Sony has been synonymous with some ofthe best TVs you may buyfor as long as we can remember and is often at the forefront of new technologies. That includes 8K,QD-OLED,OLED, Mini LEDand Full Array LED TVs.
In 2023, Sony expanded its line up once again, with seven new premium TV ranges to choose from. We’re giving you all the details here, as well as the lowdown on a few of the TVs from previous years that are still for sale.
Here then are the Sony TVs from 2023 you should still consider in 2024.
Sony’s 4K TV lineup
Sony is pushing full steam ahead with QD-OLED for its flagship OLED model in 2023, the Samsung-made screen technology that we saw in last year’sA95K, and Samsung’sS95B.
It gets a 77-inch version as a new addition this year, and comes with a three-way aluminium stand for adjusting it into a narrower or high position than the standard option allows.
Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR runs the show across its premium TVs this year, and there are a number of technologies it supports. This includes Triluminous XR Pro for a wide, yet realistic, colour palette, XR Clear Image for cleaner, crisper images, with improved detail and edge definition, and XR OLED Contrast Pro for improved .
Improved peak brightness is also a huge focus this year, with a colour performance that is approximately 200 per cent brighter than the A95K.
As you might expect at this price, we are dealing with a 120Hz panel, withHDMI 2.1for native 4K/120Hz,VRR and ALLMfor gaming. Sony’s Perfect for PlayStation 5 certification means Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode is also included, plus there’s a new Game Menu for all games, which allows you to quickly view and adjust your picture settings. An upgraded HDMI chipset also seesDolby Visiongaming a go here too.
Acoustic Surface Audio+ turns the TV into a speaker, with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X too, plus there’s Google TV for the user interface as usual, with some simplification to menus that help make it a little more accessible.
The same as last year, Bravia Cam is shipped with the X95L and will be an optional extra elsewhere in the range. Not only can you do video calling with it but it can also adjust picture and sound settings based on where people are sat in the room.
The A80L embraces a standard OLED panel in place of QD-OLED, with a new 83-inch model for this year, and a fetching new diamond-shaped stand.
With the introduction of an 83-inch here and 77-inch in the A95L, Sony seems to have concentrated on the larger screen sizes in the market and it’s a shame not to see a 48-inch or smaller OLED, as we are seeing from other brands.
For this, you’ll have to look to last year’s A90K, which is staying on sale.
Still, the A80L does get the upgrades we see across the whole of the premium end of its range, in terms of the new Cognitive Processor XR and all the picture processing tech that allows, and you can expect a somewhat humble 10% uplift in brightness this year as a result.
Of course, you’re able to also enjoy a native 120Hz panel for 4K/120Hz gaming with VRR, ALLM and also Sony’s Perfect for PlayStation 5 certification, plus Acoustic Surface Audio+ for clear and powerful audio.
Google TV is present and correct here once again too, as is a new Metal Flush Surface Bezel and three-way stand, for flexibility with its positioning.
Sony’s joint flagship model in 2023 was the Mini LED X95L. Mini LED backlighting, which is made of smaller bulbs than regular LED TVs for more precision, also results in great brightness - so the contrast between the dark and light areas in a scene can be spectacular and closer to OLED.
However, there’s actually a 30% boost in brightness this year round, thanks to an increase in dimming zones, which should allow for improved black levels, brighter HDR highlights and reduced blooming.
Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR is in use here once again, with picture processing that includes XR Triluminous Pro, XR Motion Clarity, XR Clear Image and XR Contrast Booster 20, plus XR Backlight Master Drive for controlling the backlight with precision.
X-Anti Reflection and X-Wide Angle also join in to help minimise reflections and off-axis colour variation that can be an issue for LED TVs.
Expect 4K/120Hz for smooth gaming, alongside support for VRR and ALLM, Sony’s Perfect for PlayStation 5 tweaks and the new Game Menu - but there’s no Dolby Vision gaming here.
Due to the limitations of LCD vs OLED panels, there’s no Acoustic Surface Audio+ here either. Instead it uses the frame tweeters that were used in the Z9K 8K TV, alongside traditional TV speakers for something it calls Acoustic Multi-Audio+. This allows for a similar experience in so much that the audio comes directly at you from the screen.
