The best 85-inch TVs for 2024: huge 4K and 8K TVs worth buying

The best 85-inch TVs aren’t just big, they offer an immersive home theater experience and are packed with some of the most high-end TV tech. However, you’ll need plenty of space and a serious budget in order to buy one.

We’ve tested hundreds of TVs over the years and several of the best 85-inch TVs, so we know what features you need to make every pixel look its best, like advanced detail and motion processing (because any imperfections will be obvious). You'll also want great HDR to make sure images are vibrant.

When you're buying a TV this big, it's definitely worth considering one of the best 8K TVs. With four times the resolution of the best 4K TVs, 8K really shines on TVs this size. It's not essential – 4K looks great too, and the image processors in these TVs ensure it looks spectacular – but it's very impressive.

While 85-inch TVs are big, they're still as thin as their smaller siblings – and that means as with other thin TVs there isn't much room for a good internal sound system. While the manufacturers have done their best to defy the laws of physics, there's no doubt that a dedicated surround sound system or one of the best soundbars will make these TVs sound as good as they look.

Previously, we would have advised that If you're looking for a really cheap TV, you're not going to find it here. But many new models are surprisingly affordable given their screen size – you don't just get high-end premium screens here, but more mid-range options too.

Written by
Matthew Bolton headshot against grey background
Written by
Matt Bolton

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Entertainment, meaning he's in charge of persuading our team to watch the latest movies on gorgeous TVs as well as listen to fantastic speakers and headphones. It's a tough task, as you can imagine. Matt has over a decade of experience in tech publishing, and has been writing about the latest TVs and soundbars since 2017. Matt is looking forward to following all of the latest updates from CES 2024, where all the major TV makers reveal their models for the next 12 months. The most relevant to this guide so far is news that the LG G4's larger 83-inch model will get a brightness boost.

The quick list

Want to cut to the chase and find out which 85-inch TVs are the best? Below, you’ll find a roundup of our choices. You can also jump to a more detailed review of every pick and our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.

The best 85-inch TVs 2024

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The best 85-inch TV for 8K

The Samsung QN900C

(Image credit: Future)
The best 85-inch TV for sheer 8K awesomeness

Specifications

Screen size: 85 inches
Resolution: 8K
Panel type: Neo QLED
Smart TV: Tizen
HDR: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+

Reasons to buy

+
High-quality 8K upscaling
+
Excellent color detail

Reasons to avoid

-
Lacks Dolby Vision HDR
-
Slight backlight blooming 

8K TVs may have failed to capture the imagination of the buying public in recent years, but Samsung remains all in on 8K. The QN900C is the company’s flagship 8K TV for 2023, and it’s the best model yet owing to advancements in picture processing and upscaling.

The QN900C’s picture is notable for its powerful brightness and fine color rendition. A mini-LED backlight with up to 2,000 local dimming zones also ensures that blacks are deep and shadows detailed. In our QN900C review, we found its ability to display fine textures to be “on another level,” a performance factor stemming from its AI-enhanced upscaling of 4K and regular HD content. That makes a big difference when you’re viewing on a large 85-inch screen, which is a size where 8K resolution can really make a difference.

Beyond its picture performance, the QN900C offers plenty of features to enhance gaming. It has 4K 120Hz support on all four HDMI 2.1 inputs, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and Samsung's Game Hub for cloud gaming. And on the audio front you get the Object Tracking Sound Pro system, which allows the QN900C to deliver “comfortably the best sound performance of any of Samsung’s 2023 TVs,” according to our review.

Although there’s plenty to like about the QN900C, not all is perfect. Like other Samsung TVs, it lacks Dolby Vision support, and slight backlight blooming crops up on scenes with tough black-to-white transitions. Its price is also steep compared to the company’s regular 4K mini-LED TVs. But if 85 inches is your preferred screen size, and you’re looking for an 8K TV, the Samsung QN900C is a highly recommended option.

Read the full Samsung QN900C review

The best 85-inch TV for 4K

LG C3 OLED TV showing orange butterfly onscreen

(Image credit: Future)
The best 83-inch OLED TV for most people

Specifications

Screen size: 83-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel type: OLED
Smart TV: WebOS 23 interface
HDR: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision

Reasons to buy

+
Impressive gaming specs
+
Excellent all-around picture 

Reasons to avoid

-
Just-average audio 
-
Not as bright as top OLEDs

The LG C2's successor is an outstanding TV when it comes to picture quality thanks to a number of key improvements. Given that we named the C2 our TV pick of the year in 2022, the C3 arrived with high expectations, and with a TV smart interface overhaul, improved HDR image processing and new gaming features, it turned out to be one of 2023's standout TVs.

