Sony 2023 TV lineup: Features of the new models

Sony has unveiled its 2023 TV lineup, which includes OLEDs, mini-LEDs and 4K LEDs. Surprisingly, the Japanese company will not be launching an 8K model this year, but will continue to work on last year’s Z9K.

Among the most important new models is the launch of the A95L series with QD OLED technology, which Sony claims will achieve up to 200% more brightness than the A95K in its second generation.

On the other hand, the number of local dimming zones on the X95L and X90L series has been increased. We do not yet know the exact number, but it seems to be more than last year. Another new feature is that the X85L series is now Full Array. Remember that the first Full Array series was always the X90, but this year it will be the X85L, although it is expected to have a much reduced number of local dimming zones.

Sony divides its TV range into XR models, those with the Cognitive Image Processor and those without. It also calls its premium range the ‘Master Series’ to emphasise that these are the company’s most advanced models. This year there is only one Master Series, the A95L, although the 2022 48A9 and Z9K Master Series models will remain on sale this year.

Sony BRAVIA XR 2023 Sony BRAVIA TV Range

Below, we take a look at the main features of the new Sony 2023 TV lineup.

Before going into detail on the features of each model, we would like to review the main features of the Sony BRAVIA 2023 TVs.

The high-end BRAVIA XR 2023 BRAVIA XR 2023 maintains the Cognitive XR processor, for the best home theater experience and a very natural picture with excellent scaling. The X95L Mini LED, X90L Full Array, A95L QD-OLED and A80L OLED models feature this cognitive XR processor.

The revamped cognitive processor with new XR Clear Image technology improves noise reduction and motion sharpness, reducing blur and creating action-packed scenes. The XR Cognitive Processor enables enhanced backlight control to increase local dimming zones, increasing brightness and reducing halo effect.

In addition, each of the models features Acoustic Center Sync, which synchronizes the TV’s audio system with the center channel of a compatible Sony soundbar, making it the center speaker for the best and most immersive home theater experience. Specifically, Sony sound devices compatible with this feature are: the HT-A9 speaker system and the HT-A7000, HT-A5000 and HT-A3000 soundbars.

For those users who are looking for a greater sound experience, each of the models also works with Sony sound bars to offer 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, which creates virtual speakers and an optimized sound field.

At the same time, by calibrating the sound for the chosen viewing room, this technology creates multiple virtual speakers optimally arranged to achieve the widest and most immersive cinematic sound field possible

Sony Acoustic Surface Sound System

New this year, the X95L’s Acoustic Multi-Audio+ feature elevates the sound to match the image on the screen. The A95L and A80L models feature Acoustic Surface Audio+ with actuators that vibrate to produce sound from all over the screen, perfectly matching what is being displayed.

On the other hand, the Voice Zoom 2 function detects voices, analyzes them and improves their clarity. Thanks to enhanced filtering, ambient elements are attenuated so you can hear even the faintest dialogue clearly.

Voice Zoom for improved dialog listening

The BRAVIA XR 2023 BRAVIA XR range also allows gamers to take their PlayStation 5 gaming to another level, with exclusive features including Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode to optimize picture quality while gaming and streaming.

Another included feature is an easy-to-use Game Menu, where gamers can tailor their settings to their preferences, such as enabling or disabling VRR or Motion Blur Reduction with quick access.

The Game Menu also allows users to increase brightness in dark areas to locate opponents and objects easily with Black Equalizer, and thus easily get the upper hand on opponents with six types of crosshairs. New this year is the ability to customize the screen size with the Screen Size function, to concentrate the game with a smaller, more focused screen.

The A95L model now features Multi-View, a function that allows you to view two contents at the same time. This way, you can view solutions and game guides on one side of the screen, while the other side of the screen plays your favorite titles.

BRAVIA Core is a pre-installed movie app that includes 5, 10 or 15 movie credits to watch the latest releases and popular classics, and up to 24 months of unlimited streaming of additional movies with the purchase of a BRAVIA XR TV.

