Compare TCL 98QM8K vs Sony BRAVIA 5

The 98QM8K produces an impressive cinematic picture with vivid color, strong brightness, and deep contrast. Its most demanding scenes can reveal processing imperfections.

The TV's overall image is vivid, natural and finely processed, but brightness and shadow precision depend on screen size, preset and lighting.

The 98-inch stand barely lifts the screen above furniture, so many soundbars will obscure the lower picture.

The raised stand positions on smaller models and generous clearance on the 98-inch help accommodate a soundbar beneath the screen.

Peak brightness is dazzling, but the TV does not always maintain its maximum output indefinitely. Normal content seldom exposes the shortfall.

Large bright areas remain impressively consistent, especially on the brighter 98-inch panel.

Peak HDR output is extraordinarily high, making highlights look brilliant on the giant panel. At the very highest settings, that intensity can become uncomfortable or bring out fan noise.

Brightness is sufficient for many HDR scenes but does not rival the most luminous Mini LEDs; the 98-inch is a significant exception within the lineup.

The integrated speakers can spread effects around the room, but they lack the scale of a dedicated theater system.

Virtual surround spreads the sound somewhat but produces little convincing rear-channel action.

HDR highlights glow with unusually strong intensity, even across a nearly 100-inch screen. Some settings trade maximum output for more comfortable viewing.

HDR has pleasing punch in many movies, but the 55–85-inch sets trail brighter rivals and small highlights can be restrained. The 98-inch version has markedly more headroom.

Fine texture and sharp HDR highlights lend images impressive depth, but low-quality inputs cannot reproduce the same detail.

Fine textures, subtitles and scene elements come through sharply without an excessively processed appearance.

Bass is stronger than expected for some built-in TV speakers, yet others hear an artificial or thin low end, particularly at high volume.

Deep bass is the built-in speakers' clearest weakness: effects can sound hollow or lack cinematic rumble, making a soundbar attractive.

SDR can look clean and natural in Filmmaker Mode, but factory default brightness and white balance vary markedly by preset.

Ordinary TV and HD content look crisp, natural and engaging, helped by sensitive processing and well-judged picture presets.

Noise reduction cleans low-bitrate streams effectively, at the expense of a little fine texture in the softest material.

Poor streams clean up well, but applying heavy reduction to pristine 4K material can soften fine detail.

The many local-dimming zones control dark scenes exceptionally well, creating impressive contrast without conspicuous backlight spill in most content.

Backlight control is frequently polished in ordinary scenes, yet tricky starfields can prompt conservative dimming and gray-looking black areas.

White balance can be very close to reference after calibration, but some out-of-box modes show cooler or shifted tones.

Initial white balance varies by tested size and unit, with cool or greenish casts on some sets; calibration can markedly improve it.

High-refresh 4K, low latency, and variable refresh rate make gaming enjoyable, with some caveats around motion blur and port availability.

Modern console titles look vibrant and feel responsive, yet motion smearing and the 120Hz ceiling keep it short of dedicated gaming leaders.

Game Bar aids such as crosshairs and magnification offer useful on-screen information during play.

Black equalizer, crosshairs and screen-size options are practical aids for navigating dark or precision-focused games.

Strong contrast gives bright objects depth against near-black backgrounds. The result approaches OLED in many scenes without matching pixel-level control.

Mini LED dimming delivers strong everyday contrast, although competing premium panels can go much deeper in complex dark scenes. The 98-inch version has a clear contrast advantage over the 65-inch.

Colors can look impressively natural and accurate in suitable modes, yet accuracy varies by picture preset and sample.

Natural skin tones and subtle colors are major strengths in well-chosen picture modes, though some test units show overly cool or greenish out-of-box balance.

HDR movies and games are the main attraction: blazing highlights, vivid color, and controlled blacks make demanding material stand out.

Rich color, controlled highlights and respectable contrast make HDR involving, while ultimate brightness and black precision remain below premium alternatives.

