Sony has announced its 2025 TV range. And like all good Hollywood blockbusters, there's a surprising twist…

Sony is keeping its existing 2024 range on sale. That's right, instead of wiping the slate clean and replacing each model, Sony is using its 2025 offerings primarily to fill in the gaps in its existing range.

Its three new TVs – the Bravia 3, Bravia 5 and Bravia 8 II – will complement its existing TVs (which we have included below).

So if you want a new Sony TV, what are your options? We'll explain all…

What's new?

Existing models stay on sale

Sony's existing models will stay on sale for another year. That means you will still be able to buy the Bravia 9, Bravia 8, A90K, Bravia 7, X85L and W800.

The new models complement these.

The Bravia 3 launched in the US and Australia last year, but comes to the UK in 2025. It's an LED model that will sit above the W800.

The Bravia 5 Mini LED TV will sit below the Bravia 7 but above the X85L. It replaces the X90L, which was a standard LED TV.

The final new model is the Bravia 8 II QD-OLED TV, which sits above the Bravia 8.

Finally, a replacement for the A95L

Sony has finally replaced the A95L. This second-generation QD-OLED TV launched in 2023 to rave reviews – we gave it five stars, calling it "very special indeed".

We had expected the new model to be called the Bravia 10, but it's actually the Bravia 8 II.

This promises to be more affordable than the A95L, but with a peak brightness that is 25 per cent higher. It uses the latest generation of QD-OLED panel.

We've already seen this new model in action. Click here to read our Sony Bravia 8 II hands-on.

No new small OLEDs

Unfortunately, Sony hasn't launched any new small OLED TVs, which means its only OLED under 55 inches remains the A90K.

It's still a great TV – we called it "exceptionally good" in our five-star review – but given that it launched in 2022, it is getting on a bit, much to the dismay of our TV & AV Editor, Tom Parsons, who has likened the A90K to Mr Meeseeks from Rick and Morty.

It wasn't the brightest OLED TV when we tested it three years ago, and OLEDs have made big strides in this area since then. So next to today's rivals it might look a little drab.

RGB LED, but not until 2026

The only brand new TV technology that Sony has announced is RGB LED, but that won't arrive until 2026.

Still, it shows what a landmark technology it could be that Sony feels compelled to talk about it a full 12 months before it is implemented.

We have seen it in person in Sony's Tokyo headquarters – and we're impressed.

Consider it an evolution of Mini LED. It too uses shrunken LEDs grouped into zones that can be brightened or dimmed independently, but its LEDs are coloured rather than white.

With colour coming directly from the backlight, it produces brighter, more accurate colours without the ‘blooming’ issues associated with backlit TVs.

For more information, check out our first impressions of Sony's RGB Mini LED prototype.

• What is Mini LED TV? How does it differ?

Sony 2025 TV range breakdown

That's the broad brush changes explained. Now we'll dig into more detail on each model.

We will also include older Sony models that are staying on sale.

Sony Bravia 9 Mini LED TV (2024)

Sony's 2024 flagship model remains for 2025. Its Mini LED panel can go 50 per cent brighter than the X95L it replaced, with three times as many dimming zones.

And it's a very good TV – but not a brilliant one.

Its picture lacks the same solidity of an OLED model, while not exhibiting quite the same degree of 'pop'. The sound is a bit underwhelming, too, and the user interface can be sluggish.

All of which cost it a fifth star.

In terms of specification, we are looking at an advanced LED Acoustic Multi-Audio+ sound system, with a 70W 2.2.2 channel audio.

It includes drivers that vibrate the frame of the TV in order to create sound, which emulates the actuator-based system on Sony's OLED models which instead vibrate the screen itself.

There are four HDMI sockets, but only two are HDMI 2.1 which will be disappointing for hardcore gamers.

Those ports will support 4K/120Hz gaming, VRR and ALLM though – to be expected considering Sony also manufactures the PlayStation 5.

The Bravia 9 also features the Google TV operating system.

Read our Sony Bravia 9 review

• HDMI 2.1 explained: everything you need to know
• What is Google TV? Apps, features, compatible TVs...

Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED TV (2025)

A new model for 2025, the Bravia 8 II is Sony's latest flagship OLED TV.

It's a step up from the A95L QD-OLED, which it replaces. The Bravia 8 II sits between the flagship Bravia 9 and lower-tier Bravia 8 from 2024 (see below).

Sony says it has a peak brightness that is 25 per cent higher than the A95L, and 50 per cent higher than the Bravia 8.

It also promises to be more affordable than the A95L.

Coming in 55- and 65-inch sizes, it has a new design, which Sony refers to as the Slim One Slate. This fuses the screen and bezel into a single slate, making for a more consistent and seamless design.

It is also the slimmest of Sony's new TVs – but it's still thicker than rivals such as the Samsung S95F and LG G5.

Under the hood, Sony's XR Processor detects the scene and analyses it in order to optimise the TV's picture performance.

XR Triluminos Max improves the colour accuracy and vibrancy, while XR Contrast Booster enhances the difference between light and dark parts of the picture, creating greater depth.

Sony stresses the Bravia 8 II's wide colour spectrum, and puts a big focus on its dark gradation.

And on the audio side, Sony's excellent Acoustic Surface Audio + tech vibrates sections of the screen to create sound with pinpoint accuracy.

Its system comprises two actuators and two subwoofers (the same as the A95L), which is superior to the 2.1 system of the Bravia 8.

Read our Sony Bravia 8 II hands-on

Sony Bravia 8 OLED TV (2024)

The Bravia 8 remains on sale. Which is good news: it's an Award winner.

It is 10 per cent brighter than its predecessor the A80L, and features the same Bravia XR processor as the Bravia 9.

It also features the OLED Acoustic Surface Audio+ audio system, which vibrates the screen to create a lifelike centralised sound that comes directly from the centre of the screen.

One thing we are glad the Bravia 8 doesn't share with the 9 is the range of available sizes. This OLED set comes in a much more conventional range of screen sizes: 55-, 65- and 77-inch versions.

In our five-star review, we praised the Bravia 8's balanced, immersive picture, sublime motion handling and decent audio (for a TV).

Read our Sony Bravia 8 review

Sony A90K OLED TV (2022)

The Sony A90K launched back in 2022, but that hasn't stopped Sony from squeezing yet another year out of it.

This TV soldiers on in both the 42- and 48-inch sizes.

If you want a small Sony OLED TV, it remains your only choice for 2025.

It's a standard WOLED panel with a 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate on both sizes.

Once again there are four HDMI sockets, with two rated to support the full 48GB bandwidth of HDMI 2.1, one of which doubles as HDMI eARC.

Sound is achieved via the Acoustic Surface Audio+ system and we considered it to be a strong, if not game-changing performer in this regard.

What truly won us over with this TV is its excellent picture performance. It bears the usual marks of a Sony OLED TV, including crisp details and deep contrast that results in a stunningly natural image.

While competition from LG in the small OLED TV category is tough, this is still a solid TV, even if it is rather aged at this point.

Read our Sony XR-48A90K review

• 4K 120Hz: what is it? Why should you get it?

Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED TV (2024)

The Sony Bravia 7 is another carry-over from 2024.

It has a Mini LED panel with quantum dots – albeit not the same advanced backlight found on the Bravia 9.

It offers a 30 per cent higher brightness and eight times more dimming zones than the X90L.

And it has a similar Acoustic Multi Audio system to the Bravia 9, but without the upward-firing beam tweeters.

It also inherits an identical gaming specification as its more expensive siblings, with two HDMI 2.1 sockets with 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM gaming support.

• VRR explained: what is variable refresh rate?
• Everything you need to know about ALLM for gaming

Sony Bravia 5 Mini LED TV (2025)

Another new model for 2025, the Bravia 5 takes the place of the X90L.

It's a Mini LED set that offers up to six times the number of dimming zones of the X90L (though it depends on screen size).

It is less bright than the Bravia 7, and has fewer dimming zones than that model.

The XR Processor is once again on board, complete with XR Backlight Master Drive for precision backlighting control. The same core technology is used in Sony's professional monitors.

It will come in five sizes, ranging from 55 inches to 98 inches.

Read our Sony Bravia 5 hands-on

Sony X85L LED TV (2023)

This is a further step down in Sony's backlit lineup and a continuing model from 2023.

It earned five stars from us thanks to its excellent contrast and backlight control, balanced colours and excellent motion handling.

