TCL 98 Inch Class X11L Review: SQD Mini LED Giant Worth It?

Want a huge TV that stays bright in a sunny room? The TCL 98 Inch Class X11L could be that TV. It is TCL’s top model for 2026, and it has a lot of new tech inside.

TCL calls the X11L the best TV it has ever made. The 98 inch model has 20,736 local dimming zones and a claimed peak of 10,000 nits. Those numbers look amazing, but do they hold up in real rooms?

In this review, I cover picture quality, brightness, gaming, sound, smart features, and value. I also compare it with three strong alternatives. By the end, you will know if this giant TV fits your home and budget.

In a Nutshell

Here is a quick summary of the TCL 98 Inch X11L before we go deeper.

• Best LCD picture right now: FlatpanelsHD tested the 98 inch model and said it has the best picture quality they have seen on an LCD TV. The 20,736 dimming zones are the main reason. Blacks look deep and highlights look sharp.
• Extreme brightness: TCL claims 10,000 nits, but that only happens in very short boost bursts. Real tests show about 4,500 nits of steady peak brightness and over 700 nits across the full screen. That is still brighter than almost any TV you can buy.
• Wide color range: The new Super Quantum Dot layer covers about 88% of BT.2020 and nearly 98% of DCI P3. Reds, greens, and blues look rich and pure.
• Great for gamers: You get four HDMI 2.1 ports, 4K at 144Hz, 1080p at 288Hz, and FreeSync Premium Pro. Input lag is about 14ms at 60Hz and 6.4ms at 120Hz.
• Smart and connected: Google TV with Gemini AI, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, and an ATSC 3.0 tuner all come built in.
• Main drawbacks: The price is very high. Some blooming still shows around small bright objects. The built in speakers sound a bit thin for a screen this size.

TCL 98 Inch Class X11L SQD Mini LED TV

Last update on 2026-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The TCL 98X11L is the flagship of TCL’s 2026 lineup. It sits above the QM8L and QM7L series. It comes in 75, 85, and 98 inch sizes, but the 98 inch version gets the most dimming zones by far.

The headline feature is SQD Mini LED. SQD stands for Super Quantum Dot. TCL uses a new quantum dot formula to push colors further than older Mini LED TVs. It also adds an Ultra Color filter with tiny 5 nanometer particles for cleaner color.

The panel is TCL’s WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel. This panel type gives strong contrast and better viewing angles than older VA panels. It also has a glare reducing screen coating for bright rooms.

TCL added a new Halo Control System to fight blooming. It uses a 26 bit backlight controller and a Dynamic Light Algorithm. TCL also shortened the gap between the LEDs and the diffuser. This keeps light from spreading where it should not go.

Inside, you get the MediaTek Pentonic 800 chip and TCL’s TSR AI Pro picture processing. The AI engine adjusts contrast, color, motion, and upscaling in real time.

The TV supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. TCL also promises a free update that adds Dolby Vision 2 Max support. You also get Filmmaker Mode and IMAX Enhanced presets.

The list price for the 98 inch model launched near $9,999. Prices on this series have already dropped for smaller sizes. So check the current Amazon price before you buy.

Design and Build Quality

TCL clearly put real effort into the look of the X11L. The frame uses polished aluminum on the sides, top, and bottom. It gives the TV a premium feel that matches much pricier brands.

The screen uses TCL’s ZeroEdge design. The bezels are so thin that the picture seems to float on the wall. On a 98 inch screen, this makes the image feel even bigger.

The TV is also slim for a Mini LED set. Reviewers noted that the design now looks a lot like Samsung’s top LCD models. That is a big step up from older TCL designs.

Two sturdy metal feet sit near the edges of the screen. They hold the TV firmly, but they cannot swivel or tilt. You will need a very wide stand for a 98 inch TV with edge feet. Measure your furniture first.

Many buyers will mount this TV on a wall instead. The X11L uses a standard VESA mount, so you have lots of bracket choices. All the ports face down or to the side. This means cables will not push the TV away from the wall.

The remote has a full backlight and a built in mic. It has an aluminum top but a plastic back. One reviewer said it works well but does not feel as premium as the TV. There is also a handy favorites button you can set for any app or input.

Overall, the build feels solid and modern. It looks great even when the screen is off.

Top 3 Alternative for TCL 98 Inch Class X11L

The X11L is a fantastic TV, but it is not the only big screen option. These three alternatives cost less or offer a different mix of features.

