Compare Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5) vs LG QNED80A6A (VA)

Sony Bravia 5 is a continuation of the iconic model X90L, and you can see that the manufacturer wanted to take a step forward. A greater number of dimming zones have been used, which makes the contrast seem better in many scenes, and the blacks deeper than those in its predecessor. The 120 Hz matrix and MotionFlow system allow you to adjust the smoothness of the picture to your personal preferences – from a slight cinematic texture to crystal-smooth motion in sports and games. This is equipment that is not afraid of any content because whether we are watching a match, an action movie, or a concert, the picture retains clarity and character. However, the true strength of the Bravia 5 remains the XR processor. It is what makes older materials look better than they should – upscaling works here like magic, smoothing out noise, improving gradation, and giving consistency even to lower quality content. Thanks to this, in everyday use, the Bravia 5 can surprise because instead of fighting with signal imperfections, it pulls the maximum from it. Additionally, there is excellent color reproduction after calibration and dynamic tone mapping along with Dolby Vision mode, which allows you to enjoy details even in difficult, high-contrast scenes. However, it cannot be hidden that in a few moments, the Bravia 5 disappointed us very much. Despite the larger number of zones, brightness and contrast are not always better than in the X90L – sometimes they even perform worse. This raises a sense of wasted potential because we were counting on a greater qualitative leap. After all, we are talking about a true MINI-LED television here. Nevertheless, the Bravia 5 remains a great television for those who want to enjoy primarily picture quality. If you are looking for a model that can impress with motion smoothness, extracts details from difficult scenes, and works wonders with older materials, the Bravia 5 will easily meet these expectations. It’s a television that sometimes can't quite match the competition in certain respects, but it still holds its ground with what Sony does best – cinematic picture.

Looking at the QNED80A in its VA version as a whole, we are dealing with a television that has a very specific character. It's a device that movie lovers who enjoy evening screenings seeking savings will like, as long as... they accept certain shortcomings. We get truly solid blacks and contrast here, but we pay for it with narrow viewing angles. Let's not hide it: this television is for those who have their favorite spot in the middle of the couch. Of course, you can feel some budget cuts here – the 60Hz panel or edge dimming, which sometimes struggles in difficult scenes, are elements that remind us this is not the highest-end television. However, LG cleverly compensates for these hardware shortcomings with excellent software. It's almost surprising how well this television handles pulling details in HDR or upscaling lower quality cable materials – the processor does a great job making the picture look more expensive than it actually is. When we add to that the great WebOS system and gaming features that, despite the lack of 120Hz, still manage to impress, we end up with a very successful screen for home cinema. It requires some understanding, but in return, it rewards you with a truly vivid image at an affordable price.

Bravia 5 is the entry-level television in Sony's Mini-LED series for 2025, so naturally, we start with the most important aspect – how it performs with black levels and contrast. After all, the term “Mini-LED” sounds almost like a magic spell today. In theory, it means thousands of tiny LEDs arranged in zones that are supposed to work in harmony, dimming and brightening the image so that the viewer's eye perceives more depth than in a classic LCD. In practice, we counted about 200 backlighting zones in the 65-inch Bravia 5. Is that a lot? Definitely more than in its predecessor, the legendary X90L model, but when looking at Chinese manufacturers who can pack hundreds, sometimes even thousands of zones, it comes off as fairly modest.

One would expect that combining a greater number of zones with refined dimming algorithms—something Sony has trained us to expect over the years—would result in a significant quality jump compared to the X90L. Meanwhile – and this is where a slight disappointment comes in – tests showed that the results are surprisingly similar to last year's model. Don’t take this the wrong way: the contrast for an LCD TV with local dimming is genuinely solid. In most scenes, bright elements are separated from dark ones with almost surgical precision, and the effect can be impressive. But when more demanding shots appear on the screen—those that ruthlessly test the backlighting capabilities—it becomes clear that the hardware has its limitations.

