Products at a Glance
How we picked
For this guide, we have looked at several Sony TVs and picked the ones that we think stand out from the crowd. We have researched and selected the TVs based on specs like screen size, display technology, resolution, and other important aspects. Also, we are constantly looking up new products to add to our guide and keep them as up-to-date as possible – so do check back again here for newer products.
Product Reviews
- Clear 4K QD-OLED display
- Fast 120Hz refresh rate for smooth viewing
- Good for gamers with PS5-exclusive features
- Most users can likely find features they need for less
If you want a TV that offers the best qualities of both OLED and QLED TVs, you should check out one of Sony’s best QD-OLED TVs – the Sony A95L Series.
As mentioned, the TV sports a 55-inch QD-OLED display, which is a combination of OLED contrast and QLED brightness and color range, so you should be able to get high picture quality. The TV features Cognitive Processor XR that promises to deliver better natural colors and brightness levels, which should give you immersive visuals. Plus, the TV supports Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced, Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, and more.
As far as smart features are concerned, the TV comes with Google TV, so you can access streaming apps, which should make finding and watching your favorite shows easier. You also get support for Apple AirPlay, which is great if you’re using Apple devices. For voice assistants, you get support for Google Assistant as well as Alexa, so the controls should be easier for you.
For gaming and consoles, the TV comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, which should be sufficient for most modern games. Plus, the TV has HDMI 2.1 ports, so you can game in 4K at 120Hz and get support for VRR (variable refresh rate. You also get special features for PlayStation 5, like Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. Our pick for the best 55-inch Sony TV too.
- 4K OLED display for sharp images
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Automatic HDR and picture modes for the PS5
- Fairly expensive compared to other 65-inch TVs
If you want an OLED TV, and the best Sony 65-inch TV to be precise, then you should check out this model from the Sony A80L series.
The TV features a 65-inch OLED display, which, with its self-illuminating pixels, should deliver stunning colors and enhanced contrasts. Plus, you get 4K resolution, which, much like some of the best OLED TVs, should deliver clear and sharp picture quality. It also has Cognitive Processor XR, which upscales non-4K content to near 4K quality, which should tweak your overall visual experience.
As far as smart features are concerned, the TV has Google TV as well as Apple AirPlay, so you should be able to access your streaming apps and content easily under one interface. Plus, you can use Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands, which should make controls more intuitive for you.
If you intend to use the TV specifically for gaming, then it has a lot to offer. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, which is fast enough to run all your AAA games smoothly. Plus, you get HDMI 2.1 compatibility, so you can game in 4K at 120Hz. It also supports VRR, so you should be able to get a tear-free experience.
Additionally, you get exclusive features if you have a PS5, namely Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. The former automatically optimizes HDR settings for PS5 gaming, while the latter automatically detects whether you’re gaming or watching movies and switches to the corresponding mode.
- Plenty of cinematic-focused audio and visual technology
- Has a unified game menu for all settings
- Improved brightness compared to LED TV options
- Anti-reflective coating can cause refractions of light to be cast when hit by dirdct light
If you are looking for a mini-LED TV, then you should check out the Sony X93L lineup. We’ll be looking at the 65-inch model, which we think is a strong contender for one of the best mini-LED TVs.
The TV comes with a mini-LED display, which means it has mini LED backlights powering it up, so you can expect better brightness and contrast than a regular LED display. The TV has 4K resolution, which should deliver sharp and clear picture quality. Plus, the TV is equipped with the Cognitive Processor XR, which promises to give you dynamic contrast and natural colors.
For entertainment, you get support for Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced, Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, and more, which should give you a cinematic experience. Plus, this TV comes with Dolby Atmos and Acoustic Multi-Audio, so you can expect immersive audio. For movies, you can check out the Bravia Core, which has high-bitrate, high-quality 4K movies available on the app.
As far as smart features go, the TV comes with Google TV and Apple AirPlay, so you can stream your favorite content from multiple streaming apps. Plus, you get voice assistant support with Google Assistant and Alexa, which should make controls more convenient for you.
