Smart TVs have been relatively static in terms of big new features for a while. Screen quality keeps improving, the software keeps learning new tricks, but it’s pretty rare to get a new hardware feature. That’s why I was very excited to check out TCL’s QM9K series and, after a few months using this flagship TV from Google, its unique presence detection technology that turns on the TV every time I enter the room is still a really cool and perhaps a little useless combination.
The TCL QM9K It is, in essence, a flagship-level television. The device, which runs on Google TV, offers sizes ranging from 65 to 98 inches. I’ve been using the smallest option, that 65-inch sweet spot that most people use, for the past three months.
As for the actual TV, the quality is excellent.
Using TCL’s stellar QD-MiniLED setup, the panel itself is very high quality. It’s remarkably bright (up to 6,500 nits in HDR) and vivid, with deep blacks that continue to stave off my desire to try an OLED TV. For three months of everything from network television to vivid movies, I’ve been very Satisfied with the overall quality. Switch to vivid mode instead of the default power saving, which instantly boosts colors and brightness so you can really enjoy the full potential of your new TV. The viewing angles are the highlight here, as you don’t really lose color intensity or brightness when viewing from an off-angle angle. In a living room like mine, where someone might be sitting quite far from the “ideal” viewing window, this is much appreciated.
The TV hardware is also quite well thought out, if standard. It measures less than 2 inches thick and has slim bezels on each side, while also offering a center stand if you place it on a table surface. I opted for the wall mount and was pleased to see that the VESA mount here is in a “normal” position; In other words, you’re unlikely to place this TV on an existing stand and find that it doesn’t fit in the same place as a previous TV, as was the case with a recent Hisense model that I tested. The back is also relatively flat, which is good for mounting diagonal lighting strips (I’m using a Philips Hue option).
For ports and plugs, it has four HDMI inputs, one with Arc and one with full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, as well as Ethernet, optical audio, a pair of USB ports, and a 3.5mm auxiliary port. I wish there was some USB-C here to easily connect a laptop or tablet for screen mirroring, but I hope that becomes a standard over time.
The remote control is also pretty standard, with a premium-feeling part-metal finish and an intuitive layout. You’d think all TVs would have the latter right by now, but you’d be surprised how often a button will be in a place you just can’t figure out, so I appreciate that TCL’s design is easy to pick up and use without a second thought.
And then there’s Google TV.
As you’d expect from a flagship-level TV, the built-in Google TV experience is fast and smooth, and pretty much the same as what you’d get from a Google TV Streamer. TCL preloads a few apps that are mostly ignorable (although they all work well for their respective jobs) and also has its own Settings menu. TCL gets my kudos for the Settings overlay, which is fast and well-organized. I’ve never spent more than a second or two searching for an option to change, and it moves it to Google TV settings when appropriate.
TCL QM9K was also notably the first Google TV product to get Gemini when it launched last year. This has since expanded to Google TV Streamer, but it was never a “reason” to buy this TV in the first place – Gemini is replacing Assistant everywhere and all Google TV devices will make the switch eventually.
But the big story here is presence detection, a Google TV feature exclusive to the TCL QM9K series and one that I was very interested in.
On the front of the TCL QM9K is a radar-like presence sensor that can detect a human being in the room with it. The idea is to have a television that you can interact with environmentally. Enter the room and, without pressing any button, the television activates to show the typical Google TV screensaver with your photos. Move closer (for example, to the couch) and the screen lights up and displays a page with potentially useful information, such as the time, weather and news. If there is no one in the room, everything turns off completely. And you can also turn all this off at night.
It’s a cool idea, but I’m still a little unconvinced after a few months of using it.
The good thing I have found is the automation of on/off. It’s really nice that the TV automatically turns on and off depending on who is in the room, no remote required. However, what really makes this useful is that it is not an “all or nothing” setup. Since it works like radar, you can set the exact distance at which the TV reacts. I have it set to activate the screensaver if someone is in the room, but it only enables the widgets if they get closer, specifically within 7 feet, which is how far away you actually are. in the living room instead of just passing by.
But in reality this has been just a novelty, rather than something that useful.
The widget page cannot be adjusted; it only shows those three widgets and frankly I’m not sure I want to always show the news headlines, especially when I can’t control the theme. You also can’t do anything other than activate your screen saver and this widget page. I’d love for the TV to fully activate when I approach the couch, ready to be used when I sit down, but I still need to grab the remote to do so. However, I was pleased to find that this experience is not affected by using features other than the built-in Google TV software. Running an HDMI device such as Google TV Streamer or a console has no effect on presence detection features.
The idea of using presence detection on your TV seems like it has a lot of potential, but after using it for a few months, I don’t think we’ve settled on the right idea yet. It is certainly not enough to decide a purchasing decision.
TCL hasn’t announced any other new TVs with presence sensing hardware yet, and I suspect there’s a good chance this won’t return for a while. It simply lacks usefulness, at least for now.
The TCL QM9K series is available starting at $1,999, but goes on sale regularly; currently $1,599 for the 65-inch model. in Best Buy.
What do you think of presence detection on a television?
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