Sony BRAVIA XR65X90L 65"

Sony's XR processor makes this 65-inch LED feel more premium than it has any right to. Great for gamers, solid for everyone else, just don't expect OLED-level blacks.

The HDR performance surprised us most. At 1000 nits peak with the Full Array backlight, this thing holds its own in a bright room, and the XR processor keeps blooming in check better than most LEDs we've tested. Gaming is where it really shines though. 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and an 8.5ms input lag put it in the top tier for console players. The 2.0 channel 30W audio is fine for casual viewing, but you'll want a soundbar for anything cinematic. Dolby Atmos support is there, but the built-in speakers won't do it justice.

The LG OLED evo OLED55C5PUA will crush this Sony in pure picture quality and contrast, but you're giving up 10 inches of screen and paying more. The TCL QM8K and Hisense U8 Series both offer mini-LED backlights with higher peak brightness for similar or less money, but their processing and motion handling don't match Sony's XR chip. The Samsung The Frame Pro is a lifestyle TV first, a performance TV second. If you want the best picture for movies, go OLED. If you want a big, bright, gaming-friendly screen with Sony's polish, the X90L is the smarter buy.

At USD 840-898 for a 65-inch Sony with this feature set, it's a solid deal. You're getting the XR processor, full gaming chops, and Dolby Vision for under a grand. It's not the cheapest LED out there, but Sony's processing and build quality justify the premium. If you find it refurbished or like-new for less, even better.

The Sony XR65X90L is the TV you buy when you want that Sony processing magic without selling a kidney for an OLED. It's a 65-inch Full Array LED with the Cognitive Processor XR, and that chip does some heavy lifting. The one thing to know? This is a gaming and HDR workhorse that punches above its price class, even if it's not the brightest or flashiest panel on the block.

If you're a movie purist who watches in a dark room and wants the deepest blacks possible, skip this and get an OLED like the LG C5. If you want the absolute brightest HDR highlights for under a grand, the TCL QM8K or Hisense U8 will out-nits this Sony. The X90L is for people who want a balanced, reliable, gaming-friendly TV without obsessing over spec sheets.

Buy the Sony XR65X90L if you want a big, reliable, gaming-ready TV with excellent processing and HDR that won't embarrass itself in a bright room. It's not the absolute best picture quality for the money, but it's the best all-around Sony LED you can get without jumping to their mini-LED or OLED lines. For most people, this is the sweet spot.