The best Sony TVs of 2024: Expert tested

Sony is known for making premium-grade TVs. While they may seem like a hefty investment, these Sony TVs are great for upgrading or future-proofing your home theater. Until 2022, Sony and LG were the only two brands selling OLED TVs, and their new OLED models continue to prove why they’re some of the best.

Sony prioritizes sound quality and offers televisions with Acoustic Surface Audio or Acoustic Multi Audio features. These features either turn the entire screen into a speaker for near-perfect sound and video syncing or create object-tracking sound that follows on-screen action.

Also: The best TVs you can buy

Plus, Sony televisions are optimized for console gaming on the new PlayStation 5, providing native 120Hz refresh rates, variable refresh rate support, and response times as low as 8.5ms.

What is the best Sony TV right now?

My choice for the best Sony TV is the Bravia A80L for its OLED panel, Acoustic Surface Audio+ support, and optimization for the PlayStation 5 console. You can keep reading below to find out more about the Sony Bravia A80L as well as our other top picks for the best Sony TVs that we’ve went hands-on with.

Also: The best outdoor TVs

The best Sony TVs of 2024

Pros

Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
Acoustic Surface Audio+
AI-powered upscaling
OLED

Cons

Expensive
No Apple Homekit support

The Sony A80L is one of the brand’s newest additions to their line-up of high-end TVs, and it’s one of the best they have on-offer. It’s built with an OLED panel as well as support for Dolby Vision for enhanced contrast and detailing as well as better color saturation and accuracy. It has a 120Hz native refresh rate for smoother action while watching sports or fast-paced movies and TV shows.

It also works with Dolby Atmos for virtual surround sound and Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ Technology. This means that there are tiny speakers placed strategically behind the screen, rather than traditional downward or side-firing speakers, for near-perfect audio and video syncing as well as sound that follows the on-screen action. ZDNET’s Artie Beaty was able to do some hands-on testing with the Sony A80L, and he praised its AI-powered upscaling, which makes everything from old favorites to the latest releases look their best.

More: The Sony A80L OLED TV’s AI-powered upscaling blew me away

Pros

Up to 98-inch screen
Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
VRR support
120Hz refresh rate

Cons

98-inch version is very expensive
No Apple Homekit support

The Sony X90L made the list of our best smart TVs as the best 85-inch option, but if you need even more screen real estate, Sony now offers an impressive 98-inch version. It’s built with an updated, full array LED panel, which is capable of producing 1 billion colors for more lifelike images. And the native 120Hz refresh rate gives you buttery smooth motion while watching sports and fast-paced action scenes.

It also supports Dolby Vision for enhanced detailing and contrast, as well as Dolby Atmos for virtual 3D audio. It also features VRR support to prevent screen tearing and stuttering while playing console games.

Pros

Updated QD-OLED panel
Acoustic Surface Audio+
Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support
AI-assisted upscaling

Cons

Only 3 screen sizes available
Expensive

If you’re willing to pay top-dollar for the best picture quality you can get in an OLED TV, the Sony Bravia A95L is your best option. It’s built with an updated QD-OLED panel, which can create a cleaner, more bright image than previous Sony OLED models. It also works with Dolby Vision for more crisp details, enhanced contrast, and more bold colors and features an anti-glare coating for better visibility in bright rooms. A native 120Hz refresh rate gives you ultra-smooth motion, and the AI-assisted upscaling process makes even classic movies and shows look amazing.

More: The A95L is Sony’s crown jewel

The Sony A95L also has top-notch audio to pair with the excellent picture. It uses both Dolby Atmos for virtual surround sound as well as Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology for near-perfect audio/visual syncing and object tracking sound. ZDNET’s Rebecca Isaacs got to see the Sony A95L up-close, and she praised the TV for its multi-placement stand legs. This gives you a space-saving option as well as an option to provide a spot for a soundbar.

Pros

Under $500
Google TV platform
Alexa and Hey Google support
Plenty of inputs

Cons

No Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos support

If you’re working with a limited budget, the 43-inch Sony X77L is a great option. It retails under $450, so even modest budgets can find room for this TV. And just because it’s budget-friendly doesn’t mean you have to miss out on cool features. The Sony X77L has support for both Alexa and Hey Google voice controls as well as AirPlay for sharing media from your Mac and iOS devices.

It uses the Google TV platform to give you a preloaded suite of popular apps like Netflix and Hulu as well as the ability to download countless others to turn your TV into the ultimate entertainment hub. It also has plenty of HDMI inputs for connecting playback devices, game consoles, and home audio equipment for a custom home theater configuration.

Pros

OLED
Optimized for PlayStation 5
Small screen great for PC and console gaming
Acoustic Surface Audio+

Cons

Pricey for the size
No composite inputs for retro consoles

Console gamers who prefer the PlayStation 5 and looking to upgrade their dedicated gaming TV should check out the Sony A90K. Not only does it give you incredible 4K resolution and picture quality with the OLED panel, it has also been optimized for use with the PlayStation 5. You’ll get VRR support to prevent screen tearing and stuttering as well as plenty of HDMI 2.1 inputs for 120Hz refresh rates while gaming.

