$2,298.00
When TCL's 98" QM7 Series launched in mid-2023, it marked an important shift in the premium TV market. Finally, a truly massive, feature-packed display became available at a price point that, while still premium, wouldn't require a second mortgage. After extensive testing, I've found this TV delivers impressive performance that will satisfy both movie buffs and serious gamers.
Let's talk about size first - 98 inches is massive. For perspective, it's nearly the size of two 75-inch TVs side by side. In my testing environment, optimal viewing distance was between 12-15 feet, though it remained comfortable at 10 feet. The sheer scale creates an immersive experience that smaller TVs simply can't match.
The QM7 Series employs QD-Mini LED technology - think of it as thousands of tiny LED lights (over 1,500 dimming zones) that can precisely control brightness in specific areas of the screen. This allows for impressive contrast between bright and dark areas without the "blooming" effect (light bleeding around bright objects) that plagued older LED TVs.
The 2,400 nits peak brightness is exceptional - for context, many high-end TVs struggle to reach 1,000 nits. This means HDR content really pops, especially in scenes with bright highlights like sunlight reflecting off water or explosions in action movies. During our daylight viewing tests, the picture remained vibrant even in a sun-filled room.
The QLED technology (quantum dots that enhance color reproduction) delivers an extensive color range that covers nearly the entire DCI-P3 color space used in digital cinema. The TCL AIPQ PRO processor handles this well, though occasionally we noticed slight color banding in subtle gradients - something only the most discriminating viewers might spot.
For gamers, the TCL QM7 offers impressive specs:
In practice, this means incredibly smooth motion and minimal input lag. Playing fast-paced games like Call of Duty or Forza Horizon 5 felt responsive and fluid. The massive screen size adds an entirely new dimension to gaming - though be prepared for a learning curve as you adjust to tracking action across such a large display.
The Google TV interface is snappy and intuitive, representing a significant improvement over TCL's earlier smart platforms. The system offers:
Connectivity is comprehensive with four HDMI ports (one eARC), three USB ports, and ethernet. The HDMI 2.1 features support 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM, though only two ports offer full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
In a dedicated home theater setting, the QM7 really shines. The high brightness and contrast make it an excellent choice for both SDR and HDR content. During our testing with various 4K Blu-rays, the detail and color accuracy impressed even our most critical viewers.
The built-in audio system, while decent for casual viewing, won't match the TV's visual impact. I'd strongly recommend pairing this with a quality sound system - at minimum, a good soundbar with a subwoofer, though a full surround sound setup would be ideal.
Room considerations are crucial:
While not inexpensive, the TCL 98" QM7 offers exceptional value in the large-format TV market. Compared to similar-sized options from Samsung or Sony that often cost twice as much, TCL delivers comparable performance in most areas that matter.
The TV market has seen significant changes since this model's release:
After extended testing, several points stand out:
The TCL 98" QM7 Series represents a sweet spot for those seeking a truly cinematic experience at home. It delivers where it counts - picture quality, size, and features - while maintaining a relatively reasonable price point for its category.
Best suited for:
Not ideal for:
The combination of size, performance, and relative value makes the TCL 98" QM7 a compelling option for anyone seeking a premium large-format display. While it requires careful consideration of space and installation requirements, it delivers an impressive viewing experience that smaller TVs simply cannot match.
Remember: proper installation is crucial with a display this size - budget for professional mounting if wall-mounting is planned, and ensure your viewing space can accommodate both the physical size and optimal viewing distance.
For home theater enthusiasts seeking a massive screen experience, the value proposition is excellent. While expensive at its price point, it offers premium features like Mini-LED, high brightness, and advanced gaming capabilities at roughly half the cost of comparable 98-inch TVs from other major brands.
The TCL QM7 measures approximately 86 inches wide and 49 inches tall. For perspective, that's about 8 feet wide - roughly the size of a queen bed. You'll need a wall space of at least 90 inches wide and a viewing distance of 12-15 feet for optimal viewing.
For the best experience with the TCL 98" QM7, the ideal viewing distance is between 12-15 feet. However, you can comfortably watch from 10 feet away. In a home theater setting, consider arranging seating within this range for optimal immersion.
Yes, professional installation is strongly recommended. At this size, the TV is extremely heavy and requires secure mounting. Professional installers can ensure proper placement, cable management, and safety considerations, especially crucial for home theater setups.
