As a rule of thumb, it's pretty hard to go wrong when buying a Sony TV, especially if you don't need it for competitive gaming. Their more entry-level offerings aren't great, but any high-end LED and OLED models are a safe bet. Their Google TV smart platform offers many apps to download with an easy-to-use interface. You might pay a slight premium over competing models, but you'll usually have a good TV.
Lineup
2024Lineup
Although Sony had a presence and even a press conference at CES 2024, they didn't announce any new models. They held a private invitation-only event instead, where they showed off their new Mini LED backlight tech that they'll be using in their 2024 flagship Mini LED model. This new tech uses much smaller dimming zones than previous models, and a new LED driver uses a combination of PWM dimming and DC direct dimming to achieve much finer control over the backlight levels. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take any photos, but their demo TV had the LEDs exposed, so we could see exactly what the backlight was doing, and it looked incredible. The backlight control was so precise that we could tell what the screen was showing just by the brightness of individual LEDs. Unlike some other Mini LED backlights, Sony seems to be aiming for the most precise dimming possible with this technology, and they aren't averaging the backlight out across multiple zones. Sony wouldn't say anything about the final TV powered by this new backlight, but hopefully, we'll learn more soon.
Since CES, some details ofSony's 2024 lineup have leakedthrough government registration information. The information available suggests a major lineup revamp this year, with Sony eliminating the separation between their 'X'-Series LED TVs and their 'A'-Series OLED models. However, this information should be taken with a massive grain of salt, as registration information can be outdated or incomplete. We don't know when Sony plans on announcing their full 2024 lineup, but we'll update this article when they do.
Model names
Their product naming is easy to understand, and the 2023 lineup follows the same naming convention as in past years. If the model starts with A, it's an OLED; if it's X, it's an LED, and their Z Series is 8k. Next comes the model number; the higher the number, the better. Lastly, the suffix letter indicates the year. So, for example, the Sony X800H is an entry-level LED model from 2020, while the A90J is a high-end OLED model from 2021.
- *L = 2023
- *K = 2022
- *J = 2021
Since 2021, all their TVs share the same model number worldwide, making it easy to identify models if you're shopping from a different region. That's not to say they're completely identical, though, as there are some slight regional differences, and not all models are available worldwide.
FAQs
The best Sony TV we've tested is the Sony A95L OLED. This impressive TV delivers incredible picture quality in any viewing environment thanks to its QD-OLED panel technology. Dark scenes look incredible, with perfect contrast and no distracting blooming around bright highlights in dark scenes.
What is the top of the line Sony TV? ›
The best Sony TV we've tested is the Sony A95L OLED. This impressive TV delivers incredible picture quality in any viewing environment thanks to its QD-OLED panel technology. Dark scenes look incredible, with perfect contrast and no distracting blooming around bright highlights in dark scenes.
What are the five best TVs on the market? ›
The quick list
- Best TV. Hisense U8K ULED TV. View at Amazon. View at Best Buy. ...
- Best OLED TV. Samsung S95C OLED. View at Amazon. View at Walmart. ...
- Best value TV. TCL QM8 QLED TV. View at Walmart. ...
- Best QLED TV. Samsung QN90C QLED TV. View at Amazon. ...
- Best Under $500. Hisense U6K. View at Best Buy. ...
- Best QD-OLED TV. Sony A95L. View at Amazon.
Samsung and Sony are global juggernauts, and each boasts unique strengths. Samsung is popular for its QLED technology, leveraging quantum dots to improve brightness and colour fidelity. On the other hand, Sony is renowned for its OLED TVs, as these models deliver deep blacks and an unrivalled contrast ratio.
Which TV brand is most reliable? ›
The 7 Best TV Brands - Spring 2024 Reviews
- Best Sony TV. Sony A95L OLED 163. SEE PRICE. ...
- Best Samsung TV. Samsung S95C OLED 129. SEE PRICE. ...
- Best LG TV. LG G3 OLED 140. SEE PRICE. ...
- Best TCL TV. TCL QM8/QM850G QLED 439. ...
- Best Hisense TV. Hisense UX 98. ...
- Best Roku TV. Roku Plus Series QLED 23. ...
