It really can't get any cheaper! 98″ Mini LED TCL TV dropped from the original 150,000 CZK to 35 thousand

A few weeks ago, we wrote about the 98-inch TCL 98C805 TV for 42 thousand, which was its historically lowest price. Now, during Black Friday on Planeo.cz, it dropped even lower – to 34,990 CZK. This is a further drop of 7,500 crowns and also a fraction of the original price from 2022, when the TV cost almost 150 thousand. For this amount, you get a giant Mini LED screen with 1344 local dimming zones, Dolby Vision IQ support, a 144Hz refresh rate, and two HDMI 2.1 ports.

Black Friday discount: from 42 thousand to 35 thousand

We first saw the TCL 98C805 on the Czech market in 2022 for a price of 149,990 CZK. This spring, it was sold for around 50 thousand, and in October, it dropped to 42,429 CZK with a discount code. Now, Planeo.cz has a direct Black Friday price of 34,990 CZK without the need to enter any code. This is the cheapest 98″ Mini LED TV we have ever seen in Czech e-shops.

Technical specifications: Mini LED with quantum dots

The key technology is Mini LED backlighting with 1344 active zones. In practice, this means the panel can precisely dim parts of the image and achieve better contrast than conventional LED TVs. The VA panel with 4K resolution (3840 × 2160) uses quantum dots (Quantum Dot), thanks to which it covers 94% of the DCI-P3 color space.

The maximum brightness reaches 1600 nits according to the manufacturer, while independent tests measured a real 1200–1500 nits depending on the size of the white area. This is sufficient performance for HDR content and for viewing in daylight. The TV supports all important HDR formats – HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision IQ, and HLG. Dolby Vision IQ also automatically adjusts the image according to the ambient lighting in the room using a light sensor.

Gaming features: 144 Hz and two HDMI 2.1 ports

The TCL 98C805 is also interesting for gamers. It offers 4K at 144 Hz via HDMI 2.1 (two ports in total with full 48Gbps throughput), VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro) support, and automatic switching to game mode (ALLM). Input lag in game mode is only 13.5 ms, which is among the best results in this class.

Important detail: while the first HDMI 2.1 port handles 4K 144Hz, the second supports 4K 120Hz. This is sufficient for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and gaming PCs. The eARC port is located on HDMI 2.0, so both full-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports remain free for consoles or a computer.

The TV also features Game Accelerator 240Hz mode, which interpolates the image up to 240 frames per second. This is a marketing trick – natively, the panel processes a maximum of 144 Hz; the rest is software interpolation. For serious gaming, we recommend sticking to native 120 or 144 Hz without interpolation.

Limitations: VA panel and blooming in a dark room

Foreign reviews point out several limitations. The first is the VA panel, which has excellent contrast when viewed directly, but colors and brightness visibly decrease at an angle of 20–30° from the axis. For such a large TV, this means that if you sit too close or from the side, the edges of the image look different from the center.

The second problem concerns Mini LED dimming in complete darkness. Reviewers noted blooming – bright halos around bright objects on a dark background. This is a typical characteristic of Mini LED technology, which never achieves perfect black like OLED. However, in normal conditions (brighter room, daytime viewing), you will practically not notice this phenomenon.

98 inches: how much space do you really need?

A 98-inch TV measures 216 × 126 cm without a stand and weighs over 60 kg. The metal feet are located at the edges of the frame, so you need a wide TV stand (at least 220 cm), or you must mount the TV on the wall using a VESA 600 × 400 mm bracket.

The recommended viewing distance according to the THX standard is 3–4 meters for comfortable perception of the entire image. If you have a smaller living room (up to 25 m²), you might find that you are sitting too close and have to turn your head to see the entire picture. In such a case, it is better to stick to 75–85″.

Conversely, if you have a larger space, want a home theater, and don’t want to deal with a projector (which has worse contrast and brightness), a 98″ TV is a significant upgrade. A projector next to a Mini LED TV looks washed out.

Google TV and sound: soundbar recommended

The TV runs on Google TV (Android 12) with standard access to apps like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, YouTube, and thousands of others. The system is smooth and well-optimized.

The built-in speakers (2× 15W stereo) are, according to reviews, inadequate – especially lacking in bass depth and mid-tones. For a 98″ TV, we recommend budgeting for a soundbar or external audio system. The TV supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and has eARC, so you can connect a quality soundbar and fully utilize spatial audio.

Verdict: the cheapest way to a giant Mini LED

For 34,990 CZK in the Black Friday sale, the TCL 98C805 is the cheapest way to get a 98″ Mini LED TV with reasonable image quality. Yes, it’s not a perfect TV – the VA panel has weaker viewing angles, you’ll see blooming in a dark room, and blacks aren’t as deep as with OLED. But for this price, you get significantly better value for money than with any competitor.

If you’re looking for a home theater and have a sufficiently large living room, or want a gaming display with 144Hz and HDMI 2.1 for a console or PC, this is the best choice on the market. Just don’t forget to budget for a soundbar and make sure you have enough space – 98″ is a really big TV.

The Black Friday price of 34,990 CZK is available on Planeo.cz without the need to enter any discount code.

Is a 98″ TV for 35 thousand a good buy, or is it still too much money?