The TCL QM7 offers excellent gaming features including 120Hz refresh rate, VRR up to 144Hz, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. The massive screen size creates an incredibly immersive gaming experience, though you'll want to ensure your seating position allows you to take in the entire display.
With 2,400 nits peak brightness, the TCL 98" QM7 is exceptionally bright. This makes it suitable for both dark home theaters and bright rooms, with excellent HDR performance that shows notable highlights in movies and games.
While the 40W speaker system is adequate for casual viewing, we recommend pairing the TCL QM7 with a proper home theater audio system or at minimum a high-quality soundbar with subwoofer to match the impressive visual experience.
Yes, the TCL QM7 can be an excellent projector alternative. It offers superior brightness, better contrast in lit rooms, and doesn't require the space or setup complexity of a projector. However, it can't match the largest projector screens (100"+ sizes).
Due to its size and weight, the TV requires a heavy-duty mount rated for large displays. Make sure to use a VESA-compatible mount that's rated for the TV's weight and size. Professional mounting is strongly recommended.
The TCL 98" QM7 uses Mini-LED technology, offering better brightness than OLED but slightly less perfect black levels. For home theater use, the high brightness and contrast make it excellent for both dark room and bright room viewing, though OLED still holds an advantage in absolute black levels and viewing angles.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research has used advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: bestbuy.com - youtube.com - business.walmart.com - avsforum.com - tcl.com - circuitworldonline.com - tcl.com - bestbuy.com/6580694) - rtings.com - bestbuy.com - displayspecifications.com - tcl.com
TCL 98" QM7 Series 4K UHD Smart TV |
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Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and daylight viewing: 2,400 nits |
Local Dimming Zones - More zones mean better contrast control: 1,500+ zones |
Screen Size: 97.5 inches viewable |
Refresh Rate - Higher rates mean smoother motion: Native 120Hz with VRR up to 144Hz |
HDR Support - Wider format support means better compatibility: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
Gaming Features - Lower lag means better gaming response: ALLM, VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro |
Color Technology - Determines color range and accuracy: QLED with Quantum Dots |
Smart Platform: Google TV |
HDMI Ports - More high-bandwidth ports enable more 4K/120Hz devices: 4 HDMI (2 full HDMI 2.1) |
Audio Output - Built-in sound power: 40W (2x10W + 20W) |
Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160) |
Processor: TCL AIPQ PRO with Deep Learning AI |
USB Ports: 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0 |
Audio Support: Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X |
Motion Rate - Higher rates reduce motion blur: 480 with MEMC |
The Hisense 100" QD7 Series ($1,799) stands out as a compelling alternative, particularly for those seeking maximum screen size at a more accessible price point. While it lacks the Mini-LED local dimming zones of the TCL QM7, it compensates with excellent reflection handling and good overall brightness that works well in naturally lit rooms. The IPS panel technology provides wider viewing angles, making it a practical choice for large rooms where people might watch from different positions. At $500 less than the TCL, it delivers impressive value for basic TV watching and casual gaming.
However, the compromises become apparent in dedicated home theater scenarios. The absence of local dimming results in notably less contrast and less impactful HDR performance compared to the TCL QM7. While both TVs support similar gaming features like 144Hz refresh rate and VRR, the Hisense QD7 can't match the TCL's dynamic range and peak brightness in gaming content. For buyers who primarily watch in bright rooms and aren't overly concerned with achieving the absolute best picture quality, the Hisense represents a solid value proposition, offering a massive 100-inch screen with good, if not class-leading, performance.
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The LG 98" Class UT90 Series ($2,499) stands out with its refined webOS 24 platform and typically excellent out-of-box color accuracy that LG is known for. Its 120Hz panel and basic VRR support provide decent gaming performance, though not quite matching the TCL's capabilities. The UT90's build quality follows LG's premium standards, and its Magic Remote offers an intuitive way to navigate the smart TV interface. The TV delivers good brightness levels and satisfactory contrast for everyday viewing, making it suitable for most living rooms and media spaces.
However, when comparing value and performance, the UT90 struggles to justify its higher price tag. With fewer local dimming zones, lower peak brightness, and more limited HDR format support, it falls behind in key picture quality metrics that matter for both casual viewing and home theater use. While the webOS platform is polished, it doesn't offer enough advantage to offset the technical limitations, especially considering the $200 premium over the TCL. For most buyers looking at this size category, the UT90's main appeal would come from brand loyalty or finding it at a significant discount.
