First look: Sony dazzles with new QD-OLED and Mini LED TVs

Sony aims to dazzle with its 2023 BRAVIA TV line-up, with the introduction of a new QD-OLED flagship said to be twice as bright as its predecessor, and a raft of LED models that include more local dimming zones and improved picture processing.

The X95L Mini LED, X90L Full Array LED, A95L QD-OLED, and A80L OLED utilise the latest iteration of Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR coupled with all-new XR Clear Image technology, which sets out to improve noise reduction and clarity with motion.

On the brand’s Mini LED and Full Array LED models, Cognitive Processor XR promises better backlight control over an increased local dimming zones - Sony isn’t specifying just how many zones are now being deployed), increased brightness, and decreased blooming.

These sets are also equipped with Acoustic Center Sync, which synchronises the TV's audio system with the centre channel of a compatible Sony soundbar, enhancing dialogue clarity and sense of sonic presence. Inside CI had an early demo of this feature and it does indeed make a significant difference.

Each model also works with Sony soundbars to offer 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, generating phantom speakers and sound field optimisation, for greater immersion.

The A95L QD-OLED model ships in 55-, 65- and 77-inch screen sizes, and thanks to the latest Quantum Dot OLED panel design, is rated as twice as bright as last year’s A95K.

It’s supported by the A80L OLED, available in 55-, 65-, 77-, and 83-inch screen sizes.

The big surprise in the line-up is the X95L, a stunning 4k Mini LED model, Available in 65-, 75- and 85-inch screen sizes, it offers superb contrast and OLED style blacks, courtesy of XR Backlight Master Drive technology. It’s also very tolerant of placement, thanks to X-Anti Reflection and X-Wide Angle panel treatments. Having seen it in full flight, we think it would make a superb media room screen.

It’s joined in the Sony fleet by the X90L is a 4K HDR Full Array LED screen, available in 55-, 65-, 75-, 85- and 98-inch screen sizes. Sony says this TV is 30 per cent brighter than last year’s X90K.

The 2023 line-up is completed by the X85L, a 4K HDR Full Array LED set, in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch screen sizes; the X80L, a 4K HDR edge-lit LED model, in 43-, 50-, 55-, 65-, 75-, and 85-inch sizes, and the X75WL, a 4K HDR LED TV 43-, 50-, 55-, 65-, and 75-inch screen sizes

Sony is going hard after gamers this year, having lagged behind rivals LG and Samsung in this area. Certain to make a splash is a dedicated Game Menu interface, which gathers game-centric settings in one place. These include a Black Equalizer which increases the brightness in dark areas, and custom screen size adjustment, which shrinks the video output from a console down to a smaller window so that gamers can more easily scan the game area.

The A95L QD-OLED TV also features Multi-View, so gamers can play along to Twitch and YouTube streams.

It should be noted though that sets which support 4k 120HZ only do so on two of the four HDMI inputs. UK prices have yet to be announced.