Samsung and LG obtained a headstart on Sony once they introduced their new 2025 TVs a number of months in the past at CES. However now, the latter is catching up with the pending arrival of three new Bravia units, together with a refreshed flagship QD-OLED, a midrange mini LED possibility and an up to date price range various.
Earlier than we get into the precise fashions, it's essential to notice that after revamping the naming scheme for all of its house theater gear final 12 months, Sony isn't doing a full top-to-bottom overhaul of its total lineup for 2025. As an alternative, it's introducing a handful of latest TVs that can exchange previous fashions or slot into some present gaps in its present portfolio. Meaning the Bravia 9 will proceed to be the corporate's top-tier TV, with every part else falling in line below that.
This brings us to the Bravia 8 II, which as you’ll have guessed, is the substitute to the Bravia 8 and might be Sony's most premium QD-OLED TV. Just like the Bravia 9, it options the corporate's XR processor which helps AI scene recognition tech to assist protect particulars in tough scenes. The way in which it really works is that by analyzing your content material, the TV can examine what's being displayed with a reference library of identified backgrounds and patterns to assist fill in any gaps the supply materials could not have totally captured.
I had an opportunity to see this AI trick in particular person and whereas the impact is delicate, it positively makes a distinction throughout pictures with numerous foliage, rocks or different difficult textures. I additionally observed that the Bravia 8 II demonstrated improved tone mapping and far more correct colour gradients, which resulted in additional detailed and real looking pictures, particularly in very brilliant or darkish pictures. And naturally, you get these pretty deep blacks and the wonderful distinction that fashionable QD-OLED panels are identified for.
Transferring down the road, there's the Bravia 5, which neatly fills the void between Sony's present 7 and three sequence TVs. It incorporates a mini LED panel powered by the corporate's Backlight Grasp Drive tech, which delivers diminished digital noise and improved distinction. Essentially the most noticeable instance I noticed of this was the virtually full lack of halos or gentle bleed when viewing brilliant objects on a darkish background. One other essential spec is that the Bravia 5 is on the market in sizes of as much as 98 inches, which makes it one in all Sony's largest TVs (together with the 83-inch flagship Bravia 9).
Lastly we come to the Bravia 2 II, the place the most important change is the shift to full direct lit LED as a substitute of an edge lit panel just like the earlier mannequin. This delivers far more vibrant colours along with considerably wider viewing angles on sizes starting from 43 to 75 inches. Like Sony's different TVs, its OS is powered by Google TV and it contains an upscaler to deliver previous content material as much as 4K. The one main limitation on the Bravia 2 II is that it incorporates a refresh price of simply 60Hz.
Sadly, official pricing and availability for all of Sony's new TV's received't be out there till someday later this spring. So for those who're at present looking for a brand new set, you might wish to maintain off for an additional couple of months.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/house/home-theater/sonys-2025-bravia-tv-lineup-includes-a-new-flagship-qd-oled-model-160019669.html?src=rss
