- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- TV appearance
- Where to buy
- Contrast and black detail
- HDR effect quality
- Factory color reproduction
- Color reproduction after calibration
- Smoothness of tonal transitions
- Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
- Blur and motion smoothness
- Console compatibility and gaming features
- Input lag
- Compatibility with PC
- Viewing angles
- TV efficiency during daytime
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Details about the matrix
Haier K85F Review
K85F / K85FUX
Available screen sizes:
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 60Hz Brand: HAIER Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
Haier, a brand previously associated mainly with household appliances, boldly steps into the television market, which can be confidently regarded as a leap into the deep end. However, before we take a closer look at its most ambitious designs, we will focus on the K85F model – a considerably more accessible option. This is, by design, a simple LCD television, driven not by "technological extravagance," but by the tried and tested software of Google TV. Let’s check if this bold debut in a completely new category can be considered successful.
HAIER K85F - Our verdict
5.4
Overall rating
The debut of the Haier brand in the European television market with the K85F model feels hurried, and after thorough testing, it seems almost unfinished. Analyzing this product leads us to a fundamental conclusion: its biggest problem is not the quality of the panel used. This, considering the price segment, is simply average, with the typical advantages of VA technology in the form of high contrast and equally typical disadvantages, such as poor viewing angles. What truly disqualifies this model as a home entertainment centre is the glaring lack of engineering refinement and, above all, software development. The list of shortcomings is long and starts from the very first contact with the device. Sloppy assembly, which could have been avoided during quality control, a poorly optimised and badly translated Google TV system, or annoying issues with basic functions like pairing the remote – all contribute to the picture of a product that seems to have been released to market without due diligence. The catastrophic image quality in HDR mode, resulting not only from low brightness but also from a complete lack of intelligent adaptation to the signal, only adds to this disappointing picture. However, it turns out that this model has a surprising second face. One needs to look at it not through the lens of a home television, but rather as a large and inexpensive display for special tasks. Then its shortcomings become less important, and unexpected advantages come to the fore: a fantastically working media player with USB, remarkable font readability from a PC, and access to a vast application database. In this role – as a screen in a conference room, hotel lobby, or simple advertising player – the Haier K85F performs surprisingly well. For the typical user looking for a reliable and simply well-functioning television for the living room in 2025, however, the Haier K85F is a proposal that is incredibly difficult to recommend with a clear conscience. It is a product full of contradictions, which fails in its primary, intended function on too many fronts.
Advantages
Low input lag, excellent for gaming
Surprisingly good media player via USB
High contrast and decent black levels (VA panel)
Good text readability in PC monitor mode
Presence of gaming features: ALLM and VRR
Access to numerous applications thanks to GoogleTV
Disadvantages
Catastrophic image quality in HDR mode
Low quality of workmanship and fitting of materials
Slow, stuttering and poorly translated Google TV system
Very poor sound quality from the built-in speakers
Problematic remote control (and no batteries included)
Poor viewing angles
Low brightness and weak anti-reflective coating
Low colour gamut coverage
Movies and series in UHD quality5.2
Classic TV, YouTube5.2
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)4.6
Gaming on console6.4
TV as a computer monitor6.0
Watching in bright light4.1
Utility functions5.5
Apps9.6
Sound quality4.8
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HAIER K85F - Competing TVs in this price range
HAIER K85F - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 4 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1 Other inputs: RCA (Chinch) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: BuildQuality-Budget
Stand type: Legs
Bezel colour: Black
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: No
Accessories: Stand
The first thing that catches the eye when taking the television out of the box is its appearance. If it seems to you that you have seen it somewhere before, you are right – Haier's designers have clearly been inspired by popular Xiaomi models from the A Pro series. At first glance, it looks modern and minimalist. Unfortunately, the magic fades as soon as you take the device in your hand. You immediately feel that the plastics used are cheap, and the individual elements of the casing do not always fit together perfectly. However, the real problem that reveals poor production quality lies in the assembly of the legs. The manufacturer has prepared two sets of holes in the casing, which in theory should give us a choice of their spacing. That's the theory. In practice, we will find the thread only in one pair. Moreover, the word "thread" is quite an exaggeration here. It's simply a plastic socket where the screws have to be forced in, praying silently that nothing breaks. Finally, there is still the frame around the screen. Although it is quite thin, its finish is so careless that one might think: “it looks like it was forged by a blacksmith with a hammer.” And it is hard to disagree with that thought.
