TCL QLED - Q5 85" Class 84.6" 2024 Review

It's an 85-inch TV for the price of a 65-inch one. You get what you pay for: a huge, decent picture, but don't expect it to wow you.

The TCL Q5 is a big screen for a small price, and that's the one thing you need to know. For under $700, you're getting an 85-inch 4K TV with Fire TV built-in, which is frankly wild. The picture quality is solid for the money, and it supports all the major HDR formats. But let's be real: this is a budget giant. It's built to fill a wall, not to win any picture quality awards. If you're looking for the biggest possible canvas on a tight budget, this is your starting point.

The HDR performance was the pleasant surprise here. Sitting in the 82nd percentile, it punches above its price tag, making Dolby Vision content look decently vibrant. The real shock, though, is how mediocre the gaming features are for a TV that touts a 'Game Accelerator 120.' With a gaming score in the 25th percentile, that 120Hz VRR promise feels more like a marketing checkbox than a true performance feature. The motion handling is fine for movies, but fast-paced games will show its limitations.

It's worth it for one specific person: the budget-conscious buyer who wants the absolute biggest screen possible and isn't a videophile. You're trading peak performance for sheer size. For the price, you can't really complain.

Compared directly, the Hisense U6 Series MiniLED offers better local dimming and often a brighter picture for a similar price, though you might sacrifice a few inches. The Roku Pro Series is a stronger all-around performer with better gaming features and a superior smart platform, but it costs more. If you care more about picture quality than size, stepping down to a 75-inch Hisense or TCL's own Q6 series gets you a better TV. The Sony BRAVIA 5 and Samsung QN800D are in a completely different league (and price bracket) and aren't fair comparisons.

Skip this if you're a serious gamer or a home theater enthusiast looking for the best picture. The gaming performance lags behind most, and the overall picture is just average. For a similar budget, go get a smaller, better TV like the 75-inch Hisense U6 or save up for a TCL Q6.

We recommend the TCL Q5 85-inch if your top priority is maximizing screen real estate for your dollar and you're not overly picky about black levels or perfect motion. It's a great TV for a casual movie night in a big room. If you game seriously or watch a lot of high-end 4K Blu-rays, you should spend a bit more for a better panel. This is a quantity-over-quality play, and it executes that pretty well.