- Matching (Score) |
- Our verdict |
- TV appearance |
- Where to buy |
- Contrast and black detail |
- HDR effect quality |
- Factory color reproduction |
- Color reproduction after calibration |
- Smoothness of tonal transitions |
- Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions |
- Blur and motion smoothness |
- Console compatibility and gaming features |
- Input lag |
- Compatibility with PC |
- Viewing angles |
- Daytime performance |
- TV features |
- Apps |
- Playing files from USB |
- Sound |
- Panel details
Sony Bravia 8 MK2 Review
Bravia 8 II / XR8M
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Panel type: QD-OLED Refresh rate: 120Hz Brand: SONY Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
This review is an English translation of the Polish original. Read the original on Wybierz.tv.
When Sony released the A95L in 2023, it was regarded in the TV world as an almost perfect design, a set that combined cinema-quality picture with modern features. So it's no surprise expectations for its successor were huge. The Sony Bravia 8 II (Mk2) is the direct heir to that legend, aiming to take the crown left by its older cousin. The manufacturer has gone with a next-generation 120 Hz QD-OLED panel, its proprietary XR image processor, and refined features for gamers and cinema lovers. From the very first moments it's clear this isn't just a cosmetic update but an attempt to hold its place among the very best TVs of 2025. How does the new Sony Bravia 8 II stack up? Welcome to the review!
SONY Bravia 8 II - Our verdict
8.5
Overall rating
Sony Bravia 8 II is without doubt a worthy successor to the A95L — refined, extremely versatile and with several clear improvements over its predecessor. Picture quality, sound and the overall user experience place this model among the top premium TVs of 2025. It’s a set that can wow both film buffs and demanding gamers. One of its biggest strengths is an almost perfect image, where the XR processor subtly but effectively enhances detail and smoothness without overprocessing the source material. Add to that the phenomenal Acoustic Surface sound, which makes dialogue and effects seem to come straight from the screen. Google TV runs very smoothly and offers a huge selection of apps, while extra features — like cloud gaming on PlayStation and access to Bravia Core — boost the device’s appeal. There’s also low input lag, variable refresh rate support and full compatibility with modern HDR formats. That said, there are a few sour notes. No refresh rates above 120 Hz, only two HDMI 2.1 ports and average daylight performance are shortcomings that shouldn’t exist on a TV of this class in 2025. And while for many these won’t be deal-breakers, the super-premium segment is becoming increasingly strong and uncompromising. Will these flaws make it harder for the Bravia 8 II to win customers’ wallets? We’ll leave that to your judgement, the market… and the sales figures. Regardless, the Bravia 8 II is a phenomenal product that’s genuinely hard not to recommend.
Advantages
Amazing Contrast And Deep Blacks
High Brightness For HDR Content
Excellent Motion Handling: 120Hz QD-OLED Panel
Many Gaming Features: VRR, ALLM, HGIG, GameBar
Top Quality Digital Image Processing (XR Processor)
A Wide Selection Of Apps On Google TV
Two Remotes Included
Phenomenal Sound With DTS And Dolby Atmos Support
Disadvantages
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports: one is used for eARC (soundbar)
Cherry-black effect in bright light: the QD-OLED panel causes blacks to lose depth under strong light
Average brightness in SDR mode (the competition at this price can do a lot more)
No additional motion-smoothing modes for PC gamers
Movies and series in UHD quality9.1
Classic TV, YouTube9.4
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)9.0
Gaming on console9.3
TV as a computer monitor7.6
Watching in bright light5.6
Utility functions8.9
Apps9.6
Sound quality8.5
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SONY Bravia 8 II - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Premium
Stand type: Legs
Bezel color: Graphite
Stand: Height adjustment
Flat design: Yes
Accessories: Two remote controls, Stand
At first glance the Sony Bravia 8 II already looks like a premium piece of kit, and it’s clear the styling nods to the legendary A95L. The build may not be as razor-thin as rivals like the Samsung S95F or LG G5, but there’s a practical reason for that: according to the manufacturer the extra thickness houses a cooling panel that is intended to improve the panel’s durability and performance. The design stays true to what Sony has given us over the years — elegant, minimalist and unfussy. The set includes solid, stylish feet that can no longer be mounted centrally as on the predecessor, but thankfully height adjustment is retained so you can fit a soundbar. The only element that might raise an eyebrow is the plastic rear housing. Sony says it has a specific structural purpose. Even so, the Bravia 8 II is a TV that many will like and that looks great in a modern living room.
