Sony has recently launched its latest 4K 120Hz QD-OLED TV Sony A95L, and for a lot of people, it is truly impressive, and Having used some of the market’s best TVs, it can sometimes be challenging to get excited about these things. However, A95L TV truly captivates me. What genuinely excites me is its outstanding media and gaming performance but first let’s Start with unboxing.
Unboxing and Setup
The accessories kit is the initial item you’ll find in the box, two-piece stand, back plates along with the remote and batteries. Additionally, there’s a unique feature for a TV that I haven’t seen before an attachable camera, and the Sony A95L TV itself that is surprisingly lightweight. The assembly is straightforward just screw each leg onto the TV and carefully position it. If you’re wondering about the stand’s clearance, you have approximately 3 inches of space for a soundbar or any other item you’d like underneath, such as a laptop or TV box.
Design
Now, considering how Sony A95L TV looks in my space, it’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing TVs I’ve encountered, even though many TVs are becoming somewhat indistinguishable at this stage. The edges feature an attractive brushed metal finish, and the back has a textured plastic surface.
While I may not be the biggest fan of the back’s appearance, it’s not something you’ll notice much, and overall, the TV is well-constructed. The display itself is remarkably thin, thanks to being an OLED display, and there’s almost no bezel from edge to edge. Additionally, there are rear-firing speaker grills, and, as a spoiler, these speakers deliver an absolutely amazing audio experience.
In terms of ports, there’s actually everything you need to set up a home theater. The Sony Bravia XR A95L TV includes four HDMI ports, with two supporting HDMI 2.1. However, given the TV’s price, I would have expected all four ports to be HDMI 2.1. But it’s not a significant issue.
One of these ports also supports ER, facilitating connectivity for a sound system or control of the TV through a Google Chromecast or Apple TV. For sound system connection, and a digital optical port, and two USB-A ports cover various media playback through USB. Additionally, there are negative and positive inputs for a center speaker, along with an RS-232 port for powered accessories.
Digital Setup
For the digital setup, it’s pretty much the same as any other TV. This TV operates on a Google TV setup, so you typically complete the setup using another device like a phone or tablet by signing into your Google account. It transfers most of your other details and any known Google Voice profiles. I recommend updating your TV out of the box to ensure you access the full set of available features. Some features for this TV may not be available at launch, and they will be added later, so be sure to update.
Right out of the box, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of enabling HDR10, The standard brightness is around 50% of what it could be unless you manually enable HDR10. Additionally, another setting not activated automatically is VRR, so be sure to turn that on as well. I’m not sure why a TV like this wouldn’t have those settings on by default, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Gaming
Now, a TV like A95L will undoubtedly be used for media by many, but for me, it ultimately boils down to gaming. I’ve spent a significant amount of time on my PlayStation 5, playing a variety of games, including FPS, RPGs, and racing. I can confidently say that A95L is the best-looking one I’ve ever used, While I’ve made similar claims about other TVs in the past, the bar continues to move forward.
With its cutie OLED display, it achieves greater brightness than a traditional OLED, delivering a stunning 4K image with gaming-specific features. These include HDMI 2.1, 120Hz gaming, VRR, an 8.5-millisecond response time, and Auto HDR adjustments, providing an exceptional gaming experience on the PS5.
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALM) reduces input lag during gaming, making controller inputs nearly instantaneous, complementing the 8.5-millisecond response time. This synchronization with the game console’s output frames is imperceptible to the human eye, with a response time of about 100 milliseconds.
Games like Spider-Man 2 showcase the TV’s beauty, with rich colors, high brightness, and inky blacks, creating a true HDR experience. Not limited to Spider-Man, titles like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and other FPS games benefit significantly from gaming features, especially variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode.
Even though I may struggle in games, the experience is no less enjoyable on a TV of this caliber. The HDR experience is particularly noticeable in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Spider-Man 2, earning this TV a solid 10 out of 10 for HDR. Transitioning to my Xbox Series X, where I primarily play racing games through Game Pass, the recent Forza titles have become my go-to chill games, and they look fantastic on Sony A95L.
Sony introduces a gaming menu, providing essential information like frame rate and black levels. The menu also includes crosshairs for FPS enthusiasts. Additionally, the TV offers picture mode customization between standard, game, and PC modes.