Therefore, one could say that in terms of black levels and contrast, the Bravia 5 does not so much disappoint as it rather fails to meet the hopes that the initial announcements raised. We were counting on at least slightly better performance than its predecessor, and we got “only” good contrast. And that “only” is the key word here—because good contrast in Sony’s version still means a level that most competitors could be proud of.

The model we tested with a 55-inch diagonal is equipped with a VA panel. And here we have great news: this is a significant advantage over the IPS version, if you care about deep blacks and a rich image. Our measurements showed that in typical film scenes, the native contrast is really solid, exceeding values of 6000:1. In practice, this means that black is black, not gray, which works very well for occasional evening viewing and is not annoying. However, it’s interesting to note the moments when our measuring devices indicated contrast levels exceeding 20 000:1. What caused such a jump? The LG QNED80A is equipped with a Local Dimming system. However, this is an edge-lit configuration. This means that the TV can dim vertical strips of backlighting where the image is supposed to be dark. In theory, this sounds great and actually allows for better numbers in charts than in a classic LCD screen. Unfortunately, reality can be brutal. The use of edge dimming is a double-edged sword that can spoil the film experience in difficult scenes. An ideal example is the helicopter scene in the movie Sicario 2. When the screen has a lot of black and small, bright spots, 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 black, we see blooming, which simply looks bad and strongly distracts from the plot. Although the dimming system improves measurable contrast, in everyday use – especially with the lights off – its aggressive operation can be annoying. Often, a better solution may turn out to be... turning off this function or setting it to a minimum, to enjoy the stable, natural black of the VA panel itself.

Looking at similar results in terms of black levels and contrast, we expected the same stable performance as last year's model when it comes to HDR content. Unfortunately – and this must be said plainly – there has been a regression here that is hard to overlook. The paradox is that the peak brightness of the Bravia 5 can be impressive: in our synthetic tests, the television reached around 1000 nits in HDR. Sounds great, right? The problem is that this power does not always translate effectively to all movie scenes. When small, pinpoint elements appear on the screen, something that was usually refined with surgical precision in the case of Sony clearly falters this time. The algorithms try to maintain deep blacks around small objects, but the side effect is that details can be dimmed to the point of becoming barely visible. A case in point is the movie Sicario 2 – there, in some scenes, small light sources practically vanished as if someone had covered them with dark film.

Of course, not everything looks so dramatic. In simpler, brighter scenes, where the image is filled with a greater amount of light, the Bravia 5 shows that it can shine: literally and figuratively. At that point, the television achieves values in the range of 600–800 nits, which we observed in both synthetic tests and during movie screenings. The impression is truly positive; the brightness adds dynamism, and the colors appear vivid and fresh. However, there remains a certain dissonance. We feel a slight confusion because it is evident that something has gone the wrong way. Technological advancement – more zones, greater backlight power – has not been supported by the refined image management we usually associate with Sony. Fortunately, there are elements that have not been worsened and are instead at a very high level. We are talking about color reproduction. Thanks to the use of the PFS filter, the color gamut coverage is excellent – about 97% of DCI-P3 and 75% of BT.2020. These values allow for a truly wide color reproduction, giving films a natural and cinematic character.

Let's talk now about how this TV shines. If you expect dazzling light effects, we need to cool your enthusiasm. The LG QNED80A is a moderately bright television. Our measurements in most movie scenes indicated values around 350-400 nits. That's not enough to speak of a full, cinematic HDR experience and the sense of that famous "high dynamic range" that flagship products offer. However, brightness is not everything. Although the QNED80A is not a "light monster," it makes up for it in another key category: colors. Here, the PFS technology comes into play, which LG marketers hide under the name QNED/NanoCell. Thanks to this process, the TV offers a significantly wider color palette than classic LCD designs. In our tests, the coverage of the cinematic DCI-P3 palette reached a solid 93-94%. What does this mean for you? That even at lower brightness, when watching movies in HDR, the colors will be vivid, deep, and properly saturated. The image is not washed out but lush, which is a significant advantage in this price range.

