Sony BRAVIA XR8B 65"

The Sony BRAVIA XR8B is a 65-inch OLED with infinite contrast, a 120Hz panel, and Sony's Cognitive Processor XR doing the heavy lifting. Gaming features are excellent with VRR, ALLM, and HDMI 2.1 on all four ports. Street prices range from USD 1,498 to USD 1,998, so shop around, Newegg has the best deal we've seen. It's a fantastic dark-room TV and a great PS5 companion, but the 438W power draw and mediocre picture quality score give us pause.

The OLED panel here does what OLED panels do best: contrast. With black pixels emitting zero light, the contrast ratio is effectively infinite. That's not marketing speak, it's just physics. Dark scenes in movies look incredible, with shadow detail that LCD sets simply can't match. The XR OLED Motion technology helps with fast-moving content too, reducing judder without introducing that soap opera effect unless you want it. The Cognitive Processor XR is doing real work here, analyzing scenes and adjusting color, contrast, and clarity on the fly. It's the kind of processing you notice most when you switch back to a lesser TV and everything looks flat by comparison.

For gaming, the 120Hz native refresh rate paired with VRR and ALLM means this set is ready for current-gen consoles. HDMI 2.1 on all four ports is a nice touch, since some competitors only give you two. Input lag isn't listed in our data, but the gaming score sits well above average, and Sony's track record with PS5 integration is solid. The 438W power draw is on the higher side for a 65-inch OLED, which is worth knowing if you're energy-conscious. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's not exactly sipping electricity either.

The LG C5 Series OLED55C5PUA is probably the most direct competitor here. LG's OLED panels are widely considered the benchmark, and the C5 is a fantastic TV. The Sony counters with better processing and arguably better motion handling, plus that PS5 integration if you're in the Sony ecosystem. The LG is a 55-inch model though, so you're getting more screen real estate with the Sony at 65 inches. If size matters, the Sony wins. If you want the most refined OLED experience and don't need the extra inches, the LG is worth a look.

The Samsung Neo QLED QN100QN80FFXZA takes a different approach entirely. It's a QLED with mini-LED backlighting, which means it gets brighter than OLED but can't match the perfect blacks. Samsung's processing is excellent, and their gaming features are top-notch. The Hisense U8 Series 100U8QG is the value play, offering a massive 100-inch screen for competitive money, though you're giving up OLED contrast and some processing finesse. The TCL QM8K Series 75QM8K is another strong budget-to-midrange option with mini-LED tech. If you want the biggest screen for your dollar, Hisense and TCL are tempting. If you want the best picture quality in a dark room, OLED is still king, and the Sony is a strong OLED contender.

Here's where things get interesting. Sony doesn't list an official price for the XR8B, but our database shows street prices ranging from USD 1,498 to USD 1,998 across eight US listings. That's a USD 500 spread, which is huge. The best deal we're seeing is on Newegg, where it's listed at the lower end of that range. If you're paying closer to two grand, you're leaving money on the table. Shop around before you commit.

At USD 1,498, this TV makes a strong case for itself. You're getting a 65-inch OLED with top-tier smart features, excellent gaming support, and Sony's processing magic. At USD 1,998, it's a harder sell, especially when you look at what the competition offers. The value proposition really depends on which listing you land on. Our advice: don't pay full retail for this thing. Wait for a sale or grab it from the vendor with the best price.

Sony's BRAVIA XR8B is one of those TVs that makes you wonder why you waited so long to go OLED. The 65-inch panel here uses over 8 million self-lit pixels, which means when a scene calls for black, those pixels just turn off. No backlight bleed, no grayish shadows, just pure darkness. That's the headline feature, and it's a big one. But Sony isn't just leaning on the panel tech. They've paired it with their Cognitive Processor XR, which is their fancy way of saying the TV tries to process images the way your brain actually sees them, boosting color and contrast in real time.

This set is clearly aimed at people who care about picture quality above all else, but it's also got a serious gaming side. You get a 120Hz native refresh rate, VRR, ALLM, and HDMI 2.1 across four ports. Sony even mentions exclusive features for PlayStation 5, which makes sense given the ecosystem play. If you're a console gamer who also watches a lot of movies, this thing is basically built for you.

Smart features are handled by Google TV, which is one of the better platforms out there right now. You get all the major streaming apps, Google Assistant built in, AirPlay 2, and Chromecast. The smart score in our database puts it near the top of the charts, so you're not sacrificing usability for picture quality. It's a well-rounded package, though the price tag will make some folks pause. More on that later.

If you're putting this TV in a bright room with lots of natural light, you should probably look elsewhere. OLED panels struggle with reflections and can't match the peak brightness of a good mini-LED QLED. The Samsung Neo QLED or the TCL QM8K would serve you better in that environment. Also, if you're on a budget, the Hisense U8 Series offers a massive 100-inch screen for competitive money, and while you lose OLED contrast, you gain a lot of screen real estate.

Power-conscious buyers should also think twice. At 438W, this is one of the thirstier 65-inch OLEDs we've seen. If you watch TV for hours every day, that adds up. And if you need lots of USB ports for peripherals, the single USB port here is a limitation. Most people won't care, but if you're the type who plugs in a webcam, a hard drive, and a streaming stick, you'll need a hub.

If you're a movie buff who watches in a dark room and wants those inky blacks, the XR8B delivers. The OLED panel combined with Sony's processing makes for a genuinely cinematic experience, and the studio calibrated modes are a nice touch for streaming. Pair it with a PS5 and you've got a killer gaming setup too, with 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM all working together. At the lower end of the street price range, this is a compelling buy.

But if you're putting this in a bright living room with lots of windows, you might want to look at a bright mini-LED set instead. OLED panels have gotten brighter over the years, but they still can't match a good QLED for sheer luminance. And if you're on a tighter budget, the Hisense and TCL options will get you a bigger screen for less money, though you'll sacrifice some picture quality. The XR8B is a great TV for the right person, just make sure you're that person before you drop the cash.