Samsung Q70D QN85Q70DAFXZA 85"

The Samsung Q70D is an 85-inch QLED that nails gaming with a 120Hz panel, FreeSync Premium, and HDMI 2.1, all for as low as USD 1,347 at Newegg. Display quality is top-tier, but HDR and contrast are below average due to the Direct LED backlight. It's a bright-room, big-screen value play, not a home theater reference display. Buy it for gaming and streaming in a well-lit room, skip it if you care about deep blacks.

The display on this thing is genuinely impressive for the price. It ranks in the 92nd percentile for display quality among all TVs in our database, which puts it in the top tier of what we've tested. The 100% color volume with quantum dot tech means colors stay saturated even at high brightness levels, which is something cheaper panels struggle with. You'll notice it most with HDR content, where reds and greens don't wash out when the scene gets bright.

Gaming performance is where this TV really earns its keep. It scores an 84th percentile in our gaming benchmarks, which is well above average. The 120Hz native refresh rate combined with FreeSync Premium means you get smooth frame pacing without screen tearing, and the low input lag in Game Mode makes fast-paced shooters feel responsive. The HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K at 120Hz, so you're getting the full next-gen console experience. The Motion Xcelerator 120Hz also helps with sports and action movies, reducing judder on fast panning shots. It's not the absolute fastest panel we've tested, but it's close enough that most people won't notice the difference.

The LG C5 OLED is the obvious alternative if picture quality matters more than size. You'd be giving up screen real estate, but you'd gain perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and much better HDR performance. The Sony BRAVIA XR A95L is in a completely different league on picture quality, but you're paying a serious premium for it. The Hisense U8 and TCL QM8K are the more direct competitors here. Both use Mini LED backlights, which means they deliver better contrast and HDR performance than the Q70D's Direct LED setup, often at similar or slightly higher prices.

The Roku Pro Series is worth mentioning too. It's not going to match the Q70D on gaming features, but Roku's smart platform is genuinely easier to use than Samsung's Tizen OS, which scores in the 30th percentile for smart features in our database. If you're buying a TV for your parents or someone who just wants to stream without fuss, the Roku might be the better call. For gamers, though, the Q70D's 120Hz panel and FreeSync support put it ahead of most budget-friendly big screens.

Here's where things get interesting. The Q70D is listed at USD 1,347 to USD 2,598 across two US listings, which is a massive USD 1,251 spread. That's not a typo. The same TV is being sold at wildly different prices depending on where you look. The Newegg listing at the lower end of that range is the one to grab if you're buying. At USD 1,347 for an 85-inch QLED with 120Hz and HDMI 2.1, you're getting a lot of screen for your dollar.

But let's be real about what you're paying for. You're paying for size and gaming features, not picture quality refinement. The HDR performance sits in the 36th percentile, which is below average. If you're comparing this to an OLED or a Mini LED set at a similar price, you're going to notice the difference in dark scenes. The value proposition here is simple: if you want the biggest screen possible for the least money and you mostly watch in a bright room, this is a solid deal. If you care about contrast and HDR punch, you might want to save up for something better.

The Samsung Q70D is one of those TVs that makes you do a double take when you see the price tag. An 85-inch QLED for under $1,400 at the low end? That's a lot of screen for the money. Samsung is positioning this as a casual gamer's dream, and honestly, that's not just marketing speak. The 120Hz panel, FreeSync Premium, and HDMI 2.1 support mean this thing can actually keep up with a PS5 or Xbox Series X without making you feel like you're fighting the display.

But with big TVs at aggressive prices, something has to give. In this case, it's the backlight. This is a Direct LED set, not a Mini LED or OLED, so you're not getting the deep blacks or local dimming performance you'd find on pricier panels. That's the trade-off. You get an enormous, vibrant 4K screen with quantum dot color, but you're not getting the contrast performance that makes HDR content really pop in a dark room.

Who's this for? Someone who wants a massive screen for a bright living room, casual gaming, and streaming. If you're a home theater purist who watches movies in a pitch black room and obsesses over black levels, this probably isn't your TV. But if you want an 85-inch screen that handles sports, games, and Netflix without breaking the bank, the Q70D makes a strong case for itself.

If you're a home theater enthusiast who watches movies in a dark room, skip this one. The Direct LED backlight without local dimming means black levels are mediocre, and HDR content won't have the depth you're looking for. You'll notice backlight bleed in letterbox bars and dark scenes, which is exactly the kind of thing that drives videophiles crazy. Look at the Hisense U8 or TCL QM8K for Mini LED alternatives, or stretch your budget for an OLED if you can.

Also skip it if you're buying a TV for someone who isn't tech-savvy. Samsung's Tizen OS scores in the 30th percentile for smart features in our database, which means it's not the most intuitive platform out there. The Roku Pro Series is a much friendlier option for people who just want to turn on the TV and start streaming without navigating through menus and Samsung account requirements.

If you're a gamer who wants a huge screen without spending OLED money, the Q70D is an easy recommendation at the lower end of its price range. The 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium, and HDMI 2.1 support make it a genuinely capable gaming display, and the quantum dot color keeps games looking vibrant. Just know that you're trading contrast for size. Dark scenes in games and movies won't have the depth you'd get from a Mini LED or OLED panel.

For movie lovers and home theater enthusiasts, this is a harder sell. The HDR performance is below average, and the Direct LED backlight means black levels are just okay. If you watch a lot of content in a dark room, you'll notice the backlight bleed and lack of local dimming. In that case, look at the Hisense U8 or TCL QM8K instead. They cost a bit more, but the Mini LED backlights make a real difference for HDR content. The Q70D is a bright-room TV, and it's great at that. Just don't expect it to be something it's not.