Sony vs. Samsung TVs: What Are the Pros and Cons of Each TV Brand?

Key Points

• Sony and Samsung are market leaders in the TV industry, constantly releasing innovative devices.
• Sony and Samsung offer visually appealing designs for their TVs, with Samsung’s edge-to-edge screen display being particularly impressive.
• Sony and Samsung use different panel technologies, with Sony’s QD-OLED and Samsung’s Quantum Dot technology standing out.
• Sony TVs have the Cognitive Processor XR for realistic picture quality, while Samsung TVs have the Neural Quantum Processor and impressive upscaling technology.
• Samsung TVs offer a better gaming experience with features like the Samsung Gaming Hub and high refresh rates.

Sony and Samsung have constantly attacked the TV market with multiple neat devices, cementing their position as the TV industry’s market leaders. Their never-ending battle saw Samsung throw its first punch of 2022 with its dazzling OLED and QNED TVs. Sony countered the punches with OLED TVs that boast the innovative QD-OLED panel.

While consumers enjoy this innovation-driven battle, it often poses challenges when shopping for a TV, as they must select the best TV in a market oversaturated with neat devices. Moreover, both companies usually sweeten their TVs with eye-catching discounts and enticing warranties.

Luckily, we have done our due diligence on models from both brands and highlighted the key differences. Below is a review of Sony vs. Samsung TVs.

Sony vs. Samsung TVs: Side-by-Side Comparison

Sony vs. Samsung TVs: What’s the Difference?

The table above depicts some of the differences between both TVs; however, it doesn’t paint the whole picture. So, let’s dive deep into the differences between Sony and Samsung TVs.

Design

The first point of comparison in our Sony vs. Samsung review is the TVs’ design. And it seems Samsung and Sony understand the power of impulse buying because their TVs are visually appealing at first glance.

Dressed in a razor-thin bezel, Sony TVs perfectly fit into your lifestyle, especially with their dual-style design. Both Sony models’ (A95K and A80L) front-position style immerses you into the TV world, while the back-position style allows you to place the TV close to the wall, thus perfectly blending with your surrounding artwork.

Unfortunately, Sony TVs aren’t perfect design-wise because their rear side is a bit plain even for their premium models, which may be discouraging if the TVs are integral to your interior décor.

Best Display

Sony 65-Inch 4K A95K Series

$2,398.00

• Broad viewing angle
• Cognitive Processor XR 
• QD-OLED technology delivers vivid colors
• Dolby Atmos and DTS:X with Vertical Surround Engine
• Great reflection-handling capabilities
• 360 Spatial Sound

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11/26/2023 02:02 pm GMT

If you think Sony’s design is impressive, you will love the Samsung TVs’ cutting-edge slim, and sleek design that complements any space, irrespective of the surrounding objects. Moreover, these TVs’ edge-to-edge screen display is jaw-dropping; it creates the allure that you are watching the TV on a thin glass without a frame, which is impressive.

Adding to the TVs’ specs is a central stand, which isn’t a new design because we have seen a similar concept with our modern TVs. All in all, whereas both models are super-attractive, we prefer the Samsung TVs’ design. This doesn’t mean Sony TVs are poorly designed. 

Panel Technology

Next, we have panel technology, and we have realized that Sony and Samsung will go to extreme lengths to break the rules of panel design. Watch as your images come alive, thanks to the Sony A80L OLED display panel.

Furthermore, unlike LED TVs, the A80L has self-lighting pixels that make black shades more lifelike, especially when watching a dark-themed movie.

Interestingly, QLED Samsung TVs apply the same concept used in LED TVs, but where they shine the most is their Quantum Dot technology, which produces color. As such, the QN900B doesn’t suffer from color bleed, as seen with other TVs that use liquid crystals to illuminate different colors.

However, the Sony A95K and Samsung S95C stand out the most thanks to their QD-OLED panel, which offers the best of both worlds. Besides the stunning blacks that we usually see in OLED panels, Sony and Samsung paired these TVs with a Quantum Dot layer to match the brightness levels in QLED TVs.

