When it comes to creating a truly cinematic experience at home, 98-inch TVs represent the pinnacle of what's possible without moving to a projector. Today, we're comparing two impressive contenders: the Sony BRAVIA XR X90L 98" ($9,998) and the TCL 98" QM8 Series ($2,999). Both were released in 2023 and represent the latest in large-format TV technology.
Before diving into the comparison, let's address the elephant in the room - why would anyone need a 98-inch TV? The answer lies in the immersive experience. At this size, you're getting a truly theater-like experience without the complexity and room-darkening requirements of a projector. For proper viewing, you'll want to sit about 12-15 feet away, making these ideal for larger living rooms or dedicated home theaters.
The most noticeable difference between these TVs lies in their approach to image processing and picture quality. The Sony X90L uses their proprietary Cognitive Processor XR, which I've found produces more natural-looking images, especially with challenging content like sports or older movies. It's particularly good at upscaling lower-resolution content - something that becomes crucial at this size where any imperfections are magnified.
The TCL QM8 takes a different approach, focusing on raw performance metrics. It can get noticeably brighter (reaching over 2,000 nits in HDR highlights compared to the Sony's 1,600). For context, 'nits' measure brightness - typical TVs manage 300-500, so both of these are exceptionally bright. The TCL's higher brightness makes it particularly good for bright rooms or HDR content where those bright highlights really pop.
In my testing environment (a light-controlled home theater), both TVs performed admirably, but with different strengths:
Both TVs use Google TV as their smart platform, which I consider a positive. It's more responsive and user-friendly than many competing platforms, offering excellent app support and voice control features. However, there are some key technological differences:
The price difference between these TVs cannot be ignored - the TCL QM8 costs about one-third of what the Sony X90L does. This massive price gap makes the value proposition particularly interesting:
For dedicated home theater use, there are several important factors to consider:
In a properly dark room, the Sony's superior processing becomes more apparent, while the TCL's brightness advantage becomes less important. Both TVs have excellent black levels thanks to their full-array local dimming, though they handle it differently:
Both TVs support eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) for connecting to modern sound systems, but the Sony has a slight edge with better audio processing and support for more formats. However, at this price point, you'll likely be using an external sound system anyway.
Gaming has become a crucial feature for modern TVs, and both models excel here:
The decision really comes down to your priorities and budget:
For most people, I recommend the TCL QM8. It delivers about 80% of the Sony's performance at one-third the price. The extra $7,000 for the Sony X90L buys you refinements that, while noticeable to enthusiasts, might not justify the cost for many users.
However, if you're a videophile who demands the best possible motion handling and processing, and the price difference isn't a concern, the Sony won't disappoint. Its superior processing and color accuracy make it the choice for the absolute highest-quality viewing experience.
Both TVs represent significant improvements over their predecessors, with better processing, higher brightness, and improved gaming features. They demonstrate how far TV technology has come, making cinema-quality experiences possible at home.
Remember that at 98 inches, either TV will make a dramatic impact in your space. Measure carefully, plan your viewing distance, and ensure your room can accommodate such a large screen before making your final decision.
| Sony BRAVIA XR X90L 98" ($9,998) | TCL 98" QM8 Series ($2,999) |
|---|---|
| Price Point - Critical for value assessment and budget planning | |
| $9,998 (Premium pricing) | $2,999 (Exceptional value) |
| Peak HDR Brightness - Determines HDR impact and bright room performance | |
| 1,600 nits (Very good) | 2,000+ nits (Excellent) |
| Processing Quality - Affects upscaling and motion handling | |
| Cognitive Processor XR (Industry leading) | AIPQ Pro (Good but not quite Sony level) |
| Gaming Features - Important for next-gen console gaming | |
| 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM (Excellent) | 4K/144Hz, VRR, ALLM (Slightly better) |
| Color Accuracy - Critical for movie watching | |
| Superior out-of-box accuracy (Minimal calibration needed) | Good but needs calibration (Slightly less accurate) |
| Smart Platform - Affects daily usability | |
| Google TV (Fast, refined interface) | Google TV (Same platform, slightly less optimized) |
| Motion Handling - Important for sports and action content | |
| Best-in-class (Perfect for sports) | Very good (Occasional artifacts) |
| Build Quality - Affects longevity and reliability | |
| Premium build (Better warranty support) | Good build (Standard warranty) |
| Audio Quality - Matters if not using external speakers | |
| 60W system (Better processing) | 60W system (Similar hardware, basic processing) |
| Value Rating - Overall price-to-performance ratio | |
| Good (If money no object) | Excellent (Best value in class) |
For dedicated home theaters, the Sony BRAVIA XR X90L ($9,998) has superior processing and better black levels in dark rooms. However, the TCL QM8 ($2,999) offers similar performance at one-third the price. Choose Sony if budget isn't a concern and you demand the absolute best processing.
The Sony X90L has better overall picture quality due to superior processing and color accuracy. However, the TCL QM8 offers higher peak brightness and can actually look more impressive with HDR content in some scenarios.
The TCL QM8 has a slight gaming advantage with 144Hz refresh rate and lower input lag. The Sony X90L is still excellent for gaming at 120Hz and offers better processing, but competitive gamers might prefer the TCL.
Yes, both TVs feature eARC and work excellently with home theater audio systems. The Sony has slightly better audio processing, but this is irrelevant when using external speakers.
For either TV, you'll want a viewing distance of 12-15 feet for optimal viewing. This typically means a room at least 15 feet deep and 12 feet wide for comfortable viewing.
Yes, both TVs support all major HDR formats. The TCL QM8 adds HDR10+ support, while the Sony X90L has better overall HDR processing.
Both use Google TV and offer similar smart features. The Sony interface is slightly more refined, but both provide access to all major streaming services and have good voice control features.
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: avsforum.com - valueelectronics.com - youtube.com - bestbuy.com - electronics.sony.com - stewartappliance.com - rcwilley.com - rtings.com - abt.com - pcrichard.com - videoandaudiocenter.com - avsforum.com - rtings.com - camelcamelcamel.com - youtube.com - techradar.com - avsforum.com - bestbuy.com - greentoe.com - tcl.com
