The best Sony TV gives you excellent color accuracy out of the box and plenty of extra features like Dolby Vision, Acoustic Surface Audio, and X-Motion Clarity. These premium features cost more when compared to the best TVs from other competitors, but they result in a truly unmatched viewing experience.
You’ll also get access to all of your favorite streaming apps and smart features via the Android TV or Google TV platforms, depending on the exact Sony TV you buy. The smart features on these televisions are easy to use, and you can even control them with your voice thanks to Google Assistant compatibility.
Continue reading to learn more about the best Sony TVs, what features they include, and how they stack up against popular competitors in today’s television market.
Top Sony TVs
#1 Sony X80J 4K Ultra HD TV
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: The TV’s exceptional motion handling and rich contrast make it an ideal option for watching fast-paced movies in high resolution.
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- Great motion handling
- Advanced color grading thanks to Triluminous Pro Technology
- Google TV platform provides wide selection of content
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- Poor visibility in dark settings
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The Sony X80J is a 4K HDR LED TV that still delivers pristine picture quality despite being an entry-level display. It offers more than 700,000 movie and TV titles to choose from through its Google TV platform, and through the use of its MotionFlow XR technology, fast-moving sequences remain clear and easily discernible. The TV also offers elaborate 4K quality upscaling of HD content and delivers exquisite color thanks to its widened color spectrum and use of Triluminos Pro technology. Despite this, its visibility in dark rooms is very limited.
Users will also enjoy how well the display upscales HD content to near-4K quality and the detailed contrast that it is capable of thanks to its 4K HDR Processor. The display also allows for seamless voice control through support for both Alexa and Google Assistant and features both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for cinema-like movie-watching experiences, as well as exceptional reflection handling for viewing in brightly lit conditions.
#2 Sony X91J 4K Ultra HD TV
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: The TV’s detailed contrast, acoustic sound, and impressive content upscaling make it ideal for general movie and TV watching.
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- Exceptional contrast handling
- Digital Surround Sound
- Seamless support for voice control
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- Difficulty in syncing with sound & home theater systems
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The Sony X91J is a powerful 4K TV that boasts a Full-Array LED backlight and X-tended Dynamic Range for exceptional contrast, as well as X Motion Clarity technology for smooth motion rendering of fast-moving scenes. Its Acoustic Multi-Audio technology provides an immersive sound experience as it ensures sound follows the action on display, and with more than 700,000 movie and TV show titles on its Google TV platform, users will enjoy access to content from Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and other streaming services. Reviewers, however, found it slightly cumbersome to sync with sound or home theater systems.
Nevertheless, the TV’s ability to upscale HD content to 4K quality makes it great for movie watching, and its wide array of built-in apps avails content from every genre. The TV’s support for a Variable Refresh Rate makes it ideal for smooth, casual gaming, and its compatibility with Apple AirPlay, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa will have it connect easily into a user’s smart home setup.
#3 Sony A80J 4K Ultra HD TV
Award: BEST FOR PICTURE QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: The TV’s vivid color, fantastic contrast, and realistic image processing make it ideal for streaming content in high resolution.
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- Exceptional, near-realistic imagery
- Great contrast
- Support for voice control
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- Poor dark scene visibility
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Touted by Sony as the first TV with cognitive intelligence, the A80J promises to deliver almost realistic image processing with natural color. The display’s XR Triluminos Pro technology has it render over a billion colors, and with Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, the display’s screen becomes its speaker and produces audio that is in tandem with the content displayed on-screen. However, the TV is severely limited in its ability to process dark scenes.
Like most modern displays, the Sony A80J allows for seamless voice control and also features an HDMI 2.1 port as well as a low 8.5ms input lag for competitive gaming. As a complement to the wide range of TV and movie titles users will be able to access through the display’s Google TV’s platform, owners will also have access to high-quality movies on Bravia Core, which is an exclusive streaming service that is only available on Sony Bravia XR Smart TVs.
