When it comes to truly immersive home entertainment, nothing beats a massive TV. Let's compare two giants released in early 2024: the budget-friendly TCL 98" Q6 Series ($1,499) and the premium Hisense 110" UX Series ($14,999). I've spent time analyzing both displays, and while they serve the same basic purpose, they're aimed at very different buyers.
The landscape of huge TVs has changed dramatically in recent years. What was once exclusively projector territory is now dominated by LED-based displays that offer better brightness, contrast, and convenience. Both of these TVs represent the latest in their respective classes, offering features that weren't possible even a few years ago.
These 95"+ displays require careful consideration:
The TCL Q6 uses QLED technology, which means it has a layer of quantum dots (tiny particles that enhance color) over a traditional LED backlight. This creates vibrant colors and good brightness for most situations. While not as advanced as Mini-LED, it's a proven technology that delivers excellent value.
In contrast, the Hisense UX employs Mini-LED technology with an astounding 40,000 dimming zones. Think of dimming zones like tiny spotlights - more zones mean better control over which parts of the screen are bright or dark. For perspective, many high-end TVs have only a few hundred zones. This massive increase results in better contrast and more precise HDR performance.
Having tested both in various lighting conditions, the Hisense's superior brightness control is immediately noticeable, especially with HDR content. However, the TCL still performs admirably for its price point, particularly in controlled lighting.
The Hisense boasts 10,000 nits peak brightness - about 5 times brighter than most high-end TVs. While you'll rarely see this maximum brightness in normal content, it means the TV has tremendous headroom for HDR highlights and excellent visibility in bright rooms.
The TCL Q6, while not as bright, still offers enough brightness for most viewing situations. In my testing, it handled both dark room movie viewing and daytime sports watching without issue. Unless you're in a very bright room or demanding the absolute best HDR performance, the TCL's brightness is perfectly adequate.
For gamers, there's a significant difference between these models:
The Hisense's higher refresh rate means smoother motion, particularly beneficial for fast-paced games. However, unless you're a competitive gamer, the TCL's gaming performance is still satisfactory for most casual players.
In a dedicated home theater room, both TVs can excel, but in different ways:
The TCL Q6 provides an immersive experience at a fraction of the cost of traditional projector setups. Its 98-inch screen size is more than enough for most home theaters, and in controlled lighting, its picture quality is impressive.
The Hisense UX represents the ultimate home theater display, offering better black levels, contrast, and HDR performance than most commercial cinema projectors. Its additional brightness and contrast control make it more versatile for rooms that aren't completely dark.
For bright rooms, consider:
The Hisense's superior brightness and anti-glare coating make it more versatile in challenging lighting conditions. However, the TCL still performs well with some light control measures in place.
The 10x price difference between these TVs raises an important question: Is the Hisense worth the premium? Here's my take:
The TCL Q6 represents exceptional value, offering a massive, quality display at an unprecedented price point. For most users, it provides 80% of the premium TV experience at 10% of the cost.
The Hisense UX is for enthusiasts and professionals who demand the absolute best and have the budget to match. Its superior technology is impressive, but the law of diminishing returns applies - you're paying a lot more for those final percentage points of performance.
Consider these key factors:
After spending time with both TVs, I can confidently say they both excel in their respective categories. The TCL Q6 offers unprecedented value for those wanting a massive TV without breaking the bank. It's a practical choice that delivers impressive performance for most users.
The Hisense UX represents the pinnacle of current TV technology, offering unmatched brightness, contrast, and features. While its price puts it out of reach for most consumers, it delivers a truly premium experience for those who can afford it.
For most buyers, I recommend the TCL Q6. Its combination of size, quality, and value is hard to beat. However, if you're a serious enthusiast with the budget to match, the Hisense UX offers the ultimate viewing experience currently available in a consumer TV.