Google TV is called on again for the smart user interface, there’s support for the Bravia Cam as an optional extra, and there’s a three-way aluminium TV stand for placement flexibility.
This is Sony’s highest specced full-array LED TV, and comes in a wide range of screen sizes - including a huge new 98-inch option - which is proof of its popularity in Sony’s line up.
That’s because previous ranges have offered the sweet spot of performance and price, and that performance should be better still this year. Sony says brightness is up 30% compared to last year’s X90K, thanks to more dimming zones. It is even getting a little bump up in build quality too, with an upgraded aluminium design instead of plastic.
The Cognitive Processor XR is still present and correct here, with support for tech like XR Triluminous Pro, XR Clear Image and XR Contrast Booster 10. This all powers a 120Hz panel for 4K/120Hz gaming, with ALLM and VRR, plus Sony’s proprietary PlayStation 5 functionality and the new Game Menu.
For sound, Acoustic Multi Audio+ is here in two channel form, with a three-way aluminium wedge stand for flexibility in positioning and Bravia Cam compatibility.
This is the start of Sony’s core midrange offering, still packing the Full Array LED panel but dropping down to the 4K HDR Processor X1. You can still get native 120hz video at this level though, and with HDMI 2.1, all of the 4K/120hz, ALLM, VRR goodness for gamers that we’ve mentioned above.
Google TV is still doing the smart TV heavy lifting here, while audio is handled a little more traditionally, with Sony’s X-Balanced speaker units. You also lose out on support for Acoustic Centre Sync, where the TV works with compatible Sony soundbars to reinforce the centre speaker channel.
The design has had an upgrade to a hairline finish this year, so despite the fact it’s a plastic body, it looks more like metal, so a bit more premium. The stand is also fixed height in this model, but you can move it into the middle for narrower furniture.
Historically this is another popular TV in Sony’s range, with lots of screen sizes to show for it. In fact, this is how low in the range you’d have to go to get a 2023 TV from Sony in the sub-50 inch screen size, but the 85-inch size is also new this year.
You’re dropping to more entry level technology now, with an edge-lit LED panel in place of full array and a 60Hz frame rate. Sony is still claiming it’s a great gamer’s TV, thanks to its Auto Low Latency Mode, but with no support for VRR or 4K/120Hz playback, it’s unlikely going to be a first choice for those with a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S.
The Processor X1 is here again, but it loses a few more picture processing options, like X Motion Clarity. Only Triluminous Pro and 4K X Reality Pro remain.
Google TV is once again on board for the smarts, as is the X-Balanced speaker system. It’s also rocking a loud-and-proud black plastic construction, with a shiny finish, and a two-way stand - for wide or narrow positioning.
At the very entry level is the Sony X75WL - an edge-lit LED that comes in almost all of the same sizes as the X80L, except the 85 inch. You get a step down in processor again, with the more basic Processor X1, and a 60Hz panel.
Google TV stays strong, as do the two-channel X-Balanced speakers. The build is much more plastic-y and less premium though, with a chunkier bezel that sits on top of the two-way stand.
Does Sony have an 8K TVs?
Sony seems to have taken a step back from 8K in its 2023 lineup, as it hasn’t released a new model. However, it does still have its 8K television from 2022, which is still on sale.
Sony Z9K - released in 2022
Sony XR-75Z9K
2022’s top-of-the-range set is the Master Series 8K TV with a Mini LED backlight, ensuring the best black levels you can get with this kind of resolution.
It uses a 120Hz panel for 4K gaming (60Hz at 8K) and supports variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM), so is a perfect match for any console, especially the PlayStation 5.
Its Cognitive Processor XR technology not only ensures an excellent native picture, it can also upscale HD and 4K content to look their best too. And there are eight speaker units inside, including four woofers, for impactful surround sound.
The smart TV functionality is supplied through Google TV, with support for Alexa and Apple’s AirPlay 2 as well.
