The TCL Q7 QLED TV appears to be in the sweet spot of the TCL 2023 TV; the TCL Q7 offers an attractive balance of features and price for a 4K HDR TV, unofficially taking over the role of the TCL 6 series within TCL's rebranded collection.

TCL has embraced the mini-LED market with sets like the TCL QM8, but its commitment to QLED has not waned. One of the best TVs, the TCL Q7, which is priced similarly to the TCL 6 series Roku TV (65R655), promises impressive gaming specs, latest generation local dimming controls, and excellent brightness. It also has a native remote control, as it is powered by Google TV instead of Roku.

We need to test the TCL Q7 QLED TV in our lab before drawing any conclusions. Until then, here's how this TV stacks up based on our hands-on impressions of its design, performance, and features.

The TCL Q7 QLED TV is available as of May 15 for $749.99 for the 55-inch and $2,199.99 for the 85-inch.

TCL's TVs are usually the best deals available from retailers like Amazon and Best Buy; since the Q7 is a new model, it will not be discounted initially, but it would not be surprising to see the first sale in a few weeks.

The TCL Q7 QLED TV has more premium design elements than expected. It is trimmed with brushed metal strips and has adjustable, reversible legs. This is preferable to the central stand design of the latest generation TCL 6 series for soundbar installations. Speaking of soundbars, the new TCL Q soundbar is proposed as a coordinating accessory for Q7 and other Q-line TVs.

On the back of the Q7 is a port array with one USB input and four HDMI inputs: two HDMI 2.1 inputs (one 4K/144Hz, one 4K/120Hz) and a dedicated HDMI eARC input. The full array of 2.1 ports is a standard on many premium OLED EL and QLED TVs, but the Q7's input options are versatile enough.

However, being dedicated to Google TV, the TCL Q7 is less versatile than the TCL 6 series (65R655), which features both Roku TV and Google TV models. Nevertheless, the deepening adoption of Google TV has improved the experience (Sony's TV platform was, after all, the one of choice), and TCL can now include its own remote control with the Q7. The biggest feature? The remote control is backlit.

The TCL Q7 has a 120Hz native panel with up to 200+ local dimming zones; TCL's AIPQ Engine Gen 3 controls these zones. Movie and show viewers can benefit from all major HDR formats and Dolby Vision IQ thanks to the built-in ambient light sensor. The set is also IMAX Enhanced certified.

But the set's specs stand out even more for gamers: TCL's Game Accelerator 240 enables VRR gaming experiences at up to 240 Hz. It also features Auto Game Mode (ALLM) and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro.

Benchmarking the TCL Q7 QLED TV allows us to see if these specs deliver on their promises and how this set handles a variety of content. In particular, we will pay close attention to HDR peak brightness, which is a highlight of the TCL 6 Series (65R655) and always an important metric for shoppers.

While the TCL QM8 is dazzling, the TCL Q7 QLED TV, which costs $700 less, may be one of the best 65-inch TVs you can get for under $1,000 this year. If your budget is limited, TCL has introduced the TCL S4 4K TV, which starts at just $279.99. Before we can recommend it, however, we need to run all of our benchmarks on the TCL Q7 Mini LED TV.

If you can't wait until then, the TCL 6 Series is a great option for only $550.