The best 85-inch TVs aren’t just big; they’re an immersive home theater experience packed with some of the most high-end TV tech. The downside here is that they require plenty of space and a hefty budget.
With so many options to choose from, you’ll want to make sure you get it right the first time – and that’s what we’re here to help with. The TechRadar team has put hundreds of TVs to the test, including the 85-inch TVs in this guide, and we know which features matter most on the big screen. The sheer size of an 85-inch TV means any imperfections in the display will be obvious, making advanced detail and motion processing a must, and you’ll want great HDR to ensure a vibrant image.
It’s also worth considering one of the best 8K TVs when you’re buying a TV this big. 8K really shines on large screens, being four times the resolution of the best 4K TVs, though it’s not essential. 4K still looks great, and the image processors in 85-inch TVs ensure that you’ll still get a clear image – 8K just pushes it even further.
On the other hand, while 85-inch TVs are big, they’re still as thin as any of their smaller counterparts – which means there isn’t a lot of room for a good internal sound system. Manufacturers do their best to pack as much as possible into these confined spaces, but we still recommend pairing your shiny new TV with a dedicated surround sound system or one of the best soundbars so it’ll sound as good as it looks.
Previously, we’d have warned bargain hunters that there’s very little chance of picking up a cheap TV at this size, but times are changing. We’ve seen plenty of new models set at surprisingly affordable price points. We’ve included these options in our guide, too - so whether you’re on the hunt for a high-end, premium option or a more mid-range alternative, we’ve got you covered.
I'm TechRadar's TV Hardware Staff Writer, and I've reviewed every size of TV, all the way up to 110-inch monsters. I know what makes a great-value 85-inch TV as a result, and how to make the most of the big-screen. Before joining TechRadar, I worked for one of the UK's leading AV retailers, dealing with everything from Blu-ray players up to custom home theater installations.
July 3 2026
Revamped our rankings and trimmed down entries. Highlighted the TCL QM6K and TCL C6K as budget options under $1,000/£1,000, respectively.
The best 85-inch TVs you can buy
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best 85-inch TV overall
✅ You want amazing picture quality: You'll get great contrast, bold colors, and life-like detail here, more premium than you'd expect at this price.
✅ You want an OLED TV for gaming: 4K 144Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, VRR, ALLM and HGiG are all supported on the C5's four HDMI ports, so gamers are well covered.
❌ You own the LG C4: While it'd be tempting to upgrade, there isn't enough here to justify the price.
❌ You want complete HDR support: The C5 does support Dolby Vision, but doesn't support HDR10+, which is used on streaming sites like Prime Video.
The LG C5 continues LG’s tradition of delivering mid-range greatness, and it earns its place on this list with a top big-screen performance. It doesn’t create the same sense of spectacle as the Samsung QN900D (our top pick here and the best 8K TV), but for 4K at this scale, the C5 is well worth considering.
Picture quality is excellent. OLED’s self-emitting pixels eliminate the need for a backlight, which is good for larger models, and the C5 pushes brightness further than the C4. That’s thanks to LG’s new Alpha 9 Gen 8 AI Processor. Expect vivid, accurate colors, superb contrast and crisp textures that rival the best OLED TVs. The panel can struggle with reflections in bright rooms, so it’s best suited to dimmer spaces.
Gamers will appreciate the 4K 144 Hz, VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming support, with responsive performance and a handy Game Optimizer mode to reduce input lag. The updated webOS 25 platform is clean, user-friendly and uses AI to refine search results. You can also switch between multiple user profiles with voice recognition.
Sound-wise, the built-in 2.2-channel Dolby Atmos is solid but nothing special. You’ll need to budget for a soundbar to go with it. Design is minimalist but refined with a slim build, aluminum stand, and faux-marbled rear panel.
The LG C5 comes in a wide range of sizes, and the 83-inch model is a great choice for larger spaces. While LG’s C series TVs tend to launch at the pricier end of the spectrum, they do reliably drop over time. With that in mind, the still available LG C4 remains a solid pick, especially since the C5 delivers only modest upgrades. But for anyone shopping for a big-screen OLED with impressive brightness, superb gaming performance and a refined smart platform, the C5 is a fantastic option.
Read our full LG C5 review
The best 85-inch TV under $1,000
✅ You want premium at a value price: You’ll get more than cheaper TVs here, and it’s a solid upgrade for those who want a new TV but can’t afford a flagship one.
✅ You want a straightforward experience: Google TV and settings are easy to navigate. Most will find this TV very simple to navigate.
