TechRadar highlights three notable Mini-LED televisions at varied price points, signalling a market shift where advanced backlighting features are increasingly accessible to mainstream consumers seeking better brightness and HDR performance without premium prices.
TechRadar’s latest television round-up, highlighted by Focus, points to three sets that stand out at very different price levels: the TCL QM8L, Roku Plus Series and Hisense U8QG. Together they reflect a broader shift in the market, where Mini-LED backlighting is no longer reserved only for premium flagships and is increasingly appearing in models aimed at mainstream buyers. The common thread is strong brightness, solid HDR support and a clear emphasis on value rather than headline-grabbing luxury features.
The TCL QM8L is the most accomplished of the trio. TechRadar says it delivers flagship-style brightness, strong contrast and very effective halo control, with little visible blooming around bright objects on dark scenes. RTINGS also praises its peak brightness and contrast, and notes support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which gives it broad HDR compatibility. It is also well suited to gaming, with low input lag and fast refresh support, although the set is not perfect: colour accuracy is good rather than class-leading, and it offers only a limited number of HDMI ports. Even so, the balance of picture quality and price makes it one of the clearest all-round recommendations.
For buyers watching their spending, the Roku Plus Series is the more affordable option, positioned as a strong value pick under $500. Its QLED panel and Mini-LED backlight give it better contrast and deeper blacks than many budget televisions, but TechRadar’s testing suggests it remains a compromise. Brightness is decent, yet reflections can be an issue in brighter rooms, sound is merely adequate, and the standard 60Hz panel will not satisfy users looking for a high-end gaming display. The Hisense U8QG sits nearer the premium end of the value market and, according to TechRadar and RTINGS, is the most compelling choice for bright-room viewing. It combines high peak brightness, low reflectivity, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, plus 4K at 165Hz for gaming. Its drawbacks are familiar ones for this class: only three HDMI ports, average viewing angles and bass that does not fully match the rest of the package.
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