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To try to better understand how long a TV should last, we're running 100 TVs through an accelerated longevity test for the next two years. We've just posted our 1-year video update with our latest findings on temporary image retention, burn-in, and more!

LG NANO85 2021 TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.11
Reviewed Feb 22, 2022 at 10:30 am
Latest change: Retest Feb 13, 2024 at 11:44 am
LG NANO85 2021 Picture
6.5
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
6.9
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
6.9
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
6.8
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
5.8
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
7.1
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
8.0
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: no price info

The LG NANO85 2021 is a mid-range TV in LG's 2021 NanoCell lineup. It replaces the LG NANO85 2020, and while it has many of the same features and performances as its predecessor, it improves in a few areas. Console gamers will be happy to know it has a 120Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on two ports, allowing you to play 4k @ 120Hz games without issue from the Xbox Series X and the PS5. It also has FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support to reduce screen tearing in games. It has the same excellent webOS interface as other LG TVs, which is easy-to-use and comes with the user-friendly Magic Remote. Like other NanoCell TVs, it has an IPS-like panel with fairly wide viewing angles, so it's a good choice to use in a wide seating area. However, that means it has a low contrast ratio, and its edge-lit local dimming feature causes blooming around bright objects.

Our Verdict

6.5 Mixed Usage

The LG NANO85 is decent overall. It performs best in moderately-lit rooms with wide seating areas, like when watching TV shows or sports, because it has decent reflection handling and wide viewing angles, but it doesn't get bright enough to fight a ton of glare. It's decent for gaming as it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, variable refresh rate (VRR) support, and a quick response time for a smooth gaming experience. Unfortunately, it's mediocre for watching content in dark rooms because blacks look gray, and the local dimming feature doesn't improve picture quality in dark scenes.

Pros
  • Decent reflection handling.
  • HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for 4k @ 120Hz gaming.
Cons
  • Low contrast makes blacks look gray.
  • Blooming around bright objects.
  • Low peak brightness in SDR and HDR.
6.9 TV Shows

The LG NANO85 is good for watching TV shows. It performs well in a room with a few lights around because it has okay peak brightness and decent reflection handling, but it's not good enough to place in a really bright room. It also has wide viewing angles, so it's good if you need to watch shows with the entire family. Lastly, its webOS interface is user-friendly, making it easy to stream your favorite shows.

Pros
  • Wide viewing angles.
  • Decent reflection handling.
Cons
  • Low peak brightness in SDR and HDR.
6.9 Sports

The LG NANO85 is good for watching sports. It's a good choice for watching the big game with a large group of people because it has wide viewing angles, so the image remains accurate when viewing from the side. Motion also looks smooth thanks to the quick response time, but you'll notice some motion blur behind fast-moving objects. Its reflection handling is decent if you want to use it in a room with a few lights around, but it doesn't get bright enough to fight a ton of glare.

Pros
  • Wide viewing angles.
  • Decent reflection handling.
  • Great motion handling.
Cons
  • Low peak brightness in SDR and HDR.
6.8 Video Games

The LG NANO85 is decent for playing video games. It has a few gaming-oriented features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for high-frame-rate gaming, and it has variable refresh rate support to reduce screen tearing. It also has low input and a quick response time for a responsive gaming experience. However, it's not a good choice for dark room gaming because it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, and the local dimming feature is terrible as it causes blooming around bright objects.

Pros
  • Great motion handling.
  • HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for 4k @ 120Hz gaming.
  • Native FreeSync support.
Cons
  • Low contrast makes blacks look gray.
  • Blooming around bright objects.
  • Terrible local dimming.
5.8 HDR Movies

The LG NANO85 is unremarkable for watching HDR movies. It doesn't deliver a true cinematic HDR experience because it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, and the local dimming performs terribly. Also, while it displays a wide color gamut for a wide range of colors, it doesn't get bright enough to make those colors look vivid and for highlights to pop.