Hisense 100 Inch U8 Series Mini LED TV

Last update on 2026-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Hisense 100U8QG gives you two extra inches of screen. It uses Mini LED with up to 5,000 nits of rated brightness. It has a native 165Hz refresh rate and a VRR range up to 288Hz for gamers.

You also get Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced, and a 4.1.2 speaker system. It runs Google TV like the TCL. It costs much less than the X11L, but it has far fewer dimming zones and a narrower color range.

Samsung 98 Inch QN90F Neo QLED 4K TV

Last update on 2026-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Samsung 98QN90F is a strong choice if you like Samsung’s Tizen system. It uses Neo QLED Mini LED backlighting with excellent processing. Samsung’s motion handling and upscaling are among the best in the market.

It supports HDR10+ and Object Tracking Sound. It does not support Dolby Vision, though. This matters if you stream a lot of Netflix or Disney+.

Sony 98 Inch BRAVIA 5 Mini LED TV

Last update on 2026-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Sony BRAVIA 5 98 inch gives you Sony’s famous picture processing. Sony TVs are known for natural color and smooth motion. It also runs Google TV, so apps and voice control feel familiar.

It is not as bright as the X11L. But many movie fans prefer Sony’s accurate, film style picture.

Picture Quality and SQD Mini LED Technology

This is where the X11L really shines. The 20,736 dimming zones give the TV incredible control over light. More zones mean deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and less glow around objects.

FlatpanelsHD called it the best picture quality they have seen on an LCD TV. In some scenes, blacks looked so deep that they almost matched OLED. That is rare for any LCD TV.

eCoustics tested the 75 inch model and saw virtually no blooming on flowers and birds shown against black backgrounds. A night city scene showed solid blacks and sharp highlights. Remember, the 98 inch model has even more zones than that 75 inch set.

The TV is not perfect, though. Small bright objects on black still cause some trouble. Stars in a night sky can look dim, vanish, or show a soft halo. Each zone still covers about 400 pixels, so pixel level control is not possible.

Dark scenes sometimes crush fine shadow details. Viewing angles improved with the WHVA panel, but colors still fade a bit from far side seats.

Upscaling is excellent. HD shows look crisp and detailed on the huge 4K screen. The glare reducing screen also works well during the day.

Motion handling needs a small tweak. Some reviewers saw judder in slow camera pans. Setting the Judder and Blur sliders to 3 in Custom mode fixes it without the soap opera look.

For bright room movie nights and sports, the picture is truly stunning.

Brightness and HDR Performance

Brightness is the X11L’s biggest selling point. TCL advertises 10,000 nits of peak brightness. The truth is a bit more complicated.

The TV can hit 10,000 nits, but only in very short boost bursts. FlatpanelsHD found the boost system hard to predict. One explosion might look much brighter than the next. They suggest turning boost off for the most balanced picture.

Without boost, the steady peak sits around 4,500 nits. That is still extremely bright. Most TVs top out at 1,500 to 3,000 nits.

Full screen brightness is also huge. The X11L puts out over 700 nits on a full white screen. FlatpanelsHD said this is closer to an outdoor sign than a normal living room TV.

eCoustics measured the 75 inch model in SDR too. It hit 1,958 nits on a 10% window in Standard mode. This means regular cable TV and sports will look bright and punchy.

In a dark home theater, you will turn brightness way down. Reviewers had to drop it to level 6 out of 100 to reach reference levels. That shows how much headroom this TV has.

One reviewer saw some brightness pumping with HDR10 test clips. The picture got very bright, then slowly dimmed. It did not appear with Dolby Vision content. So use Dolby Vision sources when you can.

HDR movies look amazing. Snowy scenes, sunlit beaches, and stadium lights all pop off the screen.

Color Accuracy and Wide Color Gamut

The Super Quantum Dot layer brings a big jump in color. TCL claims 100% BT.2020 coverage. Real tests show a smaller but still impressive number.

FlatpanelsHD measured 88% BT.2020 on the 98 inch model. eCoustics measured 89.7% on the 75 inch model. Older TCL models covered only about 73% to 75%. That is a huge upgrade in one year.

DCI P3 coverage reached 97.8%. P3 is the color range most HDR movies use today. So nearly every color in current films shows up on screen.

Not much content uses the full BT.2020 range yet. But when it does, the results look stunning. Red roses and clear blue skies look rich and pure. FlatpanelsHD said the X11L even edges past top QD OLED TVs in color range.

Out of the box accuracy is good but not perfect. Filmmaker Mode gives the most accurate picture. Still, some colors overshoot a little.

eCoustics also found the calibration menus limited. The white balance controls did not have enough range for a full calibration. Most people will not notice this. Picky home theater fans might.

