LG QNED 65QNED85AUA 65.1"

This LG is a fantastic gaming TV with a 120Hz panel and top-tier connectivity, but its picture quality is a letdown for the price. The edge-lit MiniLED panel just can't compete with full-array rivals, leaving HDR and movie watching feeling a bit flat. Buy it for the game room, not the living room, and only if you find a great deal.

The LG QNED85A is a 2025 MiniLED TV that tries to walk a tricky line between premium features and a more approachable price. It packs a 120Hz panel, FreeSync Premium, and a full suite of HDMI 2.1 gaming goodies into a 65-inch screen, which on paper sounds like a killer deal. But the spec sheet doesn't tell the whole story, and the real-world experience gets a little messy once you dig into the picture quality and some baffling design choices.

Gaming is where this set really shines. The 120Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium support make motion buttery smooth, and the low latency game mode puts it in the 85th percentile for gaming in our database, which is a standout result for a non-OLED. But the picture quality is a different story. The MiniLED backlight with Dimming Pro helps, but the edge-lit design holds it back, landing picture quality in a mediocre 37th percentile. HDR performance is just average, sitting at the 47th percentile, so don't expect the kind of punchy highlights you'd get from a full-array set. The 2.0 channel audio is solid for casual viewing, but the virtual surround sound won't fool anyone into thinking they have a real soundbar.

Pricing on this model is all over the map, with a wild spread from $366 to $28,799 across different vendors, so you absolutely need to shop around. At the lower end of that spectrum, the gaming chops and smart features make it a tempting buy. But if you're paying anywhere near the mid-to-high range, the mediocre picture quality and edge-lit compromises make it a tough sell. You're getting a fantastic gaming monitor and a so-so home theater TV, so its value hinges entirely on what you prioritize and where you buy it.

Stacked against the competition, the LG carves out a niche but doesn't dominate. The Hisense U7 and TCL QM8K will both give you significantly better picture quality and deeper blacks thanks to their full-array MiniLED backlights, making them the smarter pick for movie buffs. The Sony BRAVIA 7 is in another league for processing and upscaling, though you'll pay for it. The Samsung QN85D is a more direct rival, but Samsung's game bar and slightly punchier color often edge it out. The LG's main weapon is its superior smart platform and gaming interface, but for pure picture performance, it's trailing the pack.

If you're a cinephile who watches movies in a dark room, look elsewhere. The edge-lit panel's mediocre contrast and average HDR will leave dark scenes looking gray and washed out, and you'll get a much better picture for the same money from a full-array MiniLED set like the TCL QM8K or Hisense U7.

The LG QNED85A is a gaming beast trapped in a home theater TV's body. If your primary use case is a PS5, Xbox Series X, or a high-end PC, the 120Hz panel and low latency make it a joy to use. But if you're mostly a movie watcher or streamer who cares deeply about contrast and HDR pop, this set's edge-lit compromises will leave you wanting more. It's a specialized tool that does one job very well and the rest just okay.