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SONY Bravia 8 II - Contrast and black detail
10/10
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
When it comes to black levels and contrast, the Sony Bravia 8 II is absolute elite in every sense. It uses a QD-OLED panel that naturally delivers near-infinite contrast. That means each pixel can switch off completely, so black areas of the picture are truly black rather than dark grey or navy. The effect is particularly striking in cinematic conditions when the room lights are dimmed, giving the image genuine depth and a film-like quality. The Bravia 8 II also impresses with separation of light in challenging scenes. Test clips from films like Oblivion show how precisely the TV can isolate small light sources from the surrounding darkness without the halo or bloom that still occurs on the best LCD TVs, even the Bravia 9. Add to that that bright elements retain full intensity even against absolute black. That not only makes a strong visual impact but also translates to better detail reproduction in high-contrast scenes, which matters especially for HDR content.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
SONY Bravia 8 II - HDR effect quality
8.4/10
Supported formats: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 99.9%, Bt.2020: 89.3%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1922 nit
Result
2034 nit
Result
1999 nit
Result
2026 nit
Result
770 nit
Thanks to its new QD-OLED panel, the Sony Bravia 8 II can reach an astronomically high peak brightness of around 2000 nits, which translates to near-reference quality for films and series mastered in HDR. In test material such as Life of Pi or Sicario 2 the effect is simply stunning – detail in bright areas remains perfectly visible, and night scenes impress with depth and contrast. It's not perfect, though. Compared with its fiercest rivals the Bravia 8 II shows a noticeable drop in brightness on full-screen, very bright frames. If you compare peak point luminance with the 100% white level in HDR, the Bravia 8 II can be two to three times dimmer than the LG G5 or Samsung S95F. This was particularly clear in a scene from The Meg – the screen became noticeably darker than the competitors' TVs. Despite this drawback the Bravia 8 II still ranks among the market leaders. Credit is due for the absolutely top-tier coverage of colour gamuts – DCI-P3 at almost 100% and BT.2020 close to 90%. Those are the specs that let HDR content reach its full potential and deliver a cinema-like experience at home.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Tests and numbers are one thing, but the real value only becomes apparent when set against the best TVs currently on the market. This is where the Sony Bravia 8 II's greatest strength lies. Thanks to a factory-optimised implementation of dynamic tone mapping, the TV reproduces every film scene in an almost reference-grade way, both those mastered at around 1000 nits and the more demanding ones prepared for top-tier displays reaching 4000 nits. Admittedly, there are minimal drops in brightness in the very brightest parts of the image, but it's hard to call that a significant flaw. The Bravia 8 II is engineered for cinematic perfection, and you don't just see it, you feel it during a viewing.
HDR luminance chart:
If anyone thinks dynamic tone mapping alone isn't enough, rest assured most modern film productions are delivered with dynamic metadata. On the Sony Bravia 8 II that's Dolby Vision, which can make full use of the QD‑OLED panel's potential. As shown in the comparison photo, dynamic metadata makes a huge difference, especially in the most challenging bright scenes, where the TV shows its full capabilities and preserves detail that no display on the market without dynamic metadata can.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
8/10
Straight out of the box, the Bravia 8 II performs very well. In its best IMAX® Enhanced mode the TV renders colours pleasantly and naturally, though "good" here doesn't mean "best in class". The white balance definitely needs adjustment — skin tones tend to lean slightly pinkish to cool, in both SDR and HDR material. We also noticed that the EOTF curve shows a tendency to brighten the darkest parts of the image. This likely stems from the manufacturer's desire to reveal as much detail as possible, even in deep shadow. Is that a good approach? It's hard to say definitively, but one thing's certain: it's not an ideal solution.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.2/10
After calibration we were mainly able to eliminate the excessive coolness of the picture caused by an overly strong boost to the blue channel. Reds became deeper and skin tones took on a natural, healthy look. Actors who previously seemed 'cold' now appear much livelier and more convincing on screen. One thing hasn't changed: analysis of the EOTF curve still shows the Bravia 8 II tends to brighten the darkest parts of the image. It's hard to tell whether this is an intentional choice by the manufacturer or an effect of the panel design and software. In practice this means scenes that creators intended to remain in deep shadow can reveal more detail than intended. Despite this, the picture after calibration is clearly better, with warm, natural colours and realistic skin tones making viewing on the Bravia 8 II simply more pleasant to the eye.
