LG NU85 Nano 65NU850BPUA 65.1"

The LG NU85 is a 65-inch 4K TV that nails the smart TV experience with a slick webOS interface and strong AI upscaling. Picture quality is just okay, and the audio is weak, so factor in a soundbar. It's worth a look if you find it near the $480 mark, but pricier competitors offer better visuals.

The α7 processor does solid work cleaning up lower-resolution content, and the Nano Detail Enhancer adds a nice crispness to textures without looking artificial. But the direct-lit panel holds it back. HDR brightness is just okay, and you won't get the punchy highlights or deep shadows that pricier sets deliver. Gaming support is a mixed bag. You get FreeSync Premium and ALLM for smooth, low-lag play, but the panel is capped at 60Hz, so 120Hz console gaming is off the table. Audio is a weak spot. The built-in 2.0 channel speakers are underwhelming, and our audio score puts it below average. Plan on a soundbar.

Stacked against the competition, the NU85 carves out a niche as a smart platform champ but falls behind on raw picture performance. The Hisense U7 and TCL QM8K both bring Mini-LED backlights and higher brightness for a similar or slightly higher price, making them better picks for movie fans. The Samsung QN85D also outclasses it on picture quality, though you'll pay more for the privilege. Where the LG wins is ease of use. webOS feels more polished than what you get on TCL or Hisense, and the AI upscaling is a real advantage if you watch a lot of cable or older streaming content. The Sony BRAVIA 8 is in another league entirely, but it costs a lot more too.

Pricing on this set bounces around quite a bit, with a spread of $183 across different vendors. At the lower end of that range, around $480, it's a reasonable deal for a 65-inch smart TV with strong processing and a polished OS. As the price climbs toward $663, it gets harder to justify. That money puts you dangerously close to Mini-LED options from TCL and Hisense that deliver noticeably better picture quality. If you can snag it at the low end, the value is there for a streaming-first living room. Paying full freight makes less sense.

LG's NU85 is a 65-inch 4K TV that leans hard into smart features and AI processing without asking for a flagship price. It's packing the α7 AI Processor Gen9, which handles upscaling and detail enhancement, plus a full webOS smart platform with hundreds of free channels. The design is straightforward LED with a direct-lit backlight, so don't expect the deep blacks of an OLED or Mini-LED set.

This is a TV built for streaming and casual use, not a home theater centerpiece. The smart platform scores well above average in our database, but picture quality and audio land in mediocre territory. If you want a big screen that's easy to use and looks decent with 4K content, it fits the bill. Just know you're trading peak picture performance for that built-in convenience.

Home theater enthusiasts should look elsewhere. The direct-lit panel can't compete with Mini-LED or OLED sets on contrast or HDR impact, and the 60Hz cap is a dealbreaker for 120Hz gaming. If deep blacks and bright highlights matter to you, spend a bit more on a TCL QM8K or Hisense U7.

The LG NU85 is a smart TV first and a great TV second. Buy it if you want a big, easy-to-use screen for streaming Netflix, YouTube, and LG's free channels, and you don't want to mess with external streamers. The AI processing punches above its weight for upscaling, and the gaming features are fine for casual play. Skip it if picture quality is your top priority. There are better-looking panels for the money, and the weak built-in audio means you should budget for a soundbar from day one.