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The Hisense 110" UX ($14,999) takes a more premium approach with its massive 110-inch display and impressive technical specifications. Its standout features include an extraordinary 40,000 local dimming zones (compared to the QM7's 1,500) and a claimed peak brightness of 10,000 nits. These specs translate to noticeably better contrast and HDR performance, particularly in challenging scenes with bright objects against dark backgrounds. The Hisense also offers superior viewing angles and better reflection handling, making it more versatile for wider seating arrangements and bright rooms.
However, the Hisense's advantages come at a significant cost premium - nearly seven times the price of the TCL. While the Hisense 110" UX delivers superior picture quality and an extra 12 inches of screen size, most viewers would be hard-pressed to justify the $12,700 price difference for these incremental improvements. Unless you specifically need the absolute pinnacle of picture quality or the larger 110-inch size, the TCL QM7 offers a more practical balance of performance and value while still delivering an exceptional viewing experience.
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The TCL 98" QM8 Series represents TCL's flagship offering, pushing performance even further with class-leading peak brightness of 4,540 nits and enhanced local dimming with over 2,000 zones. This extra brightness capability makes a noticeable difference in very bright rooms and with HDR content, where specular highlights really pop. The QM8's premium features extend to its audio system, featuring a more robust 60W Onkyo 2.1.2 setup with up-firing speakers that delivers more immersive sound, though many users at this price point will likely opt for a dedicated sound system regardless.
At $2,999, the QM8 commands a $700 premium over the QM7, and whether that's worth it depends largely on your viewing environment and expectations. The improved processing results in slightly better upscaling of non-4K content and marginally lower input lag for gaming, while the additional dimming zones provide better contrast control in challenging scenes. However, these improvements represent more of a refinement than a revolution - in typical viewing conditions, the differences between the two models are subtle enough that many users might find the QM7's value proposition more appealing unless they specifically need the QM8's superior brightness capabilities or are building a premium home theater setup where every last bit of performance matters.
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👌TCL 98" QM8 Series 4K UHD Smart Google TV Details
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The TCL 98" Q6 Series ($1,499.99) offers remarkable value while retaining essential features like QLED technology and a native 120Hz panel. For everyday viewing in typical room lighting, its ~800 nits brightness and standard LED backlight system deliver impressive picture quality that will satisfy most viewers. The Q6 includes basic VRR support and game mode features that handle modern gaming consoles capably, though without some of the premium gaming enhancements found in the QM7.
The $800 savings makes the Q6 an attractive option for those who want the immersive experience of a 98-inch display without paying for premium features they might not fully utilize. While it doesn't match the QM7's extreme brightness or precise local dimming capabilities, the Q6's picture quality remains strong for its price point, particularly in controlled lighting environments. For users who primarily watch streaming content, sports, and casual gaming, and don't require the absolute peak in HDR performance or gaming features, the Q6 represents an excellent balance of size, performance, and value.
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👌TCL 98" Q6 Series 4K UHD QLED Smart TV Details
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The TCL 115" QM8 ($16,999) takes everything impressive about the QM7 and pushes it to the extreme, offering the ultimate home theater experience for those with generous budgets. Its standout features include an astonishing 20,000 local dimming zones, 5,000 nits peak brightness, and a premium Onkyo 6.2.2 audio system with up-firing speakers. The extra size and brightness create a truly cinematic experience that's hard to match, while the additional dimming zones provide unparalleled contrast control and HDR performance that exceeds what's possible with the QM7.
However, the QM8 commands a significant premium for these improvements, costing more than seven times the price of the QM7. While its performance advantages are real and noticeable, they may not justify the substantial price difference for most viewers. The 115-inch size also requires careful consideration of room dimensions and viewing distance, typically needing 11-15 feet of space and professional installation. Unless you're building a premium home theater where cost isn't a primary concern, these improvements, while impressive, may be more theoretical than practical for typical viewing environments.
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👌TCL 115" QM8 Series 4K UHD Smart Google TV Details
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The LG 98" QNED 4K UHD Smart TV represents a more traditional approach from an established premium brand, featuring QNED technology that combines quantum dots with NanoCell enhancement for excellent color accuracy and consistency. While priced higher at $3,999, it offers LG's proven α8 AI Processor, which has an excellent track record for upscaling lower-resolution content and handling motion. The webOS platform, while receiving fewer updates than Google TV, provides a stable and refined user experience that many find more intuitive and reliable for daily use.
