When it comes to the best televisions of the year, choosing the right one may seem like an expensive business. But you don’t have to budget for a 100-inch behemoth to bag yourself some seriously capable kit. As super-sized as screens are these days, some of the best Sony TVs still come in a range of sizes.
The Japanese electronics giant continues to release exciting TVs - not entirely unexpected, given its track record in producing cutting-edge tech. Over the years, the company has continued to develop the sort of features that lesser brands can only dream of; such as ‘Cognitive Processor HR’. This unique AI-powered tech analyses every scene on the fly, optimising both picture and sound. It even adds subtle 3D depth mapping to create a look similar to how we actually see the world.
The best Sony TVs at a glance
• Best overall: Sony BRAVIA, KD-55X85L - View on Amazon
• Best budget: SONY BRAVIA XR-55A80LU - View on Amazon
• Best OLED: SONY BRAVIA 7 - View on Currys
• Best QLED: Sony BRAVIA, KD-75X80L - View on Currys
TV hardware has progressed in leaps and bounds recently, with some of the best OLED TVs hitting the market. So now might be the time to upgrade to a Sony and get the best out of your entertainment.
When choosing the best Sony TVs we haven’t just looked at screen size. We’ve paired size with the sorts of features you might be looking for. Home cinema enthusiasts might look for large OLED screens to hook up to an amp. But someone looking for a smaller TV for gaming or casual viewing might need better built-in sound.
How to choose a Sony TV
Choose the right size for your room
Okay, so just because you can fit that 75-inch monster into your living room doesn’t mean you should. You need to consider viewing distance. For more advice on this, check out our full article on choosing the right size TV. You may be thinking of wall-mounting your TV which can help with viewing distances. But resist mounting the set too high, or above a strong heat source.
Get smart?
These days most TVs are smart TVs. They have operating systems that deliver apps and streaming content via your home wifi connection. Even if you’re not a smart TV user, or just want a TV for gaming, the smarter the TV the more future-proof it will be. All of our picks for the best Sony TVs are smart TVs.
Panel type
Sony’s range of TVs uses different panel technologies, most commonly OLED, Mini LED, and Full Array LED - there's a guide to these at the end of the article. These panel types have their pros and cons, but your choice here will have a massive impact on the quality of your picture. Sony TVs are renowned for excellent picture quality, so any choice you make will be hard to get wrong. As a rule of thumb, OLED is best.
HDR, UHD and 4K upscaling
See the FAQ section below for more details, but in short, HDR means a wider and deeper colour palette. UHD is another term for 4K screen resolution. Upscaling is a seriously clever feature that most 4K TVs do these days; If you’re watching older low-resolution content, the TV will intelligently scale it up to 4K. It’s not perfect - but the added detail will still make a big difference. If, like our picks, your TV has all of these, you’re all set for some seriously stunning visuals.
The best Sony TVs of 2024
Best overall Sony TV
SonyA well-priced 55-inch 4K TV from Sony, the KD-55X85L is our top choice this year because of its all-around brilliance, with no end of stellar features, aesthetics and high-end performance.
Our favourite feature of the BRAVIA KD-55X85L is its speedy 120Hz refresh rate, giving gamers and sports fans access to premium smoothness on fast-paced content. Paired with the additional features provided by BRAVIA for the PlayStation 5 console, including its highly-optimised Gaming Mode, which spares nothing to provide the most visually exciting experience possible for gamers.
The screen's overall picture quality is solid, though an LED screen doesn't provide the visual experience offered by OLED or QLED. Yes, you can expect strong, visually immersive colours and much higher picture quality than you'd find in a standard full-HD or cheaper 4K television, but for next-level image quality, you're looking at a much larger spending budget.
Sony BRAVIA's KD55X85L has good audio at around 20W output power and is not short on audio-enhancing technology to draw the most out of its middling output power. It's no surprise that the KD55X85L doesn't have a huge amount of audio power, as its screen is ultra-slim. There's no room to hide enormous speakers at its price. Its seamless, flush design is utterly stunning and is an eyecatcher when positioned in the centre of a lounge.
