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The deal was real as a reported promotion, but it is not safe to assume it is still available. The offer behind the headline was for Hisense’s 2025 98-inch QD5 Series Google TV (model 98QD5QG) at Best Buy for $899.99, reported on February 5, 2026. Later Best Buy listings showed different prices and one marked the promotion ended July 27, 2026. Check the live listing before budgeting around that price.
At $899.99, the draw was extraordinary screen size for the money—not flagship picture quality. The QD5 combines a 98-inch 4K QLED screen with Google TV and gaming features including a native 144Hz panel and variable refresh rate. But its direct-lit backlight, enormous delivery footprint, and potential add-on costs matter to the real value calculation.
What the $899 deal was
The offer was for the Hisense 98QD5QG, a 2025 98-inch QD5 Series Hi-QLED 4K Google TV sold through Best Buy. HotHardware reported the $899.99 price on February 5, 2026, ahead of Super Bowl LX on February 8. That report described the discount as $1,400 off; treat that as the article’s comparison to a reference price, not a verified current saving or necessarily a manufacturer-confirmed MSRP. (Original deal report)
As of the later retailer signals in the available information, the price and availability were inconsistent: Best Buy data showed both $899.99 and $1,299.99, and one listing said the promotion ended July 27, 2026. That means the February deal is historical, not a price you should count on today. Check the Best Buy product page for the live price, stock, delivery options, and terms before deciding.
#1 Best Overall
- 4K UltraHD Resolution - Experience incredible detail with 4X the resolution of 1080p Full HDTVs.
- QLED PRO – Quantum Dot Technology - Rich, vibrant colors covering nearly the entire DCI-P3 color space to bring images to life.
- High Brightness+ LED Backlight - Q6 models produce brighter images for enhanced viewing experience for all your favorite movies and TV shows.
- 120Hz Panel Refresh Rate (144 Hz Variable Refresh Rate) - Watch action-packed movies, fast-paced video games, and live sports with an ultra-smooth viewing experience, free of motion blur.
- TCL AIPQ PRO Processor with Deep Learning AI - Powerful, advanced processor intelligently optimizes the color, contrast, and clarity for an unrivaled 4K HDR experience.
If the set is around $899.99 again, it is an unusually low cost for a 98-inch TV. If it is near $1,299.99, compare it afresh with larger-screen mini-LED sets and smaller premium TVs; the original deal’s value case no longer automatically applies.
What you get for the money
The QD5 is a 4K LCD television with a quantum-dot color layer—hence QLED or Hisense’s “Hi-QLED” branding—and Google TV built in. The retailer lists support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG, along with Filmmaker Mode and AI upscaling. Google TV brings supported streaming apps and content recommendations together, but it does not include paid subscriptions; app availability varies by service and market.
Its headline gaming specifications are a native 144Hz refresh rate and VRR listed at 48Hz–144Hz. Best Buy also lists AMD FreeSync Premium and HDMI 2.1 inputs. Those are notable features for a budget-class 98-inch set, but the maximum refresh rate depends on the source device, game, input, and cable. A compatible gaming PC is the most likely way to make use of 4K at 144Hz. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X do not generally output 4K at 144Hz, so do not buy on the assumption that a console will reach that combination.
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There is a specification discrepancy worth checking before connecting multiple high-bandwidth devices: Best Buy lists four HDMI 2.1 inputs, while the February deal report described two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports. Retailer labels do not always establish that every port supports every top-end mode. Consult the current manual or input specifications for the exact port behavior you need. Hisense’s product page is another place to confirm model details.
Rank #2
- MINILED PRO WITH UP TO 5000 NITS PEAK BRIGHTNESS AND UP TO 5600 LOCAL DIMMING ZONES: See the realism of every shadow cast by the players and the ball. When your TV is backlit by thousands of tiny LEDs, your viewing experience gets even more precise. Think of the LEDs like thousands of pinpoints of light illuminating your screen. And Full Array Local Dimming creates deeper shadows and brighter highlights, while virtually eliminating halos
- HI-VIEW AI ENGINE PRO: Enjoy the game from home, but feel like you’re there. Powered by the Hisense proprietary chipset, Hi-View AI Engine Pro automatically optimizes the picture and sound based on the content you are watching. This intelligent feature detects, analyzes and adjusts the details, depth and appearance of everything you watch or play, making every visual even more realistic
- NATIVE 165HZ PANEL WITH GAME BOOSTER 288: Turbo power your gaming! The Native 165Hz Panel has a Variable Refresh Rate of 48Hz to 165Hz, almost as fast as your reaction time. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Auto Low Latency Mode and Low Latency MEMC eliminate screen tearing and controller lag. And with our new Game Bar you can control multiple game settings right from your TV remote and on-screen display
- ENHANCED GAME BAR: Enjoy your gaming dashboard and manage performance in real time. Seamlessly adjust settings and monitor gameplay data as you play. Lead the moment. Play to win
- ANTI-REFLECTION PRO: Keep your eye on the ball all day and all night long. Anti-Reflection Pro incorporates a special coating into the liquid crystal layer of the screen to minimize glare and reflections, so you can see the picture in all of its vibrancy and detail without any interference
The main compromise: an entry-level backlight
QLED is still LCD technology; it is not OLED. The QD5 uses a direct-lit LED backlight rather than OLED pixels or a mini-LED local-dimming system. Quantum dots can enhance color, but they do not by themselves guarantee deep blacks, precise control of bright objects against dark backgrounds, or premium HDR impact. RTINGS characterizes the 98QD5QG as an entry-level model while noting its modern gaming features. (RTINGS assessment)
That distinction matters most for dark-room films and demanding HDR scenes, where black levels and backlight control are conspicuous. A 98-inch screen can also make compression, low-resolution broadcasts, and other source flaws easier to notice. For sports, group viewing, and casual streaming, sheer scale may be the priority; for a dark home theater, a mini-LED or OLED model may be a better use of a larger budget, even at a smaller size.
