LG QNED85A 4K Smart TV 2025: is it a real Mini LED TV?

This is the LG QNED85A, is a 2025 model marketed as a Mini LED TV by LG. But, is it a real mini LED? The quick answer would be no, if we take into account the Mini LED concept we were used to since 2021.

I mean, the concept Mini LED was associated as a complement of the Full Array backlithing technology, but with smaller LED lights and a greater number of them in order to achieve more dimming zones, hence a better performance in dark scenes with less halo effect also known as Blooming effect.

And of course the Mini LED has other objective which was to give a higher amount of brightness to any TV. But I think the most important aspects always aimed to a much better perfomance in dark scenes.

But, what is the problem this year with this QNED85A. Well, apparently, this technology was never regulated in the sense that there's nothing that mandates the term "Mini LED" must necessarily be associated with the term "Full Array."

Brands like Samsung and LG took advantage of this year with some of their models, attempting, in one way or another, to deceive people through legal loopholes.

This means that now a Brand is able to say that any TV has Mini LED backlithing technology simply with one or two facts: a relatively high amount of brightness and smaller LED lights. This means that you can have an Edge Lit TV, and simply with the fact that this LED lights are relatively small, with that is enough to say a TV is Mini LED.

And thats what happened with for example the Samsung QN70F and with this LG QNED85A.

This LG model from my point of view and from the point of view of almost any user, is not a real mini LED TV. I mean, legally LG is not wrong by aying this model is Mini LED, according to what I just explained.

But according to what users knew or what we were used to, this QNED85A is NOT a real mini LED, it is a simply EDGE lit TV with an aweful performance in dark scenes, specially when the content has some HDR technology, and even worse if you watch this type of content with subtitles.

Black colors Depth is not Good, you can percieve grayish blacks and a lot of Clouding effect. Or if you activate local dimming feature, you will notice too mucho halo or Blooming effect which is very annoying.

I mean, this model only has 6 dimming zones for this 55 inches size. This is ridiculous. It has the same amount of the dimming zones some other QNED models had from previous years.

This means LG decided simply to say this TV is mini LED because the amount of brightness it reaches in some picture modes, is realtively high, whoch is true.

I mean, this TV in terms of brightness and also in terms of colors show pretty Good results. And also in terms of viewing angles due to its ADS panels, hence as you can see colors wont lose too much volumen, even if you watch this screen from a very wide angle.

The problem, as you noticed, is the performance in dark scenes. And actually a lot of users are complaining about this.

But this is not the only complaint about this TV, because the speakers system is not really Good. I mean, it has a relatively clear performance, but it lacks a lot of bass and surround experience. And actually this is not what we were used to about LG´s TVs speakers systems.

In terms of Gaming performance is Good. It has 4 HDMI 2.1 ports compatible with 120Hz in 4K along with variable refresh rate technologies.

It has this Gamebar with different features including pictures modes, which is something Good.

The performance is Good in terms of motion handling. I never percieved Ghosting. Input Lag fetl great. Response time too.

And with video games with a lot of dark scenes you simply will notice slightly graysih black colors and some Blooming effect with more intensity if the video game has some HDR technology

About other aspects, the TV has the webOS operating system, it has a Good smootheness or fluency. It has the new magic remote with the button for voice commands although this TV does not support hands free voice commands feature.

It has the multiview option which might be useful for some users. The Apps store belongs to this operating system which is not base don Android, henece you cannot install apk files.

So, as a conclusions, this TV is not for everyone. This TV is only for somebodyu who loves the Brand and needs a TV with a Good amount of brightness, outstanding colors accuracy and Good viewing angles. And well, for Gaming is pretty Good option too. Just remember that in dark scenes will not be the best and it will not perform as we were used to from a real mini LED TV, because as I have said before, I dont consider this model a real Mini LED TV.

Hopefuly LG stop doing this for this next year, other way people will stop believing in this Brand or at least thats what I think.