#4 Sony X90J 4K Ultra HD Smart TV
Award: BEST FOR GAMING
WHY WE LIKE IT: Amazing sound, a dedicated Game Mode, and a 4K High Dynamic Range Processor make this TV perfect for delivering vivid images as well as handling fast-paced scenes during gameplay.
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- Exceptional contrast handling
- Advanced Gaming Mode and compatibility with next gen consoles
- Enhanced sound production
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- Mediocre reflection handling
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The Sony X90J is described as a future-proof 4K Ultra HD TV thanks to its dual HDMI 2.1 ports that make it compatible with consoles such as the Playstation 5 and Xbox X Series. The display’s Full-Array LED and XR Contrast booster deliver dark blacks and bright whites, while its tweeters on the TV’s side have its sound follow the action, providing an immersive audio experience. However, the TV’s reflection handling is quite mediocre, so users might want to keep it away from bright light sources.
Nonetheless, the TV still delivers a seamless viewing experience and is very easy to control through voice, courtesy of its support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It manages a super low input lag of 8.5ms for super quick responsiveness when gaming, and with Sony’s exclusive Bravia Core streaming service in tow, owners will also be able to stream high-quality movies that have been enhanced to deliver a cinematic viewing experience.
#5 Sony X900H 4K Ultra HD Smart TV
Award: BEST FOR CONTENT STREAMING
WHY WE LIKE IT: This TV looks great, can be mounted flush to the wall, and has a gaming setting for optimum performance.
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- Excellent color grading thanks to its Triluminos Display Technology
- Enhanced motion clarity
- Netflix Calibrated Mode for streaming content as intended by creators
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- Non removable ads on Android TV Home App
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The Sony X900H is an elaborate multi-purpose display that renders HD content in exquisite 4K clarity and has a full array local dimming feature that delivers true blacks. Its colors are expertly graded thanks to its Triluminos Display technology, and thanks to X-Motion Clarity, fast-moving scenes when gaming or watching movies are processed and relayed very well, but the non-removable ads on its Android TV Home App may frustrate impatient users.
Gamers will also appreciate the TV’s Game Mode, as it’ll allow for a smoother gaming experience thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate and the immersive sound experience that its acoustic multi-audio speakers produce. The display is also slim enough to be mounted flush to the wall, and with both Dolby Vision and Atmos technologies, users will be able to enjoy exquisite movie-watching experiences. Also, with a Netflix Calibrated Mode in tow, users will be able to enjoy the content as intended by the creators.
#6 Sony A8H Ultra HD Smart TV
Award: BEST FOR HOME CINEMA
WHY WE LIKE IT: This TV’s advanced movie features make it ideal for providing a cinema-like movie-watching experience at home.
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- Excellent contrast and black levels
- Game Mode for automated gaming setup
- Advanced features for cinema-like movie watching at home
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- No support for a Variable Refresh Rate
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The A8H features what Sony calls its best processor, thanks to its ability to analyze content and bring out the purest black colors accurately. The TV can also seamlessly upscale sub-4K content and features a Game Mode for a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience. It supports advanced color and gradation thanks to its Triluminos Display Technology, but its lack of support for a Variable Refresh Rate may dissuade avid gamers.
Picture quality is beyond reproach, and with features such as a Netflix Calibrated Mode, Imax Enhanced, and Dolby Vision, the display is perfectly equipped to deliver a cinematic viewing experience at home. Owners will also appreciate the multidimensional sound experience courtesy of its Acoustic Surface Audio feature, and with a premium metal stand, the TV stays well planted without any chance of wobble.
Beginner’s Guide to Sony TVs
In 1946, Masaru Ibuka started a humble electronics shop in a department store in Tokyo, Japan. A few months later, Ibuka partnered with Akio Morita to form the Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Group. This new company created Japan’s first tape recorder and then later rebranded to become Sony in 1958.
In subsequent years, Sony continued to expand its business by selling portable transistor radios. Then, in 1968, Sony released the Trinitron, an innovative cathode ray tube (CRT) color television set. Trinitron TVs were brighter and more colorful than the competition, which led to Sony winning an Emmy for the technology.