One of the best 55-inch televisions of the year, the Sony BRAVIA KD-55X85L is a powerful, eye-catching and well-priced 4K television worth much more than its undoubtedly low price tag at its size. There's no denying that its place at the top of the list is well-deserved.
Pros
- Excellent value 55-inch screen
- Phenomenal 120Hz performance with great PS5 compatibility
- Gorgeous ultra-slim design
Cons
- Not the most advanced screen technology
| Screen size: | 55 inches |
| Other sizes: | 65 inches, 75 inches |
| Screen type: | LCD |
| Refresh rate: | 120 Hz |
| HDMI ports: | HDMI 2.1 x 2, HDMI 2.0 x 2 |
| HDR: | Yes (HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision) |
| Audio: | 10W + 10W, Dolby Audio, Dolby Atmos, DTS Digital Surround, X-Balanced Speaker, Acoustic Auto Calibration |
| Smart assistant: | Google Assistant, compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit |
| Dimensions: | 778 x 1233 x 70 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight: | 17.4 kg |
Best OLED Sony TV
A television at the cutting edge of smart TV technology, the SONY BRAVIA XR-55A80LU delivers some of the deepest, most luscious colour and depth on any smart television this year, among a plethora of other fantastic features.
Out of the gate, the XR-55A80LU is beautifully designed in both hardware and software: its easy-to-navigate operating system, endless series of image and audio post-processing and an especially excellent degree of advanced image customisation make this television one that'll sate the most devoted cinephiles.
The build quality of true OLED televisions is typically the best on the market, and the XR-55A80LU is no exception. Its razor-thin design gives this television a next-generation feel that is unachievable on standard LED. Another brilliant feature of the XR-55A80LU is its moveable feet design, which is primarily designed for comfortably fitting a soundbar.
A potential downside of Sony's XR-55A80LU is its dizzying price, which isn't for the faint of heart, nor the low on cash. It's certainly an investment, and spending this much on television is risky, but we think it is worth it. A transformative smart TV that leaves no stone unturned to provide the best a movie-lover can need, it's one of the best OLED TVs of the year.
Pros
- Excellent OLED picture quality
- Perfectly optimised for gaming
- Several TV stand positions to choose from
Cons
- Particularly expensive compared to other OLED televisions of similar specifications
| Screen size: | 55 inches |
| Other sizes: | 65 inches, 77 inches, 83 inches |
| Screen type: | OLED |
| Refresh rate: | 120 Hz |
| HDMI ports: | HDMI 2.1 x 2, HDMI 2.0b x 2 |
| HDR: | Yes (HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision) |
| Audio: | Acoustic Surface Audio+ (Actuator x 3, Subwoofer x 2, 10W each) |
| Smart assistant: | Google Assistant, compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit |
| Dimensions: | 744 x 1227 x 55 mm (H x W x D) - without stand |
| Weight: | 18.8 kg |
Best QLED Sony TV
While OLED televisions excel in contrast and picture depth, QLED televisions bring colour and brightness, and the BRAVIA 7 is certainly not short of them. A brilliant cutting-edge screen from Sony, the BRAVIA 7 was released earlier this year. It combines QLED technology with stunning mini LED to create a picture quality that is highly detailed and packed with colour.
As for the BRAVIA 7's performance, its 120Hz refresh rate more than delivers, giving gamers fantastic visuals and exemplary performance overall. Like many BRAVIA televisions, the BRAVIA 7 is also optimised for the PS5, so you'll be experiencing the best experience any TV offers.
Audio on Sony's BRAVIA 7 is extraordinary, and it's not just because of its impressive 40W audio output. The television utilises multiple speakers, which create a 'sound from the screen' effect. You can use television and soundbar audio simultaneously too, giving you a true cinema effect.
