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.
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. Matt is looking forward to following all of the latest updates from CES 2024, where all the major TV makers revealed their models for the next 12 months. The most relevant to this guide so far is news that the LG G4's larger 83-inch model will get a brightness boost.
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.
Best 85-inch TV for 8K
Samsung's 8K TV has exceptional brightness plus AI-enhanced processing that makes everything from regular HD to 8K video sources look great.
Best 85-inch 4K TV
Superb picture-processing, a wealth of gaming features, intuitive smart TV platform and a range of sizes make this the best 4K TV choice.
Best cheap TV (US)
The U7N has great mini-LED picture quality and a good suite of gaming features, and it's very affordable for such a large screen.
The best cheap option in the UK
This lacks the high-end panels you'll find in other options, but it's much cheaper, and image quality is solid for the price, especially if you're viewing in a bright room.
Best mid-range 85-inch TV
Samsung's mid-range QLED offers impressive color and contrast in an 85-inch size for a reasonable price. The picture is bright and crisp, and it has 4K 120Hz support for gaming.
Best for design
With a bright image and excellent contrast, the picture offered here by the LG G3 looks fantastic and the design is sleek and elegant.
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Ideal for PS5 owners
The Sony A80L has a great selection of gaming features, stunning picture and as one of Sony's "Perfect for PS5" range, it's the top choice for PS5 users.
The best 85-inch TVs 2024
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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
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.
The best budget TV in the US
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 affordable 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 such a low price. This TV is the definition of big-screen value.
Read our full Hisense U7N review
The best budget TV in the UK
Samsung’s 85CU8000 proves that you don’t have to spend too much money to get an ultra-large screen. Samsung lists its budget 85-inch model at £1,899 (and $1,699 in the US), which is a solid value for a screen this big.
The Samsung 85CU8000 uses a regular LCD display panel with an edge-lit LED backlight. For that reason, it lacks the brightness and color depth you’ll get from step-up models such as the Samsung 85Q80C listed at number 5 in this guide. Picture uniformity also isn’t as good, with shadows in dark movie scenes coming across as more of an uneven dark gray rather than a deep, solid black. But if you’re mainly using 85CU8000 for viewing sports and TV shows, as well as gaming, in a bright room, its picture holds up. As we noted in our CU8000 review, Samsung’s TV “did handle screen reflections well, even with harsh overhead lights turned on in our testing environment.”
The 85CU8000’s Tizen smart TV interface is one of the better options on the market, offering up all the popular streaming apps including Freeview ones such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. It also features Samsung’s gaming hub for cloud-based gaming from services such as Xbox and Nvidia GeForce Now, though the 85CU8000’s gaming support is otherwise modest.
Samsung’s 85CU8000 is all about getting the most screen area for the least money. And while in this case that entails some picture quality tradeoffs, casual viewers and gamers should be pleased with this TV’s performance and features.
Read the full Samsung CU8000 review
The best mid-range 85-inch TV
The Samsung Q80D does what any good mid-range TV should do by offering a full suite of smart and gaming features and great picture quality for a competitive price. At its 85-inch size, the Q80D does this better than any other TV we know of.
The Q80D 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 85-inch Q80D is also 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.
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.
Read our full Samsung Q80D review
The best 85-inch TV for design
The LG OLED 83G3 is our top 85-inch choice if you're looking for a premium TV with a stunning design. But it's not just about looks, although that is a big part of the 83G3’s story. Gaming performance is also part of its appeal, with 4K 120Hz support on all four 2.1 HDMI ports, Dolby Vision gaming at 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM – basically, everything you’d want in a TV used for gaming.
The LG 83G3 doesn't feature the same Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology present in other sizes throughout the G3 series, though it does have the same panel as the G2, which improves brightness over some other OLED TVs, such as the LG C3. It does have the same next-gen image processor as other G3 sets, which delivers vibrant colors and finely rendered textures along with dynamic HDR contrast. In short, the 83G3 sits at the summit of what you can expect from the world’s best TVs.
The 83G3 is a stunning-looking TV as well. Its sleek, bezel-free design gives it an elegant look, particularly when mounted on a wall. A desktop stand unfortunately is not included and is something you’ll pay extra for if you opt not to wall-mount.
