If you want better reliability
Choose Hisense U7SG. It scores 5.0 vs 1.5 for reliability, with a 4.2 overall score.
LG QNED85A TV Review
Bottom Line
Four full-speed HDMI 2.1 ports make the QNED85A a versatile gaming and streaming TV, particularly at a discount. Less convincing HDR, dark-scene blur and uneven speaker quality hold it back as a premium home-theater choice.
Console and PC gamers with multiple HDMI 2.1 devices, casual streamers, and bedroom or secondary-room viewers seeking colorful 4K at a good price.
Movie-first buyers demanding powerful HDR and deep, uniform blacks, viewers sitting far off center, and users who need rich speaker bass or exceptionally clear dark-scene motion.
Verdict
The LG QNED85A is most appealing as a flexible 4K entertainment screen, especially for homes with multiple consoles. All four HDMI inputs support full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and owners appreciate its vivid colors, speedy apps and convenient AirPlay integration. Consumer Reports also praises accurate color, upscaling and clean 1080i processing across several sizes. The biggest compromise is picture refinement: HDR benefits are limited, highlights can lose detail, and edge-lit dimming does not consistently produce convincing blacks. Motion performance and side-angle viewing are notably disputed between assessments, so do not assume high refresh rates guarantee blur-free action. Built-in sound is loud enough for some users, yet deeper bass and better balance may require a soundbar. It is a sensible discounted gaming or spare-room choice rather than an obvious pick for demanding movie enthusiasts.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
95 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.027 (28%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.427 (28%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.424 (25%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.416 (17%)
-
Very negative below 1.51 (1%)
Pros highlights
-
Everyday 4K pictures often look clear and colorful. More critical assessments caution that HDR impact and dark-scene refinement lag behind that first impression.
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Loudness earns very different reactions by size and listening setup: owners are impressed, but the 55-inch model is limited and tonal balance degrades when turned up.
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Dark-picture depth varies dramatically by evaluation and screen size. Some find deep blacks, but raised blacks and weak contrast are notable concerns in more demanding testing.
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The home interface generally feels fluid, and the remote scroll wheel makes long menus quicker to navigate.
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Some owners enjoy the clean, thin-looking silhouette, while the thick bezel and plastic construction leave a more basic impression under closer inspection.
-
The overall reception is positive for casual viewing and gaming, but less enthusiastic when judged against premium home-theater expectations.
Cons highlights
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Speakers are loud and convenient in casual use, but dedicated listening tests identify weak bass, occasional buzz and limited balance at high volume.
-
Bass lacks real punch across most assessments. Day-to-day TV audio is usable, but music and movie effects benefit from external speakers.
-
Contrast is one of the most divisive results: Consumer Reports found good depth on larger sets, while other testing criticized raised blacks and limited precision.
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HDR is a recurring weakness: it seldom produces the dramatic brightness separation expected from higher-end TVs, despite generally capable standard picture quality.
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Bass-heavy material produces a slight buzz, revealing limits in the compact built-in speakers.
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The brightest HDR elements lose some fine detail even though darker tonal transitions remain well controlled.
Use Cases
Best for
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Interlaced 1080i broadcasts are converted into clean, stable images across the three tested sizes. Film-based HD signals are also handled particularly well.
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This is a particularly appealing choice for a spare bedroom, combining clear 4K video, familiar apps, and satisfactory everyday loudness.
-
Four full-speed HDMI 2.1 inputs make it easy to attach several current consoles or gaming PCs without constantly changing cables.
Not ideal for
-
Music listeningMusic reveals weak bass, occasionally dull or thin treble, and some buzzing with low-frequency tracks.
-
Dark-scene gamingDark-to-dark pixel transitions leave noticeable trails, making fast action in shadowy games look smeared.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other TVs, this product is above average in Motion artifacts, motion interpolation, banding control, near average in bass performance, upscaling quality, below average in Automatic brightness adjustment, Stand assembly, HDR performance.
Comparison summary
95 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher24 (25%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts35 (37%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower36 (38%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic brightness adjustment | 1.0 | 3.9 | -2.9 |
| Stand assembly | 1.5 | 4.0 | -2.5 |
| Motion artifacts | 4.5 | 2.2 | +2.3 |
| HDR performance | 2.0 | 3.6 | -1.6 |
| smart TV platform | 2.5 | 4.1 | -1.6 |
| glare resistance | 1.5 | 3.1 | -1.6 |
| HDR brightness | 2.0 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
| reliability | 1.5 | 2.9 | -1.4 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Automatic brightness adjustment
Choose Hisense UR8SG. It scores 5.0 vs 1.0 for Automatic brightness adjustment, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Stand assembly
Choose LG QNED92A. It scores 4.3 vs 1.5 for Stand assembly, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better glare resistance
Choose Hisense CanvasTV 2026. It scores 4.8 vs 1.5 for glare resistance, with a 3.8 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Apple TV remote
- Compared: tactile remote buttons versus touch-style controls The LG remote’s physical button feel is preferred to the touch-style Apple TV remote.
LG QNED85T (2024)
- Older model: design and appearance versus preceding model The QNED85A retains the relatively basic appearance of its 2024 predecessor, the QNED85T.
FAQ
Is the LG QNED85A good for PS5 or Xbox Series X gaming?
Yes for supported 4K/120Hz, VRR and auto low-latency mode, with four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports. However, Xbox Dolby Vision gaming is missing and dark-scene motion blur can be distracting.
How good is HDR on the QNED85A?
HDR is a recurring weakness. Several tests describe limited highlight impact and occasional lost bright detail, even when overall colors and standard picture quality look good.
Can I watch sports smoothly?
Its high refresh rate is promising and some assessments find crisp sports action, but another reports significant motion smearing and dirty-screen patches. Results are less consistent than the specifications suggest.
Do I need a soundbar?
For ordinary dialogue and TV programs, the integrated speakers can be sufficiently loud. A soundbar is advisable for stronger bass, music and cinematic effects.
Is the QNED85A suitable for a room with lots of windows?
Indirect ambient light is handled better than direct reflections. Lamps or windows facing the glossy panel can create pronounced mirror-like glare, especially in dark scenes.
Does it work well for a wide seating area?
The viewing-angle assessments disagree: some find acceptable consistency from side chairs, while another reports early color washing and contrast loss. Seating directly in front is the safer arrangement.
What are the main setup and smart-TV limitations?
The stand screws can be frustrating to align, and webOS has shown automatic brightness and input-label bugs. Some promotional content can be disabled, but ads remain on the apps page.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Juan Camacho
- Review score
- 3.9
Article Reviews
consumerreports.org
We've tested and reviewed products since 1936. Read CR's review of the LG 65QNED85AUA tv to find out if it's worth it.
- Review score
- 3.6
rtings.com
The LG QNED85A is a lower mid-range 4k TV that's part of LG's 2025 QNED lineup, above the LG QNED82A and below the LG QNED92A. It replaces...
- Review score
- 3.0
consumerreports.org
We've tested and reviewed products since 1936. Read CR's review of the LG 55QNED85AUA tv to find out if it's worth it.
- Review score
- 3.5
consumerreports.org
We've tested and reviewed products since 1936. Read CR's review of the LG 75QNED85AUA tv to find out if it's worth it.
- Review score
- 3.8
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