Sony X85J 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV Review

Considering a 4K TV upgrade but overwhelmed by options? Look no further than the Sony X85J. This Google TV from Sony promises a blend of style, picture quality, and smart features, all at a tempting price point. But is it the right fit for your living room? This review delves deep into the Sony X85J’s strengths and weaknesses, helping you make an informed decision.

Product Details

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Picture Quality

The Sony X85J prioritizes delivering a clear and enjoyable viewing experience. Here’s a breakdown of its key aspects:

• Sharpness and Detail: The X85J utilizes a 4K HDR processor for upscaling content and ensuring crisp and detailed visuals. Whether you’re watching a nature documentary or the latest blockbuster, you’ll appreciate the clarity on the screen.
• HDR Support: The TV supports HDR formats like HDR10 and HLG, offering increased contrast and a wider color range for a more vibrant and realistic picture, especially noticeable in HDR content. However, some higher-end TVs might offer additional HDR formats like Dolby Vision for an even more immersive experience.
• Brightness and Contrast: The brightness levels of the X85J are decent, making it suitable for most lighting conditions. The contrast is also good, thanks to features like X-Contrast Booster that enhances dark scenes and maintains good detail. However, some users might find the peak brightness a bit limited compared to high-end TVs, especially in very bright rooms.

Compared To Other TVs

The Sony X85J holds its own against similarly priced TVs in terms of picture quality. The 4K processor delivers sharp visuals, and the HDR support adds vibrancy, particularly in HDR content. However, some competitors might offer superior brightness or wider color gamuts for an even more HDR-centric experience.

Design

The Sony X85J embraces a minimalist aesthetic. The display boasts thin bezels that create a near bezel-less look, allowing the picture to take center stage. The sleek stand offers sturdy support and complements various living room setups. Overall, the design is clean and modern, fitting seamlessly into most contemporary homes.

Sound Quality

The sound quality of the Sony X85J is, well, average. The built-in speakers lack the depth and power needed for a truly immersive movie or gaming experience. Dialogue can sound clear, but bass is lacking, and action scenes might sound underwhelming.

For an enhanced audio experience, consider pairing the Sony X85J with a soundbar or a home theater system. This will unlock the full potential of your movies, games, and music.

Smart Features

The Sony X85J is a Smart TV, running on the Google TV platform. This platform is the successor to Android TV, offering a more streamlined and user-friendly experience. You’ll have access to a vast library of streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, ensuring you have endless entertainment options at your fingertips. Voice control is available through Google Assistant, allowing you to navigate the interface and control playback with simple voice commands.

Here are some additional highlights of Google TV:

• Personalized Recommendations: Google TV learns your viewing habits and suggests content you might be interested in, helping you discover new shows and movies.
• Content Aggregation: Search across various streaming services to find specific movies or shows, eliminating the need to jump between multiple apps.
• Works with Chromecast Built-In: Cast content from your phone or tablet directly to the TV for seamless content streaming.

While Google TV offers a good selection of apps and is generally user-friendly, some users might prefer the interface of competing smart TV platforms, such as LG’s webOS or Samsung’s Tizen. Ultimately, the best platform comes down to personal preference.

Motion

The Sony X85J boasts a native 120Hz refresh rate panel, offering smoother motion handling compared to traditional 60Hz TVs. This is particularly beneficial for fast-paced content like sports and action movies, reducing blur and ensuring a more realistic viewing experience.

However, some high-end TVs might boast even higher refresh rates (240Hz or higher) and advanced motion processing technology for an even smoother experience, especially beneficial for gamers or those highly sensitive to motion blur. The X85J might not be the absolute best choice for hardcore gamers seeking the smoothest possible motion.

Gaming Features

The Sony X85J caters to casual gamers with features like a 120Hz refresh rate panel and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). ALLM helps reduce input lag, ensuring a more responsive gaming experience where your actions translate to the screen instantly. However, some high-end gaming TVs might offer additional gaming-specific features like:

• Dedicated Game Modes: Pre-calibrated settings for different game genres (FPS, RPG, etc.) to optimize picture quality and performance.
• VRR (Variable Refresh Rate): Eliminates screen tearing, a visual glitch that can occur during fast-paced gameplay. While the X85J doesn’t advertise VRR support, some user reports suggest it might function with certain consoles through firmware updates. This information is constantly evolving, so researching current user experiences is recommended.

Durability and Build Quality

The Sony X85J appears well-built with a sturdy stand and a sleek plastic back panel. Sony TVs generally have a good reputation for reliability, but longevity ultimately depends on usage and care. As with any TV, proper handling and avoiding extreme temperatures or environments will contribute to a longer lifespan.

Viewing Angles and Screen Uniformity

The viewing angles of the Sony X85J are decent thanks to the VA panel technology. Colors and picture quality remain fairly consistent when viewed from off-center positions. However, compared to IPS panels (commonly used in some TVs), colors might appear slightly less vibrant when viewed from extreme angles. This is a common trade-off, as VA panels typically offer superior contrast compared to IPS panels.

In terms of screen uniformity, some users might experience minor variations in brightness or color across the screen, especially in dark scenes. This is a common occurrence with most TVs, and its severity can vary between individual units. If uniformity is a major concern, researching user reviews and professional calibrations can help you determine if this is a widespread issue with the Sony X85J.

Inputs

The Sony X85J comes equipped with a good selection of inputs, including multiple HDMI ports (with some featuring HDMI 2.1 capabilities), USB ports, an optical audio output for connecting external sound systems, and an Ethernet port for a wired internet connection. This allows you to connect various devices like streaming sticks, game consoles, cable boxes, and external storage drives.

The inclusion of HDMI 2.1 ports is a plus for future-proofing, as these ports support features like higher resolutions, faster refresh rates (important for gaming), and eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) for high-quality audio transmission to compatible soundbars.

Overall Value

The Sony X85J offers a compelling package for its price point. The sharp picture quality, decent HDR support, user-friendly Google TV platform, and 120Hz refresh rate make it a great option for casual viewers seeking a significant upgrade from traditional TVs. The sleek design makes it a stylish addition to any living room.

However, if you prioritize absolute top-tier features like superior brightness, the most advanced motion processing technology for the smoothest visuals, a powerful built-in sound system, or extensive gaming features, you might want to explore TVs with higher price tags.

Conclusion

The Sony X85J 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV is a solid choice for users seeking a stylish and user-friendly TV with good picture quality and smart features at a competitive price. Consider your priorities – picture quality, smart features, gaming performance – to determine if this TV is the perfect fit for your home entertainment needs.