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The TCL Q77K is a 4K quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) TV that you can only buy at Costco in North America. TCL released it in 2025, and it’s still on Costco’s virtual shelves heading into the 2026 holiday season, often for less than its launch price. Every purchase also includes five years of total coverage: TCL’s two-year manufacturer warranty plus a three-year Allstate protection plan.
That combination makes the Q77K one of the cheapest ways to get a big, gaming-ready screen. But a low price always comes with trade-offs. This review explains where the Q77K shines, where it falls short, and which buyers should consider spending more.
TCL Q77K review: The quick verdict
Buy it if you game on a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or PC, you mostly watch in a dim or moderately lit room, and you want the most screen for your money.
Skip it if your living room gets lots of direct sunlight, you watch plenty of high dynamic range (HDR) movies, or deep, inky blacks matter to you.
Pros
- Very low price for the screen size, especially during Costco sales
- Native 144Hz refresh rate and two 4K/144Hz-capable ports for gaming
- Supports every major HDR format, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+
- Five years of coverage included at no extra cost
- Sturdy metal stand and solid build for a budget TV
- Fast, easy-to-use Google TV interface
Cons
- Too dim for bright, sunlit rooms
- No local dimming, so blacks look grayish in a dark room
- Picture quality fades when you sit off to the side
- Thin built-in sound that benefits from a soundbar
- Available only at Costco, which requires a membership
TCL Q77K specs at a glance
| Screen sizes | 50, 55, 65, 75, 85, and 98 inches |
| Resolution | 4K (3840 x 2160) |
| Panel type | QLED with a vertical alignment (VA) panel |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz native |
| Local dimming | None |
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and hybrid log-gamma (HLG) |
| Ports | Four High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports; two handle 4K at up to 144Hz, and one supports enhanced audio return channel (eARC) |
| Gaming features | Variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM), and an on-screen game bar |
| Smart platform | Google TV with Google Assistant |
| Speakers | Two 15-watt speakers |
| Coverage | Two-year TCL warranty plus three-year Allstate plan (Costco purchases) |
How much does the TCL Q77K cost?
Costco changes the Q77K’s price often, and the best deals show up during member sales and holiday events. Here’s what each size has sold for recently, based on Costco deals that shoppers reported:
| Size | Recent Costco price |
|---|---|
| 55-inch | About $280 to $310 |
| 65-inch | About $380 to $400 |
| 75-inch | About $400 to $530 |
| 98-inch | About $1,000 (with the protection plan bundle) |
Prices change quickly, so check Costco’s current Q77K listing before you buy. If you aren’t a Costco member, look at the alternatives at the end of this review.
Picture quality: Great color, limited brightness
Like most QLED TVs, the Q77K uses a layer of quantum dots to produce rich, saturated color. Animated movies, nature documentaries, and colorful games look vivid and accurate, and the 4K panel shows plenty of fine detail.
Brightness is the Q77K’s biggest weakness. Reviewers put its peak brightness at roughly 400 to 500 nits, which is modest even among budget TVs. (A nit measures how much light a screen emits; TVs that hold up well in sunlit rooms usually sustain around 800 nits or more.) In a bright room, the picture looks washed out, and you may need to close the blinds during daytime viewing.
The Q77K also skips local dimming, a feature that dims the backlight behind dark parts of the picture. Without it, black areas look slightly gray in a dark room, and HDR highlights lack the punch you’d get from a Mini light-emitting diode (Mini LED) TV. The Q77K still looks good in a dim room, but it can’t match the contrast of pricier models.
Streaming apps look their best on this TV. The Q77K upscales lower-resolution video, such as cable broadcasts and older shows, to fit its 4K screen, and those sources look decent but noticeably softer than native 4K streams.
Gaming: Where the Q77K earns its reputation
Gaming is the Q77K’s strongest suit. Its native 144Hz refresh rate exceeds the 120Hz limit of current consoles, so a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X can run supported games at their full frame rate. PC gamers can push it all the way to 144Hz.
Two of the four HDMI ports support 4K at high refresh rates, so you can connect a console and a gaming PC at the same time. Check the labels on the back of the TV and plug your gaming devices into those two ports.
VRR keeps the TV’s refresh rate in sync with your console’s output, which prevents screen tearing when frame rates dip. ALLM switches the TV into game mode automatically when you start a game, so you get the lowest input lag without digging through menus. TCL’s game bar also lets you check frame rate and adjust picture settings mid-game without pausing.
