TCL 85" Review

The TCL 85" Q5K QLED TV is a budget giant. It delivers a very large 4K screen with good HDR support at an unbeatable price, but its picture quality, audio, and gaming performance are merely average. It's best for casual viewers who want size over perfection.

If you're hunting for a massive 85-inch 4K TV without breaking the bank, the TCL Q5K is squarely in your lane. It's a QLED TV, which means it uses quantum dot tech for richer colors than standard LED TVs, and it supports all the major HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+. The Google TV smart platform is easy to use, and the price, around $750, makes it one of the most affordable ways to get a screen this size. People searching for a 'big screen budget TV' or a 'QLED TV under $1000' will find this model fits the bill.

The picture quality here is solid, but it's not going to blow your mind. Our data puts it in the middle of the pack for overall picture quality, which means it looks good for everyday streaming and sports, but it won't have the same punchy contrast or deep blacks as a Mini-LED or OLED. The HDR performance is a standout, ranking well above average, so Dolby Vision movies will look vibrant. The gaming performance, however, is a weak spot. With a 60Hz refresh rate and input lag that lags behind most TVs, it's not ideal for serious gamers who need fast response times.

The value proposition is simple: you're getting a lot of screen for very little money. At $750, this is one of the cheapest 85-inch TVs you can find. You're trading away top-tier picture quality, great sound, and gaming chops for that sheer size and a decent HDR experience. If your main goal is to fill a wall with a big, colorful picture for movie nights and casual TV, the price makes it a compelling option.

This TV sits in a crowded field. The Sony BRAVIA 5 is a Mini-LED TV that will offer much better contrast and brightness, but it costs significantly more. The LG C5 OLED is the king of contrast and perfect blacks, but it's smaller (65-inch) and far more expensive. For a more direct budget competitor, the Hisense U6 Series Mini-LED offers better picture quality and often a similar price, but you might sacrifice a few inches of screen size. If gaming is your priority, you should look at TVs with 120Hz panels, like many from Samsung or LG's gaming-focused models, which this TCL lacks.

Skip this TV if you're a serious gamer, a movie buff who wants the best possible picture, or someone who hates mediocre sound. Its 60Hz panel and lag make gaming frustrating, and its average picture quality won't satisfy cinephiles. Instead, look at a Hisense U6 Mini-LED for better picture at a similar budget, or invest in a smaller but superior Sony Mini-LED or LG OLED if quality is your goal.

Should you buy this? Yes, if your top priority is getting a massive 85-inch TV on a strict budget, and you're okay with average picture and audio quality. It's a great 'big screen for the price' option for casual viewers. But no, you shouldn't buy this if you're a cinephile seeking the best picture, a gamer who needs fast response, or someone who values premium build quality and sound. In those cases, spending more on a Mini-LED or OLED, even in a smaller size, is a much better investment.