Pros
  • Removes 24p judder from any source.
Cons
  • Low contrast makes blacks look gray.
  • Blooming around bright objects.
  • Terrible local dimming.
  • Low peak brightness in SDR and HDR.
7.1 HDR Gaming

The LG NANO85 is decent for HDR gaming, mainly due to its decent gaming performance. It has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth with a 120Hz panel and variable refresh rate support, meaning you can play high-frame-rate games with reduced screen tearing. Motion looks smooth thanks to its quick response time, and it has low input lag for a responsive feel. Sadly, HDR content doesn't look good at all as blacks look gray, there's blooming around bright objects with the local dimming feature enabled, and highlights don't pop.

Pros
  • Great motion handling.
  • HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for 4k @ 120Hz gaming.
  • Native FreeSync support.
Cons
  • Low contrast makes blacks look gray.
  • Blooming around bright objects.
  • Terrible local dimming.
  • Low peak brightness in SDR and HDR.
8.0 PC Monitor

The LG NANO85 is impressive to use as a PC monitor. It has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, meaning you can display high-frame-rate, high-resolution signals from your PC. It also displays proper chroma 4:4:4, which helps improve text clarity. It has low input lag that makes mouse movements feel responsive. It also has wide viewing angles, so the edges of the screen don't look washed out if you sit too close. The reflection handling is decent if your workspace has a few lights, but it doesn't get very bright, so it struggles in really bright rooms.

Pros
  • Wide viewing angles.
  • Decent reflection handling.
  • HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for 4k @ 120Hz gaming.
Cons
  • Low peak brightness in SDR and HDR.
  • 6.5 Mixed Usage
  • 6.9 TV Shows
  • 6.9 Sports
  • 6.8 Video Games
  • 5.8 HDR Movies
  • 7.1 HDR Gaming
  • 8.0 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Feb 13, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  2. Updated Dec 05, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  3. Updated Oct 12, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  4. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  5. Updated Aug 01, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.11. With this update, we've added a new Upscaling: Sharpness Processing test and revamped our Blooming test so the scores and picture better match the real world experience. With this change, it was necessary to remove the Black Crush test. Finally, we've updated our usage scores to better align our scores with user expectations.
  6. Updated Jun 22, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.10. With this update we've revamped our Gradient testing, added a new test for Low Quality Content Smoothing, and expanded our Audio Passthrough testing.
  7. Updated Jun 07, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  8. Updated Apr 03, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  9. Updated Feb 06, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for two months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  10. Updated Dec 12, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.9, modifying our Contrast testing and splitting our local dimming testing into multiple sections covering Blooming, Black Crush, and Lighting Zone Transitions. You can see our full changelog here.
  11. Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  12. Updated Aug 01, 2022: We discovered a flaw with the equipment used to force an HDR signal when measuring color volume and the color gamut. We've switched to a new tool and updated our measurements. The color gamut and volume have changed slightly.
  13. Updated Jul 28, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.8, adding a new box for PQ EOTF tracking and updating our Color Volume and Color Gamut tests to better reflect real world usage. You can see our full changelog here.
  14. Updated Jul 14, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.7 with an updated HDR Brightness test that better reflects real world usage. We've also split the console compatibility boxes into separate PS5 Compatibility and Xbox Series X|S Compatibility tests. You can see our full changelog here.
  15. Updated Feb 22, 2022: Review published.
  16. Updated Feb 17, 2022: Early access published.
  17. Updated Feb 16, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  18. Updated Feb 08, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  19. Updated Jan 14, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
  20. Updated Dec 19, 2021: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we'll buy and test it soon.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 65 inch LG NANO85, and the results are also valid for the 55 inch and 75 inch models. There's a 50 inch model available in Canada and Europe, but it has a VA panel with a higher contrast ratio and worse viewing angles. The 86 inch model is a bit different because it has full-array local dimming instead of being edge-lit, so the local dimming will perform better, and it also has different speakers. The Europe model is labeled the LG NANO86, and it has a center-mounted stand, and the results are also valid for it. The NANO85 only seems to be available at Costco in the US, but it's available at various retailers outside the US. You can see the differences between each model below.

