Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) vs LG QNED80A6A (VA)

Direct comparison

BRAVIA 3 / K-(XX)S3

Info

Available screen sizes: 50”

Available screen sizes: 50”55”75”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2025

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Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: WebOS

Model year: 2025

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Overall rating

6.2

6.2

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    6.3

    6.3

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    6.3

    6.5

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    5.4

    5.5

  • Gaming on console

    6.6

    7.0

  • TV as a computer monitor

    3.5

    5.8

  • Watching in bright light

    5.4

    4.4

  • Utility functions

    6.1

    6.8

  • Apps

    9.6

    9.1

  • Sound quality

    6.5

    6.0

Advantages

  • Significantly better contrast and deeper blacks than in the IPS variant

  • Higher screen brightness, which improves viewing comfort during the day

  • More uniform panel, fewer problems with vignetting and lightening

  • Smooth tonal transitions, especially in bright scenes

  • Wide colour palette coverage (over 91% DCI-P3)

  • Effective upscaling of lower quality materials

  • Support for Dolby Vision, which partially enhances the experience in HDR content

  • Google TV system with a large library of applications

  • Two remotes included – a classic and a minimalist one

  • High native contrast (over 6000:1) providing deep blacks in movies

  • Excellent colour saturation (DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage above 90%) thanks to PFS technology (QNED).

  • Good detail reproduction in HDR

  • Outstanding WebOS 25 system – fast, intuitive and guaranteed updates

  • Magic remote included – cursor control

  • Effective upscaling and tone mapping smoothing function

  • Decent features for gamers (VRR, ALLM, HGiG), despite the 60Hz panel

  • Low input lag

  • Smooth tonal transitions – no visible "stepping" on colour gradients

  • Good font readability when connected to PC (sharp text).

Disadvantages

No like
  • Much worse viewing angles than in the version with an IPS panel

  • Collaboration with PC clearly weaker: worse font readability and noticeable dithering

  • Occasional stuttering of the Google TV system

  • No USB recording function

  • Narrow viewing angles – the picture loses quality when viewed from the side

  • Aggressive local dimming – in difficult scenes causes noticeable blooming.

  • 60Hz panel

  • No support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+

  • Average brightness

  • Flat sound lacking bass – a soundbar is recommended

Our verdict

Sony Bravia 3 in the VA panel variant is a television that, in terms of character, remains the same budget model, but the change in panel type makes watching films and series significantly more enjoyable. The higher contrast and deeper blacks finally allow for evening viewing without the impression that the screen is drowning in shades of grey. This is a considerable advantage over the IPS version, even if it comes at the expense of much worse viewing angles. In practice, it comes down to choice – if we primarily watch from a sofa positioned directly in front, the VA panel offers a decidedly better effect. The rest of the picture remains largely the same. The PFS filter still provides pleasantly saturated colours, and the upscaling is at a good level, resulting in SDR content looking clean and aesthetic. The Google TV system, although it doesn’t always run perfectly smoothly, remains a huge asset – access to a wide library of apps and streaming platforms is something that competitors in this price range do not always offer in such a polished form. At the same time, the Bravia 3 with VA does not solve all the issues of its predecessor. The HDR brightness of around 350 nits still does not allow for a true high dynamic range effect, and the lack of local dimming means that fine details can still be overexposed. Additionally, there is no USB recording, which was present in the predecessor. So, who is the Bravia 3 in the VA version for? It is for those who want to enter the world of Sony televisions at a lower cost and care about decent quality in films and series, primarily watching lower quality content. It is not a proposal for gamers or for someone expecting cinematic HDR effects. Similar to the IPS version, it is hard to speak of a bargain – even if it is the “cheapest Sony of 2025,” it remains more expensive than competitors who can offer Mini-LEDs with clearly better contrast and brightness at the same price. Therefore, it is worth considering this model primarily when we come across an attractive promotion.

