Samsung DU9000 UN98DU9000FXZA 97.5"

It's a 98-inch Samsung for the price of a much smaller premium TV. The picture quality is just okay, but the sheer size is the unforgettable feature.

We were genuinely surprised by how well the upscaling works on a screen this massive. The Crystal Processor 4K does some heavy lifting, making even standard 1080p cable broadcasts look watchable rather than a blurry mess. The 'Motion Xcelerator 120 Hz' marketing is a bit of a fib since the panel is natively 60Hz, but the motion smoothing is effective enough for sports without making everything look like a cheap soap opera. The weak spot is picture quality, landing in a disappointing 36th percentile in our database. The Direct LED backlight without local dimming means blacks are more of a dark gray, and you'll notice some unevenness in dark room viewing.

The DU9000's main rival is the TCL QM7K Series. The TCL gives you a mini-LED backlight with far superior contrast and real 120Hz+ panels for gaming, but you'll likely be looking at a 75 or 85-inch model for similar money. You're trading sheer size for a dramatically better picture. The Hisense U7 Series is another strong alternative that will outclass the Samsung in picture quality and gaming performance, but again, you won't find a 98-inch version at this price. If you absolutely need the biggest screen and can live with 'good enough' picture quality, the Samsung wins by default.

The value here is a wild ride depending on where you look. We're seeing a price spread of over $1,600 across vendors, from $1,166 to $2,796. At the low end, this thing is a steal for a 98-inch screen from a major brand. At the high end, you're getting into territory where you could snag a much better 85-inch TV with superior picture quality. If you can find it closer to that $1,166 mark, it's a no-brainer for the size alone.

The Samsung DU9000 is all about one thing: getting the biggest possible screen into your living room without taking out a second mortgage. At 98 inches, this TV is an absolute unit that dominates any wall you put it on. It's not going to blow you away with perfect blacks or blazing gaming refresh rates, but for the price, the sheer scale of the experience is the real selling point. If you've been dreaming of a projector-sized image without the projector hassle, this is your ticket.

If you're a cinephile who watches movies in a dark room and obsesses over perfect black levels, this isn't it. Go get an OLED like the LG G5 Series instead. You'll get a smaller screen for the same money, but the picture quality will be in a completely different universe.

Buy this TV for the size, not the specs. The Samsung DU9000 is a statement piece that makes movies, sports, and games feel larger than life, and it's a solid smart TV performer. Just know that you're sacrificing deep blacks and high-end gaming features to get that massive 98-inch panel. If you can live with that trade-off and find a good deal, you'll be thrilled every time you walk into the room.