TCL vs Samsung TV: Which 55-Inch TV Should You Buy in 2026?

By TwelveTabs · Updated

Illustration: two plain thin flat-screen televisions on matching stands in a living room, one slightly larger, drawn as a soft 3D render. Not a real product.

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Our top picks

Most people should get the TCL QM6K. It lists more brightness, a native 144 Hz panel and Dolby Vision, and costs $248 more. Get the Samsung M70H if the lowest price matters most.

We compared the best-selling 55-inch Mini-LED TV from each brand that Amazon sells new today. Amazon.com sells both. They are not in the same price tier, because the Samsung is its entry Mini-LED line, and that gap is part of the choice.

The method

How this pick was made

TCL 55 Inch QM6K Series QLED Mini LED 4K HDR Smart Google TV, 55QM6K, 144HZ, IMAX Enhanced, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos Audio is the top pick. This is the work behind that choice.

  1. 2Amazon search results read, across 1 search
  2. 2finalist pages read in full
  3. 16shopper reviews read
  4. 1expert source cross-checked: TechRadar

Run on October 17, 2026. AI read the listings and what shoppers say, then wrote this guide. Full method and limits

Our picks in detail

TCL 55 Inch QM6K Series QLED Mini LED 4K HDR Smart Google TV, 55QM6K, 144HZ, IMAX Enhanced, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos Audio

Best overall

TCL 55 Inch QM6K Series QLED Mini LED 4K HDR Smart Google TV, 55QM6K, 144HZ, IMAX Enhanced, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos Audio

Best for: Most people: more brightness, a 144 Hz panel and Dolby Vision for $248 more

  • $547.99
  • Pros A native 144 Hz panel, and two of four HDMI ports run at 144 Hz, per the listing
  • Cons $248 more than the Samsung M70H
View on Amazon

Prices and ratings as of October 17, 2026.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • A native 144 Hz panel, and two of four HDMI ports run at 144 Hz, per the listing
  • 1,000 nits of listed peak brightness and local dimming up to LD500
  • Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HDR10 are all listed
  • HDMI eARC is listed, and there is an Onkyo speaker system with a built-in subwoofer
  • Amazon's summary says owners praise its clarity, brightness and value

Cons

  • $248 more than the Samsung M70H
  • Some owners report Bluetooth that keeps disconnecting, and apps that exit or switch inputs on their own
  • Amazon's summary says a few owners had a set that would not turn on
  • One owner dislikes a glowing light under the screen, and another finds the speakers weak
  • Its ratings pool every size from 50 to 98 inches
Samsung 55-Inch Class M70H Series, Mini LED, 4K, Smart TV, 2026 Model, Samsung Vision AI Companion, Mini LED Processor 4K, Motion Xcelerator + DLG 120Hz

Best Shoppers who want a 2026 Samsung Mini-LED for the lowest price

Samsung 55-Inch Class M70H Series, Mini LED, 4K, Smart TV, 2026 Model, Samsung Vision AI Companion, Mini LED Processor 4K, Motion Xcelerator + DLG 120Hz

  • $299.99
  • Pros $248 less than the TCL, and sold by Amazon
  • Cons Samsung says its dimming is software-based, not full-array hardware
View on Amazon

Prices and ratings as of October 17, 2026.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • $248 less than the TCL, and sold by Amazon
  • A 2026 model with a Mini LED processor and HDR10+
  • HDMI eARC is listed on HDMI 1
  • Lighter at 22.5 lb with a 200 x 200 mm wall mount
  • Amazon's summary says owners praise the picture and find it good value

Cons

  • Samsung says its dimming is software-based, not full-array hardware
  • The listing says 120 Hz comes from a mode that lowers image sharpness, and gives a 60 Hz figure elsewhere
  • No Dolby Vision, peak brightness or HDMI 2.1 shown on the page
  • Owners report a laggy system and a remote some find complicated
  • Two owners received a cracked or smashed screen, and the listing's delivery date is November 8

Compare the picks

Prices and ratings as of October 17, 2026. They change often, so check today's price on Amazon.

Our picks, side by side
PictureProductOutcome
1TCL 55 Inch QM6K Series QLED Mini LED 4K HDR Smart Google TV, 55QM6K, 144HZ, IMAX Enhanced, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos AudioTCL 55 Inch QM6K Series QLED Mini LED 4K HDR Smart Google TV, 55QM6K, 144HZ, IMAX Enhanced, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos AudioScreen: 55 in Mini-LED QLED, 1,000 nits listed · Refresh rate: 144 Hz native · HDMI: 4 ports, 2 at 144 Hz, eARC · Weight: 27.3 lbPrice $547.99Not listedRating Not listedNot listedWinner. Best for: Most people: more brightness, a 144 Hz panel and Dolby Vision for $248 more
2Samsung 55-Inch Class M70H Series, Mini LED, 4K, Smart TV, 2026 Model, Samsung Vision AI Companion, Mini LED Processor 4K, Motion Xcelerator + DLG 120HzSamsung 55-Inch Class M70H Series, Mini LED, 4K, Smart TV, 2026 Model, Samsung Vision AI Companion, Mini LED Processor 4K, Motion Xcelerator + DLG 120HzScreen: 55 in Mini-LED, brightness not listed · Refresh rate: 120 Hz in one row, 60 Hz in another · HDMI: 3 ports, eARC on HDMI 1 · Weight: 22.5 lbPrice $299.99Not listedRating Not listedNot listedBest for: Shoppers who want a 2026 Samsung Mini-LED for the lowest price

