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::

8/14/2025 5:29:27 AM

When in 2023 Sony released the model A95L, the world of televisions spoke of a nearly perfect design – a device that could combine cinematic picture quality with modern features. It is no surprise that expectations for its successor were enormous. The Sony Bravia 8 II (Mk2) is the direct heir to this legend, poised to take the crown left by its older cousin. The manufacturer has opted for a new generation 120 Hz QD-OLED panel, a proprietary XR image processor, and refined features for gamers and cinema enthusiasts. From the very first moments, it is clear that this is not merely a cosmetic update, but an attempt to maintain a position among the elite of the best televisions of 2025. How does the new Sony Bravia 8 II perform? We invite you to the review!

SONY Bravia 8 II - Our verdict

8.5

Overall rating

Sony Bravia 8 II is undoubtedly a worthy successor to the A95L – refined, incredibly versatile, and featuring several notable improvements over its predecessor. The quality of the picture, sound, and overall user experience place this model among the top premium televisions of 2025. It is equipment that can charm both cinema enthusiasts and demanding gamers. Among its greatest assets is the nearly perfect image, in which the XR processor subtly yet effectively enhances detail and smoothness without overdoing it in terms of interference with the original material. Additionally, there is the phenomenal Acoustic Surface sound, creating the impression that dialogues and effects come straight from the screen. Google TV operates very smoothly, offering an enormous selection of applications, and additional features – such as the ability to play in the cloud on a PlayStation console or access to Bravia Core – increase the device's value. There is also no shortage of low input lag, variable refresh rate, and full support for modern HDR formats.

Nonetheless, 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 average performance during the day are downsides that should not exist in a television of this class in 2025. And while for many these will not be flaws that negate the purchase, 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 compete for customers' wallets? That we leave to your judgment, the market… and the sales results. Regardless, the Bravia 8 II is a phenomenal product that would undoubtedly be hard to not recommend.

Advantages

Amazing Contrast and Black Levels
High brightness in HDR content
Great motion fluidity: QD-OLED 120Hz panel
Many features for gamers VRR, ALLM, HGIG, GameBar
Top-notch digital image processing quality (XR Processor)
A multitude of apps on the GoogleTV system
Two remote controls included
Phenomenal sound with DTS audio and Dolby Atmos 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 lighting
Average Brightness in SDR Mode (competition at this price can do a lot more)
No 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 - Competing TVs in this price range

8.0

Samsung S85F OLED 55”

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7.1

TCL C7K / QM7K 55”

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7.2

Hisense E8Q 55”

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7.3

Samsung QN80F 55”

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7.8

LG OLED B5 55”

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8.9

LG OLED G5 55”

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7.1

Review Samsung Neo QLED QN70F / QN74F / QN77F Main photo

Samsung Neo QLED QN70F / QN74F / QN77F 55”

£777.00

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7.4

Hisense U7Q PRO 55”

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7.2

Hisense U7Q 55”

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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

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

The Sony Bravia 8 II, at first glance, gives the impression of a premium-class device, and it is clear that stylistically it refers to 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 this has its practical justification – according to the manufacturer, the additional thickness conceals a cooling panel that is intended to affect the durability and performance of the display. The design itself remains true to what Sony has accustomed us to over the years – it is elegant, minimalist, and uncomplicated. The package includes solid, stylish legs which, although they can no longer be mounted centrally (as in the predecessor), fortunately retain the ability to adjust the height to accommodate a soundbar. The only element that may raise some concerns is the rear casing made of plastic. However, Sony explains that it has its specific structural application. Despite this, the Bravia 8 II is a television that can appeal to many and looks great in a modern living room.

