forum threadBojjihuntindeals | Staff posted Apr 21, 2026 08:34 PM
Item 1 of 3
Item 1 of 3
forum threadBojjihuntindeals | Staff posted Apr 21, 2026 08:34 PM
85" TCL Q5-Series 4K UHD HDR PRO+ QLED Smart Fire TV (2024,85Q550FS) $650 + Free Shipping
$650
$1,200
45% offBest Buy
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This 85-inch TCL Q5/Q550F is TCL's lowest-tier Q-series model. RTINGS describes it as a simple, entry-level set below the Q6 and Q7, and notes that it tops out at 4K/60Hz, with no HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and no local dimming. That combination is exactly why the price is so aggressive on a screen this large.
The biggest quality knock is picture performance in harder conditions. RTINGS says the TV has only passable HDR brightness, isn't bright enough to make highlights really pop, and that limited contrast plus the lack of local dimming means blacks can look washed out when bright objects are on screen. They also call out a narrow viewing angle, so side seating looks worse, and weak processing for low-quality content.
So when people say it's a bad TV, they usually mean one or more of these:
- Huge but basic: you're paying for 85 inches more than premium image quality.
- HDR is limited: "QLED" sounds fancy, but this is still a budget direct-lit set without local dimming, so HDR impact is modest.
- Only 60Hz: fine for normal TV and casual gaming, not ideal if you want 120Hz console/PC gaming.
- Off-angle performance is weak: bad fit for a wide seating arrangement.
- Fire TV OS: some buyers simply prefer Google TV/Roku and view Fire TV as cluttered or slower over time. RTINGS notes this model is the Fire TV version, while parallel models exist with Google TV.
That said, the internet tends to flatten nuance. Best Buy's page currently shows it around $649.99 with a 4.6/5 rating from about 260 reviews, and the customer summary there says buyers generally like the picture quality, size, color, and value for the price. So this is not a universally hated set; it's more that enthusiasts are comparing it against better TVs, not against "an 85-inch TV for $650."My blunt take: this is not a good buy if you care a lot about HDR movies, dark-room contrast, wide seating angles, or next-gen gaming features. But it is a defensible buy if your goal is simply "I want the biggest decent 85-inch screen possible for the least money" and you mostly watch streaming, sports, or TV straight-on.
If you're looking at this exact deal, the real question is not "is it shitty?" It's: are you okay with an 85-inch budget TV instead of a smaller but much better TV? For a lot of people, that trade is worth it. For home-theater people, it usually isn't.
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