Best 98-Inch TVs (2026)

TL;DR

Top pick: TCL 98QM7K (~$2,499–$3,999) — best price-per-inch with 144Hz, Dolby Vision, 2,500 dimming zones, and Bang & Olufsen audio.
Best value: Hisense 100U8QG (~$2,798–$3,499) — 5,000-nit peak, 165Hz native, 5,000 dimming zones, Wi-Fi 6E.
Best budget: Samsung 98 Crystal UHD DU9000 (~$2,000–$2,499) — cheapest brand-name 98" 4K TV, 120Hz, no Mini-LED.

At this size every TV is LCD or Mini-LED — OLED is unavailable above 88 inches in 2026. [src1, src7]

The 98–100 inch TV market in 2026 has fully transitioned to Mini-LED at every tier above $2,500. RTINGS calls the TCL 98X11L the best 98-inch TV ever made (SQD Mini-LED, 20,736 dimming zones, claimed 10,000-nit peak), but at $9,999 it's a flagship for a tiny audience. For most buyers, the TCL 98QM7K delivers the best price-per-inch — 2,500 dimming zones, 3,000-nit peak, 144Hz native refresh, B&O audio, and frequent sale prices around $2,499. The Hisense 100U8QG matches it on price and pulls ahead on brightness (5,000 nits) and gaming (165Hz native), making it the best raw-spec value. [src1, src2, src4]

For premium picks, the Samsung 98QN90F ($8,999 MSRP) is the bright-room champion thanks to Samsung's OLED-grade anti-reflective coating, 4K/165Hz on all four HDMI 2.1 ports, and Tizen with cloud gaming — but no Dolby Vision. The Sony BRAVIA 5 K-98XR50 (~$4,498–$5,999) is the new movie-watcher's pick: Mini-LED upgrade from the X90L with 6× more dimming zones, XR Processor, and Sony's industry-best motion handling. The TCL 98QM8K ($3,999) sits between QM7K and X11L and is the new sweet spot for users who want flagship features without the X11L premium. [src3, src5, src8]

Three hard truths about 98-inch TVs: weight is 110–160 lbs (delivery and install need 2–3 people), the box is roughly 8 ft × 5 ft × 1 ft (measure doors, elevators, and stairwell turns), and your room needs a 12–15 ft viewing distance to actually benefit. Below 10 ft you'll see pixels; below 12 ft a 75–85" set will look the same and cost half as much. [src1, src9]

Best Overall Value: TCL 98QM7K (~$2,499–$3,999) — Check price

Best price-per-inch in the category. QD-Mini LED with 2,500 dimming zones, 3,000-nit peak HDR brightness, 144Hz native refresh and Game Accelerator 288 (VRR up to 288Hz on PC). Two HDMI 2.1 ports, Dolby Vision, and a Bang & Olufsen-tuned 2.1 audio system. MSRP $3,999, but routinely drops to $2,499 around Memorial Day and Black Friday. [src2, src6]

Best Raw Spec Value: Hisense 100U8QG (~$2,798–$3,499) — Check price

The 100-inch U8QG outpunches every other sub-$4K Mini-LED. 5,000 local dimming zones, up to 5,000 nits peak HDR brightness, native 165Hz refresh, all four HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K/165Hz, plus Wi-Fi 6E and a 4.1.2-channel speaker array. Tom's Guide measured the 65" U8QG at 4,000 nits peak — the 100" panel will perform similarly or better. Dolby Vision IQ + HDR10+ + IMAX Enhanced support. The clear best-buy if you can stretch from the QM7K. [src1, src4]

Best for Movies (Home Theater): Sony BRAVIA 5 98 K-98XR50 (~$4,498–$5,999) — Check price

Sony's first 98-inch Mini-LED, replacing the X90L. Up to 6× more dimming zones than the predecessor. XR Processor delivers Sony's signature motion handling and accurate color science — the standard for film accuracy. Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos + IMAX Enhanced. Native 120Hz; gaming HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, plus PS5 Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. RTINGS gave the 98" version a 7.5 mixed-usage rating. [src1, src8]

Best for Bright Rooms: Samsung 98QN90F (~$7,999–$8,999) — Check price

Samsung's flagship anti-reflective coating (borrowed from the S95F OLED) effectively eliminates window glare and lamp reflections — Tom's Guide calls it the best Mini-LED for bright rooms. NQ4 AI Gen 3 processor, all four HDMI 2.1 ports run 4K/165Hz (the highest in the category), 9.5ms input latency, Tizen with cloud gaming, and Object Tracking Sound+ with Dolby Atmos. No Dolby Vision (HDR10+ and Auto HDR Remastering Pro instead) — the price-of-entry tradeoff for Samsung's TVs. [src5]