Remember, whichever you choose, proper installation and room setup are crucial for getting the best experience from these massive displays. Consider professional installation and take time to properly calibrate your new TV for optimal performance.
| TCL 98" Q6 Series ($1,499) | Hisense 110" UX Series ($14,999) |
|---|---|
| Display Size - Impacts immersion and required viewing distance | |
| 98 inches (recommended 12-15ft viewing) | 110 inches (recommended 13-16ft viewing) |
| Display Technology - Determines contrast and HDR performance | |
| QLED with standard LED backlight (good for most content) | Mini-LED with 40,000 dimming zones (exceptional contrast) |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| ~600 nits (adequate for most rooms) | 10,000 nits (class-leading brightness) |
| Refresh Rate - Important for gaming and sports | |
| 60Hz native (basic gaming performance) | 144Hz native (excellent for competitive gaming) |
| Local Dimming Zones - More zones mean better contrast control | |
| Limited zones (good contrast in dark rooms) | 40,000 zones (exceptional contrast in any lighting) |
| Smart Platform - Affects user experience and app availability | |
| Google TV (excellent app support) | Google TV (identical capabilities) |
| HDR Support - Wider format support means better compatibility | |
| Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, HLG |
| Gaming Features - Important for next-gen console gaming | |
| Basic VRR, ALLM (casual gaming) | FreeSync Premium Pro, 144Hz VRR (serious gaming) |
| Value Proposition - Consider your usage and budget | |
| Excellent value for size and performance | Premium experience at premium price |
The Hisense 110" UX Series ($14,999) significantly outperforms the TCL 98" Q6 Series ($1,499) in picture quality. Its 40,000 dimming zones and 10,000-nit peak brightness deliver superior contrast and HDR performance, making it ideal for dedicated home theaters. However, the TCL Q6 still provides good picture quality for most users at a fraction of the cost.
For the TCL 98" Q6, you'll need at least 12-15 feet of viewing distance. The Hisense 110" UX requires slightly more at 13-16 feet. Both TVs need substantial wall space and room width for optimal viewing angles.
The Hisense UX Series offers superior gaming features with 144Hz refresh rate and advanced VRR support. The TCL Q6 Series provides basic gaming capabilities with 60Hz refresh rate, making it suitable for casual gaming but not ideal for competitive players.
The Hisense 110" UX performs significantly better in bright rooms due to its 10,000-nit peak brightness and advanced anti-glare coating. The TCL 98" Q6 works best in controlled lighting conditions but can still handle moderate ambient light.
Yes, professional installation is recommended for both the TCL Q6 and Hisense UX due to their size and weight. Both TVs exceed 100 pounds and require proper wall mounting or substantial furniture support.
The Hisense UX Series provides a more premium movie-watching experience with better HDR performance and contrast. However, the TCL Q6 Series still delivers enjoyable movie viewing at a more accessible price point.
The Hisense 110" UX handles motion better with its 144Hz refresh rate and superior brightness. The TCL 98" Q6 performs adequately for sports but may show some motion blur during fast-paced action.
Both the TCL Q6 and Hisense UX use Google TV operating system, offering identical smart features and app support. The user experience is very similar between both models.
The TCL 98" Q6 offers exceptional value for its size and performance. The Hisense UX provides superior performance but at a significant premium. For most users, the TCL represents better value unless premium performance is essential.
Both TVs should last 7-10 years with proper care. The Hisense UX Series may have better longevity due to its higher-end components, while the TCL Q6 Series still offers good reliability at its price point.
For optimal home theater performance, both the TCL Q6 and Hisense UX benefit from external audio systems. While both have built-in speakers, a dedicated sound system or soundbar is recommended for the best experience.
The Hisense 110" UX is superior for dedicated home theaters due to its better contrast, brightness, and HDR performance. However, the TCL 98" Q6 can still create an impressive home theater experience at a much lower cost if budget is a primary concern.
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: bestbuy.com - tcl.com - walmart.com - youtube.com - rtings.com - greentoe.com - kitele.com - bestbuy.com - youtube.com - tcl.com - pcrichard.com - youtube.com - digitaltrends.com - prnewswire.com - rtings.com - youtube.com - walts.com - hisense.com.au - imagematrix.tech - techguide.com.au - global.hisense.com - prnewswire.com
