UPDATE: the set has dropped in price and additional $1,000 to $2999.99 in an early Black Friday deal. Copy has been updated with the change. The link is still the same.
When we saw the new batch of 4K LED/LCD TVs from TCL at a press event this past May, we were impressed by the value proposition. OK, these are not OLED TVs, but they can produce high quality 4K/HDR moving images for a fraction of the price of an OLED TV. With TCL's S Class and Q Class LED/LCD TVs you can get a 75-inch 4K TV for less than the cost of a 55-inch OLED. And TCL doesn't stop at 75 or even 85 inches. No, they're leading the charge for the new wave of XXL TVs with two new models introduced this year with a whopping 98-inch screen size. That's almost four times the size of a 50 inch TV.
According to a TCL representative, the company sold over 50,000 of its 98-inch models in China alone last year. And it's easy to see why. We saw two of the company's 98-inch sets at the press event and they were impressive, both in picture quality and in pure immensitude (is that even a word?). Movies become more immersive and football games make you feel like you're sitting at or on the 50-yard line. The company's latest 98-inch model, the S Class S550G, just went on sale online for $2,999.99 (updated November 12 from earlier price of $3999).
Check it out on Amazon:
> TCL 98S550G 98-inch S Class 4K TV on Amazon
The MSRP is $4,999 but we had a feeling TCL was going to aim even lower when it actually went on sale. So what do you get for that $3,000 (Sorry "$2,999.99") other than a massive 98-inch screen? The S550 features a native 4K Ultra HD resolution (3840x2160 pixels) with support for Dolby Vision IQ HDR, Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X immersive surround. The panel's refresh rate is 120 Hz which makes it a great choice for gamers and sports lovers. Google TV is built in for quick access to any number of streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Max, Disney+ and more. It even includes a farfield mic so you can call out to your Google Assistant (built into the TV) from across the room.
While the S550 does have direct full array LED backlighting, it lacks local dimming so you're not going to get the kind of precise contrast or black levels you'd see on a model with local dimming. It does include the company's latest version of their AIPQ picture processor (gen 3) for motion handling, color processing and upconversion of SD and HD source material like live TV broadcasts and Blu-ray Discs. For 4K UltraHD content, the S550 supports just about every manner of HDR (High Dynamic Range) available today including Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. So it can take full advantage of the highest quality streaming movies and TV shows, Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs and Kaleidescape content.
The S550 includes adjustable feet for placement on stands of different widths. It can be wall mounted as well. Just be sure to get a very sturdy wall mount as the set weighs 120 pounds and is roughly seven feet wide and four feet tall. So yeah... BIG PICTURE!
TCL's S Class 98-inch TV offers four 4K HDMI inputs total: two HDMI 2.0 inputs support 60Hz input, one HDMI 2.1 input supports up to 120Hz and one HDMI 2.1 input supports up to 144 Hz (great for connecting a gaming PC). There are stereo speakers on board with 10 watts of power to each side plus 20 watts to a built-in powered subwoofer, so you can get pretty good sound right out of the box. Of course, we'd recommend connecting a full immersive surround system (or at least a soundbar) using the set's eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) HDMI port or the set's fiberoptic digital output. Private listening is also possible with both a wired headphone output and a wireless Bluetooth output for Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
With a high quality 98-inch TV selling for under $3,000, consumers now have the choice of going "cinematic" at home without the effort involved in installing a projector. And with such a large TV selling for such a low price, makers of UST (Ultra Short Throw) projectors may need to rethink their pricing. UST projectors can create images much larger (most max out at about 150 inches) but once you add in a screen, the total cost can add up quickly. And you'll still end up with something which isn't as bright or well suited to modern living spaces as a big flat panel TV like the TCL 98S550G. Also, there's something to be said for being able to put the TV up on a stand or on the wall, plug it in, dial in some basic picture settings and just start watching TV immediately. UST projectors and traditional projectors tend to require a bit more effort in the set-up and installation.
The $2,999.99 price is an early Black Friday "sale" price so this could vary. We checked Amazon at the time of publication and the price was current and the TV is listed as in stock and ready for delivery.
> TCL 98S550G 98-inch S Class 4K TV on Amazon
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