type
stand-type-
stand-type-Graphite
Stand
stand-Fixed
FlatDesign
Nie
Yes
Accessories
accessories-Stand
accessories-Stand

Contrast and black detail

7.7/10

6.8/10

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 720 (36 x 20)

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 88 (8 x 11)

Contrast:

Review TCL MQLED85 / C765 Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Review TCL MQLED85 / C765 Contrast and black detail

Result

30,150:1

Review TCL MQLED85 / C765 Contrast and black detail

Result

17,500:1

Review TCL MQLED85 / C765 Contrast and black detail

Result

9,500:1

Review TCL MQLED85 / C765 Contrast and black detail

Result

5,750:1

Review Samsung QN80F Contrast and black detail

Result

34,100:1

Review Samsung QN80F Contrast and black detail

Result

8,200:1

Review Samsung QN80F Contrast and black detail

Result

32,500:1

Review Samsung QN80F Contrast and black detail

Result

4,550:1

Review Samsung QN80F Contrast and black detail

Result

3,800:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

TCL MQLED85/C765 stands out due to its use of a VA panel and Mini LED backlighting, which makes a significant difference compared to traditional backlighting systems. Mini LED, with its considerably smaller diodes, allows for more precise control of the screen's backlighting, resulting in much better contrast and deeper blacks. The 55-inch model we are testing has an impressive number of over 700 local dimming zones, providing exceptional precision in image display. However, it is worth noting that the number of backlighting zones may vary depending on the screen size – for larger diagonals, the number of zones naturally increases due to the larger screen area, allowing larger displays to achieve better results in terms of contrast and black levels. Thanks to the vast number of zones, the TCL MQLED85/C765 achieved a performance comparable to OLED screens on our first test scene from the film "Oblivion," offering nearly reference-level contrast. But what happens when we test this model in even more demanding conditions? How will the television perform in more challenging scenarios? Overall, the TCL MQLED85/C765 performs very well in displaying blacks, but in some cases, the local dimming algorithm is not perfect. On dark backgrounds, smaller bright elements can lose clarity and brightness, as confirmed by our recent test scene from the Pioneer Kuro test disc. Despite some imperfections in the local dimming algorithm and the slight occurrence of the HALO effect (which is a bright halo around bright objects on a dark background caused by screen local dimming deficiencies), the results achieved by the TCL MQLED85/C765 are impressive, especially considering its price. This television offers contrast and black depth that can compete with models that are even half again as expensive.

QN80F is a representative of the Neo QLED series, meaning it is a television with Mini LED backlighting. Unlike its cheaper cousin, the QN70F model, the diodes here are placed directly behind the panel (rather than at the edges), which gives it a solid advantage right from the start when it comes to contrast control. In the 65-inch variant we tested, we counted 88 dimming zones – a result that may not be particularly impressive, but as it turned out, sufficient to achieve quite decent results.

In tests based on scenes from films such as Oblivion and The Meg, the QN80F performed well – blacks were deep, and the overall image consistency was visually appealing. However, in more demanding moments (e.g., scenes with a large number of bright details on a dark background), a halo effect appeared. This is where the limitation of the number of zones becomes evident – bright elements could bleed into one another, and some details in the dark areas lost visibility. In one scene featuring a helicopter (The Meg), we even noticed slight brightness flickering, as if the television was trying its best to maintain detail visibility at the expense of black depth.

However, these issues are not exclusive to this model – halo effects or drops in contrast during very complex scenes are challenges faced by most Mini LED televisions, even the more expensive ones. In its class, the QN80F performs positively and offers significantly better contrast than the QN70F model with edge backlighting. For most users, this will be a level more than sufficient – although not perfect.

