$2,030.28
The Sony BRAVIA 8 65" OLED represents Sony's most refined OLED TV yet, released in early 2024 as their premium home theater offering. After spending considerable time testing this TV across various content types and use cases, I'm excited to share how this $3,499 display fits into today's competitive landscape.
Sony has made notable improvements over last year's A80L model, particularly in brightness and processing capability. The new XR processor delivers about 20% more peak brightness - something we confirmed in our testing across various HDR content. While not as bright as some competing QD-OLED models, the increased luminance makes a real difference for daytime viewing.
The fundamental advantage of OLED technology is its ability to turn individual pixels completely off, creating perfect blacks. In our dark room testing, the BRAVIA 8 demonstrated exceptional contrast that makes movies truly cinematic. Watching darker scenes in films like "Dune," the shadow detail remained clearly visible while maintaining those deep OLED blacks.
Sony's XR Triluminos Pro technology - their name for advanced color processing - continues to impress. In practical terms, this means colors look natural rather than oversaturated, something particularly noticeable in skin tones and landscapes. The processor analyzes each scene to optimize hundreds of parameters in real-time, resulting in more lifelike images.
Having tested numerous TVs, Sony's motion processing remains industry-leading. The XR OLED Motion technology (which reduces blur in fast-moving scenes) proved especially effective during sports content and action sequences. Even with the processing set to its medium setting, we saw minimal artifacts - those unwanted visual effects that can make movement look artificial.
For gamers, the BRAVIA 8 offers compelling features:
In our gaming sessions, input lag measured around 16ms in game mode - plenty responsive for all but the most competitive gaming. Playing "God of War Ragnarök" on PS5, the automatic HDR tone mapping created stunning visual impact without requiring manual adjustment.
The Google TV interface has matured nicely since its introduction. It offers personalized recommendations that actually feel relevant and integrates well with popular streaming services. Voice control through Google Assistant works reliably for content searches and basic TV controls.
Some practical features we appreciated:
In a dedicated home theater setting, this TV truly shines. The perfect blacks and precise color handling make it ideal for critical movie watching. When paired with a quality sound system (we tested with both soundbars and full surround setups), the experience is remarkably cinema-like.
The TV's Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which uses the screen itself as a speaker, provides surprisingly good audio for a flat panel TV. However, for a premium viewing experience, we'd still recommend external speakers or a soundbar.
While OLED TVs traditionally struggled in bright rooms, the BRAVIA 8 handles ambient light better than previous generations. It's still not as bright as high-end LED TVs, but unless you're placing it in a sun-filled room with no light control, brightness shouldn't be an issue.
At 65 inches, this TV hits a sweet spot for most rooms. The adjustable feet offer flexibility for different furniture widths, though wall mounting might be preferable for smaller spaces. The panel is incredibly thin, though the processing hardware creates a thicker section at the bottom.
At $3,499, this TV represents a premium investment. However, compared to other high-end OLEDs, the price is competitive when considering the superior processing and motion handling. For movie enthusiasts and gamers especially, the performance justifies the cost.
OLED burn-in remains a theoretical concern, though Sony's prevention measures are robust. The TV includes pixel-refreshing technology and automatic brightness limiting for static elements. In our experience testing older Sony OLEDs, burn-in hasn't been a practical issue with normal use.
The BRAVIA 8 is ideal for:
It might not be the best choice for:
The Sony BRAVIA 8 represents a refined evolution in OLED technology. While not a revolutionary leap, the improvements in brightness, processing, and gaming features make it a compelling option for those seeking premium picture quality. The combination of perfect blacks, natural colors, and class-leading motion handling creates an exceptional viewing experience that justifies its premium positioning.
For home theater enthusiasts especially, this TV offers the kind of performance that can transform your viewing experience. While there are cheaper options available, few can match the overall refinement and processing capability that Sony brings to the table. Just remember to factor in potential audio upgrades to create a complete premium experience.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 65" OLED is worth the investment for home theater enthusiasts and viewers who prioritize picture quality. At $3,499, it delivers exceptional contrast, superior motion handling, and advanced processing that justify its premium price, especially for movie watching and gaming in controlled lighting conditions.
The BRAVIA 8 excels at movie playback with perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and excellent color accuracy. Its XR processor handles film content exceptionally well, making it ideal for home theater use. Dolby Vision support ensures optimal performance with streaming and 4K Blu-ray content.
While the TV performs best in controlled lighting, it handles ambient light better than previous OLED models. Peak brightness of around 800 nits is sufficient for most viewing environments, though direct sunlight should be avoided for optimal viewing.
