Compare Sony Bravia 8 II vs Samsung S95H OLED

Picture quality is the defining strength: sharp, dimensional, colorful and cinematic across strong sources, with only bright-room and rival-brightness caveats.

Brilliant HDR highlights, saturated colors, and OLED contrast deliver an exceptionally vivid picture. Some darker scenes need careful mode selection, and daylight can raise black levels.

DTS playback and passthrough are useful for legacy disc collections and make it easier to hand audio off to an external system.

Some multichannel audio sources face channel-count restrictions, and DTS formats cannot pass through the TV.

Console gaming is good overall, especially on PS5, but only two HDMI 2.1 inputs, a 120Hz ceiling and weaker PC-oriented features keep it behind the best gaming TVs.

Very low latency, clean motion, and rich HDR make this one of the strongest gaming TVs available.

HDR is one of the TV’s strengths, with punchy highlights, deep blacks and excellent Dolby Vision rendering, although some presets and bright-room conditions reduce impact.

HDR films and games look rich and dynamic, with powerful highlights and deep contrast. The lack of Dolby Vision and occasional crushed shadows temper the experience.

The Bravia 8 II is at its best with the lights down, where its precision, blacks, HDR punch and cinematic balance become especially convincing.

With lights down, OLED black levels, contrast, and vivid HDR color make this an exceptional cinematic screen.

White balance is a mixed area: some out-of-box settings run too cool or blue, but calibration can bring results very close to reference.

Reference-style picture modes have exceptionally accurate white balance, with only minor errors that calibration can reduce.

Peak brightness is a substantial step up over earlier Sony OLEDs and plenty strong in practice, but LG and Samsung flagships can still reach higher peaks.

Peak luminance is exceptionally high for OLED, making small highlights pop and giving bright content unusual impact. Measurements vary significantly by picture mode and window size.

Contrast is excellent in favorable lighting, combining deep blacks with bright highlights, though the screen coating can reduce perceived contrast in bright rooms.

Pixel-level OLED contrast delivers ink-black backgrounds beside bright objects, particularly in dim rooms.

Bass is punchier and more controlled than on many thin TVs, but deep low-end weight remains limited enough that movie fans may still want a subwoofer or sound system.

Some listeners hear satisfying punch, while others find low bass shallow and lacking cinematic weight.

HDR highlights are vivid, controlled and often spectacular, but the Sony is not the brightest flagship and some modes can push highlights away from reference.

Bright specular highlights give HDR scenes remarkable punch, while intense full-screen scenes can trigger brightness limiting.

Acoustic Surface Audio creates a wide, well-localized presentation that extends beyond the screen, though a full surround system still adds more immersion.

Effects have useful separation and width for TV speakers, though the presentation remains relatively screen-bound.

Full-screen brightness remains a relative OLED weakness, especially beside the brightest rivals, although SDR full-field performance is less limiting than on older OLEDs.

Sustained brightness performs reasonably, although it has limitations that make the experience dependent on settings or usage.

Natural skin tones, nuanced hues and very accurate calibrated results are major strengths; a few measurements find minor white or light-color errors.

Filmmaker modes offer exceptionally faithful colors straight out of the box. Other presets, particularly Game Mode, can need tuning.

Bright-room performance is serviceable and the anti-reflective treatment helps, but strong ambient light can flatten blacks and make brighter rivals more suitable.

Strong brightness and excellent glare suppression help daytime TV look clear, with some loss of contrast in darker scenes.

Processing does a strong job cleaning compression noise and lower-quality sources without making the image look harsh or overly processed.

Compression and low-grade source artifacts are controlled reasonably well, but aggressive smoothing can soften image detail.

Built-in sound is unusually strong for a thin TV—direct, detailed and spacious enough that a soundbar feels optional rather than mandatory for everyday viewing.

The built-in system delivers clear, often surprisingly capable sound. Its bass and immersion cannot fully match the exceptional screen.

Motion is natural and cinematic out of the box, with only slight judder or blur that can usually be reduced without obvious soap-opera artifacts.

Fast action usually looks crisp and fluid, whether in sports, films, or games. Aggressive smoothing can create an unnatural appearance.