Looking at the QNED80A in the VA version as a whole, we are dealing with a television that has a very specific character. It is equipment that film lovers who enjoy evening screenings will appreciate, provided they... accept certain shortcomings. We get really solid blacks and contrast here, but we pay for it with narrow viewing angles. There’s no point in hiding it: this is a television for those who have their favourite spot in the middle of the sofa. Of course, you can feel some budget cuts here – the 60Hz panel and edge dimming, which sometimes struggles in challenging scenes, are elements that remind you this is not the top tier of televisions. However, LG cleverly compensates for these hardware deficiencies with excellent software. It is quite surprising how well this television manages to extract details in HDR or upscale lower quality material from cable – the processor does a great job here, making the picture appear more expensive than it actually is. If we add to this the excellent WebOS system and gaming features, which, despite the lack of 120Hz, perform admirably, we get a very successful screen for home cinema. It requires a certain understanding, but in return, it rewards you with a truly vibrant image at an affordable price.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
4 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
Other inputs
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Good
Good
Stand type
stand-type-
Legs
Bezel color
Graphite
Graphite
Stand
Base adjustment
Fixed
Flat design
No
Yes
Accessories
Two remote controls, Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

5.7/10

6.3/10

Local dimming function: No

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 6 (1 x 6)

Contrast:

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) Contrast and black detail

Result

5,550:1

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) Contrast and black detail

Result

5,250:1

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) Contrast and black detail

Result

5,050:1

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) Contrast and black detail

Result

5,150:1

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) Contrast and black detail

Result

4,000:1

Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) Contrast and black detail

Result

24,550:1

Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) Contrast and black detail

Result

7,900:1

Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) Contrast and black detail

Result

22,150:1

Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) Contrast and black detail

Result

6,700:1

Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) Contrast and black detail

Result

5,550:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

Check the visibility of bright lights on a dark background. Mini-LEDs often struggle with this. The photo does not compare black levels – that’s what the video below is for.

The video accurately shows differences in contrast and black levels between TVs, as well as potential issues: halo around bright objects or Mini-LED zone operation visible as brightness jumps.

The biggest difference in the 50-inch variant is the way the Bravia 3 handles contrast. Although the television is not equipped with a local dimming system, the very change of the matrix type to VA provides a noticeable effect. The contrast is definitely higher than in the other sizes based on IPS panels, and the black no longer resembles faded shades of grey or navy. As a result, much more detail is visible in the darker parts of the image, making evening viewing simply more enjoyable. It's still not on the level of the more expensive Sony models, but the difference compared to the other variants of the Bravia 3 is clear and easily noticeable after just a short viewing session.

The model we tested, with a 55-inch diagonal, is equipped with a VA panel. And here we have great news: this is a huge advantage over the IPS version if you care about deep blacks and a vivid picture. Our measurements showed that in typical movie scenes, the native contrast is really solid, exceeding values around 6000:1. In practice, this means that black is truly black, not grey, which works very well for occasional evening viewing and is not annoying. Interestingly, there were moments when our measurement devices indicated contrast levels of over 20,000:1. Where does such a jump come from? The LG QNED80A is equipped with a Local Dimming system. However, this is an edge-lit setup. This means that the television can dim vertical backlight strips where the image is supposed to be dark. In theory, this sounds great and indeed allows for better numbers in graphs than with a classic LCD screen. Unfortunately, practice can be brutal. The use of edge dimming is a double-edged sword that can spoil the film viewing experience in challenging scenes. An ideal example is the helicopter scene in the film Sicario 2. When there is a lot of black on the screen and small, bright points, the dimming system starts to work very aggressively and... not very precisely. You can clearly see how entire vertical strips of the screen brighten and dim, trying to keep up with the object. Instead of deep blacks, we then see a glow (blooming), which simply looks bad and detracts significant attention from the plot. Although the dimming system improves measurable contrast, in everyday use – especially with the lights off – its aggressive operation can be irritating. Often, a better solution may turn out to be... turning off this feature or setting it to minimum, to enjoy a stable, natural black of the VA panel itself.

