Best Buy has a 98-inch Hisense TV on sale for nearly 60% off right now
Original reporting by ZDNet
As the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches, many are considering the ultimate home entertainment upgrade to host unforgettable watch parties. Best Buy is currently offering an unprecedented deal on the 98-inch Hisense QD5, reducing its price by an astounding $1,300 to just $999 — a remarkable 57% discount. This significant saving allows for further enhancements, from premium soundbars to game-day refreshments.
ZDNET has extensively evaluated Hisense models, observing the QD5’s impressive performance firsthand. This colossal display stands shoulder-to-shoulder with high-end offerings from premium brands like LG and Samsung, delivering comparable smart features and Dolby support typically found in TVs twice its price. Its cinema-sized screen is complemented by a 144Hz native refresh rate, ensuring exceptionally smooth motion for live sports, action sequences, and console gaming, further enhanced by AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR.
Equipped with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, the QD5 promises an immersive experience with enhanced detailing, vibrant contrast, and virtual surround sound. Integrated smart capabilities, including Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, and voice control via Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, ensure seamless integration into any smart home ecosystem. This rare combination of size, performance, and an unmatched markdown earned the Hisense QD5 a perfect 5/5 Editor's rating from ZDNET, marking it as an exceptional opportunity for a premium home theater upgrade.
The Hisense QD5 deal, offering an expansive 98-inch display at a compelling price, stands as a clear indicator of evolving consumer electronics trends. This significant discount transcends a simple temporary markdown; it spotlights Hisense’s deliberate strategy to democratize premium home entertainment. By integrating advanced features such as a 144Hz native refresh rate, full Dolby ecosystem support, and robust smart home connectivity at a fraction of competitors' costs, Hisense is directly challenging the market dominance of traditional high-end brands. This enables consumers to acquire a truly cinematic viewing experience, perfectly timed for global events like the FIFA World Cup 2026, without the prohibitive financial outlay that once defined such an upgrade. The deal effectively resets expectations for what affordability can entail in the large-screen TV segment.
Future Market Dynamics
The broader implications of this aggressive pricing strategy are transformative for the industry. Such moves by Hisense and similar challengers will inevitably accelerate innovation cycles and intensify competition, exerting sustained downward pressure on prices across the entire television market. Established premium manufacturers will find themselves compelled to either push technological boundaries further or adapt their pricing models, ultimately fostering an environment of greater value and choice for consumers. This widespread accessibility to formerly exclusive features heralds a future where cutting-edge display technology becomes a baseline expectation, fundamentally redefining the very definitions of "mid-range" and "premium" in home entertainment for years to come. This shift isn't merely about individual product sales; it signals a fundamental reordering of market priorities.