Input lag is good enough for most console players, with sub-frame results at 60Hz and 120Hz, though some comparisons find Sony slower than rivals.

Measured input delay is exceptionally low for console and high-refresh PC play, enabling quick reactions.

VRR does not extend below 60Hz, narrowing its usefulness when frame rates fall beneath that threshold.

Variable refresh works reliably over the refresh range and keeps low-frame-rate content from tearing badly.

Only two HDMI 2.1 inputs are provided, and one doubles as eARC, making multi-console plus soundbar setups unnecessarily restrictive.

Four high-bandwidth ports are built in, and the optional Wireless One Connect box can provide four more. That expansion has an added cost.

Formal Nvidia G-SYNC support is inconsistent across descriptions and lacks the clear certification PC gamers may expect, despite usable HDMI VRR.

G-SYNC compatibility improves motion consistency with supported Nvidia graphics sources.

The two-height feet are a simple, useful solution for fitting a soundbar, even if the overall stand design has placement limitations.

The feet hold the TV securely but feel underwhelming and less premium than the flagship frame or predecessor's pedestal.

120Hz gaming can feel smooth and responsive, but the lack of 144Hz or 165Hz support leaves serious PC players better served elsewhere.

The 165Hz capability, instant pixel response, and variable refresh produce crisp fast-paced gaming.

Game mode can be very effective for PS5 use, but Dolby Vision gaming can run too bright and some gaming presets sacrifice natural tone for performance.

Gaming remains fluid and bright, but out-of-box color and gamma can be overprocessed until adjusted.

VRR can deliver very smooth console gameplay, but the 120Hz cap and lack of low-frame-rate VRR below 60Hz limit flexibility for PC use.

VRR reduces tearing across a broad refresh range, with support for common console and PC formats.

Google sign-in can make app credentials easier to manage, but tying the TV to a Google account can be undesirable for people who want less ecosystem integration.

Signing in for basic applications adds friction to an otherwise modern smart-TV experience.

The remote is usable and intuitive, but losing backlighting and rechargeable power feels like a downgrade on a premium TV.

The solar remote is compact and convenient, but several find its plastic construction below flagship expectations.

The remote is comfortable enough, yet the abundance of fixed app buttons makes the layout feel more cluttered than necessary.

A streamlined button layout is easy to learn, though the absence of backlighting and certain shortcuts frustrates some users.

The anti-reflective treatment cuts glare effectively, but direct lamps can still mirror and the coating can contribute to lifted blacks in bright rooms.

Direct glare is suppressed remarkably well, making bright-room viewing easier without visible mirror reflections.

Google TV search is useful but hampered by limited filters and web-style dead ends that make results less focused than they should be.

Content search is convenient for some viewers, while another test found disappointing cross-app search results.

The QD-OLED panel delivers exceptionally wide color coverage, with strong BT.2020 performance and vivid colors that stay controlled rather than cartoonish.

The QD-OLED sizes cover an unusually wide range of colors, with particularly strong performance in vibrant HDR material.

Screen cleanliness is strong, with one direct test praising Sony’s handling of dirty-screen effect.

Little dirty-screen effect keeps broad surfaces and camera pans clean, although very dark gray can show subtle unevenness.

The gaming menu is handy and convenient, putting picture adjustments and assist features within easy reach during play.

The game bar and gaming hub collect useful settings, source information, and cloud gaming shortcuts.

Motionflow handles judder naturally with only mild artifacts, and small adjustments can smooth difficult pans without making movies look artificial.

Most film sources play with correct cadence and little judder, although a few unusual signal conversions can still show uneven motion.

Reflections are handled well overall and rarely distract, though direct lights remain visible and the coating’s effect on blacks is a tradeoff.

The matte Glare Free surface virtually eliminates mirror-like reflections from lamps and windows.

OLED pixel response is effectively instantaneous, keeping motion clean and ghosting minimal for games and video.

Nearly instantaneous pixel response keeps fast-moving game objects sharp with minimal trailing.

Banding is generally very well controlled, with several tests finding none at all, although faint banding can still appear in very dark tones.