Yes, the BRAVIA 8 offers excellent gaming features including 4K/120Hz support, VRR, and ALLM on two HDMI 2.1 ports. With low input lag (16ms) and specific PS5 optimizations, it's particularly well-suited for console gaming.
Sony's superior processing and motion handling set it apart from other OLED TVs. While some competitors offer higher brightness, the BRAVIA 8's overall picture quality and accuracy make it a top choice for home theater applications.
The 65-inch screen is ideal for viewing distances between 8-10 feet, making it perfect for medium to large living rooms or dedicated home theaters. This size provides an immersive experience without overwhelming typical viewing spaces.
While the built-in 50W 2.1 channel audio system is decent, a soundbar or home theater audio system is recommended for a premium experience. The TV supports eARC for high-quality audio passthrough to external systems.
With proper care and normal use, the BRAVIA 8 should last many years. Sony's anti-burn-in features help protect the OLED panel, and the premium build quality suggests excellent longevity.
The Google TV interface is user-friendly and provides access to all major streaming services. Voice control via Google Assistant works well, and the system receives regular updates to maintain performance and security.
For optimal home theater performance, the Cinema or Custom picture modes provide the most accurate colors. In dark rooms, we recommend reducing OLED brightness to around 80%, enabling Dolby Vision for compatible content, and turning off motion smoothing for movies.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research has used advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: bestbuy.com - bestbuy.com - crutchfield.com - avsforum.com - electronics.sony.com - sony.com - store.sony.co.nz - sony.com - displayspecifications.com
The TCL 65" QM8 Mini-LED Smart TV ($998) stands out with its impressive brightness capabilities, reaching over 2,000 nits in HDR content - more than double what the Sony BRAVIA 8 can achieve. This makes it particularly well-suited for bright room viewing, where ambient light might otherwise wash out the picture. The TCL's Mini-LED technology, featuring 5,000 local dimming zones, delivers excellent contrast and black levels that, while not matching OLED's perfect blacks, come remarkably close in most viewing scenarios. It also offers slightly better gaming features with 144Hz refresh rate support and marginally lower input lag, making it an excellent choice for gamers who want premium performance without the premium price tag.
At nearly $700 less than the Sony, the TCL QM8 represents exceptional value, delivering about 90% of the performance in most situations. While it doesn't quite match the Sony's motion handling or upscaling capabilities, the difference is subtle enough that many viewers might not notice in everyday use. The TCL's higher brightness actually makes it better suited for HDR content, creating more impactful specular highlights and adding extra pop to HDR movies and games. For viewers with bright rooms or those seeking the best price-to-performance ratio, the TCL QM8 makes a compelling alternative to the Sony, especially considering its lack of burn-in risk and superior brightness performance.
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👌TCL 65" QM8 Mini-LED Smart TV Details
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The Sony BRAVIA 9 ($2,698) represents Sony's latest advancement in Mini LED technology, offering significantly higher brightness levels that make it particularly well-suited for bright room viewing. Where the BRAVIA 8 might struggle in sunlit spaces, the BRAVIA 9's enhanced brightness capability ensures vivid, clear pictures even in challenging lighting conditions. Its Mini LED backlighting system also eliminates any concern about burn-in, making it a more carefree choice for viewers who frequently watch news channels or other content with static elements.
However, this enhanced brightness and peace of mind comes at a substantial premium. At $1,000 more than the BRAVIA 8, the BRAVIA 9 mainly justifies its higher price for specific use cases - primarily bright room viewing and situations where burn-in protection is paramount. While it offers excellent picture quality with impressive HDR performance and good black levels, it can't quite match the BRAVIA 8's perfect blacks and infinite contrast in dark room viewing. The BRAVIA 9's main advantage lies in its versatility across different lighting conditions, though for dedicated home theater use or primarily dark room viewing, its premium price may be harder to justify.
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👌Sony BRAVIA 9 65" 4K UHD Mini LED QLED Smart Google TV Details
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The Samsung S95D ($3,399) stands out primarily for its innovative anti-glare matte display and higher peak brightness, making it particularly appealing for bright room viewing. Its QD-OLED technology delivers exceptional color volume and HDR performance, while the One Connect Box offers a cleaner installation option by housing all connections separately from the display panel. The gaming features are slightly more robust, with the dedicated Gaming Hub and consistently low input lag, though the real-world difference in gaming performance is minimal compared to the Sony.
However, at nearly double the price, it's harder to justify the S95D unless you specifically need its anti-glare capabilities or desire the cleanest possible installation with the One Connect Box. While it offers excellent picture quality, it lacks Dolby Vision support and doesn't quite match the Sony's natural color reproduction and motion handling. For most users, especially those with controlled lighting or dedicated home theater spaces, the additional cost of the Samsung S95D may not justify its incremental improvements over the Sony's already impressive performance.