SONY Bravia 8 II - Smoothness of tonal transitions
8.5/10
The smoothness of tonal transitions on the Sony Bravia 8 II can be described as very good, although there is a clear distinction between bright and dark material. In high-luminance scenes the TV performs almost flawlessly, with smooth gradation free of visible banding or artefacts and subtle colour transitions remaining fully consistent. This is particularly noticeable with HDR content, where a bright sky or well-lit shots look nearly perfect — here the rating could comfortably be 9.5/10. The situation is a little different in darker sequences. In night scenes or heavily shadowed shots, especially in test material, you can spot slight issues with gradation smoothness, as transitions become less subtle. While this is not at a level that ruins the viewing experience, a more sensitive eye will notice the difference, especially compared with the absolute top models on the market. In this category the score sits around 7.5/10.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
8.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Upscaling and digital image processing are a real showcase for the Bravii 8 II. Sony has long been seen as a master in this area and this only confirms its reputation. The proprietary XR processor can extract almost the maximum from lower-resolution sources – whether it's broadcast TV or an old DVD movie, the picture looks crisper, with more detail and better depth. Of course, if you feed it exceptionally poor-quality material (like our archival shot of the Model), don't expect miracles, but in everyday viewing there's little to complain about.
The smooth gradation function also performs very well. On the "Medium" setting it effectively smooths tonal transitions, removing banding in colour and grey gradients, while not destroying film grain or fine image detail. It's this balance between subtlety and effectiveness that keeps Sony TVs among the best on the market in this category.
SONY Bravia 8 II - Blur and motion smoothness
8.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 120Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
BFI function 120Hz: Yes, 120Hz
Brightness drop with BFI: 49%
Motion handling is essentially sorted on the Bravia 8 II. The OLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate naturally delivers a very clean, sharp picture in fast-moving scenes, so there's little to complain about. What really deserves praise, though, are its motion smoothing systems, among the best on the market. They let you precisely tailor film motion to your preferences, from subtle smoothing to an almost "soap-opera" effect, without the risk of artificial stutter, frame tearing or annoying artefacts. It's one of those features you'll appreciate both during film sessions and when watching sport.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Blur (MotionFlow 120Hz):
Motion blur on the Bravia 8 II is virtually non-existent, a natural advantage of OLED panels that have almost zero pixel-to-pixel response time. Every motion is crisp and free of trailing, even in the most dynamic scenes. An interesting touch is the BFI function (listed in the menu as "Purity"), which is set to "Low" by default. When switched to "High" we didn't notice any improvement at either 60 or 120 Hz; instead the image began to flicker slightly and lost a fair amount of brightness. It's more of an option for experimenters than for everyday use.
SONY Bravia 8 II - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.4/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 120Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
1440p@120Hz:
No - 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
Sony has really done its homework and with the Bravia 8 II put together a package of features for gamers that’s hard to call anything other than 'almost perfect'. It has everything you expect in gear of this class – VRR, ALLM, a Dolby Vision Gaming mode, HGiG, and even a handy Game Bar that lets you quickly check parameters and change settings without leaving the game. It’s also a plus how smoothly and hassle-free these features run, with no latency and no odd stutters. You just fire up a game and everything looks as it should. Unfortunately, there are a few caveats. The maker still gives us only two full-bandwidth HDMI ports, so if you have a console, a PC and another device, for example a soundbar on eARC, you end up having to swap cables. It’s also surprising there’s no support for 1440p at 120 Hz, which is particularly important for Xbox gamers. Overall though, it’s one of those TVs you can confidently put at the centre of your gaming living room and enjoy gameplay without major compromises.
SONY Bravia 8 II - Input lag
9.8/10
Input lag in the Bravia 8 II is a strong point that every gamer will appreciate. With 120 Hz content the values hover around 10 ms, which puts this TV among the leaders. The response is almost instantaneous and controls in fast-paced games remain fully predictable. At 60 Hz the latency naturally doubles, but still stays at a level that could be described as exemplary. Importantly, Sony has done a great job handling Dolby Vision in games, and it works here exceptionally smoothly and quickly. It's a big change compared with past years, when Dolby Vision Gaming on TVs from this brand could introduce extra delays or minor stuttering. Now it's clear the manufacturer has refined this element to perfection.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 19 ms | 2160p60: 18 ms | 2160p60 DV: 19 ms |
| 1080p120: 10 ms | 2160p120: 9 ms | 2160p120 DV: 10 ms |
| 2160p60: 19 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 10 ms |
SONY Bravia 8 II - Compatibility with PC
7.6/10
Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate): 10ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB
Max refresh rate: 120Hz
G-Sync: Yes
Compared with last year's A95L, the Bravia 8 II has taken a big step forward when it comes to working with PCs. Chroma 4:4:4 support works flawlessly, so text, both normal and very small, stays sharp and clear. That means working on documents, spreadsheets or even editing photos isn't tiring for the eyes and doesn't require fiddling with the settings.