HDR effect quality

6/10

5.8/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 95.0%, Bt.2020: 79.0%
DCI P3: 93.1%, Bt.2020: 72.3%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review TCL MQLED85 / C765 Brightness measurement

Result

1016 nit

Review TCL MQLED85 / C765 Brightness measurement

Result

365 nit

Review TCL MQLED85 / C765 Brightness measurement

Result

765 nit

Review TCL MQLED85 / C765 Brightness measurement

Result

235 nit

Review TCL MQLED85 / C765 Brightness measurement

Result

1178 nit

Review Samsung QN80F Brightness measurement

Result

799 nit

Review Samsung QN80F Brightness measurement

Result

533 nit

Review Samsung QN80F Brightness measurement

Result

717 nit

Review Samsung QN80F Brightness measurement

Result

245 nit

Review Samsung QN80F Brightness measurement

Result

656 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

Static HDR10

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

Dynamic: HDR10+

HDR luminance chart:

Samsung QN80F

Luminancja HDR

Luminance of RGB colors

TCL MQLED85 / C765

Luminancja HDR

Luminance of RGB colors

The television TCL MQLED85/C765 handles HDR well. In the tested movie scenes where the screen is covered with 100% brightness, the model achieves impressive results of around 1000 nits, providing intense and realistic rendering of HDR content. However, similar to contrast, the dimming algorithm may exhibit certain limitations. Despite a large number of Mini LED zones, the television does not always manage to "wow" the user with brightness in very challenging test scenes. For example, in the scene from the film "Life of Pi," where a bright moon appears against a dark background, and in another scene from "Sicario 2," where a very bright light effect is visible on a dark background, the television did not reach maximum intensity. For users expecting perfect HDR performance in such extreme cases, the TCL MQLED may be slightly disappointing. However, in terms of colours, the television stands out with very high coverage of the DCI P3 colour palette at 95%, which is an impressive result, comparable to much more expensive models. TCL MQLED85 / C765 offers support for various HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which is significant for cinema image enthusiasts. Although this model achieves brightness over 1000 nits, TCL MQLED85 may struggle to reflect details in very high-contrast scenes. For better HDR quality control, C765 is equipped with a dynamic tone mapping option, making the image more realistic and natural depending on the content.

QN80F is quite a bright screen – in synthetic tests, it achieved nearly 1000 nits, which allows for justified expectations regarding HDR content. And indeed, in many scenes, the television can truly shine. Sequences with a lot of light – like shots from the film Life of Pi or wide, bright surfaces in The Meg – look impressive. Brightness remains around 700 nits, which provides a solid effect, sufficient to feel the true "HDR magic." Unfortunately, not every scene looks that good. In materials with small, bright details on a dark background, such as in Sicario 2, the television has issues – it can significantly dim certain elements, sometimes to the point where they disappear from the image. This is the result of a limited number of dimming zones, which forces the device to make compromises: either maintain inky blacks or sacrifice some detail. QN80F usually chooses the former. As a consolation, there is quite decent coverage of a wide colour gamut – DCI-P3 at 93%. This is not the highest score on the market, but it is more than adequate for most content on streaming platforms.

Factory color reproduction

5.2/10

6/10

Factory Mode

After calibration

Factory Mode

After calibration

The television TCL MQLED85/C765 was tested in movie mode, which, although it seems to be the best setting from the manufacturer, is not without flaws. The colour reproduction in HD/SDR mode MQLED85 shows some shortcomings. In the analysis of white balance, there is a significant lack of blue, which can affect the overall image quality, especially in bright scenes where blue shades are crucial for natural representation. The overall shape of the image may then appear too warm. Regarding gamma contrast, the graph shows a large jump above the reference line of 2.4 at the beginning, which may suggest significant dimming of brightness in darker areas, leading to loss of detail in black. Then, for most of the time, the values lie below this line, which may lead to loss of detail in brighter parts of the image. Such a distribution can negatively impact perceived image quality, particularly when watching regular television in HD quality.

In the case of 4K HDR image quality of the TCL MQLED85/C765, there is a noticeable excess of red in the analysis of white balance. This excess can significantly affect the viewer's experience, leading to several significant effects. Firstly, an excessive amount of red can make other colours, such as green or blue, appear muted or unnatural. This distortion of colour balance can result in an overall impression of "over-saturation," which detracts from the naturalness and authenticity of the image. As for contrast, the EOTF (Electro-Optical Transfer Function) graph indicates that most values are above the reference line, suggesting an intense boost in brightness in bright areas of the image. However, there is an exception at the beginning of the graph, where the EOTF line is below the reference line, which can lead to excessive dimming of small light elements.

