Sony Bravia 8 MK2 Review

Bravia 8 II / XR8M

Available screen sizes: 55”65”

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This TV was tested by:

Maciej Koper

Paweł Koper

Last updated::

8/18/2025 12:55:26 PM

When in 2023 Sony released the model A95L, the world of televisions talked about an almost perfect design – a device that managed to combine cinema-quality picture with modern features. Therefore, it’s no surprise that expectations for its successor were enormous. The Sony Bravia 8 II (Mk2) is the direct heir to this legend, meant to take the crown left by its older cousin. The manufacturer opted for a new generation 120 Hz QD-OLED panel, its proprietary XR picture processor, and refined features for gamers and cinema lovers. From the very first moments, it’s clear that this is not just a cosmetic update but an attempt to maintain a position among the best televisions of 2025. How does the new Sony Bravia 8 II perform? Join us for the review!

SONY Bravia 8 II - Our verdict

8.5

Overall rating

Sony Bravia 8 II is undoubtedly a worthy successor to the A95L – polished, extremely versatile, and with several noticeable improvements over its predecessor. The quality of the image, sound, and overall user experience places this model among the top premium televisions of 2025. It's a device that can captivate both movie enthusiasts and demanding gamers. One of its biggest advantages is the nearly perfect picture, where the XR processor subtly yet effectively enhances detail and smoothness without overstepping its bounds with the source material. To top it off, there’s the phenomenal Acoustic Surface sound, creating the impression that dialogues and effects come directly from the screen. Google TV operates very smoothly, offering a vast selection of apps, and additional features – like the ability to play in the cloud on a PlayStation console or access to Bravia Core – elevate the device's value. There’s also no shortage of low input lag, variable refresh rate, and full support for modern HDR formats.

Nevertheless, in this barrel of honey, there are a few spoonfuls of tar. The lack of refresh rates above 120 Hz, only two HDMI 2.1 ports, and mediocre performance in daylight are shortcomings that should not exist in a television of this class in 2025. And while for many these may not be deal-breaking flaws, the competition in the super premium segment is becoming increasingly stronger and more uncompromising. Will these shortcomings make it harder for the Bravia 8 II to win over customers' wallets? That’s for you to assess, the market… and sales figures. Regardless, the Bravia 8 II is a phenomenal product that would definitely be hard not to recommend.

Advantages

Amazing Contrast and Black
High brightness in HDR content
Great motion smoothness: QD-OLED 120Hz display
Many features for gamers VRR, ALLM, HGIG, GameBar
Top-notch digital image processing quality (XR Processor)
A multitude of apps on GoogleTV
Two remotes included
Phenomenal sound with DTS and Dolby Atmos audio support

Disadvantages

Only Two HDMI 2.1 Ports: One of the HDMI 2.1 ports is used for eARC (Soundbar)
Cherry black effect in bright light: The QD-OLED panel causes blacks to lose their depth in strong light
Average brightness in SDR mode (competition in this price range can do a lot more)
Missing additional smoothness modes for PC gamers

Movies and series in UHD quality

9.1
Classic TV, YouTube

9.4
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

9.0
Gaming on console

9.3
TV as a computer monitor

7.6
Watching in bright light

5.6
Utility functions

8.9
Apps

9.6
Sound quality

8.5

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

Kolor ramki: Graphite

Review Sony Bravia 8 MK2 Appearance of the TV

Regulacja podstawy: stand-Height Adjustment
Montaż na płasko: Yes
Akcesoria: accessories-Two remote controls, accessories-Stand

Sony Bravia 8 II immediately gives the impression of a premium-class device and it’s clear that it stylistically references the legend that was the A95L model. The design may not be as extremely slim as competitors like the Samsung S95F or LG G5, but there’s a practical justification for it – according to the manufacturer, the extra thickness hides a cooling panel that impacts the durability and performance of the display. The design itself remains true to what Sony has accustomed us to over the years – it’s elegant, minimalist, and not overdone. In the package, we get solid, stylish legs that, while they can no longer be mounted centrally (like in the predecessor), fortunately retain the option for height adjustment to accommodate a soundbar. The only element that might raise concerns is the rear casing made of plastic. However, Sony explains that it has a specific structural application. Despite this, the Bravia 8 II is a television that can appeal and look fantastic in a modern living room.

