TVs & Audio | October 11, 2023
Good, beautiful, and… enormous. The TCL 98C805 is one of the finest examples of the new TCL television lineup. It combines an attractive design, cutting-edge technologies, and a whopping 98-inch screen size. A true giant for your living room featuring MiniLED technology with impressive contrast improvements that rival OLED TV performance. This TV boasts a 10-bit panel capable of displaying over 1 billion colors and is VESA 1500 HDR certified, allowing you to make the most of image enhancements from platforms like Netflix or Disney+. Additionally, this television shines in the gaming department, offering features such as variable refresh rate to match gameplay action to the screen and technologies to reduce lag or latency in online games.
However, if you want to get your hands on this TV, you’ll need to prepare your wallet, as it comes with a price tag of 5,000 euros. Let’s delve into the standout features of this premium TCL TV.
| TCL 98C805 | |
| Diagonal | 98 inches (also available in 50, 55, 65, 75 and 85 inches) |
| Resolution and technology | 4K 3840 x 2160 pixels Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG 1,500 nits maximum brightness 10-bit panel Native panel at 144Hz |
| Panel type | MiniLED with Quantum Dot |
| Processor | Quad Core AiPQ 3.0 Engine Processor |
| OS | Google TV |
| Control | RC833 |
| Sound | 2×15W Dolby Atmos and DTS:X |
| Connections | 4 x HDMI 2.1 1 x USB 3.0 1 x Ethernet |
| Wireless connectivity | WiFi ac/n/g 2.4/5Ghz MIMO Chromecast Bluetooth |
| Design | 2179 / 1289 / 420 mm 58 kilos |
| Gaming technologies | FreeSync Premium Pro 240Hz Game Accelerator |
| Assistants | Google Assistant |
| Release date | To be confirmed |
| Price | 95 inches: 5,000 euros |
The TCL 98C805 TV showcases TCL’s prowess in the television market. The company has demonstrated that there are no limits when it comes to screen size and has introduced a television that boasts a massive 98-inch diagonal screen. Yes, you read that correctly, 98 inches, something that just a few years ago might have seemed like science fiction or required a substantial investment. Today, you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home if you have the space, of course, as this TV measures over two meters in width and beyond a meter in height. TCL has complemented this television with a range of technologies to ensure an exceptional viewing experience.
Starting with the screen technology itself, it uses MiniLED technology, an evolution of traditional LED TVs. MiniLED technology employs much smaller light emitters, around forty times smaller. This allows for superior control of various lighting zones and provides contrast that closely rivals what you can achieve with an OLED TV.
Moreover, the TCL 98C805 is a VESA HDR Premium 1500 certified television. This means you can enjoy leading image enhancement formats like HDR10+ or Dolby Vision IQ. If you’re not yet familiar with HDR, it’s important to note that, for now, you can only experience it on streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+ and not on traditional television. The TCL 98C085’s panel has a native refresh rate of 144Hz, enabling smoother visuals across various types of content.
In addition to these video technologies, Dolby Atmos support further enhances the audio experience, creating a more immersive and enveloping sound. To truly enjoy a cinematic multimedia experience, it’s recommended to invest in a separate soundbar to add extra power and presence to the audio.
Let’s not kid ourselves; playing your favorite games on a massive 98-inch screen is a game-changer. And it’s even better when it’s equipped to meet your expectations. The TCL 98C805 incorporates a suite of technologies tailored for gaming, all centralized in its Game Master 2.0 platform, which allows you to fine-tune every detail to match your gaming style. One of the standout gaming technologies is VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), which adjusts the TV’s refresh rate to match the game’s fluidity in real-time. By the way, this refresh rate can peak at 240Hz in action or racing games. It also features ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), a technology designed to minimize lag experienced by gamers in online multiplayer titles.
All of this is supported by the four HDMI 2.1 ports, which triple the data transfer rate of the HDMI 2.0 protocol. While you might not utilize this feature extensively at the moment, it could become crucial as years go by and game consoles continue to push their performance limits.
For content management, this TV incorporates the Google TV platform, an updated version of Android TV that significantly improves fluidity. It has a visually rich interface that prioritizes Google’s content recommendations over access to apps, which takes a less prominent role on the main screen. If this isn’t to your liking, you can always switch to a more classic view without recommendations. One advantage of this ecosystem is the easy sharing of content from your mobile device to the TV through apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or YouTube. You can also sync your preferences thanks to the integration with your Google account. Additionally, it includes the Google Assistant, allowing you to control the TV through voice commands and manage various connected smart devices.
The TCL 98C805 TV will start arriving in Spanish stores in the coming weeks. Its initial price will be 5,000 euros, though as is often the case with such products, it’s worth keeping an eye out for deals that can offer this television at very attractive prices. In summary, this model stands out for its massive 98-inch panel and features a comprehensive set of technologies, starting with the quality of the MiniLED panel itself. And all of this is priced in context with its tremendous 98-inch size. This TCL TV promises many hours of entertainment at home.
