Samsung Electronics’ largest consumer TV offering, the hugely impressive 98-inch QLED 4K TV, has gone on sale in the U.K., presenting consumers with an absolutely massive screen and high-end features at a very competitive price point.
The Samsung 98-inch QLED Q80C is available to buy now for just £6,499, the company said. What’s more, there are some very tempting perks available, with Samsung offering a free delivery and installation service that’s worth £585, plus £1,000 off to buyers who are willing to recycle their old TV. In addition, there’s a free Q600C soundbar worth £599 and a free wall bracket worth £229 thrown in for anyone who purchases the TV online before the 25th of July. The company also offers a five-year warranty on the TV, and a six-month subscription to the Disney+ streaming service worth £475.
Samsung also says buyers can spread the cost of the TV over 12 to 36 months, though they’ll be required to put down a 10% deposit and the 0% APR offered is dependent on their credit score.
It’s still an expensive TV even at that price and with all of those perks, but compared to some of the alternatives available it’s actually a bargain. Some similar-sized TVs, such as LG Electronics’ 97-inch G2 OLED TV, sell for two or three-times that price, while the 83-inch LG OLED Evo G3 currently costs £7,499.
Note that the lower cost means a sacrifice in terms of picture quality. For one thing, this isn’t a Neo QLED TV, meaning it doesn’t have Mini-LED backlights. Instead, it’s fitted with a Direct Full Array backlight panel with local dimming, which is not quite as bright as Samsung’s premium displays but still pretty decent.
The 98-inch QLED Q80C has an almost bezel-free appearance on three sides, and it’s powered by Samsung's Neural Quantum Processor that can upscale HD content to 4K. Dolby Atmos is onboard, as is Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound Lite technology with support for Samsung Q Symphony. This is a spatial audio system that makes it possible to use the Q80C’s internal speakers as part of a wider, external audio setup.
Other technologies include Samsung’s Quantum HDR 12X, which helps the Q80C to produce vibrant colours and enhanced contrast to make the on-screen images more realistic. Moreover, Samsung’s Intelligent Mode helps to improve things by adjusting the picture and sound settings according to the displayed content. So users are treated to an automatically optimized viewing experience with each scene rendered with the most appropriate settings for optimal clarity.
The Samsung Q80C is also suitable for games consoles with its dedicated Game Mode, which works by minimising input lag and optimizing motion clarity. As a result, gamers can expect a more responsive and smoother experience. Given its incredible size, the TV could be an incredibly immersive option for gamers.
There is one potential rival to this TV however, with TCL’s 98-inch Collection XL model announced earlier this year, priced at around $8,000, though it is only available in the U.S.
Jose Barreiro-Lopez, Vice President of the Europe Visual Display Office at Samsung Europe, said the company has observed a growing desire for larger screens.
“This new, super-sized addition to our QLED line-up is especially exciting, providing a more immersive entertainment experience, making movies feel like you’re at the theatre, sporting events like you’re really in the stadium and gaming like you are in the middle of all the action,” Barreiro-Lopez said. “At Samsung we open up the world of entertainment, powered by ground breaking technology and complemented with amazing content partnerships. We bring every experience to life.”
