Sony TVs become brighter OLED, cognitive processing, Google TV streaming in 2021

This story is part of CES, where our editors will bring you the latest news and the most popular articles from the all-virtual CES 2021.

Sony is probably the deepest TV mark what is still standing and while it is no longer a top 5 seller, it remains a powerhouse among the best models – also known as TVs that cost a lot of money. The series of new sets in 2021, pre-announced CEScontains a lot of impressive technology and will probably cost a big penny too.

The best new Sony has 8K resolution, but the most interesting TV and video quality nerds (like, um, me) are the new Master Series A90J OLED TV with higher peak brightness – which is the first time in years that an OLED TV manufacturer has offered brighter panels. Brightness is important for HDR and to display an image in bright rooms, and this is the most important area where OLED traditionally leaves LCD behind. Although I do not expect the new Sony to surpass the brightest LCD TVs, especially not new models powered by Mini-LED like the Samsung Neo QLED, any extra light is a good thing.

Sony is also the first company to officially announce a new size of OLED: 83 inches, the largest 4K OLED to date. (If you keep up, LG has an 88-inch 8K OLED for $ 30,000 cough.) favorite Sony (for the money) of 2020 includes a 100-inch model. Hoo boy!

Less exciting (for me) than larger, brighter TVs is something Sony calls ‘cognitive’ processing, available on all of its 2021 TVs. In a video demonstration, industry representatives used histograms to show how the algorithm improves different parts of the picture that he thinks you will focus on the most (such as faces). It was hard to get an idea of ​​how it works without seeing it in person, and Sony says the processing will not be used in Custom Picture Mode, it’s designed to retain the director’s intention. In short, I will have to wait to see how it works.

The news containing all the models below is more welcome HDMI 2.1 game extras, namely 4K / 120fps input and variable refresh rate (the latter available via a firmware update), previously reserved for only one 2020 model, the X900H. Sony was also the first TV maker to confirm Google TV streaming in its smart TVs, an improvement on Android TV is currently only available on the new version Chromecast Streamer. Hands-free “Hey Google” feature is on board (as of 2020) and Sony has a new streaming service called Bravia Core that delivers Sony Pictures and some Imax movies in ‘UHD BD equivalent quality with streaming up to 80 Mbps. ‘ Finally, all the TVs below are built-in NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) tuners.

Here’s how the new TVs break down, starting with the highest quality.

Master Series Z9J, 8K LCD (85- and 75-inch): Sony’s best non-OLED TV is distinguished from its little sister by 8K resolution, improved processing and Sony’s best, brightest full-scale local eclipse, which it calls “Contrast Booster 15.”

Master Series A90J 4K OLED (83-, 65- and 55-inch): Sony says the A90J’s “peak lighting has been significantly improved” compared to the 2020 A9G and other OLED TVs, but company representatives will not elaborate further. A new aluminum plate helps with heat radiation and all four WRGB OLED elements radiate fully during peak brightness – as opposed to just the W element in the current design.

A80J 4K OLED (77-, 65- and 55-inch): Sony’s retired OLED is not brighter than current models, but has upgraded processing and HDMI 2.1, including 4K / 120fps, variable refresh rate, Auto Low Latency Mode (aka engine game of) en e-LNR.

X95J 4K LCD (85-, 75-, 65-inch): The company’s best non-8K, non-OLED TV is likely to cost quite a bit more. Its local dimming, “Contrast Booster 10”, shifts between the other two LCD models in terms of brightness and precision, although Sony does not usually share the actual number of dimming zones or any light output specifications (representatives do mention that the The numbers 15, 10 and 5, however, are not even; the brightness of the X95J, for example, is not necessarily twice as large as the X90J). Another distinction is a single-glass design with a ‘Seamless Edge’.

X90J 4K LCD (100-, 75-, 65-, 55- and 50-inch): The successor to 2020’s excellent X900H as Sony’s mainstream TV, this skips the 85-inch size and goes straight to 100, a size I do not expect at all to be mainstream pricing. It features the complete eclipse of Contrast Booster 5, which is less accurate and clear than the take-off models, but still better than no local eclipse.

Prices and availability for Sony’s 2021 TVs will be announced in the spring.