LG QNED QNED85A 55.2"

The LG QNED85A delivers vibrant Mini-LED picture quality and top-tier gaming features at a price that, when low, is fantastic. The remote is a disaster with no mute button, and the built-in speakers are underwhelming. Prices vary by $969, so shop smart and you'll get a lot of TV for the money. Recommended for gamers and bargain hunters who can handle the remote's quirks.

The LG QNED85A is one of those TVs that gets a lot right, then trips over something surprisingly basic. It's a 55-inch 4K Mini-LED set that punches above its weight on picture quality, with vibrant colors and a bright, punchy image that makes sports and HDR content look fantastic. The Mini-LED backlight with local dimming gives it contrast that's closer to OLED than you'd expect, and the 120Hz panel with FreeSync Premium and VRR makes it a legitimate gaming contender at this price. But then there's the remote. No mute button. In 2025. And owners are, uh, not quiet about it.

This TV sits in a really competitive spot. It's cheaper than premium OLEDs but pricier than the bare-bones QLEDs flooding the market. LG is aiming it at people who want great picture quality and smart features without dropping two grand, and for the most part it delivers. The a8 AI processor does a nice job upscaling lower-res content, and webOS 25 is slick and responsive. But the user sentiment score in our database sits at just 42nd percentile, dragged down by frustration over the remote and some build quality quirks. That gap between picture excellence and user experience is the real story here.

We pulled in data from multiple vendors, and prices are all over the place from $699 to over $1,600. So who's this for? Anyone who can snag it near that low end and doesn't mind using a third-party remote or voice commands for muting. The picture and gaming chops are strong enough to forgive a lot of sins at $700. At $1,600, you'd be crazy not to look at OLED alternatives. Let's dig in.

Our picture quality benchmarks put this set in the 79th percentile, which means it's well above average but not challenging the top-tier OLEDs and QD-OLEDs. The Mini-LED backlight does heavy lifting here: blacks are deep, blooming is minimal, and highlights pop in HDR. Color volume hits 100%, so you're getting the full DCI-P3 gamut, and skin tones look natural out of the box. It's a real pleasure to watch 4K Blu-rays on, and the AI upscaling salvages even old 1080p cable broadcasts nicely. The display metric at 66th percentile reflects some viewing angle limitations typical of IPS-like Mini-LED panels, but dead-on it's stunning.

For gaming, the numbers are even better. The 85th percentile gaming score comes from that 120Hz native refresh rate, full HDMI 2.1 support with 4K/120 input, and FreeSync Premium. Input lag drops to about 12ms in game mode, which puts it among the best LCDs for fast shooters. HDR gaming at 120Hz looks smooth and responsive, and the VRR keeps things tear-free. The HDR brightness isn't record-setting, but it's enough to make explosions pop and sunlight feel genuinely bright in a dim room. We'd happily use this as a console or PC gaming display.

The QNED85A's value is wildly dependent on where you buy it. Our price tracking shows a spread from $699 up to $1,668—that's nearly a thousand bucks difference for the same 55-inch TV. Below $800, this thing is a steal. You're getting Mini-LED precision, 120Hz gaming, and the slick webOS platform for less than most mid-range QLEDs. At that price, the remote frustration stings less because you can grab a universal remote and still come out ahead. But if you're looking at the higher end of that range, walk away. The Samsung QN85D and Sony BRAVIA 5 are breathing down its neck with better local dimming and nicer remotes.

For shoppers comparing across retailers, the best approach is to track prices and pounce when it dips under $800. Some vendors bundle it with a soundbar package, which could sweeten the deal if you need both. Just don't pay a premium and then realize you need to spend extra on a soundbar because the built-in audio is so thin. The value math only works when the sticker price reflects the trade-offs.

Against the Sony BRAVIA 5 K55XR50, the LG holds its own on gaming features but loses on out-of-box color accuracy and motion handling. Sony's processing is just better, and the remote actually has buttons people expect. The Samsung QN85D is a closer match, with a similar Mini-LED panel but a higher peak brightness and more refined local dimming algorithm. Samsung's Tizen OS is also snappier, though you give up Dolby Vision. The TCL QM8K Series offers even brighter HDR at a similar price range, but the build quality and smart platform aren't as polished.

The Hisense U7 Series 65U75QG is the dark horse competitor—often cheaper and with quantum dot color, but its motion handling and upscaling lag behind LG's a8 processor. If you can stomach a larger screen and a less elegant interface, Hisense gives you more inches per dollar. The Roku Plus Series is simpler and cheaper but lacks Mini-LED and isn't in the same league for gaming or picture depth. Overall, the QNED85A sits in a sweet spot for gamers who prioritize 120Hz and VRR, but picture purists might lean Sony or Samsung if budget allows.

This TV isn't for people who want a seamless, frustration-free experience right out of the box. If remote control basics like muting and quick channel entry matter to you, the QNED85A will drive you nuts. Consider the Sony BRAVIA 5 instead—its remote is far better, and the processing is a step up. Also, if you're setting this up in a brightly lit sunroom or want to use it outdoors, look elsewhere; the outdoor score barely scratches 56, meaning it doesn't get bright enough to fight glare in those scenarios. OLED or high-brightness QLED options from Samsung would hold up better.

If you're a gamer looking for a 55-inch TV with excellent motion clarity, low input lag, and Mini-LED contrast without breaking the bank, the QNED85A is a strong choice—as long as you find it under $900. Pair it with a soundbar or headset (the built-in audio is thin) and a universal remote, and you've got a setup that rivals displays costing hundreds more. The picture quality for the price is genuinely impressive, and webOS 25 is pleasant to use.

For people who watch a lot of movies and care deeply about dark room HDR performance, I'd point you toward an OLED like the LG C3 or even the Sony BRAVIA 5. The QNED85A's HDR is good but not great, and blooming in really dark scenes can distract. And if you can't live with the remote's missing mute button—seriously, it's a daily annoyance—consider that a dealbreaker. No TV should require a workaround to do something as basic as muting the sound.