You Inquired: Mini LED versus OLED and tips for saving on smart TVs.

      In today's episode of You Asked: Is Mini LED a worthwhile investment compared to OLED? When should you consider saving your money for something other than a TV? And what are we anticipating at CES this year?

      Mini LED for a children's room: TCL QM7K vs QM6K

      TCL QM6K Zeke Jones / Digital Trends

      @rwings091 inquires: Is the 55-inch TCL QM7K worth the additional 250 Canadian dollars compared to the 55-inch QM6K for a kids' room? The kids will primarily be watching sports and playing on their Xbox Series X. Happy New Year to you and your family.

      Happy New Year to you as well, and thank you for your question. In this case, I would recommend the TCL QM6K. Although the QM7K is technically brighter and has slightly better contrast, I don’t think you’d regret choosing the QM6K. The difference wouldn’t be apparent unless you saw both models side by side at full brightness.

      Aside from brightness, the differences aren’t substantial enough to justify the extra cost, especially for a TV that won't serve as the main viewing screen in your home. A child would be thrilled to have a TV of the QM6K’s quality for gaming. I know I would have been excited to have something like that when I was younger.

      Moreover, with the extra $250 you save, I’d recommend investing in a quality all-in-one soundbar to enhance the gaming experience with better audio. Finding something impressive within that budget can be challenging, but if you catch a good sale or save that money for when you have a larger budget, upgrading audio is always a worthwhile investment.

      Understanding HDMI cables and eARC

      Digital Trends

      Kyle asks: What kind of HDMI cable is required for eARC?

      You will need a certified High Speed HDMI cable that supports HDMI 2.0, or you can opt for a certified HDMI 2.1 cable, which will ensure compatibility with all formats. Monoprice offers some excellent options that are also budget-friendly.

      In my view, as long as it doesn’t strain your finances, it's wise to invest in future-proofing. You never know what advancements in audio and video may arise that could necessitate HDMI 2.1’s enhanced bandwidth. It seems like a good time to prepare.

      OLED loyalty vs Mini LED value: Selecting a 75-inch TV

      LG B5 OLED TV Digital Trends

      Scott says: I currently have an LG 65B8 OLED from 2019, along with a smaller LG 55B* OLED. They’re still functioning well, so I'm moving them to other rooms and considering adding a 75-inch TV for my main viewing room (living room). I saw your reel about the LG OLED C5 and I’m considering it seriously, but here’s where I’m at:

      LG OLED 77C5. $1800 -$100 Best Buy promo brings it to $1700

      LG OLED 77B5. $1500 – $100 Best Buy promo reduces it to $1400

      TCL 75 QM6K $800

      Hisense U7 $1000

      At the moment, I can’t overlook the TCL given its price point. It's just under half the cost, and you’ve given it great reviews, along with others. However, your high ratings for LG make me reconsider TCL. I want to remain loyal to the brand, especially since my current LG models are nearly 7 years old. So I keep thinking I should stay with LG. If I choose TCL and save money, I could soon upgrade the other two TVs too. To add some context, this TV won’t be used for gaming; that TV will go upstairs, while the 55″ 2019 OLED will rotate up there. This television will mainly serve as a streaming device with a soundbar in a somewhat bright room that I can control. I’m uncertain, and I'd appreciate your input.

      Scott, thanks for the detailed info, and I have a few thoughts for you.

      You pointed out that all these TVs are well-rated, which is true because they are all excellent choices. When considering picture quality, features, or overall value, you really can’t go wrong.

      However, it’s also important to think about your preferences. You currently have OLED TVs. Even though they may be getting older, they still provide remarkable picture quality with deep blacks and excellent contrast. Transitioning from OLED to Mini LED, especially to the QM6K, which might be average in contrast, could be dissatisfying, and that wouldn’t be ideal.

      LG C5 Andre Revilla / Digital Trends

      Given that budget is clearly a significant factor, we can likely dismiss the LG C5 since it's the priciest option.

      I genuinely believe the LG B5 is the answer here. It offers OLED picture quality, premium features, and pays attention to LG’s quality control—all