For gaming, the TV has a dedicated Game Menu that brings all your game settings under one interface. The TV has HDMI 2.1 ports, which should enable you to play games in 4K at a 120Hz refresh rate. Plus, you get ALLM and VRR support, so your gaming experience should be lag-free and tear-free. You also get additional perks for PS5, like Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode.
- High-quality 4K LED display
- Supports both Alexa and google Assistant
- Exclusive features for PS5
- Remote may not have all the options some would like
We think the best Sony LED TV is the Sony X90L range. For this guide, we will be looking at the 65-inch model from the series.
The TV features an LED display with a full array of LED backlighting, which delivers better visuals than an edge-lit LED TV. Much like some of the best 65-inch TVs, this one, too, has a 4K resolution, which should give you an immersive visual experience on a large screen. Plus, the TV has the Cognitive Processor XR that upscales content to a near 4K quality for an overall enhanced viewing.
For streaming, the TV features Google TV along with Apple AirPlay, so you should be able to find and watch movies across multiple streaming platforms easily. Plus, with the Bravia Core app, you can also watch high-quality 4K UHD movies. For smart controls, the TV supports Alexa and Google Assistant, which should make controls more intuitive for you.
As far as gaming is concerned, the TV has a 120Hz refresh rate, which should be more than enough to run your modern games. Plus, you get HDMI 2.1 ports to play select games in 4K resolution at 120Hz for smooth gameplay – which is useful to have if you have PS5 or Xbox Series X. Further, the TV even has exclusive features for PS5, like the auto HDR mode, which optimizes the visuals for your games.
- Good voice assistant support
- PS5 exclusive features as expected with Sony
- Lower refresh rate (60Hz) which is a little behind the curve
The best budget and affordable Sony TV is the 50-inch model from the Sony X77L series. Considering the features-to-price ratio, we think it is a strong contender to be one of the best TVs under $500.
The TV comes with a 4K LED display, which should give you clear and sharp images on a 50-inch screen. Plus, the TV comes with a 4K Processor XR that promises to deliver life-like visuals, so you can expect good picture quality. You also get the 4K XR-Reality PRO, which should optimize and upscale the quality of non-4K content to almost 4K quality.
For streaming content, you get support for Google TV and Apple AirPlay, which should make accessing content across multiple streaming apps easier for you. The TV also supports Google Assistant and Alexa, so you should be able to use voice controls seamlessly.
As far as gaming is concerned, you get a 60Hz refresh rate, which is not the best one out there, but it should be sufficient for casual gaming. You also get exclusive features for PS5, like Auto Genre Picture Mode, which should give you an optimized visual experience.
How to pick the best Sony TV
While browsing Sony TVs, you will encounter a lot of variety. So to help narrow down your search, you can look at some of the pointers here.
Display Size
There’s a huge variety of TV sizes available out there – right from 32 inches to 85 inches and more. The right TV size will depend on where you want to place the TV and how large that room is. For instance, the best bedroom TVs might be sized from 32 inches to 50 inches, as bedrooms tend to be smaller, and therefore, they have less space for TV. However, if you’re getting a TV for your living room or lounge, you might want to consider bigger displays like 65 inches.
With that being said, determining the right size of TV is easy. Measure the distance between the TV and your seat, and divide the resulting number into half. So if the distance between the TV and your couch is 110 inches, then you should get a TV that is around 55 inches.
Display Type
If you have a look at the available Sony TVs, you will find that the brand uses a variety of display technologies like LED, mini-LED, OLED, and even QD-OLED. Depending on your requirements and budget, you can choose a display type.
LED TVs are the more energy-efficient and enhanced versions of the traditional LCD TVs. LED displays use backlights – either on the edges or a full array. While the picture quality is not as good as OLED TVs, LED TVs do produce decent contrast with local dimming and high brightness levels.
Mini-LED TVs can said to be the enhanced versions of the LED TVs. Much like the LED TVs, mini-LED TVs, too, use backlighting, but they’re mini-LEDs – so they provide much better contrast.