HDR effect quality

4.9/10

4.6/10

Supported formats
HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
HDR10, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 91.9%, Bt.2020: 67.3%
DCI P3: 93.4%, Bt.2020: 73.1%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) Brightness measurement

Result

319 nit

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) Brightness measurement

Result

360 nit

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) Brightness measurement

Result

393 nit

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) Brightness measurement

Result

365 nit

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) Brightness measurement

Result

395 nit

Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) Brightness measurement

Result

354 nit

Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) Brightness measurement

Result

335 nit

Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) Brightness measurement

Result

354 nit

Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) Brightness measurement

Result

301 nit

Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) Brightness measurement

Result

271 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

The photos show two HDR10 movies. 'Pan' is one of the brightest productions ever made, while 'Billy Lynn' (soldier) has brightness typical of streaming (Netflix, Prime, HBO MAX). Notice the intensity of effects and detail in whites.

Static HDR10

The photos present the visibility of white details in various HDR formats. They do not show brightness differences between TVs (these can be compared in the previous gallery).

HDR luminance chart:

LG QNED80A6A (VA)

Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA)

Interestingly, the 50-inch version of the Bravia 3 performs slightly better in terms of brightness than its larger variants. In measurements, it achieved around 370 nits, which still does not compete with top-tier televisions, but is sufficient to suggest a semblance of HDR effect. For some users, this level will be acceptable, while others will view it as typical for SDR content, where striking highlights or strong contrasts are not expected. It must be clearly stated that the Bravia 3 is not a television for those looking to extract the maximum quality from the most challenging film materials.

This does not mean, however, that everything performs averagely. Sony has equipped this model with an additional PFS filter, which works similarly to solutions used in QLED televisions. As a result, the coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut has increased to over 91 percent. In everyday use, this means more vivid, saturated colours and also a more pleasing image texture. Even though it lacks strong lighting effects, films and series can look significantly more appealing than with its predecessor, the X75WL.

Let's now talk about how this television shines. If you are expecting dazzling light effects, we need to temper your enthusiasm. The LG QNED80A is a moderately bright television. Our measurements in most movie scenes indicated values around 350-400 nits. This is not enough to speak of a full, cinematic HDR experience and the sense of that famous "high dynamism" offered by flagship products. However, brightness is not everything. Although the QNED80A is not a "light monster," it makes up for it in another crucial category: colours. This is where PFS technology comes into play, which LG marketers disguise under the name QNED/NanoCell. Thanks to this approach, the television offers a much wider colour palette than classic LCD designs. In our tests, coverage of the cinematic DCI-P3 palette reached a solid 93-94%. What does this mean for you? That even with lower brightness, when watching movies in HDR, colours will be vivid, deep, and appropriately saturated. The image is not washed out but rather juicy, which is a significant advantage in this price range.

Factory color reproduction

5.8/10

4.4/10

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

Sony Bravia 3 was primarily tested in film mode, which immediately proved to be the best choice among the factory settings. It is not an ideal picture, but compared to the eco mode that the television offers right out of the box, the difference is clear and it is a positive one. In film mode, one can notice a certain issue: the image appears too warm, which results from the lack of blue in the white balance. Nevertheless, in SDR content, the final effect can still be regarded as quite decent and satisfying for everyday viewing. Much more serious errors occur in HDR materials. The Color Checker analysis showed significant deviations, and poor brightness management, combined with limited colour gamut coverage, further exposes the shortcomings of the image in this mode. All of this means that HDR in the Bravia 3 edition is unconvincing and can spoil the impression left by a quite decent SDR content setup. Fortunately, this is not a hopeless situation. Various errors can be mitigated to some extent, and some can even be completely corrected through professional calibration. Therefore, we decided to check how the television would perform after such adjustments.

It might seem that since the QNED80A is one model, regardless of the version, it should offer the same picture. However, practice shows something completely different. Analyzing the variant with a VA panel in the best factory setting – that is, in Filmmaker Mode – we noticed a specific characteristic. This television, “out of the box,” serves us a picture with a clear dominance of red and a deficiency of blue. Overall, it is very warm, even hot. Many users may describe this as a picture that is “too cinematic,” leaning towards sepia. Additionally, there is the issue of the gamma curve – the television has a tendency to slightly artificially brighten scenes (gamma is too low), causing the picture to lose some depth. The good news is that these are not panel errors, but merely software issues. As always in our tests, we conducted professional calibration, which completely eliminated these shortcomings, restoring the natural white balance and correct saturation.