LG’s G3 series TVs carry a premium price, although it has dropped since the line launched in March 2023. You can find a cheaper high-quality 83-inch OLED option in the LG C3, but that will come with a sacrifice of brightness compared to the G3.
Read the full LG G3 OLED review
The best 85-inch TV for PS5 owners
Featuring the latest gaming features including 4K 120Hz, ALLM and VRR support and Sony's latest Game Menu which aims to give users a leg up on the competition, the A80L really is the perfect TV for PS5 owners.
It also works with the Sony Auto HDR feature found on the PS5, which means that when the console detects that it's connected to a compatible Sony TV, it automatically sets the graphics and HDR settings customized for that exact model, to give the best HDR possible.
Not just a great gaming TV, but also a phenomenal TV for movies, the A80L has a rich, vibrant picture with refined colors and detail. It may not be the brightest TV in the world, but its contrast is surprisingly good, even through out-of-the-box, pre-set picture modes.
The A80L also has a superb built-in sound system that bests a lot of its rival TVs. With a comprehensive speaker system that directs the sound through the screen itself, you get a direct, powerful, room-filling sound that creates an even more immersive experience.
It's worth noting that although the A80L supports Dolby Vision, it doesn't support it at 4K 120Hz. Because the PS5 doesn't recognise Dolby Vision itself, this isn't a concern for PS5 owners, but is worth mentioning if you have an Xbox Series X too.
There are some drawbacks sadly, the main of which being that the A80L only supports 4K 120Hz for gaming on two if its four HDMI ports and its not built for bright rooms which may hamper daytime gaming a bit, but thanks to its Sony-centric features the A80L is the ideal TV for PS5. Note, in the UK, buyers get the 83-inch Sony A84L instead, which is largely identical, but has a slightly different remote and other minor tweaks that don't change our overall opinion.
Read our full Sony A80L 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 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 C3 having improved brightness over most OLEDs, mini-LED 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.
What new 85-inch TVs do we expect in 2024?
We learned of the new 85-inch TVs that will arrive in 2024 at the recent CES trade show and several events that followed. Some are already available for pre-order, while others are scheduled to ship this summer or fall.
The new LG C4 OLED TV will be available in an 83-inch screen size, and for 2024 it will be joined by an 83-inch LG G4 model that uses LG’s brightness-boosting micro lens array (MLA) tech. What’s exciting about that news is that, unlike the smaller-size G3 OLEDs which featured MLA panels, last year’s 83-inch G3 used a standard non-MLA display panel – a shortcoming addressed in the new 83-inch G4.
The Samsung QN900D is the company’s flagship 8K TV for 2024 and features the new Neural Quantum processor 8K Pro with 512 neural networks – eight times as many as last year’s QN900C. It also has an updated “Infinity Air Stand” design that gives the TV a floating appearance and offers boosted picture brightness over the QN900C.
On the budget 85-inch TV front, Hisense will update our best budget TV (US) pick, the Hisense U8K, with the new Hisense U8N. The Samsung CU8000, our best budget TV (UK) pick will also be updated, with the new version featuring a 98-inch screen size option that features Samsung’s Supersize Picture Enhancer, an AI Upscaling Engine that enhances sharpness and reduces noise on each pixel in ultra-large displays.
There are several other new giant TVs in the pipeline for 2024. For instance, TCL announced a 115-inch mini-LED TV with 5,000 nits peak brightness, while Hisense will introduce new 110-inch and 98-inch mini-LED models, the first with 10,000 nits peak brightness.
How far should you sit from an 85-inch TV?
Estimates vary depending on who you ask, but the general rule of thumb is between 1.5 and 2.5 times the diagonal screen size: For 85-inch TVs we recommend sitting between 10.5 and 15 ft (3.5 and 5m) away. That should make the picture take up most 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.
Is an 85-inch TV too big to mount?
You can mount an 85-inch TV to a wall. But, obviously, 85-inch TVs are big and heavy. This means you'll need to make sure that your wall is sturdy enough to support an 85-inch TV.
You'll also want to pick quality equipment to mount it, as the bracket you use is more important than ever when dealing with a larger TV set. We'd recommend checking the weight of the 85-inch TV you want to buy and then ensuring your wall mount is compatible.
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
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.
Read more updates...
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.