- Best Vizio TV. Vizio P Series Quantum 2021 17.
The best Sony TVs we recommend in 2024
- Sony X80K. ...
- Sony X95L. The best Mini LED Sony TV. ...
- Sony A95K. The best Sony TV all-rounder. ...
- Sony X90L. The best mid-range Sony TV. ...
- Sony X90K. Best budget gaming Sony TV. ...
- Sony A80K. The best mid-range OLED Sony TV. ...
- Sony A90J. The best budget OLED Sony TV. ...
- Sony Z9K. The best 8K Sony TV.
Next step: Choose your issue
- The TV has no power.
- TV turns off or randomly restarts.
- An LED keeps flashing on the TV.
- Remote Control Issues (Slow/Not Working/Unresponsive)
- Missing channels & signal quality.
- Abnormal Picture/Screen (Flickering/Lines/Spots/Dots)
- No display (With/Without audio)
- TV hangs/freeze.
The quick list
- Best overall. Samsung S90C. View at Amazon. View at Samsung. ...
- Best budget TV. Roku Plus Series. View at Best Buy. View at Amazon. ...
- Best mid-range. Hisense U8K. View at Amazon. View at Best Buy. ...
- Best premium OLED. Samsung S95C. View at Amazon. ...
- Best cheap OLED. LG B3. View at Amazon. ...
- Best for sport. Samsung QN90C. View at Amazon.
Which Brand Offers The Most Durable TV?
- Samsung. Samsung is one of the leading names when it comes to tech. ...
- LG. LG TVs are also designed to last upwards of ten years, with plenty of care. ...
- TCL. TCL does not have a remarkable lifespan above ten years, with most TCL TVs lasting around seven years. ...
- Philips.
Best smart TV: Samsung OLED S90C 4K UHD Tizen TV
The Samsung OLED S90C balances price and picture better than any other TV available today.
Televisions: 4-6 years
Time to failure is typically 8-11 years or about 50,000 hours of use.
Are Sony TVs high quality? ›
Absolutely. Sony's TV models are closer to high end than entry-level, and there are hardly any screen sizes smaller than 50 inches. Because of this, you can usually expect to spend a good amount of money for a Sony TV, but you'll get a quality television that delivers an excellent picture.
How long do Sony TVs last? ›
The average lifespan of an LED at maximum or close-to-maximum brightness is 40,000 to 60,000 hours, or roughly 4.5 to 6.8 years.
Which TV brand has the least problems? ›
Look out for names like LG, and Samsung. These TVs may cost a little more, but you can be sure that they use more expensive and durable materials. Higher quality materials are guaranteed to last. If you want your TV to be around for a number of years to come, be prepared to spend a little bit more!
Which TV brands not to buy? ›
These five television brands are ones you should try your best to avoid as much as possible.
- Hitachi.
- RCA. If you're looking for the cheapest option for a 4K television, RCA is going to be for you. ...
- Hisense. Another cheap option for a television is Hisense. ...
- FFalcon. ...
- Insignia.
The choice boils down to your priorities and preferences. If a user-friendly interface and Dolby Atmos audio are your forte, LG might be your go-to. On the flip side, if you crave seamless integration with Android and innovative audio solutions like the Acoustic Surface Audio, Sony might be your perfect match.
Is OLED better than QLED? ›
In our side-by-side comparison reviews, OLED beats QLED every time. None of the QLED TVs we've tested, including the Samsung QN90B, the TCL QM8 or the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED, look as good as any of the OLED TVs we've tested, such as the LG C3, G3 or Samsung S95C. In every comparison we've done, the OLED TV won.
What is the difference between Sony TV models? ›
A High Definition (HD) TV with 1080p resolution is composed of two million pixels (1920 x 1080), while a 4K TV (aka Ultra High Definition) has over eight million pixels (3840 x 2160). Therefore, 4K has around four times more resolution than 1080p and produces a clearer picture.
Which is better Sony OLED or LG OLED? ›
While both TVs have good image processing, the Sony has the edge in upscaling, so low-resolution content will look sharp and clear on the Sony. While both TVs are gaming beasts, the Sony TV's input lag is a bit higher than the LG's, so the LG is better if you play competitive games at high skill levels.