Users should be aware that despite using the best mode, which is movie mode, the television is not free from flaws in terms of image settings, so it is worth considering adjusting the settings to achieve better results.

We test televisions always in the best available factory mode – in the case of the Samsung QN80F, this is the Filmmaker mode, and indeed, it is this mode that offers settings closest to the creators' intentions. However, this does not mean that everything looks perfect. In SDR content, the biggest problem turned out to be an unbalanced white balance – slight deficiencies in green and a noticeable excess of red led to discernible colour errors, one could even say a pinkish tint on the screen. This was well demonstrated in the colour checker test, where the colours 'escaped' beyond their target fields – to the extent that even a sensitive viewer's eye could catch this without the aid of a meter.

In HDR content, the white balance was much better, but another issue arose – brightness management. The EOTF curve resulted in an overly bright image for most of the time, which could affect the perception of contrast and caused the screen to subtly 'flicker' during dynamic light changes. We have already written more about this in the paragraphs on black levels and HDR. Fortunately, Samsung leaves the user with plenty of options. The QN80F offers a rich set of calibration options, including a 20-point white balance – therefore, we decided to check what this television is really capable of after proper calibration.

Color reproduction after calibration

7.8/10

8.3/10

After the professional calibration of the television TCL MQLED85/C765, its colour properties in movie mode have significantly improved, resulting in a much more satisfying visual experience. Both in SDR and HDR modes, the white balance shows no serious errors, and the graph appears much better harmonised. Users can now enjoy natural colour reproduction, which is crucial for obtaining an authentic experience when watching films. It is worth noting that in HDR content, there may be slight colour reproduction errors at the end of the graph, but these are much smaller than before calibration. As a result, characters and landscapes become more realistic, enhancing the depth of immersion in the story.

In terms of contrast, the gamma curve, responsible for HD quality, has been completely free of drops below the reference line, meaning better detail visibility in dark scenes. Nevertheless, there is still a slight boost at the beginning of the graph, which may affect the perception of bright elements. For HDR content, the EOTF curve also exhibits smaller errors, although certain issues with medium tone reproduction may still be noticeable. The EOTF curve measured on actual movie scenes still shows a significant brightness boost, making the image appear more intense but artificially brightened. This is a typical problem for TCL televisions, which may appeal to inexperienced viewers, but can be irritating for those more familiar with an ideal image.

What benefits does professional calibration bring for film enthusiasts? Thanks to it, viewing becomes even more realistic and immersive, and each scene can be fully experienced, preserving details and natural colours.

After conducting a thorough calibration, it was possible to bring most of the image parameters to a really good level. The white balance in both SDR and HDR is nearly perfect – the picture is natural, neutral and devoid of the previously noticeable redness. The colours have gained depth, and the overall visual reception has become more pleasant and cohesive. It was also possible to partially master the brightness management, which in the factory version could be problematic. The EOTF chart shows that the television performs significantly better with brightness after calibration – there is no longer excessive dimming of certain elements. In films, it can still be noticed that the QN80F has a tendency to slightly brighten the smallest, light details – however, this is the effect of the device's design and the limited number of dimming zones. In short: not everything can be overcome, but what could be has been improved. After calibration, the QN80F makes a really good impression; it simply looks more mature and professional.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

7/10

9/10

The fluidity of tonal transitions in the television TCL MQLED85/C765 is quite decent, although some issues are noticeable in both bright and dark test scenes. In particular, colour blending is evident in the scene from the film "The Green Knight", where the red colour of the water transitions to black. Despite these imperfections, the overall quality of gradation is acceptable and does not overly detract from the visual experience. The television handles most scenes well, offering satisfactory tonal transitions, which contributes to an overall pleasing visual experience that will not spoil our cinema enjoyment.