A notable feature is the dual display, though not available at launch—another incentive to update the system when it becomes available. This feature allows watching a guide while gaming or displaying two things side by side, with sound working from both sources. Overall, A95 has become my favorite for both TV and gaming experiences.
Multi-Media
When it comes to media, Sony A95L TV stands out as one of the best for 2023, and it’s likely to maintain its position into 2024. The OLED display, despite being cute, boasts impressive brightness for an OLED. Even in my living room with a window nearby, the display holds up well. However, like any glossy display, reflections are unavoidable, although I don’t find them too bothersome. For media enthusiasts, this TV offers excellent quality, featuring dedicated features like Sony’s Bravia Core app, providing one of the best media experiences outside of Blu-ray.
The TV includes various named labels, such as Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced, enhancing the viewing experience. While these labels may not make a significant difference for some, they could be the best option for many. Additionally, the TV offers a range of picture profiles and the ability to customize each of them. Personally, I find the cinema profile right out of the box to be enjoyable.
Discussing the OLED display, I can’t definitively say it’s better than a mini LED. It ultimately boils down to personal preference whether you prefer the richness of OLED or the brightness of mini LED. Personally, I’ve always leaned towards OLED, finding them plenty bright for my needs. The combination of literal blacks and an infinite contrast ratio makes just about anything look impressive on this TV, especially animated content. I’m curious to know your preference, so feel free to share in the comments: do you prefer the richness of OLED or the brightness of mini LED?
Speakers and Bluetooth
I can easily say that what really caught me off guard was the quality of the speakers on Sony A945L TV. My Millennial brain is struggling to comprehend that the speaker is in the screen. I’m aware of the speaker vents on the back end, but they truly don’t sound rear-firing. What’s astonishing, though, is how good the speakers sound.
It genuinely gives the impression of having a smaller or budget-level soundbar. I must mention that I’m a huge fan of Bluetooth support for TVs, and this TV has me well covered whenever I want to use my AirPods. This feature is absolutely prime for me, especially when the family is asleep, making it easier to avoid waking anyone up.
Software and UI
Really delving into my games and media, the impressive aspects extend to the TV’s user interface (UI) itself. Sony spared no effort in making A95L a top contender for the year. Unlike many other Smart TVs, the UI is refined and straightforward, free from excessive bloatware. I appreciate its simplicity, even though the UI isn’t unique, as it’s essentially a Google TV.
Regardless, I could easily navigate this on a daily basis. True to Sony’s style, they’ve attached names to various features, and the TV boasts the Sony Cognitive Processor XR, which, despite its cryptic name, proves to be snappy and efficient. The TV offers a comprehensive selection of apps, including popular ones like Netflix, Disney Plus, and even supports Apple’s AirPlay for content sharing. A special mention goes to the Bravia Core app; I didn’t expect it to be as good as it turned out.
Despite the incredible job with the UI, I’ll be realistic I still prefer using my PS5 or Apple TV for media, mainly because I already own them. If I didn’t have those options, I would easily make this TV my day-to-day choice.
Remote
What I could happily get used to is the remote that comes with A95L, Odd as it may sound, it’s sleek, tiny, and minimal. I find my large remote for my LG C2 cumbersome, although I mostly use my Apple remote. The remote for A95L not only looks nice but also has Google Assistant built right in, I can easily play Breaking Bad on Netflix with it, and the best part is that it’s backlit. To any TV manufacturers tuning in, backlit remotes are appreciated.
Final Thought
So with all these features combined, Sony’s A95L QLED TV has won me over with its brightness, gaming capabilities, and stunning image. However, it does come with a hefty price tag the 55-inch model is priced at $4500 bucks. Expect your wallet to feel the strain. I’m curious to know what you think. Is it worth the price tag?
Combining, All the features that Sony's A95L QD-OLED TV Offer has won me over with its brightness, gaming capabilities, and stunning image. However, it does come with a hefty price tag the 55-inch model is priced at $4500 bucks.
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Design and Build Quality9.5
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Ports and Connections8
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OLED Display8.5
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Gaming8
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Speaker and Bluetooth7.5
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Remote8.5
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Price7
