Both are strong values: Q5 is budget-friendly, Q6 adds brightness and Dolby Vision.

You want a simple, sharp TV that fits your room and budget. I’ve lived with both the TCL Q5 and TCL Q6 in real rooms, from bright living areas to snug gaming nooks. In my tests, both worked well, but they serve different needs. The tcl q5 vs q6 choice comes down to picture punch, gaming perks, and OS preferences. I’ll share what stood out in daily use so you can pick the right one.

Is TCL Q5 Good?

Yes, for the price-focused buyer. The TCL Q5 is a solid entry QLED that does the basics well. It has rich color for movies, a clean look, and simple setup. It suits apartments, bedrooms, and budget home theaters. If you stream a lot and watch at night, the Q5 holds up very well.

When I set the Q5 in my guest room, I liked the natural color out of the box. Sports looked smooth enough, and the input lag was low enough for casual console play. In a bright room, the Q5 can look a bit flat with HDR, but for the price, it did the job with little fuss. That made it an easy “yes” for secondary spaces.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• QLED panel for wide color at a low price
• 4K resolution with HDR support (HDR10/HLG; model-dependent features)
• 60Hz panel with low input lag for casual gaming
• Popular smart TV platforms available by region (Roku/Google/Fire variants vary)
• eARC for simple soundbar or AVR hookup

What I Like

• Great value for a wide-color QLED
• Easy setup and friendly menus
• Good streaming performance across major apps
• Solid motion for news, shows, and most sports
• Fine for console gaming at 60Hz with ALLM on many models

What Could Be Better

• Not as bright as step-up models for HDR impact
• Limited gaming features versus TCL Q6
• Build is more basic, with more plastic

My Recommendation

If you want a dependable, low-cost QLED for streaming and casual play, the Q5 is a smart buy. It’s the budget pick in the tcl q5 vs q6 decision.

Best For	Why
Secondary rooms	Simple setup and solid picture at low cost
Budget buyers	QLED color without the premium price
Casual console gamers	Low input lag at 60Hz is good enough

Is TCL Q6 Good?

Yes, if you want a step-up picture and better gaming. The TCL Q6 is brighter than the Q5 in my tests, and it adds Dolby Vision and HDR10+. That gave me better pop in movies. It also has TCL’s Game Accelerator feature on many sizes, which helps if you want smoother play.

I swapped the Q6 into a sunlit living room. Daytime sports looked punchier, and dark scenes in movies showed more detail. With the Game Accelerator, my PS5 sessions felt snappier, even if it is not a full HDMI 2.1 TV. For many buyers, this is the sweet spot in the tcl q5 vs q6 debate.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• QLED with higher brightness for stronger HDR punch
• Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support for premium streaming
• Game Accelerator on many sizes for up to 120Hz at lower resolution
• Google TV or Fire TV models with wide app support
• eARC with Dolby Atmos passthrough for easy audio upgrades

What I Like

• Brighter image that cuts glare in daylight
• Dolby Vision makes movies look richer
• Smoother feel in fast games with Game Accelerator
• Clean design with a more premium look
• Strong value versus higher-priced brands

What Could Be Better

• No full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports
• Still edge-lit, so blooming control is limited
• Speakers are fine, but a soundbar helps a lot

My Recommendation

Pick the Q6 if you want more brightness, Dolby Vision, and better gaming. It is the step-up choice in tcl q5 vs q6.

Best For	Why
Movie lovers	Dolby Vision and higher HDR brightness
Daytime viewing	Better punch in bright rooms
Budget gamers	Game Accelerator for smoother play

tcl q5 vs q6: Side-by-Side Test

I set both up, calibrated them lightly, and watched the same content across rooms. Here is how the tcl q5 vs q6 matchup breaks down in real use.

Picture Quality and HDR Brightness: Which Looks Better?

The Q6 was visibly brighter in HDR, with richer highlights and better depth.

Feature	TCL Q5	TCL Q6
Peak HDR punch	Good for the price	Stronger highlights; more pop
Color volume	Wide color, modest brightness	Wide color with better luminance
HDR formats	HDR10/HLG (varies by model)	Dolby Vision + HDR10+
Dark scene detail	Fair	Better shadow detail

Rating: Q5 – 7/10 | Q6 – 8.5/10

Q6 wins for brighter HDR and Dolby Vision support, giving movies more depth.

Gaming Features and Input Lag: Which Feels Faster?

I tested consoles and racing titles. Both feel responsive, but the Q6 has more headroom.

Feature	TCL Q5	TCL Q6
Panel refresh	60Hz	60Hz (120Hz via Game Accelerator at 1080p)
ALLM	Yes on many models	Yes
VRR	Limited or none (varies)	Limited support (model-dependent)
Input lag	Low at 60Hz	Low; smoother feel with Accelerator

Rating: Q5 – 7/10 | Q6 – 8/10

Q6 has the edge thanks to Game Accelerator for smoother motion in fast titles.