The C3 comes in a variety of sizes, but the 83-inch is its biggest model. At this size, the Alpha 9 Gen 6 chip used for picture processing really shines, along with the help of added features such as OLED Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro and Expression Enhancer – we had noticed the same brightness level as the C2, both of which are beaten by other TVs on this list, but contrast, clarity and definition were markedly better.

Another key difference in the C3 compared to its predecessor is the webOS 23 smart TV interface, which has a more streamlined and pleasing appearance thanks to organizational features such as Quick Cards that group apps. LG's innovative magic remote is also available with this model.

Sound quality has also been improved. The inclusion of the Wow Orchestra feature, in particular allows viewers to augment the output of the TV's built-in speakers with a select LG Dolby Atmos soundbars. 

A slim bezel and aluminum-faced center stand complete the minimalist look for the C3. With the 83-inch C2 now dwindling in stock levels and with those improvements that make the C3 that little bit more refined, it was a no-brainer replacing the C2 with the C3 as the best big screen for most people. 

Read our full LG C3 OLED TV review

The best budget TV in the US

Hisense U8K smart TV interface

(Image credit: Future)
The best cheap 85-inch TV (US)

Specifications

Screen size: 55, 65, 75 and 85-inches
Resolution: 4K
Panel type: QLED with mini-LED
Smart TV: Google TV
HDR: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Reasons to buy

+
Impressive brightness
+
Affordable for a mini-LED TV
+
'NextGen TV' tuner

Reasons to avoid

-
Slight backlight blooming
-
Off-center picture fade
-
Pic settings not easily accessible

Our top affordable pick is the Hisense 85U8K. Almost the entire 2023 Hisense TV lineup consisted of mini-LED TVs, and the U8K series leads the pack. This set’s mini-LED backlight delivers high brightness and it’s matched by full array local dimming for deep blacks and powerful contrast. The combination of high brightness and the TV’s anti-glare screen make it a perfect choice for sports, which will have an even greater impact on its 85-inch screen.

Gaming, too, shines on the Hisense 85U8K. The TV features dual HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz input support, as well as VRR, ALLM, and FreeSync Premium Pro. It also has a pleasing overall design with adjustable-width support feet that can be configured to make space for a soundbar, and a built-in ATSC 3,0 tuner that supports “NextGen TV” broadcasts in the US.

What’s most notable about the Hisense 85U8K is that it provides the ultra-big-screen goods at a highly competitive price. Here you’ll get the same level of performance and many of the same features found in higher-cost mini-LED TVs, but for substantially less. Its powerfully bright, yet refined picture also means that it can be used for movies, sports, or gaming with equally compelling results.

Read our full Hisense U8K review

The best budget TV in the UK

Samsung CU8000 showing Top Gun Maverick

(Image credit: Future)
The best cheap 85-inch TV in the UK

Specifications

Screen size: 85-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel type: LED LCD
Smart TV: Tizen
HDR: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+

Reasons to buy

+
Handles screen glare well
+
Comprehensive smart TV platform

Reasons to avoid

-
Picture lacks contrast
-
No Dolby Vision HDR

Samsung’s 85CU8000 proves that you don’t have to spend too much money to get an ultra-large screen. Samsung lists its budget 85-inch model at £1,899 (and $1,699 in the US), which is a solid value for a screen this big.

The Samsung 85CU8000 uses a regular LCD display panel with an edge-lit LED backlight. For that reason, it lacks the brightness and color depth you’ll get from step-up models such as the Samsung 85Q80C listed at number 5 in this guide. Picture uniformity also isn’t as good, with shadows in dark movie scenes coming across as more of an uneven dark gray rather than a deep, solid black. But if you’re mainly using 85CU8000 for viewing sports and TV shows, as well as gaming, in a bright room, its picture holds up. As we noted in our CU8000 review, Samsung’s TV “did handle screen reflections well, even with harsh overhead lights turned on in our testing environment.”

The 85CU8000’s Tizen smart TV interface is one of the better options on the market, offering up all the popular streaming apps including Freeview ones such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. It also features Samsung’s gaming hub for cloud-based gaming from services such as Xbox and Nvidia GeForce Now, though the 85CU8000’s gaming support is otherwise modest.

