TCL - 98" X11L Series 4K UHD HDR SQD-Mini LED Smart TV with Google TV (2026)

I fell in love with this TV the first time I saw it at CES, and now that I have it at home, it has completely exceeded my expectations. The brightness is on another level. With up to 10,000 nits and 20,000 dimming zones in a massive 98” screen, the picture is absolutely stunning. Highlights pop, blacks stay deep, and the color volume is incredible. It’s one of those TVs you truly have to see in person to appreciate. Pictures and videos don’t do it justice. Yes, it’s expensive. But when you compare it to OLED options in this size, it’s nearly half the price and significantly brighter. In a bright room especially, this TV really shines. The size combined with this level of brightness and contrast makes it feel like a true home theater experience. If you’re looking for a flagship 98” TV and want jaw-dropping performance, this is it.

This TCL 98 X11L is a beautiful and massive TV. It’s not only huge but also very heavy, despite being thin at approximately an inch thick. The TV is very well made with a premium look and feel. The frame has a bronze tone, and the screen appears almost bezel-less. The back is practically flat with a checker-style design. It comes with a Bang & Olufsen speaker system for premium sound. On the back, it houses four HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 4K at up to 144Hz, with one supporting eARC. It also includes one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, an optical output (SPDIF), and an Ethernet jack. The TV is powered by Google TV, which I really like because of its simplicity and compatibility. When it comes to technology, it’s packed. The main highlight is the SQD Mini-LED panel, which makes this TV one of the brightest available, reaching up to 10,000 nits. It also supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect (DAFC), DTS:X, Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.4. Before taking the TV out of the box, make sure you have a second person and plenty of space. It will definitely take at least two people to set it up, as it weighs almost 150 pounds. Be careful not to cut the tape on the top of the box, just cut the plastic straps. The box opens sideways once you remove the clips holding it together. After that, you simply pull the box from one side to remove it. If you plan to use the TV stand, leave the TV sitting in the bottom styrofoam and remove one side of the bottom foam at a time to install the stand. There is a center foam support that helps keep the TV stable, while the second person holds it to prevent it from rocking. This also makes lifting easier because the TV will already be a few inches off the ground. If you plan to wall mount, leaving the bottom styrofoam in place actually makes the process easier. Once the hard part is done, setup is very simple, especially if you already have an Android device or a Gmail account. All you need to do is scan a QR code, or login with Gmail and follow the prompts. Between the setup process and system updates, it took a little over 20 minutes to complete. The Google TV interface is simple to navigate, fluid, and includes most major streaming apps. Watching Blu-Ray and streaming content on this TV I was impressed. I didn't adjust any video settings aside from using the Film Maker Mode. The image quality is stunning and extremely bright. Colors are vivid and vibrant, with deep blacks that get very close to OLED performance, coming from a person that owns two OLEDs TV. Now I understand why there’s so much hype about SQD Mini-LED technology. I didn’t notice any image banding except briefly during the startup screen when the TCL logo appeared bright white against a black background. While the picture is incredibly sharp on such a massive screen, the panel itself is glossy, which makes it susceptible to light reflections. In my living room, there are about four windows and a door, and I could see some reflections from the window shades. However, when focusing on the content on the screen, the reflections become much less noticeable. They were more visible when viewing from an angle. That said, viewing angles are excellent. Even from the side, the colors remain vibrant and consistent, almost as good as viewing directly from the front. This TV is also excellent for gaming. It supports 4K at 144Hz, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, HDR, and Dolby Vision for gaming. The panel is natively 120Hz, but to activate 144Hz, you need to access the gaming settings by holding down the settings button (hamburger button) on the remote. I connected my Xbox, gaming laptop and PS5 and they performed incredibly smoothly. One thing I noticed is that games supporting Dolby Vision tend to appear a bit dark by default. I had to manually switch to Bright mode, which in my opinion looked much better. Note that due to the large size of this TV, when playing video games, especially fast-paced shooters, it’s best to sit farther away to minimize head movement. I played my favorite shooter from about 10 feet away and didn’t have to move my head, I only needed to shift my eye focus a few times. When it comes to sound, it’s good but not great, despite having an integrated soundbar with base radiators on the back. While it gets loud and remains clear, it lacks bass for my taste. I tried various sound settings, but they didn’t make much difference. The integrated system is decent for a TV of this size, but I would still recommend pairing it with a dedicated soundbar or TCL DAFC-compatible speakers. I would have loved to test Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, but I don’t own the TCL Z100 speakers. Although I own DAFC speakers, they weren’t compatible since they are from a different brand. It appears DAFC may still be somewhat proprietary within certain ecosystems. Paying attention to details really matters, and a simple feature they added to the remote is something I really appreciated. On the side of the remote, they included a brightness rocker button and an image selector button. It’s a very clever design, there’s no need to dig through the TV settings just to adjust the brightness or change the picture mode. I love it. Overall, this TV lives up to the hype with superb brightness, impressive image quality, and premium build quality. It’s packed with modern technology and, being such a large screen, it’s also excellent for gaming. While it’s definitely not cheap, you do get near-OLED image quality, higher brightness, a massive screen size, and no risk of burn-in. Inside the box you get the TV, remote control, two AA batteries, the stand, warranty card, and manuals.