It's a winner in the picture category, despite the fact it uses a full-array LED backlight. It does feature local dimming which accounts for the enhanced contrast and HDR performance.

We find that the X85L plays it too safe with sound at times, but we appreciate that it knows its limitations to avoid distortion. It sounds clear, detailed and fairly well-refined for built-in TV speakers, although we wish it had a touch more bass.

That all being said, we find it to be a solid performer by TV-sound standards.

The X85L is also specified very similarly to the other TVs on this list, with two HDMI 2.1 sockets for 4K/120Hz gaming with VRR and ALLM. It also supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos immersive audio over HDMI eARC.

Read our full Sony XR-55X85L review

• Dolby Atmos: what is it? How can you get it?

Sony Bravia 3 LED TV (2025)

This LED model spans sizes from 43 to 85 inches. It's new for the UK in 2025, but launched in the US and Australia last year.

It takes the place of the X75WL, and offers 4K upscaling, Sony's Triluminos Pro tech, and audio courtesy of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

The Google TV operating system brings all the streaming apps you would expect, and PS Remote Play makes it ideal as a bedroom TV.

But as its panel is only 60Hz, and its HDMI sockets are only 2.0 certified (not 2.1), your games won't look or feel their best.

This also means it carries the basic ARC standard, and not the more advanced eARC; so audio quality over HDMI may not be as crisp as the other sets on this list.

• HDMI 2.1 explained: features, specification and more
• HDMI ARC and eARC: what's the difference? Why does it matter?

Sony W800 LED TV (2021)

This 32-incher is ancient. A mainstay of the Sony lineup since 2021, it's basically part of the Sony furniture.

It is the smallest TV in Sony's current lineup, and offers comparatively little in the way of features.

You get HDR support (HDR10 and HLG only), a 60Hz refresh rate and the Android TV operating system. But not much else.

It is currently not sold in the US or Australia.

Read our Sony W800 review

MORE:

Check out the full LG 2025 TV lineup

Should you buy a Hisense TV in 2025? Find out here

And our pick of the best TVs

What's better than getting your hands on an impressively big TV? Getting your hands on it when it's at a spectacular price.

And right now, one of the best TVs of this year has crashed down to its lowest ever price, blowing the deal we saw on Black Friday out of the water.

For just £2699 at Sevenoaks, you can pick up the 75-inch Sony Bravia 9 with a swoon-worthy £1800 off. It takes a quick and free sign-up to the Sevenoaks' Rewards scheme to secure the extra £300 discount, a simple task for hundreds of pounds of savings.

When we carried out our full review of the Sony Bravia 9, we were impressed with Sony's 2024 flagship offering.

While we certainly have a preference here at What Hi-Fi? for the Sony Bravia 8, which is around the same price for a 77-inch model, if you're not looking for OLED, this is absolutely the TV we'd recommend.

Though the Mini LED panel lacks the perfect blacks and pixel-level contrast control of an OLED, the Bravia 9 can still more than impress with its dazzling brightness and highlights. Plus, it tackles dark backgrounds with excellent local dimming, which is precisely why it's one of the best Mini LEDs we've ever tested.

In our verdict, we said: "At its best, this TV is sensational, serving up dazzling brightness, impressive blacks (by backlit TV standards), generally vibrant colours and even an enjoyable (if slightly restrained) sound experience."

Though we gave it a four-star review, this was mainly down to the high price that Sony set for this model.

With this stellar deal knocking the price down to just £2699 at Sevenoaks, that part of the problem is confidently tackled.

And yes, we also mentioned that audio could benefit from a separate soundbar, and thankfully Sevenoaks' deal drops money off the five-star Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 when bought with the Sony TV, making it just £699 at Sevenoaks. That's an extra £300 off!

MORE:

These are the best Mini LED TVs we’ve tested

Our picks of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

We reviewed the best TVs: flagship OLEDs and affordable flatscreens tried and tested

Looking for a gargantuan TV deal this Black Friday? Fan of Sony TVs? Then good news! The price of Sony’s 2024 Bravia 9 TV has crashed with this excellent Black Friday deal.

The deal lets you get either the 75- or 85-inch Bravia 9 at their best price ever. Specifically you can buy the 75-inch Bravia 9 for £3099 at Peter Tyson (save £1300).

If you’re after something bigger Peter Tyson is selling the 85-inch Bravia 9 for £3999, a £1000 discount on its regular price.

We reviewed the 75-inch Bravia 9 earlier this year and found it to be one of 2024’s most interesting TVs. First, because despite being Sony’s flagship for the year, it uses a Mini LED panel, rather than the OLED tech you normally see at the top end of the market.

Despite this we found a lot to like about the Bravia 9 when we reviewed it. Though the Mini LED panel can’t match the perfect blacks you get on competing OLEDs, it offers significantly higher peak brightness levels. When set up correctly this added brightness helped HDR content in particular shine, with highlights holding a wonderfully three dimensional quality.

The set also offers best in class local dimming on dark backgrounds, making it one of the better Mini LEDs we’ve tested, even when watching dark movies, such as the The Batman, Blade Runner 2049 and IT.

Hence our reviewers’ conclusion: “at its best, the Bravia 9 is sensational – serving up dazzling brightness, impressive blacks, gloriously vibrant colours and even an enjoyable (if slightly restrained) sound experience.”

In fact, outside of a bug that has since been fixed via an over the air software update one of our biggest issues with the set was its high price, which was a key reason it scored four, rather than a perfect five, stars when we reviewed it. This Black Friday deal largely fixes that issue.

On the off chance the Bravia 9 doesn’t tick all your boxes, don’t worry. We’ve seen loads of other great deals this Black Friday on other giant sets, including some OLED models. Jump over to our best TV deals live hub to find our experts curated picks of the latest and greatest currently running.

MORE:

These are the best Mini LED TVs we’ve tested

Our picks of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

We found the best Black Friday soundbar deals currently running so you don’t have to

Mini LED is the TV tech on everyone's lips at the moment, especially since Sony chose it over OLED for its flagship 2024 model, the Bravia 9. But Sony isn't the only firm backing the backlit technology – Samsung has been prioritising Mini LED for years now, and it has a new flagship 4K model for 2024, the QN95D.

These firms are two of the major players in the TV market, so we have high hopes for both sets. Wondering which is worth your hard-earned? You've come to the right place...

• I've tested two 2024 flagship 4K Mini LED TVs – are they worthy OLED rivals?

Sony Bravia 9 vs Samsung QN95D: price

The Bravia 9 is a bit of an oddity, in that Sony only sells it in 75- and 85-inch variants in the UK and Australia. The 65-inch version is exclusive to the US, where it costs $3300. That's bizarre given that US homes are overwhelmingly larger than British ones, but then again, Sony is undoubtedly targeting the high end of the market. The 75-incher is £4499 / $4000 / AU$6995 and the 85-incher £4999 / $5500 / AU$7995.

The Samsung QN95D isn't available at all in the US or Australia. It's not exactly cheap in the UK either – but it is significantly more affordable than the Sony Bravia 9. The 65-inch QN95D is currently on sale from Samsung for £2799 (around $3600 / AU$5500), while the 55-incher is £2099. Not to be outdone, it also comes in 75- and 85-inch sizes, for £3899 and £5999 respectively (though some specs, such as the number of dimming zones, vary at different screen sizes). 

Generally speaking, Samsung's TVs are also discounted more often – and by larger amounts – than Sony's, so keep a look out come sales time.

We've only tested the 75-inch Bravia 9 and 65-inch QN95D. We do expect both TVs to scale up and down in size fairly consistently, but our evaluations are based on those specific sizes.

** Winner: Samsung QN95D **

Sony Bravia 9 vs Samsung QN95D: design

At nearly 5cm thick, the Sony Bravia 9 is more than twice as bulky as the Samsung QN95D. It bears plenty of the hallmarks of the best Sony TVs, including a crosshatched pattern across the back with Sony’s recycled SORPLAS material making up 65 per cent of the TV’s body. It also has the same feet that can be positioned either narrow or wide depending on the width of your TV cabinet, and higher than standard to accommodate a soundbar. 

This SORPLAS material also features in the new Eco Remote, which comes bundled with the regular one. Features include a speckled green effect to hint towards its eco-friendliness, USB-C charging, a built-in speaker for the find my remote function and a mic for barking orders at Google Assistant.