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HAIER K85F - Contrast and black detail
5.6/10
Local dimming function: No
Result
3,550:1
Result
5,200:1
Result
5,350:1
Result
5,400:1
Result
3,500:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
Well then, let’s get to the point, which is how the Haier K85F handles black levels and contrast. The key information is that the television uses a VA panel, which has a significant impact on the image quality in dark scenes. It is precisely because of this that the contrast is really solid – our measurements showed values around 5000:1, which is much better than that of popular IPS panels.
However, one must remember that we are talking about equipment from the lower price range. Therefore, one cannot expect any advanced technologies, such as local dimming. The backlighting works across the entire surface of the screen all the time. How did this look during viewing? We took the film “Oblivion” with its cosmic landscapes for a test, and also checked classic black bars in other productions. The effect was quite decent. The black had good depth, but it was not perfectly pitch black – a subtle, navy blue glow could be seen, indicating that the panel's backlighting was still active.
HAIER K85F - HDR effect quality
3.4/10
Supported formats: HDR10 Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 81.8%, Bt.2020: 61.4%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
217 nit
Result
212 nit
Result
278 nit
Result
250 nit
Result
273 nit
Let’s now turn to one of the hottest topics in the world of televisions, namely the quality of HDR effect. In the case of the Haier K85F model, we must unfortunately make it clear: if you are looking for equipment to watch content in a wide dynamic range, you should avoid this model at all costs. The main problem is its very low peak brightness, which during our tests barely reached 250 nits. To give you a better idea of what that means – such a value is fine for watching standard SDR content, but it is absolutely insufficient to showcase any real benefits of HDR. The image simply lacks the "power" to generate bright, striking highlights. All our measurements and tests on specialist patterns only confirmed this. As if that weren't enough, the television also struggles with colour reproduction. In this budget build, we won't find any technologies to expand the colour palette, such as quantum dot layers (marketed as "QLED"). As a result, the coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space, which is crucial for HDR materials, is only around 80%. In practice, this means that the image will not only be dark but also devoid of the vibrant, saturated colours that the director wanted to show us.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Well, low brightness alone isn't the end of the world. We've tested televisions that didn't look impressive on paper but were still able to intelligently process HDR signals. Thanks to advanced algorithms, they could 'trick' the system into displaying a rich and detailed image on a relatively dark screen while preserving the director's intent. This is known as tone mapping, or image adaptation. Unfortunately, we have bad news for you on this front. The Haier K85F seems to be completely devoid of this capability. We have the impression that the television doesn't respond at all to the so-called HDR metadata, which are the instructions contained in the signal that tell it how to display a given scene. The effect is dismal and predictable: most HDR content is simply excessively blown out. Bright elements in the image, such as the sky, lights, or explosions, merge into one big white blob, devoid of any details. To put it bluntly, the picture looks terrible. Therefore, for this television, our advice is simple and firm: we do not recommend using HDR material at all. You'll achieve better results watching standard SDR content.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
The next nail in the coffin, when it comes to HDR quality, is the lack of support for any format with dynamic metadata. What does this mean in practice? The standard HDR10, which this television supports, sends a fixed set of brightness information to the screen for the entire movie. In contrast, formats such as Dolby Vision or HDR10+ provide these instructions scene by scene, and even frame by frame. This typically acts as a kind of "lifeline" for lower-end televisions. Even if the television itself cannot intelligently map tones and adjust the image, the content recorded in the dynamic standard somewhat takes it by the hand, suggesting how to display the bright and dark parts of the image at any given moment. Unfortunately, we will not find such assistance in the Haier K85F. The manufacturer has not equipped it with either Dolby Vision or HDR10+. This means that we are relegated solely to its own very poor image processing capabilities. This ultimately confirms our earlier thesis: this television and HDR technology simply do not go hand in hand.
