TCL’s 98-Inch Mini LED TV Intensifies Projector Market Competition

For decades, the dream of a truly cinematic experience at home meant one thing: a projector. The sheer scale, the immersive feel – projectors reigned supreme for those craving a big-screen thrill. But that dominance is facing an unprecedented challenge. After extensive hands-on testing with TCL’s new 98C7K Mini LED TV, the future of home cinema feels radically different – and significantly brighter. This colossal screen isn’t just big; it delivers performance that humbles projectors costing many times its astonishing £2400 price tag, forcing a major rethink for enthusiasts.

Mini LED TV

The 98-inch TV Performance Leap: Beyond Specs

The raw specifications of the 98-inch TCL C7K are undeniably impressive: 2000 local dimming zones, Quantum Dot technology for wide colour gamut, and a claimed peak brightness hitting 3000 nits. However, specs alone are meaningless without expert tuning and processing power. Based on detailed evaluation across multiple viewing modes, TCL has made significant strides this year. The result is a display that’s explosively bright and vibrantly colourful yet capable of remarkable subtlety and naturalism, especially in Filmmaker Mode or the calibrated Movie preset.

Crucially, the Mini LED backlight control is exceptional for a screen of this size. While 2000 zones spread over 98 inches is less dense than on smaller TVs, the algorithm effectively minimizes blooming. Bright highlights punch through deep black backgrounds with impressive precision. It doesn’t quite reach the infinite contrast of OLED, but OLED technology at this scale remains prohibitively expensive, often exceeding £20,000. The C7K offers a compelling, high-performance alternative that simply didn’t exist at this price point before.

Price Shock: Projectors Face an Existential Threat

The true game-changer is the price. Launching at £2400 (and likely dropping below £2000 soon), the 98C7K redefines value in the large-screen arena. Compare this to projectors: a £2000 projector, like the well-regarded BenQ W2720i reviewed recently, is considered excellent in its class. Yet, the TCL outperforms it dramatically in key areas critical to picture quality.

• Brightness & Contrast: Few projectors under £10,000 can match the C7K’s searing peak brightness or its ability to render deep blacks simultaneously. Projectors inherently struggle with ambient light; the TCL excels in it.
• Colour Volume: Quantum Dot technology delivers significantly wider and more saturated colours than similarly priced projectors can achieve.
• Convenience & Features: The TCL includes two HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K/120Hz for next-gen gaming, a comprehensive smart TV platform with optimized apps, and requires no separate screen setup or bulb replacements. It’s an all-in-one solution.

Projector purists may argue for the unique “film-like” quality of projected light. While valid, TVs like the C7K are closing this gap with dedicated cinema modes, while budget projectors often sacrifice that essence chasing brightness and vibrancy achievable much more effectively by modern Mini LED TVs.

Where Projectors Still Hold the Edge (For Now)

It’s not a complete wipeout. Projectors retain crucial advantages in specific scenarios:

• Screen Size Beyond 100 Inches: If your room accommodates a 120-inch screen or larger, projectors are still the only practical and affordable choice. The next size up for the C7K is a 115-inch model costing around £13,000 – highlighting the projector’s scalability.
• Flexibility: For spaces where a permanent giant screen isn’t feasible, ultra-short-throw projectors paired with rollable screens offer a “coffee table” solution that can be hidden away.

The massive 98-inch TCL C7K Mini LED TV, priced at an almost unbelievable £2400, fundamentally disrupts the home cinema landscape. Its combination of colossal size, exceptional brightness, deep contrast, rich colours, and integrated smart features presents a value proposition that mid-range projectors simply cannot counter. For dedicated rooms suited to a 100-inch fixed screen, this TV makes an overwhelmingly compelling case. As large-screen TV technology advances and prices continue to fall, projector manufacturers face a critical challenge: innovate rapidly or risk being overshadowed in the very home cinema market they once defined. Explore the best TVs and best projectors to see how your home cinema options stack up today.