The best 85-inch TVs of 2024: Expert tested and recommended

A large television can serve as a centerpiece in any home, and if you’re looking for an 85-inch television, you’re in luck: that’s the size where TV displays start to become truly impressive — a centerpiece that makes you stop and pay attention.

Also: The best TVs of 2024

Whether you need a new TV for movie night, a set to cheer on your favorite team, a showcase for the latest gaming technology, or an all-around great television, you have options. Brands like Sony, Samsung, and TCL have all made admirable additions to their 85-inch TV lineups over the past few years, and many may be more affordable than you think. Depending on the time of year, you can even find some amazing deals on TVs, especially with holiday sales slashing prices by hundreds or even thousands if you catch the right deal at the right retailer.

What is the best 85-inch TV right now?

I chose the Samsung QN90D as my pick for the best 85-inch TV with its support of both Dolby Atmos and object tracking sound, cloud gaming support for consoles, 144Hz refresh rate, and enhanced picture quality over previous models. You can keep reading below to find out more about the QN90D and our other top picks for the best 85-inch TVs.

The best 85-inch TVs of 2024

The Samsung QN90D is an excellent choice for any living room or home theater looking to upgrade or add a big-screen TV. With a 120Hz refresh rate, you’ll get smoother action in fast-paced shows and movies as well as sports broadcasts. It also supports both Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound and Samsung’s own object-tracking sound technology for audio that follows the on-screen action and provides a more immersive experience.

And if you’re a gamer, you can say goodbye to annoying screen tearing and stuttering with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR support. The dedicated gaming dashboard gives you access to cloud gaming services like Xbox GamePass and Nvidia GeForce Now so you can play your favorite titles without a console.

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There are plenty of reasons that TCL is the king of budget-friendly TVs, and the 85-inch S5 is one of them. For around $1,000, you’ll get Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound and Dolby Vision HDR support for better detailing and a more immersive streaming experience.

It also has an automatic low-latency mode for console gaming to help reduce input lag. The built-in speakers work with an integrated subwoofer for clean, rich sound, while an enhanced dialogue mode boosts conversations on movies and shows, so you never miss a line or crucial detail.

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If picture quality is the most important factor in your decision to upgrade your TV, look no further than the LG G4 OLED. This gallery-inspired model has some of the best images and color accuracy you can get, with an OLED panel capable of producing over 8.3 million colors. It also supports Dolby Vision HDR and has a dedicated filmmaker picture mode so you can squeeze every last detail out of your favorite movies and shows.

Review: LG G4 OLED TV

The updated Alpha 11 processor uses AI and machine learning to upscale non-4K content, automatically boost brightness, and clarify music and dialogue. Console gamers will love support for both G-Sync and FreeSync Premium VRR to prevent screen tearing and stuttering. With support for both AirPlay and Chromecast, you can share videos, photos, and music from your mobile devices for more ways to entertain family and friends.

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I’m an avid console and PC gamer, and recently got the chance to test out the Hisense U8N for myself. With a 144Hz native refresh rate and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR, motion blur, and screen tearing are virtually nonexistent. It also supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for crisp detailing and virtual surround sound without a headset.

Review: Hisense U8N TV

The mini-LED panel is capable of producing bright, bold colors that bring just about any title to life, while support for the PlayStation Remote Play app gives you access to your digital PS5 game library anywhere in the world with internet access.

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If you watch TV in a bright room, you know how much it can cause your viewing experience to decline. The TCL QM8 should be your first choice for a bright room, as this set handles light better than almost any other we’ve seen. With a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, details and colors are clear regardless of surroundings. It has a fast 144Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution for a clean, smooth picture, and with support for Dolby Vision HDR you’ll get the best detailing and contrast to make colors pop.

Review: TCL QM8

I conducted hands-on testing with the TCL QM8 and stuck it in my office since that’s the brightest room in my house (with all of my lighting for photography and filming videos). Movies, games, and shows all looked amazing, with bold colors and clean, crisp details, even when I had my room as bright as it could be.

Amazon reviewers note this is an excellent TV for bright rooms, with many complimenting the brightness. “The TV has great contrast due to the Mini LED arrayed backlight,” wrote one, adding that “this is a fantastic TV that performs like an upper-tier TV.”

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My choice for the best 85-inch TV is the Samsung QN90D. The updated Neo QLED panel gives you more accurate colors and bolder contrast while both Dolby Atmos and Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound+ give you a more immersive experience while streaming movies, shows, and music.

Best 85-inch TV	Price	HDR	Audio
Samsung QN90D	$2,300	Neo Quantum HDR+	Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound+
TCL S5	$700	Dolby Vision	Dolby Atmos
LG G4 OLED	$5,000	Dolby Vision	Dolby Atmos
Hisense U8N	$1,800	Dolby Vision IQ	Dolby Atmos
TCL QM8	$2,500	Dolby Vision	Dolby Atmos

*MSRP at time of writing. Please note that the actual price may vary by retailer and depending on available promotions and discounts.