The Bang & Olufsen-tuned system gets praise for its spaciousness and bass from some listeners, while others find it muddy or underpowered.

Clear, balanced sound is better than expected for an LCD TV, though the low end is too light for full cinematic impact.

Filmmaker Mode is a strong starting point for natural color, while standard and dynamic settings can exaggerate brightness or color.

Cinema and Professional modes prioritize balance, while brighter presets add punch; Vivid can look overdone and some choices need adjustment.

Motion is acceptable to strong in ordinary sports and gaming, but difficult transitions and fast pans can produce blur or judder.

Film cadence and broadcast motion are polished, while some fast games still reveal slower pixel transitions.

Game Master generally responds quickly enough for fluid console gaming, even if a few competing TVs measure lower input lag.

Game mode responds promptly, with particularly impressive 120Hz lag results for a Sony LCD.

Slow pans can show judder, particularly in demanding film scenes; low motion settings sometimes improve it.

Sony's film cadence handling is an exceptional strength, keeping 24fps movies natural without obvious judder.

Recessed HDMI jacks are difficult to reach when the panel is mounted close to the wall.

Side- or rear-facing connections remain reasonably easy to reach, even when some sizes are wall-mounted.

Older streams and compressed broadcasts usually remain watchable, with useful artifact smoothing; very poor sources still expose their limitations.

Low-bitrate streams, old shows and SD broadcasts become more watchable through Sony's cleanup without heavy artificial sharpening.

Most colorful material looks smooth, but some challenging gradients show inaccuracies or banding rather than seamless tonal transitions.

Smooth gradations and low-quality stream cleanup are strengths, with only limited banding in difficult shades.

G-SYNC-style VRR can misbehave when an NVIDIA system is fixed at 60Hz; higher-refresh desktop settings work better.

G-SYNC works across the supported variable-refresh range on the 98-inch model.

Picture processing gives sports, streaming, and high-quality films impressive scale, but motion and fine detail are not equally polished in every mode.

The XR chip is the product's defining strength, making film motion, colors and weaker sources look notably polished.

The glossy screen keeps pictures crisp but contributes to pronounced mirror-like direct reflections.

The semi-gloss finish preserves a clear picture overall but costs a little perceived sharpness; BGR pixels can also affect desktop text.

The large panel can wobble slightly on furniture, so a secure stand or wall mount matters.

Properly installed feet keep the screen planted despite its size; only minor movement appears if the panel is pushed.

Blacks stay impressively even with local dimming enabled, although some cloudiness appears with dimming off.

Some cloudiness and haloing remain, especially on the 98-inch model with dimming off or challenging highlights.

Distortion is controlled in some listening tests, while others report harsher or muddier sound when the volume climbs.

Speakers remain composed during loud or demanding moments rather than breaking into obvious distortion.

The two feet are spaced far apart, requiring wide furniture rather than a compact center stand.

Centered or flexible foot placement makes most sizes friendly to narrow furniture, but the 98-inch stand is substantially wider and fixed.

The viewing cone is better than on some older VA screens, but the 98-inch model can shift color noticeably when seats move far off center.

VA-panel contrast and color degrade away from a centered seat; a few impressions are more forgiving, but wide seating remains risky.

Fast 4K play looks engaging, with support up to 144Hz through compatible inputs; 288Hz gaming requires a lower resolution.

120Hz is excellent for current consoles, but limited compared with 144Hz, 165Hz or faster sets aimed at serious PC gamers.

Some fast movement reveals ghosting, flicker, or other processing artifacts despite pleasing motion in typical viewing.

Dark transitions can produce black smears or inverse ghosting, with the faster 98-inch panel showing a different overshoot tradeoff.

Lower-resolution programs are generally upscaled cleanly without aggressive artificial sharpening. They cannot match pristine native 4K material.

Making poor sources look better is the signature advantage here: HD, SD and compressed streams remain detailed and natural.

Quick action often looks clear, yet bright-to-dark transitions can smear noticeably at the highest refresh rates.