Samsung’s 85CU8000 is all about getting the most screen area for the least money. And while in this case that entails some picture quality tradeoffs, casual viewers and gamers should be pleased with this TV’s performance and features.

Read the full Samsung CU8000 review

The best mid-range 85-inch TV

Samsung Q80C Tizen smart TV interface

(Image credit: Future)
The best mid-range 85-inch TV

Specifications

Screen size: 85-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel type: QLED
Smart TV: Tizen
HDR: HDR10, HDR10+, Hybrid Log Gamma

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent HDR picture 
+
Very good value 

Reasons to avoid

-
Lacks Dolby Vision HDR
-
Viewing angle is limited

Samsung’s top QLED model for 2023, the 85Q80C is a seriously well-stocked TV for the money, offering plenty of gaming features and a bold, bright picture. It also has good built-in sound quality and Samsung's Tizen smart TV platform, making it a compelling choice for a mid-price 85-inch TV.

Although the 85Q80C sits at the midpoint in Samsung's 2023 TV lineup, above LEDs and budget QLEDs but below its mini-LEDs and OLEDs, its picture would have you believe otherwise. Its picture is brighter than expected, but its black levels are richer and deeper than we thought they would be as well. It also has outstanding 4K sharpness and detail. Samsung’s mid-range TV does have limited viewing angles and mild backlight blooming issues, but it’s nonetheless seriously good for the price.

The 85Q80C's features included 4K 120Hz support across all four 2.1 HDMI ports, VRR, ALLM, AMD FreeSync Premium and Samsung's Gaming Hub. And with a low 9.7ms input lag, it easily earns the 5 out 5 stars for gaming that we awarded it in our review.

Design is one drawback with the 85Q80C. It doesn’t have the same glamorous feel when racked up next to Samsung’s higher-end, and higher-priced mini-LED and OLED TVs. Aside from that, the Q80C is a great TV that demonstrates how TV makers can also bring quality to their mid-range models.

Read our full Samsung Q80C review

The best 85-inch TV for design

LG G3 OLED TV

(Image credit: LG)
The best 85-inch TV for design

Specifications

Screen size: 55, 65, 77 and 83-inches
Resolution: 4K
Panel type: OLED
Smart TV: webOS 23
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic picture
+
Impressive brightness for OLED
+
Great gaming features and performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Average sound quality
-
Doesn't come with stand
-
Not as good value as Samsung S95C

The LG OLED 83G3 is our top 85-inch choice if you're looking for a premium TV with a stunning design. But it's not just about looks, although that is a big part of the 83G3’s story. Gaming performance is also part of its appeal, with 4K 120Hz support on all four 2.1 HDMI ports, Dolby Vision gaming at 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM – basically, everything you’d want in a TV used for gaming. 

The LG 83G3 doesn't feature the same Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology present in other sizes throughout the G3 series, though it does have the same panel as the G2, which improves brightness over some other OLED TVs, such as the LG C3. It does have the same next-gen image processor as other G3 sets, which delivers vibrant colors and finely rendered textures along with dynamic HDR contrast. In short, the 83G3 sits at the summit of what you can expect from the world’s best TVs.

The 83G3 is a stunning-looking TV as well. Its sleek, bezel-free design gives it an elegant look, particularly when mounted on a wall. A desktop stand unfortunately is not included and is something you’ll pay extra for if you opt not to wall-mount.

LG’s G3 series TVs carry a premium price, although it has dropped since the line launched in March 2023. You can find a cheaper high-quality 83-inch OLED option in the LG C3, but that will come with a sacrifice of brightness compared to the G3.

Read the full LG G3 OLED review

The best 85-inch TV for PS5 owners

Sony A80L TV on a table showing a movie selection

(Image credit: Future)
Best 85-inch TV with Sony's PS5-friendly smarts

Specifications

Screen size: 83-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel type: OLED
Smart TV: Google TV
HDR: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision

Reasons to buy

+
Rich, detailed picture 
+
Great match for PS5

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited HDMI 2.1 ports
-
Lacks HDR10+ support 

Featuring the latest gaming features including 4K 120Hz, ALLM and VRR support and Sony's latest Game Menu which aims to give users a leg up on the competition, the A80L really is the perfect TV for PS5 owners. 

