At CES 2022, Chinese electronics company TCL introduced a massive 98-inch QLED TV. The launch comes a year after the company debuted its 85-inch television at CES 2021 as part of its XL Collection. However, while last year's TV came with Roku TV, this year's model is powered by Google TV. It is worth noting that Google TV performance issues on TCL TVs recently led to their removal from Best Buy, so one would hope that the company has sorted out those problems before the launch of its latest model.
CES 2022 is being held under the shadow of COVID-19 as cases around the world keep rising at an alarming rate. With the rise of the Omicron variant in the U.S. and elsewhere, many companies have withdrawn their in-person plans for CES 2022 and are going ahead with online presentations similar to last year. The list of companies that have rejigged their CES 2022 plans include some of the biggest names in tech, such as Google, Microsoft, Lenovo, Waymo, Amazon, TikTok, and Meta, among others.
TCS' new 98-inch QLED TV comes with the model number 98R754 and offers high-quality imagery that the company claims will provide the most accurate color, high contrast, and realism. Software highlights include a gaming optimization feature called Game Studio Pro that the company explains offers a fast and responsive gaming experience. Other notable features include Dolby Vision for high-quality 4K HDR imagery, Dolby Atmos for immersive surround sound, and the use of an AiPQ engine for an optimized image experience.
Google TV, Google Assistant, And Chromecast
In terms of the design, the TV comes with an edge-to-edge glass display and brushed metal finish for a premium and modern look. Thanks to Google TV, the software will be familiar to some buyers. It also comes with Chromecast built-in and supports hands-free voice control that enables users to search for shows, get answers to questions, control the TV, and perform a host of other functions just by saying the "Hey Google" wake word. The TV also comes with a voice remote with shortcut buttons to popular apps and streaming services.
As for connectivity, the TCL 98-inch TV comes with four HDMI ports, two of which support 4K at 120Hz, and one supporting eARC/ARC for connecting a soundbar. The 98R754 TV is already available for purchase at "popular retailers," but as one might expect, it doesn't come cheap. The device has an MSRP of $7,999.99, which automatically puts it out of reach of many buyers, even though it's still more affordable than similarly-sized offerings from Samsung. For example, the South Korean company sells a 98-inch QLED TV for a whopping $15,000, which makes TCL's latest TV seem like a relative bargain.
Source: TCL