LG QNED86 100-Inch MiniLED 4K TV Review: A Cinematic Giant for Australia

The LG QNED86 100-inch MiniLED 4K TV (100QNED86AS), launched in 2025, redefines home entertainment with its colossal screen and cutting-edge MiniLED technology. As a tech reviewer who’s tested TVs from LG’s OLEDs to Samsung’s QLEDs, I’m thrilled to explore this massive display, LG’s first 100-inch QNED TV, per Smart Home Sounds’ YouTube review. Priced competitively for its size (starting at approximately AU$7,999, based on 86-inch pricing trends), it offers MiniLED precision dimming, Dolby Vision, and webOS 5 with a 5-year Re: New program.

Is this the ultimate big-screen upgrade for Australian home cinema enthusiasts? Here’s my in-depth analysis of its design, picture quality, sound, AI features, gaming performance, and value, based on the latest insights.

Introduction

Australia’s appetite for large-screen TVs has surged, with 75-inch models becoming mainstream and 100-inch displays emerging as the pinnacle of home cinema, per @HisenseIntl’s X posts on 100-inch trends. The LG QNED86 100-inch MiniLED 4K TV, part of LG’s 2025 QNED Evo lineup, combines MiniLED backlighting, Dynamic QNED Colour, and AI-driven features powered by the α8 AI Processor Gen 2, per. With a 120Hz panel, Dolby Atmos, and gaming optimizations like 4K 144Hz VRR, it promises a cinematic and gaming powerhouse, per. In this blog, I dive into its performance, drawing from Smart Home Sounds’ hands-on review and web sources like LG Australia and Reviews.org, to help you decide if this TV is worth its premium price and massive footprint.

Design and Setup

The LG QNED86 100-inch is a visual spectacle, dubbed a “whopper” by Smart Home Sounds, with an ultra-thin bezel “cinema design” that maximizes its 100-inch real estate. Measuring approximately 2239 x 1317 x 337 mm and weighing ~60 kg (based on 86-inch specs scaled up), it’s LG’s heaviest consumer TV yet, requiring two people for setup. The center pedestal stand is sturdy and adjustable, supporting smaller TV cabinets, or it can be wall-mounted with a VESA 600 x 400 mount. The 1.76-inch thick frame houses thousands of MiniLEDs, making it thicker than LG’s OLEDs but sleeker than expected for its size, per. Connectivity features 4 HDMI 2.1 ports (one with eARC), 2 USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, optical audio output, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.0. However, the lack of Wi-Fi 6 is a notable omission for a 2025 model.

• Key Features: Ultra-thin bezels, center pedestal stand, VESA mountable, 4 HDMI 2.1 ports.
• Notable Detail: The cinema design with minimal bezels enhances immersion, per.
• Analysis: The design is elegant, but the 60 kg weight and Wi-Fi 5 limit future-proofing, per.

Picture Quality

The QNED86 100-inch leverages MiniLED technology with hundreds of dimming zones for precise backlight control, delivering deep blacks, high brightness (~1200 nits per), and minimal blooming. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG, and a new Ambient Filmmaker Mode that adjusts to room lighting for accurate color reproduction. The Dynamic QNED Colour Solution, replacing Quantum Dots, achieves 100% DCI-P3 color volume (Intertek-certified), producing vibrant greens and reds. Testing by Smart Home Sounds shows crisp details in bright scenes (e.g., a flower on a black background) with minimal haloing, though darker scenes may reveal slight backlight limitations compared to OLEDs, per. Viewing angles are solid for an IPS panel, maintaining color and contrast off-center, ideal for group viewing. Motion handling on the 120Hz panel requires tweaking (e.g., “Cinematic Movement” in TruMotion) to reduce stutter in fast-paced content, per.

• Key Features: MiniLED with precision dimming, 100% color volume, Dolby Vision, 120Hz panel.
• Notable Detail: Ambient Filmmaker Mode optimizes for Australian homes’ varied lighting, per.
• Analysis: The picture quality is stunning for a MiniLED, rivaling OLEDs in brightness but not inky blacks, per.

Sound Performance

The QNED86 100-inch features a 2.2-channel 40W audio system with down-firing speakers and a subwoofer, delivering decent sound projection for its size, per. However, the built-in audio lacks the depth of a dedicated system, per. LG’s WOW Orchestra pairs the TV with an optional US95T soundbar system (soundbar, subwoofer, rears), creating an immersive Dolby Atmos experience. The WOW Interface allows soundbar control via the TV, simplifying setup. AI Sound Pro enhances dialogue clarity and upmixes to virtual 9.1.2 surround, though it’s limited by speaker quality, per. For a 100-inch cinematic experience, a soundbar is essential.

