If you want better HDMI 2.1 port count
Choose Hisense U75QG. It scores 5.0 vs 1.9 for HDMI 2.1 port count, with a 4.0 overall score.
Sony Bravia 8 II TV Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for reference-like movies, superb processing and unusually good built-in sound. Skip it if you need four HDMI 2.1 ports, 144Hz-plus PC gaming, a 77-inch size, or the strongest bright-room blacks.
Best for
Movie-first buyers who value natural color, shadow detail, Sony processing, Dolby Vision and unusually capable built-in audio will get the most from it, especially in controlled lighting.
Not for
It is a weaker fit for bright-room-first viewing, 144Hz-plus PC gaming, multi-console setups needing four HDMI 2.1 inputs, or buyers who want a 77-inch-plus screen.
Verdict
The Bravia 8 II is built around refinement rather than spectacle. Its QD-OLED panel, Sony XR processing, excellent shadow detail, natural color and strong motion handling produce a consistently cinematic image, while Acoustic Surface Audio+ delivers unusually direct, spacious built-in sound. It is especially convincing in dim rooms and with high-quality HDR sources. The tradeoffs are practical: only two HDMI 2.1 ports, a 120Hz ceiling, wide-set feet, just 55- and 65-inch sizes, and a premium price. Bright-room blacks can also lift, and peak/full-screen brightness trails some flagship rivals. For movie-first buyers who value accuracy and processing over maximum specs, its strengths are unusually coherent.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
112 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.023 (21%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.460 (54%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.413 (12%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.416 (14%)
Pros highlights
-
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.
-
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.
-
Picture quality is the defining strength: sharp, dimensional, colorful and cinematic across strong sources, with only bright-room and rival-brightness caveats.
-
Sony’s XR processing is repeatedly singled out as class-leading, producing clean, natural, dimensional images and especially strong low-quality-source cleanup.
-
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.
-
Natural skin tones, nuanced hues and very accurate calibrated results are major strengths; a few measurements find minor white or light-color errors.
Cons highlights
-
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.
-
Only two HDMI 2.1 inputs are provided, and one doubles as eARC, making multi-console plus soundbar setups unnecessarily restrictive.
-
The remote is usable and intuitive, but losing backlighting and rechargeable power feels like a downgrade on a premium TV.
-
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.
-
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.
-
120Hz gaming can feel smooth and responsive, but the lack of 144Hz or 165Hz support leaves serious PC players better served elsewhere.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other TVs, this product is above average in privacy controls, tuner support, audio passthrough, near average in color accuracy, picture quality, below average in VRR range, HDMI 2.1 support, FreeSync support.
Comparison summary
110 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher32 (29%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts44 (40%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower34 (31%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VRR range | 1.5 | 4.6 | -3.1 |
| HDMI 2.1 support | 2.0 | 4.7 | -2.7 |
| FreeSync support | 2.3 | 4.6 | -2.4 |
| HDMI 2.1 port count | 1.9 | 4.0 | -2.2 |
| HDR format support | 2.0 | 4.2 | -2.2 |
| G-SYNC compatibility | 2.3 | 4.3 | -2.0 |
| HDR10+ support | 1.7 | 3.6 | -1.9 |
| size options | 2.3 | 4.1 | -1.8 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better HDMI 2.1 support
Choose LG G6. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for HDMI 2.1 support, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better VRR range
Choose LG C6. It scores 5.0 vs 1.5 for VRR range, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better stand width
Choose Sony Bravia 7 II. It scores 5.0 vs 2.2 for stand width, with a 4.2 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: whole-screen brightness The Bravia 8 II reduces full-screen luminance where the Bravia 9 II can maintain much stronger brightness.
LG G5
- More expensive: launch price The 65-inch Bravia 8 II launched below the stated 65-inch LG G5 price in this comparison.
- Worse: Dolby Vision perceived brightness Side by side in Dolby Vision, the Sony was judged perceptually brighter than the LG G5.
A95L
- Worse: peak brightness Measured peak brightness is higher on the Bravia 8 II than on the A95L.
FAQ
Is the Sony Bravia 8 II best for movies?
Yes. Its strongest pattern is cinematic accuracy: natural color, excellent shadow detail, strong motion handling and refined HDR, especially in dimmer rooms.
Is it a good gaming TV?
It is good for console gaming and especially PS5 use, with 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM and gaming controls. Serious PC gamers may prefer rivals with 144Hz or 165Hz support and four HDMI 2.1 ports.
How many HDMI 2.1 ports does it have?
Two of the four HDMI inputs provide full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and one of those also serves as eARC. That can be restrictive with a soundbar and multiple high-end gaming devices.
How does it perform in bright rooms?
The anti-reflective treatment helps, but strong ambient light can lift blacks and reduce contrast. Several brighter flagship rivals hold up better in very bright rooms.
Does it need a soundbar?
Not necessarily for everyday viewing. Acoustic Surface Audio+ is unusually direct and spacious for built-in TV sound, though deeper bass and a full theatrical presentation still benefit from external audio.
What are its main size limitations?
The Bravia 8 II is limited to 55- and 65-inch sizes in the supplied material, making it unsuitable for buyers specifically seeking a 77-inch or larger version.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - JS Florida Reviews
- Review score
- 4.0
YouTube - ShortCircuit
- Review score
- 3.3
Article Reviews
gizmodo.com
For a limited time, you can save nearly 25% when you get the Sony Bravia 8 II QD OLED TV at Amazon.
- Review score
- 4.0
whathifi.com
Sony's new flagship True RGB TV takes on its awesome QD-OLED model
- Review score
- 4.4
whathifi.com
Save £800 and bag yourself a TV you'll never regret buying
- Review score
- 4.3
trustedreviews.com
From a picture point of view, the Bravia 8 II is Sony’s best TV to date, delivering a dazzling image performance
- Review score
- 3.3
theverge.com
The Sony Bravia 8 II delivers an incredible image with Sony’s excellent picture processing. It’s not as bright as the LG G5, but it’s the TV...
- Review score
- 4.2
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