TCL 98QM7L SQD-Mini LED QLED

In this tcl 98qm7l sqd-mini led qled review, the TCL 98QM7L earns the number three slot of nine in our 2026 best 98 inch TVs guide, labeled Best picture quality under $2,500. The set is a 98 inch SQD-Mini LED QLED that sells for $2,497.99, and its 4.4 star average comes from 95 Amazon ratings. That score is solid but built on a small sample. Shoppers who want the brightest, most controlled picture at this price and who plan to keep the TV for years are the target buyers here. Meanwhile, anyone chasing the lowest possible price should look at the budget pick in the guide instead.

Under the hood, the TCL 98QM7L pairs an SQD-Mini LED backlight with up to 2,100 precise local dimming zones, which means dark scenes stay black instead of turning gray. Peak brightness reaches 3,000 nits, so daytime sports and bright HDR movies keep their punch in a room with windows. In practice, the HVA 2.0 Pro panel adds an anti-reflective layer, and the glossy finish still shows some reflections when light hits it directly. The 144Hz refresh rate with TCL Game Pack smooths fast motion for console gaming, while the AIPQ Pro processor adjusts clarity, contrast, color, motion, and upscaling scene by scene. On top of that, the Ultra Color Filter uses 5 nanometer particles for tighter color, and Bang & Olufsen speakers handle everyday viewing without a soundbar.

The TCL 98QM7L is a smart stretch rather than a cheap buy, and at $2,497.99 it sits right under the $2,500 ceiling while offering the most dimming zones and the highest brightness in our nine-model guide. By contrast, the cheaper sets lower in the ranking trade those zones for a smaller price, and the step-up models ask for more money without matching this zone count. That said, the set supports HDR10 and HDR10+ only, so Dolby Vision fans should weigh that gap before buying. Even so, 4 HDMI ports, three USB ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and voice control cover most living room setups. At 73 pounds it is the lightest 98 inch TV in this guide, which helps on a wall mount. If picture quality matters more to you than saving a few hundred dollars, this is the one to get.