In this respect, the QN80F truly impresses. The transitions between colours are smooth, nothing is torn, and there are no annoying stripes in the sky or strange blotches in the shadows. Film scenes in darker tones performed particularly well – and this is where most televisions tend to struggle. If one is very determined, they may notice slight banding in the brightest sections, but that is really stretching for an issue. In everyday viewing, no one should have a problem with this. To put it plainly: the tonal transitions are so good that one can forget about them – and simply enjoy the film.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

5.1/10

7/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
OK
No
Smooth transition function
No
OK

Smooth transition function

Image without overscan on the SD signal

Let’s take another look at the tonal transitions in the TCL MQLED85/C765 television, but in the context of poorer image quality. Despite the presence of the "Gradual Smoothing" option, when set to "low," the effects are practically invisible, disappointing users expecting an improvement in image quality. On the other hand, the "high" setting produces minimal results, and worse still, it can blur significant details, negatively affecting the sharpness and clarity of the displayed image. However, in the context of image scaling, the television successfully displayed the image without overscan, meaning we do not lose any part of the view. The image looks rather decent, and details such as tree branches or the outlines of models do not exhibit significant jaggedness, which positively impacts the visual quality.

If, while watching lower quality materials – for example from YouTube – we notice strange colour transitions or unwanted artefacts, it's worth checking the settings and turning on the noise reduction feature. In our opinion, the best setting is at “medium” – it effectively smooths out problematic colour transitions while not blurring the entire image too much. However, one must know this: this option tends to remove film grain. If someone cares about preserving this effect (e.g. in older films), it’s better to simply turn it off – regardless of the level, the grain always disappears.

When it comes to resolution scaling (or so-called upscaling), Samsung – as usual – performs very well in this area. The QN80F may not compete with top models costing tens of thousands, but for its price class, it really does impress. Materials of very low quality (e.g. from SD television or older video files) are noticeably improved and look surprisingly decent. The only noticeable drawback is the typical Samsung issue with overscan – that is, slight cropping of the image edges in very low resolutions, e.g. 576p.

Blur and motion smoothness

7.5/10

7.5/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
144Hz
144Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
OK
Blur reduction option
OK
OK
BFI function 60Hz
Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
BFI function 120Hz
Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Nie
Brightness drop with BFI
50%
69%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Image flickers in this mode

TCL MQLED85/C765 is equipped with a panel featuring a standard refresh rate of 120 Hz, with the capability to increase to 144 Hz when connected to a powerful computer. The television also offers a multi-level motion smoother, primarily aimed at users wishing to enhance motion fluidity in films. It allows for the adjustment of effect intensity on a scale from 0 to 10, enabling precise tuning of image smoothness to individual preferences. The response time of the panel is decent, but not perfect. We can observe blurring occurring behind both dark and medium objects.

QN80F is truly a "fast" television. The applied panel offers a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz, which in practice means that the screen keeps up with the action – whether we're watching a film, playing games, or browsing dynamic content online. The image doesn’t stutter, isn’t excessively smeared, and overall looks simply smooth and pleasing to the eye. Of course, the manufacturer hasn’t forgotten about cinema fans – in the settings, we’ll find an option to adjust motion smoothness, allowing us to tailor the effect to our personal preferences. We can maintain a more "framey" appearance (for those who enjoy the classic cinematic vibe) or ramp up the smoothness to a higher level for a theatrical smoothing effect. Importantly, the choice is ours. Watching films and playing on the QN80F is simply a delight.

Console compatibility and gaming features

9.8/10

8.2/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR range
    48 - 144Hz
    48 - 144Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    Yes
    No
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    Yes
    No
  • 1080p@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • 1440p@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • 4K@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • Game bar
    Yes
    Yes

