LG QNED85A Series 65QNED85AUA.AUSZ 65"

The LG QNED85A is a 65-inch Mini-LED TV that absolutely nails gaming and HDR brightness for just $691. The 144Hz panel and low input lag are the real stars here. Just budget for a soundbar, because the built-in speakers are a letdown.

This set shines brightest in gaming and HDR content, landing in the low 80th percentile in our database for both. The 144Hz VRR support over HDMI 2.1 means your PS5 or Xbox Series X will feel buttery smooth, and input lag is low enough that you won't be blaming the TV for your K/D ratio. The Alpha 8 AI processor does a decent job upscaling 1080p content, but it's not magic. The Mini-LED dimming helps contrast significantly, though you might spot a little blooming around bright objects on a black background if you're really looking for it. The biggest letdown is the built-in audio, which sits in the middle of the pack and sounds thin, completely failing to do justice to the Dolby Atmos badge on the box.

Stacked against the Hisense U8 Series, the LG holds its own on brightness and color but falls behind on smart platform smoothness and off-angle viewing. The Sony BRAVIA XR A95L is in a completely different universe of picture quality and price, so it's not a fair fight. The TCL QM7K is a closer rival, often trading blows on contrast and gaming features, but LG's processing and color accuracy tend to be a bit more natural out of the box. If you're comparing it to a Samsung Neo QLED like the QN70F, the LG often wins on value, delivering a very similar Mini-LED experience for less cash.

At $691, this TV is a steal for what you're getting. You'd be hard-pressed to find another 65-inch Mini-LED TV with a 120Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 features at this price point. The picture quality punches well above its weight class, making it an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a premium gaming and movie experience on a mid-range budget. You're sacrificing a bit of smart TV polish and audio quality, but those are easily fixed with a streaming stick and a soundbar, and you're still coming out way ahead on the core display tech.

LG's QNED85A is their attempt to bring Mini-LED tech down to a price that doesn't make your wallet weep, and at $691 for a 65-inch screen, it mostly succeeds. You're getting a 120Hz panel, solid gaming chops, and that vibrant 'Dynamic QNED Color' that pops right out of the box. It's not an OLED killer, but it's not trying to be. This is a bright, feature-packed living room screen for people who want a big, smooth picture without selling a kidney.

But LG had to cut corners somewhere. The smart platform feels a bit sluggish compared to the competition, and the audio is just average, so you'll definitely want a soundbar. The real story here is the Mini-LED backlight with local dimming, which gives you much better black levels than a standard LED TV. It's a strong contender for mixed use, especially if you split your time between gaming, sports, and streaming.

If you're a cinephile who watches movies in a pitch-black room and demands perfect, OLED-level blacks with zero blooming, this isn't your TV. Also, if you rely entirely on built-in TV speakers and have no plans to add a soundbar, the weak audio will drive you nuts. Look at a Hisense U8 or save up for an OLED instead.

This is the TV for gamers and movie fans on a budget who prioritize a big, smooth, and bright picture over smart TV frills and built-in sound. If you're plugging in a console, a streaming box, and a soundbar anyway, the LG QNED85A gives you 90% of the premium experience for a fraction of the price. It's a pragmatic, high-performance panel that doesn't waste money on features you'll probably bypass with your own gear.