Once you’ve hammered out a budget for your new 85-inch TV, the most important thing to remember is what you’ll use your TV for the most. Have you cut the cord and moved exclusively to streaming? You’ll want to choose a model with a preloaded suite of popular apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video so you can get started right out of the box.

Do you have a network of smart speakers? Pick a TV that supports your preferred virtual assistant and has multi-room linking to pump music and dialogue throughout your whole home.

This table quickly breaks down which 85-inch TV best suits your watching preferences.

Buy this 85-inch TV…	If you want…
Samsung QN90D	A well-rounded 85-inch TV. With object tracking sound, HDR support, and Dolby Atmos, you’ll get great picture and sound for gaming and streaming.
TCL S5	A budget friendly 85-inch TV. The TCL S5 is one of the most affordable big-screen TVs, retailing around $1,000.
LG G4 OLED	An 85-inch TV with great picture quality. The LG G4 OLED is a high-end, gallery-inspired TV with Dolby Vision HDR and dedicated filmmaker picture mode.
Hisense U8N	An 85-inch TV for console and PC gaming. The Hisense U8N has a 144Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR support, and 4 HDMI inputs.
TCL QM8	An 85-inch TV for brighter home theaters and living rooms. This TV has a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits for better visibility in daylight and under harsh overhead lighting.

Before investing in an 85-inch TV, you should consider the following factors:

Use cases: Will you be mainly watching movies, playing video games, streaming TV shows, watching live sports, or a mix of all these? Some sets have specially designed gaming hubs that let users fine-tune settings, some have booming built-in audio that provides a theater-like sound experience, and some have the best picture you’ll see. Choose your set based on which performs best in the area you want.
TV location: Consider where you’ll have your TV set up. Some sets do poorly in brightly lit rooms, while others have special features for brightly lit rooms.
Price: Before you choose your set, consider how much money you’re willing to spend. There are quality, budget-friendly options, but you’ll likely have to give up a few features in exchange for a lower price.
Number of ports: Some TVs have a limited number of input ports. If you’re connecting a couple of video game consoles, a sound bar, and a cable box or DVD player, you might have to choose which one gets the best input slot. Ensure the TV you choose has enough input slots for your needs.

While many manufacturers have reached a consensus on standardizing screen size classes, there are still a few outliers—even at big brands like Sony and LG. Some brands choose to produce 83-inch models, and I have considered many and even included one (the Sony A80L), as they are quite similar in viewing area to an 85-inch model.

I’ve also considered many other factors when testing and researching the 85-inch TVs on this list:

Picture quality: A TV is only as good as the images it can produce. With 4K resolution and 60-120Hz refresh rates being the norm, it’s easier to get a quality big-screen TV. Sony also produces a large-screen OLED for ultra-detailed images and enhanced contrast.
Audio quality: Tinny or cheap-sounding TV speakers can ruin your viewing experience. I’ve chosen 85-inch TVs that support HDMI eARC connectivity for setting up sound bars and other audio equipment, as well as support for premium audio drivers like Dolby Atmos.
Features: While every set on this list will have pretty good picture and audio quality, some truly shine when it comes to extra features. Some sets have extra picture settings that let you fine-tune things to your liking, and some have special gaming modes that let you tinker with options and set things up specifically for your style of gameplay.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity have become standard for home TVs as more and more people switch from cable and satellite providers to exclusively streaming content via apps like Netflix and Disney+. But I’ve also made sure that each TV on this list has plenty of HDMI and USB inputs and a hardwired Ethernet connection so you can easily connect DVD or Blu-Ray players, game consoles, audio equipment, and more reliable internet connections.

You absolutely can! 85-inch TVs are getting lighter, but they can still be heavy and have larger VESA mount spacing, so you’ll want to spend extra money on a heavy-duty mounting bracket. Mounts like the Echogear wall mount can support up to a 90-inch screen size and up to 125 pounds (about 57kg) of weight. Make sure you consult your TV’s operating manual for specific mounting requirements so your shiny new screen doesn’t come crashing down in the middle of the night, taking most of the wall with it.

The TCL 98R754 is a staggering 98 inches wide if we’re talking about conventional televisions. But if you’re willing to consider a laser or short-throw projector TV, Samsung’s The Premiere can show a screen up to 130 inches. But unless you live in a cavernous McMansion with 18-foot cathedral ceilings and a sprawling layout, you won’t get them to fit in your living room, let alone take full advantage of their features.

The best way to find out is to measure (in inches) from where the TV will be wall-mounted or placed on a stand to where you will be sitting and then divide that measurement by 2. If your couch is anywhere from 150 to 170 inches (12.5 to 14 feet) from the TV, an 85-inch screen will be an almost perfect fit. You can, of course, go a bit bigger (if possible) or smaller depending on your budget and what’s available from each brand. A screen that is too big can overwhelm your space and even cause motion sickness. In contrast, one that is too small will make it feel cavernous and force everyone to crowd around to see.

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