The only downside of the BRAVIA 7 is its slightly limited HDMI 2.1 ports, which only come with two. Although having two HDMI 2.1 ports is fairly standard on a lower-budget television, having only two can limit your television setup capabilities for something higher-end.
That being said, it's a practically flawless television all-around, the BRAVIA 7 is a remarkable QLED TV, one that needs to be seen to be believed.
Pros
- Stunning QLED colour and picture
- Fantastic audio output
- Ideal for gaming - especially with the PlayStation 5
Cons
- Only two HDMI ports support 120Hz, which might limit some gamer setups
| Screen size: | 55 inches |
| Other sizes: | 65 inches, 75 inches, 85 inches |
| Screen type: | QLED Mini LED |
| Refresh rate: | 120 Hz |
| HDMI ports: | HDMI 2.1 x 2, HDMI 2.0b x 2 |
| HDR: | Yes (HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision) |
| Audio: | Acoustic Multi-Audio technology with DTS Digital Surround support |
| Smart assistant: | Google Assistant, compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit |
| Dimensions: | 760 x 1227 x 58 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight: | 18.3 kg |
Best 75-inch Sony TV
SonyBringing the scale of the cinema home is no easy feat, but if you're in need of tremendous size, few smart televisions can compete with Sony's KD-75X80L. A monster of a television that's perfect for transforming your living room into the most jaw-dropping setup for a reasonable price, the KD-75X80L steals the show with its breathtaking size.
Beautifully designed with the thinnest bezels imaginable, the KD-75X80L will need plenty of space to watch at 75 inches comfortably, but if you can fit it, you're bound to be impressed. Very few 75-inch televisions are below £2,000, so the KD-75X80L is especially affordable, and then there's the added benefit of the television's fantastic user interface and plethora of user customisation options that are otherwise unseen in competing smart televisions, setting this fantastic 75-inch television apart from the rest.
As a slightly cheaper-than-average 75-inch television, there are certain features missing from this smart television: it's only got a 20W speaker setup, plus a standard 60Hz refresh rate, so its smoothness is pretty standard. But for most people looking to enjoy movies and television, it's plenty.
For cinema lovers ad television binge-watchers alike, the Sony BRAVIA KD-75X80L is a top-tier choice for one of the largest screens on the market, it's truly tough to beat in terms of value.
Pros
- Excellent value 75-inch TV
- Good surround sound
- Solid connectivity
Cons
- Not the most technologically impressive screen
| Screen size: | 75 inches |
| Other sizes: | Not specified |
| Screen type: | LCD |
| Refresh rate: | 50/60Hz |
| HDMI ports: | HDMI 2.0 x 4 |
| HDR: | Yes (HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision) |
| Audio: | 10W + 10W, Dolby Audio, Dolby Atmos, DTS Digital Surround, X-Balanced Speaker, Acoustic Auto Calibration |
| Smart assistant: | Google Assistant, compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit |
| Dimensions: | 1675 x 962 x 73 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight: | 32.2 kg |
Best high-end Sony TV
Combining the deep immersion of OLED technology and the ultra-vivid brightness of QLED, the SONY A95L is one of the most technologically advanced televisions on the market right now, and it's a massive step up in this year's competition.
Typically with QLED or OLED televisions, there is some trade-off as to quality. Yes, OLED televisions are good, but they can appear dark, and QLEDs can struggle with dark tones such as shadows, so each technologically suffers from its own problems. Why settle for one when you can enjoy the beauty of both?
This stunning A95L screen is a rarity on the television market, and it's certainly not short of features. A 60W audio output with an array of Surface Acoustics technology to envelop you in pure cinematic sound, HDR options for pushing brightness beyond brilliant, and so much more, there's almost too much to love about the SONY A95L TV.
If we were to gripe about the A95L, we'd undeniably note the television's massive price tag. Double that of other QD-OLEDs and easily one of the most expensive 55-inch televisions of the year, it'll take a big chunk of cash to cover this television.
