The best 98-inch TVs of 2025: Expert tested

1 week ago 6

Brands like Hisense, Samsung, and more have introduced truly cinema-sized TVs with 98-inch and larger classes of screens. These gigantic TVs offer movie theater-quality experiences in the comfort of your own home, with object-tracking sound support, enhanced picture quality, and support for thousands of streaming apps to turn your home theater into the ultimate entertainment hub.

Also: The best 85-inch TVs

Many 98-inch TVs are also great for console gaming, with high refresh rates and VRR support to prevent screen tearing and stuttering.

What is the best 98-inch TV right now?

I chose the Hisense U8K 100-inch as the best 98-inch class TV you can buy right now. It supports a 144Hz refresh rate, both Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls, as well as both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for enhanced picture and sound quality. You can keep reading below to find out more about the Hisense U8K and my other picks for the best 98-inch TVs.

The best 98-inch TVs of 2025

The Hisense U8K is a top-notch mini-LED TV with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound for enhanced picture and sound quality. With the 100-inch screen, you can create a truly cinematic experience in the comfort of your own home. It supports up to a 144Hz refresh rate as well as AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR for console gaming.

Read the review: Hisense U8K TV

Both Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls are built into the Hisense U8K for hands-free use, and Bluetooth connectivity lets you create a wireless home theater setup or share media from your mobile devices. With a suite of preloaded popular streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video, you can start watching your favorite shows and movies right out of the box.

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While many 98-inch TVs can be very expensive, the TCL Q65 offers the best value for the price. For about $1,500, you'll not only get a cinema-sized screen, but you'll also get integrated voice controls via Alexa and Google Assistant, Dolby Vision HDR, and Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound, and a 144Hz refresh rate.

With support for both Chromecast and AirPlay 2, you can share media from your Android or iOS devices for more ways to view photos and videos, stream music, and play mobile games. Bluetooth support lets you set up a wireless home theater, and Wi-Fi 5 connectivity gives you fast, reliable wireless internet.

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The Sony Bravia X90L might not set any records for picture quality, but it does feature some of the best audio you can get. It uses Sony's Acoustic Multi-Audio technology to create an object-tracking sound for audio that follows the on-screen action. This means you'll get a more immersive experience without needing to set up a lot of extra home audio equipment.

It also has dedicated support for Sony soundbars, synchronizing the TV speakers and soundbar for fuller, cleaner sound.

Read the review: Sony Bravia X90L

ZDNET's Editor-in-Chief, Jason Hiner, went hands-on with the Sony Bravia X90L and was especially impressed by its display.

"With the X90L, you also get Sony's excellent picture processing to upscale content to 4K, which is especially helpful if you're watching older content or YouTube videos, and it's stronger than anything offered by Hisense and TCL," he wrote in his review.

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If you want to build the ultimate gaming setup, the Samsung Q80C is a great screen for console gamers. The QLED panel gives you rich, bold colors and contrast and a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother motion. It supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR to prevent annoying screen tearing and stuttering.

A dedicated gaming hub helps keep all your favorite apps in one place and even supports cloud gaming apps like Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia GeForce NOW, so you can play your favorite games even without a console. Dolby Atmos and dedicated object-tracking sound help create immersive audio that follows the on-screen action, which is perfect for anyone who prefers to play without a headset.

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If you've cut the cord with your cable or satellite provider and moved exclusively to streaming, the Hisense QD7 is a great option to upgrade your home theater. With the Google TV platform, you'll get a preloaded suite of popular apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ so you can start watching your favorite shows and movies right out of the box.

You'll also get support for thousands of other apps like Spotify to turn your TV into the ultimate entertainment hub. Support for Chromecast and Apple AirPlay gives you the ability to share media from your iOS and Android devices for more ways to view videos and photos, stream music, and more.

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What are the tariffs in the US?

The recent US tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.

Also: Tariff war has tech buyers wondering what's next. Here's what we know

Televisions, many of which are manufactured in these nations, may experience price increases of up to 20%, making them less affordable for consumers. Manufacturers contemplate relocating assembly operations to countries with tariff exemptions, but such moves involve logistical challenges and substantial costs. Companies like Samsung, which produces a significant portion of their TVs in Mexico, anticipate being less affected than competitors relying heavily on Chinese manufacturing.