It also works with the Sony Auto HDR feature found on the PS5, which means that when the console detects that it's connected to a compatible Sony TV, it automatically sets the graphics and HDR settings customized for that exact model, to give the best HDR possible.

Not just a great gaming TV, but also a phenomenal TV for movies, the A80L has a rich, vibrant picture with refined colors and detail. It may not be the brightest TV in the world, but its contrast is surprisingly good, even through out-of-the-box, pre-set picture modes. 

The A80L also has a superb built-in sound system that bests a lot of its rival TVs. With a comprehensive speaker system that directs the sound through the screen itself, you get a direct, powerful, room-filling sound that creates an even more immersive experience. 

It's worth noting that although the A80L supports Dolby Vision, it doesn't support it at 4K 120Hz. Because the PS5 doesn't recognise Dolby Vision itself, this isn't a concern for PS5 owners, but is worth mentioning if you have an Xbox Series X too. 

There are some drawbacks sadly, the main of which being that the A80L only supports 4K 120Hz for gaming on two if its four HDMI ports and its not built for bright rooms which may hamper daytime gaming a bit, but thanks to its Sony-centric features the A80L is the ideal TV for PS5. Note, in the UK, buyers get the 83-inch Sony A84L instead, which is largely identical, but has a slightly different remote and other minor tweaks that don't change our overall opinion.

Read our full Sony A80L review

How to choose the best 85-inch TV

What to look for in an 85-inch TV

At this size, and this price, you're expecting the best of the best. And that means taking several key factors into consideration.

The first is 8K. 8K delivers a far superior experience to 4K, but it generally costs a lot more too – and there's still a paucity of 8K content, especially when it comes to streaming. However at this size 8K really delivers the goods, so if you're considering an 8K one we'd recommend reading our reviews and focusing on the upsampling performance as you're likely to watch more 4K content upsampled to 8K than pure 8K.

The second thing to consider is mini-LED QLED vs OLED. The former comes very, very close to the quality and contrast of the latter, and it's very bright too: while OLEDs are improving, with the C3 having improved brightness over most OLEDs, mini-LED from the likes of Samsung are brighter still and a lot less money.

Do you want Dolby Vision? If so, a Samsung isn't for you: it prefers HDR10+. This isn't a big deal for movie watching as most devices and streaming support a range of HDR formats, but if you're a gamer it may be a deal breaker as Dolby Vision is arguably the best HDR format for gaming. On TVs that don't support it, Dolby Vision is just converted to HDR10.

Don't forget about connectivity. eARC HDMI is a must for connecting to the best soundbars or best AV receivers, and you'll want multiple HDMI ports for multiple devices. HDMI 2.1 is the one to get here, as that's the format used by next-gen gaming consoles for the best gaming experience. 

And that leads us on to audio. Manufacturers have done some very clever things with TV audio, especially in their most expensive models. But you can't fight the laws of physics. There's only so much speaker you can stick in a slimline TV set, and simulated surround sound is no substitute for the real thing – especially with Dolby Atmos. If you don't already have a really good soundbar or AV sound system we'd recommend budgeting for that too. The difference really is dramatic.

What new TVs do we expect from CES 2024?

The recent CES 2024 trade show, the biggest tech show of the year, gave us a a good sense of what to expect from TVs in 2024.

For 2024, we'll see brighter OLED TVs, along with some new giant TVs. TCL announced a 115-inch mini-LED TV with 5,000 nits peak brightness, while Hisense will be introducing new 110-inch and 98-inch mini-LED models, the first with 10,000 nits peak brightness.

When it comes to the kind of big TVs we cover in this guide, perhaps the best news from CES 2024 so far is that the upcoming LG G4 will be available in an 83-inch size that features LG's micro lens array tech (MLA). What this means is brightness will be significantly improved, a tech enhancement that was only perviously available for smaller sizes of the LG G3 that came before it. 

How far should you sit from an 85-inch TV?

Estimates vary depending on who you ask, but the general rule of thumb is between 1.5 and 2.5 times the diagonal screen size: For 85-inch TVs we recommend sitting between 10.5 and 15 ft (3.5 and 5m) away. That should make the picture take up most of your field of view without straining your eyes. 

How big is an 85-inch TV?

The exact height, width and depth of an 85-inch TV will vary depending on the set in question. A TV with a Mini LED backlight will be a bit thicker than a super-slim OLED screen (which won’t need a backlight at all). If a TV has a built-in soundbar, that could add some visible height and weight, while other screens may opt for more discreet placement around the TV’s casing.

