Sony X80J – Sony 4K Bravia entry-level model

The Sony X80J is completely wrapped in plastic. However, This is defintly not a bad thing. Due to the build, the TV is not as heavy as other models that use firmer materials. In terms of design, the Japanese manufacturer relies on narrow frames, which results in a timeless look.

The stands of the X80J are far apart. Thus, the device does not tilt a lot, even though it is not wobble-free. There is enough space for a soundbar or similar underneath the TV as well. A noticeable change compared to last year’s model are the cable holders on the stand. The X80J comes with them as standard, so you have better cable management and the cables can be led along the feet.

The 43″ and 50″ variants use a kind of grid design for the TV’s rear panel, but there are no differences to the connections or anything else.

The Sony X80J uses an ADS panel. The ADS panels are very similar to the better known IPSIn-Plane Switching, type of LCD Panel versions in terms of performance. These panels are known for offering a wide viewing angle. This means, you can watch your TV at almost any angle. However, the Sony X80J has only a contrast ratio of 1120:1 and is therefore not recommended for dark environments. The black level is also not that outstanding.

Sony has installed an HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) X1 processor in the device, which results in less noise and also less interference in the picture. The Triluminos Pro technology is also included. This ensures richer and more beautiful colors, which really benefits the picture quality. Dolby VisionDynamic HDR-format with a color depth of up to 12 Bits and Mastering of up to 10,000 Nits is also included, which provides is used for an increased picture quality.

The maximum brightness of the X80J is 410 Nits. This means the picture can’t brighten up quite as much, but that’s not really an issue. So if you’re looking for a budget TV to watch sports on with your friends and colleagues, this TV is a great choice.

One of the biggest advantages of the Bravia series is, without a doubt, the motion handling. A low response time of just 5ms ensures very little motion blur. The backlight does not flicker, which is very pleasing to the eye. Motion interpolationArtificial calculation of more frames than the source material has to offer, where intermediate images are fed between the frames to reduce motion blur, is available for content up to 30 HzHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s – When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second..

The problem in motion handling, might be the black frame insertion. This is normally used to reduce motion blur by packing black frames between the images. This feature is not really good in the X80J, and therefore has no real added value. Furthermore, JudderInconsistent time frame due to the input frequency not mismatching the TV’s frequency (e.g. 24p via 60Hz) can be removed, but only for native 24Hz content.

Sony’s latest entry-level model is not a real gaming TV. The input lag is around 11.6 ms, so you will hardly notice any delays between your inputs and the screen. However, the TV does not have ALLMAuto Low Latency Mode – Automatically detects connected consoles and keeps input lag as low as possible., Variable Refresh RateVariable Refresh Rate – synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the output refresh rate of the graphics card or HDMI 2.1 input. This is actually a step backwards in direct comparison to the XH80. In the previous year’s model, the Auto Low Latency mode was still installed. However, these features are mainly relevant for the latest consoles. You can definitely play games without these features, but you cannot get the best out of your Playsation 5 or Xbox Series X.

Anyway, if you’re gaming on an Xbox One or Playstation 4, then the TV is definitely not a bad choice. The X80J also has an analog video input. You just need an adapter to use it. This is something great, if you want to play with retro consoles like the Nintendo 64 and revive the good old days with your friends.

The Sony X80J has some difficulties in the field of audio quality. The installed 20-watt speakers produce a comprehensible sound during dialogues, but the speakers do not manage to reproduce a good sound in high audio ranges. They use a 2.0 audio channel. Thanks to the integrated eARC-port, higher-resolution sound formats, such as Dolby True HD, DTSMulti-channel-sound-system (Surround Sound) competing with Dolby Digital and Dolby AtmosObject-based surround sound format with 3D-Sound from any direction, can be transmitted uncompressed, which helps the quality of the sound at least.

Thus, one should consider getting a soundbar. The design offers enough space to attach one and improve the weak sound with a nice bass and better highs and lows.

The TV uses Google TV as its Interface this year. It is easy to navigate through this interface and you will access to the Google Play Store. You can choose from many apps via the Google Play Store, but advertisements also appear and cannot be disabled. Furthermore, the easy-to-use remote control of the Sony X80J also includes Google Voice Assistant, which makes voice control possible as well. The remote control has also undergone some adjustments. It is now possible to access YouTube, Disney+ and Prime Video via a button. The buttons for Google Play Video and TV have been removed.

The TV is compatible with Alexa, Apple AirPlay2 and Apple Homekit. As usual for Sony, there is no timeshift function.