What we liked
- The extremely precise picture
- The rich, accurate and natural colors
- The powerful, well-spatialized sound with very satisfying bass
- The S-Center feature
We would have liked
- HDR10+ compatibility
- For all the HDMI ports to be 2.1
- Support for 144Hz and even 165Hz 4K
Our expert’s opinion
The Sony 65 Bravia 8 II impressed me with its precise picture and rich, natural colors, as well as its contrast, thanks to the XR processor that gets the best out of the QD-OLED panel. I particularly appreciated the audio immersion provided by the Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology: the sound that literally emanates from the screen blew me away, and combining it with the Sony Bravia Theater Quad wireless home theater system using the S Center feature proved particularly captivating. Gaming-wise, the 120Hz 4K, VRR and ALLM compatibility allowed me to play games in good conditions, although it is a shame about the limited number of HDMI 2.1 ports and the refresh rate of 120Hz. Lastly, the Google TV interface was smooth and responsive to use, and the exclusive access to the Sony Pictures Core streaming platform is an added bonus compared to the competition, despite the absence of HDR10+ and Filmmaker mode support.
The Sony 65 Bravia 8 II TV is equipped with the latest QD-OLED 4K panel (QD for Quantum Dot). Designed for discerning movie lovers and passionate gamers, it prioritises image precision, colour fidelity and a highly immersive sound experience. Dolby Vision, 120Hz 4K and Google TV compatible, this 2025 TV has some solid arguments on paper. But does it live up to all its promises in practice?
Presentation
The Sony 65 Bravia 8 II (65”/164cm) is designed to be the worthy successor to the excellent Sony XR-65A95L, which won multiple awards from the international trade press when it was released in 2023. This new Sony 4K OLED Premium television is equipped with a third generation QD-OLED (Samsung Displays) panel, similar to that of the Samsung TQ-65S95F. In this respect, it differs from the first-generation Sony Bravia 8 range (XR80 series), which features a W-OLED panel supplied by LG Displays.
Thanks to the image processing provided by the XR processor with artificial intelligence, the TV aims to deliver deep blacks, vibrant colors and remarkable image precision. Its compatibility with the main HDR formats, including HDR10 (but not HDR10+) and Dolby Vision, also guarantees an optimal viewing experience in virtually all conditions. Thus equipped, it should satisfy the most demanding movie lovers.
🧐 A word from the expert
Sony's Cognitive XR processor uses deep learning to improve real-time video processing. Deep learning is a branch of artificial intelligence inspired by the workings of the human brain. It relies on neural networks capable of analyzing large quantities of data and deriving models from them. In the case of a TV, for example, this technology enables the processor to identify faces, objects or focus zones to intelligently adapt image processing.
Sony’s exclusive Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology is also used on this TV. This uses the entire surface of the screen as a real driver, making it vibrate imperceptibly with the help of pistons placed behind the panel. Sound literally emerges from the image, just like in the cinema, for total immersion.
Also designed with gamers in mind, the Sony 65 BRAVIA 8 II supports 120Hz 4K, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) via its HDMI 2.1 ports, along with the Perfect For PlayStation 5 certification to optimize the experience with this console. This TV integrates Google TV, with access to all the most popular streaming services, Google Assistant and Chromecast, as well as Alexa and Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility. The manufacturer has also added an exclusive 24-month free subscription to the Sony Pictures Core premium streaming service, with 10 films offered from a wide catalog including many feature films in IMAX format.
Finally, the Sony 65 Bravia 8 II offers extensive connectivity with four HDMI ports, two of which are HDMI 2.1 standard, two USB ports (including one USB 3.0) and an optical digital audio output (S/PDIF mini-jack) that also acts as an S-Center audio input (so that the screen can take on the role of the center speaker with a compatible Sony home theater system). There’s also an Ethernet port (RJ45), three antenna connectors (satellite x 2 and DVB-T/cable x 1), a CI+ module slot, as well as Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 controllers.
Key specifications
- QD-OLED 4K panel
- HDR-10, Dolby vision
- 120Hz 4K, VRR, ALLM
- Audio power: 50W
- Acoustic Surface Audio+
- DTS:X and Dolby Atmos
- IMAX Enhanced
- Modes calibrated for Netflix, Sony Pictures Core and Prime Video
- Google TV, Chromecast, Apple AirPlay
- Sony Pictures Core: 10 movies and 24 months of free streaming
Included accessories
This latest-generation Sony TV comes with two metal feet, to be mounted at either end of the screen using the included screws. It can also be mounted on a VESA 300×300 TV stand (not included). The package also includes a cable cover to clip on once the TV has been connected to the various sources. Finally, two remote controls are included: a standard model and a simplified model.
