Samsung to Launch 98-inch TVs Targeting Budget, Premium, and Top-Tier Customers in 2023

Samsung Electronics plans to dominate the market for TVs with a screen size of 80 inches and above, including those larger than 90 inches, as consumers increasingly prefer larger screens. According to a report from Korean media outlet ET News, Samsung will release its new 98-inch Neo QLED 4K TV at the end of March 2023. This will follow the release of a budget-friendly 98-inch QLED 4K TV in early March. The new model will feature a Mini LED panel and will be an upgrade of the 2021 model of the 98-inch Neo QLED 4K TV.

In mid-June 2023, Samsung will also launch its first 98-inch Neo QLED 8K TV, targeting the top-tier market segment. This will be Samsung's first 98-inch TV to support 8K resolution and will feature Infinity One design, 90W sound output, ultra-thin One Connect box, Neo quantum dot processor 8K, and other high-end features exclusive to Samsung's top-tier TV models.

Samsung first entered the market for TVs larger than 90 inches with the launch of its 98-inch SUHD TV series in 2016, which can be considered a predecessor to its QLED TVs. Since 2019, Samsung has been releasing new 98-inch models every 1-2 years, continuously dominating the high-end TV market with large screen sizes.

In 2023, Samsung plans to introduce more budget-friendly models to make the 98-inch TV available at various price points, demonstrating that it is making the 98-inch TV a main product in its lineup. This move is due to the explosive growth of the market. According to market research firm Omdia, the global shipments of 98-inch TVs were around 23,000 units in 2020, increasing to 70,000 units in 2021, and estimated to reach over 200,000 units in 2023.

Initially, Omdia had projected that the shipment of 98-inch TVs would not surpass 200,000 units until 2025, but recent trends suggest that this timeline could be accelerated by two years. LG Electronics has already launched a 97-inch OLED TV in 2022, while domestic players such as TCL and Xiaomi are also introducing more and more models larger than 90 inches. The competition in the large-screen TV market is becoming increasingly fierce.