The best 85-inch TVs for 2024: huge 4K and 8K TVs worth buying

The best 85-inch TVs aren’t just big, they offer an immersive home theater experience and are packed with some of the most high-end TV tech. However, you’ll need plenty of space and a serious budget in order to buy one.

We’ve tested hundreds of TVs over the years and several of the best 85-inch TVs, so we know what features you need to make every pixel look its best, like advanced detail and motion processing (because any imperfections will be obvious). You'll also want great HDR to make sure images are vibrant.

When you're buying a TV this big, it's definitely worth considering one of the best 8K TVs. With four times the resolution of the best 4K TVs, 8K really shines on TVs this size. It's not essential – 4K looks great too, and the image processors in these TVs ensure it looks spectacular – but it's very impressive.

While 85-inch TVs are big, they're still as thin as their smaller siblings – and that means as with other thin TVs there isn't much room for a good internal sound system. While the manufacturers have done their best to defy the laws of physics, there's no doubt that a dedicated surround sound system or one of the best soundbars will make these TVs sound as good as they look.

Previously, we would have advised that If you're looking for a really cheap TV, you're not going to find it here. But many new models are surprisingly affordable given their screen size – you don't just get high-end premium screens here, but more mid-range options too.

Written by

Written by

Matt Bolton

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Entertainment, meaning he's in charge of persuading our team to watch the latest movies on gorgeous TVs as well as listen to fantastic speakers and headphones. It's a tough task, as you can imagine. Matt has over a decade of experience in tech publishing, and has been writing about the latest TVs and soundbars since 2017.

The quick list

Want to cut to the chase and find out which 85-inch TVs are the best? Below, you’ll find a roundup of our choices. You can also jump to a more detailed review of every pick and our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.

The best 85-inch TVs 2024

The best 85-inch TV for 8K

TVs with an 85-inch or larger screen benefit the most from 8K resolution, mostly because at that size you can see and appreciate the added detail the 8K format brings. With four times as many pixels as a 4K TV, the 8K Samsung QN900D mini-LED TV is primed to make the most of both 8K and 4K sources. For the latter, a new NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor uses eight times as many AI neural networks as last year’s Samsung QN900C for picture upscaling, and there’s also a new motion enhancement algorithm – a unique feature among Samsung TVs – to improve the look of fast-action sports.

The Samsung QN900D’s picture is exceptionally bright, while its powerful local dimming processing delivers deep blacks with only minimal backlight “blooming” effects. What’s most striking about the QN900D’s picture is the level of detail, which extends to everything from 8K videos on YouTube to free HD programs streamed from the TV’s Samsung TV Plus TV portal.

Gaming is also one of the QN900D’s strengths. It has four HDMI ports that support up to 4K 240Hz pass-through for PC gaming, and there’s also an improved Game Bar onscreen menu for setup and adjustments and Samsung’s Gaming Hub for playing cloud-based games from services including Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, Luna, Utomik, and more.

The Samsung QN900D has a great look, with its Infinity Air Design pairing a mirror-surface pedestal stand with an almost invisible bezel to create a “floating” screen effect. Samsung’s One Connect Box is used for connecting external sources, making a neat wall-mount installation possible, and there’s a built-in 6.2.4-channel Dolby Atmos speaker system that delivers potent sound.

As the largest screen size in the QN900D series, Samsung’s flagship 8K TV is an expensive option. But if watching in 8K on an expansive screen that makes everything from movies to sports look great is important, the Samsung QN900D won’t disappoint.

Read the full Samsung QN900D review

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The best 85-inch TV for 4K

The LG C4 delivers a stunning OLED experience, even at a challenging 83-inch size - where a lot of standard LED and even mini-LED TVs falter. It doesn't quite have the same chops as the Samsung QN900D (top of this list and the best for 8K), but when it comes to 4K in this large sized screen, the C4 stands tall.

OLED TVs benefit from self-emitting pixels, meaning they don't rely on a backlight - a real benefit in the larger 83-inch size. This means you still get superb contrast, bold and dynamic colors and excellent picture detail across the C4's entire range of sizes, all the way from 42 to 83-inch. The C4's new Alpha a9 AI processor also means higher brightness and improved processing power over its predecessor, the C3 which previously held this spot.