Sony Bravia 5 was of course tested in the best possible mode, which is the Cinema mode. Right out of the box, it offers the most natural colors, definitely better than anything provided by the "eco" or "dynamic" modes, which are more suitable for a store display than a living room. However, the Cinema mode itself does not guarantee that we can always expect cinematic image quality. In SDR content, we had practically no major complaints – the slightly warm white balance made the scenes take on a somewhat golden tone, but it was nothing that was glaringly obvious. However, the problem arose with HDR materials. Here, the color reproduction simply looked poor. The white balance was severely off – with an excess of blue and a noticeable lack of red. At times, it even resembled the store "super vivid image" mode, where everything is overexposed and artificially boosted.

This state of affairs made managing brightness seem too aggressive as well. The EOTF graph clearly showed that the television had issues with overexposing many scenes right out of the box. And while we know what Sony televisions are usually capable of, it was hard to remain indifferent here – which is why we quickly decided to go for calibration.

It might seem that since the QNED80A is one model, it should offer the same picture regardless of the version. 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 TV “out of the box” serves us a picture with a clear dominance of red and a deficiency of blue. The overall image is very warm, almost hot. Many users might describe this as a “too cinematic” image, approaching sepia. Additionally, there's the issue of the gamma curve – the TV tends to slightly, artificially brighten scenes (the gamma is too low), causing the picture to lose some of its plasticity. The good news is that these are not flaws of the panel, but merely of the software. As always in our tests, we carried out a professional calibration, which completely eliminated these shortcomings, restoring the natural white balance and correct saturation.

After calibration, the situation changed drastically. We managed to tune the white balance so that entire scenes began to look more natural, and the image gained coherence and elegance. In HDR, we finally got rid of that unwanted blooming effect that had previously ruined some shots. Suddenly, it turned out that the Bravia 5 can extract much more from films than the first contact "straight out of the box" suggested. Yes, if we take a look at the graphs and compare them with the reference patterns, we can see that the start of the EOTF curve slightly deviates from the reference line. However, this is not so much a calibration error as a natural limitation of Mini-LED technology, which cannot be bypassed. Sony, instead of clinging to perfect black, prefers to prioritize the visibility of details – and in practice, it’s hard to disagree with that. We prefer to see the texture of the material on the screen rather than a pitch-black blob that obliterates all nuances.

The calibration itself made a significant difference. After about an hour spent on adjustments, we felt that the picture resembled that from the best cinema halls – of course on a home scale, but with the same sense of quality and refinement. And in such moments, we remember why we love Sony televisions: because once we fine-tune them, they can reward us with an image that captivates for long hours.

Was it worth spending time on calibration? Definitely yes. We managed to tame the initially too warm white balance and, most importantly, correct the gamma curve. The TV stopped artificially brightening scenes, which added depth to the image. The biggest improvement is visible in SDR content, meaning when watching regular television, YouTube, or in games without HDR. Here, the QNED80A shows its class – color reproduction errors (DeltaE) dropped below a value of 2. In technical terms, this means that the errors are practically unnoticeable to the human eye. The image in everyday use has simply become very attractive, natural, and correct. The difficulties begin with HDR content. Even though we managed to improve the white balance, the EOTF curve graph (responsible for brightness at various levels) shows that the TV still "interprets" the image in its own way. This is due to the nature of the edge-lit local dimming used and the fact that LG gives the calibrator a very limited range of control over this parameter. In short: the TV struggles to hide its hardware shortcomings, sometimes ignoring our commands. Nevertheless, the final image is much more accurate and pleasant to the eye than in factory settings, even if it still falls short of studio ideal.

Gradient transitions are nothing more than the way a television handles the blending of colors and shades – from light to dark, from saturated to pastel. If the device has issues with this, characteristic "stepping" is visible instead of smooth transitions, and the image loses its naturalness. It is during these moments, when instead of getting immersed in a movie, we start glancing at the screen thinking: "hey, something is off." Fortunately, in the Sony Bravia 5, such situations are virtually non-existent. This is a huge advantage, as nothing detracts our attention from the plot or the excitement of sports. The television performs best in bright scenes, where color transitions are smooth, and color blends are almost invisible. The effect is so good that sometimes one might get the impression that the image was painted in one brushstroke. Of course, there were some minor hiccups. In darker scenes, certain imperfections can be noticed – slight stepping or minimal gradation issues. For that, the Bravia 5 received a few negative points from us. Nevertheless, in the vast majority of situations, the television performs excellently and emerges from this test with flying colors.

