Introducing the Cutting-Edge Sony Bravia XR: A Glimpse into the Future of Television Technology. In this article we provide Sony Bravia XR review of 2023.
In an ever-evolving digital landscape, Sony continues to push the boundaries of innovation with its latest release, the Sony Bravia XR. Setting new benchmarks for picture quality, immersive sound, and intelligent features, this television model stands as a testament to Sony’s commitment to revolutionizing the home entertainment experience.
In the year 2023, the Bravia XR represents the pinnacle of television technology, offering viewers a glimpse into the future of visual entertainment. Furthermore, Sony’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the Bravia XR. Incorporating energy-efficient features and adhering to strict environmental standards, this television model not only enhances the viewing experience but also minimizes its ecological footprint.
Sony Bravia XR | XR-55A80L OLED 4K TV
Design
The TV features a sleek and slim design with slim bezels, creating an immersive viewing experience. The minimalist aesthetic allows the television to seamlessly blend into any modern living space.
The Sony Bravia XR doesn’t feature an aluminium chassis unlike its step-up brother, the Sony Bravia XR. Though the look and overall feel of the TV at hand is premium. The specification of this TV is quite subtle and not much of an upgrade from the Sony Bravia XR.
This TV also features the same stand that the XR has as well as most of the Sony Bravia TVs. It offers a simple and minimalistic design with an option to hide and manage your cables behind the stand. Good thing Sony decided to keep such feature. Who doesn’t want an option to manage and hide the cables?
The back of the Sony Bravia XR review is simple. There’s actually not much worth noting about it other than it’s plastic and feels cheap once you touch it and feel it. Although the VESA dimension for wall-mounting the TV is different for each size. The 43-Inch model has a 100x200mm, the 49-Inch model has a 200x200mm, and the 55-Inch model has 300x200mm VESA requirements. So that’s something worth knowing if you plan to mount this TV to a wall.
Input/Output Connectivity
The Connectivity of the Sony Bravia XR is standard. Although one of its key features is the built-in Chromecast. Chromecast is a technology by Google that allows you to stream media to your TV. To have it as a built-in surely is a welcome feature to have. No more hanging dongle from Google Chromecast device.
The Bravia XR-55A80L offers multiple connectivity options, including HDMI ports, USB ports, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. These connections allow users to easily connect external devices such as gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and sound systems.
Lastly, the Sony Bravia features four (4) HDMI 2.0 ports that support ARC and CEC. It also has three (3) USB port connection where one (1) of it is a USB3.0.
Picture Quality
Powered by the Cognitive Processor XR, this TV goes beyond traditional AI processing, employing cognitive intelligence to analyze and understand the elements within the content. It replicates the way humans see and hear, delivering realistic and immersive visuals.
Despite having an IPS panel for that amazing lifelike colour, this TV features an Edge Lighting (or Edge-Lit). This is more of a downer or something that will turn you off. The black levels not as deep and the edge area of the screen is brighter than the centre. Sony compensated the lack of black depth by equipping this TV with Live Colour™ Technology, TRILUMINOS™ Display, 4K X-Reality™ PRO, and Motionflow™ XR 400Hz.
With Live Colour Technology and TRILUMINOS Display, the colour reproduction of this TV is so vivid and natural. The contrast and level of black are quite decent with HDR10. The picture quality with HDR10 is bright and crispy, with a level of contrast that adds definition to the objects. Images are vibrant that draws the eye and makes any film look genuinely spectacular.
With 4K X-Reality™ PRO, video or picture content are upscaled to 4K Ultra HD quality. It improves the picture when it’s displayed on the display and producing higher-resolution images with much more detail. In simple terms, the 4K X-Reality™ PRO refines every pixel of the image and compared it with Sony’s internal database. It then essentially rebuilds it in the translation from lower resolution to higher.
Lastly, Motionflow™ XR 400Hz gives a smoother, more natural picture by combining the native panel frequency with other techniques. This feature creates motion-compensated frames between the original TV frames for smooth motion. It also reduces image blur that cleans up blurred objects in an image to give a clearer picture.
Audio
The Bravia XR-55A80L features Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, where the entire screen vibrates to produce sound. This creates a unique audio experience where sound comes directly from the action on the screen, enhancing immersion and providing a multidimensional soundscape.
With Dolby Atmos compatibility, the TV delivers an immersive audio experience by creating a three-dimensional sound field. Viewers are enveloped in sound from all directions, making movies, shows, and games more engaging.
Gaming
When talking about gaming, the most important feature to have is a low input lag rating and latency. In that terms, the Sony Bravia XR has 34ms when in the Game mode. This should be good enough for most gamers but may disappoint hardcore gamers. The input lag with motion interpolation enabled is quite decent and better than on most TVs, but at 49.5ms, you might want to think twice if you want this TV for gaming.
Our Verdict
Pros
- Excellent Picture Quality.
- Minimalist Design.
- Triluminos Colour Vibrancy.
Cons
- 50Hz Panel.
- Blotchy Blacks.
The Sony Bravia XR-55A80L OLED 4K TV is a premium television model that delivers outstanding picture quality, immersive sound, and intelligent features. With its innovative technology and elegant design, it offers a truly remarkable viewing experience for consumers seeking the best in home entertainment.
- EXCEPTIONAL PICTURE QUALITY: OLED is the pinnacle of picture quality, delivering exceptionally pure blacks and gorgeous peaks of brightness for depth and texture that feels real, on the A80L, paired with the stunning new OLED panel with XR OLED Contrast Pro to boost the colour and contrast like never before
- ACOUSTIC SURFACE AUDIO: The Acoustic Surface Audio + technology makes everything more immersive by turning the A80L screen into a speaker just like a cinema screen, large actuators invisibly vibrate the TV screen to create powerful acoustics that move with the action, whilst left and right built-in subwoofers boost bass
- DESIGN: With a sophisticated design, the A80L features a Metal Flush Surface Bezel that will harmonise with any interior, the 3-way, slim wedge, aluminium TV stand offers ultimate convenience; choose the standard position, narrow position for smaller furniture surfaces, or the raised position to tuck your soundbar underneath
- GAMING FEATURES: Ideal for PlayStation 5, the A80L features Auto Low Latency Mode in HDMI 2.1 for smooth, responsive gameplay, as well as Auto HDR Tone Mapping to reveal crucial details in the darkest and brightest parts of the screen, there's even a dedicated Gaming Menu that includes the brand-new Crosshair and Custom Screen features they could be the secret to your next win
- APPS AND FEATURES: Access 700,000+ movies and TV episodes from across your streaming services on this Google TV, with everything organised to suit your personal interests, you can even set aside your remote and go hands-free with Voice Search
In conclusion, the Sony Bravia XR represents a leap forward in television technology, bringing together exceptional picture quality, immersive sound, intelligent features, and a commitment to sustainability. As we step into 2023, this remarkable television model offers a glimpse into the future of home entertainment, setting new standards and leaving viewers in awe of its capabilities. Get ready to elevate your viewing experience to unparalleled heights with the Sony Bravia XR.
