The Sony Bravia 8 II OLED TV stands out as a premium choice for those seeking an immersive viewing experience that combines cutting-edge technology with exceptional performance. With its QD-OLED panel delivering stunning contrast through self-lit pixels, vibrant colors that pop with realism, and enhanced brightness for impactful HDR highlights, this TV transforms everyday entertainment into a cinematic spectacle. Whether streaming the latest blockbusters, diving into high-stakes gaming, or enjoying family movie nights, it offers sharp detail, fluid motion, and integrated sound that rivals dedicated audio setups, making it an ideal upgrade for any home theater enthusiast ready to elevate their setup.
Buy on Amazon: Sony Bravia 8 II OLED TV
Design and Build Quality
When it comes to design, the Sony Bravia 8 II OLED TV embodies a philosophy of understated elegance paired with practical functionality. The set features a Slim One Slate aesthetic, where the screen appears to float seamlessly without distracting bezels, creating an all-picture immersion that draws viewers directly into the content. This bezel-free approach not only enhances the visual appeal but also maximizes the usable screen real estate, ensuring that every inch contributes to the viewing experience rather than serving as mere framing.
The build quality is robust, with a premium feel that speaks to Sony’s long-standing expertise in electronics manufacturing. The panel measures approximately 3.4cm in thickness, which is slightly more substantial than some ultra-slim competitors, but this allows for the integration of advanced audio components directly into the chassis. The textured back panel adds a touch of sophistication, making the TV look refined from all angles—a 360-degree design consideration that’s particularly useful in open-plan living spaces where the TV might be visible from multiple sides.
Supporting the screen are sturdy aluminum feet positioned at the extremes of the base, providing stability without compromising on style. These feet can be adjusted to sit flush against the surface or elevated by about three inches, accommodating soundbars or other accessories beneath the screen. This flexibility is a thoughtful touch, addressing common setup challenges in modern homes. Cable management is handled intelligently with detachable panels that conceal connections, keeping the overall setup clean and clutter-free.
In terms of remote control, Sony provides a medium-sized unit constructed from a high percentage of recycled materials, emphasizing sustainability without sacrificing usability. While it lacks some bells and whistles like rechargeable batteries, it includes backlighting for easy navigation in low-light environments, and dedicated buttons for popular streaming services streamline access to content.
Overall, the design prioritizes both form and function, making the Bravia 8 II a versatile fit for various room configurations, from compact apartments to spacious living rooms. Its weight and dimensions—around 71cm in height and 122cm in width for the 55-inch model, without the stand—ensure it’s manageable for wall mounting or tabletop placement, with VESA compatibility for standard brackets.
This attention to detail in build extends to durability features, such as a glossy screen with an anti-reflective coating that minimizes glare from ambient light sources. In practical terms, this means the TV performs well in rooms with windows or overhead lighting, reducing distractions and maintaining picture integrity across different viewing conditions.
Picture Quality
Picture quality is where the Sony Bravia 8 II truly shines, leveraging QD-OLED technology to deliver a visual experience that’s both technically impressive and aesthetically pleasing. QD-OLED, which combines quantum dots with organic light-emitting diodes, allows for self-lit pixels that can turn on and off independently, resulting in perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratios. This eliminates the blooming or halo effects sometimes seen in LED-based TVs, ensuring that dark scenes retain their depth and detail without light bleed.
Contrast and Black Levels
At the core of the Bravia 8 II’s contrast performance is its ability to produce pure black levels, thanks to over eight million self-lit pixels. This pixel-level control means that in scenes with high dynamic range, such as a starry night sky or shadowy thriller sequences, the TV maintains exceptional detail in the darkest areas. Shadow gradation is particularly refined, with subtle transitions that avoid crushing blacks or losing nuance, creating a sense of depth that draws viewers deeper into the narrative.
In testing across various content types, the contrast holds up remarkably well, whether in pitch-black rooms or moderately lit spaces. The anti-reflective screen coating plays a role here, handling reflections effectively to preserve contrast even when external light is present. Compared to traditional OLED panels, the QD-OLED implementation in this model offers improved longevity and resistance to burn-in, though proper usage—varying content and avoiding static images for extended periods—remains advisable.
Brightness and HDR Performance
Brightness has long been a point of discussion for OLED TVs, but the Bravia 8 II addresses this with significant enhancements. Peak HDR brightness reaches impressive levels, making highlights pop with intensity in supported content. For instance, in HDR-enabled films, elements like sunlight glinting off water or explosive action sequences appear vivid and lifelike, without washing out surrounding details.
The TV supports multiple HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, ensuring compatibility with a wide array of sources from streaming platforms to Blu-ray discs. Dolby Vision, in particular, benefits from dynamic metadata that adjusts brightness and color on a scene-by-scene basis, optimizing the image for maximum impact. Measurements indicate peak brightness in calibrated modes around 1,400 nits for small highlights, with full-screen brightness holding steady in the 200-250 nit range, which is sufficient for most viewing environments.
This brightness boost represents a notable improvement over previous Sony OLED models, allowing the Bravia 8 II to compete more effectively in brighter rooms. However, it’s worth noting that while it excels in dimmed settings, extremely bright ambient conditions might still favor mini-LED alternatives for outright luminance.
Color Accuracy and Gamut
Color reproduction on the Bravia 8 II is nothing short of exemplary, with the QD-OLED panel covering nearly 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut used in mastering most Hollywood content. This translates to billions of accurate, real-world colors that appear natural yet vibrant, avoiding the oversaturation that can plague lesser displays. In professional modes, color accuracy is tight, with Delta-E values indicating minimal deviation from reference standards.