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SONY Bravia 8 II - Contrast and black detail

Viewing mode Game mode

10/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Review Sony Bravia 8 MK2 Contrast and black detail

Result

∞:1

Result

∞:1

Result

∞:1

Result

∞:1

Result

∞:1

Visibility of details in the lights:

In terms of black levels and contrast, the Sony Bravia 8 II is absolutely top-notch – and I mean that in every sense of the word. We have a QD-OLED panel here, which naturally offers near-infinite contrast. This means that each pixel can completely turn off, allowing black areas of the image to be truly black, rather than dark grey or navy blue. The effect is particularly impressive in cinematic conditions when the lights in the room are dimmed – then the picture takes on true depth and a cinematic quality. The Bravia 8 II also impresses with its separation of lights in challenging scenes. Test materials from films like Oblivion demonstrate how precisely the TV can distinguish small light sources from the surrounding darkness – without the halo or blurring effects that can still occur in the best LCD TVs (even the Bravia 9). Let's add that bright elements maintain full intensity even against absolute black. This not only creates a huge visual impact but also translates to better detail reproduction in high-contrast scenes, which is particularly important in HDR content.

SONY Bravia 8 II - HDR effect quality

Viewing mode Game mode

8.4/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Supported formats: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 99.9%, Bt.2020: 89.3%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Sony Bravia 8 MK2 Brightness measurement

Result

1922 nit

Result

2034 nit

Result

1999 nit

Result

2026 nit

Result

770 nit

Thanks to the new QD-OLED panel, the Sony Bravia 8 II can achieve astronomically high brightness levels of around 2000 nits, translating to near-reference quality in films and series recorded in HDR format. In test materials such as Life of Pi and Sicario 2, the effect is absolutely stunning – details in bright parts of the image remain perfectly visible, and night scenes captivate with depth and contrast. However, it’s not perfect. Compared to its most formidable competitors, the Bravia 8 II shows a noticeable drop in brightness during full-screen, very bright scenes. When comparing peak luminance with 100% white brightness in HDR mode, the Bravia 8 II can appear two or three times dimmer than LG G5 or Samsung S95F models. This was particularly evident in a scene from the film The Meg – the screen became noticeably darker than in competitors' televisions. Despite this flaw, the Bravia 8 II's results still place it at the forefront of the market. It deserves praise for its absolutely top-notch colour gamut coverage – nearly 100% DCI-P3 and close to 90% BT.2020. These parameters allow full potential extraction from HDR content and provide a cinematic experience in the comfort of your 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 true value only reveals itself when compared to the best TVs currently available on the market. And this is where the greatest strength of the Sony Bravia 8 II lies. Thanks to its perfectly factory-adapted dynamic tone mapping feature, the TV can almost reference every movie scene – both those mastered around 1000 nits and those demanding ones crafted for top displays achieving 4000 nits. Yes, minimal brightness loss is noticeable in the brightest parts of the image, but it's hard to consider this a significant flaw. The Bravia 8 II is a design created with cinematic perfection in mind – and this is not only visible but can also be felt during a screening.

HDR luminance chart:

Luminancja HDR

Luminance of RGB colors

If someone thinks that the dynamic tone mapping feature alone is not enough, don't worry – most contemporary film productions are made in a format with dynamic metadata. For the Sony Bravia 8 II, this is Dolby Vision, which can fully utilise the potential of the QD-OLED panel. As seen in the comparison photo, dynamic metadata makes a huge difference, especially in the most challenging bright scenes, where the television showcases its full capabilities and maintains details where no display on the market can without it.

Static HDR10

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

SONY Bravia 8 II - Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.5/10

The fluidity of tonal transitions in the Sony Bravia 8 II can be described as very good, though with a clear distinction between light and dark materials. In scenes with high luminance, the television performs exemplary – the gradation is smooth, free from visible bands or artifacts, and subtle colour transitions maintain full consistency. This is particularly evident in HDR materials, where bright skies or illuminated frames look nearly perfect – here the rating could easily be 9.5/10.