Color reproduction after calibration

7.5/10

7.5/10

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

Calibration allowed us to extract significantly more from the ChooseTV 3 than we could have expected at first. Firstly, it was possible to address the lack of blue, which had previously caused a noticeable warming of the image. After a slight adjustment to the white balance, most of the errors in the Color Checker measurements for SDR content practically disappeared. The shades of white became more natural, and the brightness management in gamma stabilised to a nearly perfect level, not exceeding the threshold of human eye perception. Therefore, it can confidently be said that in SDR content, after a few adjustments in settings, the ChooseTV 3 performs really brilliantly. Much worse, although still definitely better than before calibration, are the HDR contents. The white balance was brought into order, but the limitations of the IPS panel are insurmountable. The lack of local dimming means that even the smallest elements can be overexposed, which is immediately noticeable. Colour-wise, the effect is also improved, although far from ideal – many errors still exceed the threshold of four, or even five delta E units, meaning they remain visible to the human eye. It was already clear earlier that the ChooseTV 3 is not a television designed to impress with HDR quality. Nonetheless, it is pleasing to note that in SDR content, after calibration, the image can look truly excellent, and in this category, the television positively surprised us.

Was it worth spending time on calibration? Definitely yes. We managed to tame the initial, too warm white balance and, most importantly, correct the gamma curve. The television stopped artificially brightening scenes, which gave the image depth. The greatest improvement is noticeable in SDR content, that is, while watching regular television, YouTube, or playing games without HDR. Here the QNED80A shows its class – colour reproduction errors (DeltaE) have dropped below a value of 2. In technical terms, this means that the errors are virtually unnoticeable to the human eye. The image in everyday use has simply become very attractive, natural, and correct. The difficulties begin with HDR content. Although we managed to improve the white balance, the EOTF curve graph (responsible for brightness at various levels) shows that the television still "interprets" the image in its own way. This stems from the nature of the edge-lit backlight with local dimming and the fact that LG gives the calibrator very little control over this parameter. In short: the television struggles to hide its hardware shortcomings, sometimes ignoring our commands. Nevertheless, the final image is significantly more accurate and pleasant to behold than with factory settings, even if it falls a bit short of studio perfection.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

9.1/10

9.2/10

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

In terms of the fluidity of tonal transitions, the experience with the Bravia 3 featuring a VA panel is very similar to what we observed in the IPS variant; however, there is one significant factor here – screen uniformity. The VA panel performs significantly better in maintaining image consistency, which immediately translates into a higher rating. This was most easily noticeable in scenes from the film Green Knight. In the IPS version, strong brightening and vignetting practically prevented a proper assessment of the gradation itself, whereas in the 50-inch variant, this issue has been greatly reduced. As for the tonal transitions themselves, the television performs really well. In bright parts of the image, we did not notice any serious errors – the colours blend smoothly without creating artificial contours. In darker scenes, there are also no major issues with colour gradation, and thanks to the more uniform backlighting, the image is considerably more pleasant to view than in the version with the IPS panel. Therefore, it can be said that this is one of those categories in which the Bravia 3 in the 50-inch version performs surprisingly well.

We also have excellent news for those sensitive to digital artifacts. Regardless of which version of the panel you encounter, the LG QNED80A excels at gradation, meaning smooth colour transitions. In this price range, it is often the case that instead of a smooth transition (e.g., from light sky blue to navy), we see ugly, separated bands. Here, this problem is practically non-existent. In our tests, both in very bright areas of the image (like sunsets) and in challenging dark grey shades, the picture remained uniform and natural. We did not notice the irritating effect of "banding" or distinct lines connecting colours.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7/10

7/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
OK
OK
Smooth transition function
OK
OK

Smooth transition function

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video.

Image scaling SD (576i)

The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

Bravia 3 brings something more than just a shared name to the Sony television family. It stands out primarily for its ability to enhance the quality of inferior materials thanks to the processor used. Of course, we won't find the advanced XR chip known from more expensive models here, but nevertheless, it's worth noting that the image at lower resolutions looked surprisingly good. The upscaling worked effectively, and most parts of the screen were free from the typical excessive edge tearing characteristic of budget constructions. The feature enhancing the smoothness of tonal transitions is also noteworthy. In the high setting, it performs really well, effectively masking gradation imperfections without significant loss of detail. It does happen, however, that the algorithm overly smooths elements that should remain sharp – for example, faces – but overall, the effect is beneficial. The best results were achieved precisely at the highest setting, and this option could be recommended to those watching lower-quality content.

