An 85-inch TV used to be a luxury purchase, but in early 2026, it’s possible to get a massive screen with genuinely solid picture performance for under $1,500. Improvements in Mini-LED backlighting, panel efficiency, and image processing have pushed large-screen performance into much more accessible price ranges than ever before.
This guide highlights the five best 85-inch-class TVs under $1,500, focusing on real-world brightness, contrast performance, panel capability, motion handling, smart TV usability, and overall value—not just headline specs that don’t meaningfully improve everyday viewing on a screen this large.
1. Best Overall 85-Inch TV Under $1,500 — TCL 85QM6K
The TCL 85QM6K, part of the TCL QM6K series, stands out as the most complete and capable large-screen option in this price range. It uses Mini-LED backlighting with local dimming, giving it a clear advantage in contrast control, HDR impact, and overall picture depth compared to standard LED and QLED models.
On an 85-inch screen, Mini-LED makes a dramatic difference. Bright highlights appear more intense, blacks look deeper, and shadow detail is better preserved in HDR movies and streaming content. The panel’s higher native refresh rate also delivers smoother motion for sports and fast-paced scenes, helping the TV feel more premium than its price suggests.
TCL’s Google TV platform is fast, stable, and well supported, making content discovery easy while offering long-term app reliability.
Why it’s great
- Mini-LED with effective local dimming
- Strong HDR brightness and contrast for large-screen viewing
- Smooth motion thanks to a higher native refresh rate
Best for: buyers who want the strongest overall picture quality under $1,500 in an 85-inch class TV
| TCL 85QM6K (85-inch TCL QM6K) Prices | |
| Walmart.com… | Amazon.com… |
2. Best Mini-LED Value Pick — Hisense 85U65QF
The Hisense 85U65QF, part of the Hisense U65QF series, earns its place by offering Mini-LED backlighting and a higher native refresh rate panel at a very aggressive price point for this size category.
Compared to traditional QLED and LED models, the U65QF delivers noticeably better contrast and HDR performance, which is especially important on an 85-inch display where weaknesses are more obvious. Brightness levels are strong enough for both movie nights and brighter living rooms, and motion remains smooth thanks to the faster panel.
The TV runs on Fire TV, which is responsive, intuitive, and deeply integrated with Alexa, making voice control and content discovery straightforward.
Why it’s great
- Mini-LED backlighting improves contrast and HDR realism
- Higher native refresh rate for smoother motion
- Familiar and fast Fire TV smart platform
Best for: buyers who want Mini-LED performance and smooth motion at the lowest possible price
| Hisense 85U65QF (85-inch Hisense U65QF) Prices | |
| Walmart.com (N/A) | Amazon.com… |
3. Best Refined QLED Experience — Samsung QN85Q7FAAFXZA
Samsung’s QN85Q7FAAFXZA, part of the Q7F QLED series, takes a more refinement-focused approach. It does not use Mini-LED backlighting and is limited to a standard refresh rate panel, but it delivers consistent brightness, vibrant color, and a very polished overall experience.
Samsung’s strength here lies in its tuning and usability. Color reproduction is clean and punchy, making SDR and HDR content look pleasing even without aggressive contrast enhancements. The Tizen smart platform remains one of the smoothest and most stable TV operating systems available, with fast navigation and excellent long-term reliability.
This model works best for viewers who value a polished interface and predictable, consistent performance over maximum HDR impact.
Why it’s great
- Clean, vibrant QLED color reproduction
- Highly refined and stable smart TV platform
- Reliable everyday picture quality
Best for: users who prioritize interface polish, ease of use, and consistent performance
| Samsung QN85Q7FAAFXZA (85-inch Samsung Q7F) Prices | |
| Walmart.com… | Amazon.com… |
4. Best Balanced LG Large-Screen TV — LG 86QNED82AUA
The LG 86QNED82AUA, part of the LG QNED82A series, is technically an 86-inch model, but in real-world use it sits squarely in the same viewing class as 85-inch TVs, with only a negligible size difference in practice. It focuses on delivering a comfortable, well-balanced viewing experience rather than chasing extreme brightness or aggressive contrast.
Its QNED display technology produces natural-looking colors and stable image quality, supported by basic local dimming rather than Mini-LED, making it well suited for everyday TV watching, streaming, and long viewing sessions. While it doesn’t offer Mini-LED-level contrast, LG’s image processing keeps content looking smooth and cohesive across a wide range of sources.
LG’s webOS smart platform remains one of the most intuitive and user-friendly systems available, with quick navigation, excellent app support, and a layout that’s easy to live with on a screen this large.
Why it’s great
- Natural and balanced color reproduction
- Smooth and easy-to-use webOS smart platform
- Comfortable picture quality for long viewing sessions
Best for: viewers who value usability, color consistency, and an easy-going large-screen experience
| LG 86QNED82AUA (86-inch LG QNED82A) Prices | |
| LG.com… | Amazon.com… |
5. Best Sony Processing on a Budget — Sony K-85S30
The Sony K-85S30, part of Sony’s Bravia 3 lineup, rounds out the list by emphasizing image processing and upscaling quality rather than panel hardware advantages.
It uses a standard LED panel without local dimming and is limited to a standard refresh rate, but Sony’s processing helps HD and lower-resolution content look cleaner and more stable on a massive 85-inch screen. Upscaling and motion handling are particularly effective for cable TV, sports, and older streaming content.
The TV runs on Google TV, which is clean, responsive, and well integrated with Google services.
Why it’s great
- Excellent upscaling for HD and broadcast content
- Natural color processing
- Clean and responsive Google TV interface
Best for: viewers who watch a lot of cable TV, sports, or lower-resolution content
| Sony K-85S30 (85-inch Sony Bravia 3) Prices | |
| Walmart.com… | Amazon.com… |
Quick Buying Tips for 85-Inch TVs Under $1,500 (Early 2026)
- Mini-LED matters more at this size
On an 85-inch screen, Mini-LED backlighting significantly improves contrast, HDR realism, and perceived picture depth. - Panel refresh rate affects motion more than processing
Higher native refresh rate panels deliver smoother motion, especially for sports and fast-paced content. - Choose a smart platform you enjoy using
Google TV, Tizen, webOS, and Fire TV are all solid—daily usability often matters more than raw specs.
Quick Summary
In short: TCL delivers the strongest overall Mini-LED performance, Hisense offers the best Mini-LED value, Samsung focuses on refinement and platform stability, LG prioritizes balanced color and usability, and Sony excels in processing and upscaling quality.
| Rank | Model | Screen Size | Display Type | Best For | Price Check |
| 1 | TCL 85QM6K | 85-inch | Mini-LED | Best overall picture quality | Amazon.com… |
| 2 | Hisense 85U65QF | 85-inch | Mini-LED | Best Mini-LED value | Amazon.com… |
| 3 | Samsung QN85Q7FAAFXZA | 85-inch | QLED | Refined smart platform & stability | Amazon.com… |
| 4 | LG 86QNED82AUA | 86-inch | QNED | Balanced color & usability | Amazon.com… |
| 5 | Sony K-85S30 | 85-inch | LED | Processing & upscaling quality | Amazon.com… |