If you plan to buy a Sony OLED TV and wonder where to find information on things to expect, you have come to the right place. In this article, we shall look at some of the problems you will likely encounter as you use this TV.
However, just before we get to the biggest complaints about using Sony OLED TV, it is essential to note that Sony is one of the best TV brands available. Sony OLED TV offers beautiful 4K pictures, multiple smart home compatibility, and impressive motion smoothing.
Most users are also attracted to this TV for its unique design, highly customizable user interface, and built-in Google Assistant. However, like any device, Sony OLEDs are not devoid of shortcomings. Therefore, it’s best to learn what others have gone through to know what to do in case such problems happen to you.
The History of the Sony OLED TV
Nearly twenty years ago, Sony adopted Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED). It was a new technology to help achieve brighter, thinner, more efficient, and better-looking image displays. The technology was also designed to enable better contrast and refresh rates.
Sony has long been a part of the OLED technology research and development. In 2004, Sony launched the world’s first PDA with an OLED display — the 3.8 inch Clie PEG-VZ90. In 2007, Sony introduced the first OLED TV, the 11-inch XEL-1.
The brand also collaborated with Panasonic to ensure that high-quality OLED TV was produced. Unfortunately, the partnership did not bear much fruit and was later canceled.
In 2022, Sony announced it would make the world’s first QD-OLED 4K TV with panels that deliver better brightness and consistent color. Sony set grand expectations with its 2022 TV lineup, and things only got more exciting with the 2023 announcement.
For 2023, Sony announced that it would release its first 77-inch QD-OLED TV. Adding that, the A80L OLED TV would be available in up to 83 inches. However, expect no more 8K models this year.
Different Sony OLED TV Models
If you plan to buy an OLED TV, you at least need to know the different models available, their picture quality, audio, and size. Sony is best known for making premium TVs. While they are a hefty investment, they are excellent options for upgrading your home.
1. Most Realistic Sony OLED TV: Sony Bravia AH8
- X-Reality PRO upscales all of your content to 4K
- Supports Dolby Vision
- Processor X1 Ultimate delivers higher contrast, better brightness, and natural colors
- Supports DTS Digital Surround
- Dedicated Game Mode for PlayStation
- Android Smart TV with Google Assistant, plus works with Alexa
Sony Bravia AH8 gives a more life-like viewing experience with true-to-life contrast, 120Hz refresh rate, and Pixel Contrast Booster to enhance each pixel for amazing picture quality. Powered by the Processor X1 Ultimate, the TV delivers ultra-realistic images with detailed blacks and refined brightness.
2. Brightest Sony OLED TV: Sony Bravia XR OLED A80K
- Features XR Cognitive Processor developed by Sony
- Triluminos Pro enhances the already outstanding picture
- Dolby Vision HDR and Auto HDR tone mapping for PS5
- 8.5ms input lag
- 4K at 120Hz
Sony Bravia XR Oled A80K promises intelligent TV processing through intense-contrast pictures with high peak brightness and an image aspect ratio of 16:9. It is a perfect screen for PlayStation 5. It works with Alexa to help you quickly change channels, adjust the volume, or turn your TV on or off.
3. Best Designed Sony OLED TV: Sony A80J
- 65-inch OLED 4K Ultra HD screen
- Smart Google TV
- Dolby Vision HDR
- Alexa compatibility
- Black bezel
Sony A80J 4K OLED TV delivers pure blacks and lifelike brightness. Cognitive Processor XR was designed to recognize how humans see and hear to deliver natural color and realism. It is also an excellent choice for watching sports and TV shows in brighter rooms, as the XR OLED contrast delivers detailed shadows and clean peak highlights. The slim black bezel is aesthetically pleasing and goes with almost any decor. You can even hang your TV like a work of art with the Sony ultra-slim wall-mount bracket.
4. Best Sony OLED TV for Movies: Sony A95K
- 4K OLED Ultra HD display
- Enjoy deep blacks, high brightness, and natural colors with the Cognitive Processor XR
- HDMI 2.1 features including 4K/120,10 VRR, and ALLM
- Google TV with Google Assistant
- Exclusive features for the PlayStation 5
Sony A95K has bright, realistic-looking colors and pure, deep blacks thanks to XR OLED Contrast Pro technology. Stream movies in 4K UHD with the BRAVIA CORE app. You can also enjoy streaming your favorite movies and TV shows from Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and more. Additionally, the A95K also supports Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced, and Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode to bring the cinema home to you.
5. Best Sony OLED TV for Gaming: Sony Bravia A90K
- Cognitive Processor XR
- Auto HDR Tone Mapping & Auto Genre Picture Switch
- Stream movies in alluring 4K HD quality
- Impressive picture quality and wide color range
- Features Google TV and Google Assistant
Sony Bravia A90K offers the best HDR performance, making it one of the best 4K TV available. The 2022 model looks good and has a reliable Google TV interface. Exclusive features for the PlayStation 5 include Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Switch. Input lag is as low as 8.5m and HDMI 2.1 features include 4K/120, 10 VRR, and ALLM for an enhanced gaming experience.
