Sony bravia 8 ii qd oled tv review

If you’re wondering if the Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED TV is truly the next big thing, you’ve come to the right place. This 2025 model steps in as the successor to the critically acclaimed A95L, and it packs some serious visual punch, making it a strong contender for your next living room centerpiece. But it’s not just about the numbers. it’s about how this TV makes your favorite movies, games, and shows feel.

Right out of the box, the Bravia 8 II aims to deliver an exceptionally bright, vibrant, and three-dimensional picture, promising perfect blacks and outstanding shadow detail, all thanks to its cutting-edge QD-OLED panel. Sony has built upon its strengths, refining its already masterful picture processing with the upgraded XR Processor. While it may not be Sony’s absolute flagship that title still belongs to the Mini LED Bravia 9, this QD-OLED TV is a clear statement of Sony’s commitment to incredible visual fidelity. It’s available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, with the larger 77-inch A95L remaining available for those who need a truly massive QD-OLED experience. For a TV that makes such a significant leap in picture quality, you might be considering picking up some TV accessories or even a soundbar to complete your setup, and the Bravia 8 II certainly makes a strong case for it.

What’s New with the Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED?

So, what makes the Bravia 8 II different, and why should you care? Well, the big news is its panel. This TV uses the latest generation QD-OLED panel from Samsung Display, a technology that really pushes the boundaries of color and brightness. Sony claims it’s about 25% brighter than its predecessor, the A95L, and an impressive 50% brighter than the Bravia 8 W-OLED model which is still being sold alongside it.

Beyond the raw brightness, Sony has put a lot of work into the details. They’ve engineered significant improvements to “dark gradation,” meaning those really dark, shadowy scenes now reveal far more subtle details without getting crushed into a murky mess. You’ll also find an upgraded XR Processor onboard. This brain of the TV now includes a new 2025 AI scene recognition system, which is exclusive to the Bravia 8 II and Bravia 5 models. Essentially, it’s designed to intelligently detect and analyze what you’re watching, then optimize the picture in real-time for ultimate realism. Think of it as having a miniature Hollywood colorist working on your picture constantly.

Another thing that sets it apart is the refined integration with Google TV, making the smart features smoother and more intuitive. It’s also carrying over popular features like Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, Prime Video Calibrated Mode, and Sony Pictures Core Calibrated Mode, ensuring content from these services is displayed as the creators intended. These small but significant tweaks add up, promising a more refined and immersive viewing experience. If you’re looking to upgrade from an older set, the improvements in picture and processing are genuinely noticeable, making it a compelling choice for many, including those who appreciate top-tier home entertainment, for example, consider buying some 4k Blu-ray movies to truly experience the picture quality.

Picture Quality: The QD-OLED Difference

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what makes the Sony Bravia 8 II’s picture quality shine. This is where QD-OLED technology really flexes its muscles.

Brightness and HDR Performance

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Bravia 8 II is its impressive brightness. While it might not be the absolute brightest OLED on the market when compared to some rivals like the LG G5 or Samsung S95F in certain peak brightness tests, it still delivers a significant bump over previous Sony OLEDs. We’re talking about peak brightness numbers that can hit close to 1700 nits on a 10% window, and even climb up to around 2,000 nits on smaller 5% windows after calibration. This means HDR High Dynamic Range content, with its dazzling highlights and deep shadows, truly pops, making explosions, sunny skies, or even subtle glints of light incredibly impactful.

What’s really special here is how Sony handles that brightness. It’s not just about raw lumens. it’s about control and accuracy. The XR Processor, with its new AI scene recognition system, dynamically adjusts the brightness to make sure details aren’t lost in overly bright areas, nor do bright objects look washed out. Even though its full-screen brightness remains capped around 250 nits similar to the A95L, the ability to produce those intense specular highlights in high-nit HDR content is what gives it a very clear and impactful presentation. For stunning HDR content, you might want to consider a 4K streaming device to fully appreciate the TV’s capabilities.