OLED displays are considered to be quite superior in terms of picture quality and contrast. These TVs have self-lit pixels that deliver sharper and more detailed pictures. Although some of the newer OLED TVs have high brightness levels, they are not generally known to be very bright.
You can say that the QD-OLED TVs are a middle ground for QLED and OLED TVs, as they combine the two technologies. QD-OLED TVs have high brightness levels like QLED TVs. And they also deliver high-quality pictures like OLED TVs.
Resolution
For an immersive viewing experience, you should get the best possible resolution in your budget, especially if you are looking for a larger TV. Considering that 4K TVs are quite common, you should be able to find one within your budget. And if you want to future-proof your home theatre, you can even consider investing in an 8K TV. With that being said, if you are looking for a smaller TV, like 32 inches, then an FHD resolution would also look good. As the screen space is small, it increases pixel density, so you should get a sharper picture quality.
Gaming Features
If you play video games on your TV, then you should consider getting a TV with high refresh rates, like 120Hz or more. Plus, some gaming-oriented TVs come with a dedicated game menu that allows you to adjust settings for your game. Some TVs even support VRR, so you can get a lag-free and tear-free experience.
Frequently asked questions
There are more than a few common questions when it comes to Sony TVs, as these can be quite confusing to navigate. Here’s our expert take on them.
Which type of Sony TV is best?
The best type of Sony TV will be anything with an OLED panel. OLED is generally seen as the best for picture quality as it allows for amazing contrast. Sony OLED TVs are seriously impressive and well worth considering if you have the budget for them.
What does XR mean in a Sony TV?
XR refers to Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR. In short, most AI found in TVs can detect and analyze picture elements individually – for example, color, contrast, and clarity. Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR can cross-analyze hundreds of thousands of these elements all at once.
One of these elements is the focal point. What the Cognitive Prossor XR does is establish where the focal point is on the picture, and then adjust the picture to give it more depth and a greater sense of reality.
So basically, any Sony TV with an XR has this AI and it’s seriously impressive if you’re looking for maximum immersion and lifelike picture quality. You can read more on Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR here.
What does Bravia mean with Sony TVs?
Put simply, it’s an acronym for ‘Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture’.
What do Sony’s model numbers mean?
Sony is actually quite easy to understand once you know, and it can help you make sure you know what you’re getting. Here’s a quick guide:
If the model starts with an ‘A’ it’s an OLED TV. If the model starts with an ‘X’ it’s an LED TV. And if it’s a ‘Z’ it’s an 8K TV.
The letter in the product number indicates the year. ‘J’ is 2021, ‘K’ is 2022, and ‘L’ is 2023.
Does Sony use LG panels?
It’s common knowledge that LG makes its own OLED TVs, but also sells its OLED panels to other brands like Vizio and Sony. What you’re paying for with Sony is their unique design, AI, and other features developed by the company itself.
How do Sony TVs compare to Samsung and LG?
Sony, Samsung, and LG all offer strong options in the TV market, but there are differences. Sony is highly regarded for its LED and OLED sets, while Samsung is more known for its QLED options. LG is also strong in the OLED market with its G and C-series.
Lower price TVs are more alike in feature sets between the three. However, this does change as prices increase because premium features are added on and effectively ‘showcased’ by each manufacturer. One example would be Sony’s ‘sound from screen’ technology known as Acoustic Surface Audio+.
It’s also generally the case that LG has a lead on smart features and wide viewing angles, while Samsung’s bright displays and excellent contrast is known to mark it out from other manufacturers.
Our Verdict
After looking at the available Sony TVs, we’d say that the 55-inch model from the Sony A95L series might be a good fit. The TV features a QD-OLED display, which brings together the best features from OLED and QLED displays. So, you get high brightness levels like QLED TVs and superior picture quality like OLED TVs. Plus, the TV has a dedicated menu for games, which should allow you to set things up for your game quickly. Along with this, you get a 120Hz refresh rate, VRR support, and low input lag, so your gaming experience should be quite smooth. If you have a PS5, then this TV offers exclusive features for the console, Auto HDR mapping.