Featuring BRAVIA XR technology, Pure Stream and the IMAX Enhanced format, content arrives with stunning visuals and expressive sound quality. With BRAVIA CORE Calibrated Mode, movies will automatically adjust to the optimal picture settings including IMAX Enhanced mode to create an exceptional home viewing experience. Over time, the app experience will be enhanced with new features.

As a detail comment that to get the highest quality with BRAVIA Core you need to connect the TV via Wi-Fi and not by Ethernet cable. This is so, because to see the contents in maximum quality at a bit rate of 80 Mbps, you need a connection of at least 115 Mbps and as with all televisions, the limit for LAN cable is a connection of 100 Mbps. By Wi-Fi instead, you do not have this limitation, so to enjoy the maximum quality at 80 Mbps you need to connect it to a Wi-Fi network of at least those 115 Mbps.

“Sony’s new BRAVIA TVs are made to entertain – whether you’re a sports lover, movie fan or gamer, BRAVIA is the best choice. The new models unequivocally deliver on our vision and bring together decades of Sony’s expertise in the TV, movie and gaming industry.”

Masashi Takiguchi, current president of Pan-European Home Entertainment and Sound and incoming president of Sony Europe

New Sony Bravia XR OLED 2023 Sony Bravia XR OLED TV range

For this year, the OLED range is reduced to two models: A95L and A80L, although the A9 series is going to continue to be worked on in the 42 and 48 inches. At the moment, a series to replace the A75K series has not been confirmed, so this model is likely to remain available for a while longer.

Sony A95L QD-OLED Master Series 2023

Sony’s top of the range for this 2023 is the A95L, which mounts a QD-OLED panel with Quantum Dots printed on the subpixels that acts as a color converter. The difference with conventional WOLED TVs is that it does not use color filters or white subpixels. This means that no brightness is lost with the filters and it is not necessary to add the white subpixel to recover that brightness. It also uses a three-layer blue OLED system to improve the durability of the blue component, which is the most delicate in OLED TVs.

This QD-OLED panel is manufactured by Samsung Display and as in the Korean manufacturer’s S95C series, this A95L integrates a 2nd generation QD-OLED panel that emits a higher brightness, reaching up to 2000 nits in certain circumstances.

The advantage that this A95L has unlike the Samsung, is that it has a heat sink consisting of a metal sheet that is placed on the back. This sheet helps the heat generation is lower and therefore, the TV has to force less the transistor and can generate more brightness.

QD-OLED panel with heat sink and temperature sensor for Sony A95L

To all this, the XR processor, is responsible for mapping the heat distribution which acts as a temperature sensor to adjust the light more precisely and emit more light where needed.

Of note, the A95L sports the Astra Glass coating we saw last year that reduces reflections to a minimum. At the same time, the viewing angle is perfect and looks exactly the same from both the front and the side.

Sony A95L QD-OLED Anti-glare Filter

The processor it carries is the cognitive XR that as we have already seen in previous models offers an image with a wide dynamic contrast, deep blacks, high brightness and very natural colors. This processor makes an almost perfect noise reduction and a great rescaling in addition to highlighting for its management of moving images to avoid blurred images.

For gamers, it has advanced features such as Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Image Mode for optimized image quality while gaming and streaming.

As leading seeing on Samsung and LG, Sony now has Game Menu, where you can quickly control game picture settings and help functions from a single interface. It has two HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR and ALLM.

The sound system is the so-called Acoustic Surface, which consists of adding actuators behind the panel to make it vibrate and emit sound directly from the screen.

As in the last two years, the operating system is Google TV and incorporates the BRAVIA Core platform to enjoy streaming movies in high quality 4K UHD and IMAX Enhanced.

As for the sizes available to the 55-inch and 65-inch, a new 77-inch is now added. On the 77″ diagonal it has a 3-position stand that lets you choose between a standard setting with which you can focus on the picture, a narrow setting for smaller shelves and a soundbar setting for perfect placement of the sound system.