❌ You want top picture quality: The picture here is good, though the slight vignetting and middling brightness will be frustrating for some.
❌ You need quality sound: Sound here is good, but it still has a boxy quality that means it really needs to be paired with a soundbar.
The TCL QM6K proves just how much value you can get from mini-LED, especially in its huge 85-inch size. It’s the most affordable set in TCL’s mini-LED range, but it still delivers strong picture performance and excellent gaming support, making it our top budget TV pick if you’re in the US – and it's often available for less than $1,000.
The QM6K’s pictures are rich and contrast-heavy thanks to TCL’s Halo Control tech, which keeps blacks deep and uniform. Colors pop nicely, and detail is crisp. However, brightness isn’t on the same level as TCL’s higher-end models, and some slight vignetting can be noticeable. You’re more likely to pick up on this if you’re used to flagship-level performance.
For features, TCL has packed in more than you’d expect at this price. The Google TV smart platform remains easy to use, and gaming support is excellent with up to 4K 144Hz VRR (with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync) and 288Hz at 1080p resolution. You’ll also find Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, which other budget TVs might skip.
The QM6K isn’t flawless, but at this price it delivers a solid balance of size, performance and features. If you’re looking to upgrade without splurging on a flagship model, it’s one of the best value big screen TVs you can buy.
Read our full TCL QM6K review
The best 85-inch TV under £1,000
✅ You're looking for a bargain: The TCL C6K is jam-packed with features, delivers a mini-LED level of picture quality, and doesn't break the bank.
✅ You want a vivid picture: The C6K produces bright and punchy colors, especially at its price point.
❌ Audio quality is paramount: While the C6K's built-in sound is decent, it can't produce a truly rich soundscape without the help of a soundbar.
❌ You plan to watch from an angle: Faded contrast and blooming are more apparent when looking at the C6K from an angle.
If you're in the UK and hunting for a bargain, the TCL C6K is well worth checking out – we regularly see the model dip below the £1,000 mark. The 85-inch model delivers a big-screen, mini-LED experience at a price that won't stretch most budgets, bringing cinematic scale to your living room.
We were impressed by the overall picture quality of the C6K during testing. There's full HDR support, including Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG formats, and colors are especially punchy. Everything from live sports to animated films looks vivid and bright – though the TCL C7K is a step up, if pricier.
Contrast levels are also great, and instances of bright light playing out near dark surroundings are typically well-balanced. The same goes for the C6K's black levels, and we saw deep black shadows in the moodiest of scenes. The C6K outperforms most edge-lit rivals, though some black crush appears in dark scenes, where shadow detail can disappear. We were also disappointed by the built-in sound system – the audio quality is pretty average, but the bass can feel especially thin during epic movies with swelling soundscapes. As is the case with most modern TVs, you'll need to add a soundbar to get the most out of those OSTs.
In happier news, the C6K is a solid pick for gaming, with low input lag measured at 13.6ms at 4K/60Hz. It supports 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium included), Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM, too, so you can count on a smooth and responsive experience. If you want a massive, vibrant screen for movies, sports, and casual gaming without overspending, the C6K hits the sweet spot.
Read our full TCL C6K review
The best 85-inch TV under $2,000/£2,000
✅ You need a TV for a bright room: The U8QG is dazzlingly bright and, with its anti-reflective screen, is a great choice for daytime viewing or bright setups.
✅ You're looking for a gaming TV: Gamers get access to three HDMI 2.1 ports, support for 4K 165Hz, FreeSync Premium, and both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ gaming.
❌ You watch with big groups: The U8QG’s off-axis picture quality is a drawback, as images lose contrast and color saturation from an off-angle.
❌ You don't want to add a soundbar: Although the U8QG’s 4.1.2-channel speaker array is decently powerful, the built-in subwoofer is prone to distortion when tuning in to movies.
The Hisense U8QG is an awesome mid-range pick, with a vibrant picture that puts it ahead of most mid-range TVs for the money. Its OLED panel is fantastically bright, which helps to maintain color accuracy no matter whether you're tuning in to TV, movies, or games, and the Anti-Reflection Pro screen handles potential screen glare effectively.
The overall brightness of the U8QG is, by far, its standout feature. Picture quality is sharp and accurate, and our testing found that the overall contrast is just as impressive. That's thanks to its responsive local dimming. You can amp things up even more by using the Filmmaker or Theater picture modes, which let the U8QG show off its best HDR performance, with deep blacks and minimal blooming, even in a bright room.