My tip: Use Filmmaker Mode for movies and Standard for sports. Turn off Adaptive Brightness if you want a steady picture.

The Game mode is also quite color accurate. Many brands push colors too hard in game modes. TCL kept things natural here.

Gaming Performance

Gamers get a lot to love with the X11L. It is the first TCL TV with four HDMI 2.1 ports. You can connect a PS5, an Xbox, a PC, and a soundbar without swapping cables.

All four ports support 4K at 144Hz. PC gamers can also run 1080p at 288Hz. The TV supports VRR, ALLM, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. It does not have official Nvidia G Sync certification, though.

Input lag is low. Tests show about 14ms at 60Hz and 6.4ms at 120Hz. That feels quick and smooth, even in fast shooters.

TCL’s Game Master mode adds a Game Bar menu. You can change picture settings, check frame rate, and adjust gaming options fast.

HDR games look amazing. FlatpanelsHD tested Ori and the Will of the Wisps and measured 3,000 nits in Game mode. The dark levels and glowing effects looked vivid and sparkling. TCL also no longer limits the dimming zones in Game mode like older models did.

There is one weak spot. LCD pixels still react slower than OLED pixels. Very fast motion can show a bit of blur. Competitive gamers may notice this more than casual players.

The TV also supports HDMI QMS. This lets it switch refresh rates without a black screen flash. It works with devices like the Apple TV 4K.

A 98 inch screen makes every game feel huge. Racing games and open world titles feel especially immersive.

Smart Features: Google TV with Gemini

The X11L runs Google TV with Gemini AI. Gemini makes voice search feel like a real chat. You can ask for the best sci fi movies, then ask for only recent ones.

Gemini can answer more than movie questions. One reviewer asked how tornadoes form. The TV built a short slideshow with pictures and facts. You can speak through the remote mic or the far field mic on the TV itself.

Google TV gives you nearly every streaming app. Netflix, Disney+, Max, Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV are all there. The home screen shows picks based on what you watch.

You also get Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2. You can send videos and photos from Android or iPhone easily. Google Photos can even show up as a screensaver.

The ATSC 3.0 tuner lets you watch free NextGen TV channels with an antenna. The Live tab shows both antenna channels and free streaming channels in one guide.

There are a few downsides. The Pentonic 800 chip is not very fast. Menus can feel a bit slow at times. The home screen also shows a lot of ads and suggested content.

The remote has a few sponsored app buttons. You can use the free Button Remapper app to change what they do.

A future update will add Intelligent Device Control. You will be able to change picture and sound settings with just your voice.

Sound Quality by Bang & Olufsen

The X11L comes with Audio by Bang & Olufsen. It has front facing speakers with a center channel for clear dialogue. It also has four Ultra Bass drivers on the back.

TCL lists up to 360W of total output. The TV supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It also passes DTS:X IMAX Enhanced tracks from Disney+.

The Beosonic menu lets you shape the sound with a simple slider. You pick between Bright, Energetic, Warm, and Relaxed. It is easy to use and fun to play with.

So how does it sound? It is better than most TV speakers. Dialogue is clear and bass is clean. However, both major reviewers said the sound feels a bit thin. A 98 inch picture deserves bigger sound.

The good news is that TCL gives you great audio upgrade options. You get HDMI eARC for any modern soundbar or receiver. There is also an optical output for older gear.

The X11L supports Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. This lets you connect wireless speakers straight to the TV. You can build a 4.1.4 Atmos system with TCL’s Z100 speakers and a wireless subwoofer. No receiver is needed.

You can also add a TCL wireless subwoofer alone for deeper bass.

My advice: Budget for a soundbar or FlexConnect speakers. The picture is so good that you will want sound to match.

Pros and Cons

Here is a clear look at what I like and what I do not.

Pros

• Top LCD picture quality: The 20,736 dimming zones give deep blacks and sharp highlights that come close to OLED in many scenes.
• Extreme brightness: About 4,500 nits of steady peak brightness and over 700 nits full screen make it perfect for bright rooms.
• Wide color range: Nearly 98% DCI P3 and 88% BT.2020 coverage make colors look rich and lifelike.
• Four HDMI 2.1 ports: Every port supports 4K at 144Hz, VRR, and FreeSync Premium Pro for serious gamers.
• Premium design: The aluminum frame and ZeroEdge bezels look sleek and modern on any wall.
• Great audio options: Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, eARC, and wireless subwoofer support make audio upgrades easy.
• Future ready: Dolby Vision 2 Max support is coming via a free software update.
• Smart features: Google TV with Gemini, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and an ATSC 3.0 tuner are all built in.

