With the Super Bowl coming up, there are Big TV Deals and then there are Big Deals on TVs. And then there are Big Deals on Big TVs. The biggest deal on the biggest TV right now is TCL’s huge 98-inch S Class 4K TV. Forget the list price of $4999, or its holiday price of $2999 or even its Black Friday price of $2499. Starting today and running for two weeks only (or while stock lasts), you can pick up TCL’s massive 98-inch TV for just $1999.99, including shipping.
Check it out on Amazon:
> TCL 98S550G 98-inch S Class 4K TV on Amazon
When we first saw the new batch of 4K LED/LCD TVs from TCL last May, we were impressed by the value proposition. These are not OLED TVs (they’re LED/LCD TVs), but they can produce high quality 4K/HDR moving pictures for a fraction of the price of an OLED TV. With TCL’s S Class, 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 way with oversized XXL TVs with three models introduced in 2023 with 98-inch screen sizes. 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 in 2022. 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 huge-ness (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.
4K for $2K!
The originaly announced MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) on the 98-inch S Class TV was $4,999 but we had a feeling TCL was going to aim even lower when it actually went on sale. And now it’s the lowest price we’ve seen for this or any other TV larger than 90 inches – a full $500 below the previous low on Black Friday. Company reps tell us this sale will only last two weeks, or while supplies last at participating retailers.
The TCL S550 features a native 4K Ultra HD resolution (3840×2160 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. “Hey, Google, who’s gonna win SuperBowl 58?”
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!
The Ins and Outs of the TCL S Class
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 (optimized for gaming PCs and consoles). 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 good 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.
TCL 98S550 98-inch 4K TV Noteworthy Features:
- 4K Ultra HD Resolution
- 120Hz Panel Refresh Rate
- Motion Rate 480 with MEMC Frame Insertion
- Wide Color Gamut
- High Brightness LED Backlight
- HDR ULTRA (Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, & HLG)
- TCL AIPQ Engine with Deep Learning AI
- Auto Game Mode (ALLM)
- Game Accelerator 240 for Up to 240 VRR Gaming
- Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X
- FullView Metal Bezel-less Design
- Google TV Smart OS
- Built-in Subwoofer
- Bluetooth Personal Audio
- Hands Free Voice Control (Far Field)
- 4 HDMI Inputs (One with eARC)
- Chromecast Built-in
- Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
- Dual-Band 802.11ac Wi-Fi
The Bottom Line
With a high quality 98-inch TV selling for under $2,000, consumers now have the choice of going “cinematic” at home without the effort involved in installing a projector and without the high cost normally associated with a large flat panel TV. 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 $1,999.99 price is available now, but will expire in two weeks or whenever existing inventory is depleted.
> TCL 98S550G 98-inch S Class 4K TV on Amazon
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