In this category, the QNED80A proves to be a true "dark horse." It is an excellent, affordable television for those who frequently watch lower-quality content – for example, traditional cable TV. The processor used here handles upscaling, that is, enhancing low resolution to native 4K, exceptionally well. The image after processing is natural, smooth, and, most importantly, not overly jagged or artificially sharpened. In the menu, we also find a dedicated option for smoothing tonal transitions in low-quality content. This feature works really effectively, eliminating annoying "banding" of colours under heavy video compression. However, we must remain vigilant. Remember that we are not dealing with a top-tier processor known from flagship OLED models. In more challenging scenes, the system may struggle and introduce minor artefacts or distortions. Nonetheless, it is definitely worth giving this feature a chance, as in most cases the quality improvement is visibly apparent.

Blur and motion smoothness

4.8/10

4.8/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
60Hz
60Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
OK
Blur reduction option
No
No
BFI function 60Hz
Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
No
BFI function 120Hz
No
No
Brightness drop with BFI
26%
-%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

The fluidity of motion has never been a strong point of televisions equipped with 60 Hz panels, and the Bravia 3 is no exception. Nevertheless, Sony has added something that may appeal to those more sensitive to the way images are displayed. This refers to the proprietary motion smoother, Motion Flow, which offers users a considerable amount of adjustment options. With it, one can make the image smoother, even theatrical, or stick to a more cinematic style with the characteristic judder that many associate with a filmic atmosphere. These functions work with content shot at lower frame rates, such as films and series recorded at 24 or 30 frames per second, which is the kind of material we encounter daily. It is precisely at this point that the motion smoother turns out to be one of the most important features in everyday use of the television, and here the Bravia 3 performs quite well.

We move on to a matter that may be decisive for many. Unfortunately, here we must point out the biggest "Achilles' heel" of the QNED80A model. This television is equipped with a panel featuring a native refresh rate of 60Hz. There is no denying it – at this price, we expected more as we know that Chinese manufacturers can offer 120Hz screens for a similar price. Due to this parameter, dynamic scenes in sports or fast-paced games are not the strongest aspect of this display. Fortunately, LG has equipped the television with a proven motion smoothing system called TruMotion. It works quite effectively with film material (24 frames). We suggest playing around with the De-Judder slider – from our experience, setting it in the range of 2-4 provides the best compromise: the motion becomes smoother, yet still looks natural, without the artificial "television theatre" effect.

Console compatibility and gaming features

4/10

6/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    No
    Yes
  • VRR range
    No
    48 - 60Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    Yes
    No
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    No
    Yes
  • 1080p@120Hz
    No
    No
  • 1440p@120Hz
    No
    No
  • 4K@120Hz
    No
    No
  • Game bar
    Yes
    Yes

Bravia 3 is not a device for e-sports enthusiasts or fans of late-night marathons with a controller in hand. The lack of 120 Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 ports puts an end to that discussion before it can even begin. This is a television for casual gamers who, after work, will fire up FIFA or racing games, not for someone who measures every frame in a spreadsheet. Nevertheless, Sony has included a few nice extras so that it isn't all so bare. ALLM works as it should, automatically switching the television to game mode (low latency). There's even a simple Game Bar, which is clear and straightforward. However, the biggest curiosity here is the PlayStation Portal app. Thanks to it, you can launch games from the PS5 wirelessly and see them immediately on the television screen. It sounds great, but it only takes a few minutes to feel significant delays. In our opinion, it is more of a showcase of capabilities than something you can use on a daily basis. If someone really wants to play, it is better to connect the console with an HDMI cable and forget about wireless issues.