Size US Model Short Model Code Panel Type Backlight Type Speaker Channels Notes
50" - 50NANO85 VA Edge 2.0 Not available in US
55" 55NANO85APA 55NANO85 ADS Edge 2.0  
65" 65NANO85APA 65NANO85 ADS Edge 2.0  
75" 75NANO85APA 75NANO85 ADS Edge 2.2  
86" 86NANO85APA 86NANO85 ADS Full-Array 2.2  

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their LG NANO85 doesn't correspond to the review, let us know and we'll update the review. Some tests, like gray uniformity, may vary between units.

The unit was manufactured in March 2021; you can see the label here.

Compared To Other TVs

The LG NANO85 is a decent TV at best, and its IPS-like panel restricts it from having good picture quality in dark scenes. Also, the edge-lit local dimming feature is terrible, and you can easily find a cheaper TV with better local dimming. Unless you really need the wide viewing angles, you can get something like the Samsung Q70/Q70A QLED or the Sony X85J, which are both in the same price range. Even if you have a wide seating arrangement, the LG NANO90 2021 is a higher-end model that offers better picture quality as it uses full-array local dimming.

Also see our recommendations for the best TVs for bright rooms, the best 65 inch TVs, and the best 4k TVs.

LG NANO75 2021
43" 50" 55" 65" 70" 75" 86"

The LG NANO85 2021 is better overall than the LG NANO75 2021, mainly because it has more features. They each have the same panel type with low contrast and wide viewing angles, and even though the NANO85 has a local dimming feature, it performs terribly and is distracting with dark scenes. The NANO85 is a better choice for rooms with a few lights around because it gets brighter, but it's still not enough to fight a ton of glare. Lastly, the NANO85 has more gaming features like a 120Hz panel, HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and VRR support to reduce screen tearing.

LG NANO90 2021
55" 65" 75" 86"

The LG NANO90 2021 is a higher-end model than the LG NANO85 2021, so it's better in a few aspects. The NANO90 delivers better picture quality because it gets brighter, has much better reflection handling, and its full-array backlighting is better, although it's still poor. They have the same gaming features, but the NANO90 has lower input lag with 120Hz signals. However, the NANO85 displays a wider color gamut, and it has much better out-of-the-box accuracy, so colors appear how they should.

Samsung AU8000
43" 50" 55" 60" 65" 70" 75" 85"

The Samsung AU8000 and the LG NANO85 2021 are decent TVs with a few differences. They have different panel types with strengths and weaknesses. The Samsung is better for dark room viewing because it has a higher contrast, and even in bright rooms, it has much better reflection handling. However, the LG has an IPS-type panel with wider viewing angles, so the image remains accurate from the side. Also, the LG has more gaming features than the Samsung, like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support, both of which the Samsung doesn't have.

LG QNED80 2022
50" 55" 65" 75" 86"

Although the LG NANO85 2021 and the LG QNED80 are from different lineups, they're very similar TVs. The main difference is that the QNED80 displays slightly more colors thanks to its quantum dot technology, and it's a bit brighter too. They have many of the same features, but the NANO85 supports Dolby Atmos passthrough and supports Dolby Vision for HDR, both of which the QNED80 doesn't do.

Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED
32" 43" 50" 55" 60" 65" 70" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED and the LG NANO85 2021 are both decent TVs with different features. They have different panel types; the Samsung is better for dark room viewing because its VA panel has better contrast, while the IPS-type panel on the LG has wider viewing angles. The Samsung also gets brighter, meaning it performs better in a well-lit room. However, the LG is better for gaming because it has a 120Hz panel with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support, and it has better motion handling thanks to its quicker response time.

Samsung Q80/Q80A QLED
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q80/Q80A QLED is better overall than the LG NANO85 2021. They each have similar panel types, and the Samsung TV delivers better picture quality. It gets significantly brighter and has better reflection handling. Even though the dark room performance on either TV isn't good, the Samsung has a full-array local dimming feature, while the LG is edge-lit, so the local dimming is less distracting on the Samsung. They have the same gaming features, but the Samsung TV has lower input lag for a more responsive feel.