Sports and movies generally remain readable, but fast game motion can smear on smaller panels; the 98-inch is noticeably clearer.

Volume is adequate for some rooms but fails to impress everyone, and louder settings can compromise clarity.

The built-in system gets loud enough for typical rooms without sacrificing easy-to-hear dialogue.

Dark scenes can look rich and detailed, but some testing found crushed near-black detail and dim midtones, particularly with challenging HDR grading.

Shadows retain subtle textures in most scenes, but aggressive brightness preferences or complex backlight behavior can sacrifice some dark detail.

The screen can reflect windows and lamps almost like a mirror. Indirect room lighting is much less troublesome.

Direct light sources are obvious on the reflective screen and can interrupt darker scenes.

The backlit remote feels premium and its illuminated keys are useful in dark rooms, although the shape will not please everyone.

The remotes are comfortable and functional, but the lack of backlighting and rechargeable power disappoints some owners.

Banding is generally restrained in regular viewing, though difficult test patterns can still reveal uneven transitions.

Most gradients look smooth, although grays and certain green tones can show visible steps.

Its unusual backlight drive pattern is not visually distracting to everyone, but flicker-sensitive users should be aware of it.

High-frequency PWM is generally subtle, but sensitive viewers may still notice it; Standard mode has a lower flicker frequency.

Sheer brightness overcomes much daytime glare, but direct lights opposite the glossy screen still make obvious reflections.

Direct reflections are a persistent weakness: windows and lamps can remain clearly visible, despite sufficient brightness for indirect daylight.

Well-tuned movie settings deliver convincingly natural color, shading, and depth; some presets favor a less lifelike pop.

Colors and textures usually look lifelike rather than oversaturated, especially in Cinema and Professional modes.

Response times are not uniformly fast; some extreme shade changes leave visible trails during rapid movement.

Pixel transitions are adequate on smaller sets rather than truly fast, while the 98-inch panel makes visible gains in gaming clarity.

Deep, convincing blacks are a highlight of the local-dimming system, especially in dark-room viewing.

Blacks are generally convincing from a central seat, but difficult starfields and mixed highlights can look gray. The 98-inch model delivers deeper blacks than the 65-inch in size-specific testing.

Fine calibration controls allow impressive gains in image fidelity, although the most accurate results may require time or professional equipment.

White balance and grayscale often improve dramatically after calibration, although some calibration controls are more limited than enthusiasts might expect.

Blooming around subtitles and bright objects is usually very limited. Demanding patterns and off-axis views can still reveal some halos.

Sony usually suppresses halos without crushing small bright details, but the conservative approach can raise blacks and leave some complex dark scenes washed out.

Speech can sound crisp and distinct at ordinary volume, but one 98-inch measurement found dialogue somewhat muted.

Voices are consistently easy to follow, even with busy film soundtracks, and Sony offers useful speech-enhancement options.

The 98-inch model uses two wide-spaced feet that support the huge panel well, rather than the center pedestal found on smaller sizes.

The feet feel sturdy and stable, though the 98-inch version is wider and less adjustable.

VRR works well with consoles and AMD hardware, including low frame rates, but NVIDIA systems can tear in a locked 60Hz mode.

VRR helps keep supported console games smooth and nearly tear-free, within the TV's 120Hz ceiling.

Local dimming follows moving highlights well, with some flicker as bright objects cross lighting zones.

Moving highlights generally transition smoothly between dimming zones, although very fast objects can reveal halo trails or dark edges.

Bright reds, greens, and other saturated shades retain plenty of punch in HDR, though extremely pale scenes can lose a little saturation.

Bright HDR colors remain punchy, particularly on the 98-inch panel, which has more color-brightness headroom than the 65-inch version.

Google TV surfaces relevant programs effectively but includes promoted recommendations alongside personal picks.

Google TV organizes shows and watchlists well, but its recommendation system can feel busy and less clever than alternatives.

Motion smoothing can reduce judder with conservative settings, but high settings introduce artifacts and lost detail.