The situation is somewhat different in darker sequences. In night scenes or heavily shadowed ones, particularly in test materials, slight issues with the fluidity of gradation can be observed – transitions become less subtle. While this level does not spoil the perception of the film, a more sensitive eye will catch the difference, especially when compared to absolutely top-of-the-line models on the market. In this category, the rating is rather around 7.5/10.

Review Sony Bravia 8 MK2 Smoothness of tonal transitions

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 true showcase of the capabilities of the Bravia 8 II. Sony has long been regarded as a master in this field, and here it only confirms its reputation. The proprietary XR processor can extract nearly the maximum from lower resolution materials – whether it's TV or an old movie from a DVD, the image appears clearer, with more detail and better depth. Sure, if we feed it exceptionally poor-quality material (like our archival photo with the Model), it won't work miracles, but in everyday viewing, it’s hard to find fault.

The gentle gradation feature also performs excellently. In the “Medium” setting, it effectively smooths tonal transitions, eliminating stripes on colourful and grey gradients, while not destroying film grain or fine image details. It’s this balance between delicacy 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%

Review Sony Bravia 8 MK2 Blur and motion smoothness

Motion fluidity is practically a closed topic in the case of the Bravia 8 II. The OLED with 120 Hz refresh rate naturally provides a very clean, clear image in dynamic scenes, so it's hard to complain about anything here. However, one of the best smoothing systems on the market deserves particular praise. They allow for precise adjustment of movie fluidity to personal preferences – from gentle smoothing to an almost "theatrical" effect – without the risk of artificial jumps, image tearing, or annoying artifacts. It's one of those features that will be appreciated both during movie screenings and while watching sports.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Smużenie (MotionFlow 120Hz):

Motion blur in the Bravia 8 II is virtually non-existent – this is a natural advantage of OLED panels, which have an almost zero response time between pixels. Every movement is clear and free of “trailing,” even in the most dynamic scenes. Interestingly, there is a BFI feature (described in the menu as “Cleanliness”), which is defaulted to “Low.” When switched to “High,” we did not notice any improvement at either 60 or 120 Hz; instead, the picture began to flicker slightly and lost a lot of brightness. This is 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 from previous years and in the Bravia 8 II, it has prepared a package of features for gamers that is hard to describe as anything other than "almost perfect". We have everything you’d expect from equipment of this class – VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision Gaming mode, HGiG, and even a handy Game Bar that allows you to quickly check parameters and change settings without leaving the game. It's also worth noting how smoothly and seamlessly these features work – no delays, no strange stutter. You simply turn on the game and everything looks as it should. Unfortunately, there are a few "buts". The manufacturer still provides us with only two full bandwidth HDMI ports, so if someone has a console, a PC, and another device like a Soundbar connected via eARC, the fun begins with plugging and unplugging cables. It's also surprising that there's no support for 1440p at 120 Hz – particularly important for Xbox gamers. Overall though – this is one of those TVs that can comfortably be placed in the centre of a gaming lounge and enjoyed without major compromises.

SONY Bravia 8 II - Input lag

9.8/10

Input lag on the Bravia 8 II is a strong point that every gamer will appreciate. With 120 Hz content, the values hover around 10 ms, placing this TV among the best – the response is almost instantaneous, and controls in fast-paced games remain fully predictable. At 60 Hz, the latency naturally doubles, but it still stays at a level that can be deemed exemplary. Importantly, Sony has done exceptionally well with Dolby Vision support in games – it operates here exceptionally smoothly and quickly. This is a significant change compared to previous years when Dolby Vision Gaming on TVs of this brand could cause additional latency or minor fluidity issues. Now it’s clear that the manufacturer has perfected this aspect 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 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes

Font clarity: Good

Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good

Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 10ms

Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB

Max refresh rate: 120Hz

G-Sync: Yes

Review Sony Bravia 8 MK2 Compatibility with PC

Compared to last year's A95L, the Bravia 8 II has made a significant leap forward in terms of compatibility with PCs. Support for chroma 4:4:4 works flawlessly, so text – both regular and very small – remains sharp and clear. This means that working with documents, spreadsheets, or even editing photos doesn't strain the eyes and doesn't require fiddling with settings.