Now that we have established that the QNED80A is a television with a 60Hz panel, we must say it plainly: we will not be playing here at 120 frames per second at any resolution. Does this disqualify the equipment in the eyes of gamers? Not necessarily, especially those "casual" ones. LG has decided to sweeten this technical limitation by packing quite a few useful functions inside. We have support for VRR (variable refresh rate) in the range of 48-60Hz and automatic game mode ALLM, which instantly reduces input lag upon detection of a console. All of this is managed from a very convenient, purple Game Optimizer menu, which has already become LG's hallmark. A big plus goes to the manufacturer for consistency regarding HDR. Although the television does not support Dolby Vision in games on Xbox consoles, LG adds a well-implemented HGiG standard. Thanks to this, even on a moderately bright screen, playing in HDR is clear, and the details in shadows and highlights are accurately reproduced, rather than "cut off".

Input lag

10/10

9.8/10

SDR

1080p60
12 ms
15 ms
1080p120
2160p60
12 ms
15 ms
2160p120

HDR

2160p60
11 ms
14 ms
2160p120
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
12 ms
2160p120 DV

Here, the Bravia 3 showcases its best side. Latencies drop below 12 milliseconds in almost every resolution and mode, so the response to controller movements is instantaneous and there is no feeling of delay. The impression is that the console and the television are speaking the same language, without unnecessary stops and hesitations. The Dolby Vision Gaming mode deserves special attention. In its predecessor, the X75WL model, using this feature was simply a torment – input lag could reach over 100 milliseconds, which effectively took away the enjoyment of gaming. In the Bravia 3, this problem has been completely eliminated.

At the end of the gaming section, let's take a look at how quickly the television responds to our commands. The input lag we measured in the QNED80A model is around 15 ms (at a 60Hz signal). While these may not be values that will revolutionise the market or impress professional e-sports players fighting for every millisecond, they are perfectly sufficient for the average console gamer. During tests in games, we did not notice any irritating "screen tearing" of the crosshair or delay between pressing a button on the controller and the response on the screen. The entertainment is smooth and comfortable, which is the most important thing in home gaming.

Compatibility with PC

3.5/10

5.8/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Good
Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Poor
Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
12ms
15ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
BGR
Max refresh rate
60Hz
60Hz
G-Sync
No
No

The photo shows the legibility of small fonts. Ideally, lines should be the same thickness on both light and dark text, with minimal pixel gaps.

Collaboration with a computer in the case of Bravia 3 with a VA panel does not perform as well as in the version with an IPS panel. The fonts are clearly less sharp and harder to read, which is immediately noticeable when working with text. Additionally, there is the surprising issue of dithering, which we did not notice in the IPS variant. This is quite an unusual situation, but definitely worth noting, as it may bother those planning to use the television as a monitor. As for PC gaming, there is also not much cause for enthusiasm here. The lack of support for frame synchronization with graphics cards or higher refresh rates makes the screen quite unattractive in this role. Therefore, if someone is seriously considering connecting the Bravia 3 to a computer, the better choice would be the version with an IPS panel, which performs significantly better in this regard.

Is the QNED80A suitable for connecting to a computer? In the case of the version with a VA panel, the answer is: absolutely. If you plan to use this television as a massive monitor for work, you will not be disappointed. The readability of the fonts is at a very high level – the text is sharp, clear and does not strain the eyes, which is not always a given with large screens. Additionally, there is the low input lag we mentioned earlier. This makes mouse work precise and you do not feel the characteristic "floating" of the cursor. Of course, due to the 60Hz refresh rate, it is not the ideal equipment for e-sports players gaming on PC, but for working with text, browsing the web, or occasional strategy gaming, it will perform excellently.

Viewing angles

3.2/10

3.2/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
73%
76%

The viewing angles in the Bravia 3 with a VA panel are noticeably weaker than in the version with an IPS panel. It is enough to sit slightly to the side for the image to begin to lose its saturation and clarity, and the black starts to take on a lighter shade. This is the natural price one has to pay for the significantly better contrast and deeper black, which are a clear advantage in this variant.

By opting for the VA panel version, you must be aware of a certain compromise. You get something for something – we enjoy great blacks and contrast, but we pay for it with narrow viewing angles. This is a typical feature of this technology, and the QNED80A is no exception. If you sit perfectly in front of the screen – the picture will be razor sharp. However, it is enough to shift to the side of the sofa or step away to the kitchenette to notice a degradation in the image. Colours begin to lose saturation, becoming washed out, and the deep black that we praised starts to grey. Therefore, this variant of the television is best suited for individuals who have their favourite spot in the middle of the sofa and rarely watch TV in a large gathering spread across the entire living room.