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Sony Bravia 8 MK2 (paid link)

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. Here we have a QD-OLED panel that naturally offers contrast close to infinity. This means that each pixel can completely turn off, resulting in truly black areas of the image, rather than dark grey or navy. The effect is particularly striking in cinema conditions when the lights in the room are dimmed – at that point, the picture takes on real depth and a filmic quality. The Bravia 8 II also impresses with its light separation in challenging scenes. Sample materials from films like Oblivion demonstrate how precisely the television can separate subtle light sources from the surrounding darkness – without blooming or blurring, which still occurs in the best LCD televisions (even the Bravia 9). Furthermore, bright elements maintain their full intensity even against absolute black. This not only creates a significant 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 into nearly reference-quality for films and series recorded in HDR format. In test materials such as Life of Pi and Sicario 2, the effect is truly captivating – details in bright areas of the image remain perfectly visible, and night scenes enchant with depth and contrast. However, it is not perfect. Compared to its fiercest competitors, the Bravia 8 II shows a noticeable drop in brightness during full-screen, very bright scenes. When comparing maximum peak luminance with 100% white brightness in HDR mode, the Bravia 8 II appears even two or three times dimmer than LG G5 or Samsung S95F models. This was especially evident in a scene from the film The Meg – the screen became noticeably darker than in competing televisions. Despite this shortcoming, the results of the Bravia 8 II still place it among the top of the market. It deserves praise for its absolutely top-tier colour gamut coverage – nearly 100% DCI-P3 and close to 90% BT.2020. These parameters allow for fully extracting the potential of HDR content and providing experiences akin to those in a cinema within the comfort of 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 with the best televisions currently available on the market. And this is where the greatest strength of the Sony Bravia 8 II lies. Thanks to its factory-adapted dynamic tone mapping feature, the television can almost reference every film scene – whether those mastered at around 1000 nits or the demanding ones designed for top displays reaching 4000 nits. Indeed, there are minimal losses in brightness in the brightest parts of the image, but it’s hard to consider this a significant drawback. The Bravia 8 II is a construction created with cinematic perfection in mind – and this is not only visible but can even be felt during the 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 created in a format with dynamic metadata. In the case of Sony Bravia 8 II, this is Dolby Vision, which can fully utilise the potential of the QD-OLED panel. As shown in the comparative photo, dynamic metadata makes a huge difference, especially in the most challenging bright scenes, where the television displays the fullness of its capabilities and maintains details where no other display on the market can achieve that without them.

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 almost flawlessly – 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 shots look nearly perfect – here, the rating could easily be 9.5/10.

The situation looks somewhat different in darker sequences. In night scenes or heavily shadowed ones, especially in test materials, slight issues with the fluidity of gradation can be noticed – transitions become less subtle. Although this is not a level that detracts from the viewing experience, a more discerning eye will catch the difference, especially when compared to absolutely top-tier models on the market. In this category, the rating rather hovers 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 reaffirms its reputation. The proprietary XR processor can extract nearly the maximum from lower-resolution materials – whether it's television or an old DVD film, the image appears clearer, with more detail and better depth. Of course, if we feed it exceptionally low-quality material (like our archival photo with the Model), it won't work wonders, but in everyday viewing, it's hard to find fault with it.

The gentle gradation feature also performs excellently. In the "Medium" setting, it effectively smooths tonal transitions, eliminating banding in coloured and grey gradients, while not destroying the film grain or fine details in the image. It is this balance between subtlety and effectiveness that keeps Sony televisions 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

The smoothness of motion is practically a closed topic in the case of the Bravia 8 II. The OLED with a refresh rate of 120 Hz naturally provides a very clear, sharp image in dynamic scenes, so it's hard to complain about anything here. However, one of the best motion smoothing systems on the market truly deserves special praise. They allow precise adjustment of film smoothness to one’s own preferences – from gentle smoothing to almost a “theatrical” effect – without the risk of artificial jumps, tearing of the image, or annoying artifacts. This is 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 nearly zero response time between pixels. Every movement is sharp and devoid of a "trail," even in the most dynamic scenes. Interestingly, there is a BFI feature (described in the menu as "Clarity"), which is set to "Low" by default. After switching to "High," we noticed no improvement either at 60 or 120 Hz; instead, the image began to flicker slightly and lost quite a bit 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 learnt its lessons from previous years and in the Bravia 8 II has prepared a package of features for gamers that is hard to describe in any other way 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 preview parameters and change settings without leaving the game. It's also worth noting how smoothly and seamlessly these features work – no delays, no strange stutters. You simply start the game, and everything looks as it should. Unfortunately, there are a few "buts". The manufacturer still only provides us with two full-bandwidth HDMI ports, so if someone has a console, PC, and another device such as a soundbar connected via eARC, it becomes a hassle of switching cables. It is also surprising that there is no support for 1440p resolution at 120 Hz – particularly important for Xbox gamers. Overall, however – this is one of those televisions that can easily be placed in the centre of a gaming lounge and enjoyed without significant compromises.

