Tomasz Wadowski
After the premiere of this year's LG OLEDs, it was time for something definitely more affordable. Among the new LCD models, the QNED line stands out, which for several years has served as the "mid-range" option in the manufacturer's offering – positioned between the cheapest televisions from the UR or Nano series and the flagship OLEDs. Today, we take a look at the QNED85 model (or QNED86/87) from the 2025 lineup – likely the cheapest LG television from the QNED evo series. We will check what it has to offer, who it may be aimed at, and whether it has a chance to become a reasonable alternative to OLEDs and more expensive Mini LEDs.
TV Build – Familiar, but is that Bad?
In terms of design, the QNED85/86/87A 2025 series is practically indistinguishable from last year's QNED87T model. The casing looks almost identical – we have a simple, modern design typical of contemporary LCD televisions. The TV may not be a record holder for the slimness of its bezel, but it presents neatly from the side, and the overall impression is solid. A characteristic detail is the small LG logo placed in the lower right corner, which subtly stands out against the casing. There are no stylistic excesses here, but nothing is lacking to fit into any interior. Depending on the distribution (I think, but more on that soon), the QNED85/86/87A 2025 TV may be equipped with one of three types of stands. In circulation, we will find a version with classic spaced legs, a central base in the shape of a "C," and a flat, minimalist stand resembling an upside-down "T."
Black and Contrast – So Everything Depends on... Size?
If you follow our portal, you probably already know that LG has officially said goodbye to its LCD panel factories. Starting in 2024, LCD television panels will be sourced from external suppliers – mainly Chinese, such as BOE or CSOT (TCL). This may seem like a minor change, but in practice, it affects real image quality – especially in cheaper models. In the case of the QNED86A (2025), the situation becomes particularly interesting because depending on the size, we can encounter a completely different type of panel – VA or IPS/ADS. And as we know well, the differences between them are significant, especially when it comes to 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 diagonal size is another. For comparison, you can see the differences between VA and IPS panels and the type of backlighting in the material below that we gathered from LG's QNED TVs 2024:
MiniLED? Not exactly
The level of black and contrast is determined not only by the type of matrix 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 range 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, models from this series do not offer full MiniLED backlighting at all. In reality, LG has used edge lighting instead of direct (FALD type), and this applies to most screen sizes – from 43 to 86 inches. Miniature lenses are present, but they have been placed at the edge of the screen. You can imagine the effects of this for yourself. If you buy one of these models thinking you’re getting a “real MiniLED,” you might be disappointed – because technically speaking, it’s still just edge lighting with some marketing spin.
QNED85A, QNED86A, QNED87A... The chaos in names continues
If you thought that choosing an LG TV from the QNED series is just a matter of size, then... we must disappoint you. In 2025, the naming confusion reached a new level. The same model may appear in stores under different names: QNED85A, QNED86A, QNED87A – and the differences between them at first glance would seem to concern, for example, the color of the casing or the type of stand. The problem is that... this is not the end.
There is also the designation of variants such as A6A, A6B, A6C – and interestingly, these extensions do not directly indicate anything about appearance or specifications. For example: Choosing the 55" QNED86A6A model at store X may result in getting a completely different type of television than at store Y. 😂
Looking at the offers from official distributors, we are dealing with total chaos. Everything suggests that it is technically the same television, differing only in the type of stand. And this is where it gets interesting. There are three different versions of legs in circulation:
Two splayed legs
Central base in the shape of a "C" – resembling the designs of Samsung or TCL,
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 theater fans!
There is something that truly deserves praise here. Everything indicates that the QNED85/86/87A 2025 series has received a small but very significant update compared to its predecessor. After just a year’s break, support for dynamic Dolby Vision metadata is back in its place! And to be honest – this is a very good decision. While we heavily criticized LG for cutting support for DTS:X in the 2025 OLEDs, it looks like someone in accounting decided it was worth paying for Dolby Vision – at least in the mid-range TVs. And thank goodness for that. Because unlike the somewhat niche DTS, Dolby Vision genuinely affects 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 definitely enhances 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 player's perspective. Most sizes – starting from 55 inches – 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 a next-generation console.
But – and here’s another important note – you need to be careful with smaller sizes. This year, LG expanded its offering 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.
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 have everything here: MiniLED that isn’t really MiniLED, different types of panels depending on the size, versions with 144 Hz and 60 Hz, and a complete mess in naming and basic design. And while the TV itself may turn out to be quite decent, it demands not so much technical knowledge from the consumer today, but rather detective skills. So for now, we’ll say one thing: wait for our tests. There’s a good chance that this one model will require as many as four separate reviews – for the version with the IPS/ADS panel, the version with the VA panel, the 144 Hz variant, and the 60 Hz one. 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 proven – check out our ranking of LG TVs from the sale. Perhaps that’s where you’ll find a model whose quality is 100% certain.
