Traditionally for industry leaders, this year the Japanese giant introduced new models in almost all segments.
Flagship Bravia 8 II QD-OLED (or ‘mark 2’) is an improved version of the the A95L (2023). In turn, it replaced the A95K (2022), which became the first Sony TV with a hybrid QD-OLED panel.
In America, the Sony Bravia 8 II will be available in 55- and 65-inch sizes, starting at $ 2,500. For lovers of a huge screen, the company offers Bravia 5 with mini LED backlit, the diagonal of which reaches 98 inches. Unfortunately, its price will reach $ 6,500 (MSRP).
Sony Bravia 8 II
The Bravia 8 II will compete with the LG G5 OLED Evo and Samsung S95F QD-OLED.
Sony Bravia 8 II, LG G5 and Samsung S95F launch prices (65″):
– $ 4,000 / £ 3,000 vs $ 3,400 vs $ 3,300.
As for release timing, Sony is hinting at a mid-2025 launch.
Preliminary prices for the 65-inches model are $ 4,000 (US) and £ 3,000 (UK). For reference, the launch price of Sony BRAVIA XR A95L was $ 3,000 and £ 3,500 for 65 inches.
Two years ago, the Sony A95L significantly outperformed the BRAVIA 8 OLED, offering:
– more vibrant, lifelike, and brighter colors in HDR;
– higher brightness in HDR and in SDR;
– better PQ EOTF tracking;
– much better pre-calibration accuracy.
Today the 65-inch BRAVIA 8 costs $ 1,300 vs $ 3,000 for the A95L.
The Bravia 8 II retains Sony’s One Slate design in a minimalist aesthetic. As with the A95L, the thickness of the Bravia 8 II is 3.4cm / 1.34″. The company positions it as the slimmest TV in its lineup. In fairness, the thickness of the flagship competitors is 1.1cm for Samsung S95F and 2.4cm for LG G5. Apparently, the greater thickness is due to the use of an actuator-based sound system and custom heatsink.
An adjusting the height of blade-style feet allows the owner to place the soundbar under the TV. Unfortunately, like the A95L, they don’t move horizontally.
Therefore, this design requires a furniture width of at least 122cm for the 55-inch model and 145cm for the 65-inch version. However, wall mounting radically solves this problem.
Unfortunately, the TV still only has two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 sockets and one of those doubles as the eARC port.
QD-OLED vs Primary RGB Tandem
According to the company, the new TV uses ‘the latest QD-OLED panel’. Combined with Sony’s processing, the peak brightness increase can reach 25% vs the A95L. A side-by-side comparison at a demonstration in the Tokyo HQ really showed the significant additional brightness and crispness of the Bravia 8 II, which are particularly visible in low light. What’s more, the new model will be around 50% brighter than the Bravia 8 with a W-OLED panel. Accordingly, increased brightness increases color volume. In addition, the developers are announcing a significant improvement to dark gradations, which should improve the reproduction of dark scenes.
The superb HDR handling is one of the main bonuses of the new TV. Instead of the usual clipped highlights, in bright scenes the model reproduces smooth color transitions and more refined details. In turn, improved gradation tones with subtle highlights provide a more natural image due to color accuracy.
Of course, the prospects for hybrid QD-OLED panels are great, but not cloudless. This year, LG slightly surprised competitors and experts by refusing to further improve MLA (Micro Lens Array) technology in favor of developing four-stack OLED technology. According to The Elec, unlike three-stack WOLED with B-GYG-R structure (blue, green/yellow green/red, and blue layers), it uses B-G-B-R layers.
LG claims peak brightness for the new panel of up to 2,000 nits in a 10% window, which is unprecedented for previous OLED panels. New flagship LG G5 and wireless LG M5 will already come with the 4th gen OLED panel in 65, 77, 83 and 97-inch models. Thus, the battle for brightness between hybrid QD-OLED panels and four-stack OLED technology rises to the next level.
Key Features
As known, the audio systems of the latest Sony TVs use ‘Acoustic Surface Audio+’ technology. It generates sound on the screen surface due to vibrate of actuators. As a result, TV sounds direct, detailed and dynamic.
Like the A95L, Bravia 8 II uses two actuators and two subwoofers vs Bravia 8 W-OLED, which has two lesser actuators and only one sub.
Moreover, TV can create a pseudo Atmos effect or surround sound, simulating sound outside the chassis. However, for music lovers the company offers the excellent Bravia Theater Bar 9 or the unusual Bravia Theater Quad, which will satisfy the most demanding tastes.
Of course, Sony’s XR Processor actively uses AI. New an AI scene recognition system detects and analyses data, then optimises the image. Moreover, Sony is offering Studio Calibrated Modes for the first time. According to the developer, this option delivers content from their respective streaming services as it was meant to be seen. Accordingly, Bravia 8 II offers Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, Prime Video Calibrated Mode and Sony Pictures Core Calibrated Mode.
The series is IMAX Enhanced certified, supports Dolby Vision and Atmos. But traditionally for Sony, the list of supported HDR formats includes only standard HDR10 and HLG, without HDR10+.
New Sony OLED TV traditionally runs Google TV. Of course, its supports hand gesture control via the optional Bravia Cam.
For gamers, the TV offers 4K@120Hz, VRR (Variable refresh rate), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), Dolby Vision Game mode and ‘Perfect for PlayStation 5’ functionality (optimal auto HDR settings when connected to a PS5).
Conclusion
Pros
– high brightness and superb HDR performance;
– great sound with ‘Acoustic Surface Audio+’ technology;
– calibrated modes for Netflix Adaptive, Prime Video and Sony Pictures Core;
– ‘Perfect for PlayStation 5’ functionality;
– Google TV.
Cons
– only 2 size options;
– no HDR10+;
– still just two HDMI 2.1 sockets.
Paradoxically, in the UK the Bravia 8 II is cheaper than the Sony A95L (£ 3,000 vs £ 3,500 for 65″). Perhaps the aggressive launch price is due to the company’s pricing strategy in this region.
Given the price, the brighter Bravia 8 II with improved video processing algorithms and additional modes clearly outperforms its predecessor. Judging by the announced and current prices in America ($ 4,000 / Bravia 8 II vs $ 3,000 / A95L), the new product is significantly more expensive. But the final price is still unknown. In any case, consumers get a superb TV with impeccable image quality that will decorate any model range.
This video introduces the Sony BRAVIA 8 II.