Test conditions
I tested the Sony 65 BRAVIA 8 II in the auditorium of the Son-Vidéo.com store in Nantes. My first intention was to place it on a NorStone Esse cabinet, which is 110cm wide. But the TV’s feet were spaced too far apart (144.3cm) and couldn’t be adjusted, forcing me to resort to the Erard Lux Up 1400 XL stand.
Once the TV was in place, I connected it to a PlayStation 5 via an AudioQuest Carbon HDMI cable. The AudioQuest PowerQuest 303 power strip provided a stabilized, filtered power supply for both devices. I used an Ethernet cable to connect the TV to the store’s network, in order to access replay and streaming services in the best possible conditions, including Sony Pictures Core and its high-speed 4K content.
Finally, I tested the TV’s S-Center function with the Sony Bravia Theater Quad wireless home theater and Sony SA-SW5 subwoofer.
My impressions of the Sony 65 BRAVIA 8 II
A premium, durable design
The Sony 65 BRAVIA 8 II’s sleek, premium design is characterized by a slim, flush-fitting metal frame with a flawless finish. Its discreet metal feet stabilize the panel perfectly and can be mounted at two different heights, allowing it to be raised if you wish to place a soundbar under the screen.
Unfortunately, unlike the first-generation Bravia 8, this TV doesn’t let you adjust the spacing of the feet. If you’re thinking of buying this TV and putting it on a piece of furniture, you’ll need to take this into account and make sure your piece of furniture is at least 1.5m wide to accommodate this 65″ model.
This SONY 2025 television is also designed to have a limited environmental impact. This is evidenced in particular by the integration of recycled (and recyclable) plastic, called SORPLAS, for the rear of the TV, significantly reducing the use of virgin plastic. This does not prevent the back of this TV from boasting a robust, well-finished appearance.
Extensive but perfectible connectivity
The Sony Bravia 8 II’s connectors are all situated on the rear right-hand side of the TV. This means that cables have to be bent in order to be directed towards the bottom of the screen, and that they have to be a little longer than if the sockets were located directly at the bottom of the chassis.
The presence of four HDMI ports meets current standards, with support for 120Hz 4K, VRR and ALLM, and one features eARC, ensuring compatibility with video game consoles and recent soundbars. However, the limitation to just two HDMI 2.1 ports (the other two being HDMI 2.0) is incomprehensible at a time when the competition almost systematically offers four HDMI 2.1 ports, or even DisplayPort in USB-C. It’s also hard to make do with 120Hz 4K when competing TVs are now capable of natively displaying 4K streams at up to 144Hz, or even 165Hz.
One of this TV’s key features is Sony’s S Center connector, which allows the TV to be used as a center speaker with a compatible Sony home theater system. The TV then broadcasts dialogue directly from the screen, for improved synchronization and voice clarity. All you need to do is connect the S Center output of your soundbar or Sony home theater system to the S Center input on the screen using a mini-jack cable.
Remote control
Sony delivers two remotes with this TV. The first is classic, not to say vintage, as it looks like it’s straight out of the twentieth century! Nostalgic fans will appreciate the numeric keypad and playback control buttons. The latter proved extremely useful for controlling the PS5 in Blu-ray player mode, thanks to the CEC function.
The second is a simplified remote control, more in tune with the times, and more Smart TV-oriented (Home button, voice control button and shortcuts to streaming services).
Unfortunately, neither of them has backlighting, which is rather confusing when you consider that the Sony A95L, first-generation Bravia 8 (XR80) and Bravia 9 (XR90) remote controls do! What’s more, they don’t have a rechargeable battery.
Smart TV features
With Google TV at the helm of this Sony flagship, you benefit from integrated Google Assistant and Chromecast, to which you can add Alexa and Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility. It’s therefore possible to use voice control from any connected device, and stream multimedia content wirelessly from the majority of smartphones on the market.
Thanks to the processor’s power, navigation remains smooth at all times, ensuring simple day-to-day use.
Thanks to the richness of the Google TV app catalog, all streaming services are present. Sony has added its own exclusive service, Sony Pictures Core, offering 10 films and 24 months of streaming to those who purchase this TV. In France, the Sony Pictures Core platform offers a catalog of over 1,000 films, many in IMAX format, ranging from classics(Men In Black, Taxi Driver and 28 Days Later) to more recent productions(Madame Web, Venom: The Last Dance and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire). Film buffs will appreciate the Studio Access section, dedicated to bonus content such as making-ofs and interviews. They’ll also be delighted by the image quality on offer, ranging from Full HD to 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos, the latter being very similar to 4K HDR Blu-ray.
