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Steven Cohen/Business Insider
The best 85-inch TVs deliver a viewing experience that smaller displays simply can't match. Though sets this big used to be few and far between, manufacturers now offer 85-inch versions of several of their most popular models, and though still expensive, they've come down a lot in price.
We've tested and researched the top options available to choose the best 85-inch TVs you can buy. The TCL QM8 offers the best balance between price and performance at this size thanks to its bright QLED panel and high-contrast Mini LED backlight. But if you want an 85-inch TV without breaking the bank, TCL's cheaper Q6 QLED is a more budget-friendly alternative that's often on sale for under $900.
We also have picks for OLED and 8K models at this size, so all home theater needs are accounted for.
Note: LCD-based TVs (LED, QLED) are often manufactured in an 85- or 86-inch screen size, but OLED displays are sold in a slightly smaller 83-inch size. For that reason, we've included 83-inch OLED TVs in this guide.
Our top picks for the best 85-inch TVs
Best overall: TCL QM8 4K QLED TV - See at Amazon
Best midrange OLED: Samsung S90C 4K OLED TV - See at Amazon
Best high-end model: LG G4 4K OLED TV - See at Amazon
Best 8K display: Samsung QN900C QLED 8K TV - See at Amazon
Best on a budget: TCL Q6 QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon
Best overall
When balancing price and image quality, TCL's QM8 QLED is the best 85-inch TV you can buy. It's incredibly bright while maintaining excellent contrast thanks to the precision of its Mini LED backlight with local dimming capabilities. And despite its extra-large size, it's often on sale for $1,700, which is fantastic for a display this big with this level of performance.
Though we recommend OLED models, like the Samsung S90C, as our top pick in many of our other best TV buying guides, OLEDs at this screen size jump up a lot in price, and most are missing color and brightness perks that their smaller counterparts offer. We think an OLED will still deliver better overall image quality, but the QM8 QLED has a slight edge in value for most people, and it even has a few features OLEDs lack at this size.
The QM8's color volume is especially impressive thanks to its quantum dot filter, which is something you won't find on competing OLEDs over 77 inches. Quantum dots also help the TV achieve a peak brightness of around 2,000 nits, which is more than enough to enjoy the full benefits of most HDR content.
It has a leg up over cheaper QLED models thanks to the QM8's high number of local dimming zones, which helps it achieve deep black levels without major halos around bright objects. However, contrast still can't match the pixel precision of an OLED panel, so you might see the dimming zones at work during certain scenes when watching TV in a dark room.
When reviewing the QM8, we also noticed slight issues with shadow details getting lost in dimmer scenes, but this can be mitigated by adjusting some of the display's settings. But the QM8's biggest weakness is its viewing angles. Colors and contrast distort when you sit off to the side of the screen. If you want a similar 85-inch QLED TV with better off-axis viewing, we recommend Samsung's more expensive QN90C. Otherwise, you'll need to pay substantially more for an OLED like the Samsung S90C or LG C3.
With Google TV built-in, the QM8 offers a reliable interface and easy access to all of the best streaming services. The TV is also a great fit for gamers thanks to its fast panel with up to a 144Hz refresh rate when paired with a compatible PC. The TV's build and design aren't as premium as more expensive models, but the QM8's strengths far outweigh its cons.
Read our TCL QM8 4K TV review.
Best midrange OLED
Samsung's 83-inch S90C OLED is more than double the price of most QLED TVs at this size, but the S90C delivers an infinite contrast ratio with true black levels and wider viewing angles than any QLED, leading to a notable upgrade in overall image performance, especially if you like to watch TV in a dim home theater environment.
We still think our top pick, the TCL QM8 QLED, is a better overall value for most people on the hunt for a TV this big, but if you're willing to spend twice as much, this midrange OLED has some key perks. In a dark home theater environment, the S90C's pixel-level contrast control outmatches any QLED we've tested, offering one of the best movie-watching experiences you can get from an 83-inch TV.
And though not anywhere near as bright as the QM8, the S90C still gets bright enough to suit most rooms. However, unlike smaller versions of the S90C, the 83-inch model does not use quantum dots in its panel. This means that it can't match the color volume or color gamut that you'd get on TVs that do use quantum dots, so bright colors won't look quite as intense as they do on sets like the QM8.