The audio quality could be a sticking point for folks looking for a true home cinema experience, however, as we found that the built-in subwoofer can rattle on deep bass tracks and low effects. It's a relatively minor gripe, but one that does have a negative impact on immersion. It's easily remedied with the addition of a soundbar, however, and this problem is pretty common for TVs at this price point.
Gamers will appreciate the HDMI 2.1 support, with three ports available for 4K 165Hz input, ALLM, and a dedicated Game Bar that displays real-time gaming stats. The low input lag of 9.9ms is impressive, too, especially if you're hopping into competitive matches.
Read our full Hisense U8Q review
Other 85-inch TVs to consider
Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED: Amazon's first foray into the growingly popular market of mini-LED TVs is a successful one, with effective local dimming and natural colors, and as we noted in our Amazon mini-LED review, "better than expected contrast", especially considering its affordable price. It's also an excellent option for gamers, with a good stock of features for consoles. A superb budget model, it doesn't quite dethrone the Hisense U7N or Samsung Q80D for a place on this list – and please note that this size isn't available in the UK.
Hisense U8N: The Hisense U8N has fantastic picture quality with high brightness, excellent contrast and fine details, as well as great gaming features, and it does all this without breaking the bank. An excellent TV, it doesn't make our list as the Samsung Q80D has more gaming features and a slightly better price in the mid-range gaming TV category. The Hisense U8N, however, is a superb TV overall. Read our full Hisense U8N review.
Hisense U9N: The Hisense U9N is a premium mini-LED TV that delivers exceptional brightness and refined local dimming and, as we found in our Hisense U9N review, great motion handling that makes it "fantastic when viewing sports". It also carries a lot of solid gaming features and good built-in sound. It misses out on this list as there are other more suitable models in each category, but it's still a fantastic TV.
LG B4: The LG B4 is the most entry-level set in LG's 2024 OLED TV lineup, but it's anything but entry-level. It delivers stunning picture quality with realistic details, bold colors, and great contrast, as well as a near full suite of gaming features. While it's a fantastic TV, it doesn't quite beat the LG C4, but it is still an excellent way to get an OLED in a larger size. Read our full LG B4 review.
Samsung QN800D: If you're looking for an 8K TV but can't stretch your budget to the Samsung QN900D's price, our choice for best 85-inch TV for 8K, the Samsung QN800D, is a great backup. It delivers a bright, colorful, and detail-rich picture, as well as good built-in sound and an excellent suite of gaming features. The QN900D bests the QN800D in all areas, but the QN800D is still a fantastic TV. Read our full Samsung QN800D review.
Samsung QN85D: The Samsung QN85D is another mini-LED model that delivers great picture quality, a solid list of gaming features and decent built-in sound. A solid TV, the QN85D just misses out on the list as the Hisense U7N and Samsung Q80D offer similar features for a lower price, but it's still a good mid-range, mini-LED option. Read our full Samsung QN85D review.
Samsung QN90D: The Samsung QN90D is a superb mini-LED TV that delivers superb motion handling out-of-the-box that makes it a top choice for sports viewing. Plus, its high brightness levels are great for watching in brighter rooms. For this, though, you have to pay much more than the Hisense U7N and Samsung Q80D, our choice for best mid-range and mid-range gaming TVs on this list. If you can stretch your budget to the QN90D, however, it is worth the upgrade. Read our full Samsung QN90D review.
How to choose the best 85-inch TV
What to look for in an 85-inch TV
At this size and this price, you're expecting the best of the best. And that means considering several key factors.
The first is 8K. 8K delivers a far superior experience to 4K, but it generally costs a lot more too – and there's still a paucity of 8K content, especially when it comes to streaming. However, at this size 8K really delivers the goods, so if you're considering an 8K one we'd recommend reading our reviews and focusing on the upsampling performance as you're likely to watch more 4K content upsampled to 8K than pure 8K.
The second thing to consider is mini-LED QLED vs OLED. The former comes very, very close to the quality and contrast of the latter, and it's very bright too: while OLEDs are improving, with the likes of the LG G4 having improved brightness over most OLEDs, the best mini-LED TVs from the likes of Samsung are brighter still and a lot less money.
Do you want Dolby Vision? If so, a Samsung isn't for you: it prefers HDR10+. This isn't a big deal for movie watching as most devices and streaming support a range of HDR formats, but if you're a gamer it may be a deal breaker as Dolby Vision is arguably the best HDR format for gaming. On TVs that don't support it, Dolby Vision is just converted to HDR10.