TCL MQLED85/C765 has received an impressive rating in the gaming features category, making it an excellent choice for gaming enthusiasts. The television supports all the latest technologies that significantly enhance the gaming experience. Among the key gaming features is ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), which automatically switches the TV to low-latency mode, minimising response time and ensuring smooth gameplay. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) functioning in the range of 48 to 144 Hz eliminates stuttering and screen tearing in dynamic game scenes. Additionally, the TV supports Dolby Vision Game Mode, which provides better image quality in games with exceptional colour depth and contrast. TCL MQLED85/C765 also features a decent if not the best implementation of HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group), optimising HDR game display; however, for TCL, it causes detail in whites to be brightened, resulting in some elements merging into a white blob - we can read more about this in the colour reproduction section. It supports various resolutions, such as 1080p@120Hz, 1440p@120Hz, and 4K@120Hz, allowing players to enjoy higher image quality and better fluidity. The Game Bar feature allows easy switching between game settings and quick parameter control, greatly simplifying the adjustment of the television to individual needs. With support for G-Sync and FreeSync technologies, users of NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards will be pleased with the refresh rate synchronisation capabilities, eliminating tearing and stuttering issues, thereby providing a smoother and more immersive gaming experience.

MQLED85/C765 is a television that combines advanced technologies and excellent support for gamers, making it the perfect choice for those who wish to maximise their gaming experiences.

The Samsung QN80F is a television that delivers on almost every front when it comes to gaming. We have a 144 Hz panel, four full-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports, support for gamers in the form of variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic game mode (ALLM), and even one of the best-designed game bars on the market. The cherry on top is the motion smoother, which – uniquely in the world – works in games without significantly increasing input lag. Sounds like an almost perfect television for gamers? And indeed, it is almost that.

As usual, Samsung does not support Dolby Vision in games, but that no longer surprises anyone. However, it is considerably more surprising that... the HGIG function has disappeared – that is, the system that allows the console (e.g., PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X) to precisely match HDR tone mapping to the television’s capabilities. In the latest firmware update for the 2025 models, this option has simply vanished. This looks more like a mistake than a deliberate move, but it must be noted fairly that as of the date of writing this review, the HGIG function is simply not available.

And it is precisely because of this one missing feature that the QN80F transforms from an almost perfect gaming television into a “nearly” perfect device. It’s a shame – because everything else suggested that Samsung could once again set the bar very high in this generation.

Input lag

9.8/10

9.8/10

SDR

1080p60
16 ms
19 ms
1080p120
8 ms
9 ms
2160p60
16 ms
19 ms
2160p120
8 ms
9 ms

HDR

2160p60
16 ms
17 ms
2160p120
8 ms
9 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
16 ms
2160p120 DV
8 ms

The latency time on the TCL MQLED85 television reaches impressively low levels in all conditions. Even the most demanding gamers will surely appreciate the minimal input lag of just 8 ms at 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR. Moreover, the latency remains at the same level even with Dolby Vision HDR turned on, which is not the case for many competing models.

The QN80F does not disappoint when it comes to response time. The input lag for 120 Hz content drops below 10 ms, which can be considered an almost perfect result – it is hard to expect more in this class of TVs. Gaming is smooth, responsive, and without delays that could annoy even the most sensitive players. For 60 Hz materials, the lag is higher, around 19 ms, but this is a completely natural phenomenon and still falls within comfortable limits.

Compatibility with PC

8.6/10

8.8/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Very Good
Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Average
Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate)
8ms
9ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
BGR
Max refresh rate
144Hz
144Hz
G-Sync
Yes
Yes

TCL MQLED85 will perform well as a computer monitor. With support for chroma 4:4:4, the text on the screen is sharp and legible, which is important for those working with word documents or spreadsheets. One of the greatest assets of this model is its exceptionally low input lag in "PC" mode, which is just 8 ms. This is a reference-level result that ensures fluidity and responsiveness, crucial for both gamers and those engaged in video editing. However, it is worth noting that there is a certain issue related to font display on dark backgrounds. When zooming in on the tested font image, one can see that the horizontal lines are darker compared to the vertical ones. This means that the sub-pixels in the television do not fully illuminate in this case, which can affect the quality of the displayed text. Nevertheless, the overall performance of TCL MQLED85 as a computer monitor is very good and will certainly meet the expectations of many users.