The panel largely avoids distracting color banding, with smooth transitions through difficult shades.

Sony’s XR processing is repeatedly singled out as class-leading, producing clean, natural, dimensional images and especially strong low-quality-source cleanup.

Image processing performs reasonably, although it has limitations that make the experience dependent on settings or usage.

Off-axis image quality is excellent, with strong color and luminance retention across wide seating positions, though one source found the glossy screen less forgiving.

Colors and contrast stay exceptionally consistent from off-center seats, making wider seating layouts practical.

Gradients and dark shading are usually excellent, with smooth tonal transitions and strong near-black detail; the gradation control itself does not always make a large difference.

Subtle color transitions are usually smooth with barely noticeable banding, even in demanding skies or dark gradients.

Per-pixel OLED lighting keeps blooming and haloing essentially absent, preserving clean separation around bright objects on dark backgrounds.

Individually lit pixels prevent halos around subtitles, stars, and other bright shapes against black backgrounds.

Cable routing is not ideal because the power lead sits away from the other connections, making a clean installation less convenient.

Rear grooves and optional wireless connections help conceal cables, though some routes still expose wires around the stand.

Sony’s interpolation is unusually subtle, smoothing pans while preserving a cinematic look better than many aggressive motion systems.

Smoothing can make lower-frame-rate motion more fluid, but it does not fully remove OLED stutter and may look artificial when set high.

24fps stutter is present but well managed, and modest smoothing can reduce it without adding a heavy soap-opera effect.

Quick OLED pixel changes make low-frame-rate panning stutter more visible, and interpolation only partially helps.

Voices are clear, full and closely anchored to the on-screen action, with Voice Zoom adding extra intelligibility when backgrounds get busy.

Voices are easy to follow, even in busy scenes, and adjustment tools can help keep speech above effects.

Automatic low-latency behavior contributes to responsive, smooth gameplay without requiring manual mode switching.

Automatic switching into low-latency gaming settings avoids extra menu work.

Low frequencies are generally controlled, but high volume can introduce treble hardness, fuzz, buzzing or outright distortion.

The speakers remain controlled at typical levels, with some compression when pushed to maximum output.

Fine white text can reveal QD-OLED color fringing, making the panel less suitable as a close-range desktop monitor.

Text may show faint color fringing or softness because of the QD-OLED subpixel structure and matte finish, especially up close.

Wall mounting works, but the low screw placement can leave the TV sitting higher than expected on an existing mount.

The frame makes the most visual sense mounted close to a wall, although mounting hardware and setup expectations vary.

Sony’s presets are unusually accurate and easy to use, while deeper picture controls still leave room for enthusiasts to fine-tune the image.

Calibration is accessible and effective, although accurate factory presets leave relatively little correction necessary.

Near-black and shadow detail are exceptional, preserving texture and subtle information that many OLEDs crush or wash out.

Shadow details are often impressive, especially in carefully chosen modes, but some dark movies show black crush or require picture adjustments.

Bright saturated colors are a standout, giving HDR highlights and bold hues unusual intensity while retaining Sony’s restrained tuning.

Bright saturated colors are a standout advantage, making sunsets, vivid costumes, and colorful games more lifelike than many WOLED rivals.

Fast sports and movement stay crisp with little blur, reinforcing Sony’s long-standing strength in motion resolution.

Rapid movement is exceptionally clear at high refresh rates, with very little blur from pixel transitions.

Google TV runs smoothly, but its overly zealous advertising is a recurring annoyance in an otherwise polished smart-TV experience.

Tizen advertisements and Samsung TV Plus autoplay are recurring annoyances, and not all promotions can be disabled.

The metal feet hold the panel securely and can raise it cleanly for a soundbar.

The included feet keep the screen adequately supported despite their lightweight construction.

Upscaling is among the TV’s strongest processing talents, making SD and HD material look cleaner, sharper and more detailed without excessive artifacts.

HD and lower-resolution programs gain convincing sharpness without much oversharpening. The best competitors may still extract slightly more from poor-quality feeds.