Color Volume and Accuracy

QD-OLED panels, like the one in the Bravia 8 II, are renowned for their incredible color capabilities. The “QD” stands for Quantum Dot, which allows the TV to produce a wider spectrum of colors with higher purity and saturation, especially at higher brightness levels. This TV essentially covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut the standard for most HDR content and over 90% of the much wider Rec. 2020 gamut.

What does this mean for you? It means colors look incredibly vibrant, lifelike, and accurate, whether you’re watching a lush nature documentary or a gritty action film. You’ll see shades you might have missed before, and tones will maintain their natural vibrancy even in challenging low-light or ultra-bright scenes. Reviews often highlight the Bravia 8 II’s superb SDR and HDR color accuracy, often being “cinematically authentic right out of the box”. While some initial SDR color accuracy might require calibration for perfection, its HDR performance is usually spot-on without much tweaking.

Black Levels and Contrast

This is where OLED technology, particularly QD-OLED, traditionally shines, and the Bravia 8 II doesn’t disappoint. With over 8 million self-lit pixels, each one can be individually turned off, resulting in perfect, absolute blacks with no blooming whatsoever. This creates an infinite contrast ratio, making bright objects stand out dramatically against dark backgrounds, giving images incredible depth and a three-dimensional feel.

Sony’s processing further enhances this by providing exceptional control over near-black details. Those faint textures and subtle gradations in very dark scenes aren’t crushed or lost, which can sometimes happen on other TVs. There’s no hint of dotting or blocking noise in dark shots, which is a common issue for some OLEDs. This meticulous control over dark areas, combined with the panel’s ability to render bright highlights, creates a truly immersive and dynamic viewing experience, especially if you’re watching in a dimly lit room, perhaps with some mood lighting to set the perfect cinematic atmosphere.

Processing Cognitive Processor XR

Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR is the real MVP behind much of the Bravia 8 II’s stunning picture. This isn’t just a regular processor. it’s designed to mimic how the human brain sees and hears, analyzing elements like color, contrast, and clarity simultaneously to optimize the picture. For the Bravia 8 II, it’s been upgraded with a new AI scene recognition system that precisely detects and analyzes data, then optimizes the picture for ultimate realism.

This intelligent processing means upscaling of HD and even SD content to 4K resolution is top-tier, making your older movies and TV shows look better than ever before. Motion handling is also superb, with very clear motion and nearly instantaneous pixel transitions, which is crucial for action or sports. It also excels at handling low bit-rate content, cleaning up any digital noise or artifacts that might be present in streamed video. This attention to detail in processing is one of Sony’s long-standing strengths and a key reason why many video enthusiasts gravitate towards their TVs.

Sound Experience: Acoustic Surface Audio+

When you’re shelling out for a premium TV, you don’t just want a great picture. you want sound that matches. The Bravia 8 II continues Sony’s innovative Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, where the screen itself acts as the speaker. Tiny actuators behind the OLED panel vibrate to produce sound directly from the screen, meaning dialogue and sound effects come from exactly where they appear on screen. This creates an incredibly immersive and precise sound localization that regular TV speakers just can’t replicate.

Reviews often praise the Bravia 8 II’s sound quality as “very good by TV standards,” with “impressive bass and dialogue clarity”. It supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, further enhancing the immersive audio experience. While built-in TV speakers can only do so much, the Acoustic Surface Audio+ system does a fantastic job of creating a wider and more engaging soundstage than most competitors. If you want truly cinematic audio, you can pair it with a compatible Sony soundbar using the S-Center input, allowing the TV’s speakers to act as a dedicated center channel, which is pretty neat for expanding your home theater system.

Gaming Performance: Ready for PS5 and Xbox Series X

For all you gamers out there, the Bravia 8 II comes equipped with features that make it a solid choice for modern consoles. It boasts HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on two of its four HDMI ports, which means you can enjoy 4K resolution at 120Hz refresh rate 4K/120Hz, Variable Refresh Rate VRR, and Auto Low Latency Mode ALLM. These are crucial for a smooth, tear-free, and responsive gaming experience on your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.