Best Premium Mid-Tier: TCL 98QM8K (~$3,999) — Check price

TCL's best Mini-LED short of the X11L flagship. 5,000-nit peak (matching Hisense U8QG), 144Hz native, anti-reflective wide-angle screen, 85W Dolby Atmos audio system, and Game Accelerator 288. RTINGS reviewed the 98" specifically and TechRadar calls it "TCL's best mini-LED TV yet." Picks up where the QM7K leaves off if you want a bigger jump in brightness and zone count without the X11L's $9,999 ask. [src1, src3]

Best for Gaming (PS5/Xbox): Hisense 100U8QG (~$2,798–$3,499) — Check price

4K/165Hz on all four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR up to 288Hz Game Mode Pro, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, Dolby Vision Gaming. Combined with 5,000-nit HDR for highlight pop. Hisense's Game Mode Pro outpaces the TCL 98QM7K (2 HDMI 2.1) on simultaneous device flexibility. [src1, src4]

Best for PC Gaming (4K 165Hz): Samsung 98QN90F (~$7,999–$8,999) — Check price

9.5ms input lag, 4 × HDMI 2.1 with 4K/165Hz, native G-Sync compatibility, FreeSync Premium Pro. The QN90F matches the Hisense U8QG on refresh rate spec but adds Samsung's lower input lag and best-in-class anti-reflective screen for desk/setup use. [src5]

Best Budget (under $2,500): Samsung 98 Crystal UHD DU9000 (~$2,000–$2,499)

Samsung shocked the market by launching this 98-inch direct-LED 4K set at $4,000 MSRP, with frequent sales below $2,500. No Mini-LED, no QLED, no Dolby Vision — but you get Samsung's Supersize Picture Enhancer, 120Hz Motion Xcelerator, AI Auto Game Mode, and Tizen smart OS. Best pick if your budget is hard-capped under $2,500 and you'd rather have a name-brand panel than a no-name. [src7]

Best Older-Model Bargain: Samsung 98Q80C (~$1,999–$2,499) — Check price

The 2023 Q80C QLED is regularly clearance-priced under $2,500, undercutting the DU9000 with full QLED quantum-dot panel, 4K/120Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro, and Object Tracking Sound Lite. No Mini-LED so contrast is limited; OLED lovers should pass. Best for sports/general living-room use where brightness >2,000 nits doesn't matter. [src7]

Best LG webOS Big-Screen: LG 100QNED85A (~$3,999–$4,799) — Check price

LG's first 100-inch QNED with mini-LED backlight. webOS 25 with full app suite, 120Hz native (VRR up to 165Hz / Motion Booster up to 330Hz claim), α8 AI Processor 4K, Magic Remote, and FreeSync. Best pick if you're committed to LG's ecosystem (e.g., paired with LG soundbar for WOW Orchestra) but don't want to step up to OLED. [src1]

Head-to-Head Comparisons

TCL 98QM7K vs Hisense 100U8QG

The QM7K wins on price (~$2,499 sale), audio (B&O 2.1 vs Hisense 4.1.2 channel — actually Hisense wins audio if you'll never use a soundbar), and Google TV polish. The 100U8QG wins on brightness (5,000 vs 3,000 nits), refresh (165Hz vs 144Hz native), HDMI 2.1 ports (4 vs 2), zone count (5,000 vs 2,500), and pure gaming spec sheet. For most buyers Hisense is the better TV; QM7K wins only if it's $500+ cheaper at purchase time. [src1, src2, src4]

Pick TCL 98QM7K if: budget-driven, want Google TV with B&O audio, mainly stream and watch sports.
Pick Hisense 100U8QG if: gaming is a priority, want maximum brightness and zone count, have only ~$300 more to spend.

Samsung 98QN90F vs Sony BRAVIA 5 98

The QN90F is the bright-room champion (anti-reflective coating, 165Hz, 9.5ms input lag) but lacks Dolby Vision and costs ~$3,000-$4,500 more. The BRAVIA 5 wins for movies (Dolby Vision, XR Processor motion handling, Sony color science) and PS5 owners (exclusive Auto HDR Tone Mapping, Auto Genre Picture Mode). For PC gaming or sports in a sunlit room, QN90F. For dim/dedicated movie watching or PlayStation, BRAVIA 5. [src5, src8]

Pick Samsung 98QN90F if: room is bright, you PC game at 165Hz, you don't care about Dolby Vision.
Pick Sony BRAVIA 5 98 if: you watch a lot of movies in a dim room or own a PS5 and want the optimized features.

