QN80F is a representative of the Neo QLED series, meaning it is a television with Mini LED backlighting. Unlike its cheaper cousin, the QN70F model, the diodes here are placed directly behind the panel (rather than at the edges), which gives it a solid advantage right from the start when it comes to contrast control. In the 65-inch variant we tested, we counted 88 dimming zones – a result that may not be particularly impressive, but as it turned out, sufficient to achieve quite decent results.
In tests based on scenes from films such as Oblivion and The Meg, the QN80F performed well – blacks were deep, and the overall image consistency was visually appealing. However, in more demanding moments (e.g., scenes with a large number of bright details on a dark background), a halo effect appeared. This is where the limitation of the number of zones becomes evident – bright elements could bleed into one another, and some details in the dark areas lost visibility. In one scene featuring a helicopter (The Meg), we even noticed slight brightness flickering, as if the television was trying its best to maintain detail visibility at the expense of black depth.
However, these issues are not exclusive to this model – halo effects or drops in contrast during very complex scenes are challenges faced by most Mini LED televisions, even the more expensive ones. In its class, the QN80F performs positively and offers significantly better contrast than the QN70F model with edge backlighting. For most users, this will be a level more than sufficient – although not perfect.
The Bravia 3 in most variants, including the 65-inch model we tested, uses an IPS panel and unfortunately, this is not the best news for those who value depth of image and true velvety blacks. This technology has its advantages, as it offers decent viewing angles, but these come at the cost of very low contrast, which is particularly noticeable during evening viewings when we expect the screen to go dark where it should. However, this is not the end of the list of problems. Our unit also exhibited noticeable unevenness in blacks, which exacerbates the effect of their shallowness. For example, in a scene with a helicopter, the blooming in the corners of the screen and pronounced vignetting are clearly visible.
It's hard not to think that even a simple local dimming system could have salvaged the situation and added a touch of drama to the image, which is lacking here. Unfortunately, Sony has decided against such a solution, and as a result, we have a repeat of last year's issues. The Bravia 3 is therefore not a television that will charm you with cinema-like black depth. At night, instead of intense blacks, we are likely to see a grey pretending to be darkness, which may disappoint more demanding viewers.