There is, however, some disappointment. In a TV of this class you might expect an extra gaming mode with refresh rates above 120 Hz. After all, in this price segment, and even lower ones, you increasingly see 165 Hz and even 240 Hz. That option is missing here, which may be a slight letdown for some PC enthusiasts. Fortunately, thanks to low input lag and G-Sync support, the Bravia 8 II can still draw you into PC gameplay without any feeling of delay or stutter. It's gear that works not only in the living room but also on a gamer's desk.
SONY Bravia 8 II - Viewing angles
9.8/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 11%
In this regard the Bravia 8 II is at the absolute forefront of the market. Thanks to its QD-OLED panel, the TV retains full colour depth and high contrast even when viewed at wide angles. That's a clear advantage over WOLED-based sets, which can slightly lose saturation and detail with more extreme viewing positions. Like its rival, the Samsung S95F, the Bravia 8 II performs in this category almost flawlessly. Whether you're watching a film from the couch, the armchair next to it, or standing in the corner of the room, the picture remains faithful to the original.
SONY Bravia 8 II - Daytime performance
5.6/10
Panel finish: Glare
Reflection suppression: Good
Black levels during daytime: Average
For a TV of this class, we expected a better result. An average SDR brightness of around 400 nits is definitely too low to speak of excellent visibility in a sunlit living room. In very demanding lighting conditions we'll have to pull the blinds or move the TV elsewhere. As with every QD-OLED panel, blacks in daylight are not perfectly black, taking on a slight cherry hue. Fortunately, this technology also has advantages over WOLED panels, as it suppresses reflections much more effectively, so direct glare is less bothersome. Despite that plus, overall the Bravia 8 II's performance in a bright room should be judged as average, especially for a high-end model.
Panel brightness
Sony Bravia 8 MK2: 419 cd/m2
SONY Bravia 8 II - TV features
8.9/10
System: Google TV
System performance: Good
- HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): Yes
- Recording programming: Yes
- Picture in Picture (PiP): No
- RF remote control (no need to aim): RF
- Backlit remote control: No
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: Yes
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
- Voice search: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
SONY Bravia 8 II – TV features
The Bravia 8 II has plenty to offer people who use their TV in a classic way. The box includes two remotes: one modern, minimalist "smart" remote, and a second traditional numeric remote made for those who just treat their TV... like a TV 😉. Sony also lets you schedule and record TV programmes to external storage, such as a USB stick. Features like EPG or teletext need no mention — they're a given.
SONY Bravia 8 II – Google TV
When it comes to smart features, the biggest advantage is Google TV, which, in our view, Sony has refined better than other manufacturers on the market. Although the system can be demanding on hardware, it runs very smoothly on the Bravia 8 II. Google TV also offers a huge selection of apps, which is another strong point. There are exclusive features you won't find with competitors, including the ability to remote-play from your own PlayStation console and access to the Bravia Core film library, available only on Sony TVs. In short, the complete package.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby True HD 7.1: Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: Yes
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: Yes
- DTS-HD Master Audio: Yes
Senior accessibility
- Numeric keyboard on TV: Yes
- Font size adjustment: No
- Audio description: Yes
SONY Bravia 8 II - Apps
9.6/10
SONY Bravia 8 II - Playing files from USB
8.9/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
Bravia 8 II handles media playback very well. The built-in player plays practically everything you'd expect. Admittedly, there are a few formats it doesn't support, but that's not a major issue. The real advantage is that, thanks to Google TV, we're not limited to the default player. At any time we can install an alternative app that will cope with files the built-in Sony software struggles with. That makes the TV a universal media centre, ready to handle almost any format.
SONY Bravia 8 II - Sound
8.5/10
86dB
Maximum volume
Supported codecs (TV speakers)
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
In terms of sound, the Bravia 8 II is absolutely top-tier in the TV world. Sony once again proves that its Acoustic Surface technology isn't a marketing gimmick but a real asset, with the speakers hidden behind the screen turning the whole panel into a diaphragm. The soundstage is wide, the dialogue sounds exceptionally clear, and the sound follows the on-screen action precisely. It's one of the few TVs where you can genuinely skip an extra soundbar (the basic kind, of course). On top of that, Sony hasn't forgotten the formats the competition is slowly dropping; full DTS support is a nod to cinephiles who want to get the most out of films and series recorded on physical media.
Sound Quality Test:
Acoustic Measurements
86dBC (Max)
75dBC
SONY Bravia 8 II - Panel details
Software version during testing: 112.632.050.1EUA
Image processor: MT5897 6GB RAM
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Founder and originator of the "ChooseTV" portal
Journalist, reviewer, and columnist for the "ChooseTV" portal
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