Static HDR10
Factory color reproduction
3.8/10
Well, how does the television perform with colours straight out of the box, without any interference from our side? The Haier K85F offers a full range of picture modes, such as Dynamic and Eco, but for anyone who wants to watch films according to the creators' intentions, only one really matters: Film mode. That is where we focused our tests, and unfortunately, its name has little to do with reality. The picture in the factory settings is very far from what we could call cinematic fidelity and requires numerous adjustments. Let's start with the white balance, which has a noticeable deficiency of red. In practice, this means that the entire image has a cool, bluish tint. The situation is even worse regarding brightness management, namely the gamma curve (for SDR) and EOTF (for HDR). Their graph resembles a real rollercoaster, which has a disastrous impact on the viewing experience. This results in unnatural dimming of SDR content, causing details in shadows to be lost, and in the case of HDR – excessive brightness, which further exacerbates the issue of clipping. Such a combination, namely too cool white combined with chaotic brightness and excessive blue saturation, results in significant errors in colour reproduction. Our measurements on the specialist ColorChecker chart revealed errors (Delta E) regularly reaching and exceeding values of 8-9. Put simply, errors above the threshold of 3 are already easily noticeable to the naked eye, so such a result means that the colours on the screen are simply heavily distorted.
Color reproduction after calibration
6.2/10
Well, is there anything that can be done about this picture? Can professional calibration save the situation? The answer is both yes and no. It must be clearly stated that there are certain limitations we cannot overcome. The constraints of the design itself, meaning simply a poor panel and its narrow colour coverage, make it impossible to expect a reasonable HDR effect – we won't mislead you on that. The biggest beneficiary of our adjustments is undoubtedly the SDR mode, and it is indeed for watching such content, after calibration, that this television starts to make sense. We managed to somewhat tame the white balance. Although the television only offers basic 2-point adjustment (rather than precise 20-point), so it's not perfect, we successfully eliminated that unpleasant, cold "chill" in the picture. Above all, however, we noted a significant improvement in brightness management. The gamma curve, which previously resembled a rollercoaster, looks like an almost perfectly straight line after calibration. This is a sign that the television can finally display images without artificially dimming or brightening them. The conclusion is simple: even with such a cheap television, professional adjustment of the settings can achieve a lot and extract the maximum potential from it.
HAIER K85F - Smoothness of tonal transitions
7.6/10
It’s time to address a matter that goes unnoticed by many, but can be very irritating to the discerning (and not just) eye. We are talking about the fluidity of tonal transitions, or how smoothly the screen displays transitions between very similar shades of a single colour – for example, on a clear blue sky. We must admit that in this category, the Haier K85F performs quite decently considering its price. In bright scenes, such as the aforementioned sky or vast landscapes in the film "The Martian", there are no strong, distinct bands. Indeed, if you look closely, you will notice minimal imperfections, but generally, the effect is more than satisfactory. However, the situation changes when darker scenes appear on the screen, such as murky corridors in games or night landscapes. Here, banding, or the posterisation effect, becomes much more visible. Transitions in shadows and greys are no longer as smooth and can irritate the more sensitive eye. It’s not a level that would completely disqualify the television, but it’s clear that this is an area where costs have been cut.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
4/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Let's move on to digital processing and image scaling, specifically how the Haier K85F handles lower resolution signals, such as those from standard television. Right from the start, we encounter an extremely annoying and completely incomprehensible issue – overscan that is enabled by default. This means that the television artificially enlarges the image, cropping its edges, and this happens on every source, even 1080p. To see the full frame, you have to dig through the screen settings each time and manually switch the format to "expand to 16:9". It's a detail, but it's devilishly frustrating. The very act of scaling content to 4K resolution can be summed up in one word: acceptable. And that's about it. The image processor does not strip details from the picture, nor does it generate jagged edges or other artifacts. It simply does its job, without any fireworks. It's alright, but nothing more. However, the biggest and most noticeable shortcoming in the digital processing section is the absence of a smooth tonal transition feature. This is an algorithm that could significantly reduce the annoying banding effect we mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not provide such a solution, condemning us to watch the imperfections of the panel and low-quality materials in full view.