Sony A80L – A83L – A84L Bravia XR OLED 2023

The other OLED model presented is the A80L, which stops using a QD-OLED panel and carries a WOLED panel. In principle, it carries an evo OLED panel like last year, so it would not use the META OLED panel like the A80L. new LG G3 or the Philips OLED+907 nor OLED EX panel using deuterium as in the case of the Philips OLED 808.

Likewise, it seems confirmed that it does not use any kind of heat sink, so we are really talking about a 2022 A80K, but with the XR processor enhancements and little else.

There are three different references, but they keep the same features. They are the A80L, A83L and A84L series. Each one will be sold in different stores exclusively, so you can find in one store the A80L for example and in another store the A83L will be sold. In any case, as we say, it is the same TV.

Now you can also buy it in the 83-inch size in addition to 77″, 65 “and 55”.

For those who want a high-end LED TV, Sony puts on sale two new series, the X95L and X90L. The first, uses Mini LED backlighting with 40 times smaller bulbs and hundreds of dimming zones and the second is Full Array with conventional LED bulbs and far fewer Local Dimming zones.

Now we show you the characteristics of each model and a comparison so that you know the differences.

Sony Bravia XR X95L Mini LED – Sony 2023 TV lineup

As mentioned, the X95L is a Mini LED backlit TV that employs thousands of mini bulbs to achieve spectacular contrast. The XR Backlight Master Drive technology fine-tunes the picture delivering deep blacks and over 1000 nits peak brightness. The number of Local Dimming blocks is not yet known, but some reports suggest that the number will increase considerably.

It sports both X-Anti Reflection filter and X-Wide Angle filter, minimizing reflections for a distraction-free viewing experience and vivid, lifelike colors from any angle.

Integrates the Acoustic Multi-Audio sound system with frame tweeters in addition to the lower ones to deliver a more direct sound.

To conclude, the aluminum 3-position TV stand offers maximum comfort. Consequently, this lets you choose between the standard setting, narrow setting for smaller furniture or the raised setting to place a sound bar underneath.

Sony Bravia XR 2023 X90L LED Full Array

Below that is the X90L, which no longer uses Mini LED backlighting, but Full Array. As with the X95L pending confirmation, it looks like it will also receive an increase in the number of Local Dimming zones compared to last year.

This is the latest model to use the cognitive XR processor and credits to BRAVIA Core.

For those looking for a large-inch TV, Sony is launching this series in the giant 98-inch size, a size usually reserved for the more premium ranges, so it may be an interesting option in terms of price.

For those who want a more economical Sony TV, the brand launches the X85L and X80L series. This year, the X85L series is Full Array so it would give a quality leap over last year’s X85K.

Sony X85L LED TV 4K Full Array

THE X85L no longer uses the cognitive XR processor, but as we told you it has gained over last year in that it now has Full Array backlighting. The number of local dimming zones is still unknown, but it is expected to be a fairly limited number, possibly similar to the X90K which had 54 zones.

Here, a 120 Hz panel with HDMI 2.1 is still maintained so it will surely be a TV very chosen by gamers for its value for money. It should be added, that unfortunately, it is no longer available in 43 and 50 inch sizes and can only be purchased in 55″, 65″ and 75″.

Sony X80L – Sony TV line up

We now see the X80L, which no longer has a 120 Hz panel or gaming features like HDMI 2.1 or VRR. And it doesn’t use Full Array backlighting either, so this year the jump from the X80L to the X85L is going to be more noticeable.

This model is available in a wide range of sizes from 43 to 85 inches.

Sony X75WL new entry-level 4K TV for 2023

And the most affordable model of the brand for 2023, is the X75WL. This model, also carries an X1 image processor but in this case of older generation. It comes to replace last year’s X75K which had a Bravia Engine processor already quite old. Therefore, we expect a leap in image processing over the previous year.

In short, this is what we can tell you about the Sony 2023 TV lineup. In the coming weeks more details will be known about Sony 2023 TVs, so we will update this post with all the news.