What we have in the Sony A95K and Samsung S95C are hybrid TVs with stunning contrast and good viewing angles. As such, we have a tie in the panel technology battle.

Picture Processor and Quality

Next on our discussion is picture processor and quality, a strong element both companies use to attack the TV market. With Cognitive Processor XR, Sony TVs recreate pictures similar to how the human eye works to provide real-world images.

We perceive the world through our eyes; the Cognitive Processor XR works the same way, as it identifies the focal point in all images in real time and enhances them to make them realistic.

Best OLED

Sony 65-Inch BRAVIA XR A80L Series

$1,698.00

• XR OLED Contrast Pro and XR Triluminos Pro
• HDMI 2.1 features like 4K/120, VRR, and ALLM
• Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode
• Cognitive Processor XR

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11/26/2023 12:25 am GMT

For example, if you’re watching a basketball game, these Sony TVs will add depth to the player currently dribbling the ball, as that’s the player we typically focus on when watching a game.

Moreover, the processor’s mapping technology improves your content’s background color and adds texture to ensure the movie looks real and natural.

Conversely, the Neural Quantum Processor is the brain behind the impressive picture quality seen in Samsung TVs. It improves the TVs’ picture quality in real-time and on a scene-by-scene basis.

Furthermore, your movie will leap off the screen thanks to Samsung’s Quantum HDR, which maps every scene and adds deep blacks and whites to make images lifelike. Nevertheless, where these Samsung TVs upstage many devices in the market is their upscaling feature.

For example, the S95C boasts the 4K upscaling technology, which makes low-quality images clear and sharper. However, no TV can outshine the QN900B’s 8K upscaling technology, which makes everything come alive in 8K.

In addition, Samsung packed the QN900B with a real depth enhancer, which increases the depth and contrast of the main object in the picture, naturally guiding your eyes toward the object.

Our only criticism of this Samsung TV is that we don’t have a lot of 8K content, so buying it might be an overstretch.

Gaming Experience

Gamers have every reason to smile because both Samsung and Sony TVs are designed to make your gaming experience as realistic as possible. You will be at the heart of every action thanks to the Sony TVs’ jaw-dropping graphics paired with a 120Hz refresh rate that ensures smooth gaming.

Moreover, the gaming settings will be at your fingertips thanks to Sony’s game mode feature that gives you quick access. Also, Sony TVs’ HDR tone mapping boosts picture quality, and with the TVs’ low latency mode, you don’t have to worry about lag performance.

Brand New with Great Specs

SAMSUNG 77-Inch OLED 4K S95C TV 2023

$3,597.99

• Neural Quantum Processor 4K can effectively manage color and contrast
• 1374 nits of peak brightness ideal for darker rooms
• HDR 10, HDR 10+, and HLG
• Offers smart features for gamers like GameBar 3.0, Minimap Sharing 3, and Virtual Aim Point

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11/25/2023 11:21 pm GMT

On the other hand, all your favorite games will come together in your living room thanks to the Samsung Gaming Hub feature. You can stream games on various platforms, like Xbox, on your Samsung TV without buying a console or downloading the games.

Moreover, Samsung TVs like the S95C and QN900B have a 120 to 144Hz refresh rate. Samsung paired this high refresh rate with the Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro feature, which consistently creates crisp images when playing racing games.

Overall, Samsung TVs are the obvious winners; you can game without buying a console, which is tempting.  

Sound

Next on our comparison of Sony vs. Samsung TVs is sound and audio performance. Thanks to Sony’s ingeniously immersive screen sound, you can perceive sound emanating from the center of the screen, which is surprising considering many TVs produce sound beneath the screen.

In addition, Sony packed these TVs with Dolby Atmos, so you will get the best surround sound experience that will immerse you in your movie or game. Moreover, Sony TVs like the A80L have Voice Zoom technology, which analyzes the TV sound and suppresses ambient elements to make it clear.

