TCL QLED TCL 98-Inch Q65 QLED 4K UHD Smart TV with Google Review

The TCL 98Q651G is a giant screen for not-giant money. You get a 98-inch QLED with great 144Hz gaming features and full HDR support for around $1,300. The picture is good but not great, and the speakers are weak. If you want the biggest possible TV on a budget and are okay with mid-range performance, this is your best—and maybe only—choice. Just make sure you have a big wall and some friends to help mount it.

Let's talk about what happens when you want a 98-inch screen but don't want to take out a second mortgage. The TCL 98Q651G is that exact proposition. It's a massive QLED TV that costs about as much as some 65-inch premium models from other brands. That's the whole story right there: you're trading some peak performance for sheer, unadulterated size.

This TV is for the person who wants a home theater experience that fills their wall without emptying their wallet. It's perfect for movie nights where immersion matters more than perfect black levels, and for gamers who want a huge canvas for their 144Hz action. The smart features are solid with Google TV, and it supports all the major HDR formats, so you're not missing out on compatibility.

What makes it interesting is how TCL is playing the game. While other brands chase perfect contrast with Mini-LED or OLED, TCL is giving you a screen so big it becomes the focal point of the room. The specs—like the 144Hz VRR for gaming and Dolby Vision support—are legit for the price. It's not the absolute best picture you can buy, but it might be the biggest and most feature-packed screen you can get for under $1,300.

Our database shows this TV lands in the 90th percentile for gaming performance, which is its real party trick. That 144Hz variable refresh rate and the Game Accelerator features mean it's genuinely responsive. For console gamers on a PS5 or Xbox Series X, or PC gamers with a capable rig, this is a huge, smooth canvas. Input lag is low enough that you won't feel handicapped, which is impressive for a TV this size and price.

The picture quality scores are more middle-of-the-road, sitting around the 45th percentile. That tells a clear story: you're getting good, watchable 4K HDR, but not class-leading contrast or peak brightness. The QLED color is vibrant and covers a wide gamut, but without advanced local dimming, dark scenes won't have the same punch as on more expensive sets. HDR performance is in the 77th percentile, meaning it handles HDR content competently across Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG, but don't expect eye-searing highlights. It's a solid, reliable picture that makes the most of its direct LED backlight.

The value proposition here is brutally simple: maximum inches per dollar. At around $1,300, you are getting a screen that is physically larger than almost anything else near this price point. Competitors at this size start at three to five times the price and go up from there.

You are absolutely making trade-offs for that size. The picture quality components are mid-range. But TCL has smartly loaded it with high-value features like the gaming refresh rate and the full HDR suite, so it doesn't feel cheap where it counts. For the person whose primary metric is 'how big can I go,' this TV is in a league of its own.

If you're looking at this 98-inch TCL, you're probably also eyeing the 85-inch Sony BRAVIA 5 or the 75-inch Hisense U6 Series Mini-LED. Here's the trade-off. The Sony will have a better processor and likely better motion handling, but you're giving up 13 inches of screen for likely a higher price. The Hisense U6 at 75 inches might even be cheaper and offers Mini-LED for better contrast, but you're downsizing by a massive 23 inches. It's a classic quality versus quantity choice.

Then there's the premium tier. The LG OLED evo G5 at 97 inches or the Samsung Neo QLED will absolutely destroy this TCL in picture quality, contrast, and viewing angles. They're also in the $5,000 to $20,000 range. This TCL isn't competing with those on specs. It's competing by asking if you'd rather have a flawless 77-inch OLED or a very good 98-inch QLED for the same money. For a home theater focused on immersion, the TCL's argument is compelling.

Skip this TV if you're a videophile who prizes perfect black levels and shadow detail above all else. Without local dimming, dark scenes in movies or shows won't have the depth and pop you get from OLED or high-end Mini-LED sets. For that, look at TCL's own QM8 series or a Hisense U8 model in a smaller size.

Also, avoid it if your room has wide seating. The viewing angles on this VA-type panel aren't great, so people sitting off to the sides will see faded colors and reduced contrast. In that case, an OLED (with perfect viewing angles) or an IPS-type panel TV would be better, though you'll sacrifice size or pay much more. Finally, if you hate the idea of buying a separate sound system, the weak built-in audio here will disappoint you from day one.

Buy the TCL 98Q651G if your top priority is screen size for a modest budget, and you're a gamer or movie watcher who values a huge, immersive experience over reference-grade picture quality. It's also a great pick for a bright living room where perfect blacks are less critical than sheer impact. Pair it with a decent soundbar, and you've got a home theater that will wow guests with its scale.

Look elsewhere if you're a videophile who notices every detail in shadowy scenes or if your room layout forces wide viewing angles. Also, if your space can't accommodate a nearly 8-foot wide TV, this is a non-starter. In those cases, step down to a 75 or 85-inch model from TCL's own QM8 Mini-LED series or from Hisense, where you'll get better picture technology for a similar price, just in a (slightly) smaller box.