Try GOLD - Free
TCL 9809BK
What Hi-Fi UK
|March 2025
This startlingly affordable whopper proves even more that the cinema-sized TV revolution is well and truly upon us.
-

98in Mini LED TV £3250 whf.cm/TCL 98Q9BK
Not so long ago you would have had to pay five figures for a 98-100in TV. The TCL 98Q9BK, though, sets UK buyers back the princely sum of £3250 - and that's despite it being far from basic with either its specifications or features. Suddenly, the current huge surge in the popularity of mega-sized TVs isn't so hard to understand.
The main king-sized TV competition for the 98Q9BK comes from TCL itself and arch-rival Hisense. The 85in TCL 85C805K we loved so much is now, incredibly, available for under £1500, while Hisense's 100in 100E7NQT Pro is a pound under £2k. Note, though, that the 85C805K doesn't sport as many dimming zones or as much brightness as the 98Q9BK, while the Hisense model doesn't use Mini LED or, again, deliver nearly as much brightness.
While its size is obviously the 98Q9BK's most stand-out feature, it ticks plenty of other home cinema-friendly boxes too: its LCD display uses contrast-rich VA tech, and it is illuminated by Mini LEDS arranged in 1536 independently dimmable zones.
TCL claims, too, that the 98Q9BK is capable of outputting as much as 2400 nits of brightness for small HDR highlights.
Helping the 98Q9BK's colours keep up with its promised brightness is a Quantum Dot array, and the screen sports a mild anti-reflection filter to try to reduce the extent to which bright objects in your room might come between you and a direct connection with what you are watching.
Four HDMIS are joined by a couple of USBS and the usual wi-fi and Bluetooth wireless options including Miracast, Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, though only two of the HDMIs support 4K/120Hz (and, in fact, 144Hz) gaming feeds. The Chromecast support comes courtesy of the 98Q9BK's Google TV smart system. TCL has managed to add Freeview Play, too.
This story is from the March 2025 edition of What Hi-Fi UK.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM What Hi-Fi UK

What Hi-Fi UK
FIELD OPERATIVES
Wherever you need your tunes, a good portable Bluetooth speaker will be at the centre of the action
17 mins
August 2025

What Hi-Fi UK
Vertere Calon
The Vertere Calon is a shining example of how things should be done. It is a hugely expensive product, but in a price-appropriate turntable system, it's hard to better.
4 mins
August 2025

What Hi-Fi UK
Gryphon Audio Diablo 333
EXPENSIVE, YES. BUT YOU KNOW YOU WANT THEM
7 mins
August 2025

What Hi-Fi UK
System of the month
Each component here is the latest - and best - version of a hi-fi icon. Together they make a compact, tasty cocktail
4 mins
August 2025

What Hi-Fi UK
MOVING PICTURES
Portable projectors mean it’s easy to watch your movies anywhere. It’s enough to bring a tear to the eye
29 mins
August 2025

What Hi-Fi UK
Sony WH-1000XM6
Can Sony's new flagship wireless headphones set a new standard?
11 mins
August 2025

What Hi-Fi UK
TOP FIVE LAUNCHES
Five products to look out for this month
2 mins
August 2025

What Hi-Fi UK
"I GUESS A PRODUCT BECOMES TRULY SPECIAL WHEN IT'S THE FIRST THING YOU SWITCH ON WHEN YOU'RE HOME"
The man behind Sony's sound picks the product he is most proud of
3 mins
August 2025

What Hi-Fi UK
Hisense PX3
The PX3 is all but identical to its Pro sibling- and that's not a bad thing
3 mins
August 2025

What Hi-Fi UK
LG C5 vs Sony Bravia 8: Which OLED TV should you buy?
Sony's established OLED steps into the ring with LG’s newcomer. Which will win?
6 mins
August 2025