In this performance class, there's also the 83-inch LG C3 OLED to consider. At this size, the C3 and S90C both use similar, if not identical, display panels. The C3 does have a slight edge since it supports Dolby Vision for a more accurate HDR experience, but the 83-inch C3 is often $500 more than the 83-inch S90C. If you find the C3 on sale for the same price as the S90C, it's a slightly better midrange OLED at this size. But since it's typically cheaper, the S90C clinches this spot.
Read our Samsung S90C 4K TV review (65-inch model with quantum dots).
Best high-end model
LG's 83-inch G4 OLED is ideal for buyers who want the most premium viewing experience they can get in an extra-large TV. It's the most advanced OLED available at 83 inches, besting the overall picture quality of all our other picks. Of course, it also has the highest price tag of any TV you'll find in this guide.
First things first, buyers should note that the 83-inch G4 is designed with wall mounting in mind. So much so that it doesn't include a traditional TV stand. Instead, you get a bracket that lets you mount it flush to your wall with virtually no gap. It looks beautiful hung up this way, but you can still buy a stand separately if wall mounting isn't an option for your room.
Outside of its elegant style, the G4 is a picture-quality powerhouse. Using LG's latest OLED Evo panel, it offers all the benefits that OLEDs are known for, including an infinite contrast ratio, perfect black levels that disappear into a dark room, and wide viewing angles so you get a great image no matter where you sit.
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On top of all that, the 83-inch G4 also incorporates MLA (Micro Lens Array) technology to boost its brightness. This feature was missing from the 83-inch edition of last year's G3, and it enables a sizable upgrade in luminance over competing 83-inch OLEDs, like the Samsung S90C. During our tests, we measured a peak of around 1,550 nits on the 65-inch G4, which should also carry over to the 83-inch option.
Though the new Samsung S95D OLED can get brighter in short bursts, that model is not available in 83 inches. As it stands, the 83-inch G4 is the brightest OLED you can get in such a large screen size, and it delivers gorgeous HDR highlights while maintaining great performance even in rooms that let in a lot of light. Matte screens, like those used on the Samsung S95D, still reduce reflections and glare better than the G4's screen, but the G4's glossy coating does a superior job of preserving inky black levels with the lights on.
LG's solid webOS smart TV interface rounds out the package with access to every major app there is, along with nice perks like hands-free voice control and a remote that supports motion controls so you can navigate menus by waving the remote at the screen to move a virtual cursor.
Our top pick, the TCL QM8 QLED, still delivers a better price-to-performance ratio, and our midrange OLED pick, the Samsung S90C, delivers similar contrast performance for less money. But if budget isn't a concern and you want the absolute best image quality you can get at this size, the LG G4 is the 83-inch TV to beat.
Best 8K display
Though we still think most buyers are better off with a high-end 4K TV, 8K displays like the Samsung QN900C have their fans, especially at extra-large screen sizes. At 85 inches, an 8K TV will offer some benefits over 4K thanks to its higher pixel density, which means you can sit very close without seeing individual pixels like you would on a 4K set this large.
However, it's important to remember that the perks of 8K remain subtle. There's still no native 8K content to watch outside a few YouTube videos, and though the TV's upscaling looks great, it's not a big improvement over watching the same content on a 4K TV with similar capabilities.
Steven Cohen/Business Insider
But even ignoring its 8K resolution, the QN900C is just a stunning QLED TV through and through. Its Mini LED backlight is one of the best out there, and it gets about as close to OLED-level contrast as we've seen on a display like this. It also has an incredible peak brightness of about 2,300 nits, and it can sustain that brightness much better than an OLED.
This is one of the best Samsung TVs you can buy, but its impressive picture quality is more a result of its dimming performance and quantum dot colors rather than its actual pixel count. If you're willing to spend top dollar for high-end picture quality, we still think you're better off with a 4K OLED like the Samsung S90C or LG G4, but if you're set on buying an 8K display, the QN900C is easily one of the best 85-inch TVs to snag.
Buyers should note that Samsung does sell a 2024 edition of this display, called the QN900D. We got a hands-on look at the new model, and it performed much like the QN900C during our tests. But since the QN900D currently costs a lot more than the QN900C, we still recommend the older model as the better buy.
Best on a budget
The best 85-inch TVs don't come cheap. Even basic models rarely dip below $800, and those sets make many performance sacrifices to get that cheap. However, there is one 85-inch TV that still manages to deliver solid image quality for a typical sale price of just under $900: the TCL Q6 QLED.
