Google Assistant voice control for (some) Sony Android TVs

Admit it, you’ve talked to your TV before. Yelled at it, even, or at least directed a statement to someone on it. “You can run faster than that!” “Don’t go in there!”

Now, though, you can have more meaningful conversations with it than before thanks to built-in personal assistants – if you own one of this year’s Sony 4K HDR TVs, such as the Sony KD-65A1 or Sony KD-55XE9305, or one of the brand's compatible 2016 models.

After performing a software update on their Sony TV, users simply have to push the microphone button on the remote and issue commands - whether that's searching for content or playing music, asking for general information or controlling compatible smart home products.

Compatible TV ranges include 2016’s XD70, XD75, XD80, SD80, XD83 and ZD9 Series, and 2017’s XE80, XE83, XE85, XE90, XE93, XE94 and A1 Series.

While voice-controlled wireless speakers have been dubbed 'smart speakers', the inclusion of the in-vogue feature on tellies (not only Sony's but also Toshiba's) is beginning to bring a refreshed definition to the term 'smart TV'. Perhaps they should be called 'super-smart TVs' instead.

Smart speakers – everything you need to know

Becky Roberts
Freelance contributor

Becky is a hi-fi, AV and technology journalist, formerly the Managing Editor at What Hi-Fi? and Editor of Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica magazines. With over twelve years of journalism experience in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices.

In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.