5 Best 85-Inch TVs (2023 Review)

In This Review: SAMSUNG 85-Inch NEO QLED TV | TCL 85-Inch Smart Roku TV | SAMSUNG 85-Inch Crystal UHD TV | SAMSUNG 86-Inch Crystal UHD TV | Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV | Buyer’s Guide | Caring for Your 85-Inch TV | FAQs

The heavy, bulky, and expensive televisions of the past are now razor-thin, packed with smart features, and relatively affordable. Nowadays, you can turn your very own living room into a mini movie theater with the help of an 85-inch TV. Whether you want to watch live sports on the big screen or play video games with incredible picture quality, there’s a model for you. The This Old House Reviews Team has chosen the best 85-inch TVs on Amazon to help you watch all of your favorite films and shows in never-before-seen quality. Also, check out our guide to buying TVs to find even more information on purchasing a television.

Top 5 85-Inch TVs

Here are our picks for the best 85-inch TVs on Amazon:

• Best Overall Resolution: SAMSUNG 85-Inch NEO QLED TV
• Best Entry-Level: TCL 85-Inch Smart Roku TV
• Most Lightweight: SAMSUNG 85-Inch Crystal UHD TV
• Best Features: SAMSUNG 86-Inch Crystal UHD TV
• Best 4K Picture Quality: Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV

Best Overall Resolution: SAMSUNG 85-Inch NEO QLED TV

Pros and Cons

✔ Has Quantum High Dynamic Range (HDR) for luminance
✔ Includes Amazon Alexa for hands-free operation
✔ Uses dynamic object tracking to provide superior sound quality

✘ Costs more than the other models in this review
✘ Weighs 120 pounds

What Customers Are Saying

Satisfied users who left positive reviews for this 85-inch TV said that the picture quality was superb, outperforming other TVs that they owned in the past. Customers also praised the built-in sound system that didn’t require an additional soundbar. On the other hand, a few users mentioned that while the picture worked for movies and TV shows, it couldn’t support video games that well.

Best Entry-Level: TCL 85-Inch Smart Roku TV

Pros and Cons

✔ Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit
✔ Uses HDR to deliver bright and rich colors
✔ Has a simple remote control with one-touch shortcuts

✘ Requires a Roku account
✘ Has user reports of longevity issues

What Customers Are Saying

Overall, the majority of reviewers thought that this Roku TV performed in line with its price, offering 4K HDR screen technology, a simple user interface, and easy setup. Alternatively, some users thought that the built-in sound wasn’t up to their standards.

Most Lightweight: SAMSUNG 85-Inch Crystal UHD TV

Pros and Cons

✔ Uses an AirSlim profile to blend in nearly anywhere
✔ Has a fast 4K processor for smooth operation
✔ Features Motion Xcelerator to minimize blur and enhance activity

✘ Has a slow refresh rate of 60 hertz (Hz)
✘ Only has three HDMI ports

What Customers Are Saying

Positively, customers praised this 4K UHD TV for its clear picture quality and sleek border. Negatively, there were some complaints about the voice control connectivity, with one user reporting that they couldn’t connect other Google devices to the Google Assistant voice control system.

Best Features: SAMSUNG 86-Inch Crystal UHD TV

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a crystal display for a naturally crisp and vivid picture
✔ Uses the Tizen operating system for an intuitive user experience
✔ Includes three AAA batteries for the remote control

✘ Has ads along the sidebar of the home screen
✘ Can’t remove the built-in apps

What Customers Are Saying

Several satisfied customers appreciated the size of this TV’s screen, as the viewing experience was immersive even from across the room. Happy users also thought that the picture quality met or exceeded their expectations. Conversely, users had complaints about not being able to remove the built-in apps that came with the TV’s operating system.

Best 4K Picture Quality: Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV

Pros and Cons

✔ Works with Amazon Alexa if you don’t want to use the remote
✔ Can stream directly from Apple devices using AirPlay 2
✔ Looks like wall decor with its flush-surface design

✘ Works with fewer soundbars than other 85-inch TVs
✘ Doesn’t include a BRAVIA CORE subscription like other Sony TVs do

What Customers Are Saying

Some highlights from positive customer reviews included the TV’s intuitive menu browsing and quality picture. However, some buyers said that it was too fragile. Others said that they couldn’t dim it enough at night, which made the bright screen hurt their eyes.

