TCL QLED 98C61B (2024)

I bought this on sale, which made it extra good value for money. For the normal price this is still a good TV, but the competition is a bit tougher, because there are many good options.

Image quality is excellent. The black values in the image are reasonably black, and the colors are also fine. Before you get a drastically better image than this, you are already at a much higher price point.

A disadvantage of this TV is the viewing angles. Why these are listed as "good" by Coolblue is a mystery to me. This screen has a VA panel with a Quantom Dot layer, which makes the black values better than standard LCD, and the colors are also better, but you do get discoloration in the viewing angles. This is especially noticeable when you look at the TV from a corner close up, and becomes less bad when you look at it from a distance from a corner. From close up on a corner, the viewing angle is simply very bad.

Although that sounds negative, what you get in return is: A very good image if you sit right in front of it, for the money.

Sound quality is fine for a flatscreen TV. Note that flatscreens have standard sound as a disadvantage. You can watch series or sports with it just fine. However, if you want to play concerts/music, for example, I would recommend a soundbar.

The smart TV part is done by Android TV. Works considerably smoother than I expected and without stuttering, and all the streaming apps you expect are present.

Gaming: It is a 60 Hz screen, even though Coolblue calls this 50, and that is fine for console gaming. Suppose it receives a 120 Hz signal, then it will do downsampling, you will then see a 60 Hz display, but it tries to use the signal to compensate for input lag and prevent motion blur. With realistic expectations: It is fine.

Very happy with this TV. Not a moment of regret. The image is very nice, and I myself have no problems with the viewing angles. All the "disadvantages" that you find in comparison with other very high end TVs, such as lack of 120 Hz and full array local dimming, are currently still simply disadvantages that belong to the price point. TCL has used a combination of techniques and compromises to create the best possible picture quality at a low price point, and they have succeeded excellently. The positive reviews of this TV are positive for a good reason: the picture quality.