The 5 Biggest Complaints About the Sony OLED TV
Let’s look at some of the biggest complaints about Sony OLED TV.
1. The TV Randomly Turns On and Off
If you randomly search for “My Sony TV keeps going on and off” on Google, you’ll be surprised at the multiple results you will get. You’ll also find a couple of tips on how to conduct a soft reset for your TV.
While Sony promises to fix most of these issues, the only way of resolving the random turning on and off of your TV is to unplug and replug your TV back to power. However, Sony also states that such problems are prevalent in cases where users activate the power saving of sleep mode functionality.
In such a case, your TV might turn off at a particular time or when it does not detect any activities on the screen. So if you notice your TV going on and off at regular intervals of, say, 30 minutes or an hour, it’s possible that such functionalities could be active.
2. It Might Be Thicker Than You Think
A user through the techradar.com website mentioned dissatisfaction with the OLED TV thickness. While you might be stunned by the charming technology, some Sony OLED TV body casings are uniformly thicker so they can sit flush against the wall. While the screen and casing may measure about a half-inch thick, the casing could reach nearly two inches thick on the bottom two thirds, such as on the A95K, where it houses the electronics and ports.
Such thickness may seem old fashioned for for an OLED TV, and you may think it compromises your object of hanging the TV on a wall as a decorative statement. However, once you set it up and start watching, any bulkiness will be a lesser issue.
3. Brightness Issues
You may be looking for a Sony OLED TV for its picture quality. However, we cannot fail to recognize that the TV has brightness issues. This can be a big deal if you prefer watching TV in a brighter room, as peak brightness typically ranges between 600 to 800 units.
The brightness issue has plagued its users, who channeled their frustrations to various platforms online. The problem is also interconnected with dimming, especially when users play games or watch videos.
4. The Burn-In Issue
Some people are still hesitant to warm up to the hype of Sony OLEDs following its perceived longevity problem, referred to as burn-in. The burn-in issue manifests as a ghostly after-image after using the screens for longer hours.
However, the best part is that Sony introduced its Pixel Refresher called Panel Refresh to curb the burn-in issue, like in the case of its counterparts like LG and Samsung. Sony’s Panel Refresh automatically runs when the TV is off after prolonged use, or you can operate it manually whenever you feel like it.
If you use your TV for longer hours, you are at a higher risk of burn-in than an average consumer. Therefore, you shouldn’t worry about it if you use your TV under normal conditions. Sony’s Pixel Shift function subtly moves pictures to prevent image retention.
5. Price
The biggest complaint about Sony OLED TVs is the price. A simple question as “why Sony OLED is more expensive than LG” on Quora elicited many reactions, with some users citing the higher costs to the TV’s better design, software, and firmware.
Sony 77 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV with 360 Realty Audio and compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant will cost you not less than $3,000. The prices are not likely to go down any time soon.
Even after being around for over eight years, OLED TVs are still expected to be expensive, considering their new panel technology. The rising demand for more vibrant images, better-viewing rates, and better viewing angles will see the TVs maintain their higher prices for some time.
- Sony A8H 65-inch TV: BRAVIA OLED 4K Smart TV (2020)
- X-Reality PRO upscales all of your content to 4K
- Supports Dolby Vision
- Processor X1 Ultimate delivers higher contrast, better brightness, and natural colors
- Supports DTS Digital Surround
- Dedicated Game Mode for PlayStation
- Android Smart TV with Google Assistant, plus works with Alexa
- Sony OLED 65-Inch BRAVIA XR A80K
- Features XR Cognitive Processor developed by Sony
- Triluminos Pro enhances the already outstanding picture
- Dolby Vision HDR and Auto HDR tone mapping for PS5
- 8.5ms input lag
- 4K at 120Hz
- Sony A80J 65-inch TV XR65A80J BRAVIA XR OLED 4K Ultra HD Smart Google TV (2021)
- 65-inch OLED 4K Ultra HD screen
- Smart Google TV
- Dolby Vision HDR
- Alexa compatibility
- Black bezel
- Sony 55 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV A95K Series: BRAVIA XR OLED Smart Google TV, Dolby Vision HDR, Exclusive Features for PS 5 XR55A95K- 2022 Model w/SU-WL855 Ultra Slim Wall-Mount Bracket
- 4K OLED Ultra HD display
- Enjoy deep blacks, high brightness, and natural colors with the Cognitive Processor XR
- HDMI 2.1 features including 4K/120,10 VRR, and ALLM
- Google TV with Google Assistant
- Exclusive features for the PlayStation 5
- Sony A90K 48-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV
- Cognitive Processor XR
- Auto HDR Tone Mapping & Auto Genre Picture Switch
- Stream movies in alluring 4K HD quality
- Impressive picture quality and wide color range
- Features Google TV and Google Assistant
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