The A80L emerged as an unexpected standout in 2023, with Sony introducing a television that notably surpassed the LG C3 in delivering bright and dynamic visuals. In 2024, the Japanese manufacturer will replace the A80L with the Bravia 8, which, as anticipated, does not incorporate MLA and QD-OLED technologies. However, it features a refreshed design, enhanced image processing capabilities, and a reported increase in peak brightness.
A significant letdown regarding the Bravia 8 is that, similar to the A80L, it will not be offered in sizes smaller than 55 inches. In fact, Sony plans to continue selling the 42- and 48-inch A90K, which debuted in 2022, for an additional year. Will the new Sony Bravia 8 ascend to the top of the mid-range OLED TV rankings?
Design
The Sony Bravia 8K-65XR80 TV features an elegant design that enhances the aesthetic of any space. Its slim bezels contribute to a modern appearance when viewed head-on. The television is supported by two adjustable metal legs, which can be positioned in four different ways. The legs are designed with a thin, flat base, allowing for the placement of a soundbar on top.
The Sony Bravia 8 XR80 has a remarkable, almost infinite contrast ratio
In the lower setting, the TV is elevated by approximately 4.5 cm, while the higher setting raises it by about 10 cm, accommodating most soundbars without obstructing the screen. Additionally, those who prefer wall mounting will appreciate the elimination of the previous two-stage design, as the new flatter back enables the TV to sit flush against the wall. The rear of the television is constructed entirely from plastic and features a recognizable checkerboard pattern. The input ports are located on the right side within a recessed area, which may pose accessibility challenges when the TV is mounted flush. A plastic cover conceals the input section, but there are no cable management clips included.
The overall build quality is impressive, with a robust metal chassis that ensures stability. The TV is relatively heavy and remains steady regardless of whether it is positioned on a low or high stand. The remote control features backlit keys with a matte finish adorned with blue accents. It is similar to the remote provided with last year’s Sony A80L, equipped with buttons for popular streaming services and a built-in microphone for voice commands.
Image quality
The Sony Bravia 8 XR80, like all OLED TVs, boasts an exceptional contrast ratio that approaches infinity. With self-emissive pixels, this OLED model delivers striking highlights alongside deep, true blacks, resulting in a stunning visual experience, particularly in dimly lit environments. Unlike traditional displays, OLED technology does not rely on local dimming; instead, each pixel can achieve maximum brightness independently of its neighbors. This capability eliminates blurring, even when bright images are juxtaposed with dark backgrounds. The performance across various preset picture modes, including the gaming mode, remains consistent.
While the Bravia 8 excels in contrast and black levels, its peak brightness presents a mixed picture. Unlike many OLEDs this year that surpass the 1,000-nit threshold, the Bravia 8 remains below this mark, achieving a maximum of 800 nits in HDR mode with a 10% white window, all while maintaining natural, cinematic colors.
Sony’s color rendering is exemplary in terms of optimized hue and saturation, so the reproduction always looks natural.
A notable drawback is its low full-screen brightness, which can fall to 150 nits. Compared to the MLA OLED or QD OLED panels found in the Sony A95L or A95K, the Bravia 8 XR80 does not match their quality. Nevertheless, the overall picture quality remains commendable. In a slightly dimmed room, the Bravia 8 can deliver an exemplary cinematic experience that surpasses that of the Bravia 7. While it outperforms the LG C3 in brightness and impact, this was anticipated given the A80L’s superior capabilities. The Bravia 8’s brightness levels are indeed impressive, supporting the assertion of approximately a 10 percent increase in brightness over the A80L.
Sony excels in color rendering, achieving an optimal balance of hue and saturation that ensures a natural appearance in its reproductions. The limitations of the WRGB OLED panel become noticeable primarily in the brightness of specific colors, with only the colorless white elements exhibiting true brightness. In contrast, vibrant colors may appear somewhat muted. However, Sony’s internal RGB brightness control effectively mitigates artifacts in the bright areas of HDR content, resulting in a commendable overall performance. The television boasts an impressive color gamut, nearly encompassing the full spectrum of the DCI-P3 color space, with remarkable color accuracy.
The Bravia 8 introduces Sony’s new Prime Video Calibrated Mode, designed to automatically adjust picture settings for various content types on Amazon’s streaming platform, including sports. The Netflix and Bravia Core Calibrated Modes are also available, with the latter now rebranded as Sony Pictures Core Calibrated Mode. The Sony XR80 features an exceptionally wide viewing angle, although some color bleeding may occur at more extreme angles. Nonetheless, it remains an excellent option for group viewing, accommodating individuals seated at a distance from one another. Additionally, the glossy screen finish significantly minimizes the impact of indirect reflections, such as glare from overhead lighting that is not directly aimed at the display.
