LG QNED evo Mini LED - 74B series 85QNED74BUA 85"

Big 85-inch Mini-LED screen with solid smart features and decent upscaling. But a 60Hz panel, two HDMI ports, and below-average picture quality hold it back. Worth considering near USD 600, but over USD 900 you can do better.

The Mini-LED backlight does the heavy lifting here. You get decent brightness and better contrast than a standard edge-lit LED, which helps in bright rooms. The α7 AI Processor 4K Gen9 handles upscaling reasonably well, so older 1080p content doesn't look like mush on that 85-inch canvas. But the 60Hz refresh rate caps motion clarity, and with only two HDMI ports, you'll be swapping cables if you have a console, soundbar, and streaming box. HDR support is limited to HDR10 and HLG, no Dolby Vision, which is a miss at this size and price. Audio is a basic 2.0 channel setup, so plan on a soundbar.

Against the TCL QM8K, this LG gives up a lot. The TCL has a 120Hz panel, better HDR support, and typically more HDMI ports for similar or less money. The Hisense U8 Series also outguns it on picture quality and gaming features. The Sony BRAVIA XR A95L is in a completely different league, but it costs way more, so that's not a fair fight. The Samsung Neo QLED QN70F is closer in spirit, but Samsung's processing and contrast tend to edge out this LG. If you're brand loyal to LG, this is fine. If you're shopping on specs, the competition is stiff.

Pricing is all over the place right now. US listings range from USD 600 to USD 1,100 across five vendors. At the low end, this is a lot of screen for the money. At the high end, you're dangerously close to better TVs with 120Hz panels and more HDMI ports. If you can snag it near USD 600, it's a solid deal for a big casual streaming display. If you're paying over USD 900, you should probably look at the TCL QM8K or Hisense U8 instead.

LG's 85-inch QNED evo Mini LED is a big screen with a lot of promise. Mini-LED backlighting and the α7 AI Processor 4K Gen9 should mean punchy contrast and solid upscaling. And at this size, it's a statement piece for any living room.

But the spec sheet tells a more complicated story. A 60Hz panel, just two HDMI ports, and picture quality that lands in the 36th percentile of our database. This is a TV built for casual streaming and smart home setups, not for pixel peepers or serious gamers.

Skip this if you're a gamer who wants 120Hz or VRR, or if you need more than two HDMI ports. Also skip it if you care about Dolby Vision or deep picture quality, because this panel doesn't deliver either. And if you're paying more than USD 900, you're overpaying for what you get.

This is a TV for people who want a massive screen for streaming shows, watching YouTube, and maybe some casual console gaming. It's not for enthusiasts who care about 120Hz, Dolby Vision, or deep picture quality. The smart home integration is genuinely good, and webOS remains one of the easier smart TV platforms to live with. If you find it at the low end of that USD 600 to USD 1,100 range, it's a reasonable buy. Just know what you're getting.