Sony stopped producing Trinitron televisions in 2008, opting instead to follow the industry trends in producing plasma, LCD, and LED TVs. In today’s market, Sony is one of the few manufacturers to offer both OLED and standard LED TV options. Their OLED sets are comparable to LG’s, but they lack the same gaming performance and are often more expensive.
In general, Sony’s high-end models are always going to be your best bet. The company’s budget televisions often fall short when compared to competing alternatives, like the best TCL TV. However, anything with the Sony BRAVIA branding will give you excellent picture quality, good upscaling, and a wide color gamut with excellent color accuracy.
How Sony TVs Compare to Other Brands
(Pro 1): Plenty of Premium Features and Functionality: Sony does its best work when producing mid-range and high-end televisions. These TVs offer a ton of premium features and functionality, especially when compared to competing options from popular companies like Samsung and LG. The following are some of the best features Sony TVs have to offer in their standard lineup:
- Dolby Vision: When it comes to high dynamic range (HDR) performance, you’d be hard-pressed to find something better than Dolby Vision HDR. Most Sony TVs offer Dolby Vision capabilities, meaning they deliver more accurate color reproduction with finer tone definition and more vivid color. If you purchase a Sony TV with Dolby Vision, you’ll get a more immersive experience than competing brands with standard HDR10 support.
- Dolby Atmos Support: If you’re setting up a comprehensive home theater experience, then you can’t forget about the surround sound. Dolby Atmos is widely considered to be one of the best surround sound formats available today. Most of this company’s standard options, including the Sony BRAVIA line, offer compatibility with Dolby Atmos. Once paired with the appropriate sound system, you’ll get a cinematic audio experience.
- X-Motion Clarity: Sony uses a proprietary technology called X-Motion Clarity to enhance the television’s refresh rate. With X-Motion Clarity, even the fastest moving scenes are crystal clear. One aspect of X-Motion Clarity that beats the competition is the fact that it can keep the screen at its peak brightness. Motion rate enhancement from other companies typically dims the screen.
- Acoustic Surface Audio: Sony’s OLED TVs offer an enhanced audio experience called Acoustic Surface Audio. Instead of delivering audio through rear-facing or downward-facing speakers, Sony’s OLED options deliver audio directly through the entire screen itself. This creates a truly innovative and immersive audio experience where specific objects on the screen can emit their own audio.
- Upscaling Capabilities: All Sony televisions offer superb upscaling capabilities. So, whether you buy a 4K or 8K TV, you’ll get the highest resolution possible, no matter what the native resolution is on the video source.
(Con 1): Premium Pricing: With all the premium features we listed above, you can expect Sony televisions to carry a hefty price. Fortunately, this is only somewhat true. Yes, most Sony options are more expensive than similar sets from competitors, but the difference isn’t out of this world. Expect to pay a little more for these premium features, but this also means you can expect a more premium experience no matter what screen size you purchase.
(Pro 2): Amazing Out-of-Box Color Accuracy: Many high-end TVs require professional color calibration after being installed in order to get the best color accuracy. Virtually all Sony TVs offer excellent color accuracy straight out of the box. This means you can save money by foregoing expensive calibration services and still get an amazing picture with vibrant colors.
No matter what Sony TV you purchase, you’ll also most likely get a solid contrast ratio with deep blacks. However, if you go with an OLED Sony TV, you’ll get true black levels that aren’t possible with any other television.
This out-of-box color accuracy and contrast ratio both work together to create a truly amazing image quality that’s hard to beat.
(Con 2): Disappointing Gaming Performance: If there was one area that we could choose to improve on Sony TVs, it would be gaming performance. While competitors are embracing advanced gaming features like variable refresh rates, auto low input lag modes, and even faster response times, Sony is somewhat behind in the same areas. That being said, at the time of publishing, Sony has stated it is working on a 2021 firmware and software update to include variable refresh rate support.
(Pro 3): Extensive Smart Features on Android TV or Google TV: Sony is a little different from major competitors like Samsung and LG in the fact that it doesn’t use its own proprietary smart TV platform. Instead, you’ll access smart features and streaming services through the Android TV or Google TV platforms. As of 2021, Sony uses Google TV exclusively, which is very similar to Android TV in the overall functionality, user interface, and app availability.