The C4 is also perfect for big screen gaming, with up to 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision gaming support, VRR (including Nvidia GSync and AMD FreeSync) and more - including LG's useful Game Optimizer which puts the C4 into its most optimal settings for gaming and allows you to customize said settings to suit your preference and the type of game.

The C4 also has the latest version of LG's own smart TV software - webOS24. It's seen some great upgrades from webOS 23 and looks a lot neater too, meaning browsing apps and changing TV settings is nice and easy.

It's somewhat average audio performance aside, the C4 really does cover all the bases and does it well in its largest model, so it's no wonder that it's our pick for the best 4K TV in an 83-inch size.

Read our full LG C4 review

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The best budget TV in the US

The Hisense U6N proves that mini-LED doesn't have to be expensive by bringing the sought-after tech to a large 85-inch size for cheap. It delivers very good picture quality, a decent selection of gaming features and the Google TV smart TV platform all without breaking the bank.

The U6N's picture is pretty good overall, with surprisingly refined detail and textures, punchy colors and solid contrast. In our tests, its peak brightness of 651 nits (measured on a 10% window) was low for a mini-LED TV, but full-screen brightness, which we measured at 580 nits, was better than most OLEDs such as the LG C4, which clocked in at 188 nits. This makes the U6N a great, cheap option for daytime viewing of sports and other TV programs. The U6N suffers from backlight blooming, its motion handling is inconsistent and black levels aren't the best, but it's hard to be disappointed with the U6N's picture at this price.

While the U6N does lack some essential features we look for in the best gaming TVs, such as multiple HDMI 2.1 ports and 4K 120Hz support, it does offer Dolby Vision gaming, VRR, and ALLM , while also delivering an impressive 13.2ms input lag time. In our review, we said "gaming on the U6N is still a fun experience" so for those looking for big-screen gaming for cheap, the U6N is a more than capable option.

Some sacrifices are to be made for such a low price – average sound quality plus the picture and gaming limitations mentioned above – but when you can get the 85-inch model for under $1,000, the U6N is a fantastic choice for a big-screen TV for cheap.

Read our full Hisense U6N review

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The best budget TV in the UK

The Samsung Q60D is a budget-priced unit in the company’s QLED lineup, which are TVs that use LED-backlit displays with a quantum dot layer for enhanced color and brightness. The Q60D series tops out at 85-inches, so if you’re looking for a really big-screen TV with solid features that isn’t crazy expensive, the Samsung 85Q60D ($1,699.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,995) fits the bill.

The Q60D uses “Dual LED” tech to boost picture contrast and uses Samsung’s Quantum Processor Lite 4K processor to upscale regular HD and lower-resolution pictures. In our review of the Q60D, we found that it “displayed plenty of punch while also maintaining a natural look,” especially with 4K HDR movies and TV shows. Textures and detail were also impressive, and motion handling was good despite the TV only having a 60Hz panel.

Even without 120Hz support, gaming on the Samsung Q60D proved to be “perfectly fine” when we tested it, despite some evidence of too-aggressive HDR tone mapping when we played Battlefield V. Samsung’s budget big-screen QLED does have the company’s built-in Gaming Hub for cloud-based gaming from Xbox, Luna, Nvidia GeForce Now, and other services, and its input lag is a very impressive 9.6ms.

On the value front, the Q60D faces tough competition from budget mini-LED models from Hisense and TCL, but with unique features such as Samsung’s Tizen smart TV interface (which contains Gaming Hub), thin, premium design for the money and an eco-friendly SolarCell remote control, the 85Q60D is well worth looking into, especially if you catch it at a discount during seasonal sales.

Read the full Samsung Q60D review

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The best mid-range 85-inch TV

The Hisense U7N brings mini-LED tech to a large, 85-inch size at an affordable price – and you'll be glad to hear it doesn't compromise much on performance in the process. It's also stacked with gaming features, making it a great value option for big-screen gaming.