The thin bezels give the TV a sleek look
Motion and Game Processing
The Bravia 8 benefits from the advanced Smart TV processor inherited from last year’s A95L, enabling it to display Dolby Vision signals at 120Hz, particularly useful for gamers on the Xbox Series X. It is important to note that only HDMI inputs 3 and 4 are capable of handling the high bandwidth required by HDMI 2.1. The Game Optimizer settings offer gamers a variety of features, including a nearly seamless image size adjustment ranging from 30% to 100% in 1% increments.
While the Bravia 8 features a less powerful image processor, this results in a significant advantage: the output lag outside of Game Mode is considerably lower than that of the more powerful Bravia models, making key inputs in Classic Video Mode feel smoother. In Game Mode, the input lag is measured at 5ms for 4K120 and 13ms for 4K60.
The Sony 65XR80 boasts an impressive response time of 3.4ms, providing exceptionally sharp motion with minimal blurring of fast-moving objects. Although some blurring may occur during 60Hz gaming due to the sample-and-hold characteristics of OLED technology, this effect is largely mitigated at higher refresh rates. To minimize persistent motion blur, the TV employs Black Frame Insertion (BFI). Additionally, it features a motion interpolation capability that effectively smooths out slower scenes, although some artifacts may be noticeable.
The Sony K65XR80 TV is compatible with HDMI Forum VRR and G-Sync, but it does not support FreeSync. It performs admirably across a broad spectrum of refresh rates and includes Low Frame Compensation (LFC) for sources, ensuring that gameplay remains virtually tear-free, even at significantly reduced frame rates. The Sony Bravia 8 series is fully equipped to take advantage of all the features offered by the Xbox Series X/S, including 4K120, HDMI Forum VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro, and Dolby Vision gaming. It also supports automatic low latency mode, eliminating the need to manually switch to Game Mode for optimal input lag.
Smart TV
The Bravia 8 series is equipped with version 12 of the widely used Google TV operating system. The user interface is designed for convenience and ease of navigation. Applications load rapidly, and transitions between them are quite seamless. However, similar to most televisions available today, the smart interface includes advertisements that cannot be disabled.
This TV’s operating system offers an extensive array of applications, making it simple to access your preferred content. Additionally, you can stream media from your smartphone via the integrated AirPlay 2 or Chromecast features. Videos can also be played directly from a USB drive. The voice control functionality enables you to search for content and adjust basic settings effortlessly.
Sound
The audio performance of the integrated speakers is noteworthy: while the Bravia 8 may not always deliver a completely natural sound, it offers a significantly higher volume compared to the Bravia 7. With a variety of sound adjustment options available, including an impressive voice enhancement feature that can also reduce background voices, the Bravia 8 can create a clear sound profile even without external speakers.
For those who opt for a compatible Sony soundbar or surround sound system, connecting the Bravia 8 to the S-Center enhances the experience by allowing the TV to function as a center channel speaker. This setup, when paired with a soundbar, broadens the audio landscape. The overall audio output reaches a robust 50 watts. Home cinema enthusiasts will find the Bravia 8 particularly appealing, as it supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio formats. As an IMAX Enhanced certified television, the Bravia 8 meets all contemporary home cinema standards.
Sony Bravia 8 Back panel
Connections
The connectivity features of the Sony Bravia 8 models comprise: four HDMI ports (HDMI 1 and 2 support 4K60, while HDMI 3 and 4 support 4K120 HDR), with HDMI 3 also offering eARC functionality; two USB ports (including one USB 3.0); one LAN port; one digital optical audio output; one S-Center speaker input (compatible with specific Sony audio systems); and Bluetooth 5.3 for headphone connectivity. Additionally, the models are equipped with a built-in dual-band WiFi 6 adapter.
Conclusion
The latest Bravia 8 OLED panel showcases Sony’s renowned picture quality. However, it is somewhat disappointing that the Bravia 8 was launched at the same price point as the QD-OLED A95L 2023. The A95L outperforms the Bravia 8 in all aspects of OLED technology and picture quality. While the Bravia 8 is indeed a commendable television, the presence of superior options in the market makes it challenging to provide a strong endorsement at this time.
