TCL QLED 85Q651GKIT1 85" Review

This TCL offers an 85-inch screen with 144Hz gaming support for a shockingly low $1249. Its HDR performance is best-in-class, making bright content look spectacular. However, the audio and connectivity are weak, and overall picture quality is average. It's a great pick for budget-conscious gamers wanting a massive display, but movie purists should consider an OLED instead.

An 85-inch TV for $1249 is a statement, and this TCL QLED Pro is making a loud one. It's a massive screen at a price that feels almost too good to be true, squarely aimed at gamers and anyone who wants a huge canvas for movies and sports without breaking the bank. What makes it interesting is the pairing of that giant size with a 144Hz refresh rate and VRR, features you usually find on much pricier panels. It's a big, fast TV that's trying to punch above its weight class.

This isn't a TV for the subtle home theater purist. It's for the person who wants their living room to feel like a movie theater or a gaming arena, and who values sheer scale and smooth motion over absolute picture perfection. The Full Array Local Dimming and QLED color are there to deliver a punchy, vibrant image, and the bundled extras like a protection plan and HDMI cable show TCL knows its audience is looking for a complete, hassle-free package.

Given its size and gaming chops, it's a surprisingly niche product. It's best for gaming, according to our database, and decent for sports, but it's weaker for movies. That tells you a lot. This TV is built for fast-paced, bright content where its high refresh rate and HDR strengths shine, not for the nuanced shadows of a cinematic drama.

The numbers tell a clear story. This TV's HDR performance is one of the best on the market, landing in the 98th percentile. That means Dolby Vision and HDR10+ content will look spectacular, with bright highlights and deep contrast. Its gaming score is also a standout, thanks to that 144Hz VRR support which makes it a legit option for PC or console gamers who hate screen tearing.

But there are trade-offs. The overall picture quality score is about average, and the audio is underwhelming. So while HDR scenes will pop, the overall fidelity and sound might not match the premium experience of a Sony or LG. The connectivity score is disappointing, which could mean fewer ports or slower Wi-Fi than you'd hope for in a modern TV. In real terms, you get best-in-class HDR and leading gaming smoothness, but you might be plugging in a soundbar and dealing with a less polished smart TV interface.

At $1249 for an 85-inch screen with 144Hz gaming features, the value is hard to argue with. You're paying about what a good 65-inch TV from a major brand costs, but getting an extra 20 inches of screen and high refresh rate support. The price-to-performance ratio is skewed heavily towards size and gaming smoothness over all-around excellence.

Compared across vendors, this price point for this size is almost exclusive to TCL and Hisense. Sony, Samsung, and LG's 85-inch models start at several thousand dollars more. So if your budget is firm and your priority is 'biggest screen possible,' this TCL is one of the few doors that opens. Just know you're trading some polish and connectivity for that square footage.

The closest competitor is likely the Hisense U6 Series MiniLED. It also offers a huge screen at a low price, often with MiniLED tech for better brightness. The trade-off is that Hisense's motion processing and gaming features can be less consistent, while this TCL has the clear edge with its 144Hz VRR for gamers.

If you care more about picture quality than size, the LG C5 OLED is a compelling alternative at a similar price, but in a 65-inch size. The OLED will deliver perfect blacks and incredible movie performance, but you lose the giant screen and the high refresh rate. For a pure home theater experience, the LG wins. For a gaming-focused living room centerpiece, the TCL's size and speed are more relevant.

Samsung's Neo QLED and Sony's BRAVIA are the premium benchmarks. They'll beat this TCL in almost every metric except price and size. But you'll pay two to three times more for an 85-inch model from them. This TCL exists for the budget-conscious buyer who still wants a flagship-like feature (144Hz) on a massive canvas.

If you're building a dedicated home theater where perfect movie presentation is the goal, skip this. Its movie performance score is below average, likely due to processing that can't handle complex shadows and gradients as well as more expensive TVs. Look at a 65-inch or 77-inch OLED from LG or Sony instead. You'll get a smaller screen, but a vastly better cinematic experience.

Also, if you need a TV with lots of HDMI ports, fast Wi-Fi 6, or seamless integration with a complex audio setup, the connectivity score suggests this TCL might disappoint. People with multiple game consoles, streaming boxes, and sound systems should check the port list carefully and consider a model from Samsung or Sony that typically offers better connectivity options.

If you're a gamer who wants a huge screen and your budget is around $1200, this TCL is a fantastic choice. The 144Hz VRR is a real benefit, and the HDR looks great. Pair it with a good soundbar, and you've got a compelling setup.

If you're a movie buff or a sports fan who just wants the biggest TV possible for the money, it's still a good option, but with caveats. The movie performance isn't its strength, so darker films might not look their best. For bright, colorful sports and general TV viewing, it'll be impressive. For anyone who values seamless connectivity, lots of ports, or the best smart TV interface, you should look elsewhere. The connectivity score is a red flag here.