Hisense QD5 Series 98QD5QG 98"

The Hisense QD5 is a 98-inch QLED with a best-in-class smart TV experience and a native 144Hz panel that puts it in the 91st percentile for gaming. You can find it for as low as $950, which is an insane value for a screen this size. The trade-off is picture quality, which lands in the 36th percentile, so don't expect deep blacks or stunning HDR.

This TV is built for speed. The native 144Hz panel and Game Mode Pro deliver a variable refresh rate from 48Hz to 144Hz, which, combined with AMD FreeSync Premium, makes screen tearing a non-issue. In our gaming benchmarks, it lands in the 91st percentile, putting it ahead of most dedicated gaming monitors, let alone other TVs. The Motion Rate 480 and AI Smooth Motion with MEMC keep fast-moving sports and action scenes crisp, though you'll want to disable some of that processing for a pure movie experience. The 2.1-channel, 50W audio system with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X is a pleasant surprise, scoring in the 90th percentile for audio. It won't replace a dedicated soundbar, but it has enough heft to fill a large room without immediately sounding thin.

Stacked against the competition, the QD5 is a specialist. The Sony BRAVIA XR A95L and LG G5 OLED will absolutely destroy it in picture quality and HDR performance, but they cost several times more and don't come in a 98-inch size. The Samsung Neo QLED QN800D gets you Mini-LED backlighting and far better contrast, making it the better choice if picture quality is your priority. The TCL QM7K is a more direct competitor, offering strong gaming features at a similar price point, but with better HDR performance thanks to its Mini-LED panel. Where the Hisense wins is sheer size for the dollar and a smarter, smoother smart TV experience than TCL's Google TV implementation.

Value is a tricky conversation with this set because the price spread is absurd. We're seeing it listed from $950 all the way up to $54,590. At the low end, you're getting a 98-inch screen with top-tier gaming and smart features for less than a premium 65-inch OLED. That's a steal. At the high end, you're paying luxury OLED money for a TV with middling picture quality. If you can find it closer to that $950 mark, the price-to-performance ratio for a screen this size is hard to beat. Just make sure you're buying from a reputable vendor and not a third-party seller marking it up by $50,000 for no reason.

The Hisense QD5 Series 98QD5QG is a 98-inch QLED that makes a strong case for itself as a gaming and smart TV powerhouse. Its smart features land in the 99th percentile of our database, which means Google TV is snappy and well-integrated here. The display itself is a standout, ranking in the 93rd percentile, and the native 144Hz panel with FreeSync Premium puts gaming performance in the 91st percentile. That's a lot of high marks for a set that can be found for as low as $950 at some vendors, though you'll see prices swing wildly up to $54,590 depending on the retailer.

Home theater purists should look elsewhere. If you watch movies in a dark, light-controlled room, the Direct LED backlight and 36th percentile picture quality will be a constant disappointment. Blacks will look washed out, and HDR content won't pop the way it does on an OLED or a good Mini-LED set. You're also out of luck if you plan to use this outdoors, where its visibility score of 52 out of 100 makes it one of the worst options we've seen. This is an indoor, bright-room TV through and through.

If you want a gigantic screen for gaming and streaming and you don't want to remortgage your house, the Hisense QD5 is a compelling option, provided you can snag it at the lower end of its price range. The 144Hz panel and top-tier smart features are the real deal. Just know that you're trading picture quality for size. The Direct LED backlight and average HDR mean this isn't the TV for a dedicated home theater in a dark room. It's a bright-room, big-impact screen for sports, gaming, and casual viewing. For the right buyer at the right price, it's a lot of fun.