Picture quality is impressive on the U7N. We were surprised at how effective its local dimming was when we tested it, with deep black levels and rich contrast approaching that of a more premium TV. Details are also refined, and while the U7N may not beat more premium TVs, as we said in our review, "This TV punches above its weight". You'll have to do some setup to get the best picture and there is some backlight blooming present, but the U7N delivers great pictures overall for the price.

The U7N also inserts itself into the best gaming TV conversation – especially when it comes to value. It supports 4K 120Hz (up to 144Hz refresh rate), VRR (including FreeSync Premium Pro), Dolby Vision gaming, and ALLM. During our testing, we were impressed with the U7N's responsive speed and smooth gameplay and we praised its "crisp graphics" and detail (when playing Battlefield V in our case). It only comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports, unfortunately, but that's expected at this price range.

Sadly, the U7N has a limited soundstage and overall thin audio quality, so this is one instance where you'll need to add one of the best soundbars. But, it is hard to overlook what the U7N brings to a large screen for an affordable, mid-range price.

Read our full Hisense U7N review

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The best mid-range 85-inch TV for gaming

The Samsung Q80D does what any good mid-range TV should do by offering a full suite of smart features and great picture quality, but it's its surprisingly extensive list of gaming features that impresses us, offering a fantastic gaming TV that doesn't come at a premium. At its 85-inch size, the Q80D does this better than any other TV we know of.

The 85-inch Q80D is a great big-screen gaming TV. It comes equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports that all support 4K 120Hz, VRR (including AMD FreeSync Premium) and ALLM, and there's also Samsung's Gaming hub for cloud-based gaming. Performance is smooth thanks to the low, 9.8ms input lag time and the sharp, bold presentation of graphics adds to the experience. In our review, we described it as "an outstanding gaming monitor", so for those looking for a top-notch, big-screen gaming experience, the Q80D won't let you down.

The Q80D also has fantastic picture quality, with rich contrast and vivid color. LED TVs can suffer from inaccurate blacks, but this isn't a problem for the Q80D, which convincingly displays dark areas of the picture. Lifelike, refined details and textures also give the picture a 3D quality. Setup is required to get the best picture possible and some backlight blooming was visible in our tests, but overall the Q80D's picture is seriously strong.

The Q80D also has strong built-in sound – a rare quality for a mid-range TV. A surprisingly expansive soundstage means Dolby Atmos effects extend beyond the screen, while other sounds connect to the action on screen with precision and accuracy.

While we found some minor issues with the Samsung Q80D, for the price there aren't many sets that can compete with it at an 85-inch size, especially when it comes to gaming.

Read our full Samsung Q80D review

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The best 85-inch TV for design

The LG G4 is a premium OLED TV that not only delivers breathtaking picture quality and superb gaming performance, but it's also a well designed TV that is sure to be the center piece of any room it sits in, thanks to it's sleek design that looks seamless when hung up with the supplied wall-mount.

The G4's slim depth, measuring in at 1-inch/2.54cm, and trim bezel mean it has an attractive design that looks great – whether that's on the wall with a flush wall-mount or on the newly supplied stand (it's worth noting that the stand's availability is based on your region and size). Complimenting its excellent picture is a well designed build, making the G4 easily one of the more appealing TVs on the market.

Speaking of its picture quality, the G4 is a cinematic powerhouse. In our review, we were particularly impressed with the second-gen MLA OLED panel and new Alpha a11 AI processor in action, describing the duo as "nothing short of phenomenal" with pictures taking on deep black levels, vibrant colors and an "overall more cinematic feel". In our review, we rated the G4's picture quality five out of five and given the pictures it delivers, it's easy to see why.

Gaming is outstanding on the G4, thanks to its extensive feature list, which includes four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K, 120Hz (plus 144Hz for PC gaming), VRR (with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync included), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. It also has a 12.9ms input lag time that can be lowered even further with LG's useful Game Optimizer. All this coupled with an improved picture makes the G4 a gaming champion.

The G4 is a triumphant upgrade over its brilliant predecessor, the LG G3, and with all the improvements its made, it's one of the best OLED TVs around. It comes at a price, but that price is worth it.

Read our full LG G4 review

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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 taking several key factors into consideration.

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 we tested the best 85-inch TVs

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

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'.