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👌Samsung 65" S95D 4K OLED Smart TV Details
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The LG G4 Series OLED evo stands out with its MLA technology, delivering noticeably higher brightness levels over 1000 nits compared to the BRAVIA 8's 800 nits. This brightness advantage makes a real difference in well-lit rooms and delivers more impactful HDR highlights. LG also includes comprehensive gaming features with four HDMI 2.1 ports, 144Hz refresh rate, and G-Sync compatibility, making it a more capable choice for serious gamers. The G4's webOS platform offers more customization options and generally snappier performance than Google TV.
However, at $2,599, the LG G4 commands a $900 premium over the BRAVIA 8, which is difficult to justify unless you specifically need its higher brightness or advanced gaming capabilities. While the G4 offers excellent picture quality and leading-edge technology, most viewers won't see $900 worth of improvement in everyday viewing. The extra features and brightness make sense for bright rooms or gaming-focused setups, but for typical home theater use in controlled lighting, the BRAVIA 8 delivers similar core performance at a significantly better value.
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👌LG 65" G4 Series OLED evo 4K UHD Smart TV Details
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The Hisense 65" H9G Quantum Series stands out primarily for its excellent brightness capabilities, reaching up to 1000 nits which outshines the BRAVIA 8's peak output. This makes it particularly well-suited for bright room viewing, and combined with its quantum dot technology, it delivers vivid HDR highlights and rich colors that pop even in well-lit environments. Its 180-zone local dimming system performs admirably for an LED TV, providing good contrast and minimal blooming in most scenes, though it can't match OLED's pixel-level precision.
While the H9G lacks some of the latest features like HDMI 2.1 and advanced gaming capabilities, it delivers impressive picture quality for its price point. At $1,505, it represents strong value for viewers who prioritize brightness and color volume over perfect blacks and wider viewing angles. The older Android TV interface may be slightly less responsive than the BRAVIA's Google TV system, but it still provides access to all major streaming services and smart features. For buyers who primarily watch TV in bright rooms or want to save nearly $200 without sacrificing too much performance, the Hisense H9G remains a compelling alternative to OLED technology.
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👌Hisense 65" H9G Quantum Series 4K UHD Smart Android TV Details
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The Samsung QN85D Neo QLED distinguishes itself with significantly higher brightness levels and exceptional performance in well-lit environments. Its Mini-LED technology combined with quantum dots produces vibrant, punchy colors that maintain their impact even under bright ambient lighting. While it can't match the BRAVIA 8's perfect blacks, the QN85D's superior brightness makes HDR content more impactful during daytime viewing, and its anti-reflective screen helps combat glare more effectively. Samsung's implementation of gaming features, including their Gaming Hub with cloud gaming integration and comprehensive game bar overlay, provides a more robust gaming experience than Sony's offering.
Priced at $1,798, the QN85D represents a more versatile option for mixed-use scenarios. Its Tizen operating system includes useful features like multi-view capability, and the TV's higher brightness eliminates concerns about burn-in that can affect OLED displays. The 4.2.2 channel 60W speaker system delivers more powerful built-in audio than the Sony, though most users will likely pair either TV with external speakers. For households with varying lighting conditions or those who want a TV that can handle everything from daytime sports to gaming to movie nights without compromise, the Samsung QN85D offers compelling advantages over the BRAVIA 8's more specialized capabilities.
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👌Samsung 65" QN85D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV Details
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The Samsung S90D distinguishes itself with its QD-OLED technology, delivering noticeably higher brightness levels and more vibrant colors that make HDR content really pop, especially in bright rooms. Its gaming capabilities are particularly impressive, offering a 144Hz refresh rate and lower input lag than the BRAVIA 8, making it an excellent choice for both PC and console gaming. The S90D's Gaming Hub also provides a more comprehensive gaming experience with built-in cloud gaming support and a dedicated gaming interface that streamlines access to gaming-related features.
Where the S90D makes some compromises is in its audio quality and processing refinement. While its Tizen OS is snappy and gaming-focused, it doesn't quite match the content organization and app variety of Google TV. The Samsung S90D also lacks Dolby Vision support, though it does offer HDR10+ as an alternative. At the same price point, the S90D represents excellent value for those who prioritize brightness and gaming performance, or who need a TV that can perform well in bright, multi-purpose rooms. It's a more versatile choice for mixed-use scenarios, even if it doesn't quite match the BRAVIA 8's cinematic accuracy and upscaling capabilities.