LG NANO85 2020
49" 55" 65" 75"

The LG NANO85 2021 is the newer version of the LG NANO85 2020, and they have many similarities. The newer TV has many of the same features, including HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, but it's more polished in a few areas. There aren't any issues with its VRR support like on the 2020 model, and it has a quicker response time and much better gradient handling. On the other hand, the 2020 version has much better reflection handling, so glare isn't as much of an issue in well-lit rooms.

LG A1 OLED
48" 55" 65" 77"

The LG A1 OLED is vastly superior to the NANO85 2021. The A1 has a near-infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity, resulting in much deeper blacks with no blooming around bright objects. The A1 also has better reflection handling and a wider viewing angle if you want to use it in a well-lit room with a wide seating area.

LG C1 OLED
48" 55" 65" 77" 83"

The LG C1 OLED is a much better TV than the LG NANO85 2021. The C1 delivers significantly better picture quality as it delivers deeper blacks with perfect black uniformity, and it gets brighter in HDR for a better HDR viewing experience. The C1 also has much better reflection handling, meaning glare won't be an issue in most well-lit rooms. Even though they each have the same gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support, the C1 is better for gaming due to the lower input lag and quicker response time.

Sony X85J
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X85J is better than the LG NANO85 2021, but they have different panels, each with strengths and weaknesses. The Sony delivers better picture quality because it has a higher contrast ratio, gets much brighter, and has significantly better black uniformity. However, the LG has wider viewing angles, so the image remains accurate from the sides.

Sony X90J
50" 55" 65" 75"

The Sony X90J is better overall than the LG NANO85 2021. The Sony delivers better picture quality because its VA panel has a better contrast ratio, and it has a better local dimming feature that results in less blooming around bright objects. The Sony also gets much brighter, so even though they both have decent reflection handling, it's a better choice for well-lit rooms. The main advantage the LG TV has is that its IPS-type panel has wider viewing angles.

Sony X80J
43" 50" 55" 65" 75"

The LG NANO85 2021 and the Sony X80J are both decent TVs. They each have IPS-type panels, so the picture quality is similar, but the main differences are with their features. The LG has more gaming features for console gamers like a 120Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. The LG removes 24p judder from any source, and it also has a local dimming feature, which the Sony TV doesn't have, but it performs terribly. However, the Sony has much better out-of-the-box accuracy, so colors look more accurate, and you won't need to calibrate it.

Samsung Q70/Q70A QLED
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q70/Q70A QLED is better than the LG NANO85 2021. The Samsung has a higher contrast ratio, resulting in deeper blacks in a dark room. Although they each have decent reflection handling, the Samsung is also much better for bright rooms because it gets brighter and can better overcome glare. Finally, the Samsung TV has a slightly quicker response time and lower input lag for a better gaming experience.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved No

The LG NANO85 has a sleek and stylish design that looks like the LG NANO90 2021. It has metal feet that help give it a premium look, and the bezels are thin.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures
Design
Stand

The metal stand supports the TV well, and there's minimal wobble. They also raise the screen high enough off the table that placing a soundbar in front won't block the screen as there's a gap of 3.35" between the table and the bottom of the screen. You can also use it in a narrow position for smaller tables.

Footprint of the 65 inch TV: 11.5" x 45.86" (wide position) or 16.61" (narrow position).

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 300x300

The back of the LG 65NANO85APA is made of brushed aluminum, and there are vents for airflow. Most of the inputs are side-facing, making them easy to access if you wall-mount the TV. There are detachable clips and grooves in the feet that you can use for cable management.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.43" (1.1 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 2.06" (5.2 cm)

The TV is thin and flat, so it can sit flush against the wall if you want to wall-mount. The above measurement is with the cable management clips attached, but you can remove them for a flat screen, so the thickness without them is 1.77" (4.50 cm).

