Sony BRAVIA 3 K65S30 65"
The 4K HDR Processor X1 and Triluminos Pro display deliver accurate, lifelike color and real-time scene enhancement on a 65-inch Direct LED panel. It integrates Google TV with AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, plus includes a 12-month subscription and 5 credits for high-bitrate 4K movies on Sony Pictures Core. This model is best for smart home users and streaming enthusiasts who prioritize a unified content hub and vibrant picture quality over high-refresh gaming.
No current retailer price
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
Big Sony screen, great connectivity, meh picture. Grab it under $400 or move on to a Hisense, TCL, or LG OLED.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent connectivity with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 93rd
- Google TV is intuitive and well-integrated 92nd
- Dolby Vision support at this price is a win 87th
- Big 65-inch screen for immersive casual viewing 77th
Cons
- Picture quality is below average, especially in dark rooms
- 60Hz panel feels sluggish for gaming beyond casual play
- Setup can be a headache thanks to Google Home requirement
- Price swings wildly—don't overpay
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q3 202696/100
Buyers in this period praised the TV's picture quality, Google TV interface, and reliability after 18 months. One noted initial setup issues with an older HDMI cable causing audio problems, resolved by using a high-quality cable.
- Excellent picture quality with sharp detail, vibrant colors, and impressive 4K performance.
- Google TV interface is smooth, intuitive, and offers plenty of streaming options.
- Reliable performance with zero issues after 18 months of daily use; powers on instantly.
- Initial setup had clunky app and audio issues with soundbar, traced to an old HDMI cable; resolved with proper cable.
- Q2 202673/100
Buyers praised picture quality, value, and PS5 integration, but some reported software glitches, internet drops, and pixelated blacks.
- Excellent picture quality and bright colors praised by multiple reviewers.
- Software glitches requiring restarts and internet connection drops reported.
- Great value for price, with some calling it unbeatable at this cost.
- Pixelated blacks on dark scenes noted as a specific display flaw.
- Q1 202678/100
Buyers in Q1 2026 mostly praised the TV's picture quality, color, and value, with many highly satisfied. However, a few reported defects, freezing issues, and slow performance, plus some complaints about missing remotes and customer service.
- Picture quality and color are frequently praised as sharp, vibrant, and natural, with many calling it great for the price.
- A few buyers reported defects like broken panels or freezing issues, with one severe case of constant freezing and unresponsive remote.
- Performance is generally smooth, but some find the interface slow or clunky, especially when changing channels or using apps.
- Value is seen as good for casual use, but one reviewer notes LED limitations like poor contrast in dark rooms and suggests higher-end models for better quality.
- Q4 202574/100
Most buyers praise picture quality, sound, and value. Some report remote issues, color/brightness complaints, and a problematic firmware update.
- Excellent picture quality, color accuracy, and upscaling praised by many.
- Good built-in sound and easy setup with soundbars.
- Value for price is good, but some note missing features like Dolby Vision.
- Remote not recognizing buttons/voice, and firmware update caused channel/guide issues.
- Q3 202582/100
Buyers praised excellent picture quality, color, and value. Some reported reliability issues like early failure and WiFi problems, plus complaints about the remote and app compatibility.
- Excellent picture quality, color, and brightness praised by many.
- Reliability issues: TV died after 3 months, WiFi card failed, requiring returns.
- Remote design criticized for lacking backlight and basic functions.
- App compatibility issue: Spectrum app not supported, noted at sale.
- Q2 202572/100
Buyers praised the picture quality, color, and ease of setup, but a notable minority reported defects like black screens, upside-down display, and connectivity issues with soundbars and Wi-Fi.
- Picture quality, color accuracy, and brightness are frequently praised, with many calling it excellent or stunning.
- Several buyers report defects: black screens, upside-down picture, glitches, and sound issues requiring unplugging the TV.
- Connectivity problems with soundbars, Wi-Fi, and apps like Netflix and YouTube are mentioned, causing frustration.
- Value perception varies: some find it reasonably priced, others say it's overpriced for the quality.