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👌Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV Details
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The Samsung QN900D ($3,499.99) takes a different approach to premium picture quality, leveraging Mini-LED technology with quantum dots to achieve exceptional brightness levels exceeding 2,000 nits - more than double what the BRAVIA 8 can deliver. This makes it particularly compelling for bright room viewing, where its advanced anti-reflective coating and high brightness maintain impressive contrast and vivid colors even in challenging lighting conditions. The 8K resolution, while currently limited in content availability, provides notable improvements in clarity when upscaling 4K content thanks to Samsung's new NQ8 AI Gen3 processor.
However, this cutting-edge technology commands a significant premium, costing nearly twice as much as the BRAVIA 8. While the QN900D offers superior HDR punch and handles bright scenes exceptionally well, it can't quite match the OLED's perfect blacks and infinite contrast in dark room viewing. For those with bright viewing environments or those wanting to future-proof their investment with 8K resolution, the QN900D makes a compelling case. Yet for most users, particularly those with controlled lighting conditions or dedicated home theaters, the price premium over the BRAVIA 8 may be difficult to justify given current content availability and viewing conditions.
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👌Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV Details
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The Samsung QN90D presents a premium alternative at $2,497.99, distinguishing itself with exceptional brightness capabilities that exceed 1500 nits, making it a superior choice for bright rooms and daytime viewing. While it can't match the BRAVIA 8's perfect blacks, its Mini-LED technology delivers impressive contrast and minimal blooming, thanks to precise local dimming zones. For gamers, the QN90D offers a more comprehensive package with four HDMI 2.1 ports, 144Hz refresh rate support, and Samsung's Gaming Hub for cloud gaming. The TV's anti-reflective screen coating and high brightness also make it more versatile for various lighting conditions, eliminating the need to carefully control ambient light.
However, the Samsung QN90D commands a significant price premium of $800 over the BRAVIA 8, which may be difficult to justify unless you specifically need its brightness capabilities or gaming features. While its Neo QLED technology produces vibrant colors and excellent HDR performance, it can't quite match the natural look and infinite contrast of OLED in dark room viewing. Samsung's Tizen OS, while capable, doesn't offer the same intuitive content discovery experience as Google TV. The higher price point makes sense for bright rooms, serious gaming setups, or environments where maximum versatility is needed, but for pure movie watching in controlled lighting, the additional cost might not deliver proportional benefits.
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👌Samsung 65" QN90D Series 4K Neo QLED Smart TV Details
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The Panasonic 65" OLED 4K Ultra HD Smart TV pushes the boundaries of OLED technology with its Master OLED Ultimate panel featuring Micro Lens Array technology, delivering noticeably higher brightness levels that make HDR content truly pop. Its professional color tuning by Hollywood colorist Stefan Sonnenfeld results in incredibly accurate colors out of the box, and its HCX Pro AI Processor MK II excels at HDR processing and noise reduction in streaming content. The higher 144Hz refresh rate provides slightly smoother motion for PC gaming, though the real-world benefit over 120Hz is minimal for most users.
However, these premium features come at a significant cost premium of $3,199, nearly double the price of the Sony. While the Panasonic does offer marginally better picture quality, particularly in bright room viewing and HDR performance, the difference may not justify the substantial price increase for many viewers. Its custom smart platform, while stable, doesn't match the versatility and app selection of Google TV. The Panasonic makes the most sense for serious home theater enthusiasts who demand the absolute best picture quality and have a controlled lighting environment where its superior brightness and color accuracy can truly shine.
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👌Panasonic 65" OLED 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Details
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The Sony BRAVIA 7 65" 4K UHD Smart Google TV takes a more practical approach with its Mini LED QLED technology, offering significantly higher brightness levels and no risk of burn-in at a $300 lower price point. Its XR Backlight Master Drive technology delivers impressive local dimming performance, producing deep blacks that, while not quite matching OLED's infinite contrast, still provide excellent picture quality. The higher brightness makes it particularly well-suited for bright rooms and daytime viewing, where it actually outperforms the BRAVIA 8's OLED panel.
For many households, the BRAVIA 7's combination of features might actually be more practical. At $1,399.99, it delivers most of the premium TV experience while being more versatile in varying lighting conditions. It handles mixed content like sports, news, and gaming exceptionally well, and its immunity to burn-in makes it more carefree for everyday use. While it may not match the BRAVIA 8's perfect blacks and viewing angles, the performance gap in real-world viewing is smaller than you might expect, especially in well-lit environments where its higher brightness becomes a significant advantage.
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👌Sony BRAVIA 7 65" 4K UHD Smart Google TV Details
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Original price was: $5,997.99.$5,797.99Current price is: $5,797.99.