7.5
Design
Build Quality

The LG NANO85 has good build quality. It feels well-put-together without any major issues. There's minimal wobble with the stand, and although the back panel has some flex, it's not too bad. Sadly, the bottom edge heats up more than the rest of the TV, and it's warm to touch, so make sure you have proper airflow beneath it if you wall-mount it.

Picture Quality
1.7
Picture Quality
Contrast
Contrast
955 : 1
Native Contrast
955 : 1

The LG NANO85 has a low contrast ratio, which is expected from an IPS-like panel TV. Blacks look gray in a dark room, and even the local dimming feature fails to improve the contrast. The 50 inch model has a VA panel, meaning it has a better contrast.

10
Picture Quality
Blooming
10
Picture Quality
Lighting Zone Transitions
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Edge
Dimming Zones Count Of Tested TV
6
4.0
Picture Quality
Contrast And Dark Details In Game Mode

The local dimming in Game Mode looks the same as outside of Game Mode.

5.4
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
227 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
199 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
144 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
229 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
327 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
326 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
326 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
326 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
229 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
326 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
326 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
326 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
325 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.024

The HDR peak brightness is mediocre. Small highlights get a lot brighter than in SDR, but it's still not enough for a true cinematic HDR experience, and the TV can't maintain high levels of peak brightness the longer a bright object stays on the screen. The EOTF doesn't follow the target curve well either, as most scenes are too dark. It has a slow roll-off at its peak brightness, meaning you won't lose details in small, bright highlights.

These measurements are in the 'Cinema' HDR Picture Mode with Panel Brightness and Adjust Contrast both at '100', LED Local Dimming on 'Medium', and the Color Temperature set to 'Warm 50'.

If you find the image too dim, use the same settings as above, but with HDR Tone Mapping enabled and Auto Dynamic Contrast on 'High'. This results in a brighter image, as you can see in this EOTF, but it doesn't change the TV's peak luminosity.

5.6
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness In Game Mode
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
231 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
215 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
169 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
228 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
326 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
326 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
325 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
325 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
227 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
325 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
325 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
325 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
325 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.024

The HDR brightness in the 'Game Optimizer' Picture Mode is the same as in the 'Cinema' Picture Mode. Any differences in measurements are down to margin of error.

7.6
Picture Quality
PQ EOTF Tracking
600 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0175
1000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0171
4000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0174
6.0
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene Peak Brightness
244 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
274 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
274 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
274 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
274 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
273 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
273 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
273 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
273 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
273 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
273 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

The LG 65NANO85APA has okay SDR peak brightness, but it's not enough to fight a ton of glare. The brightness varies a bit between scenes, and it gets brightest with large areas of bright colors, which helps if you tend to watch sports or want to use it as a PC monitor, but the difference is minimal.

These measurements are from after calibration in the 'Expert (Dark space, night)' Picture Mode with the Panel Brightness at '100', LED Local Dimming on 'Medium', the Color Temperature set to 'Warm 50', and all other image processing disabled. If you want the brightest image possible and don't care about image accuracy, it reaches 416 cd/m² in the 25% window in the 'Vivid' Picture Mode with the Color Temperature on 'Cold 50'.

7.7
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
84.75%
DCI P3 uv
91.09%
Rec 2020 xy
61.96%
Rec 2020 uv
70.22%

The LG NANO85 displays a good, wide color gamut for HDR content. It has excellent coverage of the common DCI P3 color space, which is used in most HDR content. However, it has limited coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space, so it's not future-proof as more and more movies will come out with this color space, so it can't display the full range of colors needed for those movies.

6.0
Picture Quality
Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
42.4%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
19.2%
White Luminance
229 cd/m²
Red Luminance
39 cd/m²
Green Luminance
151 cd/m²
Blue Luminance
12 cd/m²
Cyan Luminance
170 cd/m²
Magenta Luminance
50 cd/m²
Yellow Luminance
210 cd/m²

The LG 65NANO85APA has a mediocre color volume. Despite displaying a wide color gamut, it struggles displaying really bright and dark colors due to its limited peak brightness and low contrast. This means that colors aren't vivid in HDR.

