I've tested everything from TVs to phones, PCs, tablets and more.
While the first working television featured a 3.5-inch by 2-inch display, screens have exponentially grown in size and performance. For those who have the available space, the best 100-inch TVs can help completely immerse you in every single detail when watching movies thanks to their massive displays and a clear, bright pictures. As an ISF-certified calibrator—and as a self-certified movie buff—I chose the TCL QM8L QLED TV as the best 100-inch TV. It creates bright, vivid colors and uses the intuitive Google TV operating system.
These are the best 100-inch TVs I recommend as an ISF-certified calibrator.
Type: QLED | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Operating system: Google TV OS | HDR: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB-A
Best for:
Stellar image quality, with rich colors and vivid brights
Intuitive software for streaming
Connecting all your gaming consoles
Skip if:
You want game streaming services
The TCL QM8L QLED TV encompasses just about everything you need in a panel. It features a gorgeous QLED back panel that can reach up to 6,000 nits, which helps make bright hues and whites look extra vivid. It can showcase over a billion colors and can hit near-blacks thanks to its 4,000 dimming zones. For gamers, the TV offers a 144Hz refresh rate. If you plan to calibrate your TV to your personal preferences, you can select from eight different picture modes, including Intelligent, Filmmaker, Low Power and Game.
The TV uses Google TV OS, which during our testing of the best TVs our panelists praised for its “user-friendly and lean home screen, with quick access to live TV, streaming apps and free content.” While it provides easy access to your favorite streaming services, game streaming is notably absent.
Not The Pick For Game Streamers While it’s good enough to connect a console, it doesn’t feature any game streaming. If you must have that feature, consider the best gaming pick, the LG OLED Evo G5, which is also our best premium pick in the 100-inch category. But for those who plug in a PlayStation or a Nintendo Switch 2, the TCL QM8L QLED features two USB-A ports and four HDMI ports. One of the HDMI can display 4K picture quality with a 144Hz refresh rate, which helps keep the action smooth for console gamers and movie viewers.
Type: QLED | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Operating system: Google TV OS | HDR: Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision Gaming, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB-A
Best for:
A balance of image quality, performance and price
Intuitive software for streaming
Connecting all your gaming consoles
Skip if:
You want deeper, inkier blacks
You need game streaming
While many 100-inch TVs can easily top $5,000, you can pay half that cost and still get a great picture. The TCL QM6K QLED TV strikes that balance between cost and performance well. The 98-inch display features plenty of picture quality must-haves, including Dolby Vision and HDR to help colors pop on-screen. While the dimming zones aren’t quite as extensive as my best overall pick, the 500 zones offered still make the TV’s brights look vivid and darks look darn close to OLED black levels. If you want deeper blacks, I recommend splurging for the TCL QM8L QLED TV, but for most, this TV suffices.
Like the TCL QM8L QLED TV, this TV doesn’t offer any game streaming services, but it offers the same port selection, including two USB-A and four HDMI 2.1 ports. It also features Google TV OS and comes with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos built in to help you enjoy a more cinematic, immersive viewing experience.
Best 100-Inch Premium TV
This Splurge-Worthy TV Lets You Game Stream
LG
LG OLED Evo G5
Type: OLED | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 120Hz (165Hz for PCs) | Operating system: LG webOS | HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB-A
Best for:
Playing the latest video games
Impressive refresh rates, which help to smooth action sequences
Skip if:
You don’t want to be frustrated by the remote control
You’re bothered by glare in bright rooms
While the TCL models I’ve chosen as the best overall pick and the best value pick can showcase games well thanks to dedicated game modes and speedy refresh rates, I believe the LG OLED Evo G5 TV is the best 100-inch premium TV you can buy right now. Yes, it’s exorbitantly priced, but if you can stomach that cost, its OLED panel is simply gorgeous. It’s worth noting that this is the last-gen model, and the latest 100-inch LG OLED Evo G6 costs even more. The LG OLED Evo G5’s OLED display nails deep, inky blacks with ease and showcases beautiful, realistic colors. Keep in mind there’s no anti-glare coating, which may be frustrating if you place this in a bright space. It also features a 120Hz refresh rate, but if you plug in your gaming PC, you can achieve 165Hz rates for extra-smooth gameplay.
The TV runs on LG WebOS, LG’s proprietary operating system. When we tested and selected the 65-inch model as the best gaming TV, our testers found it cluttered but “fairly intuitive to navigate.” You get access not only to LG’s free, ad-based streaming channel system—LG Free Channels—but you also have easy access to game streaming services, including Amazon Luna, Blacknut and Nvidia GeForce Now.
The Remote Isn’t So Magical
That said, be mindful of the Magic Remote. “It combines a traditional d-pad with a scroll wheel and cursor,” described one tester who found it “borderline unusable.” But if you’re connecting your favorite console and gaming, you’re not using the remote that much, anyway.
Best 100-inch TV For Movies
A Bright, Colorful Option
Amazon
Sony Bravia 5 Mini-LED
Type: Mini-LED | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 120Hz (144Hz for PCs) | Operating system: Google TV OS | HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, HLG | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB-A
Best for:
Watching movies with a dedicated filmmaker mode
Getting realistic colors that still pop on-screen
PlayStation gamers—there are some unique extras for that console
Skip if:
You need a TV with a center stand or adjustable feet
If you’re a cinephile, consider the Sony Bravia 5 Mini-LED. While it’s not Sony’s flagship TV—that title belongs to the Sony Bravia 9 Mini-LED TV, which doesn’t come in a 100-inch display—the Bravia 5 showcases a great balance of Sony features. First, there’s Sony’s Filmmaker Mode, which shows movies as the director intended. The TV also gets impressively bright for most spaces, and the combination of XR Motion Clarity and XR Triluminos Pro technologies helps keep the picture smooth and colorful.