Based on 528 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
What surprised us most is that even with Sony's Triluminos Pro and Dolby Vision, this TV's picture quality lands in the bottom half of our database. Bright scenes look decent, but dark room viewing is where it stumbles, with grayish blacks and no local dimming to save it. On the plus side, the smart platform is snappy and Wi-Fi 6 is a welcome future-proofing touch. Gaming feels just okay thanks to the 60Hz panel, but ALLM keeps input lag low for casual play.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 65" |
| Resolution | 4K |
| Panel Type | LED |
| Backlight | Direct LED |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Curved | No |
Picture Quality
| Color Gamut | Triluminos Pro |
| Motion Tech | Motionflow XR 240 |
| Processor | 4K HDR Processor X1 |
HDR
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
| Dolby Vision | Yes |
| HDR10+ | No |
| HLG | Yes |
Gaming
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| VRR | No |
| ALLM | Yes |
| Game Mode | Yes |
Smart TV
| Platform | Google TV |
| Voice Assistant | Google Assistant |
| Screen Mirroring | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in |
| Works With | Google Home |
Audio
| Speaker Config | 2 |
| Wattage | 20 |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Surround Sound | Dolby Audio, Dolby Atmos |
| eARC | Yes |
Connectivity
| HDMI Ports | 4 |
| HDMI Version | 2.1 |
| USB Ports | 2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Ethernet | Yes |
| Optical Audio | Yes |
| VESA Mount | 300x300 |
Power & Size
| Power | 227 |
| Energy Star | No |
| Annual Energy | 472 |
| Weight | 21.4 kg / 47.2 lbs |
vs Competition
The Hisense U7 75U75QG (often around $800) gets you far better picture quality with mini-LED backlighting and a 120Hz panel, making it a smarter buy for gamers. The TCL QM7K is another step up, with even higher brightness and richer HDR. If you can stretch the budget, the Sony BRAVIA 9 and Samsung QN900F are in a different league entirely, while the LG OLED evo C6 delivers perfect blacks this set can only dream of. Sony's BRAVIA 3 feels like a step behind all of them in sheer image quality, only winning on pure connectivity and brand loyalty.
| Spec | Sony BRAVIA 3 K65S30 65" | LG OLED evo OLED55C5PUA | Samsung QN990F | TCL QM8K Series 75QM8K | Hisense U8 Series 65U8QG | Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 65 | 55 | 75 | 75 | 65 | 55 |
| Resolution | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 7680x4320 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 |
| Panel Type | LED | OLED | Mini-LED | Mini-LED | Mini-LED | QLED |
| Refresh Rate | 60 | 120 | 120 | 144 | 165 | 120 |
| Hdr | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision | Dolby Vision, HDR10 | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR 10+, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) | Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, HDR 10, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) | Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) |
| Smart Platform | Google TV | webOS | Tizen | Google TV | Google TV | Roku TV |
| Dolby Vision | true | true | false | true | true | true |
| Dolby Atmos | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Hdmi Version | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | HDR | Audio | Smart | Gaming | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Picture Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony BRAVIA 3 K65S30 65" | 86.8 | 77.1 | 91.5 | 56.4 | 70 | 92.9 | 75.7 | 36 |
| LG OLED evo OLED55C5PUA Compare | 91.9 | 94.2 | 89.9 | 98.1 | 87.3 | 98.7 | 93.7 | 93.4 |
| Samsung QN990F Compare | 82.9 | 99.8 | 93.2 | 88.3 | 99.5 | 99.9 | 99.6 | 84.1 |
| TCL QM8K Series 75QM8K Compare | 90.5 | 92.8 | 98.9 | 93.3 | 88.7 | 92.9 | 87.4 | 99.3 |
| Hisense U8 Series 65U8QG Compare | 90.5 | 97.6 | 95.7 | 96.3 | 83.3 | 86.1 | 75.7 | 99.4 |
| Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 Compare | 75.1 | 85.7 | 85.5 | 88.3 | 75.7 | 92.9 | 93.7 | 36 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At $1033, this TV is a hard pass. But we've seen it as low as $263, and at that price, it's a steal for a large smart display. Just know you're paying for size and Sony's brand, not top-tier picture performance. Shop around and don't spend more than $400.
Price History
Read more
Overview
This 65-inch Sony is a bit of an oddball. It comes loaded with Google TV, Dolby Vision, and killer connectivity, but the actual picture quality is surprisingly mediocre for a brand that usually nails it. If you just want a big, smart screen for casual streaming and don't obsess over deep blacks or high brightness, it's fine. But for the price, you'd expect more punch.
Common Questions
Q: Is this TV good for gaming?
Only if you're playing casual games or using a PS5 in Game Mode. The 60Hz panel and lack of VRR mean it's not built for competitive gaming. You'll get ALLM, so input lag is low, but don't expect smooth 120fps action.
Q: Does it have good black levels?
Nope, that's its biggest weakness. There's no local dimming, so dark scenes look more gray than true black. A Hisense U7 or TCL QM8K will blow it away in contrast.
Q: Can I use it without Google Home?
Sort of. You can skip the Google Home setup if you go through the basic TV setup, but some features might be locked. It's a hassle, and Google really needs to fix this.
Who Should Skip This
If you're after deep blacks, high brightness, or a smooth 120Hz gaming experience, this isn't the TV for you. Go get the Hisense U7, TCL QM7K, or LG OLED evo C6 instead, all deliver far better picture quality for similar or slightly more money.
Verdict
This Sony is tough to recommend unless you catch a steep discount, and now those dips go way lower. It's fine for a living room where you just need a reliable, big smart TV, and the connectivity is top-notch. But if you care at all about movie nights looking cinematic or gaming at high refresh rates, spend your money elsewhere.
