Big, bigger, biggest at IFA 2022: 97" OLED, 98" LCD and microLED TVs

Big, bigger, biggest at IFA 2022: 97" OLED, 98" LCD and microLED TVs

06 Sep 2022 | Rasmus Larsen |

At IFA 2022, LG launched the first 97-inch 4K OLED TV while TCL and Samsung both launched 98-inch 4K LCD TVs. MicroLED TVs go even bigger but are still vaporware. TVs are inching closer to projector sizes and at IFA 2022 in Berlin the trend grabbed headlines. Most major TV makers had brought with them large TVs or concepts that made their 65-inch TVs look tiny.

First 97-inch OLED TV

LG Electronics officially launched the world's first 97-inch OLED TV in the G2 range. The panel, produced by LG Display, features 4K resolution, which is noteworthy considering that 8K would actually start to make sense at this size. Consequently, it will sell for around the same price as LG's smaller 88-inch 8K OLED TV; 25000 Euro. At least that's the price LG confirmed to FlatpanelsHD earlier this year before inflation started spiralling out of control.

LG's first 97-inch 4K OLED TV (OLED97G2). Photo: FlatpanelsHD at IFA 2022

In 2015, LG Display announced plans to build the world's most advanced OLED production facility, a 10.5G plant, to mass-produce large OLED panels at lower prices, but the entire project has been delayed. Cheaper large-sized OLED TVs will come but it will take longer than first anticipated. The 97-inch LG G2 looks amazing, too. We would go as far as to call it the TV with the best picture quality at IFA 2022, because size matters – and microLED TVs don't as long as they're prototypes.

LG's first 97-inch 4K OLED TV (OLED97G2). Photo: FlatpanelsHD at IFA 2022

98-inch 4K LCD TVs

Late last month, FlatpanelsHD reported that TCL's first 98-inch 4K TV is now available in Europe for 6500 Euro, the Middle East and other regions, in addition to North America. TCL's 98-inch C735 notably also features 4K resolution – not 8K. The LCD TV's panel technology is not as advanced as the display technology in LG's 97-inch OLED, but 6500 Euro is a lot less than 25000 Euro. You could buy three of these and still have lots of money left for UHD Blu-ray discs. It is the first affordable 98-inch TV and competition benefits consumers. The mammoth TV was officially launched in Europe at IFA 2022, but TCL had also brought an even better 98-inch 4K LCD TV to Berlin. The 98-inch C935 uses the company's more advanced miniLED zone dimming system for improved luminance control, contrast and brightness.

TCL's Marek Maciejewski in front of the 98-inch TCL C935 miniLED LCD TV. Photo: FlatpanelsHD at IFA 2022

TCL's 98-inch TCL C935 miniLED LCD TV. Photo: FlatpanelsHD at IFA 2022

The bad news is that TCL has no plans to launch the 98-inch C935, which is currently available in China, in Europe or other regions, mainly because the miniLED backlight required is still very expensive. TCL's Product Development Director for Europe, Marek Maciejewski, told us that the consumer price in Europe would have exceeded 10000 Euro. Maybe next year. Samsung also launched a 98-inch LCD TV with... 4K resolution. This is a surprise considering Samsung's push for 8K. The TV is known as QN100B and actually features miniLED zone dimming with a claimed peak brightness of 5000 nits. Apparently, Samsung decided to launch what TCL decided to pass on (it is most likely an LCD panel from TCL CSoT but this is not confirmed). Samsung referred to it as a "movie theater at home" that "greatly improves the picture quality and sound compared to the previous 98-inch model" (QN90A from 2021), fully equipped with a 6.4.4-channel Dolby Atmos sound system. The price? 30000+ Euro, according to Samsung Korea. You get the picture.

Samsung 98-inch QN100B "Neo QLED" LCD TV. Photo: FlatpanelsHD at IFA 2022

Amazing microLED vaporware

At CES in January 2021, Samsung announced microLED for a fourth time. And then they did it again the following year at CES 2022, insisting that this time microLED is actually coming. At that point, we just gave up and decided to wait for the TVs to actually show up. Samsung's microLED TVs still aren't here and Korean media report that the smaller versions under 100 inches have been postponed indefinitely. However, it didn't stop Samsung from once again showcasing the microLED TVs, including a 76-inch version, at IFA 2022.

Samsung has a full line-up of microLED vaporware. Photo: FlatpanelsHD at IFA 2022

The truth about microLED TVs is that they are still vaporware. LG and TCL also showcased microLED TVs – both 136-inch 4K displays – at IFA but neither have any plans to launch a consumer product at this time. When pressed for a timeline, TCL's Marek Maciejewski's long answer basically boiled down to this; he would prefer to wait and be surprised than rule out microLED, but he is not optimistic about the short-term prospects due to various factors including manufacturing challenges. Also read: First look: Samsung's 110" microLED TV You will understand why when you move up close to a microLED display – something that is hard to do because manufacturers put up barricades in front of them – as they are still assembled from modules with visible seams and still generate so much heat that they double as a fireplace for your living room. There is probably a joke in there somewhere. MicroLED holds great potential as a technology that can take TV sizes beyond 98 inches, but it is a big challenge to make smaller screens. Maybe later this decade.