The Samsung QN95D looks practically identical to the QN95C it's replacing. The 'Infinity One' design means very slim bezels and a central stand that doesn't swivel. This stand does, however, make it very easy to fit the TV on pretty much any surface.

Around the back is a selection of grooves that work as cable tidies, and the stand's detachable back plate can be removed to route cables through. All this is necessary as there's no One Connect box, as there is on the Samsung S95D.

Like the Sony, the QN95D also comes with two remotes: one standard and one slimmed-down, Solar Cell Remote. Again, the latter is a more environmentally-friendly version (though you can't help but feel the actual green option would be to only produce one remote), this time with a solar-powered battery that can be topped up via USB-C if needed. 

** Winner: Samsung QN95D **

Sony Bravia 9 vs Samsung QN95D: features

Because both TVs are Mini LED models, they both have backlights consisting of tiny LEDs that shine light through a colour layer (consisting of Quantum Dots in both of these cases). These Mini LED backlights allow these TVs to go much brighter than even the brightest current OLED models.

Backlit TVs can't control each individual pixel in the way that an OLED can, so instead they break the screen up into local dimming zones – the more of these they have, the greater precision they can exert over the picture. Sony hasn't revealed the exact number of dimming zones, though we estimate around 1920 – that's more than the Samsung QN95D's 1344, but remember the Samsung TV that we have tested has a smaller screen. 

Sony claims the Bravia 9's backlighting is 30 per cent more power efficient than that of the X95L it replaces, which should save you some money on your energy bills. Sony's Eco Dashboard lets you track your energy usage, though its many – laudable – green features will limit the TV's brightness, which kind of misses the point of buying a Mini LED TV in the first place. You can turn these off if you prefer.

Google TV comes as standard, which is better in some ways than the Samsung QN95D's Tizen, but the Bravia 9 feels rather sluggish at times as you plough through menus. That's despite being powered by Sony's super powerful Bravia XR Processor. Odd. Hopefully this can be fixed via a firmware update.

The Bravia 9 features an Amazon Prime Video Calibrated mode, which will optimise your TV's picture using cloud data. It only works for supported Prime Video content, but it does as advertised, adjusting the colours and lighting during our testing. The Bravia 9 has similar modes for Sony Pictures Core (formerly Bravia Core) and Netflix, but these aren't new.

Like other Sony TVs, the Bravia 9 supports the HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG formats of HDR. There's no HDR10+, which is surprising given that Prime Video is practically the only streaming service to support HDR10+ – we would think it would be the central plank of the Prime Video Calibrated mode. The Samsung QN95D also lacks one HDR format – in this case, it's Dolby Vision, which is far more common than the Samsung-created HDR10+. Sony also includes IMAX Enhanced with the Bravia 9, which works with the small selection of IMAX Enhanced content on Disney Plus.

Unbelievably – and some would say unforgivably – for a high-end TV, the Sony only has two HDMI 2.1 sockets (the Samsung has four). With one of these two doubling as an HDMI eARC connection, gamers with an AVR or soundbar hooked up to the eARC port will only be able to plug in one modern console (or gaming PC) and get the best gaming experience. If you have a sound system and switch between games machines a lot, you'll be better served by the Samsung in this regard.

But the Sony is well-specced otherwise for gamers. It supports 4K/120Hz gaming with VRR on both of those HDMI 2.1 ports, with the two remaining HDMI sockets still able to support 4K/60Hz gaming (the Samsung allows 4K/120Hz gaming regardless of which HDMI socket you use). All four of the Bravia 9's ports support ALLM, and it also has an optical connection, ethernet and two USB ports. 

The Bravia 9's wireless support is also strong, with wi-fi and Bluetooth 5.3 with the LE codec supported, alongside Apple AirPlay, Apple HomeKit and Google Chromecast Built-in. And on the sound front, the 70W 2.2.2 channel speaker system tries to ape its OLED models' actuator-based system by surrounding the screen with speakers. There are two front-facing 10W midrange drivers, two 5W tweeters built into the sides and – in a first – two upward-firing 10W beam tweeters built into the top edge, which help deliver Dolby Atmos height effects. These are joined by dual 10W rear-mounted subwoofers.

Samsung's set is powered by its Neo Quantum 4K AI Gen 2 Processor (also found inside the five-star S95D). Its more than 20 neural networks help it to upscale standard definition and 1080p content to 4K and provide an enhanced three-dimensional effect to images through the Real Depth Enhancer Pro system. Meanwhile, Auto HDR remastering attempts to convert SDR content into HDR (it's not always 100 per cent successful).

Audio-wise, the QN95D supports Dolby Atmos, while Samsung’s Q Symphony feature synchronises the TV's speakers with those of a compatible Samsung soundbar connected over HDMI eARC. The TV boasts a 4.2.2 channel sound system with the same 70W of power as the Sony. Samsung has implemented AI here too – Active Voice Amplifier Pro enhances dialogue in the mix, and Adaptive Sound Pro optimises the sound performance based on the characteristics of your room and the content itself.

** Winner: Samsung QN95D **

Sony Bravia 9 vs Samsung QN95D: picture

Sony has made some bold claims about the Bravia 9's picture quality, but there are a couple of issues. 

Firstly, the local dimming feature has noticeable jumps in brightness that can be distracting. It's only really noticeable with films mastered at a high brightness, and you can avoid it by switching off local dimming, but that makes the picture look flat and lifeless.

Secondly, we found it impossible to get the best out of the Bravia 9. All the picture presets are compromised in some way or other, and even extensive manual tweaking leaves the TV short of where we feel it should be.

These are both software issues, so hopefully Sony can fix them with a firmware update. But they are present nonetheless, and hence worth considering.

But while the TV is a bit fussy, it's also dazzling. Colours are rich and impactful, with detail in even the brightest parts of the picture. Edges are sharply defined, adding a real sense of depth to the image, and while black levels aren't quite OLED deep, they're still very impressive for a backlit TV. There's very little haloing around bright spotlights in dark scenes – as we'll see, the same can't be said of the Samsung QN95D.

Colours are balanced and skin tones natural, though they could be a little warmer. There's no noticeable judder with fast-moving objects either – it's good to see Sony retaining its crown as king of motion control. 

And so on to the Samsung QN95D. It gets a lot right. It’s bright, crisp and fairly well-balanced, and noticeably brighter than its QD-OLED cousin, the S95D. The picture is vibrant and punchy, but not unnaturally so, while skin tones look authentic throughout. The colour variation might be a little more subtle in the S95D, but the QN95D is still plenty vivid and engaging, and it shows that Samsung can keep a lid on its oversaturated colours, and that's a big plus.

Overall the picture is sharp and crisp, with no details missed in skin and environmental textures. The level of shadow detail is also impressive, but it's in the dark areas that problems start to emerge. Bright objects in dark scenes have a curious blue halo around them, and while the QN95D is the brighter TV, the S95D has the better contrast thanks to its inky blacks.

** Winner: Sony Bravia 9 **

Sony Bravia 9 vs Samsung QN95D: sound

Sony's TVs are some of the better-sounding we've tested, and the Bravia 9 continues that tradition. Its sonic profile is similar to that of the X95L, but the new height speakers add a greater sense of space and the frame tweeters improve the directionality of the sound. Vocal clarity is excellent, and low-level dynamics are impressive. It's loud too, and projects well into the room.

The Voice Zoom 3 dialogue-boosting mode works as advertised, and doesn't sacrifice too much in the way of the other effects.

There's a lack of distortion around the low end, but the flip side to this is a slightly underwhelming bass performance – it could use more weight at that end of the frequency range. But the height channels are a real highlight, making the sound feel more spacious (aided by the room calibration feature on set-up).

The QN95D also lacks some weight in the sound department, but it also lacks a decent level of projection. The dynamics are a little disappointing too, though there is some height to the audio, giving it a sense of space. Speech is clear and easy to understand, though the lack of low-level dynamics does mean you'll miss the odd word or phrase.

As ever, we recommend a Dolby Atmos soundbar or full surround system to get the best audio from either TV.

** Winner: Sony Bravia 9 **

Sony Bravia 9 vs Samsung QN95D: verdict

So there you have it. Two new Mini LED TVs, two four-star performers. We can't pretend we're not slightly disappointed, especially given both companies' track records of producing stellar five-star sets. But while expensive, both TVs have a lot going for them.