The short version

  • Want the best picture for the money? The TCL QM6K. TechRadar’s tester found a TCL mini-LED brighter, with more depth, than a Samsung QLED.
  • Want the lowest price? The Samsung M70H is $299.99 against $547.99.
  • Play on a console or PC? The TCL lists a native 144 Hz panel and two HDMI ports at 144 Hz.
  • Want Dolby Vision? Only the TCL lists it. The Samsung lists HDR10+.
  • Need it soon? The Samsung listing showed delivery as soon as November 8. The TCL showed tomorrow.

How to choose between them

TechRadar put a TCL Mini-LED beside a Samsung QLED and found the TCL much brighter, with more depth and stronger contrast. It also found the Samsung’s backlight clouded the screen where the TCL’s dimming could reduce it, though budget Mini-LED can still show blooming around bright objects. TechRadar called the TCL the easy recommendation on value. It compared other models, so read it as a view on the brands.

  • Price. The TCL is $547.99 and the Samsung $299.99 today.
  • Seller. Amazon.com sells both.
  • Brightness. The TCL lists 1,000 nits. The Samsung lists none.
  • HDMI. The TCL has 4 ports. The Samsung has 3 and 4K at 60 Hz on its HDMI.
  • Smart TV. Google TV on the TCL, Tizen on the Samsung.
  • Weight. 27.3 lb against 22.5 lb.

What owners complain about

  • On the TCL QM6K: Bluetooth that keeps reconnecting, voice assistant prompts that appear on their own, apps that exit or switch inputs, hesitation when apps load, a glowing light under the screen, and speakers some find weak.
  • On the Samsung M70H: a laggy system, a remote some find complicated, speakers that lack a little, two sets that arrived cracked or smashed, and adhesive left from a screen protector.
  • On both: ratings pool every screen size, so some complaints may come from other sizes.

What we left out, and why

We read two listings and 16 reviews.

  • Samsung M80H, QN70F and QN70H. Pricier Samsung sets on the search page. We did not open them.
  • A renewed Samsung QN70F. Rejected, because it was renewed only.
  • TCL QM7L and QM64L. Other TCL sets at $697.99 and $549.99. We did not open them.
  • Sizes other than 55 inches. Picks and prices may differ at 65 inches and up.

How we researched

On October 17, 2026 we read the Amazon listing pages for a 55-inch TCL QM6K and a 55-inch Samsung M70H. We read each page's bullets and specs, Amazon's review summaries and the reviews we could see. We also read TechRadar's TCL mini-LED vs Samsung QLED comparison and checked Google's top results for this question. AI wrote this guide from that research.

These two TVs are not in the same price tier: the Samsung is its entry Mini-LED line, and Amazon showed no cheaper TCL at 55 inches in our read and no Samsung Q7-class set. Only one visible 1 to 3 star review appeared on the two pages, a non-US one with no detail, so most complaints come from critical lines inside 4 and 5 star reviews. Both ratings pool every size. The Samsung listing gives conflicting refresh rates and no brightness, zone or Dolby Vision information, and its delivery date was a long way out. TechRadar compared a TCL Q6C with a Samsung Q8F, not these models, so we use it for how the brands differ.

Prices, ratings and review counts come from Amazon and were read on October 17, 2026.

Sources

Why trust TwelveTabs

  • What this guide rests on: 2 Amazon search results, 16 shopper reviews and 1 expert source.
  • No brand paid for a place on this list.
  • Dated, not timeless: the research was read and this page updated on October 17, 2026.
  • The limits of the research are written down, in how we researched.

How TwelveTabs researches its guides

Frequently asked questions

Is TCL as good as Samsung?

At this price, TechRadar’s tester found a TCL Mini-LED brighter and better in contrast than a Samsung QLED. The TCL lists more brightness and HDMI features here. The Samsung lists the lower price.

Which has better gaming features?

The TCL, on the listings: a native 144 Hz panel and two 144 Hz HDMI ports. The Samsung lists 4K at 60 Hz on HDMI and 120 Hz from a mode that lowers sharpness.

Is the Samsung M70H a good cheap TV?

It is the cheapest Mini-LED here, at $299.99, and Amazon’s summary says owners like the picture. It lacks a brightness figure and Dolby Vision on its page.

How did TwelveTabs choose between them?

We read the Amazon listings for one TCL and one Samsung Mini-LED TV, their spec lists, Amazon’s review summaries and the reviews we could see, plus TechRadar’s comparison. We put the facts side by side and checked each against its listing.

For a head-to-head of two other brands, see our Samsung vs LG TV guide.

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