If money wasn’t an issue, wouldn’t you want the best tv for sports games? Enter, the Sony XBR65A8F, an OLED TV perfect for consuming any type of video content! Enjoy the HDR performance of this smart TV with deep black levels, Dolby Vision, and improved sound quality thanks to the innovative inclusion of Acoustic Surface technology.
Why We Like It – Sony XBR65A8F
The TV offers amazing picture quality on its 65” OLED panel, works with Amazon Alexa, and has Google Assistant built-in, but it also has a price tag of nearly $2,500. Find out why it’s worth it in this Sony XBR65A8F Review!
- Can Download Apps From The Google Play Store
- Improved Sound Performance Thanks To Acoustic Surface Technology
- Android Operating System
- Doesn’t Have Amazon Alexa Built-In
- Low Peak Brightness
- Costs Nearly $2,500
Related: In case you are undecided, check out the Sony XBR55X900F review
Performance (Display/Resolution/Refresh)
This $2497 Sony OLED TV (try the LG CX OLED if you want an LG OLED TV) has an 8-million pixel 4K display that has no blur (thanks to the 120hz refresh rate). It is capable of achieving a “true” black level (much like other OLED TVs like the Sony A8H OLED) and runs on the X1 Extreme Processor, which manages the 65″ 4K HDR TV. Non-4K content isn’t an issue, because the processor will automatically upscale it to near-4K quality on the TRILUMINOS display. Thanks to the Acoustic Surface technology used in this Sony TV, this screen doubles as the speaker!
Sound
Although this high end ultra HD Android TV doesn’t have Dolby Digital Atmos technology, that’s ok, because it has something even better – Acoustic Surface Technology! This tech uses the TV screen as a speaker, resulting in a higher level of sound quality than you would get from normal internal speakers. If you want to connect it to external speakers, the XBR65A8F has got you covered with an optical audio output AND a headphone jack. It is also Bluetooth capable and supports HDMI ARC as well.
Related: You may also read our Sony XBR65X900F review
Smart Features
No TV review is complete without covering the smart features, and this TV has a few to go over. It has Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu installed by default, but you can install additional apps if these are not enough. Since it uses Google Play store, you essentially have access to the entire Android application library, although not all of the apps will be compatible with this TV. Use the remote control as a microphone for Google Assistant or add voice control with Amazon Alexa (if you want built-in Alexa, check out the Samsung 8 Series TV instead).
Ports & Expandability
The XBR65A8F has 3 HDMI ports on the bottom, and one on the side. It has 3 USB ports (2 side, 1 bottom), composite input, digital audio output, and even a 3.5mm headphone jack (which doubles as a Subwoofer Out). It works with HDMI ARC technology, so with all of these options, you should have no problem integrating this TV into your current setup. You can set the TV up on its 7.9lbs stand, or mount it on the wall.
Value
It’s not a budget-friendly TV. At $2497, this is going to be a serious investment, probably best saved for customers who have a lot of daily screen time (a much cheaper alternative is the Sony XBR65X900F). That said, the TV meets expectations, scoring 4.3 out of 5-stars based on 103 Amazon ratings. There are no protection plans available for this device, but it does come with a 12-month limited warranty from the manufacturer. Currently, this TV is only available from 3rd party sellers so returns aren’t free (although shipping is!).
Sony XBR65A8F Review Wrap Up
The Sony XBR65A8F is a world-class TV that requires a large chunk of change if you want it in your house. This 65″ 4K ultra HD TV offers premium performance at a premium price, but the combination of Acoustic Surface and OLED imaging from the X1 Extreme Processor offers an experience that is unrivaled by nearly any other TV. Spend (and enjoy) at your own risk!