The Sony is pricier, not quite as attractive as the Samsung, and a little lacking in the features department. But for our money, it performs better in terms of picture and sound, which are the really important areas for most people. If your budget can stretch, the Sony is the better investment.

** Overall winner: Sony Bravia 9 **

MORE:

Predecessors: read our reviews of the Sony A95L and Samsung S95D

Also consider the LG G4

Best TVs: flagship OLEDs and affordable flatscreens tried and tested

Happy Monday and welcome to the latest entry into What Hi-Fi?’s Rewind news digest, were we detail all the big hi-fi and home cinema headlines to break in the past week.

As much as our team of experts would love a break, it was another busy one in What Hi-Fi? towers, with our experts delivering their final verdict on Sony’s latest flagship TV and our hi-fi wizards taking a fond look back at a landmark in speaker design.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Sony’s Bravia 9 is a tricky beast

2023 was a great year for Sony TVs with its flagship A80L OLED winning a product of the year accolade at the What Hi-Fi? Awards. So we had high hopes for its 2024 flagship, the Bravia 9, which is interesting for a couple of reasons. 

First, because it’s huge with sizes starting at a whopping 75-inches in the UK and most other territories. The US is the only territory to get a smaller 65-inch option. 

Second, because despite Sony’s success with OLED, it uses a Mini LED panel. Did the changes pay off? After thorough testing our team found for the most part, yes, though the TV is undeniably fussy and needs a lot of tweaking if you want to get the most out of it.

Read our full Sony Bravia 9 review

We compared Dyson’s OnTrac headphones to Bose’s best

Last week our team took the time to take an opening look at how Dyson’s newly unveiled wireless headphones, the OnTrac, compare to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. This is a key comparison as Dyson made a big song and dance about the OnTrac’s active nose cancellation (ANC) capabilities, claiming its experience designing vacuums and fans means it has “mastered the physics of sound”. This apparently puts it in a prime position to dethrone the class leader, Bose, at ANC performance.

Read the full article: Dyson OnTrac vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: what are the differences?

Physical media is making a comeback

For years, outside of vinyl, most forecasts suggest physical media is in rapid decline. But last week fresh sales numbers from retailer HMV suggested this may not actually be the case as of DVD and Blu-ray are back on the rise! As fans of the formats, this was music to our ears. Now we just need to get the same thing happening for MiniDisc and SACD…

Read the full story: 4K Blu-ray strikes back against streaming according to one of Britain's largest entertainment retailers

We reminisced about KEF’s iconic Reference 104/2 (1984) speakers 

Old enough to remember, or even have listened to KEF’s legendary Reference 104/2 speakers? Even if you’re not you’ll want to read our technical editor, Ketan Bharadia’s latest That Was Then… column where he takes a fond look back at what to this day are remembered as a landmark in speaker design.

Read the full article: That Was Then… KEF Reference 104/2 (1984)

MORE:

These are the best TVs we've reviewed

Our pick of the best KEF speakers

We rate the best Blu-ray players

Sony’s strategy for its 2024 TV lineup is about as bold and unconventional as it gets. While practically every other manufacturer has shown off a full range of brand-new TVs with an advanced OLED model taking the flagship spot, Sony has instead put its eggs in the Mini LED basket with the Bravia 9.

It’s just one of three new models for 2024, while the rest of Sony’s lineup comprises TVs released either last year or even the year before. Considering Sony’s near-perfect track record within the last year, we wouldn’t have blamed the brand for releasing a lineup of samey sets with modest upgrades and new model numbers for 2024, but it has grander plans.

Instead, it's made a huge gamble by leveraging its experience in the production of films and using that as the philosophy behind this new Bravia range. If Sony has a hand in producing the content – think Sony Pictures as well as the cameras and mastering monitors used to shoot and edit Hollywood films – then surely it should be able to deliver the ideal screen on which to watch said content.

That’s where the Bravia 9 comes in. Its heritage lies in the editing bays of multi-million dollar movie studios, and Sony hasn’t been shy in comparing this TV to its new 4000-nit mastering monitor, the BVM-HX3110. It’s also made direct jabs at OLED, hinting that this new Mini LED backlight could be the next evolutionary step in panel technology.

We initially reviewed this TV in July 2024, and found that an issue arose when playing bright content that resulted in a noticeable raising and lowering of the backlight. That, alongside other picture aspects such as somewhat dull picture modes and a lack of finesse, resulted in us awarding it four stars. Four months later, Sony says it has addressed the issues we raised, so we have decided to give it a fresh look and update our review.

So, is the Bravia 9 now better? It certainly is. But can it now be counted among the very best TVs currently available? That's where things get complicated.

Price

• Very expensive for a backlit TV at launch, but prices have now dropped significantly
• Replaced the X95L Mini LED model and sits alongside the A95L QD-OLED
• The Bravia 8 OLED is available for very similar money

Sony stumbled with the initial launch of the Bravia 9, deciding to offer it in the UK only in its 75- and 85-inch sizes, and with very high price tags of £4499 / $4000 / AU$6995 and £4999 / $5500 / AU$7995 respectively. So there was a size issue as well as a price issue.

Thankfully, Sony has since seen sense and launched the 65-inch Bravia 9 in the UK, albeit at a price of £2999. The price of the 75-inch model tested, though, has dropped a huge amount and can now be yours for £3099 / $3500.

Despite being Sony’s latest flagship TV, the Bravia 9 isn’t the replacement for the spectacular A95L (£5499 / $4998 for the 77-inch version) in Sony’s roster. That TV is rightfully sticking around for a bit longer after launching late last year. Instead, the Bravia 9 is positioned as a replacement for the X95L (£2199 / $2199), which was Sony’s high-end Mini LED TV for 2023.

In terms of non-Sony competition, the Bravia 9 is up against some tough rivals from the likes of LG and Samsung. The LG G4 (which we have in our TV testing room to compare the Bravia 9 against) with its Micro Lens Array brightness boosting tech and the QD-OLED-touting Samsung S95D have already scored highly in our reviews, and both are available in 77-inch sizes for less than the Bravia 9.

Sony has also provided itself with a fierce competitor in the form of the Bravia 8 OLED TV. This TV has just been given a prestigious What Hi-Fi? Award and is available at 77 inches for £2899 / $2600 / AU$6995 – so it's cheaper than the Bravia 9 by about £200 in the UK and $900 in the US.

Design and build quality

• Unsurprisingly much chunkier than its OLED rivals
• Feet can be placed at the ends of the bottom edge or towards the centre
• Rechargeable, backlit controller with 'find my remote' feature

At 75 inches, our Bravia 9 sample is a sizeable opponent to the more conventional 65-inch LG G4 and 65-inch Bravia 8 that we have placed it alongside for testing. As you would expect, given that this is a backlit TV, It’s also much thicker than most of the OLED sets we see. Elsewhere, the Bravia 9 bears the marks of other Sony sets, including a crosshatched pattern across the back with Sony’s recycled SORPLAS material making up a claimed 65 per cent of the TV’s body – a nice touch for the eco-conscious.

Sony has also continued one of our favourite aspects of its 2023 models with the Bravia 9, and that has to do with the adjustable stand. The Bravia 9 sits atop two fairly flat and minimal feet, but you can place these in either a wide or narrow configuration depending on the width of your TV stand. Better yet, you can choose between two heights, with a sleek, low-profile option or a higher position that can accommodate a soundbar.

Finally, Sony has packaged an updated remote with this new generation of Bravia TVs, so alongside an old-school button-heavy affair, there's a new Eco Remote, which is also made of recycled SORPLAS material. It features a new speckled green effect to hint towards its eco-friendliness, a USB-C socket for recharging the internal battery, and the backlit buttons from the previous generation remote make a comeback. This remote also has a speaker built in for a handy “find my remote” function and a microphone for interacting with the Google Assistant.

Features

• Super-bright, next-gen Mini LED backlight and Quantum Dot colours
• Google TV operating system
• Still just two HDMI 2.1 sockets

The headline feature of the Bravia 9 is Sony’s next-gen Mini LED-based backlighting system, which is making its grand debut on the Bravia 9. This is the only TV of the three new models to be graced with the advanced new backlighting system, which leverages Sony’s updated Bravia XR processor alongside more advanced LED drivers. These cutting-edge drivers allow for more granular control of the backlight compared with other Mini LED TVs; each driver consists of six channels, each comprising four LEDs. Each channel can be considered an individual dimming zone.