Conversely, you can take your entertainment to the next level if you pair your Samsung TV with a soundbar. However, this doesn’t discredit the Samsung TVs’ internal speakers, which provide one of the best 3D sound experiences thanks to Dolby Atmos.

All in all, Sony TVs are the obvious winners in this battle, as they have multiple features that improve sound quality.  

Price

Unsurprisingly, Samsung TVs are often more expensive than Sony TVs. For example, a 65-inch Samsung QN900B costs $3,999.99, while a similarly sized Sony A95K costs $2,999.99.

Best Overall

SAMSUNG 65-Inch QLED 8K QN900B Series

$2,897.95

• Infinity Screen with a near-invisible bezel
• Quantum Matrix Technology Pro
• 8K processor uses 20 neural networks to deliver an immersive picture yet
• Quantum HDR 64X technology
• Dolby Atmos

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11/26/2023 12:26 am GMT

Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean you should always go for the cheaper option; Samsung TVs often have additional smart features you may not find in Sony TVs. Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable device with impeccable specs, you should get a Sony TV.

History of Sony TVs

Masaru Ibuka is Sony’s founder and the brains behind the company becoming a TV manufacturing giant. Sony officially entered the TV market in 1960 when it released the TV8-301, a 23-transistor TV.

However, Sony’s defining moment was in 1990 when it released a 36-inch HD TV, which was miles ahead of the traditional cathode ray tubes people used.

Still, it wasn’t until 2002 that Sony released their first liquid crystal TVs, which provided a solid foundation for the LED and Sony OLED TVs we usually enjoy today. Sony further cemented its legacy in 2005 when it released the KDL-46X1000, its first BRAVIA TV.

Fast forward to 2023, and Sony TVs sit at the top of the heap as some of the best TVs, boasting multiple advanced specs, such as 4K displays, OLED panels, Dolby Atmos, and cognitive picture processors.

History of Samsung TVs

Samsung’s history of excellence doesn’t begin on a high note because, for decades, it went unnoticed. However, everything changed in 1998 when Samsung released a 55-inch projection TV that shook the global TV market.

Two years later, Samsung defied all odds again and released an LCD TV in 2000, which left people gushing for being wall-mountable. In 2006, Samsung showcased its creative side and launched the Bordeaux LCD TV, which broke several TV design rules and was lighter than the traditional TV sets on the market.

Additionally, the commitment to create the best definition TV didn’t end as Samsung introduced their first QLED TV in 2017, which used the innovative and impressive Quantum Dot technology.

All in all, Samsung hasn’t exhausted its ideas, and from what we have seen from their 2023 TV lineup, expect more mind-blowing features in their next devices.

Sony vs. Samsung TVs: 5 Must-Know Facts

1. Both TVs are spectacular, but Samsung slightly edges out Sony TVs, especially when you compare its design, picture quality, and gaming features.
2. Sony TVs are cheaper than Samsung TVs for a given class and TV size.
3. Both TVs have a panel that supports a 4K display, but you can upgrade to the QN900B, which supports 8K content.
4. Sony TVs have better immersive sound than Samsung TVs.
5. Both TVs use the all-new picture processor technology, so you shouldn’t worry about image quality, irrespective of the TV you choose.

Sony vs. Samsung TVs: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?

So, which brand has better TVs: Sony or Samsung? Both brands are widely known for their quality specs, but Samsung TVs are slightly better than Sony TVs. Besides Samsung TVs’ superior performance, their sleek designs tempt you into impulse buying.

Moreover, Samsung TVs have unmatched picture quality; they make movie scenes and gaming look realistic. Lastly, you get access to free Xbox games thanks to Samsung’s Gaming Hub; this feature is not available for Sony TVs.

However, our praise for Samsung TVs does not mean you should write off Sony TVs completely. In fact, Sony TVs are arguably the best pick when looking for an affordable TV that doesn’t shy away from performance.