Let me start by saying this TV is massive—like 'measure-your-doorway-twice' massive. Unboxing solo? Forget it. But once set up (with the included stand), the 85Q681G transforms any room into a mini IMAX.
The Good: The QLED Pro panel is stunning. On bright sunny days, my old Samsung looked washed out—this TCL? Colors pop like a Pixar movie, thanks to that Full Array Local Dimming and DCI-P3 coverage. I actually had to lower the brightness (a first for me!). The bundled S Class soundbar delivers shockingly good Dolby Atmos—helicopters in war movies legit sound overhead.
The Quirks: Google TV works smoothly, but Netflix did a weird 'validate your location' dance when I moved the TV to my cabin. Also, the remote’s power button is IR-only (why?!), while other buttons are RF. Minor annoyances.
Gamer Beware: Hard pass for competitive Xbox Series X players. COD Black Ops 6 had unplayable input lag despite tweaking every setting. Casual games? Fine. But if you’re a FPS junkie, look elsewhere.
Verdict: For movies and shows? 91/100—it’s like having a theater screen with better snacks. Just keep a spare HDMI cable handy for that soundbar hookup.