As an example, a typical mid-range 85-inch TV might measure 109cm tall, 190cm wide, and 6cm deep – which are the measurements to consider if you’re going to wall-mount the screen. A screen on a stand will be even taller.

Is an 85-inch TV too big to mount?

You can mount an 85-inch TV to a wall. But, obviously, 85-inch TVs are big and heavy. This means you'll need to make sure that your wall is sturdy enough to support an 85-inch TV. 

You'll also want to pick quality equipment to mount it, as the bracket you use is more important than ever when dealing with a larger TV set. We'd recommend checking the weight of the 85-inch TV you want to buy and then ensuring your wall mount is compatible.

How we tested the best 85-inch TVs

We test the best 85-inch TVs using the same methodology and criteria employed for tests in our other TV buying guides and in our reviews as well. When testing a TV, we look at picture quality, audio quality, gaming performance, and other factors. 

After a run-in period of a few days of casual viewing, we’ll determine the most accurate picture preset (typically Movie or Filmmaker Mode) and then view sources including streaming and Blu-ray, in both HD and 4K, to test the TV’s picture quality. We regularly use reference scenes we’re deeply familiar with across all of our TV tests. 

When it comes to testing the best 85-inch TVs, picture quality is important as the larger screen will reveal flaws more obviously than a smaller screen. One important aspect we test is black uniformity. That’s because larger TVs, particularly edge-lit LCD models, can suffer from uneven dark tones and ‘cloudy’ areas across the screen where the backlighting is spread unevenly. 

Other aspects of picture quality that we test include color, contrast (again, important on a large screen) motion processing, and whether textures and details look true-to-life and natural. 

We will also test a TV’s upscaling using lower-resolution sources such as broadcast TV and DVD to determine how effective it is. With the best 85-inch TVs there are 8K options as well, and we’ll test how effective an 8K model’s upscaling is with 4K sources. 

After conducting our subjective tests, we move on to taking objective measurements using specialized equipment including a colorimeter, test pattern generator, and Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software to record the results. 

The first area we’ll test is brightness using white window patterns. The two most important are 10%, which gives us an idea of what peak brightness levels we can expect and how the TV handles HDR highlights, and 100% which indicates how a TV can maintain sustained levels of brightness over the whole screen (important during sports viewing) and how it will handle reflections.

We also test color gamut coverage, which tells us how wide a color range the TV is capable of displaying, along with color and grayscale accuracy to get an indication of how precisely a TV displays colors and gray tones. 

More TVs nowadays have gaming features to cater to next-gen consoles such as the Xbox Series X and PS5. The features we look out for when testing TVs for gaming are higher refresh rate support (120Hz/144hz), VRR, ALLM, and the effectiveness of the Game Mode. We also use a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI input lag tester to test latency, with a lower figure indicating better performance. 

It’s important to keep our testing as consistent as possible across all of our reviews, but some of our writers have different setups and testing environments. Even so, we will ensure that the same tests are run for all reviews, with a similar level of testing equipment where possible. 

THE LATEST UPDATES TO THIS BEST 85-inch TVS GUIDE

7 March 2024
Added further detail into our 'How We Test' section, with more of a breakdown of how our testing process works. 

6 February 2024
Swapped older 85BU8500 model for new 85CU8000 as 'best budget (UK) option.

23 January 2024
Updated FAQ with TV news from CES 2024.

15 December 2023
Replaced the Samsung QN900B with the QN900C for 'best 8K TV' due to stock levels. Replaced Samsung Q80B with Samsung Q80C for 'best mid-range' due to stock levels. 

Matt Bolton
Managing Editor, Entertainment

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Entertainment, meaning he's in charge of persuading our team of writers and reviewers to watch the latest TV shows and movies on gorgeous TVs and listen to fantastic speakers and headphones. It's a tough task, as you can imagine. Matt has over a decade of experience in tech publishing, and previously ran the TV & audio coverage for our colleagues at T3.com, and before that he edited T3 magazine. During his career, he's also contributed to places as varied as Creative Bloq, PC Gamer, PetsRadar, MacLife, and Edge. TV and movie nerdism is his speciality, and he goes to the cinema three times a week. He's always happy to explain the virtues of Dolby Vision over a drink, but he might need to use props, like he's explaining the offside rule.

With contributions from