True Cinema and conservative settings can help films, but stronger smoothing introduces artifacts or a soap-opera look.

There are only two full-speed HDMI 2.1 ports. The separate eARC connection is helpful for soundbars but limits complex receiver setups.

Only two HDMI inputs carry full gaming bandwidth, and one doubles as eARC. Multi-console soundbar setups may need compromises or extra hardware.

Dirty-screen effect is subdued on several samples, though lighter backgrounds can reveal mild patches or dark bands.

Some slight center-screen patchiness can appear during bright panning shots, though it is rarely intrusive in normal viewing.

Game mode stays bright and responsive without sacrificing much dark-scene contrast.

Game mode keeps inputs responsive, but specialized presets do not always preserve the strongest picture quality.

Bright HDR highlights stand out with remarkable intensity, though some material clips subtle detail at the very top end.

Fine highlight structure is usually well maintained, but very bright or complex scenes can clip or suppress tiny specular details.

Rear channels help organize cables, though recessed connections can be awkward once the TV sits close to a wall.

Cable routing is neat on some smaller versions, but the 98-inch rear offers little built-in cable management beyond a tie wrap.

The on-screen gaming menu makes settings easy to reach without exiting the action.

The game menu offers useful on-screen tuning, source information, crosshairs and screen-size controls without leaving play.

Slow-panning 24p and 25p scenes can exhibit distracting stutter, although action scenes are usually more forgiving.

Some slow camera pans in 24fps material can show mild response-time stutter despite effective judder removal.

The 98-inch screen delivers a genuinely theater-sized image, making movies and games strikingly immersive.

The 98-inch screen delivers a room-filling movie and gaming experience, with additional brightness and motion advantages beyond its area.

Wide color coverage contributes to bold, lifelike HDR images and vivid animation. Accuracy is a separate question and may require choosing the right mode.

HDR colors cover a wide, useful range and look rich in most content, despite less-than-complete coverage of the broadest gamuts.

Advertising on the Google TV home screen is a nuisance. Basic TV setup can remove ads, but sacrifices most smart-TV functions.

The Google TV home screen carries ads; turning off personalization does not remove them. Basic TV mode removes ads only by sacrificing smart functions.

Colors shift or fade toward the edges of the seating area, especially on the very large panel.

Colors lose intensity and blacks wash out when viewers sit to the sides, especially beyond modest angles.

Bright-field uniformity is mostly good, but some samples show edge darkening, mild patchiness, or visible bands.

Mostly even images can show slightly dark corners or subtle patchiness in bright material, especially at very large sizes.

Technical HDR accuracy is imperfect, with EOTF deviations and some clipped highlights despite the TV’s impressive brightness.

Sony's tone mapping generally follows intended luminance well, particularly in accurate presets, though some modes introduce raised blacks or clipped highlights.

Tone mapping is a weak spot in some technical tests, with crushed dark detail and clipping near peak brightness, although other viewing modes earned praise.

Dynamic HDR adjustments preserve useful detail in tricky mixed-brightness scenes, though the brightest highlights are not always perfect.

Menus and picture settings are reasonably easy to navigate, especially with useful shortcuts, though not every operation feels equally snappy.

Settings and shortcuts appear quickly and keep on-the-fly changes convenient.

The interface generally feels quick and responsive, making navigation between entertainment apps straightforward.

Google TV is consistently quick to open menus and switch apps, with little of the sluggishness associated with weaker smart TVs.

FreeSync support makes console and AMD gaming smoother with less distracting screen tearing.

Native FreeSync support is missing, although HDMI Forum VRR provides a practical alternative with compatible systems.

The two high-bandwidth HDMI connections handle modern gaming signals well, but they are not enough for every multi-console or PC setup.

The two compatible ports handle 4K120 and VRR effectively, offering capable current-generation console connections.

The massive screen offers exceptional performance per dollar at a substantial discount, but the less expensive QM7K and newer rivals complicate the value calculation.