We also have excellent news for those sensitive to digital artifacts. Regardless of which version of the panel you encounter, the LG QNED80A handles gradation, or the smooth blending of colors, exceptionally well. 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, separate stripes. Here, this problem practically does not occur. In our tests, both in very bright parts of the image (like sunsets) and in difficult, dark shades of gray, the picture remained uniform and natural. We did not notice the annoying "banding" effect or distinct lines connecting colors.

Bravia 5 carries within it the genes of Sony, which remain intact – and thank goodness for that, because we are talking about absolutely remarkable digital image processing. There is a reason that for years it has been believed that it is this brand of television that sets the standard for how a screen should handle lower-quality materials. If someone is still watching classic television, old movies, or YouTube in lower resolution, here they get equipment that can turn such content into a surprisingly pleasant experience. On board, we find several tools worth activating. The first of these is "digital noise reduction." Set to a medium level, it works almost flawlessly – smoothing tonal transitions that usually pose the biggest challenge with low-quality materials, while not introducing any artificial artifacts. Importantly, it also does not remove the filmic character, or the natural grain that is an intentional element in many productions. Another advantage of Bravia 5 is the upscaling capabilities of the XR processor. The image presented after scaling is soft yet sharp and clear. The contours of characters are well-defined, and backgrounds retain their structure without excessive artificial sharpening. It’s hard to find a better television for watching lower-quality content – Bravia 5 only confirms why Sony is regarded as the benchmark in this field.

In this category, the QNED80A proves to be a real "dark horse." It's a fantastic, affordable television for those who often watch lower quality materials – for example, from traditional cable TV. The processor used here handles upscaling exceptionally well, meaning it enhances low resolution to native 4K. 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 material. This feature works really effectively, eliminating the annoying "banding" of colors in heavily compressed video. 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 artifacts or distortions. Nevertheless, it's definitely worth giving this feature a chance, as in most cases, the improvement in quality is noticeable to the naked eye.

Bravia 5 has a 120 Hz panel, which in itself sounds like an invitation to watch sports, fast matches, or spectacular action movies. However, the real magic begins only when MotionFlow comes into play – Sony's proprietary smoothing technology. Thanks to it, we can adjust the character of the image to our own preferences. The “smoothness” slider allows us to transition from a cinematic vibe with a slight “jitter” of the film frame to an almost theatrical fluidity, where every ball in the game glides across the screen like on a string. The higher the value, the smoother and more fluid it is; the lower – the more cinematic and natural. In the options, we also find an additional setting that Sony has called “clearness.” This is nothing more than the BFI function (which stands for black frame insertion), which aims to improve motion clarity. It sounds great in theory, but in practice, you need to use it with great caution. Why? Because all higher settings cause brightness drops of up to half, and in some cases, there can also be contour doubling. Therefore, if we want to use it, we recommend the lowest possible level – “1” out of the available ten. This way, we gain a little better motion clarity without risking a loss of half the image brightness.

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 TV is equipped with a panel that has a native refresh rate of 60Hz. There's no point in hiding it – at this price, we expected more because we know that Chinese manufacturers can offer 120Hz screens for similar money. Due to this parameter, dynamic scenes in sports or fast-paced games are not the strong suit of this screen. Fortunately, LG has equipped the TV with a proven smoothing system called TruMotion. It works quite well 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: motion becomes smoother while still looking natural, without the artificial "TV theater" effect.