Buying Guide for 85-Inch TVs

An 85-inch TV is your answer for an at-home cinematic experience. This buying guide will help you pick the best 85-inch TV to watch all of your favorite shows, movies, and more.

Thickness

Because they are so much larger than other televisions, most 85-inch TVs are extremely thin. This prevents them from being too heavy or bulky to mount on the wall safely.

Picture Quality

Picture quality is arguably the most important factor to consider when you’re purchasing a TV, especially such a large one. Most 85-inch TVs use crystal color enhancement, LED backlighting, and other features to provide you with crisp pictures and bright colors.

Refresh rate also plays into picture quality. It refers to the number of times a TV refreshes its image per second. You want your screen to be able to keep up with the action happening in a video game, movie, or TV show. Traditional TVs refresh at a rate of 60 hertz (Hz). High-end models refresh even more frequently at 120 Hz.

HDMI Ports

HDMI ports help you connect laptops, gaming consoles, speakers, soundbars, and other devices and accessories to your 85-inch TV. Most TVs feature at least one HDMI port, with some offering as many as four or five.

Remote

All TVs come with a handheld remote. In addition to your standard play, pause, and home buttons, it may also have shortcuts to your favorite streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu.

Smart Home Compatibility

Most 85-inch TVs are high-tech, meaning you can do more than surf the cable channels or streaming apps with the remote. For example, maybe it works with your Amazon Alexa for hands-free control. Or, maybe you can mirror your computer screen on the TV screen to show everyone in the room something. These smart functions require either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technology.

Caring for Your 85-Inch TV

Although large televisions are more affordable and available than they were 10 years ago, they’re still an investment that you need to take care of. To protect the centerpiece of your living room, check out these care tips.

Dust the Screen

Dust buildup on the surface of your TV’s screen can lead to scratching and other damage. We recommend weekly or even daily dusting. Only use a microfiber cloth for this, as a regular cloth could attract dirt and other particles that may scratch your TV screen.

Mount the Frame

Given the size of an 85-inch TV, many homeowners opt to mount it to a wall. That way, it doesn’t fall and break while it’s sitting on a TV stand or entertainment center.

To walk you through the mounting process, check out this video featuring This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert:

Allow for Ventilation

Like other electronics, your 85-inch television should have enough space behind it for its internal components to “breathe.” A wall mount should allow at least a few inches between the back of the TV and the wall. If your 85-inch TV is sitting on a surface, make sure any objects are at least a few inches away from it.

Adjust the Brightness

Your TV, regardless of the brand or model, arrives with factory settings that affect the display’s brightness, contrast, and other features. After you’ve positioned your television, explore its display options. Constantly running your TV on the highest brightness setting wears out the screen faster.

Turn Off the Screen

If you’re leaving the house or done watching something, turn off your television. Although modern smart TVs are designed to enter a “sleep” mode when they’re inactive, turning off your TV still increases its lifespan—not to mention, saves electricity.

Frequently Asked Questions About 85-Inch TVs

Is a 4K resolution enough for an 85-inch TV?

Yes. A 4K resolution is enough to enjoy your favorite TV shows, movies, and games on an 85-inch TV. However, upgrade to an 8K TV for the best picture possible. That way, you can take in the detail of the picture without standing too close to the screen.

What is the difference between OLED and QLED technology?

The primary difference between OLED TVs and QLED TVs is in how many pixels they display. While individual OLED pixels emit their own light, QLED pixels rely on an LCD backlight. Generally, OLED televisions use less power, look clearer at different viewing angles, and offer deeper colors. Conversely, QLED screens are less expensive, last for longer, and have a lower burn-in risk.

What is the best distance for viewing an 85-inch TV?

Because 85-inch TVs are so large and bright, sitting too close to them may cause eye strain. We recommend sitting between 10 and 12 feet away from your 85-inch screen.

Do I need to purchase speakers or a soundbar for my 85-inch TV?

It depends on the model you choose. Some 85-inch TVs feature high-quality audio to go along with the crisp picture. Others focus exclusively on picture quality, delivering weaker audio. If you want a truly cinematic viewing experience, purchase additional speakers. They can help even if your model has crisp audio already.

Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.