• Key Features: 40W 2.2-channel audio, WOW Orchestra, Dolby Atmos, AI Sound Pro.
• Notable Detail: WOW Interface streamlines soundbar integration, per.
• Analysis: The built-in audio is adequate, but a soundbar elevates the experience to match the screen’s scale.

AI and Smart Features

Powered by the α8 AI Processor Gen 2, the QNED86 runs webOS 25, offering a 5-year Re: New program for software updates through 2029, per. AI Picture Pro, AI Super Upscaling, and Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro enhance resolution and brightness frame-by-frame, crucial for the 100-inch display, per. AI Voice ID tailors content to your voice, AI Concierge suggests shows, and AI Search finds content (e.g., “Tom Cruise spy movie”), per. The AI Picture and Sound Wizard customizes settings based on user preferences. The Magic Remote with a new AI button and air mouse functionality simplifies navigation, though its design divides opinions, per. The TV supports Netflix, Stan, Disney+, Apple TV+, and LG Channels, with Google Assistant, Alexa, AirPlay 2, and Chromecast.

• Key Features: webOS 25, α8 AI Processor, AI Voice ID, AI Picture/Sound Wizard.
• Notable Detail: The 5-year Re:New program ensures longevity, per.
• Analysis: AI features are practical, but the remote’s ergonomics may not suit everyone, per.

Gaming Performance

The QNED86 100-inch is a gamer’s dream, supporting 4K 144Hz VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium, ALLM, HGiG, and GeForce Now cloud gaming,. The Game Optimizer Dashboard allows real-time adjustments (e.g., black levels, frame rate), per. Smart Home Sounds notes an “insane” big-screen gaming experience, though players must sit ~3 meters away to track edges in fast-paced FPS games, per. Input lag is low (~14.8ms at 4K 60Hz, per), but the lack of NVIDIA G-Sync may disappoint PC gamers, per. The 120Hz panel ensures smooth motion, though tweaking TruMotion is needed for optimal performance.

• Key Features: 4K 144Hz, AMD FreeSync, Game Optimizer, low input lag.
• Notable Detail: The 100-inch screen amplifies immersion for gaming, per.
• Analysis: It’s a top-tier gaming TV, but OLEDs edge out for perfect blacks, per.

Pricing and Availability

The LG QNED86 100-inch retails at ~AU$7,999 (estimated, based on 86-inch at AU$5,999, per), available at retailers like JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, and LG Australia, per. Promotional discounts may lower the price to ~AU$6,500 per. It competes with the Hisense UX 100-inch (~AU$7,999) and TCL C845 98-inch (~AU$5,999), per. The 5-year warranty (1-year standard + ACL rights) and webOS Re: New program add value, per. Availability is limited due to its niche size, so check stock early.

• Key Features: ~AU$7,999, 5-year warranty, available at major retailers.
• Notable Detail: Discounts can make it competitive, per.
• Analysis: The price is reasonable for a 100-inch MiniLED, but budget options exist, per.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Massive 100-inch MiniLED display with vibrant colors and high brightness (~1200 nits).
• Minimal blooming with precision dimming zones, per.
• Dolby Vision, HDR10, and Ambient Filmmaker Mode for cinematic viewing.
• 4K 144Hz VRR and AMD FreeSync for immersive gaming.
• webOS 25 with 5-year Re:New program and practical AI features.
• WOW Orchestra enhances sound with compatible soundbars.

Cons:

• Built-in 40W speakers lack depth for a 100-inch screen, per.
• Wi-Fi 5 limits connectivity speed, per.
• Motion stutter requires TruMotion tweaks, per.
• No NVIDIA G-Sync for PC gamers, per.
• High price (~AU$7,999) compared to smaller OLEDs, per.

Comparison Table

Verdict

The LG QNED86 100-inch MiniLED 4K TV is a cinematic powerhouse for Australian homes, delivering vibrant colors, high brightness, and minimal blooming with its MiniLED panel. Its 120Hz display, Dolby Vision, and Ambient Filmmaker Mode create an immersive viewing experience, while 4K 144Hz VRR and AMD FreeSync make it a gaming beast, per. The webOS 25 platform with AI features like AI Voice ID and a 5-year Re: New program ensures longevity, per. However, the 40W audio demands a soundbar, and Wi-Fi 5 feels dated, per. At ~AU$7,999, it’s a competitive choice for those seeking a 100-inch home cinema, but OLEDs like the LG G3 offer superior blacks for a similar price, per. If you have the space and budget, this TV is a bold upgrade—share your thoughts in the comments!