However, it's difficult to justify the $1,700 premium over the TCL QM7, especially considering the LG QNED uses more conventional LED backlighting technology rather than Mini-LED. While it delivers solid performance across the board, it can't match the TCL's impressive 2,400 nits peak brightness or local dimming capabilities. The LG's primary advantages lie in its established brand reliability, potentially better quality control, and more natural color reproduction out of the box. For those who prioritize proven technology and brand reputation over cutting-edge features and value, the LG QNED might be worth considering, but most users will find the TCL offers better performance per dollar.
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👌LG 98" QNED 4K UHD Smart TV Details
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The Hisense 100" U8 ($2,999) distinguishes itself with superior gaming capabilities, featuring a higher 144Hz refresh rate and comprehensive support for both FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync technologies. This makes it particularly appealing for serious gamers who want to maximize their next-gen console or PC gaming experience. While its peak brightness is lower at 1,500 nits, the U8 delivers exceptional color accuracy and motion handling, which becomes especially noticeable during fast-action scenes and sports content.
However, the $700 price premium over the TCL QM7 makes the Hisense U8 a harder sell for general home theater use. While you do get a marginally larger screen at 100 inches and better gaming features, most users won't notice significant real-world differences in picture quality during typical TV and movie viewing. The U8's superior motion handling and color accuracy are noteworthy, but unless gaming is a primary use case or you're particularly sensitive to motion performance, these advantages may not justify the higher cost.
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The Hisense 98" UX Series ($4,499) represents the premium alternative in this category, boasting class-leading specifications with its remarkable 5,000+ nits peak brightness and over 10,000 local dimming zones. These impressive numbers translate to real-world benefits, particularly in challenging viewing environments with ambient light or when watching HDR content with extreme contrast demands. The UX's IPS-ADS panel technology also provides superior viewing angles compared to the QM7, making it a better choice for wide seating arrangements where maintaining consistent picture quality across different viewing positions is crucial.
However, the significant price premium of the Hisense UX raises important value considerations. While it undeniably delivers better peak performance, particularly in bright room conditions, the performance gap may not justify the additional cost for many users. The Hisense does offer a more refined audio solution with its 4.2.2 channel Cinestage X system and slightly better upscaling performance, but in controlled lighting conditions or dedicated home theater environments, these advantages become less pronounced. For viewers who prioritize absolute peak performance and have the budget to match, the UX delivers an exceptional viewing experience, but its price point places it in a different value category entirely.
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👌Hisense 98" UX Series 4K Mini-LED ULED Google TV Details
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The Hisense 100" U76 Series ($1,999) offers compelling value with its slightly larger screen size and competitive feature set at a $300 lower price point. While its peak brightness of 800 nits and 256 local dimming zones don't match the TCL's capabilities, it still delivers impressive picture quality that will satisfy most viewers, especially in controlled lighting conditions. The Hisense actually edges out the TCL in maximum refresh rate, offering 144Hz versus 120Hz, though its overall gaming performance isn't quite as refined.
For home theater enthusiasts working with a controlled lighting environment, the Hisense U76 presents an interesting value proposition. Its picture quality limitations compared to the TCL become less noticeable in dim rooms, and its core QLED technology still provides excellent color performance and decent HDR impact. While it can't match the TCL's brightness or contrast capabilities, the $300 savings might be better spent on other home theater components like audio equipment or room treatment. The decision largely comes down to your viewing environment and whether the TCL's superior brightness and contrast control justify its premium price.
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The Samsung 98" DU9000 ($2,499) takes a more traditional approach with its Crystal UHD technology, offering reliable performance backed by Samsung's proven track record in display manufacturing. While it lacks the advanced Mini-LED technology of the TCL, Samsung's processing capabilities and Supersize Picture Enhancer help maintain impressive image quality even at this massive scale. The Samsung ecosystem, including Tizen OS and integration with SmartThings, provides a seamless experience for users already invested in Samsung products, and their historically strong customer support might offer peace of mind for such a significant purchase.
However, the Samsung's $200 higher price point becomes difficult to justify when comparing raw specifications. Its basic LED-LCD technology, while reliable, can't match the TCL's contrast performance or peak brightness, particularly noticeable in HDR content and bright room viewing. The Samsung's gaming features, while adequate with 120Hz support and Auto Game Mode, fall short of the TCL's more comprehensive gaming package. Unless brand reputation and ecosystem integration are primary concerns, the Samsung's main advantages lie more in its familiar interface and established support network rather than technical performance.