HAIER K85F - Blur and motion smoothness
4.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 60Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: No
The matrix in the K85F model operates at a native refresh rate of 60 Hz, which right from the start sets certain expectations regarding image fluidity. However, we must admit that we were very positively surprised when we found two separate sliders for motion control in the settings menu: one labelled as "Motion Blur Reduction" and the other "De-Judder". Such generosity in this price segment is an absolute rarity, as typically manufacturers offer at most one shared option. Unfortunately, our enthusiasm waned as quickly as it appeared. It soon became clear why Haier was so "generous" – the slider responsible for motion blur reduction is simply a dummy. Its adjustment brings absolutely no visible effect on the screen, so only one of the two options works.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
And what is the fluidity like in practice? Due to the 60 Hz panel, the overall sharpness of objects in motion is at an average level, typical for this class of equipment. To make matters worse, the VA panel used here has its drawbacks, and the most significant of them is noticeable ghosting, which becomes particularly bothersome in darker scenes when bright elements move against a dark background. The image can then leave visible afterimages behind.
HAIER K85F - Console compatibility and gaming features
4/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 60Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
No
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
No
- 1080p@120Hz:
No
- 1440p@120Hz:
No
- 4K@120Hz:
No
- Game bar:
No
Let's move on to features for gamers, although we must emphasise at the outset that this is more of a proposal for the "casual" ones. The manufacturer boasts in the specifications about the presence of HDMI 2.1 ports, which looks impressive on paper, but in reality, it is largely a marketing ploy. What good is a modern port if the heart of the television is a panel with a refresh rate of 60 Hz? It physically cannot display a signal at 120 frames per second, even at lower resolutions, which deprives the HDMI 2.1 port of its most significant advantage. It's a shame. (That’s why we mark it as HDMI 2.0 in our tests). Another curious peculiarity is the television's reaction to attempts to calibrate HDR from the console level. Changes to brightness settings cause very unnatural image behaviour, which might suggest an incorrect implementation of the HGiG standard. To be honest, however, one shouldn't worry too much about this, because as we've mentioned numerous times, we simply do not recommend using any HDR content on this screen. However, to avoid being too negative, the Haier K85F also has two significant and unexpected advantages. The first is the presence of ALLM, or Auto Low Latency Mode, which switches the television to low latency mode as soon as it detects a connected console. The second, even bigger surprise, is support for VRR, or Variable Refresh Rate. While it works within a very modest range of 48-60 Hz, its mere presence is commendable. As a result, the image in games can experience less "tearing," which significantly improves the gaming experience.
HAIER K85F - Input lag
10/10
We must, however, give Haier its due – there is one parameter in which this television absolutely shines and embarrasses many more expensive models. We are speaking about input lag, or signal delay. Our measurements showed an impressively low result of just 13 ms. This is a huge plus that makes gaming controls lightning-fast and incredibly responsive. In this regard, the K85F performs excellently.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 13 ms | 2160p60: 13 ms | 2160p60 DV: 13 ms |
| 2160p60: 13 ms |
HAIER K85F - Compatibility with PC
6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 13ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 60Hz
G-Sync: No
And what if you tried using this Haier as a monitor for your computer? Here, to our great surprise, the television performs remarkably well. For office work – it is ideal. This is all thanks to its proper support for what is known as chroma subsampling 4:4:4. In plain terms: every, even the smallest letter on the screen is sharp, without annoying coloured outlines or blurring. Of course, let's be straightforward – this is not equipment for PC gamers. 60 Hz is too little for them. But if you simply need a large screen for text work, browsing the internet, coding, or displaying presentations, the K85F will excel in this role. This is one of its strongest and, to be honest, most unexpected applications.
HAIER K85F - Viewing angles
2.8/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 67%
At almost the very end of the assessment of the panel itself, we left the viewing angles, which unfortunately are one of its biggest weaknesses. However, it must be honestly admitted that this is no surprise – it is simply a natural and commonly known characteristic of VA-type panels. In the specimen we tested, interestingly, the brightness of the image did not drop dramatically when we moved away from the centre of the screen. The real problem, however, lies in the colours, which start to fade instantly. A slight change in position on the sofa is enough for the colours to lose their saturation and become washed out. In this respect, the Haier K85F presents a rather mediocre level, typical for this technology.