Sony remains coy with specific details, meaning we don’t know exactly how many dimming zones this TV has, however, it claims that it features three times the dimming zones of the outgoing X95L, as well as being 50 per cent brighter. While we haven’t got exact figures, a quick count during a hands-on event earlier in the year suggested that the 75-inch Bravia 9 has 7680 individual LEDs, 320 LED drivers and 1920 independent dimming zones – though we wouldn't want to bet the house on those figures being 100 per cent accurate.

Even if we're only close, that’s a pretty big jump in the sheer quantity of dimming zones. However, Sony stresses that the drivers are truly the most important factor. They can exert far greater control of the current reaching the Mini LEDs than the equivalent drivers in rival sets and therefore have greater control over the brightness of each dimming zone. This should have a huge impact on contrast and the effectiveness of the local dimming, in turn reducing the appearance of blooming and halo effects. There is, of course, also the increase in brightness to account for. While Sony is playing its cards close to its chest in revealing specific figures, it’s been strongly hinted that a figure around 4000 nits might not be far off.

Despite the increase in brightness, this backlighting system is supposedly more energy efficient than previous examples. Sony specifically claims that the Bravia 9 is 30 per cent more power efficient than the outgoing X95L. You can even track your usage with the Eco Dashboard feature baked into the software, which is also home to a handful of settings and useful tips for those who wish to save on energy consumption. However, if you’re after pure performance, you’ll want to disable those settings as they can limit the TV’s brightness capabilities.

Speaking of software, the Bravia 9 is running the Google TV operating system, which should come as no surprise considering Sony’s 2023 lineup used the same OS. App compatibility is great with no noticeable gaps, including worldwide streaming applications such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video and, of course, Sony-owned apps such as Sony Pictures Core and Crunchyroll. Local streaming apps are also well supported, with BBC iPlayer, ITV X, Channel 4 and Channel 5 all present and correct. We didn’t come across any noticeable issues with streaming from these apps, with all of them correctly streaming in 4K HDR where applicable.

On the subject of streaming, another feature that’s new on the Bravia 9 is the Amazon Prime Video Calibrated mode. While watching supported Prime Video content, the TV will collect data stored in the cloud to adjust the picture of your TV to suit the content being shown. We took this mode for a quick spin with the macho punch-up blockbuster Road House (the 2024 version, not the 1989 original) and we mostly like what’s on show. It appears to tweak the colours and lighting slightly to capture the grungy and dark atmosphere of the film, however, it can be turned off if you’d prefer to do without this feature. It’s worth noting that calibrated modes for Sony Pictures Core (formerly Bravia Core) and Netflix already exist on previous Sony models, and these modes also return on the Bravia 9.

One thing that we aren’t as much of a fan of is how sluggish the set can feel at times; an issue that persists with our second sample of the Bravia 9. Despite Sony's super smart and powerful Bravia XR Processor running the show, we can’t help but feel that the settings menus and Google TV home screen could be a bit more responsive. Considering we spend quite a lot of time jumping in and out of the picture menu to fiddle with individual settings, it becomes a touch frustrating the more we test this TV. Interestingly, the Bravia 8 appears to handle the Google TV menus and settings pages much more fluidly.

Moving onto connectivity, there is one more minor frustration that we find it hard to believe we’re still complaining about in 2024. This TV only features two HDMI 2.1 sockets, with one of those sockets doubling as the HDMI eARC connection. This will be an annoyance for avid gamers who own both current-generation consoles (and/or a gaming PC) and an AVR or soundbar. That said, the Bravia 9 supports 4K/120Hz gaming with VRR on both of those HDMI 2.1 ports, with the two remaining HDMI sockets still able to support 4K/60Hz gaming. All four sockets support ALLM. There is also an optical connection, ethernet and two USB ports.

The Bravia 9 is also well equipped where wireless connectivity is concerned, with wi-fi and Bluetooth 5.3 with the LE codec supported, alongside Apple AirPlay, Apple HomeKit and Google Chromecast Built-in.

Moving on to HDR support, the Bravia 9 sticks with the usual HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG combo that we’ve come to expect from Sony. Once again, HDR10+ is not supported. However, Sony does include an IMAX Enhanced picture mode, which will work with the small selection of IMAX Enhanced content available on Disney Plus.

Rounding things out is the new 70W 2.2.2-channel speaker system. Sony has attempted to emulate the actuator system found on its OLED models to continue the 'sound from the screen' experience. It’s not possible to vibrate the screen of a backlit TV in the same way as it does on the Bravia 8 and A95L, so Sony has cleverly addressed this issue by surrounding the screen with speakers. This includes two front-facing 10W midrange drivers, two 5W tweeters built into the sides and – in an apparent first – two upward-firing 10W beam tweeters built into the top edge, which have a hand in delivering Dolby Atmos height effects. These are backed up by dual 10W rear-mounted subwoofers.

Picture quality

• Stunningly bright and vibrant when required, but still subtle and cinematically accurate
• Very impressive black depth and contrast control for a backlit TV
• But the Bravia 8 still performs better with most current content

The most important aspect of any TV’s performance, of course, is the picture. Sony has made some seriously bold claims with this set, so expectations are high, especially for a TV at this price. We’ve paired the Bravia 9 with our trusty Panasonic DP-UB820EB 4K Blu-ray player, alongside a few of our favourite reference movies, such as Oppenheimer, The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick and Blade Runner 2049, as well as some films mastered to very high brightness, such as Pan (mastered at 4000 nits) and Mad Max: Fury Road (mastered at 2500 nits).

As you may remember from our first review, there was an issue with the backlight that caused jarring jumps in brightness during content mastered to high nits. Essentially, the TV would adapt its backlight to the content before the content required it. So, for example, if a movie had a bright shot immediately after a dark one, the brightness would be boosted before the transition. Needless to say, this was very distracting.

While we did caveat that we don't anticipate that many people are buying this TV to exclusively watch the very limited amount of super-bright content that is currently available, we did have to make note of the fact that Sony has built this TV with the wave of high brightness content that the company believes will arrive in the next few years in mind. We therefore expected it to excel in this area, and it did not.

Now that we've seen the Bravia 9 for a second time, we're pleased to report that Sony has done a great job of addressing this issue. We re-watch the pirate ship scene in Pan that first drew our attention to the problem in various picture modes and find the backlight's behaviour to be much more consistent.

Furthermore, this issue never presented itself in films mastered at lower brightness levels, such as Oppenheimer and The Batman, and this remains the case in our second bout of TV testing.

Sony has also addressed our criticisms of some of the picture mode presets, which could present content in a rather flat and unengaging manner. Make no mistake, the Bravia 9 is still a somewhat fussy TV that requires some tweaking in the picture menus to get performing at its best, but there is much less tweaking required now that the Cinema mode has been improved.

This preset has been upgraded to feature more depth and solidity in the image, with sharper outlines and improved contrast, making it appear less dull and flat than when we first saw it. It also uses the Expert 1 colour profile, which we approve of, though we do still make one adjustment in turning Live Colour up to Medium. This produces a more balanced image while still allowing the TV to flex its muscles in the brightness department. It's sharper and more impactful than the last time we looked at it, not to mention much easier to set up.

On the other hand, the Professional preset, which should be right up our street thanks to its promise of cinematic authenticity based on the creator's intent, is still far too dark for our liking, even when viewing in a pitch-black room. At least now, though, there's a more satisfying alternative.

Thankfully, while this TV is fussy (and at times frustrating), it’s also dazzling when you feed it the right content. Back to Pan, the highlights seen as the ship descends through space and glides into a dreamlike floating ocean are exceptional, with rich, impactful orange hues and noticeable detail in the very centre of the sun – something that we do not see in the deliveries of the LG G4 or Bravia 8.

The floating bubbles ooze with gorgeous colour variation, with rich emerald greens at the centre melting into sparkling blues. These bubbles also highlight the Bravia 9’s contrast capabilities, as they have wonderfully sharp outlines that present a striking yet still natural three-dimensional effect.

Onto some darker content, and Oppenheimer is a similarly impressive show, with a masterclass in local dimming on display. Black levels aren’t quite OLED level, as the pixel level control of the G4 and Bravia 8 is still superior; however, for a backlit TV, the Bravia 9 is mighty impressive. In the shot of a runway being lit up at night (the same shot that proved to be a challenge too far for the Samsung QN95D), the Bravia 9 doesn’t falter by brightening the surroundings of the spotlights. On the contrary, it keeps tight control over how the light is displayed, with very little haloing, and the surrounding black is also very deep by LCD standards.

