Sony TVs

2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 lineup compared

In contrast to the full-fledged upscaling function, the entire image is not affected by the editing process, and instead only individual objects or parts of the image are taken into account. The intention here is to re-sharpen textures and contours. The XR processor plays an important role here.

Using the Acoustic Center Sync feature, you have the option of amplifying your TV within a multi-channel solution as a centre speaker – also known as a middle channel. To implement a corresponding setup, you need a compatible soundbar. The advantage: better, clearer voice reproduction.

Sony TVs offer you a comparatively good sound image with the Acoustic Surface Audio+. Based on a system of actuators, meaning movement motors in the housing, the TV can vibrate its panel depending on the sound requirements and thus transform it into a speaker, as it were.

With the so-called Auto Genre Picture Mode – which is an exclusive feature for PS5 owners – the TV recognises whether you are watching a film on the console or getting ready for the next gaming session. Depending on the type of use, the device automatically changes the picture mode. So, either the focus is on the gaming mode with optimized response time of the screen and the input lag of the controller or with image processing for the best possible playback quality of the content.

Here Sony combines several features under one banner. Provided you have a Bravia Cam, which we describe in more detail below. If this is the case, your TV can detect the distance to the position where you are sitting and automatically adjust the acoustic parameters accordingly. Depending on the lighting conditions in the room, it is then also possible for the television to regulate the screen brightness on its own.

An additional option that you can only use with the PlayStation 5 is this one. Here, the console automatically optimises its HDR settings to match the respective Sony TV model – for example, when it is used with it for the first time. As a result, details and colours are preserved in the best possible way.

The Bravia Cam adds several useful capabilities to your Sony TV. For example, the camera has the Ambient Optimization Pro feature described above. If no one is sitting in front of the device, the overall brightness is dimmed to save power. With a gesture control, you can adjust the volume or change the channel. If someone is sitting too close in front of the TV, a warning can be given. Video chats are possible as well. Note: Although the cam is only included in a few top models, it is compatible with many additional devices and can therefore be purchased as an extra option.

Sony has launched its own streaming service with the so-called Bravia Core App. With the purchase of a supported TV set, you benefit from a 24-month membership free of charge, which allows you to stream film and series content. Depending on the model, you will also receive a certain amount of so-called film credits that you can spend on new releases.

This is Sony’s term for its processing units, which are used in more upmarket models such as the A80L or A95L. Basically, the processor has several tasks that can range from picture and sound processing up to the local dimming feature on backlit LED TVs from the X series.

This mode optimizes the picture settings for you when accessing content from Bravia Core or Netflix. In the last case, the Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode also takes into account the lighting conditions at your location and adjusts the picture material accordingly.

The term Motionflow refers to the intermediate image calculation process that you may already be familiar with. If you activate this setting, the TV uses an algorithm to determine suitable scenes that will help compensate movements based on the current refresh rate. The result is a smoother and more natural reproduction on the screen.

Using the individual speech recognition with Voice Zoom, you can hear dialogues more clearly without having to increase the volume. First, the type of voice is determined and analysed. This is followed by a playback optimisation, which makes spoken words clearer coming through the speakers, even if they are rather difficult to understand.

This is Sony’s term for an additional display layer that widens the otherwise fairly narrow viewing angle of VA panels quite a lot. This provides better saturation and an overall higher-contrast image when viewed from an inclined sitting position.

This function helps your TV to display content that is only available in Full HD resolution, for example, over the entire screen surface of the panel. To do this, a processor intelligently adds the necessary details and structures that are required for an enlarged version of the material.

A rather convoluted term to describe a comparatively “simple” technical concept. What lies behind it is an algorithm developed by Sony based on so-called local dimming in combination with Mini-LEDs. Controlling the brightness becomes much finer, so that content can be illuminated more precisely and with comparatively little blooming around object contours in front of dark backgrounds.

If you switch on this option, possible image noise is reduced and the movement sharpness is improved at the same time. Sony promises that the use should provide a visibly cleaner and clearer image reproduction overall.

By darkening certain areas of the image and brightening others, the XR Contrast Booster adjusts the luminosity to render highlights with brighter values and shadow areas with deeper blacks. This makes scenes appear more realistic, offers more details and makes them appear deeper.

Based on XR HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) Remaster, your TV recognises objects on the screen, analyses the colour and adjusts the contrast ratio individually. So the TV performs object-based processing that takes into account various parameters such as brightness, saturation, shading and movement. The goal: lifelike colours, natural textures and an overall realistic impression of the picture content.

This is a rather charming name for the ABL feature. Based on a temperature sensor, this safety measure detects the heat load on the self-luminous pixels and controls respectively dims the light if necessary. Typically, this is the case with large bright areas that are displayed on the screen for a longer period of time.

In combination with the Cognitive Processor XR, the so-called XR OLED Motion Feature reduces rendering blur by recognising and evaluating core visual structures during the presentation. The algorithm then inserts additional images in between the original sequences in a logical way to ensure that even busy scenes are played out cleanly and clearly. In the end, we are talking about the interframe calculation for Sony’s OLED devices – also referred to as Motionflow.

Sports and action scenes can look blurry on some screens. With XR Motion Clarity, your TV can intervene to achieve smoother, sharper and brighter reproduction. In addition to the Motion Flow for the calculation of the intermediate image, the control of the backlight is also used here in the form of the feature known as BFI.

With this technology, the sound always follows the action. On the basis of the so-called Acoustic Surface Audio+ feature, the output is generated where the noise is produced on the screen. Accordingly, you get a precisely positioned tone here.