Picture
Bathed in intense natural light, the auditorium of the Son-Vidéo.com store in Nantes is an unforgiving place to test the anti-reflective treatment of TV screens. The Sony fares extremely well, effectively attenuating the effects of ambient light. What’s more, thanks to its wide viewing angles, I was able to enjoy a perfectly legible image, both in front of the TV and to the sides.
With native 4K Blu-ray content, the Bravia 8 II demonstrated extreme precision. Images from the Spears & Munsil test Blu-ray, as well as those from the various films viewed, were ultra-detailed, with the contours of the various elements on screen perfectly outlined. The TV also handled HDR content very well in Dolby Vision and HDR10, with inky blacks and subtly nuanced gradations, particularly in dark areas of the image. Highlights were also subtle, but weren’t on a par with the luminous intensity offered by the LG G5 or Samsung S95F, which climb higher in nits.
Dune slideshow
It’s a pity that HDR10+ is absent, with the TV contenting itself with displaying this format with static HDR10 metadata, which is less accurate.
📝 Expert advice
With the absence of the Filmmaker mode, to obtain the most accurate image possible, I recommend Cinema mode and Professional mode, both of which are very well calibrated. You'll enjoy vivid colors, with excellent brightness, accurate hues and particularly natural skin tones. Ideally, it is best to opt for one of these two calibration modes.
As for the Netflix, Prime Video and Sony Pictures Core streaming platforms, each has its own calibrated picture mode, guaranteeing optimum image quality. On programs offered by Sony Pictures Core, the display was particularly rich and detailed, with intense colors.
Finally, on lower-definition content such as the HD Blu-ray of The Dark Knight, the TV performs superb upscaling. The power of the XR processor with AI ensures outstanding image processing, enabling you to enjoy HD films with a high level of detail, without artifacts or noise on contours and moving images.
Sound
For several years now, Sony has offered Acoustic Surface Audio technology on its OLED TVs (the screen vibrates like a driver to diffuse sound), improving it with each generation. This model features a 2.2-channel version with two stereo actuators supported by two others dedicated specifically to low frequencies. The whole system benefits from 50 watts of amplification.
I was impressed by the excellent stereo spatialization with films and video games. The sound really came out of the screen and followed the picture very precisely, offering an ultra-realistic experience enhanced by the impact and energy of the highly engaging bass. Support for the various Dolby and DTS formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, is also a major asset for enjoying the best soundtracks in all circumstances.
Finally, I was totally convinced by the combination of the TV with the Sony Bravia Theater Quad package and Sony SA-SW5 subwoofer. Set-up and configuration take just a few moments: you simply need to follow the Sony BRAVIA Connect app. Thanks to the Acoustic Center Sync function, the TV supports dialogues and central effects, enhancing their perception. The spatialization offered by the system is highly effective and extremely precise.
Gaming
The Sony 65 Bravia 8 II TV is designed to deliver an optimized gaming experience with the latest video game consoles. To achieve this, it supports 4K at 120Hz, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) via its HDMI 2.1 ports.
The Game menu, accessible directly from the remote control, facilitates real-time adjustments, and the Multi-View mode lets you play while following a tutorial or video. You can also adjust the image size, from 50% to 100%, to suit your field of vision if you’re playing very close to the screen.
Last but not least, the TV offers Game modes adapted to different styles (RTS, FPS), adjusts rendering so you can spot opponents more easily, and efficiently handles HDR as well as Dolby Vision Gaming, offering an immersive and versatile experience for all gamers.
📝 Expert advice
To enjoy full bitrate on the HDMI 3 and 4 ports, you need to unblock them by activating the "Enhanced format (advanced)" option in the "HDMI signal format" menu.
During our review, the PlayStation 5 was immediately detected, automatically switching the TV to Game mode. The latter ensured very satisfactory responsiveness and an absence of afterglow thanks to the almost instantaneous response time of OLED technology, eliminating any ghosting effects. Gameplay was fluid, and the HDR image quality on Gran Turismo 7 was a treat for the eyes.
As for disappointments, I still don’t understand why Sony only offers two HDMI 2.1 ports on this TV. When the HDMI 3 port is used for an eARC-compatible soundbar, only the HDMI 4 port remains to offer full bandwidth. If you have two latest-generation video game consoles, or even a gaming PC, you’ll have to disconnect and reconnect these devices, or use the other HDMI ports, which are limited to 60Hz. This is all the more frustrating given that several competitors now offer four HDMI 2.1 ports on their high-end models.
