I stumbled upon Mini LED TVs at an electronics exhibition and was amazed by how well TVs have improved! Mini LED TVs are now all large-screen, with picture and sound quality that's truly exceptional. Besides watching movies and TV shows, they can also be used for karaoke, gaming, and various smart features, which completely won me over!
With Singles' Day approaching, it's the perfect time to buy a Mini LED TV, and I'm thinking of getting an 85-inch model to enhance my viewing experience! But when it came time to place an order, I found myself struggling to choose. There are so many Mini LED TVs on the market, and I didn't know which one to pick.
So I did a lot of research, learning how to read specifications and reading reviews from various bloggers. I finally settled on three popular new models this year: Skyworth A6E, TCL Q9K, and Hisense E8N. These three Mini LED TVs are from reputable manufacturers, so I don't need to worry about their quality.
This article compares three TVs to help you choose the one that best suits your needs. I'll share the review process with you, and you can use it as a reference if you're also considering buying a Mini LED TV:
First TV: Skyworth 85A6E Mini LED TV
Second TV: TCL 85Q9K Mini LED TV
Third TV: Hisense 85E8N Mini LED TV
I. Mini LED TV Concept Explained In case you're unfamiliar with Mini LED TVs, here's a brief explanation.
Before Mini LED TVs, most of us used LED TVs. LED technology uses internal LED beads to emit light and create colorful screen images.
Mini LED technology essentially "shrinks" the internal LED beads, allowing for a larger number of LED beads within the same screen size. Simply put, it's like having more "employees" in a department—better allocation of resources. Mini LED technology enables more precise screen scheduling, improving picture quality.
II. Comparison of Three Mini LED TVs: Backlight Zones and Peak Brightness
Backlight zones and peak brightness are the most important indicators when purchasing a Mini LED TV.
Backlight zones refer to the number of independent zones divided by the TV's backlight LEDs. A higher number of zones results in richer image detail, smoother light and shadow transitions, and avoids issues like washed-out colors or uneven color rendering.
Peak brightness refers to the highest brightness achievable in a specific area of the screen. High peak brightness enhances screen detail and realism. (See image below: left has lower peak brightness; right has higher peak brightness)
Comparison of Backlight Zones among these three 85-inch TVs: Skyworth 85A6E > TCL 85Q9K = Hisense 85E8N, with 1800 and 1536 zones respectively.
A TV screen with over 1000 backlight zones can already present a very clear and detailed image. The Skyworth A6E reaches nearly 2000 backlight zones, which is truly impressive.
In terms of peak brightness, Hisense 85 E8N > Skyworth 85A6E > TCL 85Q9K, at 4000 nits, 3800 nits, and 2400 nits respectively. The peak brightness of the Hisense E8N and Skyworth A6E is actually quite similar, while the TCL TV is slightly inferior compared to the other two.
While high-brightness Mini LED TVs can improve the display effect, they can also easily cause eye fatigue and harm.
The Skyworth A6E is very considerate in terms of eye protection. It not only has five eye protection functions but also a self-developed "Comfort Mode" to relieve eye dryness and fatigue, reducing eye strain while watching TV. This is a feature not found in the other two Mini LED TVs.
III. TV Screen All three TVs have 4K ultra-high-definition resolution screens, ensuring that every detail of the picture is clearly visible. It also supports a 288Hz ultra-high refresh rate, which will be a dream come true for gamers, as the high refresh rate reduces lag and stuttering.
All three TVs use excellent screens. The TCL Q9K uses a wide-viewing-angle ultra-high-resolution screen with high contrast and a wide color gamut, boasting 98% DCI-P3 quantum dot wide color gamut, providing rich colors.
The Hisense E8N uses an ultra-low reflective obsidian screen, which reduces ambient light interference, making blacks purer. Its color gamut is slightly lower than the other two, at 95% DCI-P3 standard color gamut.
The Skyworth A6E's screen is a pleasant surprise. It collaborates with BOE, a world-leading screen brand, using a custom BOE S+ high-transparency screen, improving light transmittance and contrast for a brighter picture. It's also more energy-efficient! The BOE custom S+ high-transparency screen easily eliminates the halo and glare issues common in MiniLED TVs, resulting in a more comfortable viewing experience. Furthermore, it boasts a 107% DCI-P3 quantum dot wide color gamut, the widest among these three TVs.
IV. Picture Quality Chip
When choosing a MiniLED TV, the picture quality chip is also a crucial consideration. The picture quality chip is the core component used to enhance TV picture quality, improving performance in areas such as color, contrast, and sharpness.
For example, the TCL Q9K TV uses the Leading Radiance M2 chip, featuring over 20 picture quality calibration algorithms, resulting in excellent performance in color gamut and color accuracy.
Hisense E8N uses the XinXin AI chip: enabling AI super-sensing depth enhancement, optimizing image processing, and improving color accuracy.
When researching picture quality chips, it's clear that Skyworth A6E has put a lot of effort into it. It uses the G picture quality chip, integrating multiple advanced technologies such as AI picture quality enhancement, AI super resolution, 24P movie stabilization, and ambient light adaptation. This allows the screen to display deeper images in dark scenes and brighter images in bright scenes. It delivers a more immersive viewing experience. Fast-moving scenes are smooth and immersive without frame drops.
V. TV Sound Experience
A good TV emphasizes both visual and auditory excellence.
When researching the Skyworth A6E, many bloggers called it the "King of Audio-Visual Brilliance," which I initially thought was just hype. However, after carefully examining the Skyworth A6E's audio configuration, I found that its sound quality is indeed impressive. It's a TV with a built-in soundbar, boasting 15 speaker units and supporting Dolby Atmos. The sound is vivid and layered across the high, mid, and low frequencies, with a three-dimensional and saturated sound, delivering a very realistic sound effect. Furthermore, it's co-tuned with Harman, essentially turning your living room into a home theater.
The Hisense E8N and TCL Q9K TVs offer decent sound quality, supporting Dolby & DTS decoding, with clear positioning and a strong sense of immersion, providing a better listening experience.
Comparing the three, the Skyworth A6E's sound quality is significantly superior.
After comparing various aspects, I found that the Skyworth A6E truly deserves the title of "King of Sound Quality." Its performance in backlight zoning, eye protection features, and sound quality is outstanding. The Skyworth A6E is available in 85-inch, 75-inch, and 65-inch sizes. However, I personally prefer the 85-inch version and have already brought the 85-inch Skyworth A6E home. We're very happy with it, and my whole family loves it. If you're looking to choose a MiniLED TV, I hope this article has been helpful.