HDMI 2.1 Features 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM

Having HDMI 2.1 is essential for getting the most out of your latest gaming consoles. 4K/120Hz delivers incredibly fluid motion, especially in games. VRR dynamically adjusts the TV’s refresh rate to match the console’s frame rate, eliminating screen tearing and stutter, which can be a real immersion killer. ALLM automatically switches the TV into its low-latency game mode when it detects a game console, ensuring you don’t have to fiddle with settings every time you switch from a movie to a game. The Bravia 8 II also includes a Dolby Vision Game mode, bringing that high dynamic range goodness to your gaming sessions.

Input Lag

Input lag is critical for competitive gaming, and the Bravia 8 II performs well, though it’s not the absolute quickest on the market compared to some rival OLEDs. In game mode, input lag measures around 16 milliseconds at 60 frames per second fps, dropping to about 8 milliseconds at 120 fps. For most casual and even serious console gamers, this is perfectly low enough to feel responsive and enjoy your games without noticeable delay. However, if you’re a professional esports player where every millisecond counts, some competitors might offer a hair quicker response.

It also supports Sony’s “Perfect for PlayStation 5” system, which means your PS5 can automatically detect the TV and optimize its HDR output. Plus, you get a dedicated gaming menu when a game source is detected, streamlining your experience. While it only has two HDMI 2.1 ports, for most people with a single current-gen console and perhaps a soundbar, this configuration is usually sufficient. Consider getting a gaming headset to complement the immersive gaming experience.

Smart TV Features: Google TV and Beyond

The Sony Bravia 8 II runs on the Google TV operating system, which is generally a smooth, intuitive, and highly customizable platform. If you’ve used an Android phone or other Google TV devices, you’ll feel right at home.

User Interface

The Google TV interface is clean, organized, and focused on content discovery. It aggregates movies and shows from all your various streaming services onto a single home screen, making it easy to find something to watch without jumping between apps. It also offers personalized recommendations based on your viewing habits.

App Ecosystem

Being a Google TV, you get access to a vast array of apps through the Google Play Store. Virtually every major streaming service is available, from Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, and Hulu to countless others. You’ll find apps for news, sports, podcast, and more, ensuring you’re never short on content.

Voice Control Google Assistant

The built-in Google Assistant means you can control your TV with just your voice. You can ask it to find movies, change channels, adjust the volume, or even control compatible smart home devices. Just say “Hey Google” or press the microphone button on the remote, and you’re good to go. This hands-free convenience is a real plus for everyday use. The TV also comes with the aforementioned Studio Calibrated Modes Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, Prime Video Calibrated Mode, Sony Pictures Core Calibrated Mode, and is IMAX Enhanced certified, ensuring optimized viewing experiences for specific content. For enhanced voice commands, you could consider a smart speaker with Google Assistant.

Design and Build Quality

The design of the Sony Bravia 8 II is, in many ways, an evolution of Sony’s premium aesthetic. It retains a sophisticated and minimalist look, reminiscent of its predecessor, the A95L.

Aesthetics

Sony describes it as a “slim one-slate design,” and while it’s certainly sleek, it’s worth noting that at 3.4cm thick, it’s the slimmest in Sony’s current lineup but still thicker than some rivals like the Samsung S95F 1.1cm or LG G5 2.4cm. This slight added thickness is likely due to Sony’s unique Acoustic Surface Audio+ system and its custom heatsink, which helps manage the QD-OLED panel’s brightness. Despite this, it still looks very premium, with thin bezels that ensure your focus remains on the stunning picture.

Stand Options

The Bravia 8 II features blade-style feet. A common point of discussion is their positioning: they attach at the far edges of the screen, which means you’ll need a wider TV stand. However, Sony does offer the flexibility to adjust the height of the screen on these feet, which is a thoughtful touch. This allows you to comfortably place a soundbar directly underneath the TV without obstructing the screen. If your current setup has a narrower stand, you might need to consider a universal TV stand or wall mounting to accommodate it.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, you’re getting a good selection: four HDMI inputs, with two of them being full 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports. One of these HDMI 2.1 ports also supports eARC enhanced Audio Return Channel for high-quality audio passthrough to a soundbar or AV receiver. You’ll also find two USB ports, an RF port for antenna or cable, LAN for wired internet, and support for Wi-Fi 6E 6Ghz and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 6E is great for fast, stable streaming. There’s also an optical audio output and a convenient mic mute switch for privacy.