Don't forget about connectivity. eARC HDMI is a must for connecting to the best soundbars or best AV receivers, and you'll want multiple HDMI ports for multiple devices. HDMI 2.1 is the one to get here, as that's the format used by next-gen gaming consoles for the best gaming experience.
And that leads us on to audio. Manufacturers have done some very clever things with TV audio, especially in their most expensive models. But you can't fight the laws of physics. There's only so much speaker you can stick in a slimline TV set, and simulated surround sound is no substitute for the real thing – especially with Dolby Atmos. If you don't already have a really good soundbar or AV sound system, we'd recommend budgeting for that too. The difference really is dramatic.
How far should you sit from an 85-inch TV?
The general rule of thumb is between 1.5 and 2.5 times the diagonal screen size. For 85-inch TVs, that'd mean sitting between 10.5 and 15ft (3.5 and 5m) away, so the picture takes up the majority of your field of view without straining your eyes.
How big is an 85-inch TV?
The exact height, width, and depth of an 85-inch TV will vary depending on the set in question. A TV with a Mini LED backlight will be a bit thicker than a super-slim OLED screen (which won’t need a backlight at all). If a TV has a built-in soundbar, that could add some visible height and weight, while other screens may opt for more discreet placement around the TV’s casing.
As an example, a typical mid-range 85-inch TV might measure 109cm tall, 190cm wide, and 6cm deep – which are the measurements to consider if you’re going to wall-mount the screen. A screen on a stand will be even taller.
Will an 85-inch TV fit in my room?
This depends on the size of the room and the surface or wall area you have available to accommodate the TV. You can get an idea of how the TV will fit into the space by measuring the distance (in inches) between where the TV is going to be wall-mounted or stood and where you'll be watching from. Divide this number by two, and if it falls between 150 and 170 inches, an 85-inch TV should fit in nicely.
You could opt for a bigger or smaller screen, too, depending on your room's layout and the budget you're working with. A 75-inch TV, for example, isn't quite the room-spanning behemoth that an 85-inch TV is, but it's plenty big enough for most living spaces and home theaters.
Is an 85-inch TV too big to mount?
You can mount an 85-inch TV to a wall, but its size means that it's typically pretty heavy. It's well worth investing in a heavy-duty mounting bracket that can support the weight of the TV you're trying to mount. Double-check the TV's weight, then make sure your bracket of choice is compatible. We'd also recommend sticking to the mounting requirements and instructions during installation, so you can rest assured that your TV is totally secure.
Are 85-inch TVs worth buying?
We certainly think so! They're a big investment, certainly, but in return, you're getting a pretty spectacular viewing experience that really makes the most of 4K content. For cinephiles, fans of prestige TV, or folks looking for a focal point for their living room, an 85-inch TV is worth it.
There are factors to consider before taking the plunge and purchasing such a big TV, however. Do you have the space for it? Will you be able to sit far enough away to avoid eye strain? Will you have to stretch your budget? The good news is that there are plenty of 65- and 75-inch TVs that deliver a similarly dazzling picture quality without eating up your living room or savings, and even budget options in the 85-inch range that are worth investigating.
How we tested the best 85-inch TVs
☑️ More than 2,600 TV and home theater reviews
☑️ 16 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
We test the best 85-inch TVs using the same methodology and criteria employed for tests in our other TV buying guides and in our reviews as well. When testing a TV, we look at picture quality, audio quality, gaming performance, and other factors.
After a run-in period of a few days of casual viewing, we’ll determine the most accurate picture preset (typically Movie or Filmmaker Mode) and then view sources including streaming and Blu-ray, in both HD and 4K, to test the TV’s picture quality. We regularly use reference scenes we’re deeply familiar with across all of our TV tests.
When it comes to testing the best 85-inch TVs, picture quality is important as the larger screen will reveal flaws more obviously than a smaller screen. One important aspect we test is black uniformity. That’s because larger TVs, particularly edge-lit LCD models, can suffer from uneven dark tones and ‘cloudy’ areas across the screen where the backlighting is spread unevenly.
Other aspects of picture quality that we test include color, contrast (again, important on a large screen), motion processing, and whether textures and details look true-to-life and natural.
We will also test a TV’s upscaling using lower-resolution sources such as broadcast TV and DVD to determine how effective it is. With the best 85-inch TVs, there are 8K options as well, and we’ll test how effective an 8K model’s upscaling is with 4K sources.
After conducting our subjective tests, we move on to taking objective measurements using specialized equipment including a colorimeter, test pattern generator, and Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software to record the results.
