Let's dive into two popular TV choices - the brand new Sony BRAVIA 8 65" OLED TV ($1,698) and the Hisense 65" H9G Quantum Series ($1,505). As someone who's spent countless hours testing TVs, I'll help you understand what really matters for your viewing experience.
Television technology has evolved dramatically in recent years. While both of these TVs offer 4K resolution (that's 3840 x 2160 pixels, or four times the detail of standard HD), they take very different approaches to delivering picture quality.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 was just released in early 2024, representing the latest in OLED technology. The Hisense H9G, released in 2020, uses quantum dot LED technology (often called QLED). While it's a few years older, it remains competitive in many ways, especially considering its price point.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 uses OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology, where each pixel creates its own light. Imagine millions of tiny lightbulbs that can turn completely off or on independently. This results in:
The Hisense H9G uses LED backlighting with quantum dots (tiny particles that enhance color). Think of it like having zones of lights behind the screen that can dim or brighten. Key benefits include:
In my experience testing both TVs, the difference is most noticeable in dark rooms. The Sony's OLED technology delivers incredible movie experiences - when a space scene shows stars against the black of space, it's truly black. The Hisense still performs admirably, but you might notice some slight glowing around bright objects on dark backgrounds (called blooming).
However, in bright rooms, the Hisense actually has an advantage. Its higher brightness (up to 1000 nits compared to the Sony's typical 700-800 nits) means it can better overcome glare and sunlight.
Here's where the age difference really shows. The Sony BRAVIA 8 includes:
The Hisense, being older, lacks these newer gaming features but still offers decent performance for casual gaming.
Both TVs use Google's smart TV platform, but there's a notable difference. The Sony runs the newer Google TV interface, while the Hisense uses the older Android TV system. In practice, this means:
Sony BRAVIA 8:
Hisense H9G:
If you're building a home theater, there are some specific factors to consider:
The price difference of $193 might seem small in the context of high-end TVs, but it's important to understand what you're getting:
Sony BRAVIA 8 at $1,698:
Hisense H9G at $1,505:
Consider these key questions:
Both TVs represent different sweet spots in the market. The Sony BRAVIA 8 is a premium 2024 model with the latest features and superior picture quality, especially for movies and gaming. The Hisense H9G, while older, remains a strong value proposition with excellent brightness and good overall performance.
If budget isn't your primary concern and you want the best possible picture quality, especially for movies and gaming, the Sony is worth the extra investment. However, if you're looking for excellent performance at a more reasonable price point, and don't need the latest gaming features, the Hisense remains a compelling choice.
Remember, the best TV for you depends on your specific viewing environment, content preferences, and budget priorities. Either way, both options will provide an excellent viewing experience for years to come.
| Sony BRAVIA 8 65" OLED TV ($1,698) | Hisense 65" H9G ($1,505) |
|---|---|
| Display Technology - Fundamentally affects picture quality and viewing experience | |
| OLED (perfect blacks, infinite contrast) | LED with Quantum Dots (brighter, no burn-in risk) |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| 700-800 nits (good for controlled lighting) | 1000 nits (excellent for bright rooms) |
| Local Dimming - Affects contrast and black levels | |
| Per-pixel dimming (best possible) | 180 zones (very good for LED) |
| Gaming Features - Important for next-gen console gaming | |
| HDMI 2.1, 4K@120Hz, VRR, ALLM (future-proof) | Basic gaming mode, no HDMI 2.1 (suitable for casual gaming) |
| Smart Platform - Affects daily usability and app experience | |
| Google TV 2024 (latest, very responsive) | Android TV 2020 (older, slightly slower) |
| HDR Support - Determines compatibility with high dynamic range content | |
| Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (complete suite) | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG (complete suite) |
| Processing Quality - Affects motion handling and upscaling | |
| XR Processor (latest gen, exceptional) | Hi-View Engine (good but older gen) |
| Viewing Angles - Important for wide seating arrangements | |
| Excellent (maintains quality at angles) | Limited (best viewed head-on) |
| Power Consumption - Affects energy bills | |
| Lower when showing dark scenes | Consistent regardless of content |
| Lifespan Considerations - Long-term ownership factors | |
| Potential burn-in risk with static images | No burn-in risk, longer potential lifespan |
The Sony BRAVIA 8 65" OLED TV is significantly better for dark room viewing due to its OLED technology providing perfect blacks and infinite contrast. While the Hisense H9G performs well, it can't match OLED's dark room performance.
The Hisense H9G performs better in bright rooms with its 1000-nit peak brightness. The Sony BRAVIA 8 reaches about 700-800 nits, making it less ideal for very bright environments.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 offers superior gaming features including HDMI 2.1, 4K@120Hz, VRR, and specific PS5 optimizations. The Hisense H9G only offers basic gaming features and lacks next-gen console support.
The $193 premium for the Sony BRAVIA 8 is worth it if you value perfect blacks, superior processing, and gaming features. However, the Hisense H9G offers excellent value if these specific features aren't priorities.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 is the better choice for a dedicated home theater due to its superior contrast, better processing, and excellent movie performance in dark environments.
Both handle sports well, but they excel in different environments. The Hisense H9G is better for daytime sports due to higher brightness, while the Sony BRAVIA 8 offers better motion handling overall.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 runs the newer Google TV platform with better responsiveness and features. The Hisense H9G uses an older Android TV system that's slightly slower but still functional.
Both TVs should last many years, but they have different considerations. The Hisense H9G has no burn-in risk, while the Sony BRAVIA 8 requires some care to prevent OLED burn-in with static images.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 offers superior viewing angles thanks to OLED technology. The Hisense H9G performs best when viewed straight on, with some picture quality loss at wider angles.
Both TVs integrate well with external audio systems, but the Sony BRAVIA 8 offers better audio processing and more advanced sound features like eARC support.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 offers superior upscaling with its latest XR Processor. While the Hisense H9G performs adequately, it doesn't match Sony's processing quality.
Both TVs excel at streaming, supporting all major services and HDR formats. The Sony BRAVIA 8 offers a smoother experience with its newer interface, while the Hisense H9G provides good but slightly slower performance.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses 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 - rtings.com - bestbuy.com - techradar.com - youtube.com - digitaltrends.com - assets.hisense-usa.com - bestbuy.com - youtube.com - bestbuy.com
