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Sony
- Sony’s A80J OLED is the 4K TV to buy if you prioritize picture quality.
- The display produces stunning HDR images powered by Sony’s advanced processor.
- Though the TV’s Google operating system isn’t my favorite, the A80J is a top performer overall.
Sony’s OLED displays are known for their incredibly accurate images and stunning contrast. Its most recent model, the A80J, has taken the company’s lineup even further with an advanced image processor, HDMI 2.1 ports, and an adjustable stand.
As a high-end 4K TV, the A80J OLED excels on nearly every level, delivering the premium quality buyers expect from a display of this class. Though OLEDs from LG and Vizio offer similar image capabilities, Sony’s display edges out the competition when it comes to pure picture performance.
That said, the differences are subtle, and the benefits here will largely appeal to big home theater enthusiasts who crave the absolute best movie-watching performance. The A80J also has some minor issues when it comes to smart TV navigation, and its gaming support isn’t as robust as it could be.
After spending several weeks with the TV, however, it’s hard to nitpick the A80J’s shortcomings. Simply put, this is the OLED to buy if you want the best image quality.
Sony A80J 4K OLED TV specifications
| Sony 65-inch A80J 4K TV | Specifications |
| Panel type | 65-inch OLED |
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz native refresh rate |
| HDR support | HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG |
| Color | Wide color support |
| Dimensions | 57.13 x 33.88 x 13 inches with stand attached (standard position) |
| Weight | 49.2 pounds without stand attached |
| HDMI ports | Four HDMI inputs (two HDMI 2.1, including the eARC port) |
| Smart TV system | Google TV |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, and Ethernet |
| Audio | Acoustic Surface Audio+ with two actuators and two woofers |
| Remote | Voice remote with Google Assistant |
Design and setup
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Sony’s A80J features a handsome design marked by an incredibly thin profile. That said, the TV does protrude out more (about two inches) in the back where it houses its processors and ports.
One design aspect I love about the A80J is its stand. Rather than require any screws, the left and right feet simply click into place on the bottom of the display. This makes it a breeze to set up, and it still feels sturdy.
The stand also allows buyers to choose between three different orientations: Standard, Narrow, and Soundbar. Standard places the feet nearly flush with the bottom of the display toward the sides of the TV. This is a good fit if you have a wide entertainment console. Narrow places the feet closer to the center of the TV to accommodate smaller consoles. Soundbar lifts the display up higher so you can easily fit a speaker or soundbar in front without blocking the screen.
You do need to unscrew some parts on the feet to change the stand’s orientation, but this is pretty simple and the feet still click right back into the display after they’re configured. This is an incredibly convenient feature that gives buyers a lot of placement choices.
Special note should also go the TV’s unique acoustic surface audio design, which uses actuators to produce sound from the screen itself rather than traditional speaker drivers. The quality is rather impressive, making the A80J one of the few TVs that delivers solid audio without a separate soundbar.
After you get your Wi-Fi configured and address some standard privacy policies and terms of use agreements, you can start watching built-in apps or switch inputs to any connected devices.
For the most accurate out-of-box picture, I recommend using the Custom picture preset for SDR and HDR10 content with all extra processing features turned off. For Dolby Vision playback, you’ll get the most accurate image using the Dolby Vision Dark preset, but if this is too dim for your room, you should switch to Dolby Vision Bright.
Picture quality
Amazon
OLED TVs deliver the best overall picture quality of any display type currently on the market, and Sony’s A80J is at the top of the OLED pack.
To be fair, all OLED displays — whether they’re sold by LG, Vizio, or Sony — offer very similar picture quality. They all provide deep black levels with pixel-level dimming, an infinite contrast ratio, and wide viewing angles. What makes one model better than another really comes down to key differences in processing and brightness. And it’s the A80J’s processing that really helps it edge out the competition.
Sony makes a big deal of its “cognitive image processing system,” which is something that’s new for its latest TVs. According to the company, this tech cross-analyzes different picture elements on screen to optimize the overall image in a manner that’s similar to the way we actually see things. At the end of the day, this approach really does make a difference, and the results are rather stunning.
This is especially true for high dynamic range (HDR) content, which looks simply gorgeous. I measured a peak brightness of about 745 nits, which is on par for an OLED of this type. Of course, test patterns only tell one side of the story. How a TV looks when you actually watch movies is much more important.
My usual assortment of demo material includes 4K Blu-rays like “The Matrix,” “Aquaman,” “Blade Runner,” and Spears & Munsil’s “UHD Benchmark” disc. Whether displaying neon cityscapes or desert vistas, images pop from the screen.
