If you want better HDMI 2.1 port count
Choose Hisense UR8SG. It scores 5.0 vs 2.6 for HDMI 2.1 port count, with a 4.0 overall score.
TCL 98QM8K TV Review
Bottom Line
Enormous HDR brightness and excellent local dimming make the 98QM8K a dramatic big-screen buy. Direct reflections, motion blur, limited HDMI 2.1 ports, and mixed built-in sound temper the excitement.
Centered-seating home theaters, bright-room HDR movie watching, and console gaming benefit from the extraordinary 98-inch picture and strong gaming support.
Wide seating layouts, rooms with bright windows directly opposite the screen, and setups needing more than two high-bandwidth HDMI sources are less suitable. The built-in speakers may also disappoint buyers avoiding a soundbar.
Verdict
The TCL 98QM8K makes an unusually compelling case for a nearly 100-inch home theater. Its dazzling HDR highlights, rich color, deep blacks, and tightly controlled blooming deliver the scale and punch usually associated with far more expensive setups. Modern consoles and gaming PCs benefit from low lag, variable refresh rate, and 4K at up to 144Hz. The compromises are important, though: only two HDMI ports support full gaming bandwidth, and the massive panel demands careful positioning and a wide stand. The glossy screen can mirror lamps and windows, far-off-center seats lose color, and some fast transitions smear or stutter. Factory accuracy and built-in sound also draw uneven assessments, while one sample developed audible fan noise at extreme brightness. At a meaningful discount, it is a striking large-screen buy; at a price close to newer alternatives, its limitations deserve more scrutiny.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
91 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.020 (22%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.439 (43%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.416 (18%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.416 (18%)
Pros highlights
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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.
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The 98QM8K produces an impressive cinematic picture with vivid color, strong brightness, and deep contrast. Its most demanding scenes can reveal processing imperfections.
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The massive screen offers exceptional performance per dollar at a substantial discount, but the less expensive QM7K and newer rivals complicate the value calculation.
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The Bang & Olufsen-tuned system gets praise for its spaciousness and bass from some listeners, while others find it muddy or underpowered.
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HDR highlights glow with unusually strong intensity, even across a nearly 100-inch screen. Some settings trade maximum output for more comfortable viewing.
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Strong contrast gives bright objects depth against near-black backgrounds. The result approaches OLED in many scenes without matching pixel-level control.
Cons highlights
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There are only two full-speed HDMI 2.1 ports. The separate eARC connection is helpful for soundbars but limits complex receiver setups.
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The screen can reflect windows and lamps almost like a mirror. Indirect room lighting is much less troublesome.
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Bass is stronger than expected for some built-in TV speakers, yet others hear an artificial or thin low end, particularly at high volume.
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White balance can be very close to reference after calibration, but some out-of-box modes show cooler or shifted tones.
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Older streams and compressed broadcasts usually remain watchable, with useful artifact smoothing; very poor sources still expose their limitations.
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Dark scenes can look rich and detailed, but some testing found crushed near-black detail and dim midtones, particularly with challenging HDR grading.
Use Cases
Best for
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Very high light output makes daytime viewing practical even in sunny rooms, but windows facing the screen remain problematic.
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Movies look spectacular on the giant, high-contrast HDR display, especially in dark scenes and vivid masterings.
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Discounted pricing puts premium HDR and a huge screen within reach of more budgets, but cheaper alternatives may satisfy less demanding buyers.
Not ideal for
-
Watching DVDsStandard-definition discs remain watchable, though 4K content uses the panel’s detail and scale more effectively.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other TVs, this product is above average in local dimming zone transitions, HDR brightness, local dimming performance, near average in picture quality, motion handling, below average in G-SYNC compatibility, Soundbar clearance, HDMI 2.1 support.
