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We saw Sony's deluge of 2025 Bravia TVs, and the flagship OLED may give you sticker shock
The Bravia TV lineup, which consistently tops our list of best Sony TVs, is getting a little bigger.
Earlier this week, Sony announced its 2025 Bravia models, and while some sets carry over from last year, three new additions -- including an OLED and a Mini-LED -- are joining the fold.
Also: I still choose this Sony TV over most newer models - especially at $500 off
Leading the way is the Bravia 8 II, a flagship QD-OLED that's the successor to the popular A95L from 2023 (the "crown jewel" of that year's lineup, in the words of my former colleague Rebecca Isaacs).
Sony's XR Processor powers the Bravia 8 II and features an AI scene-recognition system that detects the type of content you're watching and adjusts the screen accordingly. ZDNET's Kerry Wan attended a private viewing session of the new TV, along with the other models in this story, and cited several improvements in clarity and detail thanks to the AI upscaling.
"From the texture of a white dress to the improved noise suppression that makes older films appear more vivid and dynamic, there was a clear separation between what Sony is doing with its scene recognition tech and competing brands," said Wan.
Notably, Sony isn't forcing a dedicated AI button onto users, unlike Samsung and LG.
Comparing various scenes, including rock walls and digital signage at night, further demonstrated the Bravia 8 II's versatility. In most cases, the Sony displayed a more true-to-life color with defined subjects and images that didn't appear washed out. (Since the tests were hosted by Sony and done next to last year's models from Samsung and LG, we'll have to run a deeper analysis at our testing lab later on.)
Acoustic Surface Audio+, a favorite feature of ours on previous Sony TVs, turns the whole display into a speaker that emits sound from various places depending on what's happening onscreen. Sony hasn't confirmed available set sizes, but the A95L has 55", 65", and 75" options.
Also: I tested TCL's affordable Mini LED TV, and it made me forget about the OLED flagships
While OLED TVs are all the rage, many manufacturers are leaning into Mini LEDs -- including Sony. Also new for 2025 is the Bravia 5, which Sony says will carry over the features of last year's model into a more affordable package.
The Bravia 5 will be available in five sizes, ranging from 55" to 98", and boasts local dimming for better contrast and XR Backlight Master Drive, a backlight technology that Sony says makes for a brighter and more colorful picture.
From our first-hand viewing, the Bravia 5 excels at fine-detail rendering and color separation; one scene, in particular, highlighted the TV's ability to isolate the twigs and branches in a garden and make each piece discernible.
Also: How to disable ACR on your TV (and why doing makes such a big difference for privacy)
The Bravia 2 II rounds out the new entries this year. Sony didn't offer many details on this LCD panel but calls the set "a great starting point for anyone looking to get an exceptional viewing experience." This TV, available in 43" to 75" sizes, will offer 4K upscaling and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatibility for immersive audio.
All of Sony's new Bravia TVs will have Studio Calibrated modes for Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Sony Pictures films, which adjust the screen to reproduce the image quality intended by filmmakers. In fact, if you watch content in Cinema mode, the TV will automatically switch to Professional mode when the ambient lighting gets dimmer.
As for pricing, here's what Sony has shared for the three new Bravia models:
- Bravia 8 II OLED for $3,499 (55-inch) and $3,999 (65-inch)
- Bravia 5 Mini LED for $1,699 (55-inch), $1,799 (65-inch), $2,399 (75-inch), $2,999 (85-inch), and $6,499 (98-inch)
- Bravia 2 II LED for $699 (55-inch), $799 (65-inch), and $1,099 (75-inch)
Stay tuned for our full reviews when units begin to arrive at our TV lab for testing.