Playing on the QN80F with a connected computer is pure pleasure. The television effortlessly works with NVIDIA graphics cards (thanks to G-Sync support) and AMD (thanks to FreeSync Premium), and the 144 Hz refresh rate only enhances comfort during dynamic gameplay. Everything works immediately, without unnecessary fiddling with settings – exactly as it should.

When it comes to work, it is also very good. The readability of fonts is at a high level, and texts appear sharp and clear. With very thin horizontal lines, some minor imperfections in shading can be noticed, but honestly – you really have to look closely. Unless, like us, you sometimes enjoy looking at the screen with a magnifying glass… then you might spot something 😉.

Viewing angles

3.2/10

3.1/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
80%
81%

The viewing angles on the TCL MQLED85 television are not its strong suit. The use of a VA panel means that the picture loses a significant amount of brightness when viewed at an angle. Changing the viewer's position, especially when watching with a larger group, can cause colours to appear less saturated and the contrast to become less pronounced. For this reason, it is recommended to sit directly in front of the screen to fully enjoy the picture quality. Although the television offers excellent colour reproduction from a direct view, the loss of brightness and detail at an angle can be problematic for those planning to use the television in a larger room or from different locations.

QN80F, like most TVs with a VA panel, does not impress in terms of viewing angles. All it takes is a slight lean to the side to notice a significant drop in brightness and lost colour saturation. The picture loses its "depth" and "vibrancy", and darker scenes may appear slightly washed out. However, this is a typical characteristic of VA panels, which provide significantly better native contrast than IPS panels in return. In short: something for something. If you are sitting directly in front of the screen, there will be no problem. But when watching together in a larger group, it is worth keeping this in mind.

TV efficiency during daytime

6.3/10

6.6/10

Matrix coating
Satin
Satin
Reflection suppression
Average
Good
Black levels during daytime
Good
Very Good

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

Samsung QN80F: 543 cd/m2

TCL MQLED85 / C765: 618 cd/m2

MQLED85 performs reasonably well in daytime conditions, and it is worth noting the satin finish of the panel. Although it doesn't handle reflections perfectly, it offers decent performance in various lighting conditions. An average brightness level of over 600 nits is an impressive achievement, allowing for comfortable viewing even in well-lit rooms. As a result, the television performs well both during the day and during evening movie sessions, providing satisfactory picture quality.

The QN80F is truly a bright television. The average brightness in SDR content is around 550 nits, regardless of the scene, which in practice means that you can comfortably watch content even in a well-lit room – and you don’t have to close the blinds every time you turn on a film. The new satin coating on the panel also deserves praise, as it performs significantly better at reducing reflections compared to last year’s QN80D. Glare is less bothersome, and the screen maintains readability in various lighting conditions. It’s hard to find fault here – the QN80F performs simply excellently during the day.

Details about the matrix

Backlight Type
Mini-LED QLED
Mini-LED QLED
Software version during testing
V8-T653T01-LF1R134
T-PTMFDEUC-0090-1110.8, E2500007, BT-S
Image processor
MT5896 2,5GB RAM

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity:

TCL MQLED85 / C765

Samsung QN80F

TV features

7.1/10

7.5/10

  • HDMI inputs
    2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
    0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
  • Other inputs
    RCA (Chinch)
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    No
    No
  • Recording programming
    No
    No
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    No
    Yes
  • RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen)
    RF
    RF
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio only mode
    No
    Yes
  • Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV
    Yes
    Yes
  • Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker
    Yes
    Yes

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    Yes
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Wyszukiwanie głosowe
    No
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    Yes
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes

TCL MQLED85 television offers many features that enhance user comfort, with the centrepiece of its functionality being the Google TV system. This modern interface allows for easy content searching as well as access to applications available in the Google Play store. Users can utilize voice search in Polish, which greatly facilitates navigation and allows for the quick discovery of interesting programmes, films, or applications. It is also worth noting that Google TV is currently the only system on the market that does not restrict Polish users in accessing applications, offering the greatest availability among all platforms. However, in the context of traditional television viewing, this television has its limitations. It does not offer recording functionality, which may be a significant drawback for those who would like to save their favourite programmes. Additionally, the absence of the Picture-in-Picture (PIP) option limits the ability to simultaneously follow several video sources. On the other hand, the television features the "MultiVision" function, which allows for screen division between the television and a mobile device. This enables users to use applications on their phone while simultaneously watching a television programme. This solution will certainly appeal to those who enjoy multitasking and want to watch television while using social media or browsing the internet on their smartphone. Despite certain limitations, the TCL MQLED85 presents itself as a solid option for users who value modernity and functionality.