AI-driven processing enhances color handling further, with scene recognition that adjusts hues based on content type—for example, rendering skin tones realistically in dramas or amplifying the vibrancy of animated features. The TV’s color volume is also expanded, maintaining saturation at higher brightness levels, which is crucial for HDR where colors can sometimes dim.
Upscaling lower-resolution content is handled adeptly by the XR Processor, which uses AI to add detail and reduce artifacts, making SD or HD sources look sharper on the 4K panel. This is particularly beneficial for cable TV or older media libraries, ensuring a consistent quality across all inputs.
Motion Handling
Motion performance is fluid and artifact-free, thanks to a native 120Hz refresh rate and advanced processing like OLED Motion. Fast-paced sports or action films exhibit smooth panning without judder or blur, while customizable settings allow users to fine-tune for personal preference—options range from cinema-purist modes that preserve the original frame rate to enhanced smoothing for sports viewing.
The TV’s low input lag in game mode complements this, but motion excellence extends to all content, with intelligent frame interpolation that avoids the soap-opera effect unless deliberately enabled.
In summary, the picture quality of the Sony Bravia 8 II sets a high bar, blending technical prowess with user-friendly calibration options to suit enthusiasts and casual viewers alike.
Sound Quality
Sound is often an afterthought in TV design, but the Sony Bravia 8 II integrates audio as a core component, delivering an experience that punches above its weight for a built-in system. The Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology turns the entire screen into a speaker, using actuators to vibrate the panel and produce sound directly from the image. This creates a spatial effect where dialogue and effects seem to emanate from on-screen action, enhancing immersion without the need for external speakers.
The setup includes two actuators for mid and high frequencies, paired with dual subwoofers for low-end support, resulting in a total output that’s clear and dynamic. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatibility adds height and surround elements, simulating a multi-speaker environment even in stereo mode. Voice Zoom 3 further refines dialogue clarity, boosting vocals in noisy scenes without distorting the overall mix.
Bass response is controlled and punchy for a TV, handling action sequences with authority, though it lacks the deep rumble of dedicated subwoofers. Tonal balance leans warm, making voices natural and music enjoyable, with good separation of instruments and effects.
Integration options elevate the sound further; Acoustic Center Sync allows the TV to serve as a center channel when paired with compatible Sony soundbars or AV receivers, creating a seamless home theater setup. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity enable wireless audio streaming to headphones or speakers.
While not replacing a full surround system, the Bravia 8 II’s audio is among the best in its class, suitable for most users and expandable for audiophiles.
Smart Features and Interface
The Bravia 8 II runs on Google TV, a intuitive platform that organizes content from multiple streaming services into a unified interface. Personalized recommendations based on viewing habits make discovery effortless, while voice control via built-in microphones or the remote supports hands-free operation—compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa for smart home integration.
App support is comprehensive, covering major services like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more, with dedicated calibrated modes for platforms like Netflix and Sony Pictures Core to ensure content is displayed as intended. AirPlay and Google Cast enable easy streaming from mobile devices, and the ATSC 3.0 tuner future-proofs over-the-air broadcasting.
AI enhancements in the XR Processor extend to smart features, optimizing picture and sound based on room acoustics and lighting. The interface is responsive, with quick app launches and minimal lag, making navigation a breeze.
Gaming Performance
Gamers will appreciate the Bravia 8 II’s robust feature set, including 4K at 120Hz support for smooth, high-frame-rate play on next-gen consoles. Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) reduce tearing and input lag, with measurements around 16ms in game mode—responsive enough for competitive gaming.
Dolby Vision gaming adds dynamic HDR for enhanced visuals, while PS5-exclusive features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode optimize settings automatically when connected to a PlayStation console. Two HDMI 2.1 ports provide full bandwidth for advanced gaming setups, though additional ports handle legacy devices.
The QD-OLED panel’s fast response times ensure crisp motion in fast-paced titles, with vibrant colors and deep blacks enhancing atmospheric games.
Connectivity and Ports
Connectivity is comprehensive, with four HDMI ports (two HDMI 2.1), two USB ports, an RF input, optical audio out, and Ethernet for stable networking. Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi support wireless peripherals and streaming, while eARC enables high-quality audio passthrough to sound systems.
This array covers most modern needs, from consoles and Blu-ray players to soundbars and smart devices.
Comparisons with Competitors
The Sony Bravia 8 II holds its own against top contenders, offering a balanced profile that prioritizes naturalism and audio integration.
Versus the Samsung S95D QD-OLED TV, the Sony provides comparable color vibrancy but with better built-in sound and PS5 optimization, though Samsung edges out in peak brightness for very bright rooms.
The LG G5 OLED TV boasts higher brightness and more HDMI 2.1 ports, making it a strong gaming pick, but the Bravia 8 II counters with superior shadow detail and a more cinematic tuning.
Compared to the Panasonic Z95B OLED TV, Sony’s model matches in color accuracy while adding Google TV’s user-friendly interface.
Internally, it’s a step up from the previous Bravia 8, with enhanced brightness and processing.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional contrast and black levels
- Vibrant, accurate colors
- Impressive built-in sound
- Robust gaming features
- Intuitive smart platform
Cons:
- Limited to two full HDMI 2.1 ports
- Thickness slightly more than ultra-slim rivals
- No HDR10+ support
Verdict
The Sony Bravia 8 II OLED TV is a masterful blend of innovation and performance, ideal for discerning viewers who demand the best in picture, sound, and features. It excels in delivering lifelike visuals and immersive audio, making it a worthwhile investment for premium home entertainment.
Buy on Amazon: Sony Bravia 8 II OLED TV