The Verdict: Is the Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED Right for You?

So, after all that, should the Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED be your next TV? It’s a fantastic TV, but like any high-end piece of tech, it has its strengths and a few areas where others might pull ahead.

If you prioritize stunning, authentic picture quality right out of the box, with incredibly vibrant and accurate colors, perfect blacks, and exceptional motion processing, then the Bravia 8 II is an outstanding choice. Sony’s XR Processor is still arguably the best in the business for upscaling and overall image finesse. The Acoustic Surface Audio+ system also gives it a distinct advantage in terms of integrated sound, offering a surprisingly immersive experience for TV speakers. It’s a TV built for movie lovers and those who appreciate the subtle details in visual content.

However, if your primary focus is competitive gaming and you need the absolute lowest input lag or more than two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports for multiple next-gen consoles or a gaming PC, some rivals might offer a slightly better package in those specific areas. Also, while it’s very bright, if you’re chasing the absolute highest peak HDR brightness for a very bright room, especially for large bright areas of the screen, other flagship OLEDs like the LG G5 or Samsung S95F might edge it out.

It’s positioned as a premium QD-OLED, replacing the A95L, and aims to be more affordable at launch in some regions though not necessarily in the US. It sits below Sony’s Mini LED flagship, the Bravia 9, which Sony still considers its top-tier for overall brightness, especially in very bright living rooms.

Ultimately, the Sony Bravia 8 II is for the discerning viewer who values picture accuracy, processing prowess, and immersive sound above all else. It’s not about being the flashiest, but about delivering a truly cinematic experience that brings your content to life in a way few other TVs can. For a premium visual experience, perhaps you might want to look into high-quality HDMI cables to ensure the best signal integrity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sony Bravia 8 II a QD-OLED TV?

Yes, the Sony Bravia 8 II is indeed a QD-OLED TV. It features the latest generation QD-OLED panel from Samsung Display, which allows for extremely vibrant and accurate colors, as well as excellent brightness.

How does the Sony Bravia 8 II compare to the A95L?

The Sony Bravia 8 II is the direct successor to the A95L. It uses a newer generation QD-OLED panel and is reported to be about 25% brighter in peak brightness than the A95L, with improved dark gradation and an upgraded XR Processor with new AI scene recognition. While it offers several improvements, some reviews note that in certain aspects, such as full-screen brightness, it’s not a massive leap, but the overall picture quality refinements are noticeable.

How many HDMI 2.1 ports does the Sony Bravia 8 II have?

The Sony Bravia 8 II has four HDMI inputs in total, but only two of these are full 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports. These two ports support 4K/120Hz, VRR Variable Refresh Rate, and ALLM Auto Low Latency Mode for optimal gaming performance. One of these HDMI 2.1 ports also functions as the eARC enhanced Audio Return Channel port.

What sizes is the Sony Bravia 8 II available in?

The Sony Bravia 8 II is primarily available in 55-inch and 65-inch screen sizes. For those looking for a larger QD-OLED from Sony, the 77-inch A95L is being carried over into 2025.

Does the Sony Bravia 8 II support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos?

Yes, the Sony Bravia 8 II supports both Dolby Vision for HDR content and Dolby Atmos for immersive audio. It also includes other HDR formats like HDR10 and HLG, but notably, it does not support HDR10+. ESR iPad A16 Flex Keyboard Case Review: Your iPad’s Ultimate Productivity Upgrade?

Is the Sony Bravia 8 II good for gaming?

Yes, the Sony Bravia 8 II is very good for gaming. It offers two HDMI 2.1 ports with support for 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM, which are essential for modern consoles. It also features a Dolby Vision Game mode and “Perfect for PlayStation 5” features. While its input lag is low enough for most gamers around 8ms at 120fps, some other flagship OLEDs might offer slightly lower input lag for competitive players.