Comparison summary
90 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher32 (36%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts33 (37%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower25 (28%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-SYNC compatibility | 2.0 | 4.2 | -2.2 |
| Soundbar clearance | 2.0 | 4.1 | -2.1 |
| HDMI 2.1 support | 2.3 | 4.1 | -1.8 |
| gradient handling | 2.0 | 3.9 | -1.9 |
| local dimming zone transitions | 5.0 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| HDMI 2.1 port count | 2.6 | 4.1 | -1.6 |
| HDR brightness | 4.8 | 3.4 | +1.4 |
| local dimming performance | 4.7 | 3.2 | +1.5 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better low-resolution content handling
Choose Sony BRAVIA 3 II. It scores 4.6 vs 2.3 for low-resolution content handling, with a 3.8 overall score.
If you want better HDMI 2.1 support
Choose TCL QM9K. It scores 5.0 vs 2.3 for HDMI 2.1 support, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better reflection handling
Choose Hisense U7SG. It scores 4.7 vs 3.1 for reflection handling, with a 4.2 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Compared: newer model highlights and saturation The QM8L is brighter and punchier in some scenes; the QM8K competes on overall color.
- Compared: color saturation versus brightness The QM8L offers more saturated reds in demonstrations; the QM8K remains formidable.
- Alternative: clearance value versus extra HDMI inputs The successor adds more HDMI 2.1 ports, but the QM8K can be a better clearance buy.
Hisense U8QG (2025)
- Compared: HDR contrast and gaming The TCL and Hisense compete closely on brightness with different image tradeoffs.
- Compared: brightness and local dimming Both offer substantial HDR brightness, with the choice dependent on price and priorities.
- Compared: cinematic image versus gaming The TCL looks more cinematic, while the Hisense is considered stronger for gaming.
TCL QM7K (2025)
- Older model: brightness and contrast The QM8K gets considerably brighter than the QM7K.
- Older model: HDR brightness and contrast The QM8K adds substantial HDR impact over the more economical QM7K.
- Worse: HDR brightness The QM8K produces almost twice the HDR brightness of the less costly QM7K in this test.
FAQ
Is the TCL 98QM8K bright enough for a sunny room?
Yes. It has extraordinary HDR and SDR brightness, although lamps and windows directly opposite the glossy screen can still reflect strongly.
How many full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports are available?
Two of its four HDMI inputs support high-bandwidth gaming signals such as 4K at 120Hz or 144Hz. The eARC port is separate and limited to lower bandwidth.
Does it support PS5 and Xbox Series X gaming?
Yes. It supports 4K at 120Hz, VRR, and automatic low-latency mode on compatible inputs; PC gaming can reach 4K at 144Hz.
Do you need a soundbar?
Not strictly: some listeners praise the built-in sound and bass. Others report muddy audio, limited volume, or weak dialogue, so a soundbar is sensible for a screen this large.
How well does the picture look from the side?
Its viewing angle is better than some earlier VA TVs, but the tested 98-inch model can lose color saturation when viewed far off center.
Is the 98-inch stand different from smaller sizes?
Yes. The 98-inch uses two widely spaced feet rather than the center pedestal on smaller sizes; low screen clearance can cause a soundbar to block the picture.
Is professional calibration necessary?
Not necessarily. Filmmaker Mode can look natural immediately, but results vary by sample and preset, and calibration can substantially improve accuracy.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Tech Steve
- Review score
- 3.6
YouTube - BRIAN'S TECH THERAPY (WHISPERSTATUS74)
- Review score
- 4.6
Article Reviews
tiermarks.com
TCL QM8K earns an A from our critic. Flagship brightness and flagship dimming for mid range money, with a short fault list that stays...
- Review score
- 3.5
itechfaqs.com
TCL QM8K review covering brightness, blooming, gaming, motion, viewing angles, HDMI 2.1, prices, and whether the 65, 75, 85, or 98-inch model...
- Review score
- 3.8
techstevehd.com
TCL QM8K review covering QD-Mini LED picture quality, HDR, motion, 4K 144Hz gaming, B&O audio and differences between the 65- to 98-inch sizes.
- Review score
- 3.7
techstevehd.com
Compare the TCL QM8K and QM8L for picture quality, HDR, color, gaming, HDMI connectivity, sound, sizes and value before choosing your...
- Review score
- 3.4
techstevehd.com
Compare the Hisense U8QG and TCL QM8K for picture quality, HDR brightness, blooming, motion, gaming, HDMI connectivity, sound, sizes, and value.
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