How I turned this 98-inch TV into an immersive entertainment system (and it’s $1,000 off)

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• TCL’s 98-inch Class S5 Collection TV is among the most accessibly-priced TVs of its measurement, and it is at present on sale for $1,000 off.
• Watching motion pictures and TV exhibits on such an enormous show is as near a theatre-like expertise as one can get at residence.
• With such a big TV, setting it up could be a wrestle, particularly if you do not have a large enough console or wall house.

extra shopping for selections

TCL makes some spectacular TVs utilizing superior show applied sciences, specs, and optimizations for the perfect image high quality potential. But typically, they put all that apart and say, “Hey, let’s simply make a very large TV for the sake of creating a very large TV.” And that is what this 98-inch set is all about.

Additionally: I still recommend this TCL TV model from last year

This TV, a member of TCL’s mid-range S5 sequence, is at present on sale for $1,000 off its regular worth of $3,000 at Amazon. TCL was type sufficient to let me find out about this deal in an e mail a number of weeks in the past, and I used to be wildly intrigued, to say the least. “A 98-inch TV for lower than $2,500?” I believed to myself. That appeared not possible.

I have been dwelling with the 98-inch TCL S5 Collection, and here is how the expertise has been.

Establishing a 98-inch TV

The largest problem this TV poses is becoming it in your house. This factor is gigantic; it is 85.7 inches extensive, 49.1 inches tall, and the ft are 68.5 inches aside. In case you have a wall large enough to mount it on, you then’re all set. However should you do not, you is likely to be scrambling to search out an leisure middle large enough to accommodate this behemoth.

The latter was me, by the best way — I used to be the one scrambling. My brothers helped me unbox the TV (which felt not possible since our drop ceilings stopped us from lifting the lid straight up within the air), and after we ripped by all of the Styrofoam and plastic wrap, we would have liked to determine a spot to set it up in our comparatively small front room.

Additionally: What to expect at Amazon’s Alexa event today: Alexa 2.0, new Echos, and Fire TV upgrades

My first thought was to depart it on the bottom, however who needs to look down to look at TV? Then we thought of ditching our present leisure middle and shifting our 65-inch LG TV someplace else to caddy nook it (once more, on the bottom), however that meant we might should dismember our complete front room.

So, we got here up with a compromise: we arrange two folding catering tables, pushed our sofa and loveseat towards the wall, and plopped the 98-inch mammoth proper in entrance of our hearth. Is it excellent? Probably not, nevertheless it works for the sake of this evaluate.

Probably the most immersive expertise out there (until you discover one greater)

None of us had been fairly ready for simply how large this TV is. Positive, I had a way of how large it was earlier than we plugged it in, however as soon as that 98-inch display screen lit up, we had been all bowled over. Many individuals dream of getting a movie show of their residence to take pleasure in their favourite cinema flicks and video games, and shopping for a TV like TCL’s 98S550G will get you as near that actuality as potential.

Perhaps it is as a result of we’re sitting so near it, perhaps it is the change from watching on a 65-inch TV for therefore lengthy, however regardless of the purpose, the sensation of immersion you get from watching this 98-inch TV by no means appears to fade away. All the things you tune into will really feel extra lifelike than you may think about — that goes for motion pictures like “Oppenheimer” and “Spider-Man: No Manner House” to cable TV exhibits like “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.” 

Additionally: Having trouble hearing whispery TV dialogue? I found 3 ways to fix that

My solely want is that I had gotten to see this yr’s Tremendous Bowl on it. That stated, I can already inform this TV would be the excellent match for anybody who makes use of multiview by NFL Sunday Ticket.

I imply it after I say that your jaw can drop at any second whereas watching this TV. In case you have a favourite film or TV present, it merely makes it higher because it’s simply so large. It is easy to see regardless of the place you’re within the room, and it ensures there is not a foul seat in the home.