One area where Google TV really shines over Android TV is its voice control capabilities. You’ll have access to the industry-leading Google Assistant, which you can control with your voice via the TV’s remote. The search works quickly to provide exact matches, as well as relevant suggestions to help you find precisely what you’re looking for.
(Con 3): Slower Overall Smart TV Performance: While both Google TV and Android TV are excellent smart TV platforms, they don’t function as seamlessly as Samsung’s Tizen OS or LG’s webOS. You may experience some hesitation in the apps while scrolling through content and you’ll also get tailored ads popping up on the home screen.
Why You Should Buy a Sony TV
If you’re looking for a high-quality, premium option to replace your existing outdated or budget TV, then you can’t go wrong with a Sony TV. Whether you opt for an OLED option or a standard LED option, you’ll be sure to get amazing picture quality with no need to fiddle with the settings.
Sony beats the competition in terms of including a wide range of premium features. If you’re willing to pay a little more, then you’ll get a better cinematic experience with a Sony TV thanks to things like Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos support, and picture-perfect color accuracy. Sony TVs work best for home theater setups, so if you’re looking for the best small TV for kitchens, you may want to consider an alternative competitor.
A Sony TV is also an excellent choice for anyone looking to upgrade to a smart TV. With access to either Android TV or Google TV, you’ll be able to watch all of your favorite content without a problem. You’ll also get access to voice control like Google Assistant, which is perfect for all smart home enthusiasts.
How Long Will a Sony TV Last?
Most industry experts, like those at Visual LED, agree that LED televisions will last between 60,000 to 100,000 total hours of use. This equates to many years of use, but the exact time length depends on how often you have your TV powered on. OLED Sony TVs have an expected lifespan of around 30,000 to 50,000 hours.
Sony televisions are widely regarded as well-built products, especially the Sony BRAVIA line. As such, you shouldn’t worry too much about your new Sony TV failing on you unexpectedly. Of course, the way you treat your TV matters. You should always install it in a secure location and keep it clean to prolong its overall lifespan.
Sony Television Warranties
Sony carries a standard one-year limited warranty on all of their TVs, regardless of whether you buy a Sony BRAVIA, standard LED, or OLED option. This limited warranty covers parts and labor for repairing any manufacturer defect that occurs within the warranty’s time frame, which starts on the day you purchase the device.
It’s important to note that Sony will only cover the original hardware in a warranty claim. The company will not cover accessories or software problems.
If you need to file a warranty claim, you can either contact Sony’s warranty customer service line or take the TV to an authorized Sony service center near you. Sony recommends keeping the original packaging and requires a receipt in order to initiate your claim.
Sony TV FAQs
Are Sony TVs better than Samsung TVs?
Both Samsung and Sony TVs are excellent brands that focus on different aspects. In general, Sony TVs are considered the more premium option. As such, they will cost more on average than Samsung TVs. However, with Sony TVs you get more accurate colors out of the box, better black levels, and the option for OLED screen quality.
What’s the difference between a Sony TV and a Sony BRAVIA TV?
Sony BRAVIA simply refers to a specific sub-brand of Sony TVs. BRAVIA options include the X1 Ultimate Processor for upscaling and motion handling and is generally considered one of the top-of-the-line processors available on the TV market today. Sony BRAVIA TVs are popular options for anyone looking to get a premium TV.
Which is better, Sony or LG?
Both Sony and LG are on a similar playing field, especially when it comes to OLED televisions. Of course, though LG wins in the OLED world thanks to more responsive gaming features, Sony’s standard LED TVs beat LG’s LED TVs thanks to higher peak brightness, better contrast ratio, and better color accuracy.
Is it worth it to repair a Sony BRAVIA TV?
In general, it’s not worth it to repair a TV, no matter the specific brand. Most TV repairs cost the same as simply purchasing a replacement. Of course, there are always exceptions to this generality, especially if you own an OLED option. Before getting your Sony BRAVIA TV repaired, check to see if you’re still under warranty.
