Q. A few months ago you gave an ecstatic review of a $1,000 75-inch TV. Could you tell me what brand, model, etc., and where I can see one in person?

—E.T., Minneapolis

A. You are referring to the TCL Q6 QLED 4K Smart TV, which uses the Google TV operating system. I did not review the entire TV but mentioned it had the best TV tuner I had ever seen, and by a very large margin. The Q6 replaced a TV that pulled in 45 channels with an outside antenna. Using the very same antenna the Q6 pulled in a stunning 121 channels, and all but a few of those 121 channels were crystal clear and displayed solidly without breakup or pixelization. Having such a wonderfully effective tuner is a real boon to cord cutters. A lot of the subchannels that are broadcast with the major network affiliates are really fun, and I can easily spend an evening watching them rather than tuning in to my satellite/cable channels.

Since then I was able to complete a full evaluation, and it is a fantastic TV and a standout value. The Q6 is one of the lowest priced TVs that uses a QLED panel for better colors and contrast, and it achieves that value price by using edge lighting rather than a fancy backlit panel with multiple zones. While a serious videophile will prefer a backlit TV due to the darker blacks and overall superior performance, in the real world most consumers will be delighted with their Q6 once they set it up at home. I watched regular 1080P Blu-ray movies using an inexpensive Blu-ray player with the Q6 and it served up a wonderfully cinematic performance. The rock musical “Viva Las Vegas” with Elvis and Ann-Margret is a guilty pleasure of mine, and as a fan of both leading actors, vintage Las Vegas and classic automobiles the movie features a lot of things I enjoy. Watching the Blu-ray with the Q6 displayed well-rendered skin tones and hair color, a lovely blue desert sky, and the wide palette of color on sports cars as if I was watching the movie in the theater in 1964. Very satisfying.

You can see the Q6 at Best Buy and the 75-inch version can currently be had for a lot less than $1,000. Checking tcl.com showed the 75-inch Q6 list price of $1,099 reduced 38% to $679.99. Other Q6 sizes and prices range from $249.99 for the 43-inch to $1,999.99 for the 98-inch, both reflecting a 50% discount. I must admit that as I write this, I find myself extremely interested in that 98-inch set for under $2,000. That is a tremendous value for a 98-inch QLED TV with such good picture quality. If you get a Q6 I strongly recommend using the “Vivid” or “Movie” picture mode, then set the color temperature to warm and turn off all the motion correction settings. This will provide the best, most realistic picture without a lot of fiddling with the settings.

Skyworth Companion Portable 24P100 LED Display with Google TV: On the other side of the size spectrum is this innovative small set for on-the-go viewing. The Companion is a 24-inch Google display with a built-in three-hour lithium battery and a design that makes it easy to take with you almost anywhere. I see a lot of possibilities for this TV for tailgate parties and summer barbecues and picnics, as well as anyone displaying a trade show presentation at a small table. I will have more about it soon, but in the meantime you can see it at skyworthusa.com.

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