Buy 98″ Xiaomi or go for TCL instead? We compared two huge Mini LED TVs, and the cheaper model has unexpected advantages

A 98-inch TV is available in Slovakia today from several brands. Among the Mini LED backlit models, the closest alternatives are TCL 98C6K and Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 98 2026. On Heureka, TCL is a few tens of euros cheaper. Find out the exact price by clicking this link.

We compared both TVs parameter by parameter. TCL has a matte screen, Onkyo sound with a subwoofer, and it uses less electricity in HDR. Xiaomi has more dimming zones, higher brightness, and it’s a year newer. Which one is worth it more depends mainly on how bright your living room is.

TCL 98C6K vs Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 98: Specs side by side

Matte screen vs glossy

The biggest difference you’ll see during the day. TCL puts a matte HVA panel in its 85-inch and 98-inch models, which reflects windows and lamps less. Smaller diagonal models in the C6K line don’t have it. Xiaomi has a glossy screen without an anti-glare layer. A reviewer from the Czech website Svět Androida called it one of the TV’s three weaknesses.

If your living room has big windows and you watch even during the day, go for TCL. When you watch in the evening with curtains drawn, the reflections won’t bother you nearly as much.

Xiaomi has more zones and higher brightness

For contrast, Xiaomi is better. Its backlight is split into 880 zones, while TCL, according to sellers, has up to 512. The more zones, the smaller the glow around bright objects on a dark background. Xiaomi also states 1,200 nits of brightness. TCL didn’t reveal an exact number for the 98-inch model, and FlatpanelsHD lists up to 1,000 nits for the whole series.

Reviews of smaller TCL C6K versions praise the colors and the handling of black, which is better than you’d expect at this price. The UK’s TechRadar gave the 55-inch model 4 out of 5 stars. However, it criticizes loss of detail in dark scenes and worse viewing angles. Stuff from South Africa noticed the glow around bright objects on the 65-inch version.

Xiaomi is also on Heureka and is sold by ten shops. You can compare its current price here.

Onkyo sound with a subwoofer

TCL has an Onkyo 2.1 system. Two 10 W speakers are complemented by a 20 W subwoofer; together that’s 40 W. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X. Xiaomi has two speakers with a total of 30 W, and the review says its bass is missing.

Don’t expect a miracle from TCL either. TechRadar and Stuff rate the C6K series sound only as average. At this screen size, a soundbar is worth it for both. Still, TCL holds up a bit better without one.

For gaming, they’re well matched

Both TVs have a native refresh rate of 144 Hz. TCL supports variable refresh rate from 48 to 288 Hz and AMD FreeSync Premium. But you only reach 288 Hz at 1080p resolution. Xiaomi is similar: the Game Boost mode with 288 Hz works at 1080p and 1440p from a PC. TechRadar measured 13.6 ms input lag for TCL. That’s more than enough for both console and PC.

The difference is in the ports. TCL has four HDMI ports, but only two full-feature HDMI 2.1 ports. Xiaomi has three HDMI 2.1 ports. If you connect a PlayStation, an Xbox, and a PC at the same time, Xiaomi saves you cable switching.

TCL uses less electricity

According to the European EPREL register, TCL has a power draw of 155 W for a standard image and Xiaomi 185 W. For HDR, the difference is bigger. TCL draws 290 W and Xiaomi 430 W, so about half as much. Over a few hours a day, it won’t be that much money over the year. The difference is noticeable mainly with HDR movies.

Both run on Google TV. Xiaomi has the newer Wi-Fi 6, TCL only Wi-Fi 5. But when streaming 4K movies from Netflix, that’s enough.

The same TCL, also sold under the name 98Q6C

When you search, you’ll also come across the model TCL 98Q6C. According to TechRadar, it’s the same TV under a different name, and in the EPREL register it has the same power consumption values. On Heureka, it’s offered by ten stores, while 98C6K has only four. That’s why it’s worth comparing the deals for the 98Q6C as well.

The price of 98Q6C changes a lot. Before last Christmas, it was on Heureka for over 400 € less than it is today. The 98C6K model was the cheapest in May 2026, and today it’s at its average level for the last three months.

Measure the space before you buy

TCL measures without the stand 2 180 × 1 247 mm, and with a thickness of 64 mm it’s 2 cm thinner than Xiaomi. It weighs 52,3 kg, so over two kilograms more than Xiaomi. The feet are 1 709 mm apart, so the cabinet has to be wider than 1,7 meters. You can mount it on the wall with a VESA 600 × 500 mm mount, the same as for Xiaomi.

Which one should you choose?

TCL 98C6K is the better choice for a bright living room. The matte screen reflects less, and the sound with a subwoofer holds up even without a soundbar. With HDR, the TV uses about a third less electricity. Plus, it’s a bit cheaper. Xiaomi is worth it if you mainly watch in the evening in the dark and play on multiple consoles. It has more zones, higher brightness, and three HDMI 2.1 ports.

The prices are close, so it mainly comes down to where the TV will be placed. You can compare the current offers for the TCL 98C6K on Heureka.

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