Sony Bravia 8 II OLED Television
For the last two years, Sony’s A95L was the reigning monarch of OLED televisions and pretty much the accepted gold-standard in picture quality. Not anymore. Sony has surpassed itself, dethroning the old A95 with its next-generation Bravia 8 II, a television of remarkable contrast, brilliance and clarity.
An entire suite of technological innovations gives this set the ability to render vivid colors—without ever looking exaggerated— and to deliver sharp images without fatiguing the eye. More than 8 million self-lit pixels means that this Quantum-Dot OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panel shows deep shades and vibrant hues from a palate of billions of colors while the XR Contrast Booster produces eerily deep levels of pure black, even when viewed in a dark room. Artificial intelligence also plays a major roll. The Bravia 8 II’s AI scene recognition system detects and analyzes the picture, then optimizes brightness levels to produce even more realistic, refined images than its predecessor was capable of.
But lifelike detail and convincing depth-of-field are only part of Bravia 8 II’s video majesty. Fast-moving action also stays clear and blur free. Ever notice how scenes with rapid motion can get pixelated as though the image processor is struggling to keep up? In tech speak, that’s called “blur and judder.” Sony eliminates this annoyance via its XR OLED Motion technology.
Another notable improvement is audible, particularly with dialog. The Voice Zoom 3 (also powered by AI) produces clear voices, especially during loud scenes with a lot of commotion. You’ll no longer find yourself adjusting the volume up and down throughout your movie or show just to hear what people are saying. Of course, the television supports all major streaming services and features an additional studio-calibrated picture mode specifically designed for Netflix, Prime Video and Sony Pictures Core. The idea is that you can view the content as the creators intended.
The set comes in two sizes: 55 inches ($2,999) and 65 inches ($3,499)—pricier perhaps than other OLEDs, but justifiable once you see the Bravia 8 II next to other sets on the showroom floor.
