QNED evo is now available for sale! LG QNED85A – the cheapest QNED evo television from LG. Is it really miniLED?

After the premiere of this year's LG OLEDs, it’s time for something definitely more affordable. Among the new LCD models, the QNED line stands out, which has been serving as the “mid-range” option in the manufacturer’s offering for several years – sitting between the cheapest televisions from the UR or Nano series and the flagship OLEDs. Today, we take a look at the QNED85 (or QNED86/87) model from the 2025 lineup – probably the cheapest LG television from the QNED evo series. We will check what it has to offer, who it might be aimed at, and whether it has a chance to become a sensible alternative to OLEDs and more expensive Mini LEDs.

👉 *Of course, we also encourage you to check out our review of the LG QNED87T – there are currently plenty of great promotions on it, so it might just turn out to be the better choice for you.

Appearance and structure – familiar, but is it a bad thing?

In terms of design, the QNED85/86/87A 2025 series differs nothing from last year's QNED87T model. The casing looks almost identical – we have a simple, modern construction, typical of contemporary LCD televisions. The television may not be among the thinnest bezel record breakers, but from the side, it presents neatly, and the whole thing gives a solid impression. A characteristic detail is the small LG logo placed in the lower right corner, which subtly stands out against the casing. So, there are no wild stylistic changes here, but nothing is lacking for it to fit into any interior. Depending on distribution (possibly, but more on that shortly), the QNED85/86/87A 2025 television may be equipped with one of three types of bases. In circulation, we will find a version with classic splayed legs, a central base in the shape of a "C," and a flat, minimalist base resembling an inverted "T."

Black and contrast – so it all depends on... the size?

If you follow our portal, you probably already know that LG has officially bid farewell to its LCD panel factories. Starting in 2024, LCD television panels will be sourced from external suppliers – primarily Chinese ones, such as BOE and CSOT (TCL). This may seem like a minor change, but in practice, it affects the actual picture quality – especially in cheaper models. With the QNED86A (2025), the situation becomes particularly interesting, as depending on the size, we may encounter a completely different type of panel – VA or IPS/ADS. And as we know well, the differences between them are significant, especially regarding contrast and black depth.

That's why this year we plan to test each size separately so you can have complete clarity on what to expect from a specific variant. Because – as experience shows – choosing a model is one thing, and choosing a screen size is another. For comparison, you can see the differences between VA and IPS panels and types of backlighting in the following material we've gathered from LG QNED televisions for 2024:

MiniLED? Not exactly

The level of black and contrast is determined not only by the type of panel but also by the type of backlighting, which is why – as you know us – we couldn’t leave this topic without comment.

Both LG and many stores promoting the QNED85/86/87A models from the 2025 collection boast the slogan "MiniLED". At first glance, it looks promising – after all, MiniLED is a technology associated with local dimming, greater light precision, and better contrast. The problem is that… not everything is as it seems.

According to the independent service FlatpanelsHD, the models in this series do NOT offer true MiniLED backlighting. In fact, LG has applied edge lighting, rather than direct (FALD type), and this applies to most screen sizes – from 43 to 86 inches. Miniature lenses are present, but they have been placed on the edge of the screen. You can draw your own conclusions from this. If you purchase one of these models thinking you are getting a “true MiniLED,” you might be disappointed – because technically speaking, it is still just edge lighting with a bit of marketing thrown in.

QNED85A, QNED86A, QNED87A... The chaos in names continues

If you thought that choosing an LG television from the QNED series was just about the size, then... we have to disappoint you. In 2025, the confusion over naming reached a new level. The same model can be found in stores under different names: QNED85A, QNED86A, QNED87A – and the differences between them, at first glance, might seem to be about the colour of the casing or the type of stand. The problem is that... this isn’t the end.

There's also the designation of variants like A6A, A6B, A6C – and what's most interesting is that these extensions don’t directly say anything about appearance or specifications. For example: Choosing the 55" model QNED86A6A at store X can result in getting a completely different type of television than at store Y. 😂

Looking at the offers from official distributors, we are dealing with a total mess. However, everything indicates that it's technically the same television, differing only in the type of stand. And this is where it gets interesting. There are three different versions of the legs:

1. Two spread legs

2. Central base shaped like a "C" – reminiscent of Samsung or TCL designs,

3. Flat foot in the style of an inverted "T"

Above, we are posting pictures so you can figure out for yourselves which version is which – because we are getting confused too 😅

HDR – good news for home cinema fans!

There’s something that really deserves praise here. Everything indicates that the QNED85/86/87A 2025 series has received a small but very important update compared to its predecessor. After just a year’s break, support for dynamic Dolby Vision metadata is back in place! And, to be honest – it’s a very good decision. While we strongly criticised LG for cutting DTS:X support in the 2025 OLEDs, here it seems that someone in accounting decided it was worth paying for Dolby Vision after all – at least in the mid-range TVs. And thankfully so. Because, unlike the somewhat niche DTS, Dolby Vision truly impacts picture quality – it allows for better management of brightness and contrast, especially in challenging scenes. In the QNED TV segment, this can be a significant advantage and something that will definitely enhance the experience of watching movies and series in HDR.

Players, attention – is every QNED a good choice?

The new QNED85/86/87A 2025 series looks quite promising from a gamer’s perspective. Most sizes – from 55 inches upwards – are equipped with 120 Hz or even 144 Hz panels, which, combined with HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM, and a dedicated Game Bar, makes it a very sensible choice for the next-generation console.

But – and here’s another important note – one must be cautious of the smaller sizes. This year, LG has expanded its range to include 50 and 43 inches. In the 2025 models, it seems that these smaller diagonals now only have 60 Hz... Interestingly, the QNED85 from 2024 in the 50” version still had a 120 Hz panel.

We know the prices of the QNED evo 85/86/87A TV

Below we present a comparison of the approximate prices for the LG QNED85A, QNED86A, and QNED87A models from the 2025 range, available in various markets. Prices may vary depending on the region and retailer, so it's worth checking local offers before purchasing.

QNED85A: or "Chaos" in a box

If we had to describe the QNED85/86/87A 2025 in one word, it would be... "total chaos". We've got everything here: MiniLED, which isn't really a MiniLED, different types of panels depending on the size, versions with 144 Hz and 60 Hz, and to top it all off, total confusion in naming and design of the bases. And while the television itself may turn out to be quite decent, it now requires the consumer not so much technical knowledge but detection skills. Therefore, for now, we say one thing: wait for our tests. There is a high probability that this one model will require four separate reviews – for the version with an IPS/ADS panel, for the version with a VA panel, for the 144 Hz variant, and for the 60 Hz. Only then will it be possible to say what this QNED can really do.

And if you don't want to wait and prefer to go for something tried and tested – we invite you to our ranking of LG televisions from the sale. Perhaps that's where you'll find a model whose quality is 100% guaranteed.