Samsung QN90A QN98QN90AAFXZA 97.5"

A 98-inch bright-room monster with audio so good you can almost skip the soundbar. Hunt for the lowest price and you've got a killer home theater centerpiece.

What surprised us most is the audio. Built-in TV speakers are usually an afterthought, but the 4.2.2 channel, 60W system with Object Tracking Sound+ is genuinely good. In our database, it sits in the 95th percentile for audio, and you can feel it. Explosions have weight, and dialogue stays clear. You might still want a soundbar for true Atmos height effects, but you won't be scrambling for one on day one. The picture quality is also a standout, hitting 85th percentile, with colors that pop thanks to the quantum dot layer and brightness that handles sunny rooms with ease.

The QN90A's main rival is the Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L. The Sony is a 77-inch QD-OLED, so it wins on perfect blacks and color volume, but it's smaller and will struggle in a bright room where the Samsung's anti-glare and brightness dominate. The LG G5 Series OLED is another contender with a sleek gallery design and superior contrast, but again, size and brightness are the Samsung's trump cards. If you want the biggest, brightest picture for sports or a sun-drenched living room, the Samsung is the clear choice. For a light-controlled theater, go OLED.

This is where it gets tricky. The price swings by over $3000 depending on where you look. If you can snag it near that $3279 low end, it's a solid deal for a 98-inch screen of this caliber. At $6299, you're getting into territory where a massive, newer OLED or a short-throw projector setup starts making a lot more sense. Shop around and don't pay a cent over the low end of that range.

The Samsung QN90A is the big-screen beast you buy when you want a true cinema experience at home without the projector hassle. At 98 inches, this Neo QLED isn't just about size. It's shockingly bright, the anti-glare screen actually works, and the Mini-LED backlight delivers contrast that gets surprisingly close to OLED. The one thing to know? This is a 2021 model that still hangs with the best of them for sheer impact, but you'll pay a premium for that massive screen real estate.

If you're looking for the absolute best picture quality in a dark, dedicated theater room, this isn't it. Go get a 77-inch or 83-inch OLED from Sony or LG instead. The QN90A is built to battle ambient light, and in a pitch-black room, an OLED's perfect blacks will leave it in the dust.

The Samsung QN90A is a statement piece that delivers a breathtaking, bright picture and audio that puts most TVs to shame. It's not the newest kid on the block, and the smart platform feels a step behind, but the core viewing experience is still top-tier. If you have the space and can find it at a price closer to $3300, this is an incredible way to get a true home theater without the complexity of a projector. Just make sure you measure your wall twice.