SmartTV QN80F: Tizen

In terms of smart features, the QN80F has nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary – Tizen is one of the richest operating systems when it comes to functionality. We have voice search, support for AirPlay, Miracast, and all the major streaming platforms at our fingertips. But Samsung's true advantage reveals itself in the smart home – SmartThings. Here you can not only synchronise light bulbs and vacuum robots but also integrate devices from other manufacturers, thanks to support for the Matter standard. And suddenly it turns out that the QN80F can serve as a home command centre. There is just one "but" – Tizen is a closed system, so we may not find a few lesser-known applications. Although in practice it has everything that 99% of users need.

Classic TV features:

When it comes to classic features, it is just as good – well, almost. The QN80F supports picture-in-picture, which is a rarely seen but still useful PiP function. We can easily find the EPG, good old teletext (yes, it works!), and the ability to connect external devices via Bluetooth – whether it's headphones or a soundbar. Unfortunately, there is a lack of the option to record to USB from the built-in tuners. This is a minor setback, especially since the competition at a similar price increasingly offers this feature. It may not be a must-have function, but since everything else works so well, it's a pity that this feature is missing a dot over the i.

Playing files from USB

8.9/10

8.4/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
No
No
PNG
Yes
No
GIF
Yes
No
WebP
Yes
No
TIFF
No
No
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
Yes
12 Mpix
Yes
Yes
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
Yes
Yes
24 Mpix
Yes
Yes
28 Mpix
Yes
Yes
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

Thanks to the built-in player, the television is capable of playing most file formats found on external storage devices, making it a versatile tool for consuming multimedia. However, there may be certain limitations in supporting some formats, which could be annoying for more demanding users. Fortunately, the Google TV system allows the installation of other media players from Google Play, which helps eliminate compatibility issues. As a result, users have the option to choose applications that best meet their needs, significantly enhancing the functionality of the television.

The built-in media player in the QN80F handles most popular video formats – from classic MP4 to slightly more demanding containers. It may not be a powerhouse like VLC, but it's perfectly adequate for home use. The situation is less impressive with photographs – here, unfortunately, it's rather modest. Support is mainly limited to the JPG format, but hey, at least that's the most important one 👌. During our tests, there was also a slight issue with subtitles. The QN80F could only handle the simple text format .txt – other, more advanced formats (like .srt or .sub) were unfortunately not recognised.

Apps

9.6/10

8.7/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
No
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
OK
Apple_music
No
Eleven_sports
OK
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
OK
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link

Sound

6.9/10

6.7/10

  • Subjective sound quality:
    6.9/10
    6.7/10
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1:
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1:
    No
    No
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC):
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD:
    No
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA:
    Yes
    No
  • DTS-HD Master Audio:
    Yes
    No

The sound of the television TCL MQLED85 can be described as decent, making it sufficient for daily viewing of films, television programmes, and games. The speakers branded by Onkyo offer surprisingly good audio quality, and the sound does not screech or distort even at higher volumes.

For a television of this class, the QN80F sounds surprisingly good. It supports the Dolby Atmos format, which is worth noting, as this is still not a given in many models in this range. Unlike the thinner QN70F, here you can even feel a slight bass – all thanks to the thicker casing, which simply provides more space for the sound to "breathe." It's perfectly adequate for everyday viewing and series, and with the right settings, one can even be tempted to listen to music without the need for external equipment. However – as is often the case with Samsung, there is unfortunately a lack of support for the DTS:X format, so if we are using audio devices that support this format, we will first need to connect them to the amplifier and only then to the television.