But for the best entertainment experience, it's certainly going to cost you: the A95L is one of the most impressive televisions of the year so far, should you be able to afford it, you cannot go wrong.
Pros
- Incredible QD-OLED TV screen
- Phenomenal design with gorgeous screen colour
- Excellent sound
Cons
- Very expensive compared to other QD-OLED TVs
| Screen size: | 55 inches |
| Other sizes: | 65 inches, 77 inches |
| Screen type: | QD-OLED |
| Refresh rate: | 120 Hz |
| HDMI ports: | HDMI 2.1 x 2, HDMI 2.0b x 2 |
| HDR: | Yes (HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision) |
| Audio: | Acoustic Surface Audio+ (2 Actuators, 2 Subwoofers), 20W + 20W + 10W + 10W, Dolby Audio, Dolby Atmos, DTS Digital Surround |
| Smart assistant: | Google Assistant, compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit |
| Dimensions: | 726 x 1225 x 53 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight: | 20.1 kg |
Best Sony Bravia TV under £350
A perfect budget television for those on a smaller budget, this Sony BRAVIA KD-32W800 TV is a small but mighty television, running at full HD with HDR support and a good amount of features despite its lower price-point.
A fairly standard television with smart capabilities, this 32-inch screen might not look the most impressive, but it's perfect for the bedroom when settling in for a movie, and it isn't going to set you back a great deal either.
Quite shockingly, the screen of the KD-32W800 includes HDR capabilities, so colours and lighting look exceptionally good for its lower-end price.
For a fraction of the price of other Sony televisions, however, you're not getting the 4K experience that you might have with more expensive models. It's certainly less exciting than the other options on the list, but it's perfect if you're in need of a television in a pinch. A great television under £350, the SONY BRAVIA KD-32W800 is worth watching.
Pros
- Great value Sony TV
- Strong connectivity
- HDR support gives the screen a good overall quality
Cons
- Not the most technologically advanced
| Screen size: | 32 inches |
| Other sizes: | Not specified |
| Screen type: | LCD (IPS) |
| Refresh rate: | 50 Hz |
| HDMI ports: | HDMI 2.0 x 3 |
| HDR: | Yes (HDR10, HLG) |
| Audio: | 5W + 5W, Dolby Audio |
| Smart assistant: | Google Assistant |
| Dimensions: | 442 x 733 x 78 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight: | 4.9 kg |
Best 8K Sony TV
Easily one of the most expensive televisions of the year, the downright lavish Sony XR75Z9KU is a smart television reserved only for the bold and deep-pocketed. An emerging technology that is rarely seen in people's homes just yet, this 8K television boasts double the resolution of 4K televisions, providing what is undoubtedly the most visually stunning television experience this year.
This enormous 75-inch television is bezelless, ultra-thin and bursts with ultra-modern style, holding nothing back from providing the best cinematic experience you can possibly achieve at home. Colour, picture precision and depth all are incredibly stunning, to an extent that is unparalleled by any other smart TV.
But its not just its visuals that are impressive: its 85W audio output power shakes the room with its deep bass and accuracy, which truly comes to life when using Dolby Acoustic Multi-Audio, creating a surround sound feel without the need for external speakers.
The obvious catch with this television is that it's almost £5,000, a hefty price tag that is hard to justify since it's nothing but a luxury. And then, there's the sheer lack of support for 8K screens, since they're so expensive and largely unattainable, so you'll mostly be enjoying upscaled content as opposed to native 8K quality.
That being said, for the best television experience this year, you've got to go big or go home: the Sony XR75Z9KU is a phenomenal 8K television.