It uses Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology for better video and audio syncing as well as sound that follows the on-screen action. This is great for anyone who doesn’t like to wear a bulky headset. The A90K is available in either 42 or 48 inch screen sizes, making it easier to place on a shelf, table, or desk. And the smaller screen size, coupled with the native 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support means you’ll be able to comfortably play PC games on it as well.

My pick for the best Sony TV is the Bravia A80L. It’s built with an OLED panel, which uses individually lit pixels to create bold colors, sharp contrast, and enhanced details. The TV also uses Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which turns the entire screen into a speaker for near-perfect video and audio syncing, as well as sound that follows the on-screen action. And console gamers will appreciate the exclusive optimization features for the PlayStation 5, with VRR support to prevent screen tearing and stuttering as well as ultra-low input response times.

Best Sony TV	Price	Panel type	Audio
Sony A80L	$2000	OLED	Acoustic Surface Audio+, Dolby Atmos
Sony X90L	$1500	Full array LED	Acoustic Multi-Audio, Dolby Atmos
Sony A95L	$3300	QD-OLED	Acoustic Surface Audio+, Dolby Atmos
Sony X77L	$400	LED	Dolby Digital
Sony A90K	$1100	OLED	Acoustic Surface Audio+, Dolby Atmos

*MSRP at time of writing. Please note that actual prices may vary depending on retailer and available promotions and sales.

Once you’ve nailed down a budget for your new Sony TV, you should make a list of features you want to prioritize. If you want the best picture possible for watching movies and TV shows, you’ll want to get an OLED model for its excellent color volume, contrast, and detailing.

If sound quality is your top priority, you’ll want a model with either Acoustic Multi Audio or Acoustic Surface Audio for object tracking sound or near-perfect video and audio syncing, respectively.

Buy this best Sony TV…	If you need…
Sony A80L	A well-rounded Sony TV. It provides excellent picture and sound quality with an OLED panel and Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology.
Sony X90L	A big-screen Sony TV. The X90L is available in screen sizes up to 98 inches for a true, cinema-quality experience at home.
Sony A95L	An OLED Sony TV. It features an updated QD-OLED panel for a brighter image while maintaining excellent color, contrast, and detailing.
Sony X77L	A budget-friendly Sony TV. The 43-inch model retails for under $450.
Sony A90K	A Sony TV for gaming. It features VRR support as well as exclusive optimization for the PlayStation 5 console.

Price: While Sony is best known for their high-end OLED models, they also offer several quality mid-range and budget-friendly lines. I have featured Sony televisions at multiple price points to fit a variety of budgets.
Picture and sound quality: Whether you opt for a standard LED or premium OLED model from Sony, you still want it to look and sound great. Each TV on this list has been vetted and ensured that it supports at least HDR10+ and Dolby Digital audio codecs, though many feature more premium features.
Connectivity: A TV isn’t just for watching movies and shows anymore. They’re also used to stream music, create photo slideshows, and for gaming. Many buyers have also come to expect Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity as standard in all new TVs from Sony and other brands. Each TV on this list has been ensured to have wireless connectivity as well as support for popular streaming apps and HDMI ports for physical connections to playback devices.

While testing and researching each TV featured on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind:

Brand integrity: While it’s tempting to snap up that ultra-cheap TV from a smaller or unknown brand in order to save money, you may end up paying more in the long run. And you could run into customer service issues when trying to make a return or troubleshoot an issue. Each TV on this list was chosen from a trusted brand with verified customer service options.
Smart features: Customers have come to expect smart features like streaming apps and virtual assistants as-standard in their TVs. Each model on this list was chosen because it offers a host of features like preinstalled streaming apps, virtual assistant support, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Reasons to upgrade: Brands may release model updates almost yearly, but they don’t always give you a real reason to upgrade. Each TV we chose offers upgraded panels, brighter pictures, and in some cases better online security.

Bravia started out as a brand of Sony televisions, but it has since become a subsidiary wholly dedicated to producing high-quality televisions. It’s an acronym that stands for Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture. All OLED, mini LED, and full-array LED Sony TVs are made under the Bravia moniker.

With the nature of smart TVs, there are some pretty hard limits on how long your new Sony TV will last. The good news? You can expect to get at least five years of use before starting to think about an upgrade.

You can also expect your Sony TV to have run its course around the ten-year mark since it’s highly unlikely to keep receiving firmware updates to run streaming apps or connect to the internet.

To find the ideal TV size for your space, you need to measure (in inches) the distance between your couch and where your TV will be wall mounted or placed on a stand. Then, you’ll divide that number in half.

So if your couch is 120 inches (10 feet) from where your TV will be, the best screen size will be 60 inches. You can always go a bit smaller or larger depending on your budget and what is available from manufacturers, but a screen that is too large may overwhelm your space and can even cause motion sickness. Conversely, a screen that is too small will make your room feel like a cavern and force everyone to crowd around in order to see properly.

Sony has a wide selection of OLED, mini LED, and full-array LED televisions for brand loyalists as well as customers shopping for reliable, quality televisions. Here’s a short list of alternative options I think are worth considering:

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