4.0
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
6.70
Color dE
4.12
Gamma
2.02
Color Temperature
8,474 K
Picture Mode
Expert (Dark Space)
Color Temp Setting
Warm 50
Gamma Setting
2.2

The out-of-the-box accuracy is decent. Colors are accurate, but the white balance is off, which is more noticeable with shades that are closer to pure white. Also, the color temperature is cold, so the image has a blue tint, and gamma doesn't follow the 2.2 target well, so most scenes appear too bright, even if you're using it in a well-lit room.

8.8
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
1.29
Color dE
1.28
Gamma
2.10
Color Temperature
7,122 K
White Balance Calibration
22 point
Color Calibration
Yes

The LG 65NANO85APA has excellent accuracy after calibration, although it's not as good as other TVs. Any remaining inaccuracies to the colors and white balance are nearly impossible to spot, and the gamma is much better, but it's not perfect. Sadly, though, the color temperature was hard to adjust without affecting the rest of the image, so the blue tint is still there.

You can see the recommended settings here.

7.5
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
4.163%
50% DSE
0.166%
5% Std. Dev.
0.490%
5% DSE
0.106%

The LG NANO85 has good gray uniformity. The edges are darker, which is noticeable while using it as a PC monitor with a full-screen web page or work document. There's also a bit of dirty screen effect in the center, but that's not as bad. Uniformity is improved in near-dark scenes.

6.6
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Std. Dev.
1.567%
Native Std. Dev.
1.567%

The black uniformity is poor. With local dimming disabled, the entire screen is blue due to the low contrast, and there's some clouding throughout. It delivers deeper blacks with local dimming enabled, but as you can see, there's a ton of blooming as the center cross causes the large zones to turn on. It's distracting while watching movies with bright objects on a dark background.

7.3
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
29°
Color Shift
32°
Brightness Loss
35°
Black Level Raise
70°
Gamma Shift
54°

The LG NANO85 has decent viewing angles, typical of IPS-like panels. Colors remain accurate at wide viewing angles, but you'll start to notice the screen looks darker at really wide angles. It's fine for watching content with a few friends, but it's not suggested for really wide seating arrangements. The 50 inch model available outside the United States has a VA panel with worse viewing angles.

7.3
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
5.4%
Indirect Reflections
0.6%
Calculated Direct Reflections
4.8%

The reflection handling is decent. As the TV doesn't get extremely bright, it's not good enough for really bright rooms, but it's fine if you have a few lights around.

8.3
Picture Quality
HDR Native Gradient
100% Black to 50% Gray
8.0
50% Gray to 100% White
10
100% Black to 50% Red
8.0
50% Red to 100% Red
10
100% Black to 50% Green
6.0
50% Green to 100% Green
8.0
100% Black to 50% Blue
8.0
50% Blue to 100% Blue
8.0
8.1
Picture Quality
Low-Quality Content Smoothing
Smoothing
9.0
Detail Preservation
6.0
5.0
Picture Quality
Upscaling: Sharpness Processing
Picture Quality
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
RGB
Type LED
Sub-Type
IPS

The LG NANO85 2021 uses an Advanced Dimension Switching (ADS) panel, which is a type of IPS panel and performs like it. Many LG TVs like the LG NANO85 2020 use this panel. It also has an RGB subpixel layout, which helps with text clarity when using it as a PC monitor. However, the 50 inch model has a VA panel that likely uses a BGR subpixel layout, which negatively impacts the text clarity, and you can read more about it here.

Motion
8.0
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
4.2 ms
100% Response Time
13.4 ms

The LG NANO85 2021 has a great response time. Motion looks smooth for the most part, but there's overshoot in all transitions, which leads to inverse ghosting, as you can see at the end of the RTINGS logo.