Pros
- Stunning 8K screen
- A vast array of post-processing features
- Excellent audio output power
Cons
- Very expensive compared with limited device compatibility
| Screen size: | 75 inches |
| Other sizes: | 85 inches |
| Screen type: | Mini LED, Full Array Local Dimming |
| Refresh rate: | 120 Hz |
| HDMI ports: | HDMI 2.1 x 3, HDMI 2.0b x 1 |
| HDR: | Yes (HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision) |
| Audio: | 85W, Acoustic Multi-Audio with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio, DTS Digital Surround |
| Smart assistant: | Google Assistant, works with Alexa, Apple AirPlay, and HomeKit |
| Dimensions: | 964 x 1674 x 82 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight: | 49.8 kg |
Pro-tip - soundbars
Built-in speakers can sound great, but they’re not for everyone. They may lack the sort of bass or vocal clarity that you’d prefer. But there’s no need to rush out and buy an amplifier - get a soundbar instead.
As the name suggests, a soundbar is a speaker housed in a bar-shaped case containing an integrated amplifier. It connects to your TV via HDMI or audio cable. The benefits are twofold - firstly, they're designed to deliver well-balanced richer sound. A serious step up from TV speakers, they're often even good enough for surround sound for movies and so on. Secondly, they’re designed to sit unobtrusively above or below your TV, on a unit or mounted on a wall. So, no messy cable runs or large speakers to worry about.
Buyer’s guide
So, you’ve decided that a Sony is for you. The very next question many will ask is ‘What Sony TV should I buy?’ As always this is going to come down to budget. But once you’ve decided how much you’re willing to spend, you’ll still want to spend it wisely. Here are some features common to all Sony TVs that you’ll need to consider.
Choose based on panel type
A TV is really only as good as the panel inside it. Here’s a quick guide:
OLED
Organic LEDs are a thing of beauty due to their ability to be controlled individually, pixel by pixel. They don’t require a traditional backlight to create a bright enough picture. Therefore, OLED screens don’t produce that fuzzy lighting ‘bloom’ around bright objects, as seen on LED screens. Also, the viewing angle of OLED panels is wider than LED. They're also well-suited to movie buffs and gamers; The refresh rates are high, the contrast is excellent and the black levels are deep.
Mini LED
Miniature LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) allow for a very high-resolution screen, even comparable to OLED. The more LEDs, the more finely the brightness and contrast can be controlled. Plus you get local dimming zones to drive deeper and truer blacks.
Their advantage over OLED screens is the overall brightness Mini LED panels can muster. This makes for more accurate HDR performance. Despite their tiny size, Mini LEDs don’t have the near-infinite level of contrast that OLEDs have when turned off. So, depending on the model, you may see some ‘bloom’ - light bleed between dark and light areas. The viewing angle is also significantly less than that of OLED.
Full Array LED
A standard LED screen will only be backlit by rows of LEDs along the edges. But Full Array means that every LED displaying the picture up front has a corresponding ‘full array’ of backlighting LEDs behind. Similarly to OLEDs which can be turned on and off individually, Full Array LED panels have backlighting that can be locally controlled. It’s not as precise as OLEDs of course, but a worthwhile upgrade over a standard LED panel.
LED
These panels are affordable compared to the others above. They’re energy-efficient, cheaper, and durable. Despite being very capable and used in plenty of very large screen models, they’re rapidly becoming a third or fourth choice when it comes to TV panel tech at this point.
Connecting to your other equipment
You may be upgrading your TV, but what about your existing home cinema kit, games consoles or streaming media boxes and such? Have a quick look and tally up how many connections you’ll need your TV to handle, and what type. You may need ports for special equipment, like a sound bar that needs an optical audio cable connection; or a USB port or two for connecting a hard drive or USB stick with your media on it.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best Sony TV for PS5?
Many consoles such as the PS5 are capable of outputting HDR and high refresh rates for smooth on-screen graphics. If you’re unsure about refresh rates, see the guide in our FAQs below.
The Sony TVs here all have refresh rates no lower than 60hz, but some can achieve much higher. Even better, most are capable of adjusting the refresh rate dynamically (otherwise known as VRR - or Variable Refresh Rate) to suit your game. This isn’t exclusive to Sony, there are plenty of other brands of TVs that are designed with gamers in mind.
