When it comes to creating the ultimate home theater experience, two recent releases stand out in the ultra-large TV category: the Samsung 98" QN90D ($12,999) and the TCL 115" QM8 ($16,999). Let's explore how these massive displays compare and help you decide which one might be right for your space and needs.
The landscape of premium TVs has evolved dramatically in recent years. We've moved from the days when a 65-inch TV was considered enormous to an era where 98-inch and even 115-inch displays are becoming attainable (though still expensive) options for home theaters.
These TVs represent the pinnacle of consumer display technology, incorporating advanced features like Mini-LED backlighting (which uses thousands of tiny LEDs for more precise brightness control) and quantum dots (special particles that enhance color reproduction). They're designed for viewers who want a truly cinematic experience at home.
The Samsung QN90D, released in early 2024, brings Samsung's latest Neo QLED technology to a 98-inch format. At $12,999, it's certainly a premium product, but it's actually quite competitive in the ultra-large TV space.
The TCL QM8, launched in mid-2023, pushes boundaries with its massive 115-inch screen. While its $16,999 price tag might cause sticker shock, it's worth noting that this is actually quite reasonable for its size - just a few years ago, TVs this large would have cost well over $50,000.
For optimal viewing, you'll want to sit:
Remember that these distances are guidelines - personal preference plays a big role.
Samsung's latest Neo QLED technology delivers exceptional color accuracy and processing power. The QN90D uses their new NQ4 AI Gen2 processor, which shows noticeable improvements in upscaling (making lower-resolution content look better on the 4K screen) compared to last year's model.
The TV achieves around 3,000 nits of peak brightness - plenty for HDR content to really pop, even in bright rooms. HDR, or High Dynamic Range, allows for much brighter highlights and deeper blacks than standard content.
TCL takes a different approach, pushing brightness levels to an impressive 5,000 nits. This makes HDR content look absolutely stunning, though some might find it almost too bright in darker rooms. The QM8 also boasts 20,000 local dimming zones (areas where the backlight can be controlled independently), compared to Samsung's approximately 1,000 zones.
For gamers, both TVs offer excellent features, but there are important differences:
The Samsung QN90D offers:
The TCL QM8 provides:
Samsung's Tizen OS, while proprietary, offers a refined and responsive experience. The interface is clean and intuitive, though you're somewhat locked into Samsung's ecosystem.
TCL's use of Google TV provides more flexibility and a wider app selection. The platform offers better integration with other Google services and generally more customization options.
In actual use, both TVs excel in different scenarios. The Samsung typically handles regular TV content better, with more natural-looking pictures and better upscaling of lower-quality sources. The TCL, however, can deliver more impactful HDR movies and shows, especially in scenes with bright highlights.
For home theater use, both TVs can create an impressive cinematic experience, but they have different strengths:
The Samsung QN90D offers:
The TCL QM8 provides:
Choose the Samsung QN90D if:
Choose the TCL QM8 if:
Both TVs represent impressive achievements in consumer display technology, but they serve slightly different needs. The Samsung QN90D is the more refined product, offering better all-around performance and more consistent quality. The TCL QM8 pushes boundaries with its size and brightness, creating an unmatched sense of scale for those who can accommodate it.
Remember that either TV will require careful consideration of room layout, viewing distance, and ambient light control. Take time to measure your space and consider your primary viewing habits before making your decision.
In the end, the Samsung offers better overall value for most users, but if maximum impact is your goal and you have the space and budget, the TCL's massive screen size creates an unforgettable viewing experience.
| Samsung 98" QN90D ($12,999) | TCL 115" QM8 ($16,999) |
|---|---|
| Screen Size - Impacts required viewing distance and room size | |
| 98" (12-15 ft ideal viewing) | 115" (14-17 ft ideal viewing) |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| 3,000 nits (excellent for most rooms) | 5,000 nits (class-leading, almost too bright) |
| Local Dimming Zones - More zones mean better contrast and HDR precision | |
| ~1,000 zones (good for most content) | 20,000 zones (exceptional contrast control) |
| Processing - Affects upscaling quality and motion handling | |
| Neo Quantum 4K AI Gen2 (superior upscaling) | AIPQ Ultra (good but less refined) |
| Gaming Features - Important for next-gen console gaming | |
| 120Hz, VRR, 13ms input lag (excellent) | 144Hz, VRR, 15ms input lag (very good) |
| Smart Platform - Affects app availability and ease of use | |
| Tizen OS (polished but limited) | Google TV (more flexible, larger app selection) |
| Build Quality - Impacts longevity and reliability | |
| Premium build, established QC | Good build, less proven long-term |
| Sound System - Though external speakers recommended for both | |
| 60W 4.2.2 channel | 120W 6.2.2 channel with Onkyo |
| Price Per Square Inch - Value metric | |
| $1.36/sq inch (better value) | $1.28/sq inch (size advantage) |
The TCL 115" QM8 ($16,999) is significantly larger at 115 inches compared to the Samsung 98" QN90D ($12,999) at 98 inches. This 17-inch difference is noticeable and matters for home theater applications.
The TCL QM8 has higher peak brightness at 5,000 nits compared to the Samsung QN90D's 3,000 nits. Both perform well in bright rooms, but the TCL has an advantage in very bright environments.
For the Samsung 98" QN90D, the ideal viewing distance is 12-15 feet. The TCL 115" QM8 requires 14-17 feet for optimal viewing. Consider your room size carefully before choosing.
The Samsung QN90D has slightly better gaming performance with lower input lag (13ms vs 15ms) and better motion handling, though both support VRR and high refresh rates.
Both TVs use standard household power outlets. However, due to their size, professional installation is recommended for both the Samsung QN90D and TCL QM8.
The TCL QM8 uses Google TV, offering more apps and better integration with other services. The Samsung QN90D uses Tizen OS, which is more polished but more limited in app selection.
Yes, both can be wall-mounted, but require professional installation due to their size and weight. The Samsung QN90D weighs 167 lbs, while the TCL QM8 is even heavier.
The Samsung QN90D generally offers better picture processing and more accurate colors, making it slightly better for movie watching. However, the TCL QM8 provides a more immersive experience due to its larger size.
While both TVs have built-in speaker systems, for a proper home theater experience, an external sound system is recommended for both the Samsung QN90D and TCL QM8.
The TCL QM8 has an advantage in HDR performance due to its higher peak brightness and more local dimming zones. However, the Samsung QN90D offers more accurate HDR color reproduction.
The Samsung QN90D at $12,999 offers better overall value with superior processing and build quality. However, the TCL QM8 at $16,999 provides more screen size per dollar.
This is a crucial consideration - both TVs require careful planning for delivery and installation. Measure all doorways, hallways, and stairwells before purchasing either the Samsung QN90D or TCL QM8.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: rtings.com - rtings.com - youtube.com - youtube.com - fullcompass.com - digitalhomecreations.com - jeffsappliance.com - bestbuy.com - displayspecifications.com - samsung.com - samsung.com - image-us.samsung.com - youtube.com - rtings.com - pcrichard.com - valueelectronics.com - cnet.com - youtube.com - rcwilley.com - greentoe.com - tcl.com - ezown.net - kingsgreatbuys.com - romomattressfurniture.com - abt.com
