LG 85 Series QNED 65.1" 2024 Review

This 65-inch QNED TV is a solid mid-range pick for gamers, scoring in the 74th percentile for gaming features. Its picture quality is about average, and the audio is a weak spot. For $760, you get great gaming specs but compromise on the overall viewing experience.

The LG 85 Series QNED is a 65-inch 4K TV priced at $760. It's built around LG's QNED tech, which combines Quantum Dot for color and NanoCell for filtering, aiming for a brighter, more vivid picture than traditional LEDs. The core specs are a 120Hz refresh rate for gaming, HDR10 support, and LG's webOS smart platform, all driven by an α8 AI Processor that promises to auto-tune settings.

This TV lands in the middle of the pack for picture quality, sitting in the 43rd percentile in our database. That means its overall image performance is about average for a modern 4K TV. The gaming score is its strongest area, hitting the 74th percentile thanks to the 120Hz panel, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and support for FreeSync and VRR. For HDR and smart features, it's solid but not a standout, scoring in the 58th and 63rd percentiles respectively. The real weak spots are audio and display quality, which fall into the 31st and 27th percentiles. You'll want a soundbar, and the overall panel performance lags behind many competitors.

At $760, this TV is priced as a mid-range option. Its value hinges on if you prioritize gaming features over pure picture quality. For the price, you get a well-above-average gaming setup, but you're accepting average picture and below-average audio. Compared to LG's own OLEDs or competing Mini-LED TVs, it's a budget-friendly path to 120Hz and HDMI 2.1, but you sacrifice peak image performance.

The Sony BRAVIA 5 Mini-LED will likely crush it in picture quality and HDR. Samsung's Neo QLEDs offer brighter, more contrast-rich images. Hisense's U6 Series Mini-LED is a direct budget competitor that might beat it in contrast. And LG's own C5 OLED, while more expensive, offers perfect blacks and superior picture quality. This QNED's trade-off is clear: you get the gaming ports and smooth motion of more expensive TVs, but you pay for it with a picture that's firmly in the middle of the pack.

Skip this TV if you're a movie buff chasing the best possible picture. Its display and picture quality scores (27th and 43rd percentiles) show it falls behind many competitors, especially Mini-LED and OLED models. Also, if you want great built-in sound, its 31st percentile audio score means you'll be disappointed. This is a TV for gamers who value features over peak image fidelity.

If you're a gamer who wants 120Hz and VRR on a budget, and you're willing to add a soundbar, this TV makes a data-backed case. Its gaming score is well above average. But if your primary goal is the best possible picture for movies, the data shows you should look at Mini-LED or OLED competitors. The average picture and poor audio scores are hard to ignore for a home theater focus.