In 2021 Sony went one step further by building its ‘Perfect for PlayStation5’ feature set into its XR range of TVs - including the Sony XR-50X90S above. PS5 users can expect features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping, Auto Genre Picture Mode, and super-low input lag.
What are HDR and UHD?
High Dynamic Range, or HDR, has become something of a buzzword in the world of TVs. Simply put, if your content has been produced in HDR it will have a wider and more vivid colour range than standard content. This means over a billion colours are available instead of the roughly 16 million colours that you get without HDR. HDR comes in slightly different flavours though - with HDR (HDR10), HDR10+, and Dolby Vision being close cousins; each has a slight improvement over the other. All of the Sony TVs in our pick below have HDR as standard.
Ultra High Definition, or UHD, is really long-hand for 4K. A 4K picture is roughly four times the size of the last generation of ‘HD’ screens (commonly made up of 1920 x 1080 pixels).
Can I connect Bluetooth headphones to a Sony TV?
All of the Sony TVs in our list have Bluetooth built-in. As the Bluetooth radio standard is backwards compatible, you can buy a new model of Sony TV and know it’ll be compatible with any Bluetooth headphones you may already own.
What’s the best Sony OLED TV?
Sony’s Organic LED panels deliver a picture that is second to none when it comes to deep blacks and colour depth. Serious picture processing tech does quite a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of output though. Look at the detailed specifications for each TV. You’ll notice that some may be better than others with content like sports - reducing motion blur for fast-moving action. If an authentic home cinema experience is your bag, you might prefer a Sony TV with a wider HDR colour palette. Consider how you'll use your TV, then take the time to find the features you’re likely to need.
What’s the best - a Sony TV or Samsung TV?
Given that the top tier of TV manufacturers is a pretty exclusive club these days, it’s not surprising that many people ask this question first. Is a Sony TV better than an LG, Panasonic, or Samsung TV? At this price point, you’re not likely to find a consensus. They all have their pros and cons, exclusive features, operating systems, and proprietary picture processing tech. As always, it’s going to come down to your personal preference.
What are the best picture settings for my Sony TV?
Most new televisions, regardless of manufacturer, arrive out of the box with ‘dynamic’ or similar picture settings; meaning the brightness, contrast, colour saturation and more are almost at the top end of the scale. This may elicit a ‘wow factor’ in a TV showroom or the moment you turn it on at home, but these settings are quite harsh for regular comfortable viewing.
Sony TVs have several other excellent pictures presets for different types of content. This can include gaming modes, sports modes or movie presets. Cinema fans in particular will probably want to fine-tune their settings, making customisations here and there. Ultimately, it’s down to you - play around with the settings while watching your favourite content and discover the best picture settings for you.
What’s the best Sony TV with a built-in recorder?
All of the Sony TVs in our selection above have built-in programme guides and the ability to flag a programme or movie for recording. But, that doesn’t mean all TVs can actually record content right out of the box. To record using a smart TV means adding some sort of storage device - an external hard drive, or a USB memory stick.
What is the refresh rate?
This is the number of times the screen refreshes the entire displayed image, per second. Measured in Hertz (Hz) a 60Hz TV will refresh an image 60 times, and a 120Hz TV will refresh an image 120 times. Therefore, the higher the refresh rate, the smoother the moving image appears to the eye. This is particularly important for gamers or those who watch fast-moving action like sports.
Chris Duffill is a Senior Tech Writer and Reviewer for What's The Best. His background includes writing, editorial, marketing, design, video production and photography.
He specialises in home entertainment and audiovisual tech, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, streaming media players, and TVs. He is also one of our resident experts in computing (PCs, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches), DSLR photography and all kinds of digital cameras. He also writes about retro gaming, game consoles and various electronic gadgets. If it plugs in, lights up or makes a noise, he’ll write about it.
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