On today’s episode of You Asked: Why don’t all giant TVs come with legs that can sit the TV on the floor? Filmmaker vs. Movie mode. And should you still be buying 2024 TV models?
Filmmaker mode vs. movie mode
@brandonchappell1535 asks: My TCL has filmmaker mode. Is this considered to be better than movie mode, as it’s more accurate?
You answered part of the question there, Brandon. More accurate? Objectively, yes. It’s designed to be more accurate to how the content is created. Motion processing is turned off. Colors and color luminance are more accurate. Basically, if you want closer to the cinema experience, that’s what filmmaker mode is for, but we’ll come back to that in like 30 seconds because there’s a little bit of a caveat.
You also asked: Is it better? That part is subjective. If you’re an absolute purist who wants to see the movie as intended, you’ll find it better, but you may need the right conditions to find it enjoyable.
That caveat I referred to is filmmaker mode usually isn’t as bright as movie mode, and certainly not as bright as other modes on the TV. So if you’re in a bright room or if it’s an older movie remastered for HDR and it’s just not punching like it should in terms of brightness, you should reserve the right to jump out of filmmaker mode if you need to.
I always switch my TVs, and my parents’ TVs when I was visiting them a couple weeks ago, you’re welcome, out of standard mode. But recently I was watching a remastered version of one of my favorite movies ever, Heat, and I actually needed to go to Standard mode. It hurt. And maybe there was something going on with the version I was watching on Plex and whatever server it was coming from and it not processing correctly. But either way, it just wasn’t as bright as it should’ve been. And I know it from seeing the movie several times before.
So more accurate? Yes. But better? Depends on your viewing environment. Movie mode can still get you an accurate, not overly processed and bright enough image that you’ll enjoy. But it is nice that TCL finally added it last year.
Also, for my Heat fans out there, I dunno if y’all know but the cast for Heat 2 looks insane. Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale are confirmed, and Adam Driver, Austin Butler and more also have their names connected to it too. With Michael Mann back to direct, I can’t wait.
OK, back to questions.
Why don’t giant TVs come with floor legs?
@victorjohnson7512 asks: Why don’t these giant TVs just come with legs? Like 18–24 inch legs so that they can just sit on the floor. This seems like a no-brainer accessory to me.
So I do agree with this for the most part. That would make sense, and it definitely made sense for the 115-inch TCL QM891G we had a few years ago. That thing was ridiculous. And the legs felt like a must-have with its weight. Even when we moved it out of the studio, we kept the legs on it because it was just so tough to move and stand up and store otherwise.
But then there was the Hisense 110 UX. Not quite as big, but somehow, it did not need those massive legs. And as ridiculous as it may have looked, we were able to get it on a media console. Proper viewing angle and all that aside, I preferred that because it was a better use of space. Having big legs under your screen means you probably won’t be able to get any storage under it. If you have a soundbar, where’s that going?
I would assume that most of these larger than life TVs are going in dedicated theater rooms or something. So maybe you don’t mind the look, but in a functional living room where there are other things like speakers, game consoles, a Blu-ray collection, all that kind of stuff, it makes sense for it to be stored around the TV, and I think big legs prevent that. It’s also not a great sight. I know that would never fly in my house.
Not to mention, shipping the TV with bigger, thicker legs adds to the production cost and price you pay for the TV and shipping. Maybe that doesn’t matter if you’re already spending more than 10 grand for a TV, but still, seems unnecessary.
Maybe I’m totally off-base there. I just think unless the TV is so heavy and thick that there’s no way two feet could support it on a media console, you either go that direction or mount it on your wall.
Should you still buy a 2024 TV in 2026?
@user-fz6uj2ru3z asks Is it worth buying the Hisense U7N in 2026 and how good is it for gaming on the PlayStation 5?
If you can find one, yes, it’s still worth buying. I was actually exchanging emails with a gentleman who had a question in a previous episode, and we both agreed it’s always best to try avoiding the urge to always have the latest and greatest. So yeah, even though the U7N is a 2024 model, it’s still a good one that supports 4K 120 Hertz gaming, the max output from the PS5.
But like I said, you may not be able to find one. It was replaced by the 2025 Hisense U7QG, and even that one may see numbers dwindle a bit as the new 2026 lineup makes its way to stores this year. However, if you do find a U7N or any 2024 model, hopefully you get a great price on it.
Is there an 85-inch OLED TV?
@robertzenniful asks: Is there an 85-inch Old Lad TV currently on the market?
That’s how the question was written. Maybe with speech to text. Maybe interpreted from a different language. Although, I do think Old Lad would be a great TV name.
I’m assuming he meant OLED, and not to my knowledge. There are 83-inch OLEDs. There are 85-inch Mini LED TVs. But 83 inches is the more common OLED size because it makes for a more efficient way to cut the mother glass. By going with 83 inches instead of 85, that leaves an appropriate amount available for other screens for things like phones, tablets and smaller monitors.