Samsung QLED QN98LS03HEFXZA 98"

The Samsung QN98LS03HEFXZA is a 98-inch 4K QLED art TV with a Glare Free matte finish and a sleek frame design. It looks stunning on a wall and handles bright rooms well, but HDR and audio performance are weak for the price. Buy it for the aesthetic, not the specs.

Let's be straight about the numbers. In our database, this TV's picture quality sits at the 36th percentile, which is below average for its class. HDR performance is even rougher at the 13th percentile, and audio lands at the same disappointing level. That's not a typo. You're getting a massive 98-inch screen with middling HDR and weak built-in sound. The display itself ranks at the 54th percentile, so it's solidly middle of the pack.

Gaming is a weak spot too. The 43rd percentile gaming score means it's fine for casual play, and you do get VRR and Game Mode, but serious gamers will notice the limitations. The 21st percentile connectivity score is another head-scratcher for a TV this expensive. If you're buying this for a dedicated home theater or competitive gaming setup, you'll be disappointed. If you're buying it to hang on a wall and stream shows while looking like a framed painting, the performance is adequate for that job.

Stacked against the LG C5 Series OLED55C5PUA, the Samsung gets destroyed on picture quality. OLED panels have perfect blacks and far better HDR, and the LG is a fraction of the size but a much better TV for movie watching. The Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L is in a completely different league for image quality, though it's also smaller and likely pricier. The real competition for this Samsung is the Hisense U8 Series 100U8QG and the TCL QM8K Series 75QM8K. Both of those deliver better HDR, better gaming performance, and better overall picture quality for less money.

The trade-off is design. None of those competitors look like a framed piece of art on your wall. The Samsung's Glare Free matte finish is also unique at this size. If you're comparing the Samsung Frame TV to a traditional TV, the Samsung loses on specs. If you're comparing it to other art TVs or lifestyle displays, it's basically in a class of its own at 98 inches.

At $3,798, this is a tough sell on pure specs alone. You can get a Hisense U8 Series 100U8QG or a TCL QM8K for less money with significantly better picture quality and HDR performance. What you're paying for here is the design concept. The Frame is a lifestyle product, not a performance product. If you want the biggest art TV Samsung makes and you have a bright room where glare is a constant battle, the value proposition makes more sense. But if you just want the best picture for your dollar, look elsewhere.

The Samsung QN98LS03HEFXZA is a 98-inch 4K QLED TV that belongs to Samsung's The Frame lineup, the one designed to look like wall art instead of a black rectangle. At $3,798, it's not cheap, but you're paying for the size and the whole art gallery concept more than raw picture performance. The Glare Free matte finish is the headline feature here, and it genuinely helps if you're putting this in a bright living room with lots of windows.

Is the Samsung Frame TV good for everyday watching? For most people, yes. It's a QLED panel, so colors pop and it gets bright enough for daytime viewing. But if you're a home theater nerd chasing perfect contrast and deep blacks, this isn't the panel for you. The Frame series has always prioritized looking good on your wall over looking perfect in a dark room, and this 98-inch version follows that same playbook.

Smart features are handled by Samsung's Tizen platform with Alexa built in, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The included Slim Fit Wall Mount is a nice touch, and the magnetic bezels let you change the frame color to match your decor. Just know those bezels cost extra, and the Art Store subscription is a separate fee if you want the full 5,000+ artwork catalog.

Skip this if you're building a home theater or care about HDR performance. The weak HDR and audio scores mean movie nights won't feel as immersive as they would on an OLED or a better QLED like the Hisense U8. Gamers should also look elsewhere, since the gaming performance is mediocre for the price. And if you're on a budget, the TCL QM8K delivers better picture quality for less money. This TV is for design-conscious buyers who want a giant art piece that happens to stream Netflix, not for spec hunters.

Should you buy the Samsung QN98LS03HEFXZA? If you want a giant TV that disappears into your decor and handles bright rooms better than most, yes. The Glare Free finish and Art Mode are genuinely useful features that no other 98-inch TV offers. The included wall mount and customizable bezels make it feel like a piece of furniture rather than an appliance.

But if you care about HDR, gaming, or getting the best picture quality for your money, skip it. The weak HDR and audio scores are hard to ignore at this price. This is a TV for people who prioritize aesthetics over performance, and there's nothing wrong with that. Just know what you're signing up for.