The 100-inch TVs of 2026 you actually want in your living room – Automated Home

There was a time when a 100-inch TV sounded absurd. Something you’d expect to see in a showroom, a sports bar, or a billionaire’s private theater, not a normal living room.

In 2026, that idea feels outdated. Ultra-large TVs have quietly crossed a threshold where they’re no longer just possible, but genuinely practical.

Thanks to aggressive pricing from brands like TCL and Hisense, improvements in Mini LED technology, and smarter design choices, 98- and 100-inch TVs are no longer novelty purchases.

They’re realistic upgrades for people who want a cinematic experience without dealing with the compromises of a projector.

But not all giant TVs are created equal. Some are overpriced. Some look impressive on paper but fall apart in real rooms. And some are absolutely worth rearranging your living space for.

These are the 100-inch TVs of 2026 that you’d actually want to live with.

Why 100 inches finally makes sense

The biggest shift isn’t size, it’s value. Just a few years ago, a 100-inch TV cost as much as a car. In 2026, entry-level models regularly dip close to $1,300 during sales, while genuinely excellent midrange options sit between $2,000 and $3,000.

At the same time, content has caught up. Streaming services now prioritize 4K HDR, sports broadcasts are sharper than ever, and modern consoles push high frame rates that benefit enormously from a massive display.

When you sit 9 to 12 feet from a 100-inch screen, the image fills your field of view in a way even an 85-inch TV can’t quite replicate.

The result isn’t just “bigger.” It’s more immersive, more comfortable, and more theater-like without turning your home into a dark cave.

The sweet spot: TCL QM7K

If there’s one 100-inch TV that makes the most sense for most people in 2026, it’s the TCL QM7K. This is the model that proves giant screens don’t have to come with giant compromises.

The QM7K uses a Mini LED backlight with local dimming, which is essential at this size. Without it, black levels look gray, highlights lack punch, and dark scenes fall apart.

With it, the QM7K delivers strong contrast, minimal blooming, and enough brightness to handle daytime viewing, something projectors still struggle with.

Measured brightness on smaller sizes lands around 1,800 nits, and the 98-inch version performs similarly. That means HDR highlights pop, sports look vivid, and reflections are far less distracting in real-world rooms.

It’s also a quietly excellent gaming TV. With support for up to 144Hz, VRR, and ALLM, it handles modern consoles and PCs smoothly. Google TV runs quickly, the interface stays responsive, and importantly for TCL, the software feels stable.

For $2,300 to $2,800, this is the rare massive TV that feels balanced. It doesn’t just impress in demos; it holds up after weeks of everyday use.

When you want to go brighter: TCL QM8K

Some living rooms are brutal. Lots of windows. Direct sunlight. No desire to draw blackout curtains just to watch TV. That’s where the TCL QM8K earns its place.

This is one of the brightest consumer TVs available at any size, and at 98 inches, that brightness becomes a real advantage. Peak brightness measurements north of 3,600 nits mean HDR content looks spectacular, even in challenging lighting conditions.

More importantly, the QM8K’s local dimming is exceptional. Blooming and halos, common issues on large LED TVs, are barely noticeable here. Black levels are deeper than on the QM7K, and contrast control is among the best you’ll see on any QLED.

What makes the QM8K compelling isn’t just performance, though. It’s context. Comparable 98- or 100-inch TVs from Samsung or Sony often cost $5,000 to $6,000 more without delivering a dramatic leap in image quality. At $3,000 to $4,000, the QM8K feels expensive but fair.

If your room demands brightness and you want near-flagship performance without flagship pricing, this is the one.

The budget reality check: TCL Q65

Not everyone wants to spend $3,000 on a TV, even a massive one. And that’s where the TCL Q65 comes in.

This is the TV for people who prioritize size over perfection. It uses a QLED panel with good color reproduction but lacks local dimming. The result is a picture that looks fine in bright rooms and casual viewing, but flatter and more uneven in the dark.

Black levels are limited. Viewing angles are narrow. HDR impact is modest. None of that is surprising at this price point.

What is surprising is how usable it still is. The 98-inch Q65 supports up to 144Hz, making it a solid choice for gaming. Google TV runs reliably. Colors are vibrant enough for sports and streaming. And at $1,300 to $1,700, it’s one of the cheapest ways to fill an entire wall with a single screen.

If you’re choosing between an 85-inch “better” TV and a 98-inch Q65, the Q65 often wins simply because immersion matters.

The dream option: LG’s 97-inch G5 OLED

If money truly doesn’t matter, there’s still nothing quite like OLED. And at 97 inches, LG’s G5 OLED is about as close as you can get to perfection at this scale.

Unlike QLEDs, OLED pixels turn off completely. That means infinite contrast, perfect black levels, and unmatched shadow detail. Dark scenes don’t glow, they disappear. Viewing angles are flawless. The image looks consistent whether you’re dead center or sitting off to the side.

There are trade-offs. The 97-inch G5 doesn’t get as bright as smaller OLEDs or top-tier Mini LED TVs. It also costs around $25,000, doesn’t include a stand, and is realistically aimed at custom home theaters.

But if your priority is cinematic accuracy above all else, no 100-inch QLED can match what this TV does in a dark room.

What about projectors?

At this point, the comparison is unavoidable. Should you buy a 100-inch TV or a projector?

In 2026, TVs win for most people. They’re brighter, sharper, easier to install, better for gaming, and far more forgiving in rooms with ambient light.

Projectors still make sense if you want 120 inches or more, or if wall space is limited, but dollar for dollar, large TVs now deliver superior everyday performance.

When a 100-inch TV becomes the obvious choice

The notion that a 100-inch TV is “too much” no longer holds true. Prices have dropped, performance has improved, and the experience is unlike anything smaller screens can offer.

For most people, the TCL QM7K hits the perfect balance of price, performance, and practicality.

If brightness is king, the QM8K takes it to the next level. If budget matters most, the Q65 gets you there without embarrassment. And if you want the absolute best, and cost is irrelevant, LG’s 97-inch OLED remains untouchable.

The real question in 2026 isn’t whether a 100-inch TV is reasonable. It’s whether you’re ready for your living room to feel like a theater every single day.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.