Updated 2026-08-18
If you're hunting for the cheapest QLED TV prices in the US right now, the short answer is simple: BuyWhere surfaces live prices across Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target — and the gaps between retailers are significant enough to justify comparison shopping before you buy. The longer answer involves understanding which brands price aggressively year-round, where Walmart systematically undercuts Amazon, and exactly when major sales events can shave 20-35% off the sticker price. This breakdown uses current US pricing data to map out the QLED landscape and show you exactly where each brand positions itself against the competition.
The Budget Tier: TCL's Aggressive Play at $398
At the entry level of the QLED market, TCL has made the most aggressive move with its 55-inch Q6 QLED priced at just $398 on Amazon. This undercuts the Hisense 55-inch U7N Series Mini-LED QLED 4K Smart TV, which sits at $498 at Walmart — a $100 gap that matters for budget-conscious shoppers. Both sets use Quantum Dot film for wide color gamuts, but the similarity ends there.
The TCL Q6 tops out at approximately 600 nits peak brightness, which falls well below what videophiles consider genuine HDR territory (that requires at least 1,000 nits). It also ships with just one HDMI 2.1 port, limiting your ability to connect a modern gaming console and a next-gen streaming device simultaneously. For casual viewers who want quantum dot color without the premium price, the TCL Q6 delivers — but you're making real trade-offs on brightness and connectivity.
Mid-Range Showdown: TCL QM8 vs Samsung QN85D
Move up to the 65-inch segment and the competitive dynamics shift. The TCL 65-inch QM8 QLED 4K Mini-LED Smart TV comes in at $999 on Amazon, while the Samsung 65-inch QN85D QLED 4K Smart TV hits $1,197 at Best Buy — a $198 difference that makes TCL the clear value play in this bracket.
Both sets use Mini-LED backlighting and Quantum Dot technology, but the Samsung pulls ahead on connectivity: it offers four HDMI 2.1 ports versus the TCL's single HDMI 2.1 port on the Q6 (the QM8 specification is similar). For users with multiple devices — a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and a soundbar — that port count difference is significant. Samsung also runs Tizen OS versus TCL's Google TV, which matters if you're already invested in one ecosystem.
The real question is whether that $198 gap justifies Samsung's premium. For most buyers, it won't — the TCL QM8 delivers comparable picture quality at a meaningfully lower price, making it the smart buy unless you specifically need four HDMI 2.1 ports.
Walmart's Systematic Undercut on Hisense and TCL
Here's something many shoppers don't realize: outside of major sales events, Walmart consistently undercuts Amazon by $30 to $80 on both Hisense and TCL QLED sets. BuyWhere's live price tracking across Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target confirms this pattern holds across multiple model lineups.
The Hisense 55-inch U7N at $498 (Walmart) versus the TCL Q6 at $398 (Amazon) illustrates this perfectly. While the TCL is cheaper outright, the Hisense offers two HDMI 2.2 ports versus the TCL's single port — a meaningful upgrade for multi-device households. Walmart's pricing strategy appears designed to capture value-conscious shoppers who might default to Amazon, forcing a comparison check.
This matters because BuyWhere surfaces these exact gaps in real time, routing you to the merchant's checkout after the comparison. The platform only lists authorized US retailers (Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target), so you're always seeing legitimate pricing from trusted sources.
The Premium Segment: Samsung's Brightness Advantage
Samsung owns the premium QLED space with its QN85D and QN90D lineups, and the pricing reflects it. The Samsung QN90D typically runs $1,997 off-season — versus the Hisense 65-inch U8N at roughly $1,297. But Samsung's premium isn't arbitrary: the U8N hits 3,000 nits peak brightness, putting it in genuine HDR territory, while Samsung's QLED lineup uses advanced neural processors and wider viewing angles that justify the markup for videophiles.
Both brands use Quantum Dot film for color reproduction, but Samsung's Tizen platform offers a more polished smart TV experience than Hisense's Google TV — fewer bugs, smoother navigation, and better app optimization. The QN85D and QN90D each feature four HDMI 2.1 ports, matching the connectivity needs of serious gamers and home theater enthusiasts.
Hisense counters with aggressive pricing: the U8N delivers brightness specs that rival Samsung at $700 less. For buyers who prioritize HDR performance over smart platform polish, Hisense wins on value.
Seasonal Price Drops: Prime Day and Black Friday
If you can wait, the price drops are substantial. QLED prices fall 20-35% during Amazon Prime Day in July and Black Friday in late November. BuyWhere's historical price tracking captures these swings:
- Samsung QN90D drops from $1,997 to $1,397 during Black Friday — a $600 reduction
- Hisense U8N drops from $1,297 to $897 on Prime Day — a $400 reduction
The math is stark: waiting for Black Friday or Prime Day can save you more than $500 on a flagship QLED. The trade-off is availability — popular models sell out fast, and you're relying on inventory rather than choice. If you need a TV now, BuyWhere shows you the best current price across all major retailers, so you don't overpay while waiting for a sale that may not materialize on your specific model.
The Bottom Line
The cheapest QLED TV prices in the US depend on three factors: which tier you're shopping, which retailer you check, and whether you can time your purchase around Prime Day or Black Friday. TCL leads on raw value at $398 for a 55-inch, Walmart consistently undercuts Amazon on Hisense and TCL by $30-$80 year-round, and Samsung commands a premium justified by superior brightness and connectivity. BuyWhere aggregates all these prices in one place — https://buywhere.ai — so you can see the full landscape and buy with confidence that you're getting the best available deal from an authorized US retailer.