The first area we’ll test is brightness using white window patterns. The two most important are 10%, which gives us an idea of what peak brightness levels we can expect and how the TV handles HDR highlights, and 100%, which indicates how a TV can maintain sustained levels of brightness over the whole screen (important during sports viewing) and how it will handle reflections.
We also test color gamut coverage, which tells us how wide a color range the TV is capable of displaying, along with color and grayscale accuracy to get an indication of how precisely a TV displays colors and gray tones.
More TVs nowadays have gaming features to cater to next-gen consoles such as the Xbox Series X and PS5. The features we look out for when testing TVs for gaming are higher refresh rate support (120Hz/144hz), VRR, ALLM, and the effectiveness of the Game Mode. We also use a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI input lag tester to test latency, with a lower figure indicating better performance.
It’s important to keep our testing as consistent as possible across all of our reviews, but some of our writers have different setups and testing environments. Even so, we will ensure that the same tests are run for all reviews, with a similar level of testing equipment where possible.
THE LATEST UPDATES TO THIS BEST 85-inch TVS GUIDE
July 3 2026
Revamped our rankings and trimmed down entries. Highlighted the TCL QM6K and TCL C6K as budget options under $1,000/£1,000 respectively.
4 December 2025
Replaced the LG C4 with the LG C5 as our 'best 4K TV' pick. Also switched the Hisense U7N with the Hisense U75QG as our 'best mid-range TV' choice.
14 September 2025
Replaced the 85U6N with the TCL QM6K as our 'best budget (US)' pick, based on our recent testing.
14 July 2025
Swapped the Samsung QN900D for the Samsung Q900F, due to the latter's improvements and upgrades over the former.
Read more updates...
29 April 2025
Swapped the LG G4 for the LG G5 as 'best for design'. Added the LG C5 to 'Also Consider' section. Removed LG mentions in 'New TVs for 2025' as they now feature elsewhere in this guide.
3 March 2025
Added a gallery of photos to each entry in the list. Added new models to the 'Also Consider' section.
31 January 2025
Added a 'New TVs for 2025' section with news of forthcoming 85-inch TVs announced at the CES 2025 trade show.
2 January 2025
Added an Also Consider section with other TVs we've tested that didn't make our list but are still worth checking out if you're in the market for an 85-inch TV.
5 December 2024
Added Sony Bravia 9 as 'best for sound' option.
6 November 2024
Added in Buy it if/Don't buy it if summary boxes for each entry. Added in testing measurements graphs to each entry. Put in the Hisense U6N which became 'best cheap TV (US)'. Hisense U7N replaced Samsung Q80D as 'best mid-range TV'. Samsung Q80D became 'best mid-range TV for gaming'. Removed Sony A80L and removed the 'Ideal for PS5' category altogether.
7 October 2024
Replaced the Samsung CU8000 with the Samsung Q60D as 'best budget (UK)"
9 September 2024
Replaced the LG G3 with the LG G4 as 'best for design'.
9 August 2024
Replaced the Hisense U8K with the Hisense U7N as the 'best budget TV (US).'
10 July 2024
Replaced the Samsung Q80C with the Samsung Q80D as 'best mid-range TV'.
13 June 2024
Replaced the LG C3 with the LG C4 as 'Best 4K TV', due to improved brightness, processing and gaming features on the C4.
8 April 2024
Updated How to Choose with 'What new 85-inch TVs do we expect in 2024?' section providing information on new 85-inch and larger TVs arriving this year.
7 March 2024
Added further detail into our 'How We Test' section, with more of a breakdown of how our testing process works.
6 February 2024
Swapped older 85BU8500 model for new 85CU8000 as 'best budget (UK) option.
23 January 2024
Updated FAQ with TV news from CES 2024.
15 December 2023
Replaced the Samsung QN900B with the QN900C for 'best 8K TV' due to stock levels. Replaced Samsung Q80B with Samsung Q80C for 'best mid-range' due to stock levels.
5 Sept 2023
Sony A80L replaced Sony X90K as "Ideal for PS5" due to stock levels of the latter falling. LG C2 replaced by LG C3 for "Best 4K TV". Some products were removed to simplify the options we most strongly recommend.
24 July 2023
Added info on the new TCL QM8 series, a budget mini-LED model that's available in an 85-inch screen size in the US for under $3,000.
27 June 2023
Added this 'latest updates' section, to help readers see what recent changes have been made. Checked the products in the list against our latest reviews.