While it also doesn’t feature game streaming services, the TV offers PlayStation extras, including Auto HDR Tone Mapping. The Auto Genre Picture mode recognizes when you’re gaming and seamlessly swaps from Standard Mode to Game Mode. If you plan to rest it on a console, make sure you have enough room for the feet: Each foot is on the far edge of the panel, which can be problematic if you need them closer together. There is no center stand available, although you can also mount it on a wall.
Best Midrange 100-Inch TV
Uses An Anti-Glare Coating For Daytime Viewing
Amazon
TCL QM8K QLED
Type: QLED | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Operating system: Google TV OS | HDR: Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR, HDR10+, HLG | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB-A
Best for:
Impressive image quality, with rich colors and vivid brights
Watching TV in a bright space thanks to the anti-reflective coating
Skip if:
You need many connections for your peripherals
You want to stream games
While the TCL QM8L QLED may be the latest 100-inch QLED model by the brand, I also recommend the TCL QM8K QLED TV, which is its predecessor and an excellent midrange choice. It features 3,800 local dimming zones and can reach 5,000 nits peak brightness, combined with an anti-glare reflective coating so you can enjoy a bright, clear picture no matter the time of day. When our tech team tested the 65-inch model, we felt the TV showed vivid colors and “gritty makeup textures and clearly visible eyes despite dark paint,” during a Mad Max: Fury Road action sequence.
One thing to note: The TV only offers two HDMI 2.1 ports, which may be problematic if you need to connect peripherals that require more power. (It also offers two HDMI 2.0 ports, which work but the refresh rate reduces to 60Hz when these are used.) This includes if you plan to connect multiple gaming consoles—note that this model also doesn’t offer game streaming services.
How I Chose The Best 100-Inch TVs
In addition to my own research, I considered the Forbes Vetted team’s recent hands-on TV testing as well as input from display experts to determine which panels made the cut. Here’s how I chose the best 100-inch TVs.
Hands-on testing: Our Forbes Vetted tech team recently conducted extensive panel testing on many of the top contenders, in addition to weeks and months of long-term testing. By combining months of long-term insights alongside focused side-by-side testing, we assessed performance thoroughly and consistently across a wide range of displays.
Extensive research: I narrowed down my top contenders to leading TV brands, including Samsung, LG and more. I compared features and specs on each TV to determine how each panel compared to the competition.
Expert input: I spoke with Caleb Denison, host of YouTube tech channel CalebRated, and Mark Vena, CEO and principal analyst of SmartTech Research.
What To Look For In The Best 100-inch TVs
When deciding on the best 100-inch TV for your home, think about your specific needs and preferences. Here are the factors I recommend considering before you add one to your cart.
Color and contrast: When selecting a TV, aim to achieve vibrant, natural colors and deep blacks without gray tones, as well as highlights that showcase details.
Display type: There are three types of panels, OLED, Mini-LED and QLED. If you want deep, inky blacks and high contrast, choose OLED. “OLED is still king for black levels and cinematic depth but, at this size, it becomes very expensive,” says Vena. For those seeking high brightness, choose Mini-LED. “For large format TVs, Mini-LED is the way to go for premium picture at an attainable price,” says Denison. For an excellent balance between the two, choose QLED.
Inputs: If you plan to game or connect several peripherals, plenty of HDMI ports is essential. HDMI 2.1 is the current standard, though some TVs offer HDMI 2.2 which promise faster data transfer speeds.
Refresh rate: A refresh rate refers to how frequently a TV updates the picture on the display. A 60Hz refresh rate is good for casual viewing; if you’re a gamer or a cinephile, look for a minimum of 120Hz to keep action sequences smooth.
Operating system: A TV’s operating system refers to the software that is installed on your television. It manages streaming apps, settings menus and more. Double-check that the operating system you intend to use offers apps and features you use the most. The most notable example is game streaming, as some operating systems, like LG WebOS, include game streaming apps.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
For years, we’ve been testing and reviewing all sorts of screens—and we have our robust library of tech and electronic guides to prove it. By leaning on our hands-on testing and in-depth research, we’ve written dozens of TV stories and compiled tens of gaming roundups, each focused on providing the most up-to-date advice for our readers.
Forbes Vetted consumer tech and electronics editor Rebecca Isaacs is the author of this guide. With more than six years of experience as a tech and home entertainment specialist, she has tested most panels currently on the market.
In addition to firsthand testing, she covers many of the latest panel launches, traveling far and wide to get the scoop on the newest display technologies. She has partaken in demonstrations where TVs have been dissected down to their processors and dimming zones to learn about their inner workings.
Our Experts
Caleb Denison, host of YouTube tech channel CalebRated
Based on testing and research, our tech team named the TCL QM8L QLED TV as the best 100-inch TV. It features an excellent picture quality, an intuitive operating system and more.
It depends on your needs. “One of the axioms I frequently repeat on my channel is that one’s budget forces a decision between size and picture quality. You can get a 100-inch TV for as little as $1,100 right now, but the picture quality won’t be great,” says Denison. If you have the space for one, they can be a worthwhile investment. While many of the top picks cost around $5,000, Denison says to “prepare to spend about $1,800 to $2,200 on last year’s 100-inch models from TCL and Hisense for the best deals.”
To fully enjoy the details and picture quality of a 100-inch TV, you need a viewing distance, also called a “throw distance,” ranging from 10 to 12 feet. If you have a space that’s around 12 feet minimum, that will give you a suitable viewing distance. “At 100 inches, the room, seating distance, content quality, mounting plan and processing engine matter just as much as the panel itself,” says Vena. Anything smaller, though, and you should expect to see some pixelation or detail loss when watching movies.