As a Sony Mini LED, the processing can justify a premium on sale, but cheaper rivals often offer higher brightness or more gaming hardware.

Chromecast gives Android and other compatible devices an easy route to the big screen.

Google Cast makes Android and other compatible phone-to-TV playback simple.

Wireless casting makes it simple to send content from compatible phones and tablets to the large screen.

Built-in casting makes it straightforward to send videos or other content from a phone.

Google TV setup and initial connection are straightforward, particularly for people already using Google services.

Smaller models have simple feet and clear setup menus; even the 98-inch uses smart packaging, though moving it takes strength.

The 98-inch model provides tremendous visual impact at a far lower price than similarly sized premium OLED TVs.

The huge screen brings compelling scale, but the 98-inch price, space requirements and power consumption demand careful justification.

AirPlay 2 is convenient for sharing videos and photos from Apple devices.

Built-in AirPlay makes sharing video from Apple devices easy, without an extra streaming box.

eARC passes high-quality sound to a receiver or soundbar without occupying one of the two fastest HDMI ports, with some switching tradeoffs.

eARC is useful for connecting a capable receiver or soundbar, though it uses one of the two highest-bandwidth HDMI inputs.

Materials and assembly generally feel sturdy and premium for a large LCD television.

The cabinet generally feels sturdy and stable, with a premium impression despite extensive plastic; large screens can wobble slightly when pushed.

Nearly invisible bezels and premium metallic trim make this enormous TV look surprisingly elegant.

The minimalist shape and discreet front styling look premium in a living room; the larger model's thickness is less elegant from the side.

The exceptionally narrow border makes the picture seem to float, helping the 98-inch screen feel less bulky.

Most sizes have thin, unobtrusive borders; the 98-inch model is noticeably chunkier around the edges.

Menus and smart functions generally feel dependable, with few noticeable bugs in normal use.

Current consoles can take advantage of smooth 4K120 play, provided they use one of the two full-bandwidth HDMI ports.

The panel tops out at 120Hz, so it is less attractive than 144Hz or faster rivals for high-refresh PC gaming.

A huge screen, low input lag and 4K HDR presentation make the 98-inch model especially engaging for games.

Dolby Vision playback is a strong part of the TV's movie and gaming appeal, with useful picture presets for different lighting.

DTS and DTS:X compatibility helps Blu-ray and home-theater owners avoid the format limitations found on some rival TVs.

The lack of HDR10+ frustrates viewers who want every major dynamic HDR format, even though Dolby Vision is included.

1440p signals are a conspicuous gap for some console and PC setups, even though 4K120 works well.

Optional Bravia Cam features add possibilities, but the camera's price is difficult to justify for what it offers.

The display can double as a pleasant ambient picture frame or screensaver when entertainment is paused.

Sony's gentle SDR-to-HDR enhancement can give everyday material extra pop without making colors look exaggerated. Cinema and Professional modes provide a more restrained alternative.

Game mode engages automatically with compatible consoles, making it easier to get responsive play without switching presets manually.

Black-frame insertion is poorly executed, with image duplication or unusual flicker patterns undermining its usefulness.

Especially at 98 inches, the cabinet is much thicker than today's slimmest TVs, so wall mounting will not look particularly flush.

The 98-inch model draws substantially more electricity than smaller versions, offsetting some of its big-screen appeal in daily running costs.

There is no standard Filmmaker Mode, although Cinema and Professional presets provide accurate-viewing alternatives for enthusiasts.

Free live-channel offerings add convenience, though their presence alone does not determine the picture quality.

Four total HDMI ports are useful, but only half provide the highest-bandwidth gaming functions.

Small text and fine details survive scaling well, helping lower-resolution sources avoid a soft appearance.

Gaming alongside a YouTube guide or video is an appealing convenience, rather than forcing players to switch screens.

Owners with local media libraries or Plex servers can get especially good use from the TV's processing and film presentation.

Most experiences are positive, especially for movies and everyday viewing, although some buyers question the premium price and gaming tradeoffs.