SONY Bravia 8 II - Input lag

9.8/10

The 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, which places this television among the best – the response is nearly instantaneous, and control in dynamic games remains fully predictable. At 60 Hz, the lag time naturally doubles, but it still remains at a level that can be described as exemplary. Importantly, Sony has done an excellent job with the handling of Dolby Vision mode in games – it operates here exceptionally smoothly and quickly. This is a significant change compared to previous years when Dolby Vision Gaming on televisions of this brand could cause additional lag or minor issues with fluidity. It’s clear now that 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 (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 PC computers. The support for 4:4:4 chroma works flawlessly, so text – both regular and very fine – remains sharp and clear. This means that working with documents, spreadsheets, or even editing photos does not strain the eyes and does not require fiddling with settings.

However, there is a certain sense of dissatisfaction. One would expect additional gaming mode with refresh rates above 120 Hz in a television of this class. After all, in the price segment this model occupies (and even in lower ones), 165 Hz and even 240 Hz are becoming increasingly common. This option is missing here, which may be a slight disappointment for some PC enthusiasts. Fortunately, thanks to its low input lag and support for G-Sync, the Bravia 8 II can still immerse players in PC gaming without feelings of delay or image tearing. It is equipment that performs well not only in the living room but also on the player's desk.

SONY Bravia 8 II - Viewing angles

9.8/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 11%

In this respect, the Bravia 8 II is at the absolute top 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 at more extreme viewer positions. Like its competitor, the Samsung S95F, the Bravia 8 II performs almost flawlessly in this category – regardless of whether we are watching a film from the sofa, from a chair nearby, 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 television of this class, we expected a better performance. An average SDR brightness of around 400 nits is definitely too little to speak of great visibility in a sunlit living room. In very demanding lighting conditions, we will be forced to reach for curtains or… move the television to another location. As with every QD-OLED panel, the black levels during the day are not perfectly black – they have a slight cherry tint. Fortunately, this technology also has its advantages over WOLED panels – it effectively reduces reflections, making direct light glare less bothersome. Despite this advantage, the overall efficiency of the Bravia 8 II in a bright room should be assessed as average, particularly in the context of the high-class 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 – Features of the Television

Bravia 8 II has a lot to offer to those who use a television in a traditional way. In the package, we receive two remote controls – one modern, minimalist "smart" and the other, traditional, numeric, designed for those who treat the television simply... like a television 😉. Sony also allows for programming and recording television broadcasts to external memory, e.g. a USB drive. Features such as EPG or teletext are hardly worth mentioning – they are obvious.

SONY Bravia 8 II – GoogleTV

When it comes to smart functions, 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 in terms of hardware, it runs very smoothly on the Bravia 8 II. Google TV also offers a huge selection of applications, 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 the private film library Bravia Core, available exclusively on Sony televisions. 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 when it comes to media playback – the built-in player handles virtually everything you would expect. Admittedly, there are a few formats that it does not support, but this is not a serious issue. The biggest advantage is that, thanks to the Google TV system, we are not limited solely to the default player. At any time, we can install an alternative application that can handle files that the built-in Sony software struggles with. As a result, the television becomes a universal multimedia hub, ready to support almost any format.

SONY Bravia 8 II - Sound

8.5/10

Subjective sound quality

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

Supported codecs

(external HDMI eARC audio)

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-notch in the world of televisions. Sony once again proves that their Acoustic Surface technology is not a marketing gimmick, but a real asset – the speakers hidden behind the screen make the entire panel act as a membrane. The sound stage is wide, dialogues sound exceptionally clear, and the audio follows the action on the screen precisely. It's one of the few televisions for which you can really forgo an additional soundbar. (Of course, the basic one). Moreover, Sony hasn't forgotten about the formats that the competition is slowly leaving behind – full DTS support is a nod to cinephiles who want to extract the maximum experience from films and series recorded on physical media.