TLDR Review: TCL 98QM8L TV
Verdict
This TCL 98QM8L Series offers stunning high-end picture quality with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and strong contrast, making it a fantastic choice for cinephiles and gamers alike. However, its high price comes with notable privacy concerns due to intrusive data sharing and ads, which may put off privacy-conscious buyers. If you’re comfortable with Google’s ecosystem and want top-tier visuals, this TV is worth considering, but for those seeking a more private experience, alternatives like the Samsung QLED series might be better options.
- Top pro:
- Exceptional picture quality with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and impressive contrast due to Mini-LED and QLED technology.
- Top con:
- The setup process can be complicated, requiring Google account creation and manual privacy settings adjustments.
Pros
- •Exceptional picture quality with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and impressive contrast due to Mini-LED and QLED technology.
- •Brightness and contrast levels are top-notch, making dark scenes clear and vivid even in well-lit rooms.
- •Supports a 144Hz refresh rate, ideal for gaming and fast-moving content with minimal motion blur.
- •Built-in Bang & Olufsen speakers offer surprisingly good sound quality, reducing immediate need for external audio.
- •Easy setup with straightforward installation, including wall mounting options and accessible ports.
- •Remote control design is intuitive, with backlit keys for night use and quick-access buttons.
- •Reflective glare management has improved, though open windows during daytime still can cause some screen reflections.
- •Features such as local dimming and high-quality materials give this TV a premium feel and reliable performance.
- •The user interface runs smoothly with only minor glitches, providing a good streaming and smart TV experience.
- •Overall, a solid choice for both home theater enthusiasts and serious gamers, offering professional-level visuals.
Cons
- •The setup process can be complicated, requiring Google account creation and manual privacy settings adjustments.
- •Default settings share user data unless manually disabled, which raises privacy concerns for privacy-conscious users.
- •The intrusive ad and recommendation system detracts from the viewing experience, especially given the high price point.
- •Limited user control over ads and data sharing, with some essential functions disabled unless "apps only" mode is activated.
- •The high cost may be difficult to justify given the potential privacy trade-offs and intrusive advertising.
- •Although built-in speakers are good, they still may fall short compared to external sound systems for audiophiles.
- •Reflection management, while improved, isn't perfect — glare from open windows during daytime can still be visible.
- •The TV’s smart system may feel bloated with ads and canned recommendations, impacting overall satisfaction.
- •Some users might prefer a more straightforward smart TV experience without extensive data sharing.
- •Although the display is stunning, the price and privacy concerns might lead some to consider alternative models.
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How we researched this
About this review: it summarizes the professional reviews and customer ratings ShopSavvy collected for this product, alongside prices from 1 retailer in ShopSavvy's price data, most recently seen Oct 26, 2026.
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