In the Bravia 5, there is significant progress compared to the X90L model from two years ago. The television offers literally everything that its predecessor had, but this time the issues that could irritate gamers have been fixed. The problems with setting up variable refresh rate (VRR) have disappeared, and there are no longer any issues with configuring HDR content in HGiG mode. In short: we get a device that simply works as it should without any fuss. The Bravia 5 thus has everything one could expect from a modern gaming television – and it could be advertised with the slogan "ready for PS5" without exaggeration. This is a statement we couldn't make about the X90L model. Hats off, Sony!

It's just a shame that in such a relatively high-priced model, a complete set of four HDMI 2.1 ports is missing. In everyday use, this won't be a problem for most people, but if someone has a console, soundbar, and additional equipment connected via HDMI, at some point there will be a need to either choose or juggle cables.

Since we have established that the QNED80A is a 60Hz panel television, we must say it directly: we will not be playing here at 120 frames per second in any resolution. Does this disqualify the device in the eyes of gamers? Not necessarily, especially for "casual" gamers. LG has decided to sweeten this technical limitation by packing in quite a few useful features. We have support for VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) ranging from 48-60Hz and an automatic game mode ALLM, which quickly reduces input lag upon detecting a console. We manage all of this through a very convenient, purple Game Optimizer menu (Player Panel), which has already become LG's trademark. The manufacturer deserves big credit 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, HDR gaming is clear, and details in shadows and highlights are accurately reproduced, rather than "cut off."

When it comes to input lag, the Bravia 5 deserves a round of applause. Results around 7 ms at 120 Hz content are simply outstanding – it's hard to imagine a player complaining about such responsiveness. Even at 60 Hz, where the delay increases to around 15 ms, we're still talking about values that absolutely do not spoil the fun and can't be felt in practice. Moreover, Sony has finally tamed the Dolby Vision mode. In the X90L, it was practically unplayable – delays rose to levels as high as 150 ms. Meanwhile, in the Bravia 5, input lag remains at the same low level as with other content. This is a huge improvement and further proof that this TV can truly be called "gamer-friendly."

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 on the QNED80A model is about 15 ms (at 60Hz signal). These may not be values that will revolutionize the market or impress professional e-sports players competing for every millisecond. However, for the average console gamer, this result is more than sufficient. During our gaming tests, we did not experience any annoying "drifting" of the crosshair or delay between pressing a button on the controller and the reaction on the screen. The entertainment is smooth and comfortable, which is the most important thing in home gaming.

In this category, the Bravia 5 deserves an exemplary rating. The ideal clarity of fonts thanks to 4:4:4 chroma support makes working with a computer on this television a pure pleasure. Whether we're opening Excel, browsing documents, or simply surfing the web – the text is sharp, clear, and free from that characteristic “haze” that can effectively diminish the joy of use in many televisions. The letters look just as they should: clear, sharp, and readable even up close.

We also have good news for PC gamers. The Bravia 5 has no problems handling 120 Hz; it works with both Nvidia and AMD cards, supporting G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro technologies. The result is that the image is not only smooth but also free from tearing or micro-stutters that can spoil the experience even in the best-optimized games. So you can confidently connect a powerful computer and enjoy gaming on a large screen – without compromises, without frustration, and with full comfort. The only thing we can nitpick about is the lack of additional modes for gamers with higher refresh rates.

Is the QNED80A suitable for connecting a computer? For the version with a VA panel, the answer is: absolutely. If you plan to use this TV as a huge monitor for work, you will not be disappointed. The readability of the fonts is very high – 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 that we mentioned earlier. This makes mouse work precise, and you don't feel that characteristic "floating" of the cursor. Of course, due to the 60Hz refresh rate, this is not the dream equipment for e-sports players gaming on PC, but for text work, web browsing, or occasional strategy gaming, it performs excellently.

Bravia 5 uses a classic VA panel, which means one thing – viewing angles are not its strongest point. For owners of smaller sizes, this will not be a problem, as sitting directly in front, the picture looks great. However, with larger sizes, especially 85 inches, the situation becomes less comfortable. It’s enough to sit slightly off-center on the sofa to notice small imperfections: the image starts to lose saturation, contrast weakens, and blacks take on unwanted grays. It’s a pity that Sony did not decide to use additional coatings that can bring the capabilities of VA panels closer to those of IPS panels. Such solutions exist, and some competitors use them. Here they are missing, so one must consider that Bravia 5 best showcases its strengths when viewed directly.