7.9
Motion
Flicker-Free
Flicker-Free
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
480 Hz

The LG NANO85 2021 uses pulse width modulation (PWM) to dim its backlight at all brightness levels. It flickers at 480Hz in the 'Filmmaker', 'Cinema', 'Expert (Dark space, night)', and 'Expert (Bright space, daytime)' SDR Picture Modes, which is high enough that most people won't notice it. However, it flickers at 120Hz in all other SDR Picture Modes and at all times in HDR, which creates distracting image duplication.

Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
Yes
Min Flicker For 60 fps
60 Hz
60Hz For 60 fps
Yes
120Hz For 120 fps
Yes
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
60 Hz

There's an optional backlight strobing feature, known as black frame insertion (BFI), to reduce persistence blur. The backlight can flicker at either 60 or 120Hz, depending on which settings and modes you're using. However, the crosstalk is off, resulting in image duplication. Keep in mind that the BFI score is based on the frequencies at which it can flicker, and not the actual performance.

Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes

The LG NANO85 has a motion interpolation feature, commonly known as the 'Soap Opera Effect'. It interpolates 30 and 60 fps content up to 120 fps. While it looks okay with slow-moving content, the test pattern looked like it was blurry, and the TV had trouble interpolating it. It struggles with fast-moving and busy scenes, as there are artifacts and motion issues.

7.4
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
28.3 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
3.3 ms

Due to the relatively quick response time, low-frame-rate content appears to stutter. Enabling the motion interpolation feature can help reduce this issue.

10
Motion
24p Judder
Judder-Free 24p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60i
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
Yes

The LG NANO85 removes 24p judder from any source, which is great for watching movies as it helps with the appearance of motion.

9.4
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
HDMI Forum VRR
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC Compatible
No
4k VRR Maximum
120 Hz
4k VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
1080p VRR Maximum
120 Hz
1080p VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
1440p VRR Maximum
120 Hz
1440p VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR + Local Dimming No

The LG NANO85 TV has a 120Hz panel with native FreeSync VRR support to reduce screen tearing. FreeSync works without issue across AMD graphics cards and the Xbox Series X. However, there's screen tearing in the pendulum test demo with the RTX 3060 graphics card, so it's not considered as G-SYNC compatible, but it's not advertised to support it anyways.

Inputs
9.5
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
13.4 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
129.6 ms
1080p @ 120Hz
13.9 ms
1080p @ 144Hz
N/A
1440p @ 60Hz
13.4 ms
1440p @ 120Hz
13.7 ms
1440p @ 144Hz
N/A
4k @ 60Hz
13.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
13.3 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
13.3 ms
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
129.5 ms
4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
134.7 ms
4k @ 120Hz
13.8 ms
4k @ 144Hz
N/A
8k @ 60Hz
N/A

The LG NANO85 has low input lag for a responsive gaming experience, and you won't notice any delay. The 120Hz input lag is higher than other TVs, but it's still good enough for even competitive gamers. We couldn't get proper VRR input lag readings, which we experienced with a few TVs like the Hisense U800GR 8k. We're looking into this issue, and we'll update the review once we fix it.

9.6
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
480p @ 59.94Hz (Widescreen)
Yes
720p @ 59.94Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 144Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes (forced resolution required)
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 144Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 144Hz
No
8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
No
8k @ 60Hz
No

The LG 65NANO85 supports most of the common resolutions under the HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, including 4k @ 120Hz. It displays proper chroma 4:4:4 with any of its supported signals, which helps produce clear text, but it doesn't display it properly with 1080p and 1440p signals at 120Hz. You can see in this 1080p @ 120Hz photo that text looks blurry. If you're using it as a PC monitor, you'll get the best results with a 4k resolution as text will look sharp.

Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
PS5 doesn't output 1440p
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

The LG NANO85 supports any signal from the Xbox Series X and PS5, including Dolby Vision with 4k @ 120Hz signals from the Xbox, which is fantastic.

Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes
Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
HDR10+
No
Dolby Vision
Yes
HLG
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 3,4)
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
ATSC Tuner
1.0
USB 3.0
No
Variable Analog Audio Out No
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

Although other 2021 LG TVs support 40 Gbps bandwidth, HDMI ports 3 and 4 on this TV support the full 48 Gbps bandwidth of HDMI 2.1, as you can see here. This means that you can achieve high-frame-rate signals without issue, and there weren't any problems going up to 4k @ 120Hz with 12-bit color depth and chroma 4:4:4.

Inputs
Input Photos

Some inputs are down-facing, which are harder to reach with the TV wall-mounted, but the HDMI inputs are side-facing.

Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 3
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 0
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 0
Composite In 0
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC/eARC Port
eARC
eARC: Dolby Atmos Over Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
eARC: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Yes
eARC: LPCM 7.1 Over Dolby MAT
Yes
eARC: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Yes
eARC: DTS:X Over DTS-HD MA
No
eARC: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
No
eARC: LPCM Channels (Bitstream)
7.1
ARC: Dolby Digital 5.1
Yes
ARC: DTS 5.1
No
Optical: Dolby Digital 5.1
Yes
Optical: DTS 5.1
No

The LG 65NANO85 has eARC support on HDMI 3, which is one of the HDMI 2.1 ports, so you'll only have one more HDMI 2.1 slot if you connect a receiver. The eARC support allows you to pass Dolby Atmos signals to a compatible receiver, but it doesn't support DTS, which is disappointing because many Blu-rays use this format.

Sound Quality
6.2
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
84.76 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
4.66 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
5.46 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
7.59 dB
Max
90.6 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
5.72 dB

The frequency response is mediocre. It performs best at moderate listening levels because the frequency response is worse at its max volume, but it gets loud. It doesn't produce much bass, but with any TV, you'll need a dedicated subwoofer for the best surround sound experience possible. The 75 and 86 inch models have different 2.2 channel speakers as opposed to the 2.0 configuration on the 65 inch model, so they'll sound better.

6.2
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.336
Weighted THD @ Max
2.194
IMD @ 80
3.86%
IMD @ Max
25.30%

The distortion performance is also mediocre. Although there isn't much distortion at moderate listening levels, it gets much worse at its max volume. However, it depends on the content and not everyone will hear it.

Smart Features
8.5
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS webOS
Version 6.2.1
Ease of Use
Easy
Smoothness
Average
Time Taken to Select YouTube
2 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
7 s
Advanced Options
Many

The built-in LG webOS interface is easy-to-use and is user-friendly. There were only a couple of minor bugs during testing where it switched in and out of PC and Game mode, but this isn't a problem if you just need to watch your favorite shows.

0
Smart Features
Ad-Free
Ads
Yes
Opt-out
No
Suggested Content in Home
Yes
Opt-out of Suggested Content
No

Like most modern TVs, there are ads throughout the interface, and there's no way to disable them.

8.0
Smart Features
Apps and Features
App Selection
Great
App Smoothness
Average
Cast Capable
Yes
USB Drive Playback
Yes
USB Drive HDR Playback
Yes
HDR in Netflix
Yes
HDR in YouTube
Yes

The app store has a great selection of apps available, and you can cast content from your device.

9.0
Smart Features
Remote
Size
Large
Voice Control
Many Features
CEC Menu Control
Yes
Other Smart Features
Yes
Remote App LG ThinQ

The LG NANO85 comes with the redesigned Magic Remote, which retains the same great features as past models. You can use it as a point-and-press remote, like a Wii remote, and the built-in mic allows you to ask it for a variety of commands, from opening apps to changing settings like the brightness.

Smart Features
TV Controls

There's a single button underneath the middle of the TV to turn it On/Off, change inputs, adjust the volume, or switch channels.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • Remote
  • 2x AA batteries
  • Cable wrap
  • Cable management clip for power cable
  • User guides
  • Not shown: Clips and feet covers for cable management

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 68 W
Power Consumption (Max) 147 W
Firmware 03.25.25