Cons

• Very high price: Even with discounts, this is one of the most expensive LCD TVs you can buy.
• Some blooming remains: Small bright objects on dark backgrounds can still show halos.
• Thin built in sound: The Bang & Olufsen speakers are decent but not strong enough for a screen this large.
• Slow processor: The Pentonic 800 chip makes menus feel a little sluggish.
• Unpredictable boost: The 10,000 nit boost mode can cause uneven brightness between scenes.
• Limited calibration: Advanced users may find the white balance controls too narrow.

Price and Value

The 98 inch X11L launched at about $9,999. That puts it in the same price range as luxury OLED and Micro LED TVs. It is a big investment for any household.

Prices have already started to fall. eCoustics reported that the 75 inch model dropped from $6,999 to $3,999. The 85 inch model fell to about $5,999. The 98 inch model will likely see similar cuts over time.

So is it worth the money? It depends on what you want. If you want the best LCD picture on a very large screen, the X11L is hard to beat. No other 98 inch LCD TV has this many dimming zones right now.

But value shoppers have other options. TCL’s own QM8L uses the same SQD tech with fewer zones. Reviewers found its picture nearly as impressive at a much lower price. It also has most of the same features.

The Hisense 100 inch U8 is another option. It gives you a bigger screen for far less money. You lose some contrast and color range, though.

Think about your room too. A 98 inch TV needs a large wall and a seat at least 10 to 12 feet away. Make sure the space fits before you buy.

My take: Buy the X11L if you want the very best and can afford it. Wait for a sale if price matters. FlatpanelsHD also expects prices to drop a lot later this year.

Final Verdict

The TCL 98 Inch Class X11L is an amazing TV. It shows how far LCD TVs have come. The picture is bright, colorful, and full of contrast.

Its 20,736 dimming zones set a new bar for Mini LED. In many scenes, it looks close to OLED. In bright rooms, it clearly beats OLED because it gets so much brighter.

Gamers get four full HDMI 2.1 ports and low input lag. Streamers get Google TV with Gemini. Movie fans get Dolby Vision, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced, and future Dolby Vision 2 support.

The TV still has a few weak spots. Blooming shows up in some tough scenes. The speakers sound thin. The processor feels slow. And the price is very high.

Who should buy it? The X11L suits people with large, bright living rooms. It suits sports fans, big screen gamers, and anyone who wants a cinema feel at home. It also fits buyers who want the best LCD tech available today.

Who should skip it? Budget shoppers should look at the TCL QM8L or Hisense U8. Pure movie fans in dark rooms may still prefer a top OLED.

Overall rating: 9 out of 10. The X11L is TCL’s best TV yet. It is one of the best big screen TVs on the market in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the TCL 98 Inch X11L really reach 10,000 nits?

Yes, but only in very short bursts using a boost mode. The steady peak brightness is about 4,500 nits in real tests. That is still far brighter than most TVs.

How many dimming zones does the 98 inch X11L have?

The 98 inch model has 20,736 local dimming zones. The 75 inch model has about 11,520 zones. More zones mean better contrast and less blooming.

Is the TCL X11L good for gaming?

Yes, it is great for gaming. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports, 4K at 144Hz, VRR, and FreeSync Premium Pro. Input lag is about 6.4ms at 120Hz.

Does the TCL X11L support Dolby Vision?

Yes, it supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. TCL also plans a free update that adds Dolby Vision 2 Max support.

What smart TV system does the X11L use?

It uses Google TV with the Gemini AI assistant. It also supports Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2.

Do I need a soundbar with the TCL X11L?

A soundbar is a good idea. The built in Bang & Olufsen speakers sound clear but a bit thin. The TV supports eARC and Dolby Atmos FlexConnect wireless speakers.

Is the TCL X11L better than an OLED TV?

It is brighter and handles sunny rooms better than OLED. However, top OLED TVs still win on perfect blacks, fast motion, and viewing angles.

How far should I sit from a 98 inch TV?

Most experts suggest sitting about 10 to 12 feet away from a 98 inch 4K TV. This distance gives you a cinema feel without eye strain.

Can I wall mount the TCL 98X11L?

Yes. The TV uses a standard VESA mount. The ports face down or sideways, so the TV can sit close to the wall.

What is the difference between the X11L and the QM8L?

Both use SQD Mini LED tech. The X11L has many more dimming zones, higher brightness, and a more premium design. The QM8L costs much less and delivers close performance.