Colours are also well-balanced overall. While we would like to see an extra touch of warmth to skin tones, they generally come across as natural. We’re in favour of the Live Colour Enhancer feature, as it adds a bit of needed richness to colours, but we recommend that you keep it to the Medium setting for the best results, as High can look a tad overcooked. We also have to give the LG G4 its dues for retaining colour volume in low-light scenes, as the Sony can look slightly pale in comparison.

Top Gun: Maverick continues the dazzling brightness as glints of sunlight reflect off cockpits and visors in spectacular fashion, and the Bravia 9 remains unphased by fast-moving fighter jets. We have dialled the Motionflow setting down, but that hasn’t introduced any noticeable judder, and in the picture presets with more aggressive Motionflow settings applied, we find movement to look off-puttingly smooth.

It's with Blade Runner 2049 that we really settle on our opinion of this TV’s picture performance. While the Bravia 9 is a promising first-generation use of this backlighting technology, it still can't quite match the cinematic strengths of OLED. Side by side with the Bravia 8, we come to a realisation: the Bravia 9 seems designed to solve a problem that we're not convinced truly exists, and it brings with it some inherent compromises elsewhere.

We recognise that the Bravia 8 we have is smaller, and therefore has a higher pixel density than our Bravia 9, and we take that into account with our comparative testing. Even so, details in the eye of the opening shot of Blade Runner 2049, the outlines of characters in Sapper Morton's farmhouse and the buildings of the dystopian 2049 Los Angeles skyline are all simply sharper, cleaner and more three-dimensional on the Bravia 8. Moreover, skin tones look fuller and richer on the cheaper OLED model, while they can comparatively look washed out on the Bravia 9. The bright neon signs scattered throughout the dark city also look more vibrant and impactful on the Bravia 8 than they do the Bravia 9.

That certainly isn't to say that the Bravia 8 will be the better TV for everyone – those who watch a lot of very bright content and in bright rooms will probably find the Bravia 9 to be a great choice – but most of the content we watch (which is broadly representative of most of the content available at home) looks more appealing and balanced from the step-down OLED model than it does the Mini LED flagship.

Those who are still cautious about OLED burn-in will also likely gravitate towards this TV over the Bravia 8, though we must reiterate that we believe this is more or less a non-issue at this point. Finally, if you just want to be dazzled by a super bright TV rather than enjoy a balanced and authentic delivery, you can boost the brightness of the Bravia 9 far beyond the peaks of the Bravia 8.

Sound quality

• 2.2.2-channel speaker system with a claimed 70W of power
• Very good sound by TV standards, particularly in terms of clarity and spaciousness
• A little lacking in bass depth, but the sound is always controlled

As is the case with the Sony TVs that have come before it, the Bravia 9 is a very good-sounding TV. It bears a similar character to the X95L in this regard, however, the new height speakers add a greater sense of space and the frame tweeters improve the directionality of the sound. Using our go-to audio test disc, Blade Runner 2049, we deduce that while a soundbar (or, even better, an AVR and speaker package) will of course sound significantly better, the Sony's sound system is a cut above the norm.

Certain examples within the second chapter of Blade Runner 2049 include excellent (by TV speaker standards) vocal clarity and low-level dynamics within the “baseline test” scene, as well as a solid sense of direction to the sound. We can audibly place where Officer K is sitting and where the interviewer’s voice is coming from with our eyes shut, and it helps that the Bravia 9 can also go fairly loud and project sound well into our AV testing room. We also give the new Voice Zoom 3 dialogue-enhancing feature a go and find it to be effective in making dialogue more prominent without squashing the other effects too much.

That being said, we find that Sony’s tendency to not push its built-in speakers too far out of their comfort zone can lead to a slightly weak bass performance, as the thunderous Flight To The LAPD track that plays while Officer K drives back into the city is lacking a bit of weight. Heftier dynamics are also a touch damp, and a bit more punch would be appreciated. That said, Sony’s decision to tune the performance so that it stays well within the sound system’s natural limitations means we never hear any distortion.

Arguably the height channels are the most impressive aspect of the Bravia 9’s speaker system. The upward-firing beam tweeters are automatically calibrated during the set-up of the TV, with the sound directed to the seating position while also measuring the shape of the room. The TV has no issue adapting the sound to our testing space, and the result is genuinely impressive. The sound feels more spacious with the upward-firing drivers involved, and height effects such as rain falling and hitting the rooftops in Blade Runner 2049 sound very effective.

Verdict

So, has Sony’s big Bravia 9 gamble paid off? Perhaps not yet, but there’s every chance that it could. The next-gen Mini LED backlight is a technical marvel, even if the TV as a complete package isn’t perfect. We have to commend Sony for addressing a lot of the issues we found in our initial testing – the improved backlight behaviour and improved Cinema picture mode are both very much appreciated.

At its best, this TV is sensational – serving up dazzling brightness, impressive blacks (by backlit TV standards), generally vibrant colours and even an enjoyable (if slightly restrained) sound experience.

For most people, though, we simply feel that the cheaper Bravia 8 OLED is the better option thanks to its improved skin tones, more consistent handling of colours, better three-dimensional depth and sharper details. We're certainly not writing off Sony's new Mini LED backlighting system, as a second-generation version could be truly brilliant but, at this point, its strengths – impressive though they are – don't quite outweigh its compromises.

Original review published July 2024. Review updated December 2024 and again in March 2025.

SCORES

• Picture 4
• Sound 4
• Build 4

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Best TVs: flagship OLEDs and affordable flatscreens tried and tested

Sony's 2024 range has caused a considerable stir thanks to the company's unconventional approach. While nearly every other manufacturer reserves the top spot of their respective lineup for a flagship OLED TV, Sony is using that position to show off its advanced Mini LED backlighting system. 

In fact it is releasing only three new TVs (four if you live in the US or Australia) this year, with the remainder of its 2024 lineup comprising models carried across from last year. On paper, that sounds like an issue. Sony, however, enjoyed a practically flawless 2023 where TV reviews were concerned – so this risky strategy might well pay off.

That being said, 2024 has already been a strong year for Samsung and LG, while early looks at Philips and Panasonic sets promise strong competition to come. So can Sony fend off the competition to reign supreme for another year? 

What's new

Before we answer that question, we should look into what Sony has implemented across its 2024 TV line up.

Bravia is back

Sony's Bravia moniker is making a comeback for 2024; well, technically it never left, but this year it's becoming a lot more prominent. The naming convention for Sony TVs has been necessarily complex – you have to be fairly knowledgeable of TVs to differentiate your A95L from your X95L – so we are pleased to see that the new models are using a refined naming convention.

In the new range, we have the Bravia 9, Bravia 8 and Bravia 7, as well as the Bravia 3 which remains exclusive for the US and Australian markets. We'll dig a bit deeper into what each of those models includes later, but each will reportedly "bring the cinema home", according to Sony.

OLED takes a back seat for Mini LED

As we have already mentioned, Sony's big focus for this year is Mini LED. It has developed an advanced, more precise and brighter backlighting system which will reportedly deliver OLED-like blacks and vivid brightness. As a consequence, OLED has had to settle for second place on the lineup. 

In fact, there is only one new OLED TV in Sony's 2024 lineup:  the Bravia 8. This is a follow-up to the Product of the Year winning A80L, so expectations are high for this new model. The other OLED TVs on the lineup are the A95L and A90K; the former is no surprise, as it has been on the market for less than a year, but the latter is about to embark on its third year on sale. Surely it's time for a new small OLED TV Sony?

Nevertheless, the new Mini LED-powered Bravia 9 is shaping up to be a mighty interesting set, thanks to Sony's new backlighting system that promises to be more precise than any backlighting system to have come before it. Sony has taken inspiration from its mastering monitors found in Hollywood editing bays, calling this system the XR Master Backlight Drive. Claimed benefits include better local dimming and reduced risk of blooming on dark backgrounds.

Frustratingly, Sony will launch this set in the UK only at 75 inches upwards, meaning those who only have space for a 55- or 65-inch set will need to look elsewhere.

The new XR Processor runs the show

The new Bravia XR Processor is doing a lot of heavy lifting in this new lineup according to Sony. It's the brain behind the new XR Master Backlight Drive system, controlling the LED driver and Micro LEDs on the flagship Bravia 9 model, while delivering picture enhancements to the Bravia 8, 7 and 3 in various ways. 