Sony 65 BRAVIA 8 II compared to the LG OLED65G5
The LG stands out from the Sony with its ultra-bright Tandem OLED panel, offering a brighter image and excellent glare management, ideal for both cinema and gaming. The LG offers superior fluidity thanks to a refresh rate of up to 165Hz, compared to 120Hz for the Sony TV, which will appeal even more to discerning gamers, as it features four HDMI 2.1 ports, while the Sony offers only two.
Regarding audio, both models deliver immersive Dolby Atmos-compatible sound, but the Sony stands out for its S Center function, which is very useful with compatible Sony home theaters. Finally, the LG’s ultra-slim, wall-mounted design outshines the Sony’s elegant but more classic finish.
Sony 65 BRAVIA 8 II compared to the Samsung TQ65S95F
Although they both use a QD-OLED panel, the S95F has the edge when it comes to bright rooms, thanks to its superior brightness and highly effective anti-reflective coating. It also stands out for its four HDMI 2.1 ports, One Connect remote connectivity box (a single cable to the screen) and refresh rate of up to 165Hz, ideal for demanding gamers.
For its part, the Sony Bravia 8 II impresses with its color fidelity and natural rendering, as well as its Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology and S Center function for home theater integration. Unfortunately, it has only two HDMI 2.1 inputs, and these are limited to 120Hz 4K. Finally, the Sony supports Dolby Vision, but not HDR10+, while the Samsung does the opposite.
Who is the Sony 65 BRAVIA 8 II designed for?
The Sony 65 Bravia 8 II is aimed above all at discerning movie lovers looking for a precise image, natural colors and excellent contrast. It’s also ideal for home theater enthusiasts, thanks in particular to the S Center feature and immersive sound that literally comes out of the screen. Gamers will also find something to their liking with 120Hz 4K, VRR and ALLM compatibility, although the limited connectivity to two HDMI 2.1 ports may hold back gamers with multiple pieces of equipment. Finally, its Google TV interface and access to Sony Pictures Core will appeal to fans of streaming content.
FAQ – Sony 65 Bravia 8 II
Excellent! The QD-OLED panel delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors, for a picture that stays true to the director’s intentions. The XR processor optimizes every scene and can even convert older content to near 4K definition. So you can enjoy an impeccable cinematographic picture at home.
Yes, the Bravia 8 II has two HDMI 2.1 inputs supporting 4K at up to 120 frames per second, as well as VRR (variable refresh rate) and ALLM (low-latency auto mode). A dedicated “Game” menu lets you quickly adjust settings, and Multi-View mode lets you play while displaying another source on screen.
The Sony 65 Bravia 8 II uses the Google TV interface, which provides access to major apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Apple TV+ and many others. Sony also includes 10 movies and a 24-month subscription to the Sony Pictures Core service. Google Assistant is integrated, with Chromecast and AirPlay 2 compatibility.
Connectivity is comprehensive: 4 HDMI ports (2 of which are HDMI 2.1), 2 USB ports, an optical audio output, an Ethernet port, and an HDMI eARC output for soundbar. The TV is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth compatible, for easy connection to wireless networks and accessories.
The TV is available in two sizes: 55″ and 65″. To date, no larger versions (77″ or 83″) are available for this series.
QD-OLED combines the advantages of OLED and Quantum Dots. This results in perfect blacks, more vivid colors and better brightness than conventional OLEDs. As a result, the Bravia 8 II displays a higher-contrast, more vivid image, even in broad daylight.
Yes, it supports HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision, ensuring excellent image quality for HDR content. However, it does not support HDR10+, a format used by some streaming services.
The Bravia 8 II offers immersive sound thanks to Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which vibrates the screen to diffuse sound as if it were coming straight out of the picture. Dialogue is clear and well-positioned, and spatialization is convincing. For an even richer experience, especially in home theater, it is ideally paired with the Sony Bravia Theater Quad, a perfectly integrated wireless system that allows the screen to play the role of the center speaker via the S-Center function.
Yes, the Google TV interface is intuitive and smooth. The remote control features buttons for quick access to the main streaming platforms and a microphone for voice control. It’s also possible to control the TV from a smartphone with the Sony Bravia app.
It features an Eco dashboard for monitoring and optimizing power consumption. Sony also uses recycled materials in its design, with more compact packaging. Power consumption remains moderate for an OLED screen of this size.
The Bravia 8 II replaces the classic OLED panel of the first generation with a brighter QD-OLED panel. It also benefits from a more powerful XR processor. These evolutions deliver a sharper, more precise and better contrasted image, particularly in HDR.
Yes, thanks to its brighter QD-OLED panel and good anti-glare coating, the Bravia 8 II displays a legible picture even in bright daylight. The experience is optimal in subdued light, but the TV performs very well in bright surroundings.
