TCL 85S435 85"

The TCL 85S435 is an 85-inch 4K TV that prioritizes massive screen size above all else. Picture quality and HDR are just average, and gaming performance is weak, but the built-in Roku platform is excellent. It's the go-to choice for buyers who want a gigantic screen on a budget and don't need premium picture performance.

The 4K picture on the 85S435 is sharp, and the built-in 4K upscaling does a decent job making HD content look cleaner on the big screen. But the overall picture quality is middle-of-the-pack at best, landing in the 37th percentile. That means it's fine for casual viewing, but it won't wow you with deep blacks or vibrant highlights. The HDR performance is similarly underwhelming, also in the 37th percentile. It can accept an HDR signal, but the panel's limited brightness means you won't see the dramatic specular highlights that make HDR content pop on better sets.

Gaming is a real weak spot here. With a 60Hz panel and no variable refresh rate support, it scored just 21/100 in our gaming tests. Input lag isn't terrible for casual play, but serious gamers will feel the lack of smoothness. The audio is another letdown, sitting in the 16th percentile. The built-in speakers are thin and lack any real bass. You'll almost certainly want to budget for a soundbar, especially in a large room where this 85-inch screen belongs.

Stacked against the competition, the TCL 85S435 is in a different league than premium sets like the Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L or the LG C5 OLED. Those TVs deliver perfect blacks, incredible color, and top-tier gaming features, but they also cost several times more and the Sony is smaller at 77 inches. The Samsung Neo QLED QN75QN990FFXZA is another high-end giant with stunning brightness, but again, the price gap is enormous. A more direct rival might be the Hisense U8 Series, which offers better picture quality with mini-LED tech, but even that will cost you more for a similar size.

The Roku Plus Series is an interesting alternative. It's a step up in picture quality with QLED and local dimming, but it doesn't come in an 85-inch size. So the TCL's main advantage is clear: it's one of the cheapest ways to get a truly enormous, name-brand 4K smart TV. You're sacrificing HDR pop, gaming smoothness, and audio quality to get that massive screen at this price.

Value is where this TCL makes its stand. You're getting an 85-inch screen for a price that's often well under $1,600. That's the main event. For context, stepping up to an 85-inch model with better picture quality, like a Sony or Samsung, can easily cost two to three times as much. If you just want a gigantic screen for your living room to watch sports and Netflix, and you're not comparing it side-by-side with an OLED, the value proposition is hard to beat. Just know that you're trading picture performance for sheer size.

If you're hunting for a massive screen without spending a fortune, the TCL 85S435 is probably on your radar. This 85-inch 4K LED TV from TCL's 4-Series is all about one thing: size. For a lot of people, that's exactly what they want. You get a huge, 85-inch canvas with 4K resolution and the built-in Roku smart platform, which is one of the easiest interfaces to use. It's a 2021 model, so it's not the newest kid on the block, but it's still widely available and often at a price that makes you do a double-take for an 85-inch screen.

But let's be real, you don't get a screen this big at this price without some compromises. This is an entry-level LED TV with a standard 60Hz refresh rate. It supports HDR, but it lacks the advanced local dimming and peak brightness you'd find on pricier QLED or OLED sets. The picture quality and HDR performance sit in the lower third of our database, so don't expect it to blow your mind with contrast or color volume. It's a straightforward, big-screen TV for everyday streaming and cable TV.

For a smart home hub or a dedicated gaming display, it's not the strongest pick. Our scores for gaming (21/100) and audio (16th percentile) are pretty low. But for pure streaming, it's a solid performer in its class. If your main goal is to make movies and shows feel huge in your living room, and you're not a stickler for perfect black levels, this TCL makes a compelling case.

You should skip the TCL 85S435 if picture quality is a top priority. Movie buffs who watch in a dark room will be disappointed by the grayish blacks and dim HDR. Gamers who own a PS5 or Xbox Series X should also look away, as the 60Hz panel and lack of gaming features will hold back your console. If you fall into either camp, consider spending the same money on a smaller but much better-performing TV like a 65-inch Hisense U8 Series or a 55-inch LG OLED. You'll lose screen size but gain a dramatically better picture.

Should you buy the TCL 85S435? If your number one priority is getting the biggest possible screen for the least amount of money, then yes, absolutely. This TV is perfect for a bright family room where you mostly watch cable news, sitcoms, and sports. The Roku interface is dead simple, so everyone in the house will get it. The picture is totally fine for that kind of everyday use, and the sheer scale of an 85-inch screen is an experience in itself.

But if you care about movie nights in a dark room, or you want your PS5 games to look their best, you should look elsewhere. The lackluster HDR and 60Hz panel will leave enthusiasts wanting more. For the same money, you could get a much better 65-inch or 75-inch TV that will actually make your 4K Blu-rays shine. This TCL is a specialist in size, and for the right buyer, that's more than enough.