Daytime performance

5.4/10

4.4/10

Panel finish
Satin
Satin
Reflection suppression
Decent
Decent
Black levels during daytime
Good
Good

Panel brightness

LG QNED80A6A (VA): 280 cd/m2

Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA): 397 cd/m2

The performance of the Bravia 3 in the VA variant during the day is a mix of pros and cons. The manufacturer has also applied a satin coating here, but compared to IPS, it struggles more with direct reflections. When sharp light hits the screen, reflections can be more pronounced and may interfere with viewing. On the other hand, the television makes up for this with higher brightness. In typical daylight conditions, the image is more readable and clearer than in the version with the IPS panel. As a result, in everyday use, the Bravia 3 in the VA edition can perform even better, provided it is not placed in a heavily sunlit location.

How does the QNED80A perform when we don't have the curtains drawn? Let's put it bluntly: it is not the brightest television on the market, so if your living room resembles a glass greenhouse at noon, this screen may struggle to cut through the intense sunlight. For extremely challenging lighting conditions, we would suggest looking for something with higher brightness (e.g. Mini LED). However, the television defends itself with something else – the type of coating applied to the panel. The manufacturer opted for a satin finish (semi-matte) here. This is a great decision. Unlike glossy coatings that act like mirrors, this coating effectively suppresses and diffuses reflections of light. As a result, in typical, moderate lighting conditions, a standing lamp next to it or a window to the side will not be distracting, and the viewing experience will remain pleasant.

Panel details

Backlight Type
PFS LED
Mini-LED PFS LED
Software version during testing
6120600301
33.21.62
Image processor
MT5896 2,5 GB RAM

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) TV Panel details
Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) TV Panel details

TV features

6.1/10

6.8/10

  • HDMI inputs
    4 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
    3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    No
    No
  • Recording programming
    No
    No
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    No
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    No
    Yes

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    Yes
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    No
    Yes
  • Voice search
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    Yes
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes
Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) TV features
Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) TV features
Review Sony Bravia 3 50' (VA) TV features
Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) TV features
Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) TV features
Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) TV features
Review LG QNED80A6A (VA) TV features

Smart TV Features

The greatest advantage of the Bravia 3 in everyday use is the presence of the Google TV system. It is thanks to this that we have access to one of the largest libraries of applications and streaming services, so regardless of whether someone mainly uses Netflix, Disney+ or smaller platforms, everything is within easy reach. The Google voice assistant also worked very well, responding to our commands quite "smartly". The Google TV system should theoretically operate very smoothly, as Sony has been implementing it better than many cheaper competitors for years. Unfortunately, in the case of the Bravia 3, it is not as great as we would expect. During tests, we noticed slight stutters in the interface, and some functions, such as screen mirroring, simply refused to work. One might get the impression that the processor in this model sometimes struggles to cope with the demanding system, and not everything works as smoothly as we would hope.

Classic Features

Even in the cheapest series, Sony manages to remind us of its experience with various users. The set includes two remote controls. The first is modern and minimalist, with a small number of buttons, which works great for using applications and Google TV functions. The second is a classic remote with a more extensive set of buttons and a numerical keypad, which will be especially appreciated by older individuals accustomed to traditional solutions. This is a nice gesture towards different user groups, and it must be said that Sony has solved this very practically. It is a pity, however, that compared to the X75WL model, the ability to record content from television tuners to USB memory has disappeared. The manufacturer has completely abandoned this feature, so anyone attached to it will unfortunately not find it in the Bravia 3.

Smart TV System and WebOS

A significant advantage of LG televisions – even those in the lower or mid-price range – is that the manufacturer does not neglect them in terms of software. The QNED80A operates under the latest version of the WebOS system, which performed excellently during our tests. The interface was smooth, reacted quickly to commands, and most importantly – was very intuitive. Much of the credit goes to the famous Magic Remote controller, which functions like a computer mouse – we control the on-screen cursor with wrist movements. However, here you will encounter a surprise. In the 2025 model year, the controller underwent quite a drastic transformation. It has been minimised and slimmed down. Modern users will likely appreciate this change, as the remote fits well in the hand and looks more "premium". However, traditionalists may feel disappointed – the miniaturisation has come at a cost, including the removal of the classic numerical keypad, which may make it difficult to quickly switch channels.