The large model's packaging separates easily and supports safer stand installation without lifting the panel immediately.

Thoughtfully shaped protective material and packing tabs make an intimidating 98-inch unboxing more manageable.

Chroma detail is usable, but the BGR pixel layout can cause text quirks in some desktop applications.

Remote Play can bring a PS5 or PS4 session onto the TV from another room or even another location.

The 98-inch screen carries a major running-cost premium, commonly using hundreds of watts while streaming.

The compact everyday remote feels intuitive in the hand and makes navigation easy.

Dedicated input and streaming buttons are handy, but extra settings buttons and no illumination can make dark-room use fiddly.

Sony's built-in speaker arrangement provides refined detail and generally clean output, without much deep bass.

Click-in feet and installation-friendly packaging make assembly straightforward for the smaller and very large sizes alike.

Preloaded software leaves useful free storage for additional apps, which can be removed if unwanted.

High frequencies are generally clean and controlled, but the tonal balance does not reach a dedicated sound system.

The deeper cabinet, particularly at large sizes, prevents the sleek flush-wall effect of thinner televisions.

A large screen takes real effort to maneuver; even helpful packaging and handles cannot eliminate the need for assistance.

Major streaming apps run smoothly, with convenient switching and broad availability.

Google TV brings together a broad selection of streaming services; regional catch-up apps are also thoughtfully handled in the UK.

Voice Zoom and similar speech controls make hard-to-hear dialogue easier to follow without simply boosting total volume.

Detailed brightness, contrast, HDR and game controls offer extensive tuning for owners who like to experiment.

Users can disable personalized ads or the microphone, but opting out of targeted ads does not clear the home-screen ad placements.

Automatic PlayStation HDR tuning provides a strong starting point for game brightness and shadow balance, though manual verification may still help.

Google TV offers useful streaming apps and a familiar interface, though ads and personal preference can spoil the experience.

Google TV brings an extensive app ecosystem and intuitive navigation, with occasional clutter from recommendations and ads.

Google Assistant can handle complex voice searches and shortcuts, making it easier to navigate a large content library.

Wi-Fi connections proved reliable for demanding 4K streaming in home-network testing.

An intermittent audio-delay warning for Sony's Android 14 platform raises concern for gamers using LPCM over ARC after display-mode changes.

eARC can carry major high-quality formats to external equipment, although a reported Android 14 LPCM sync issue warrants caution with certain setups.

Audio presets and Bang & Olufsen tuning make it easier to soften harshness or emphasize speech.

Movies can look rich in moderate or dim light, but raised blacks, occasional blooming and shadow quirks make a pitch-black reference theater a less convincing fit.

Everyday daylight pictures have plenty of punch, but direct sunlight and reflected windows can distract, especially on smaller sizes.

Compatible Sony soundbars can let the TV handle the center channel, making voices appear to come from the screen itself.

At extreme brightness settings, one 98-inch unit produced an audible fan hum. Lowering brightness eliminated it, at the expense of maximum output.

Filmmaker and calibrated settings can deliver extremely accurate pictures, although factory presets and individual units draw less consistent praise.

Automatic format switching between streaming services and apps is quick and keeps the appropriate audio/video modes active.

Daytime SDR material has strong brightness, particularly on the 98-inch version, though full-field scenes are somewhat less punchy.

Sony's high-bitrate movie streaming is an especially attractive extra for film enthusiasts, with sharp presentation and included movie credits.

The speakers create a spacious, reasonably precise stereo image, positioning dialogue and effects convincingly.

Sound-positioning tweeters and supported formats lend spatial depth, but a dedicated system still provides a more enveloping theater effect.

Dedicated Netflix, Prime Video and Sony Pictures Core presets aim for faithful playback with little manual fiddling.

The 98-inch is not merely a larger 65-inch: it is brighter, has deeper blacks and responds faster, so size-specific conclusions matter.

The range spans manageable 55-inch screens through a giant 98-inch version, giving buyers considerable freedom to fit their room.