The biggest news is a new picture-recognition engine that can recognise foliage and faces, and enhance them to look sharper and more detailed. Sony claims that the facial recognition system works on a variety of content including live-action and animated movies and TV shows.

Furthermore, Sony is expanding its relationships with content providers in order to create special calibration modes for a variety of streaming services. When watching content on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix or Sony Pictures Core, the TV will access picture information stored in the cloud and calibrate the picture automatically to best suit the content. This is reportedly coming to some older models including the A95L, but for the most part, it will be exclusive to the 2024 models to our knowledge. 

Sony 2024 TV lineup breakdown

Sony Bravia 9 Mini LED TV

In a shocking twist, the flagship model in Sony's 2024 lineup is not an OLED TV. Instead, Sony has developed an advanced Mini LED backlight instead, and it thinks it can take on the high standards set by its own A95L QD-OLED TV. It replaces the X95L from last year and will reportedly be 50 per cent brighter and feature more than three times the number of dimming zones, resulting in "OLED level blacks" according to Sony.

It's also set to include an advanced LED Acoustic Multi-Audio+ sound system, with a 70W 2.2.2 channel audio featuring on this TV. It includes drivers that vibrate the frame of the TV in order to create sound, which emulates the actuator-based system on Sony's OLED models which instead vibrate the screen. 

The set has four HDMI sockets in total, but only two are HDMI 2.1 which will be disappointing for hardcore gamers. Those ports will support 4K/120Hz gaming, VRR and ALLM though – to be expected considering Sony also manufactures the PlayStation 5. The Bravia 9 also features the Google TV operating system, meaning app compatibility shouldn't be an issue. 

We round things off with the most controversial aspect of this TV: the sizes. Sony is  bringing only two sizes of the Bravia 9 to the UK; 75- and 85-inches. That's quite large and, as a result, the Bravia 9 is expensive. A 65-inch version of this TV does exist, but it appears that it will launch only in the US.

Read our Sony Bravia 9 hands on review

Sony Bravia 8 OLED TV

Is this the most anticipated TV of 2024? This is the sequel to the Product of the Year Award-winning Sony A80L so it has astronomically big shoes to fill; no pressure…

This is the only new OLED TV from Sony this year (more on that later), and it is the regular WOLED flavour, not any sort of special QD-OLED or MLA OLED. That's not to discredit the Bravia 8, as underneath a mostly familiar exterior, there are a handful of reported upgrades.

Sony is claiming a nearly 10 per cent increase in brightness compared to the A80L, as well as the upgraded Bravia XR processor which can also be found on the Bravia 9. It also features the OLED Acoustic Surface Audio+ audio system, which vibrates the screen to create a lifelike centralised sound that comes directly from the centre of the screen. 

One thing we are glad the Bravia 8 doesn't share with the 9 is the range of available sizes. This OLED set comes in a much more conventional range of screen sizes. You'll be able to buy the Bravia 8 in 55-, 65- and 77-inch versions.

Read our Sony Bravia 8 hands on review

Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED TV

The Sony Bravia 7 is the cheapest new model from Sony if you live in the UK, and Sony considers it to be a spiritual successor to the X90L, which will confusingly also continue in Sony's lineup for the year. The big news is that this model is going from a full-array local dimming backlight to a Mini LED with quantum dots – albeit not the same advanced backlight found on the Bravia 9. 

Sony is attributing this upgrade in screen technology with a claimed 30 per cent increase in brightness and eight times more dimming zones. Paired with the XR Processor also found in the other two models, this should be a step up over the existing X90L in terms of picture quality. It also features a slightly trimmed-down version of the Bravia 9's Acoustic Multi Audio system that cuts out the upward-firing beam tweeters. 

It also inherits an identical gaming specification to its more expensive siblings, with two HDMI 2.1 sockets with 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM gaming support. 

Available in four screen sizes, the Bravia 7 is available in a wide selection of markets at the following prices:

Sony Bravia 3 LED TV

Sony's cheapest 2024 will unfortunately not be making its way to the UK. We have spotted it on US and Australian retail sites, and it looks to be a new entry-level option for Sony's new Bravia range. 

It appears to be fairly basic in design and functionality, with a 4K resolution, HDR support and a 60Hz panel. It has four HDMI 2.0 sockets, which rules out a majority of gaming features, meaning PS5 and Xbox Series X gamers may wish to steer clear. This also means it carries the basic ARC standard, and not the more advanced eARC standard; so audio quality over HDMI may not be as crisp as the other sets on this list. 

It does come in a wide range of sizes though, all with the following prices.

Sony A95L QD-OLED TV

Here we reach the familiar sets in Sony's unconventional lineup as, unlike LG and Samsung, it has decided to carry across a fair few of its older models into 2024, unless you live in Australia where this TV seems to have been unceremoniously axed. The A95L makes the most sense though, as it is less than a year old thanks to a delayed launch last year, meaning there is no real need to to replace it. 

It's still one of the best TVs that money can buy, in our opinion, thanks to its dazzling brightness and deep contrast, all while remaining both authentic and balanced in its presentation. In direct comparison with all of the major rivals last year including the LG G3, Samsung S95C and Panasonic MZ2000, the A95L stood head and shoulders above the competition, making it a clear picture champion in the TV realm.

It also happens to sound quite good, with an actuator-based 2.2-channel system which vibrates the screen, backed with two woofers that add a touch of bass. It's one of the very few TVs to earn the full five-star rating in the sound department, thanks to its spacious, crisp and impactful performance, while solid low-level dynamics ensure that voices have the necessary texture and nuance to dialogue. 

Features-wise, the A95L runs Google TV, as well as having the expected two HDMI 2.1 sockets (plus an additional two HDMI 2.0 sockets) for the full list of current gaming features. It also supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos for enhanced picture performance and immersive audio.

If there's one area in which we could critique the A95L, it would be the price. It was expensive when it launched last year, although that price looks to be dropping fairly consistently. 

Read our full Sony XR-65A95L review

Sony A90K OLED TV

The Sony A90K launched back in 2022, but that hasn't stopped Sony from squeezing yet another year out of it. This TV soldiers on for 2024 in both the 42- and 48-inch sizes, serving as Sony's "small" OLED TV for this year. 

It's a standard WOLED panel with a 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate on both sizes. Once again we have four total HDMI sockets, with two rated to support the full 48GB bandwidth of HDMI 2.1, one of which doubles as HDMI eARC. Sound is achieved via the Acoustic Surface Audio+ system and we considered it to be a strong, if not game-changing performer in this regard. 

What truly won us over with this TV is its excellent picture performance, as it bears the usual marks of a Sony OLED TV, including crisp details and deep contrast that results in a stunningly natural image. While competition from LG in the small OLED TV category is tough, this is still a solid TV, even if it is ageing at this point. 

Read our full Sony XR-48A90K review

Sony X90L LED TV

Another returning model is Sony's mid-range backlit TV from 2023 which will also serve in the 2024 lineup. It's another strong performer, so we don't have concerns with it sticking around for another year; it feels different enough from the Bravia 7 to justify its spot on the lineup.

We complimented its bright and impactful picture in our review, as well as its impressive balance and backlight control. It also scores an admirable four in the sound department thanks to its solid performance where dynamics, volume and spaciousness are concerned. 

We did have minor concerns regarding viewing angles and the inferior gaming specs compared with sets from Samsung and LG, but considering that this TV has dropped in price since it launched last year, it could be the one to go for if you are balancing value and performance. 

Read our full Sony XR-55X90L review

Sony X85L LED TV

This is a further step down in Sony's backlit lineup and a continuing model from 2023. We awarded it five stars last year thanks to its excellent contrast and backlight control, balanced colours and excellent motion handling. It's a winner in the picture category, despite the fact it uses a full array LED backlight. It does feature local dimming which accounts for the enhanced contrast and HDR performance. 

Sound-wise, we found that the X85L plays it too safe at times, but we appreciated that it knows its limitations to avoid distortion. It sounded clear, detailed and fairly well-refined for built-in TV speakers, although we wish it had a touch more bass. That all being said, we find it to be a solid performer by TV speaker standards. 

The X85L is also specified very similarly to the other TVs on this list, with two HDMI 2.1 sockets for 4K/120Hz gaming with VRR and ALLM. It also supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos immersive audio over HDMI eARC.

