TCL Q5K Series 85Q5K 85"

The TCL Q5K 85Q5K is an 85-inch 4K QLED with excellent smart features and full HDR support for around $700 to $750. It's a streaming-first TV with a 60Hz panel and middling picture quality. Buy it for the size and Google TV, not for gaming or critical viewing.

The Q5K's smart platform is the star of the show. It sits in the 98th percentile for smart features, which means Google TV runs circles around most built-in systems we've tested. HDR support is also a standout at the 96th percentile, with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG all covered. The AIPQ processor does a decent job upscaling and optimizing content. But the display itself only hits the 54th percentile, and picture quality lands at 36th. That's a big gap between what the TV can process and what the panel can actually show. Gaming is the real weak spot at the 39th percentile. A 60Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.0 means no 4K at 120Hz, no VRR, and no next-gen console features. The audio sits at the 71st percentile, which is fine for built-in speakers thanks to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, but a soundbar will still beat it easily.

Stacked against the Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L or the LG OLED evo C5, the TCL gets absolutely smoked on picture quality and gaming. Those sets cost way more, so that's expected. The more interesting comparison is the Hisense U8 Series 65U8QG. The Hisense is smaller but packs Mini-LED backlighting and better gaming features, and it's in a similar price conversation. The Samsung Neo QLED QN70F also brings better contrast and brightness tech, though at a higher price per inch. The TCL wins on raw screen size and smart platform polish. It loses on panel tech and gaming chops.

At $700 to $750 for 85 inches of QLED, the value proposition is hard to ignore. You're getting a huge screen with solid smart features and full HDR format support for less than many 65-inch mid-range sets. But the savings come from somewhere. The panel is basic Direct LED, the refresh rate is 60Hz, and the picture quality won't wow anyone who's seen a good OLED or Mini-LED. If your priority is size per dollar, this is a strong deal. If you want picture quality that matches the screen size, you'll need to spend more.

The TCL Q5K Series 85Q5K is an 85-inch 4K QLED that goes big on screen size and smart features without asking for a flagship price. It's a Direct LED panel with quantum dot color, Dolby Vision support, and Google TV built in. For a living room centerpiece that handles streaming and casual viewing, it checks a lot of boxes.

But this is not a performance TV. The 60Hz panel and HDMI 2.0 ports cap what you can do with gaming, and the picture quality scores land in the middle of the pack. You're buying size and smart features here, not pixel-perfect accuracy or blazing refresh rates.

Skip this if you're a gamer who wants 120Hz, VRR, or HDMI 2.1 features. Skip it if you're picky about picture quality and want deep blacks or precise local dimming. And skip it if you're putting it in a dark home theater room, because the Direct LED backlight will show its limits there. This is a bright-room, streaming-first TV, not a reference monitor.

The TCL Q5K 85Q5K is for people who want the biggest screen possible without spending a fortune. It's a streaming-first TV. Google TV is excellent, HDR format support is comprehensive, and the 85-inch size makes movies and sports feel immersive. If you're a gamer with a PS5 or Xbox Series X, or if you care about deep blacks and precise contrast, this isn't your TV. But for a family room streaming setup, it's a lot of screen for the money.