TCL 98QM8K vs Hisense 100U8QG

Both hit 5,000-nit peaks. The 98QM8K wins on TCL's better processing for film/HDR mastering and the anti-reflective wide-angle screen; the 100U8QG wins on refresh rate (165Hz vs 144Hz), screen size (100" vs 98"), and price (often ~$1,000 cheaper). Within the same price tier, QM8K is the cinephile pick and U8QG is the gamer/big-event pick. [src1, src3, src4]

Pick TCL 98QM8K if: film/HDR accuracy matters more than refresh rate, want the best TCL under $4K.
Pick Hisense 100U8QG if: want bigger and brighter and faster for the same money.

TCL 98QM7K vs Samsung 98QN90F

A $5,000 price gap. The QN90F wins on bright-room performance (anti-reflective coating, 165Hz across all 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, 9.5ms input lag), build quality, and Samsung Tizen+cloud gaming. The QM7K wins on every dollar spent — it delivers 70-80% of the QN90F experience for a quarter of the price. Unless your room is genuinely sun-bathed or you're a PC gaming enthusiast, the gap doesn't justify the price. [src2, src5]

Pick TCL 98QM7K if: room is dim-to-medium, value matters, you mostly stream content.
Pick Samsung 98QN90F if: room has heavy sunlight, you want Samsung tier-1 build, money is no object.

Hisense 100U75QG vs Hisense 100U8QG

Both 100-inch, both Mini-LED, both 165Hz. The U75QG (~$1,999-$2,998) caps at 3,000 nits and 2.1.2 audio; the U8QG (~$2,798-$3,499) hits 5,000 nits with 4.1.2 audio and more dimming zones. If your viewing is dim-to-medium light, the U75QG saves ~$500 with no real loss; if you need bright-room HDR pop, U8QG is worth the upgrade. [src1, src4]

Pick Hisense 100U75QG if: budget-tight, dim-to-medium room, gaming-focused.
Pick Hisense 100U8QG if: bright room, want 5,000-nit HDR highlights, $500 budget room.

Decision Logic

If budget is under $2,500

→ Samsung 98 Crystal UHD DU9000 (~$2,000-$2,499) for name-brand 4K with 120Hz, Hisense 100U75QG (~$1,999) on sale for Mini-LED + 165Hz gaming, or Samsung 98Q80C (~$1,999-$2,499) clearance for QLED. Avoid no-name 98" sets — service and panel uniformity vary widely. [src1, src7]

If budget is $2,500-$3,500 (the sweet spot)

→ TCL 98QM7K (~$2,499-$3,499) for the best Google TV experience with B&O audio, or Hisense 100U8QG (~$2,798-$3,499) for the best raw-spec Mini-LED at any price. Hisense wins on paper; TCL wins on processing and audio. Pick whichever is cheaper at purchase time. [src1, src2, src4]

If budget is $3,500-$5,500 (premium mid-tier)

→ TCL 98QM8K (~$3,999) for TCL's best non-flagship Mini-LED, Sony BRAVIA 5 K-98XR50 (~$4,498-$5,999) for movies and PS5, or LG 100QNED85A (~$3,999-$4,799) for webOS lovers. BRAVIA 5 wins for cinephiles; QM8K wins for value cinephiles; LG only for ecosystem buyers. [src1, src3, src8]

If budget is over $7,000 (flagship)

→ Samsung 98QN90F (~$7,999-$8,999) for bright-room Neo QLED + best PC gaming spec, or TCL 98X11L (~$9,999) for the absolute peak Mini-LED experience (20,736 zones, claimed 10,000 nits). Above $10K you're in projector territory; consider a 4K projector + 120" screen instead. [src1, src5]

If primary use is movies in a dim room

→ Sony BRAVIA 5 K-98XR50 for Sony's motion handling, XR Processor, and Dolby Vision. Or TCL 98QM8K for similar movie quality at a lower price. Avoid Samsung — no Dolby Vision is a dealbreaker for the majority of streaming films. [src3, src5, src8]

If primary use is bright-room sports / big-event watching

→ Samsung 98QN90F (anti-reflective coating + brightness), or Hisense 100U8QG (5,000 nits + 100" size). The QN90F wins on glare control; the U8QG wins on raw size and price. [src4, src5]

If primary use is PC or PS5 gaming

→ Hisense 100U8QG (4K/165Hz on all 4 HDMI 2.1, VRR 288, FreeSync Premium Pro) at the value tier; Samsung 98QN90F (4K/165Hz, 9.5ms lag, Tizen cloud gaming) at the premium tier; Sony BRAVIA 5 98 if you primarily own a PS5 (exclusive Auto HDR Tone Mapping). [src1, src5, src8]