Read our full Sony XR-55X85L review

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Check out the full Samsung 2024 TV lineup

As well as the Hisense 2024 TV lineup

And our picks for the best TVs for 2024

Sony’s 2024 TV lineup looks a little different from the years gone by, not least in its naming convention. There are no Xs or As in this year’s TVs — instead the manufacturer has brought its Bravia branding front and centre, with the Bravia 9 this year’s flagship TV in a trio of newcomers.

It’s a Mini LED set, and is the successor to last year’s five-star X95L. However, unlike that set, it’s being officially positioned above the company’s flagship OLED, the A95L – another five-star set – which remains in the line up from last year. If you were wondering where Sony sat on the whole Mini LED vs OLED conversation, the Bravia 9 seems to answer it.

But how does it stack up against its biggest in-house rival? And if you’re looking to invest in the best Sony TV this year, where should your money go? We’ve put them head to head based on our thorough reviews process – let's see which is right for you.

Sony Bravia 9 vs A95L: price and availability

The Bravia 9 is a big TV with big aspirations. In the UK and Australia, it only comes in 75- and 85-inch sizes – the 65-incher is only available in the US at present. The A95L is more versatile, coming in 55- and 65-inch variants, but only goes up to 77 inches. Its launch price was higher than the Bravia 9 at its top size, and it seems to have stuck around there quite stubbornly. Roll on Black Friday!

** Winner: Sony Bravia 9 **

Sony Bravia 9 vs A95L: design

Whether you choose the Bravia 9 or the A95L, you're going to be getting Sony's preference for straight and pointy design language. We've no arguments with that, both look smart, with slim bezels from the front and nicely flat back panels for wall mounting. Neither are gobsmackingly slim from their side profile, but to call them chunky would probably be a bit cheeky. 

The feet on the Bravia 9, just like on the A95L, face forwards and sit at the edge of the set to avoid unwanted reflections. This can be troublesome when it comes to finding furniture wide enough – particularly at the larger screen sizes – so the Bravia 9 has the option to move them inwards towards the centre of the screen, which is welcome.

This wasn't an option on the A95L, except for the 77-inch screen size. Arguably that's the size that needs the feature the most, but we would have liked to have seen it on the 55- and 65-inch versions too.

While the Bravia 9 pips the A95L for convenience there, both TVs have the option to sit flush with your TV stand or to raise them up slightly, to accommodate a soundbar.

** Winner: Sony Bravia 9 **

Sony Bravia 9 vs A95L: features

Of course, the big difference between the two here is the TV technologies – the Bravia 9 is a Mini LED TV and the A95L is a QD-OLED. That makes the Bravia 9 the significantly brighter of the two.

Both TVs feature Sony's excellent Cognitive XR processor, though the Bravia 9 gets a slightly upgraded version this year that includes subtle improvements to things like Face Detection and Scene Recognition.

Elsewhere though, you can expect a lot of the same features between the two. 

Both include many of Sony's other excellent picture processing improvements, which we've found to create a picture we have long praised as among the most subtle and insightful you'll find.

As always with Sony, both the Bravia 9 and the A95L supports HLG, HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR formats, but there's no support for HDR10+. If we had to pick a side in the advanced HDR format argument, Sony falls on the right side of it, but it's still a shame to lose out on anything at these prices – Panasonic and Philips manage to include both in their TVs, after all.

The Bravia 9 does get an extra picture preset to play with, compared with the A95L, and that's the new Prime Video Calibrated Mode. A bit like the Netflix and Bravia Core (soon to be Sony Pictures Core) Calibrated Modes, it will automatically adapt itself to the content you're watching on Amazon's streaming service, to get it closer to the creator's intentions. If you're a big Prime Video fan, this may be an interesting feature to try out.

Both TVs use the Google TV smart platform, which offers a good selection of apps and a pretty strong recommendation engine, but for gamers, both TVs have their frustrations. There are only two HDMI 2.1 sockets for handling 4K/120Hz (including Dolby Vision gaming), VRR and ALLM – and one of those is eARC, so may be taken up by a soundbar or AV receiver.

It means neither one is better than the other if you have gaming in mind, but you can just about muddle through if you only own one console. Even better if that's a PS5 – both offer Sony's "Perfect for Playstation 5" automatic settings mode.

** Winner: Sony Bravia 9 **

Sony Bravia 9 vs A95L: picture

We've put the 75-inch Bravia 9 through its paces, and its picture is... a mixed bag. Expectations were high (thanks in no small part to Sony's bold claims), but there are a couple of niggles hold it back from scoring the full five stars. These are both software issues, so can hopefully be fixed with a future firmware upgrade, but we can't review the product that this might eventually become – we have to test what's in front of us, and what you, the consumer, would get for your money were you to buy it today.

And that's a TV with issues with both its both local dimming and its presets. The TV produces distracting jumps in brightness with local dimming activated. Turn off local dimming, and the picture becomes flat and dull. The presets are all heavily compromised too, each in their own way. Which makes it impossible to get the best out of it.

It's a shame, because when it's good it's really good. Bright highlights are exceptional, with detail even in the most eye-searingly glarey parts of the picture. That's something not even the LG G4 manages. Edges are strikingly sharp and well-defined, adding a real sense of depth to the picture, and while the black levels aren't quite OLED deep, they are impressive for a backlit TV. There's a distinct lack of haloing in areas of high contrast – not something we can say of the Samsung QN95D. Colours are well balanced, and skin tones – while a little pale – are very natural.

The Bravia 9 might be fussy like a diva, but also like a diva, that's doesn't detract from its talents, which are considerable and undeniable.

But while the Bravia 9 still feels like a work in progress, the A95L is the finished article. It took on the best in class in 2023 and convincingly beat the lot. We loved everything, from its contrast and colour handling to its accuracy, detail and insight. This has been a Sony strong point in its premium TVs for a while, but we have preferred – if pushed – the overall balance of of its OLEDs to its Mini LEDs. That's still true, for now at least...

** Winner: Sony A95L **

Sony Bravia 9 vs A95L: sound

The Bravia 9 and the A95L use different methods to deliver sound, but are ultimately trying to give you the best sound quality you can muster from a TV without an additional soundbar.

The A95L uses the same Acoustic Surface Audio screen-shaking technology that we've seen in its OLEDs for a few years now. That is a 2.2-channel actuator-based sound system, with two actuators built behind the screen, vibrating it to produce sound. This is then backed up by two standard woofers to add some wallop to the low end.

It's a system we've long praised, and makes the A95L one of the best sounding TVs you can buy, thanks to great detail levels and a strong handling of dynamics. We reckon you couldn't easily best it with a budget soundbar, which is pretty impressive for a built-in system.

The Bravia 9, on the other hand, features a new iteration of Sony's Acoustic Multi Audio+. It's different to other versions since it features beam tweeters along the top of the frame, firing sound upwards, as well as frame tweeters on the sides giving the sound some width.

Sony claims this is an industry first, and helps to create a sound system with a 70W output. Not bad at all, and a little more powerful than the 60W offered by the A95L to boot.

In our testing, we found it similar in character to the X95L, but the new height speakers add space and the frame tweeters improve the directionality of the sound. This is very good indeed. Vocal clarity and low-level dynamics are also superb, while the levels of volume and projection possible are very good for a TV. The new Voice Zoom 3 dialogue-enhancing feature (which is coming to the A95L via a software update) does make speech clearer, and doesn't compromise the rest of the audio too much.

There's a lack of distortion at the low end, but also a slight lack of heft and impact. Sony's played it safe here – and that mostly works in its favour.

** Winner: Sony Bravia 9 **

Sony Bravia 9 vs A95L: verdict

The Bravia 9 is a very impressive TV, packing in a backlight without bulking up too much. But a couple of irritating picture bugs prevent it from achieving true greatness. Hopefully Sony can iron these out with a firmware update, but given that picture quality is the most impactful element of a TV, we had to dock it a star.

Otherwise it's a great TV though, and particularly impressive on the sound front. It's just that the A95L is the better all-rounder, with great images and audio. It's the most impressive TV we saw last year (if money is no object). With prices sure to come down now it's getting on a bit, it could still prove to be the better buy even if Sony does fix the Bravia 9's picture niggles...

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Read our full Sony Bravia 9 review

And our Sony A95L review

Sony Bravia 9 vs Samsung QN95D: which is better?