When you're spending thousands on a new TV, you want to get it right. Today, we're comparing two of 2024's most impressive Mini LED TVs - the Sony BRAVIA 9 65" ($2,698) and the Samsung QN85D 65" ($1,798). Both represent the cutting edge of LED/LCD technology, but they take different approaches to delivering that premium experience.
Before diving into the specifics, let's understand what makes these TVs special. Mini LED is the latest evolution of LCD TV backlighting, using thousands of tiny LEDs behind the screen instead of a few hundred larger ones. This allows for much more precise control of brightness and darkness across the screen, getting closer to the perfect blacks that OLED TVs are known for while maintaining higher brightness levels.
Both TVs launched in early 2024, representing the latest refinements in Mini LED technology. The improvements over 2023 models include better light control, more efficient processors, and enhanced gaming features.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 takes a more purist approach, focusing on accuracy and filmmaker intent. Its color reproduction is practically perfect out of the box - something I've verified in professional testing. If you care about seeing content exactly as creators intended, Sony's processing gives it a clear edge.
The Samsung QN85D isn't far behind in color accuracy, but it takes a different approach. It emphasizes vibrant, punchy colors that pop off the screen, which many viewers actually prefer for everyday content like sports and TV shows.
Both TVs are incredibly bright, but they use that brightness differently. The Samsung pushes higher overall brightness levels, making it exceptional for bright room viewing. The Sony, while still very bright, focuses more on precise highlight control in HDR content - those moments where sunlight glints off metal or fireworks burst in the night sky look more natural and impactful.
One important difference is HDR format support. The Sony supports Dolby Vision, which is widely used by Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+. Samsung uses HDR10+, which is technically similar but less widely adopted. For movie enthusiasts, this gives Sony an advantage.
Gaming is where these TVs really diverge in their approach. The Samsung QN85D is clearly designed with gaming as a priority. All four HDMI ports support the latest HDMI 2.1 features, including:
The Sony BRAVIA 9 supports these features too, but only on two ports, with one doubling as the eARC connection. If you have multiple gaming devices (PS5, Xbox Series X, gaming PC), Samsung's solution is more flexible.
Sony uses Google TV, which I find more intuitive and content-focused. It's excellent at suggesting shows and movies across different streaming services, and the integration with Google Assistant feels more natural. The platform is also more open, allowing for easy customization.
Samsung's Tizen OS is highly polished and runs smoothly, but can feel more restrictive. However, it offers some unique features like Multi View (watching two sources at once) and better integration with Samsung phones and smart home devices.
For dedicated home theater setups, a few factors become more important:
In a controlled lighting environment, the Sony's superior contrast control and color accuracy become more noticeable. The Samsung still performs well, but the Sony's picture processing gives it an edge for movie watching.
Both TVs support eARC for connecting to soundbars and AV receivers. The Sony has better integration with Sony audio products, while Samsung works seamlessly with their soundbars. In testing, I've found the Sony's audio processing to be slightly more sophisticated for home theater setups.
At $900 less, the Samsung QN85D represents better value for most users, especially if gaming is a priority. Its picture quality is excellent, even if it doesn't quite match the Sony's accuracy, and the extra HDMI 2.1 ports add significant practical value.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 justifies its premium price for movie enthusiasts and those seeking the absolute best picture quality. Its superior processing and Dolby Vision support make a noticeable difference for movie watching.
Having spent time with both TVs, I can say they're both exceptional, but they excel in different scenarios. The Sony's picture processing is noticeable when watching challenging content like dark scenes or fast motion. The Samsung's gaming features and bright room performance make it more versatile for mixed-use environments.
Both TVs are well-equipped for the future, supporting all major HDR formats (except Dolby Vision on the Samsung) and the latest gaming features. The Samsung's extra HDMI 2.1 ports might prove valuable as more devices adopt these capabilities.
