
Let me start by saying this: the TCL 98QM851G is a BEAST. I've been using it as my daily driver for movie nights and gaming sessions, and that 98-inch QD-Mini LED screen still gives me goosebumps when I fire up 4K HDR content. The blacks are so deep they make my old LCD TV look gray, and those 5,000 dimming zones? Chef's kiss.
The brightness is insane - but in a good way. Watching The Mandalorian, blaster shots and sunsets pop with almost painful intensity (in the best possible sense). Yet at night, dialing down to 'Movie' mode with warm color temp creates this buttery, natural image that's easy on the eyes. Motion handling? Set judder reduction to 1 and micro contrast to high - perfect sweet spot.
Now about that soundbar - it's shockingly good for built-in audio. Dialogue comes through crystal clear on 'Voice' mode, and when Thanos snapped his fingers? My living room shook. Is it replacement for dedicated Atmos setup? No. But for most people? More than enough.
Google TV runs buttery smooth (wired Ethernet recommended though). No lag when flipping between Disney+ and my PS5. Speaking of gaming - the input lag is low enough that I'm not getting wrecked in Call of Duty anymore. Take that, teenage nephews!
The not-so-good? Off-angle viewing still struggles (common with QLED). And yes, some users report quality control issues - my unit was perfect but I'd recommend inspecting carefully during setup. Also, upscaling SD content is just okay - stick to 4K where possible.
At this price point? You're getting about 90% of OLED quality without burn-in anxiety. My verdict? If you want theater-quality visuals without remortgaging your house, this TCL is arguably the best bang-for-buck giant screen right now.