Overall reactions are highly positive, with the TV repeatedly described as excellent or close to the best, even when price and feature omissions temper enthusiasm.

The S95H earns broad praise for its flagship-level image and gaming capabilities. Its unconventional look and high price make it less universally appealing.

OLED blacks are usually deep and convincing, especially in controlled light, but ambient light can lift them toward grey on the QD-OLED surface.

Blacks look beautifully deep in darkness, but ambient light can raise the black floor and give shadowy images a gray or magenta cast.

DVD, 720p and 1080p material is usually cleaned up impressively, though the TV cannot completely hide weak-source artifacts and some rivals extract a little more detail.

Older programs, HD broadcasts, and standard-definition material remain comfortably watchable thanks to effective upscaling and cleanup.

The feet sit at the outer edges, forcing owners to use furniture nearly as wide as the TV and making narrow cabinets a poor fit.

Wide-set feet may require a larger media console, making wall installation the more natural fit.

Built-in audio can reach room-filling levels and sounds more dynamic than most thin TVs, making it viable without a soundbar in many rooms.

Maximum loudness is ample for ordinary living rooms, though top volume can introduce compression.

Panel uniformity is consistently strong, with clean grayscale performance and little visible variation across the screen.

Bright scenes generally look clean with little dirty-screen effect, though darker near-black material can expose vertical bands on some panels.

Wireless connectivity is presented as part of an otherwise strong connection suite and is capable enough for typical streaming use.

An extended test encountered a weaker Wi-Fi connection than on competing TVs, despite otherwise strong connected features.

The Bravia Connect app can make adjustments easy, but connection failures and occasional SDR playback from built-in streaming apps undermine consistency.

Apps usually launch quickly, but at least one extended test exposed occasional OS freezes.

Google Home integration extends the TV beyond streaming, giving it useful smart-home control from the same interface.

SmartThings integration and connected-home support offer useful extras beyond ordinary streaming.

Long-term Google platform updates add value, even if the interface itself could use more intelligence today.

A promised seven years of Tizen support adds confidence that the platform will receive improvements and new features.

Google TV is usually smooth, responsive and fluid, though one assessment still found it reliable rather than genuinely fast.

Menus and app navigation usually feel snappy, although one owner experienced temporary freezes.

The Google TV app catalog is a major strength, with no significant omissions and strong support for major services and UK catch-up apps.

Most major streaming services are available, although local or regional apps can vary.

Menus are generally easy to navigate, but some deeper settings can feel slower and less responsive than the best rival interfaces.

The revised layout and quick settings respond rapidly, making common adjustments less cumbersome.

DTS support is a useful differentiator for disc libraries and is welcomed alongside Dolby Atmos compatibility.

Missing DTS playback and passthrough limits compatibility with some Blu-ray audio tracks, especially for elaborate home-theater systems.

HDR10+ is not supported, a genuine format omission for services or sources that rely on it.

HDR10+ gives compatible content dynamic HDR handling, but it does not resolve the missing Dolby Vision option.

There is no formal AMD FreeSync certification, reducing the TV’s appeal for PC gamers even though standard HDMI VRR works.

FreeSync integration makes supported PCs and consoles smoother, with less tearing and fewer distractions.

Dolby Vision content looks especially accurate, detailed and vibrant, making the format one of the TV’s strongest viewing modes.

Dolby Vision remains unavailable, a repeated frustration for premium-TV shoppers and physical-media fans despite the television's strong HDR10+ picture.

4K gaming is enjoyable at 120Hz and benefits from Sony’s console-focused features, though Dolby Vision gaming and the refresh ceiling bring some tradeoffs.

Sharp 4K gaming benefits from rapid response and rich HDR color, including up to 165Hz output from a capable PC.

The premium price is difficult to ignore, but strong picture, sound and processing make the cost easier to justify for cinema-focused buyers, especially after discounts.

Picture quality and gaming features support a premium price, but steep cost and the strong older S95F make value debatable.

Initial setup is generally quick and straightforward, from physical installation to Google TV configuration, though some steps still require switching between interfaces.

Directly integrated ports reduce dependence on an external connection box, although concealed connectors can complicate later changes.