If room viewing distance is under 12 ft

→ Skip 98-inch entirely. A 75-85" set will look identical at that distance and save $1,500-$3,000. The constraint is geometry, not budget. Use Best 85-Inch TVs (2026) instead. [src9]

Default recommendation (unknown requirements)

→ TCL 98QM7K (~$2,499-$3,499). Best price-per-inch, capable Mini-LED with Dolby Vision, B&O audio, 144Hz gaming. The safest pick when you don't know the user's room, budget, or content preferences. [src1, src2]

• TCL X11L raises the ceiling: TCL's 2026 SQD Mini-LED flagship hits 20,736 dimming zones and a claimed 10,000-nit peak — the highest specs ever in a consumer 98" TV — at $9,999. RTINGS calls it "the best 98-inch TV on the market." [src1]
• Hisense crosses 5,000 nits at the value tier: The 100U8QG ($2,798) delivers brightness that was Samsung 8K-flagship territory two years ago. The brightness arms race is now decided at $3,000, not $9,000. [src1, src4]
• OLED stays capped at 88": Despite years of rumors, no manufacturer is shipping 95"+ OLED in 2026. Buyers who want 98"+ have to accept Mini-LED. LG's 97" OLED (G3, $25,000+) was a one-off and is no longer in production. [src1, src9]
• Sony enters the affordable big-screen market: BRAVIA 5 K-98XR50 at ~$4,498 is Sony's first sub-$5K 98-inch, breaking from the X95L's ~$10K positioning. Sony also added a 100" BRAVIA 3 II for the budget tier. [src8]
• 165Hz native refresh becomes the standard: Samsung QN90F, Hisense U8QG, and Hisense U7QG all support 4K/165Hz on multiple HDMI 2.1 ports. 120Hz is becoming the budget-tier ceiling. [src4, src5]
• Samsung still skips Dolby Vision: The QN90F (~$8,999) lacks Dolby Vision in 2026, same as every Samsung TV. A meaningful gap for streaming buyers since 70%+ of Netflix/Disney+/Apple TV+ premium content is Dolby Vision-mastered. [src5]
• RGB Mini-LED arrives at the top: TCL's RM9L and Hisense's UR9/UR8 introduce RGB-emitting Mini-LEDs (no separate color filter), narrowing the OLED gap on color volume. Not yet at 98" mainstream price points but signals the next 2-year curve. [src1]
• 98" street prices have collapsed: TCL 98QM7K MSRP $3,999 → $2,499 sale is now a recurring promotion. Two years ago $2,500 bought you a 75-inch. The price-per-inch crash is real. [src7]

• Logistics are make-or-break. A 98-inch TV box is roughly 8 ft long × 5 ft tall × 1 ft deep and 200-230 lbs. Measure every doorway (need 32" minimum), elevator door, and stairwell turn before ordering. Many sedans cannot transport a 98" TV at all — book the manufacturer's white-glove delivery or borrow a pickup truck. [src9]
• Wall mount load ratings matter. Most consumer TV mounts cap at 100-150 lbs. A 98" TV with mount weighs 110-180 lbs. Use a heavy-duty mount rated for 200+ lbs and anchor into studs (not drywall anchors). Get 2-3 people for installation. [src9]
• Viewing distance is a hard constraint. SMPTE/THX recommend 12-15 ft minimum for a 98" 4K TV. At 8-10 ft you'll see individual pixels in dark scenes and your eyes will fatigue scanning across the frame. If your room can't accommodate, a 75-85" TV is genuinely better. [src9]
• Specs vary by size. Manufacturers often quote specs from the 65" sample. The 100" U8QG has 5,000 zones; the 65" has fewer. Some processing modes are exclusive to smaller sizes. Always check the size-specific spec sheet (RTINGS publishes per-size testing). [src1, src4]
• Sale-cycle pricing. All prices in this card are early May 2026. 98" TVs swing $1,000-$2,000 around Memorial Day, Black Friday, Super Bowl, and post-CES (Jan-Feb when prior-year stock clears). Buying off-cycle costs 30-50% more. [src7]
• HDR brightness claims are marketing. Manufacturer "5,000 nit" peaks are 1-3% window measurements. Real-world full-screen brightness is 500-800 nits even on flagships. Compare RTINGS' standardized 10% and 25% window measurements for apples-to-apples. [src1, src4]
• Dolby Vision absence on Samsung is intentional. Samsung supports HDR10+ instead. If most of your content is on Netflix, Disney+, or Apple TV+ (Dolby Vision-mastered), this is a real degradation. If you watch primarily Amazon Prime Video or sports, less so. [src5]