Overall, consumers should brace for higher prices and potential shifts in product availability within the home entertainment market.

I chose the Hisense U8K 100-inch as the best 98-inch class TV based on my hands-on experience for its 144Hz native refresh rate, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, and dedicated filmmaker mode. It also supports VRR for console gaming as well as Bluetooth for wireless home audio configurations.

Best 98-inch TV	Price	HDR	Audio
Hisense U8K 100-inch	$3,000	Dolby Vision	Dolby Atmos
TCL Q65	$1,500	Dolby Vision	Dolby Atmos
Sony Bravia X90L	$6,000	Dolby Vision	Acoustic Multi-Audio
Samsung Q80C	$3,500	HDR10+	Dolby Atmos, Object-tracking sound
Hisense QD7 100-inch	$1,800	Dolby Vision	Dolby Atmos

Got your heart set on a 98-inch TV, but aren't sure which one is the right choice? A high refresh rate and VRR support are essential for console gaming. And if you're making the switch to fully streaming your content, support for popular apps as well as great picture and audio quality are key features to consider.

Buy this best 98-inch TV...	If you need...
Hisense U8K 100-inch	A well-rounded 98-inch smart TV. A 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, and dedicated filmmaker mode make this a great choice for streaming and gaming.
TCL Q65	A 98-inch TV with a balance between price and features. The TCL Q65 often goes on sale, letting you snag a cinema-sized TV for $1,500 to $2,000.
Sony Bravia X90L	A 98-inch TV with great audio. Not only does it feature Dolby Atmos support, it also uses Sony's Acoustic Multi-Surface audio to create immersive, object-tracking sound.
Samsung Q80C	A 98-inch TV for console gaming. The Samsung Q80C supports cloud gaming and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR.
Hisense QD7 100-inch	A 98-inch class TV for streaming. The QD7 supports thousands of streaming apps as well as Chromecast and AirPlay for multiple entertainment options.

Once you've nailed down a budget, here are a few factors to consider when buying a 98-inch TV:

Room size: Before you buy a 98-inch TV, you'll need to make sure it will actually fit in your space. Make sure you accurately measure a 98-inch diagonal space if you're going to wall-mount your new TV or set it on a dedicated stand. You'll also want to move your couch back, since you'll want about 16 feet between your seating and the screen to prevent discomfort.
Picture and audio quality: A 98-inch TV can be an expensive investment, so it's important to make sure you're getting the very best audio and picture quality for your money. Make sure your TV has at least HDR10 support for enhanced contrast as well as Dolby Digital audio processing for clearer dialogue.
Smart features: While you'll be hard-pressed to find a "dumb" TV anymore, not all smart TVs are created equal. With different platforms like Fire TV, Google TV, and Roku, you may not get support for all of your favorite streaming apps. There may be exclusive features like proprietary VRR support, built-in voice controls, and even Alexa Skills.

While I and other ZDNET experts test TVs, we keep these criteria in mind:

Brand integrity: There are a lot of smart TV brands on the market, and not all of them offer the kind of quality that customers expect when it comes to technology. Every TV we test is from a reputable brand with verifiable customer service options for troubleshooting issues and handling returns/exchanges.
Smart features: Not all smart TVs are created equal, so while testing we ensure each model offers similar, baseline options like support for popular streaming apps, voice control compatibility, and support for screen sharing via AirPlay and/or Chromecast.
Price versus value: Just because a TV is expensive, that doesn't mean it's actually worth the high price. Each TV we test is evaluated to ensure that you're getting the very best picture and audio quality as well as the smartest features for your money.

There's a formula for determining how far away your TV should be from your seating: take the size of your screen and double it. So, if you want a 98-inch TV, you'll want to put your couch at least 196 inches (about 16 feet) from your screen to prevent discomfort.

It is absolutely possible to wall-mount a 98-inch TV if you follow proper protocol and safety measures. Make sure that you can accurately find the distance between wall studs if mounting on a traditional drywall surface or drill into masonry with proper anchors.

Due to the size and weight of a 98-inch TV, it is highly recommended that you purchase a heavy-duty mounting bracket and always mount it to studs or sturdy masonry to prevent it from falling, which may cause damage or you to get hurt.