The slim-bezel, minimalist One Slate design looks refined and premium without being flashy, with a finish that suits wall mounting or a modern room.

The floating metal border looks striking on a wall yet divisive on a stand; the extra width and unconventional aesthetic are not for everyone.

The chassis, metal frame and finish feel appropriately premium, with solid construction matching the TV’s flagship positioning.

Construction is solid and feels premium overall, even if the feet and remote seem modest compared with the display.

The ultra-thin bezel helps the screen look chic and minimal without drawing attention away from the image.

The wide frame adds visual presence and physical width, which can become a drawback in tighter spaces.

A frustrating HDMI/HDR hardware hiccup required a power cycle, introducing a small but real reliability concern despite otherwise normal operation.

4K/120Hz works well for console play and can look excellent, but 120Hz is also the ceiling rather than a cutting-edge refresh target.

There is no 144Hz or 165Hz mode, a clear limitation for PC players comparing the Sony with faster premium rivals.

AirPlay is a useful part of the TV’s broad wireless streaming toolkit and gives Apple-device owners an easy local playback option.

A limited free art selection is handy, but a monthly fee is needed for the much larger premium gallery.

Casting is a useful strength thanks to Chromecast and AirPlay, covering both Android/Google and Apple households.

Built-in Chromecast adds convenient local streaming and complements the TV’s strong Google TV integration.

Built-in cloud gaming options make playing possible without connecting a conventional console.

Dolby Atmos is a welcome part of the audio package and pairs well with the TV’s screen-based sound presentation.

The available HDMI 2.1 ports provide the expected high-bandwidth gaming features, but limiting full bandwidth to two inputs is a persistent flagship-level complaint.

Core HDR formats are well covered, but the absence of HDR10+ means those sources fall back to static HDR10 metadata.

Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones and TV or external speakers are unusually practical, especially when two viewers need different volume levels.

ATSC 3.0 support is a useful broadcast advantage, especially because some competing premium TVs omit next-generation over-the-air tuning.

Wall installation suits the design, but buyers should check whether the appropriate bracket is included locally or sold separately.

The warranty is described as somewhat anemic for a premium television.

Voice Zoom can lift dialogue out of busy mixes, and simultaneous Bluetooth headphone plus speaker output is especially useful when viewers need different listening levels.

Some automated picture settings rescue dark content, but others look artificial or overly processed.

Soccer mode can add ball detail, clearer commentary, and crowd spaciousness, though effects can be less natural than standard picture modes.

Google Photos screen savers are a genuinely liked ambient feature, turning idle-screen time into a more personal display experience.

The Art Store offers a substantial collection, though most of it requires a paid subscription.

Automatic HDR remastering makes standard content brighter, but it can introduce an artificial look.

Black-frame insertion has a narrow 60Hz operating range and leaves some residual blur, limiting its appeal.

Near-black vertical banding is a notable concern on the tested sample, despite otherwise pristine OLED blacks.

Mixed-content viewing should be relatively manageable, but prolonged static interfaces carry meaningful permanent burn-in risk.

The color boost tool adds punch for viewers who enjoy a more saturated presentation.

The QD-OLED subpixel layout can create a red or colored fringe on sharp high-contrast edges, especially visible around fine text and small bright details.

Google TV recommendations are usable but not especially personal; suggestions can lean generic or surface services the viewer does not use.

Power consumption is a weak point, with the Bravia 8 II drawing significantly more energy than the LG G5 in both SDR and HDR testing.

The wired Ethernet connection is limited by a 100Mbps-class port, which can actually be slower than the TV’s Wi-Fi for very high-bitrate streaming.

Samsung TV Plus supplies a broad range of free channels, though unwanted autoplay can interrupt menu use.

Added interpolation can smooth lower-frame-rate play, but it introduces a responsiveness tradeoff.

Frame smoothing may help slower games, but extra latency makes the option less appealing to sensitive players.

Side-facing connectors stay hidden when mounted, but their recessed position can make swapping cables awkward.

Bright reflections and other specular details are preserved with impressive intensity; tone mapping can keep subtle highlights visible alongside dark scenes.