Odd specs, however stable image high quality nonetheless

Past its magnificent 98-inch measurement, the remainder of the 98S550G is fairly primary, not less than in relation to high-end TVs. It makes use of a QLED panel, which helps ship brighter colours and higher distinction. I can confidently say it is the most effective LED TVs I’ve ever seen. Nonetheless, you will not get the identical luxuries as one thing like an OLED or Mini LED TV with native dimming, richer distinction, and elevated brightness. On the intense aspect, you will not get any mild haloing round your content material because it makes use of one big backlight.

The TV has a 4K decision and helps refresh charges as much as 120Hz, which is a pleasant contact for any players who wish to take pleasure in silky-smooth gameplay on the panel. I’ll say, although, 4K on a 98-inch panel does not really feel the identical because it does on a 65-inch panel; pixel density is not almost as excessive since they’re scattered throughout a a lot bigger canvas, and should you get near the TV, you may undoubtedly see particular person pixels. It is not a difficulty by any means, however I discovered it attention-grabbing nonetheless.

Additionally: Gemini is taking over Google TV – but in ways you’ll actually like

The image high quality is respectable total. “Oppenheimer” regarded nice enjoying off the 4K HDR DVD I bought, whereas 1080p upscaled cable exhibits weren’t too shabby, both. You’ve got loads of choices to manage how all the things seems to be within the settings menu, and when you set it up, I might extremely advise turning off movement smoothing. On a 98-inch tv, the added frames don’t do most content material justice.

With the 98-inch S5, TCL made positive to incorporate a whole lot of specs and options prospects is likely to be all in favour of, together with HDR Extremely (consisting of Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ, Open HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG), a devoted Recreation Accelerator 240 for 240 VRR help, Dolby Atmos, AirPlay, Chromecast, voice assistant integration, and even dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi. There are 4 HDMI ports to reap the benefits of, together with optical audio and Ethernet ports. 

Additionally: This 98-inch Samsung 4K TV is the ultimate home theater experience – and it’s $5,000 off

Its sound high quality can be stable. At greater volumes, mids and highs can begin to screech, however the built-in subwoofer helps anchor all the things with a stunning quantity of bass, which could be tuned within the settings in order for you kind of increase throughout your motion pictures. I might nonetheless go for a dedicated sound system in order for you a real movie show setup, however my household and I had been proud of what the TV kicked out.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

At $1,997, it is exhausting to disregard TCL’s 98-inch Class S5 Series TV for lengthy. In case you have a spot in your house the place you may match a TV of this measurement and magnitude — and you do not thoughts dropping a cool $2,000 — I can see this TV making a whole lot of sense for an immersive leisure setup. Granted, you will not get the perfect image high quality on the market, nevertheless it’s necessary to keep in mind that something higher than what TCL offers you’ll run you $5,000 to $10,000 — perhaps extra.

In the long run, I had a whole lot of enjoyable reviewing this big 98-inch TV, however I am able to ship it again. For our residence, it is a bit too intrusive and will get in the best way most of the time. (Let’s keep in mind that it is blocking my complete hearth.) However when you’ve got the house for it, a part of me needs to let you know to hurry out and seize one whereas the deal’s occurring. I believe you may dig it, and your complete family can be hooked on it. And on the finish of the day, is not that what we’re all after when shopping for a brand new TV?

How we take a look at TVs

Whereas testing and researching the TV featured on this evaluate, I and different ZDNET consultants saved these standards in thoughts:

• Worth: Not all budgets are created equal. And should you’re working with a restricted finances, that should not imply it’s important to accept a sub-par TV. Every TV mannequin we evaluate has been chosen throughout a wide range of worth factors to assist accommodate totally different wants.
• Display measurement: An important issue to contemplate, after worth, when purchasing for a brand new TV is whether or not or not it’ll match into your house. Whereas this particular display screen measurement is outstanding, the QN90D is obtainable in all kinds of smaller sizes to swimsuit totally different rooms.
• Image and audio high quality: A brand new TV doesn’t suggest a lot, even when it prices an arm and a leg, if it does not present an awesome image and clear audio. Every TV on this checklist has been ensured to help numerous HDR codecs, together with HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient, in addition to enhanced audio software program like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, and object-tracking sound.

For a extra detailed look, take a look at our extensive TV testing methodology.

This text was initially printed on March 5, 2024, and was up to date on February 26, 2025.