Classic Functions and Multimedia

When it comes to so-called classic functions, the QNED80A does not strive to be a revolutionary device. It is simply a solid piece of equipment that does what it was designed for. There are no hidden "gimmicks" here, but we also did not find anything lacking. The traditional Teletext works flawlessly, and the wireless connectivity modules (such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) are stable and pair quickly with external devices, such as headphones or a soundbar. In this regard, the television simply does not throw any obstacles in the way – it works as we expect, not standing out in any particular way against the competition, but also not giving us any reasons to complain.

Apps

9.6/10

9.1/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
No
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
OK
Apple_music
No
Eleven_sports
OK
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
OK
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link

Playing files from USB

9.6/10

8.2/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
Yes
No
PNG
Yes
Yes
GIF
Yes
No
WebP
Yes
No
TIFF
No
No
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
Yes
12 Mpix
Yes
Yes
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
Yes
No
24 Mpix
Yes
No
28 Mpix
Yes
No
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

Here Sony has done a really good job. The built-in player works quickly and doesn't "grumble" when launching different formats. We didn't have to reach for external applications like VLC, as the television handled even files that can cause quite a few issues on other models – such as HEIC photos from Apple devices. It's a little thing, but one that shows the manufacturer wanted the user to feel complete convenience. By plugging in a film on a USB drive or holiday photos on an external hard drive, you can simply connect them and watch right away on the big screen. No fuss, no installing additional software, no searching for workarounds. It's truly a rarity in televisions, and we must admit that in this aspect the Bravia 3 really surprised us pleasantly.

How does the QNED80A perform as a home multimedia centre? After connecting an external drive or USB stick, the television easily recognises and plays the vast majority of popular video and audio formats. One can confidently say that in daily use, you will rarely encounter a file that refuses to cooperate. However, we must draw attention to a certain catch arising from the software architecture. WebOS is a closed system. What does this mean for you? That if the built-in player struggles with an exotic format, we do not have a "lifeline". We cannot go to the store and download an external application like VLC that "plays everything", as is the case with Android or Google TV. The specific shortcomings we managed to catch mainly pertain to graphic files. The television does not support the HEIC format, which is standard on Apple devices (iPhone/iPad). Photographs with very high resolution (in the range of 20-28 Mpix) also proved problematic – when attempting to open them, the system often capitulated. It is worth keeping this in mind if you plan to view holiday photos directly from the drive.

Sound

6.5/10

6/10

  • Maximum volume
    88dB
    81dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    Yes
    No
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    No
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    Yes
    No
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    Yes
    No

Bravia 3 plays in quite a flat manner, but makes up for it with volume. It's perfect for watching classic television, as the dialogues are clear and the mid-tones are well audible. Older users, who primarily care about speech intelligibility, will particularly appreciate this type of characteristic. However, if someone expects something more from the sound, such as stronger bass or a wider soundstage, it is still worth reaching for a soundbar. The television supports modern codecs, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, so an external sound system can easily utilise their potential. This ensures that with relatively little expenditure, one can achieve a much fuller and more engaging sound.

In terms of audio, the LG QNED80A does not try to enchant us. It simply sounds like... a typical flat TV. The installed speaker system with a total power of 20W may not be the strongest point of this design. If you expect a cinematic punch or depth, known from more expensive models equipped with subwoofers, you will feel a sense of disappointment. There is simply a lack of bass here, and the sound is rather flat. However, we must give this model credit in one aspect: the clarity of the transmission. When scenes based on conversations appear on the screen, the QNED80A performs quite adequately. The dialogues are clear, separated, and – importantly – undistorted. There is no crackling effect at higher volumes. It is sufficient for everyday television, but for movies, we definitely recommend purchasing at least a basic soundbar.

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements

No acoustic data

81dBC (Max)

75dBC