Skin tones, sunsets, and fine HDR textures can look exceptionally lifelike without needing exaggerated processing.

The basic feet are supplied, but a flush-mount bracket may require another purchase depending on the package.

On a 77-inch display, rich contrast and fine textures help create a compelling, theater-like picture.

Fast motion shows very little ghosting or transition smearing, though the occasional busy scene can expose minor artifacts.

The glossy QD-OLED panel is widely viewed as a high-end choice, delivering excellent picture quality with only a few characteristic subpixel and ambient-light tradeoffs.

The 120Hz refresh rate is perfectly workable for consoles but looks conservative beside premium TVs offering 144Hz or 165Hz.

Simple controls suit everyday viewing; missing backlighting or dedicated buttons can make late-night operation harder.

Button tactility is good and navigation works well, even if the infrared receiver can be a little sensitive.

The matte finish removes sharp reflections but can spread ambient light, elevate blacks, and look a little grainy to close or critical viewers.

Integrated speakers perform well for a thin OLED, with good clarity and reasonable volume.

The feet attach easily, and simpler built-in inputs remove one part of the installation process.

AI features can answer questions and suggest content, but their everyday utility divides opinion and may feel gimmicky.

The flat rear and mounting-oriented design can make the screen look like floating wall art.

The optional wireless box can simplify cabling and double the HDMI input count, though it costs extra and may add lag on those connections.

Adaptive audio settings can clarify dialogue or broaden the sound, but some settings make dynamics seem compressed.

Art Mode makes the OLED serve as an artwork display when unused, aided by a matte coating that reduces the television look.

Screen-based audio can track the picture extremely closely, though one source encountered a noticeable YouTube audio-sync problem.

Eco and adaptive brightness settings can alter the picture differently between presets, so owners may need to adjust each mode separately.

QD-OLED is a major part of the appeal, combining OLED black control with unusually strong color and brightness performance.

The picture is strongly oriented toward natural, reference-style reproduction, with especially accurate HDR and calibrated modes despite some criticism of Sony’s calibration targets.

Textures and fine details look crisp and convincing, particularly with high-quality 4K sources.

Filmmaker and Movie modes offer strong starting points, while motion and game settings may require personal adjustment.

Compatible Samsung soundbars can work alongside TV speakers for a larger presentation, at extra cost.

Standard dynamic range content looks polished and detailed, helped by good processing, although brightness varies with picture preset.

Object placement and height effects are effective in some scenes, but a full speaker system offers more convincing immersion.

Bluetooth audio is unusually flexible, including virtually lag-free accessory use and simultaneous headphone plus speaker playback.

Bluetooth 5.3 is described as fast enough for virtually lag-free headphones and gaming accessories.

The bold metallic border is fixed rather than a freely interchangeable frame, limiting how much the appearance can be personalized.

Accurate modes track creative brightness intent closely and preserve fine detail. Some processing options increase impact at the expense of accuracy.

A physical microphone control and the option to use voice commands only from the remote provide a welcome way to limit always-listening behavior.

Google TV is broadly liked for its app depth and familiar layout, though it can be buggy, ad-heavy and less polished than the slickest alternatives.

The refreshed Tizen interface is generally quick and capable, but ads, autoplay content, and occasional app issues detract from the experience.

Major streaming and catch-up services are well supported, with the Google TV catalog leaving few meaningful gaps.

Sony’s tone mapping is generally excellent and natural, preserving highlight detail and PS5 compatibility, though a few sources note mapping errors or less impactful choices.

Hands-free Google Assistant is a useful platform advantage and broadens control beyond the remote.

Panel technology and regional model versions are not uniform, so the name alone is not enough to predict the exact display or presentation.

The partially detachable power cable is useful, but the plug arrangement is less wall-mount-friendly than it could be.

The substantial silver frame gives the TV an art-gallery look, but some find it distracting or prefer a near-invisible bezel.

The 55- and 65-inch-only range is one of the TV’s clearest limitations, especially for buyers wanting a 77-inch or larger flagship OLED.

Solar and USB-C charging spare frequent disposable battery changes and make daily operation convenient.