Motion and sports
The Q77K’s pixels take about 13 milliseconds on average to change color. That’s a respectable response time for a budget TV, and it keeps most fast action clear. Fast-moving sports can show slight blur behind a ball or a player, but it rarely distracts from the game.
Viewing angles: Best from the center seat
VA panels deliver better contrast than many alternatives, but they lose color and contrast when you view them from an angle. The Q77K follows that pattern. Viewers on the end of a wide sectional will see a duller picture than the person sitting front and center.
If you often host movie nights or game days for a crowd, arrange seating as close to straight-on as possible. Sitting a little farther back also narrows the angle for viewers on the sides.
Smart features and remote
The Q77K runs Google TV, which offers nearly every major streaming app and gathers recommendations from all of them on one home screen. Menus load quickly, and apps open in a second or two.
Google Assistant lets you search for shows, launch apps, and control the TV with your voice. You can also use the TV to view compatible doorbell cameras and control smart lights and other smart home devices.
The included voice remote has a simple layout and a backlight, which makes it easy to use in a dark room.
Sound: Plan on a soundbar
Two 15-watt speakers handle dialogue well enough for casual viewing, but they lack bass and fullness, especially on the larger sizes. The eARC port lets you connect a soundbar with a single HDMI cable and pass Dolby Atmos audio through to it. Even an entry-level soundbar makes a big difference with this TV.
TCL Q77K vs. TCL QM6K: Is the upgrade worth it?
The TCL QM6K is the most logical step up. According to RTINGS.com, it shares the Q77K’s 144Hz refresh rate and gaming features but delivers significantly better picture quality, thanks to Mini LED local dimming and higher peak brightness. That gives it deeper blacks and brighter highlights in both regular and HDR content.
- Choose the Q77K if you want the lowest price, the bundled five-year coverage, and a TV mainly for gaming in a dim room.
- Choose the QM6K if you watch in a bright room, care about HDR movies, or don’t have a Costco membership. Check the TCL QM6K’s price on Amazon.
Compare similar TVs on Amazon
| TV | Display type | Gaming features | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCL QM6K (2025) | QLED Mini LED | 144Hz refresh rate, VRR | Brighter rooms and HDR movies | Check price on Amazon |
| Samsung Q8F (2025) | QLED, edge-lit | High refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 on all four inputs | Accurate color and Samsung’s smart platform | Check price on Amazon |
| Samsung U8000F (2025) | Crystal UHD LED | Basic | The tightest budgets | Check price on Amazon |
| TCL Q77K (2025) | QLED, no local dimming | 144Hz refresh rate, VRR, ALLM | Costco members on a budget | Check price at Costco |
Who should buy the TCL Q77K?
- Console and PC gamers on a budget who want 4K at 120Hz or higher without paying for a premium TV.
- Bedroom and basement viewers who watch in rooms with little natural light.
- Big-screen shoppers who want a 75- or 85-inch TV for the price of a smaller premium model.
- Costco members who value the included five-year coverage.
TCL Q77K FAQs
Is the TCL Q77K only sold at Costco?
Yes. In North America, the Q77K is a Costco exclusive, so you won’t find it at Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart.
Is the TCL Q77K good for gaming?
Yes. Its native 144Hz refresh rate, two high-bandwidth HDMI ports, VRR, and ALLM make it one of the best budget TVs for gaming on a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or PC.
Does the TCL Q77K have local dimming?
No. The Q77K lacks local dimming, which is the main reason its blacks look less deep than those on Mini LED TVs such as the TCL QM6K.
Does the TCL Q77K support Dolby Vision?
Yes. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG, so it can play HDR content from every major streaming service.
What warranty comes with the TCL Q77K?
Costco purchases include five years of total coverage: TCL’s two-year manufacturer warranty and a three-year Allstate protection plan.
TCL Q77K review verdict: A budget gaming TV that’s hard to beat
The TCL Q77K doesn’t try to be a premium TV. It’s dim for bright rooms, its blacks won’t impress home theater fans, and its speakers need help. But for gaming and everyday streaming in a dim room, it delivers a lot of TV for very little money. Add Costco’s frequent sales and five years of included coverage, and the Q77K remains one of the best budget TV deals of 2026.
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