The choice ultimately depends on your priorities and viewing environment. For pure picture quality and movie watching, the Sony edges ahead. For gaming and bright room viewing, the Samsung offers better value and more flexibility. Either way, you're getting one of the best LED TVs available in 2024.
| Sony BRAVIA 9 65" ($2,698) | Samsung QN85D 65" ($1,798) |
|---|---|
| Picture Technology - Determines overall image quality and brightness control | |
| Mini LED with XR Backlight Master Drive | Neo QLED with Quantum Matrix Mini LED |
| HDR Support - Impacts streaming content quality and future compatibility | |
| Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (best for movie streaming) | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG (no Dolby Vision) |
| HDMI 2.1 Ports - Critical for next-gen gaming and multiple high-end devices | |
| 2 ports (limiting for multiple gaming devices) | 4 ports (ideal for gaming setups) |
| Peak Brightness - Key for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| Higher peak highlights, lower full-screen brightness | Higher full-screen brightness, excellent for bright rooms |
| Gaming Features - Important for console and PC gamers | |
| 4K@120Hz, VRR, ALLM (basic gaming support) | 4K@144Hz, VRR, ALLM, Gaming Hub (superior gaming features) |
| Smart Platform - Affects daily usability and content access | |
| Google TV (more open, better recommendations) | Tizen OS (polished but more restricted) |
| Color Accuracy - Matters most for movie enthusiasts | |
| Reference accuracy out of box (best for movies) | Good accuracy, needs calibration for best results |
| Motion Handling - Important for sports and action content | |
| Superior motion processing (best for sports/movies) | Good motion handling (great for most content) |
| Sound Quality - Built-in audio performance | |
| 70W 2.2.2 channel system with beam tweeters | 60W 4.2.2 channel system with Object Tracking |
| Value Proposition - Overall price-to-performance ratio | |
| Premium price, justified for movie enthusiasts | Better value for mixed-use and gaming |
The Sony BRAVIA 9 performs better for movie viewing in dark rooms due to its superior contrast control and Dolby Vision support. While both TVs use Mini LED technology, Sony's processing provides more natural shadow detail and more accurate colors, making it the preferred choice for home theater environments.
Yes, the Samsung QN85D at $1,798 is about $900 less than the Sony BRAVIA 9 at $2,698. The price difference is substantial and makes the Samsung a better value for general use, while the Sony commands a premium for its superior picture processing.
The Samsung QN85D has higher overall brightness and better anti-glare technology, making it more suitable for bright rooms. While the Sony is also bright, Samsung's approach to peak brightness gives it an advantage in well-lit environments.
The Samsung QN85D is better for gaming with four HDMI 2.1 ports, 144Hz capability, and a dedicated gaming hub. While the Sony BRAVIA 9 supports gaming features, it's limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports and 120Hz.
No, only the Sony BRAVIA 9 supports Dolby Vision. The Samsung QN85D uses HDR10+ instead. This difference matters most for movie streaming, as services like Netflix and Disney+ use Dolby Vision extensively.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 uses Google TV, which offers better content recommendations and search capabilities. The Samsung QN85D uses Tizen OS, which is more polished but less flexible. Google TV is generally preferred for its more open platform.
Both TVs handle motion well, but the Sony BRAVIA 9 has superior motion processing, making it better for sports viewing. However, the Samsung QN85D's higher brightness might be preferable for daytime sports watching.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 is better suited for dedicated home theater use due to its superior picture accuracy, better contrast control, and Dolby Vision support. These features become more noticeable in controlled lighting conditions.
Both TVs support eARC for high-quality audio connection to soundbars. The Sony BRAVIA 9 works best with Sony soundbars, while the Samsung QN85D pairs seamlessly with Samsung soundbars. Both offer good audio integration options.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 has better upscaling capabilities, particularly noticeable with 1080p content. Sony's processing technology has historically been superior for converting lower resolution content to 4K.
The Samsung QN85D offers more future-proof gaming features with four HDMI 2.1 ports and 144Hz support. However, the Sony BRAVIA 9 has Dolby Vision support, which might be more valuable for future streaming content.
For most users, the Samsung QN85D offers better value with its lower price and comprehensive feature set. However, if picture quality is your primary concern and budget allows, the Sony BRAVIA 9 justifies its premium price with superior movie 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 - youtube.com - whathifi.com - crutchfield.com - rtings.com - pcrichard.com - merlinstv.com - youtube.com - sony.ca - electronics.sony.com - videoandaudiocenter.com - shopjetson.com - mysoundconcepts.com - samsung.com - merlinstv.com - youtube.com - samsung.com - samsung.com