The TV supports Dolby Atmos, and Best Buy lists a built-in subwoofer. That does not mean its built-in audio will create the immersive effect of a properly configured surround system. If sound matters, budget for a soundbar or receiver and check the set’s audio outputs and eARC behavior against the system you plan to use.
Plan the full cost, not just the screen price
A low sticker price can understate what a very large TV costs to get safely into your room and set up. Best Buy lists the set at about 86.1 inches wide, 53.1 inches tall with its stand, and 49.4 inches tall without it. With the stand, it is about 19.4 inches deep and weighs roughly 124.6 pounds; without the stand, it weighs about 120.2 pounds. The shipping carton is approximately 94.4 × 58.7 × 9.8 inches. Specifications can change or be presented differently by listing, so recheck them before arranging delivery.
Rank #3
- QD-MINI LED | BRIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD BE, DARK WHERE IT SHOULDN'T: Get the deep blacks and precise contrast shoppers expect from a premium display, plus the high brightness Mini LED is known for. Up to 500 local dimming zones with TCL Halo Control Technology precisely control the backlight to reduce unwanted blooming around bright objects. The result is bright highlights, deeper blacks and greater contrast, without the burn-in concern associated with premium displays
- NATIVE 144Hz | BUILT FOR GAMING + SPORTS: Looking for a gaming TV or a better TV for sports? Native 144Hz, Motion Rate 480, VRR, ALLM and Game Accelerator deliver smooth, responsive gameplay and clearer fast-moving action. Follow the ball, catch every play or jump into high-speed gaming with greater motion clarity and responsiveness
- ONKYO 2.1 + BUILT-IN SUBWOOFER | HOME THEATER SOUND: Turn your living room into a home theater with Onkyo 2.1 audio and a 20W subwoofer for deeper bass, clearer dialogue and fuller sound. Dolby Atmos and dedicated DTS add immersive audio for movies, gaming, sports and streaming. With powerful sound built right into the TV, adding a soundbar is optional
- BEZEL-LESS DESIGN | MORE SCREEN, LESS FRAME: Make your entertainment feel bigger. The thin, bezel-less design minimizes the frame around the picture for a more immersive big-screen experience. Whether you're watching movies, streaming shows, sports or gaming, more of what you see is the picture, not the frame
- 1.07 BILLION COLORS + AiPQ PRO | BETTER PICTURE FOR MOVIES + STREAMING: A bigger screen should make your entertainment better, not just bigger. Enhanced QLED Color delivers up to 1.07 billion colors with a wide color gamut, while TCL's AiPQ Pro Processor intelligently optimizes color, contrast and clarity for movies, streaming, sports and games
- Measure the entire route: front door, hallways, stairs, elevator, turns, and the room itself. The nearly 95-inch carton can be the limiting factor even when the television would fit on the wall.
- Check furniture carefully: the reported stand footprint is about 59.9 × 19.4 inches. A console that is merely wider than the panel’s feet or cannot support the weight is not suitable.
- For wall mounting: the listing specifies VESA 800 × 400 mm, M8. Use a compatible mount rated for the television’s weight and arrange capable help or professional installation. A common smaller mount may not fit.
- Inspect on delivery: note visible carton damage and inspect the panel promptly. Photograph damage and contact the retailer before installing or discarding packaging if something is wrong.
- Include likely extras: delivery or installation charges, a suitable mount, and audio equipment can meaningfully raise the total. Do not assume a protection plan is equivalent to the manufacturer warranty.
Best Buy lists a one-year parts-and-labor warranty. Confirm the terms that apply to your purchase; warranty coverage, retailer return rules, delivery damage procedures, and optional protection plans are different things. The listing also estimates annual energy use at 569 kWh and annual operating cost at $92. That is an estimate, not a guaranteed household bill: actual cost depends on viewing habits, settings, and local electricity rates. (Best Buy specifications and terms)
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It makes sense if you have a large room, want a dramatic screen for sports or shared viewing, and care more about inches per dollar than best-in-class contrast. It may also appeal to PC gamers whose hardware can use a high-refresh 4K display, provided the relevant input specifications check out. The case is strongest when the live price is close to the reported $899.99 and delivery and installation are practical.
Look elsewhere if you watch mainly in a dark room and expect OLED-like blacks or premium local dimming, sit close to the screen, or cannot safely get and mount a 120-plus-pound panel. At around $1,300, reassess the value rather than anchoring on the old $899.99 promotion. A mini-LED alternative may justify a higher cost through stronger brightness and contrast control; a smaller premium TV may be wiser if picture quality or room fit outweighs screen size. A 98-inch TCL QM6K mini-LED was cited at $1,499.99 in the February 2026 coverage, but that is a historical price, not a current quote. (Historical alternative pricing)
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The Hisense 98QD5QG was a remarkable size-for-price proposition at the reported $899.99, especially for a buyer who prioritizes a giant screen and gaming connectivity over high-end cinema performance. But the Super Bowl promotion is past, later Best Buy signals showed a higher price and an expired offer, and the TV’s entry-level backlight is a real compromise. Verify today’s price and delivery terms, compare the full setup cost, and buy it for its size—not because “QLED” makes it equivalent to a premium mini-LED or OLED television.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