However, there's a bit of a letdown. For a TV of this calibre, one would expect an additional gaming mode with a refresh rate above 120 Hz. After all, in the price segment this model is in (and even in lower ones), 165 Hz and even 240 Hz are becoming more common. Here, that option is missing, which may be a slight disappointment for some PC enthusiasts. Fortunately, thanks to the low input lag and G-Sync support, the Bravia 8 II still manages to immerse you in PC gaming without feeling lag or image tearing. It's equipment that works well not only in the living room but also on the 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 the use of a QD-OLED panel, the television maintains full colour depth and high contrast even when viewed from a large angle. This is a distinct advantage over constructions based on WOLED panels, which can slightly lose saturation and detail when the viewer is positioned more extremely. Like its competitor, the Samsung S95F, the Bravia 8 II performs almost flawlessly in this category – no matter whether we're watching a film from the couch, a chair next to it, or standing in the corner of the room, the image remains true to the original.

SONY Bravia 8 II - TV efficiency during daytime

5.6/10

Matrix coating: Glare

Reflection suppression: Good

Black levels during daytime: Average

For a TV of this class, we expected a better performance. An average SDR brightness of around 400 nits is definitely not enough to talk about great visibility in a sunlit lounge. In very demanding lighting conditions, we will be forced to reach for curtains or… move the TV to another place. As with every QD-OLED panel, the black in daylight is not perfectly black – it takes on a slightly cherry hue. Fortunately, this technology also has its advantages over WOLED panels – it significantly more effectively suppresses reflections, making direct light reflections less intrusive. Despite this advantage, in overall terms, the performance of the Bravia 8 II in a bright room should be rated as average, especially considering the high-end equipment to which this model belongs.

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

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 at the screen): RF
Backlit remote control: No
Teletext: Yes
Audio only mode: Yes
Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV: Yes
Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker: Yes

Smart features:

AirPlay: Yes
Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
Wyszukiwanie głosowe: Yes
Voice search in native language: Yes
Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes

SONY Bravia 8 II – TV Features

Bravia 8 II really has a lot to offer to those who use their television in a traditional way. In the box, you get two remotes – one modern, minimalist "smart" one and the other, a traditional, numerical one, designed for those who treat their TV just as… a TV 😉. Sony also allows programming and recording TV shows onto external storage, such as a USB drive. Elements like EPG or Teletext aren’t even worth mentioning – they’re a given.

SONY Bravia 8 II – GoogleTV

When it comes to smart features, the biggest advantage is the Google TV system, which we believe Sony has refined the best on the market among all manufacturers. 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 also exclusive features that are hard to find with competitors – including the ability to play remotely on your own PlayStation console or access to a private library of films, Bravia Core, available solely on Sony TVs. In short – a complete package of possibilities.

SONY Bravia 8 II - Apps

9.6/10

SONY Bravia 8 II - Playing files from USB

Video Photos Audio

8.9/10

Video Photos Audio

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

The Bravia 8 II performs very well with multimedia playback – the built-in player handles practically everything you would expect. Sure, there are a few formats that it doesn’t support, but that’s not a serious issue. The biggest advantage is that thanks to the Google TV system, we are not limited strictly to the default player. At any moment, we can install an alternative app that can manage files that the built-in Sony software struggles with. This makes the TV a versatile multimedia hub, 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 absolute top-tier in the world of TVs. Sony once again proves that their Acoustic Surface technology is not just a marketing gimmick, but a real asset – the speakers hidden behind the screen make the entire panel act as a membrane. The soundstage is wide, dialogue sounds exceptionally clear, and the audio follows the action on screen precisely. It’s one of the few TVs where you can really do without an additional soundbar. (Of course, this is the basic one). Additionally, Sony hasn’t forgotten about formats that the competition is slowly disregarding – full DTS support is a nod to movie buffs who want to squeeze the maximum experience from films and series recorded on physical media.

Acoustic Measurements:

86dBC (Max)

75dBC