Sony’s tone-mapping also does an excellent job of pushing brightness while optimizing detail. Intricate fine textures are readily visible, making it easy to make out individual feathers and strands of hair on animals. And, because the OLED panel has pixel-level contrast, you get inky black levels and precise highlights without any of the blooming or vignetting you’d see on even the most high-end QLED sets.
Upscaling of lower quality material is also impressive. Cable TV and compressed streams on YouTube look better on the A80J than they do on other OLEDs I’ve tested, which is another example of how Sony’s processing gives it a slight advantage over other TVs.
As a whole, the A80J is simply a picture quality champ, delivering an incredible movie- and TV-watching experience with whatever content you throw its way. Ultimately, the only real complaint I have is that the image can appear a bit too dim at times. Certain shows, like Marvel’s “Loki,” appear particularly dark when using calibrated settings. This is a common drawback for all OLED displays, but the A80J’s overall brightness should still be sufficient for most rooms and viewing conditions.
It should be noted, however, that Sony does sell another OLED, the A90J, which is capable of getting brighter, particularly if you don’t mind using one of the TV’s less accurate picture modes.
That said, both models make use of the same cognitive image processing system. So, while the A90J is technically a little brighter, the huge price difference just doesn’t justify that minor upgrade in picture.
Google TV performance
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Unlike previous Sony OLEDs, the A80J uses the Google TV operating system rather than the old Android TV system. Google TV is pretty similar, but it has a more modern interface that is easier on the eyes and simpler to use.
You get access to pretty every major app you could want, from Disney Plus to Apple TV Plus, with no major omissions. A remote with Google Assistant is also included for voice search and other smart functions. This works well, allowing you to find content and launch apps with spoken commands. For whatever reason, however, Hulu doesn’t seem to launch with voice commands.
Though solid overall, Google TV navigation can be a bit choppy at times. I found this to be particularly true when entering in account details to log in to services. To be clear, the TV’s built-in interface gets the job done for most streaming needs, but I prefer to use a separate media device.
I also encountered an issue with the TV’s Wi-Fi settings in my initial review unit. Though the display worked just fine for a week or two, the TV suddenly stopped connecting to my Wi-Fi. In fact, it stopped being able to discover any Wi-Fi connections at all.
A complete reboot didn’t fix the problem, so Sony sent a replacement TV. The new unit worked consistently without any Wi-Fi problems. I’m not sure if this was a software or hardware glitch, but it doesn’t appear to be a widespread issue.
Should you buy the Sony A80J OLED TV?
The Sony A80J OLED is our pick for the best high-end TV you can buy. Though its smart TV interface isn’t the best, it delivers incredible picture quality, thanks to Sony’s advanced processing.
You can technically get a brighter image with Sony’s more expensive A90J, but I just don’t think that slight improvement is worth the huge jump in price. If you want a new TV and image performance is your top priority, the Sony A80J is the model to get.
What are your alternatives?
When it comes to similar OLED TVs, the A80J‘s main competitors are the LG C1 and Vizio H1. All three TVs offer very similar picture quality and features, but the Sony has slightly better image performance thanks to its superior processing.
The Vizio also lacks a voice remote and its SmartCast OS is a bit lacking. That said, it’s the only model of the three to include support for the HDR10+ format.
The LG C1, on the other hand, is our pick for the best 4K TV overall. It’s usually a little cheaper and we prefer its smart TV platform over the Google TV system. It also boasts integrated support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, whereas the A80J model only has Google Assistant.
The C1 is also a better fit for gamers since it has more HDMI 2.1 ports and variable refresh rate (VRR) support. VRR is supposed to come to the A80J via a future update, but it’s not clear when that will be available.
Ultimately, the Sony A80J is the best pick for buyers who favor image quality above all else, while the Vizio is a good budget pick, and the LG C1 is the best all-around performer of the three.
The bottom line
Sony
Sony’s A80J is a stunning 4K TV. The display’s OLED panel and advanced processing work together to deliver some of the most impressive images I’ve seen on a consumer TV. You can get a slightly brighter picture on the step-up A90J, but the giant leap in price doesn’t justify the small upgrade.
We do think LG’s C1 is a better overall buy when factoring in smart TV performance, gaming features, and typical selling price — but the A80J is the OLED champ for picture performance.
Pros: Industry-leading picture quality with advanced image processing, OLED panel with infinite contrast, two HDMI 2.1 ports, wide viewing angles, convenient snap-in stand with multiple orientations
Cons: Google TV OS is only average, no VRR support yet, LG OLEDs have more HDMI 2.1 ports, pricier than some competing OLEDs, not as bright as top QLED models
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