Sony Unveils Bravia 8 II QD-OLED TV: Delivering Theater-Level Home Viewing
Sony, a company with a long history of television innovation, has introduced the Bravia 8 II, its latest QD-OLED TV model. This new model aims to deliver a theater-level performance for home viewing, aligning with Sony's 'Cinema is coming home' tagline.
Released in June 2025, the Bravia 8 II has already garnered significant acclaim. It has been praised for its deep blacks, detailed shadows, superior processing, and realistic picture quality.
The Bravia 8 II was recognized as the 'King of TV' at the Value Electronics’ 2025 TV Shootout.
Enhanced Performance and Picture Quality
The Bravia 8 II offers improved brightness compared to its predecessor, the A95L, and features stellar image processing that enhances lower-quality content. Operating on Google TV, its operating system is also noted as a benefit over competitors.
While its blacks are deep and inky, the TV's out-of-the-box color accuracy is slightly less perfect than the A95L. Minor issues, such as a slight blue tint in HDR grayscale and colors, are primarily noticeable to TV enthusiasts. Crucially, these issues are correctable through professional calibration, which significantly enhances the overall image quality.
Despite these minor points, the TV's overall performance is highly regarded, consistently impressing reviewers.
Specifications and Design
- Display Type: QD-OLED
- Available Sizes: 55 and 65 inches
- MSRP: $2,599.99 (55-inch), $3,299.99 (65-inch)
- HDR Formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
- Operating System: Google TV
- HDMI Inputs: Four total, including two HDMI 2.1 ports (one of which is eARC/ARC compatible).
- Gaming Features: Supports 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM.
The TV features a two-position stand design, allowing for soundbar placement beneath the screen.
QD-OLED Panel Characteristics
The Bravia 8 II exhibits minor, inherent QD-OLED panel characteristics. These include slight raised blacks with a purplish tint due to the lack of a polarizing filter, and subtle color fringing from its triangular pixel structure. It's notable that these effects are less pronounced than in earlier QD-OLED generations, indicating ongoing advancements.
Brightness Performance
While OLED brightness has improved significantly, the Bravia 8 II showcases this progress with impressive figures:
- HDR Brightness: It registers 1,590 nits in HDR from a 10% window, peaking at an impressive 1,884 nits for smaller highlights. Full-screen white measures 239 nits.
- SDR Brightness: In SDR, with Peak Luminance on High, it reaches 540 nits.
- For dark room viewing with default SDR Professional settings, the TV maintains a reference-level brightness of 100-107 nits.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Overall, the Sony Bravia 8 II is highly recommended for its engaging picture quality. Reviewers consistently express significant satisfaction during use.
"The Bravia 8 II's performance is consistently impressive, offering an engaging picture quality that leaves reviewers highly satisfied."
While some alternatives exist—such as the A95L for superior out-of-box color accuracy or the LG G5 for brighter room conditions—the Bravia 8 II's overall performance makes it a top-tier contender for home viewing experiences.