If you were to categorize the two most vocal camps when it comes to televisions in the home, in simplest terms the two diametrically opposed camps could be categorized as “go big” or “go home.” Samsung’s new 98″ 4K QLED TV definitely caters to the former, an immersive wall-size television that delivers a picture at a scale deserving of the description: home theater.
The entire set sits upon a Carbon Steel hexagonal stand, but it can also be wall mounted with a proper 600 x 400 VESA spec mounting kit for a much cleaner look.
There is no way around it: a television of this size is going to be very conspicuous and is really intended for larger living spaces. Prospective buyers should make sure they can really accommodate for a television this large, as Samsung recommends a viewing distance of around 10 feet to avoid the “sitting in the movie theater front row” effect.
But to Samsung’s credit they’ve been able to minimize the set’s physical presence – somewhat – with a barely there, three-bezel design to frame the the 4K 3,840 x 2,160 resolution screen. The UHD television displays at a 100Hz refresh rate for normal viewing, but can be boosted to 120Hz in a Motion Xcelerator Turbo+ setting for gamers or other fast action content.
Despite the svelte depth and slim bezels, Samsung has been able to squeeze in a 2.2 channel speaker system with Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound Lite.
At this size you’ll definitely want to add a dedicated home theater audio system, or at least add a supplementary soundbar and sub combination, an addition that can be further optimized with the inclusion of Q-Symphony 3.0. The technology orchestrates the simultaneous output of the built-in speakers in harmony with a compatible soundbar for a fuller sound somewhat like the speakers that hide behind a movie theater screen.
Heejin Chae, TV Product Planning, Samsung Electronics, and Sangyeob Kim, standing next to the even higher 8K resolution 2023 98″ Neo QLED 8K television unveiled at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show.
During the span of the pandemic when movie theaters closed, many households invested in upgrading home theater systems – most notably their televisions. Unsurprisingly, television viewing increased as people stayed at home, and in turn sparked sales of larger and smart-enabled televisions. Samsung’s own customer survey showed that 75% of consumers bought, on average, a TV 13″ larger than their previously purchased TV model. So, while moviegoers have returned to reopened theaters, manufacturers like Samsung recognize public sentiment in regards to entertainment at home continues to align similarly to opinions about work from home: it’s actually pretty darn great.
Samsung is throwing out several limited time incentives to tempt television shoppers toward this mammoth $7,999 set, including a free Q-series 5.1.2 ch. Wireless Dolby ATMOS soundbar, complementary in-home installation, and a $1,500 discount for pre-orders.
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