HAIER K85F - TV efficiency during daytime
4.1/10
Matrix coating: Satin
Reflection suppression: Average
Black levels during daytime: Good
And how does the television perform in confrontation with daylight, for example in a brightly sunlit living room? Unfortunately, we do not have good news here. As we have already established, it is a television with relatively low brightness, which becomes a serious drawback when faced with sunlight. The situation is further worsened by the screen coating used. Instead of effectively suppressing reflections, its satin structure tends to unfavourably scatter them. In practice, this means that the reflection of a window or lamp turns into a large, blurred, milky halo, which degrades contrast and effectively hinders viewing. The conclusion is therefore clear: if the television is to be placed in a bright room, the K85F model will not be a good choice.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Haier K85F: 276 cd/m2
HAIER K85F - TV features
5.5/10
System: Google TV
System performance: Poor
- HDMI inputs: 4 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
- Other inputs: RCA (Chinch)
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No
- Recording programming: No
- Picture in Picture (PiP): No
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
- Backlit remote control: No
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: No
Smart features:
- AirPlay: No
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
- Voice search: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
GoogleTV on Haier K85F
The heart of the television is the Google TV system, which in theory should be its huge advantage. Access to thousands of applications and a wealth of features are promises we are familiar with. Unfortunately, in Haier's execution, it is one of the worst implementations of this software we have encountered. The system runs painfully slowly, and the interface is notoriously unresponsive. However, the real nightmare is the incorrect and often downright comical translations of some menu options, making it difficult at times to understand what is even being referred to. To make matters worse, during our testing, we were unable to activate the AirPlay function, which simply did not work.
Classic features on Haier K85F
Let's move on to the classic features and connections, as this is where the story gets even more interesting. The rich array of ports is definitely a plus, including four HDMI ports and a rarely seen mini-jack headphone output. Unfortunately, the television does not offer either USB recording or PiP mode. However, the real ordeal begins with the remote control. Our first attempts to pair it via Bluetooth to activate radio frequency (RF) control and voice functions ended in total failure. After dozens of attempts, we were sure it was just a manufacturing defect. And here's the surprise: after a long struggle, we discovered that the remote could be paired, but it had to be done from the native Google TV settings, completely bypassing the non-functioning Haier overlay. This is a perfect example of how terrible software can ruin basic functionality. Oh, and one more thing. In the box... there weren't even any batteries for the remote.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
- Stereo (Mini-Jack): Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
Obsługiwane formaty audio:
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby True HD 7.1: Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: No
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: No
- DTS-HD Master Audio: No
Ułatwienia dla seniorów
- Numeric keyboard on TV: Yes
- Font size adjustment: Yes
- Audio description: Yes
HAIER K85F - Apps
9.6/10
HAIER K85F - Playing files from USB
9.4/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
After all our complaints about the unfinished software, the moment came when we experienced absolute shock. It turns out that in this buggy and slow-operating system there is a function hidden that works almost perfectly and puts industry veterans to shame. We are talking about the built-in media player for files from USB drives. It is a true multimedia powerhouse that played virtually every video format we threw at it – from the most popular to the completely niche. Haier, a newcomer in the TV market, has achieved something that many manufacturers with decades of experience have struggled with for years. Who knows, perhaps it was originally intended to be a reliable player for conference rooms? Regardless of its origin, the result is excellent!
HAIER K85F - Sound
4.8/10
83dB
Maximum volume
Supported codecs
(TV speakers)
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
When it comes to sound, the review will unfortunately be very brief. The biggest advantage of the built-in speakers of the K85F is really just that they are there and produce sound. Other than that, the sound is completely flat, devoid of any bass, and simply anemic. Yes, on the TV's box, we will find the Dolby Atmos logo, but when faced with the physical capabilities of these drivers, it is a feature that exists only on paper. The verdict can, therefore, only be one: when planning to purchase this television, you should immediately add a soundbar to your budget.
Acoustic Measurements
83dBC (Max)
75dBC
HAIER K85F - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: UKN2.241219.053
Image processor: mt5896
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: White LED
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Journalist, reviewer, and columnist for the "ChooseTV" portal
