Head to head
Hisense U7SG vs TCL QM7L
The two best-value Mini-LED TVs of 2026 at the same price and size. The QM7L has richer color; the U7SG has four HDMI 2.1 ports, 165 Hz, and a matte screen. Here is how to choose.
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These are the two Mini-LED TVs most people end up choosing between in 2026: both 65 inches, both around the same street price, both with real local dimming, Dolby Vision IQ, and HDR10+. Tom's Guide tested them side by side and scored them a tie. The TCL's quantum-dot layer gives it noticeably richer color; the Hisense gets brighter, has twice the HDMI 2.1 ports, and its matte screen handles glare better. The one question that decides it: is this a gaming setup with more than one console, or a TV mostly for shows and movies?
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Bright rooms, gaming on a budget | Vivid color and bright HDR on a budget |
| Price tier | Budget | Budget |
| Sizes available | 55, 65, 75, 85, 100 in | 55, 65, 75, 85, 98 in |
| Panel | Mini-LED QLED (VA) | SQD Mini-LED QLED (VA) |
| Dimming zones | Not published | Up to 2,100+ (mfr, varies by size) |
| Peak HDR brightness (Tom's Guide, 10% window) | 2,866 nits | 2,270 nits |
| Color (Rec.2020 coverage, Tom's Guide) | 82.8 percent | 90.3 percent |
| Refresh | 4K 165 Hz | 4K 144 Hz |
| HDMI 2.1 inputs | 4 (all full bandwidth) | 2 of 4; 2 more at HDMI 2.0 |
| Input lag | Not published; VRR to 165 Hz | 9.4 ms (4K60) |
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ | Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ |
| Screen finish | Matte anti-reflection | Semi-gloss; reflections handled decently |
| Platform | Google TV | Google TV |
Picture: color against brightness
The QM7L's advantage is color. Its SQD quantum-dot layer covered about 90 percent of the Rec.2020 color space in Tom's Guide's testing against about 83 percent for the U7SG, and on bright, saturated content like animation, sports kits, and nature films the difference is easy to see.
The U7SG fights back with brightness: Tom's Guide measured about 2,870 nits on a 10 percent window against about 2,270 for the QM7L. RTINGS also preferred the U7SG's out-of-the-box accuracy, upscaling, and motion handling, and found the QM7L's HDR overbright unless you adjust it.
Glare and room light
The U7SG's matte anti-reflection coating diffuses windows and lamps instead of mirroring them, and RTINGS rates it the better of the two for a bright room. The QM7L handles reflections decently, but in a sunny room facing windows the Hisense is the safer choice.
Both are VA panels with local dimming, so both show a little glow around subtitles in dark scenes and both look best from straight in front.
Gaming and HDMI ports
This is the clearest difference. The U7SG has four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 inputs and runs to 165 Hz, so two consoles, a PC, and a receiver all get 4K120. The QM7L has two HDMI 2.1 inputs; the other two are HDMI 2.0 and top out at 4K60.
If you have one console, the QM7L is excellent: 9.4 ms of input lag, 144 Hz, VRR, and FreeSync Premium Pro. If you have two consoles or a PC plus a console, the Hisense avoids swapping cables.
Price and sizes
Both come in 55, 65, 75, and 85 inches, with a 100-inch U7SG and a 98-inch QM7L at the top. In October 2026 the 65-inch models sold for within about 50 dollars of each other, so buy on features rather than price, and check both before you order because sales swing the gap either way.
Pick the Hisense U7SG 65-inch if
- You have two consoles, or a PC and a console, and want every input at full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
- The room is bright or has windows facing the screen.
- You want the more accurate picture out of the box without adjusting settings.
Pick the TCL QM7L 65-inch if
- You want the richest color you can get at this price.
- You have one console and a streaming box, so two HDMI 2.1 ports are enough.
- The room can be dimmed in the evening, where the QM7L's color and contrast look their best.
Verdict
Buy the TCL QM7L if you want the most vivid picture at this price and have no more than one console; its color is the best in the budget tier and Tom's Guide named it the best Mini-LED TV of 2026. Buy the Hisense U7SG for a bright room or a multi-console setup, because the matte screen and four full HDMI 2.1 ports are things the QM7L cannot match. The exception is a dedicated dark theater, where an OLED such as the LG C6 or Samsung S90F is the better buy for a few hundred dollars more.
Common questions
- Which is better, the U7SG or the QM7L?
- They are very close. Tom's Guide scored them a tie and picked the QM7L for its color; RTINGS leans toward the U7SG for glare handling, accuracy, and motion. Choose on your room and your HDMI needs.
- Which is brighter?
- The U7SG. Tom's Guide measured about 2,870 nits on a 10 percent window against about 2,270 for the QM7L. Both are bright enough for a living room in the daytime.
- Is the QM7L good for PS5 and Xbox?
- Yes, for one console. It has 9.4 ms of input lag, 144 Hz, and VRR, but only two HDMI 2.1 ports. With two consoles and a receiver, the U7SG's four full-bandwidth ports are easier.
- What is the difference between the QM7L and the QM8L?
- The QM8L gets considerably brighter, has nearly twice the dimming zones for less blooming, and has four HDMI 2.1 inputs. Color and input lag are nearly identical. See our QM7L vs QM8L comparison for the step up.
- Is the QM7L the same as the QM7L Pro?
- No. The QM7L Pro is a separate model sold through Costco with four HDMI 2.1 inputs and the QM8L's processor. This comparison covers the standard QM7L.