INSTALL / SETUP This is not an easy setup—this thing is BIG and heavy. Wall mounting was honestly a pain due to the size and shape. If I had to do it again, I’d go professional install without hesitation. Cable management is a weak spot. There are small channels, but nothing substantial—when wall mounted, the TV can actually rest on the cables and sit slightly uneven. That’s something TCL should have solved on a premium set like this. BUILD / FEEL This feels like a premium TV—no question. Solid materials, very little flex, and the screen feels sturdy despite the size. The near bezel-less design gives it that floating picture look, and at 98 inches, it literally feels like a theater in your living room. I used a 3-stud wall mount for stability, and I’d recommend the same—don’t cut corners here. FEATURES / PERFORMANCE Google TV runs fast and smooth overall. Apps load quickly, live TV integration is clean, and it works well as a central media hub. There are some minor bugs—Netflix froze a couple of times—but nothing deal-breaking. Likely something that gets patched over time. The ambient screen saver with rotating artwork is actually a standout feature at this size—it turns the TV into a legit art display when idle. PICTURE QUALITY This is where the TV delivers. Black levels are deep—true black, not gray—and I didn’t notice any blooming around bright objects or subtitles, which is impressive for a Mini LED at this size. Colors are vibrant and controlled, and the brightness is borderline overwhelming—in a good way. HDR content pops hard. Honestly, depending on your room size, you may find yourself turning brightness down. BRIGHT ROOM PERFORMANCE The anti-glare coating does its job. There is some reflection, but it’s minimal considering the size of the screen. Brightness easily overpowers the room, and the Mini LED backlighting keeps colors consistent across the entire panel. Every inch of the screen feels evenly lit. UPSCALING (REALITY CHECK) Here’s the honest part—upscaling isn’t perfect. Non-4K content (especially YouTube) can look a bit soft and grainy. At 98 inches, flaws get exposed. If you mostly watch high-resolution content, it won’t bother you. But if you’re heavy into cable or lower-quality streams, you’ll notice it. MOTION / SPORTS Motion handling is excellent. With motion settings adjusted, I didn’t notice any blur, stutter, or that artificial “soap opera” effect. Fast action and sports stay smooth without looking fake. GAMING This thing is a monster for gaming. Tested on both PS5 and Xbox—144Hz feels incredibly smooth, input lag is minimal, and Game Mode is dialed in. Honestly, it should be called “Beast Mode.” The combination of refresh rate, deep blacks, and bright, saturated colors at 98 inches makes gaming feel next-level immersive. SOUND I run a 5.1 system, so I didn’t rely much on the built-in speakers. I listened to them briefly, they’re decent—but on a TV this size, “decent” isn’t enough. You’re going to want external audio to match the experience. DOWNSIDE One real drawback: design practicality doesn’t fully match the premium feel. • Cable management is lacking • Inputs are placed too far from the edges—hard to access once mounted • No included manual for a TV with this many settings • Remote is solid but not universal (missed opportunity) These aren’t deal-breakers—but they stand out at this price point. OVERALL A massive, theater-level TV with elite brightness, strong Mini LED performance, and top-tier gaming—just be ready to work around a few practical design misses. GREAT THEATER TV.