Other options that cost a bit less, like the Hisense A7 and the step-down TCL S4, use regular LED panels without quantum dots, which limits their color volume and brightness performance. But the Q6 offers a more vibrant and accurate HDR image while remaining competitively priced for its size.
That said, the Q6 still has drawbacks compared to pricier models. Viewing angles are narrow, so picture quality takes a big hit if you sit to the side of the screen. This is common for TVs in this class, so if viewing angles are a priority over color gamut, we recommend going with an alternative budget model like the 86-inch LG UQ75 instead. And like many TVs in this class, the Q6 is limited to a 60Hz screen rather than 120 or 144Hz, which makes it less suited for high-end 4K gaming.
Though brighter than cheaper 85-inch sets, the Q6 maxes out at around 500 nits, lower than the 600-nit range we typically recommend as a starting place for budget HDR TVs. It also lacks local dimming, so it can't adjust brightness across different zones on the screen. This leads to elevated black levels compared to step-up models, like the TCL Q7.
For most screen sizes, our go-to budget pick is the Hisense U6K which does have local dimming. But unfortunately, that model isn't offered in sizes above 75 inches. As it stands, the Q6 is the most affordable 85-inch QLED TV you can buy, and compared to its direct competitors, it delivers great value for the money.
How we test 85-inch TVs
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To choose the best 85-inch TVs, our team relied on a combination of hands-on testing and research informed by more than a decade of experience covering the home entertainment product market.
When we review TVs, we typically evaluate each model's 65-inch option since that's considered the industry's flagship size. However, a model's overall performance often remains comparable across sizes 55 inches and up. For example, an 83-inch LG C3 OLED and a 65-inch C3 OLED have the same specs. The only notable difference is the size of each panel.
However, there are instances when certain TV models have more dramatic differences across their screen sizes. For instance, the Samsung S90C uses quantum dots on its 55-, 65-, and 77-inch models but does not use quantum dots on its 83-inch model. This means that the 83-inch model can't match the color performance of its smaller counterparts. We take all of these differences into account when recommending TVs and detail these instances when they pop up.
To evaluate displays, we look at key picture quality elements like color performance, clarity/sharpness, contrast control, HDR brightness, refresh rate, smart TV interface speed, off-angle viewing, and overall value. We use an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter and test patterns on the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc to check the brightness and other objective image attributes.
We also rely on various movies and TV shows to look at real-world performance in bright and dark rooms. We've selected specific scenes to compare performance across TVs with black levels, shadow detail, HDR capabilities, and upscaling in mind. Sources include 4K, 1080p, and standard definition (SD) material from Blu-rays, streaming services, and cable TV.
85-inch TV FAQs
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Is 85 inches a good TV size?
The best 85-inch TVs can provide a level of immersion that smaller displays can't achieve, and they're especially good for larger rooms since you can sit farther away and still get a cinematic experience. Though there are fewer 85-inch models to choose from compared to smaller screen sizes, several of our picks for the best 4K TVs are sold in 83 to 85-inch versions.
However, many rooms simply can't accommodate a TV this big, and 85-inch sets are typically pricey. If you need a smaller display, check out our guides focused on other sizes:
How much should you spend on an 85-inch TV?
Generally, you should expect to pay at least $900 to snag one of the best 85-inch TVs, though high-end models cost $5,000 or more.
We've seen entry-level 85-inch LED TVs on sale for as low as $750, but budget QLED models typically start at around $1,000, and midrange options with local dimming and higher brightness capabilities sell for around $1,500 to $1,800. High-end 85-inch QLED 4K TVs with the best performance usually cost around $2,000 to $3,000, and 8K models can be between $5,000 and $7,000.
If you want one of the best OLED TVs in this class, you can find 83-inch options starting at around $3,500, while high-end 4K OLEDs this big can cost as much as $6,500.
Is 4K resolution enough for an 85-inch TV?
In general, 4K resolution is plenty to deliver a sharp and detailed image on an 85-inch TV. That said, the higher pixel density of an 8K display can present some improvements in picture clarity if you sit very close to your TV.
On an 85-inch set, improvements in pixel smoothness should start to become most visible if you sit less than five feet from your display. However, for most people, this subtle benefit is not worth the extra money that an 8K TV costs.
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