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The $3,999 Hisense L9H TriChroma offers a different path to big-screen entertainment through its ultra-short throw laser projection technology. Its standout feature is the triple laser system, which achieves an impressive 107% of the BT.2020 color space - notably wider than traditional LED TVs. The included ambient light rejecting (ALR) screen adds significant value to the package and helps maintain image quality even with some ambient light present. While its 3,000 ANSI lumens brightness might seem comparable on paper, the projected image typically appears less bright than the QM7's direct-view panel, though it excels in controlled lighting conditions.
For dedicated home theater enthusiasts, the L9H offers some unique advantages. The laser projection system eliminates any concerns about blue light exposure during long viewing sessions, and the projected image tends to feel more cinematic, especially in dark room conditions. However, the higher price point, more complex installation requirements, and need for at least some light control make it a more specialized solution compared to the QM7's versatility. The L9H's gaming performance, while acceptable with input lag around 30-35ms, can't match the QM7's faster response times and advanced gaming features. The laser light source's 25,000-hour lifespan, while substantial, is also shorter than typical LED panel longevity.
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The Samsung Q80C 98-inch TV distinguishes itself with superior processing capabilities through its Neural Quantum Processor 4K, delivering noticeably better upscaling of non-4K content and more refined motion handling. Its color accuracy out of the box is also more precise, requiring less calibration for optimal performance. The Samsung excels in gaming scenarios with an impressive 9.7ms input lag, making it significantly more responsive than the QM7, and its Gaming Hub provides a more comprehensive gaming ecosystem with built-in cloud gaming services.
However, the Q80C's premium features and brand recognition come at a steep price premium of $7,997, more than triple the cost of the QM7. While it offers better customer support, a longer warranty, and a more polished smart TV interface, its core picture quality features actually lag behind the QM7 in some areas. The Samsung's 96 local dimming zones can't match the contrast control of TCL's Mini-LED system, and its 1,800-nit peak brightness, while excellent, falls short of the QM7's capabilities. For most consumers, these slight advantages in processing and gaming features may be difficult to justify given the dramatic price difference.
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👌Samsung 98" Q80C 4K Smart QLED TV Details
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The Sony X90L represents the premium alternative in the 98-inch TV space, distinguishing itself primarily through superior processing capabilities and refined picture quality. Its Cognitive XR Processor delivers noticeably better motion handling and upscaling of non-4K content, which becomes apparent when watching sports or older movies. While its peak brightness is lower at 1,800 nits compared to the QM7, Sony's advanced Full Array LED implementation and sophisticated local dimming algorithms often result in better overall contrast and more natural-looking HDR content. The build quality and finish also reflect its premium positioning, though these advantages come at a significant price premium of $9,999.
However, it's crucial to consider whether these refinements justify paying more than four times the price of the QM7. The Sony X90L does provide marginally better picture quality, particularly in challenging scenes with complex motion or in content that requires upscaling. Still, in typical viewing scenarios - whether gaming, streaming, or watching sports - the real-world performance difference is notably smaller than the price gap would suggest. For most home theater enthusiasts, the Sony's improvements in processing and motion handling, while genuine, may be difficult to justify unless budget is not a primary concern and achieving the absolute best picture quality is the priority.
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The LG 97" G2 OLED ($14,999) represents the pinnacle of picture quality with its self-emitting pixel technology, delivering perfect blacks and infinite contrast that the QM7 simply cannot match. While significantly more expensive, the G2's OLED evo panel provides superior viewing angles, better motion handling, and class-leading gaming performance with input lag under 10ms. In a properly controlled lighting environment, especially for movie watching or gaming, the G2's ability to display perfect shadow detail and eliminate blooming around bright objects creates a more immersive, cinema-like experience.
However, the LG G2's premium performance comes at a steep price that's hard to justify for most users. While its picture quality is undeniably superior in optimal conditions, its lower brightness output (around 1,000 nits) makes it less versatile for bright rooms, and the limitation of wall-mount-only installation reduces placement flexibility. The significantly higher price point - more than six times that of the QM7 - positions it as a specialty product for enthusiasts and dedicated home theaters rather than a practical choice for the average consumer. The requirement for controlled lighting to see its full benefits further narrows its ideal use case.
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👌LG 97" G2 Series OLED evo 4K UHD Smart TV Details
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