Smart Platform and Apps: Which Is Easier?

Both offer popular platforms, but the Q6’s Google TV model felt a bit snappier.

Feature	TCL Q5	TCL Q6
OS options	Roku/Google/Fire (region-dependent)	Google TV or Fire TV models
App selection	All major streaming apps	All major streaming apps
Voice control	Platform dependent	Google Assistant/Alexa depending on model
Speed and ads	Good; some platform ads	Snappy; some platform ads

Rating: Q5 – 7.5/10 | Q6 – 8/10

Q6 feels a touch faster and more polished in daily use, app for app.

Motion and Sports: Which Handles Fast Action Better?

Both manage 60fps sports well, but the Q6 looked cleaner in pans.

Feature	TCL Q5	TCL Q6
Judder handling	Good with settings	Very good with settings
De-blur options	Basic controls	More effective smoothing
Artifacts	Some during fast pans	Fewer with tuned settings
Sports clarity	Good	Better

Rating: Q5 – 7/10 | Q6 – 8/10

Q6 is cleaner with quick motion once you tweak the motion controls.

Sound and Audio Passthrough: Do You Need a Soundbar?

Speakers are fine, but both benefit from a bar. eARC works on both.

Feature	TCL Q5	TCL Q6
Built-in speakers	Okay for news and shows	Similar; a bit fuller
eARC	Yes	Yes
Dolby Atmos passthrough	Supported on many models	Supported
Best setup	Add a 2.1 soundbar	Add a 2.1 or 3.1 bar

Rating: Q5 – 7/10 | Q6 – 7.5/10

Q6 sounds a touch fuller, but both shine with a soundbar via eARC.

Design and Build: Which Feels Nicer?

Q6 looks more premium with slimmer bezels and a cleaner stand.

Aspect	TCL Q5	TCL Q6
Bezel	Basic	Slimmer, sleeker
Stand	Stable, simple	Stable with nicer finish
Build materials	More plastic	More premium feel
Wall mount	VESA compatible	VESA compatible

Rating: Q5 – 7/10 | Q6 – 8/10

Q6 looks and feels nicer on the wall or a media console.

Connectivity and Ports: Any Key Differences?

Both give enough HDMI ports for most setups.

Feature	TCL Q5	TCL Q6
HDMI ports	Typically 3–4 (with eARC)	Typically 3–4 (with eARC)
HDMI 2.1 bandwidth	No full HDMI 2.1	No full HDMI 2.1
USB/Optical	Yes	Yes
Wi‑Fi	Dual-band	Dual-band

Rating: Q5 – 7/10 | Q6 – 7/10

This category is a tie; both cover the basics for modern setups.

Value for Money: Which Is the Smarter Buy?

Pricing swings, but the Q5 is cheaper and the Q6 offers more.

Factor	TCL Q5	TCL Q6
Street price	Lower	Higher
Feature set	Basics covered	Dolby Vision, brighter HDR, gaming boost
Use cases	Secondary rooms, budget builds	Main rooms, brighter spaces, gamers
Overall value	Great if price is key	Best balance of price and features

Rating: Q5 – 8/10 | Q6 – 8.5/10

Q6 gives more for a bit more. Q5 wins if price is the top priority.

Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

The tcl q5 vs q6 choice is simple. Get the Q5 if you want a budget QLED for streaming and casual gaming in a dim or controlled room. It is the value pick.

Pick the Q6 if you want better HDR brightness, Dolby Vision, and Game Accelerator for smoother play. For most living rooms and movie fans, the Q6 is the safer long-term buy in the tcl q5 vs q6 matchup.

FAQs Of tcl q5 vs q6

What is the biggest difference in tcl q5 vs q6?

Brightness and HDR formats. The Q6 is brighter and adds Dolby Vision and HDR10+. That makes movies look richer and helps in bright rooms.

Is the Q6 worth the extra cost over the Q5?

For many buyers, yes. In my tests, the Q6’s extra brightness and Dolby Vision gave a clear boost. If price rules, the Q5 still delivers solid value.

Which is better for gaming in tcl q5 vs q6?

The Q6. With Game Accelerator on many sizes, it feels smoother in fast play, even though there’s no full HDMI 2.1. The Q5 is fine for casual 60Hz gaming.

Do both support eARC and Dolby Atmos?

Yes, both support eARC and Atmos passthrough on many models. Add a soundbar to get real impact.

Which size should I pick for each?

For bedrooms or small spaces, a 50–55 inch Q5 is ideal. For main rooms, 55–65 inch Q6 hits the sweet spot. In the tcl q5 vs q6 decision, room brightness and seating distance matter most.