ZDNET’s key takeaways
- TCL’s 98-inch Class S5 Series TV is essentially the most accessibly-priced TV of its dimension, and it is at present on sale for over $1,000 off.
- Watching films and TV exhibits on such an enormous show is as near a theatre-like expertise as one can get at house.
- With such a big TV, the setup generally is a wrestle, particularly if you do not have a large enough console or wall area.
TCL makes some spectacular TVs utilizing superior show applied sciences, specs, and optimizations for the very best image high quality attainable. But typically, they put all that apart and say, “Hey, let’s simply make a extremely massive TV for the sake of constructing a extremely massive TV.” And that is what this 98-inch set is all about.
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This TV, a member of TCL’s lower-end S5 sequence, is at present on sale for $1,000 off its regular worth of $2,999, bringing the fee all the way down to $1,998. TCL was sort sufficient to let me find out about this deal in an e-mail just a few 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 assumed to myself. That appeared unimaginable.
Over the previous three weeks, I have been dwelling with the 98-inch TCL S5 Collection, and here is how the expertise has been.
Organising 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 huge, 49.1 inches tall, and the toes are 68.5 inches aside. In case you have a wall large enough to mount it on, then you definitely’re all set. However when you do not, you is perhaps scrambling to seek out an leisure middle large enough to accommodate this behemoth.
The latter was me, by the way in which — I used to be the one scrambling. My brothers helped me unbox the TV (which felt unimaginable 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 lounge.
My first thought was to go away it on the bottom, however who desires to look down to observe TV? Then we thought of ditching our present leisure middle and transferring our 65-inch LG TV elsewhere to caddy nook it (once more, on the bottom), however that meant we might need to dismember our whole lounge.
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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 good? Not likely, but it surely works for the sake of this evaluate.
Essentially the most immersive expertise obtainable (until you discover one larger)
None of us had been fairly ready for simply how massive this TV is. Positive, I had a way of how massive it was earlier than we plugged it in, however as soon as that 98-inch display lit up, we had been all stunned. Many individuals dream of getting a movie show of their house 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 attainable.
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 thus lengthy, however regardless of the cause, the sensation of immersion you get from watching this 98-inch TV by no means appears to fade away. Every thing you tune into will really feel extra lifelike than you’ll be able to think about — that goes for films like “Oppenheimer” and “Spider-Man: No Method Residence” to cable TV like “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives”.
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My solely want is that I had gotten to see Tremendous Bowl LVIII on it. That being mentioned, I can already inform this TV would be the good 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 when watching this TV. In case you have a favourite film or TV present, it merely makes it higher because it’s simply so massive. It is easy to see irrespective of the place you might be within the room, and it ensures there is not a nasty seat in the home.
Abnormal specs, however strong image high quality nonetheless
Past its magnificent 98-inch dimension, the remainder of the 98S550G is fairly primary, at the least in relation to high-end TVs. It makes use of a QLED panel which helps ship brighter colours and higher distinction, and I can confidently say it is among the best LED TVs I’ve ever seen. Nevertheless, 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 brilliant 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 practically as excessive since they’re scattered throughout a a lot bigger canvas, and when you get near the TV, you’ll be able to positively see particular person pixels. It isn’t a difficulty by any means, however I discovered it fascinating nonetheless.
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The image high quality is first rate total. “Oppenheimer” seemed nice enjoying off the 4K HDR DVD I bought, whereas 1080p upscaled cable exhibits weren’t too shabby, both. You’ve gotten loads of choices to regulate how all the things seems within the settings menu, and when you set it up, I would extremely advise turning off movement smoothing. On 98 inches of tv, the added frames doesn’t do most content material justice.
With the 98-inch S5, TCL made certain to incorporate numerous specs and options clients is perhaps involved in, 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 assist, Dolby Atmos, AirPlay, Chromecast, voice assistant integration, and even dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi. There are 4 HDMI ports to make the most of, together with optical audio and Ethernet ports.
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Sound high quality can be strong. At increased volumes, mids and highs can begin to screech, however the built-in subwoofer helps anchor all the things with a stunning quantity of bass, one thing that may be tuned within the settings if you would like roughly increase throughout your films. I would nonetheless go for a dedicated sound system if you would like a real movie show setup, however my household and I had been pleased with what the TV kicked out.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
At $1,998, it is arduous to disregard TCL’s 98-inch Class S5 Series TV for very lengthy. In case you have a spot in your house the place you’ll be able to match a TV of this dimension and magnitude — and you do not thoughts dropping $2,500 — I can see this TV making numerous sense for an immersive leisure setup. Granted, you will not get the very best image high quality on the market, but it surely’s necessary to keep in mind that something higher than what TCL offers you’ll run you at the least $5,000 to $10,000.
Ultimately, I had numerous enjoyable reviewing this big 98-inch TV, however I am able to ship it again. For our house, it is a bit too intrusive and will get in the way in which most of the time. (Let’s keep in mind that it is blocking my whole hearth.) However when you’ve got the area for it, a part of me desires to let you know to hurry out and seize one whereas the deal’s occurring. I believe you will dig it, and your whole family will probably be hooked on taking a look at it. And on the finish of the day, is not that what we’re all after when shopping for a brand new TV?