When opting for the VA panel version, you must be aware of a certain compromise. You get great blacks and contrast, but you pay for it with narrow viewing angles. This is a typical feature of this technology, and the QNED80A is no exception. If you sit directly in front of the screen, the picture will be sharp. However, just moving to the side of the couch or stepping into the kitchen can result in a degradation of the image. Colors start to lose their saturation, becoming washed out, and the deep black that we praised begins to gray. Therefore, this version of the television is best suited for those who have their favorite spot in the middle of the couch and rarely watch TV with a large group spread out across the living room.

Bravia 5 is a device that performs really well in challenging lighting conditions. The high brightness ensures that even in the middle of the day, with the blinds wide open and sunlight streaming through the windows, the picture remains clear and sharp. There’s no sensation that we’re watching a “washed-out” screen. The satin coating of the panel also plays a significant role in effectively reducing light reflections. Yes, some reflections do appear, but they are not strong enough to interfere with viewing. They are more like subtle glows that can be noticed when we deliberately look for them, rather than a real problem on a daily basis. This means that the Bravia 5 will perform well not only in the evening in a dimly lit room but also in bright living rooms where other televisions can falter. Therefore, it can be said that it is a “universal light model” – suitable for both evening screenings and for watching news or sports in full sunlight.

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

GoogleTV and SmartTV features

Sony Bravia 5 runs on Google TV, and it must be admitted that it is one of the best-optimized systems specifically for this brand. The interface runs smoothly, there are no annoying bugs or strange translations, and navigating the menu does not feel like walking through a minefield. Indeed, there are moments when the system stutters a bit—as if it has its “weaker moments”—but these are so rare that they do not spoil the overall impression. We have full support for AirPlay, voice search with the help of Google AI assistant, and the possibility of downloading virtually any app we can think of. The only downside in testing turned out to be the screen mirroring feature, which theoretically should work with laptops and phones, but in practice proved to be almost useless—on Windows and Android, it was impossible to obtain a stable image.

User features

On the side of classic features, Bravia 5 stands solidly and practically. A big plus is the presence of two remotes—one is a slim, modern smart remote, while the other, although working via infrared, has a traditional numeric keypad. This way, we can always choose which one fits the situation better. The EPG, or electronic program guide, is clear and allows you to program recordings to a USB drive—a seemingly simple solution, but extremely useful. Additionally, the television supports the connection of various devices: from an amplifier or soundbar via HDMI eARC, to headphones and other wireless accessories via Bluetooth. This is a setup that makes the television not just a screen, but a well-thought-out home entertainment center.

Smart TV System and WebOS

A huge plus of LG TVs – even those in the lower or mid-price range – is that the manufacturer does not treat them "less favorably" in terms of software. The QNED80A runs on the latest version of the WebOS system, which performed excellently during our tests. The interface operated smoothly, responded quickly to commands, and most importantly – was very intuitive. Much of this is thanks to the famous Magic Remote, which works like a computer mouse – we control the cursor on the screen with wrist movements. However, there’s an unexpected surprise here. In the 2025 model year, the controller underwent quite a drastic transformation. It has been minimized and slimmed down. Modern users will probably appreciate this change because the remote fits nicely in the hand and looks more "premium." However, traditionalists may feel disappointed – the miniaturization has come at a cost, including the removal of the classic numeric keypad, which may complicate quick channel selection.

Classic Features and Multimedia

When it comes to so-called classic features, the QNED80A does not strive to be a revolutionary product. 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 miss anything. The traditional Teletext works flawlessly, and the wireless connectivity modules (such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) are stable and quickly pair with external devices, e.g., headphones or a soundbar. In this regard, the TV simply does not throw obstacles in our way – it works as we expect, not standing out in any particular way from the competition, but also not giving any reasons to complain.

Bravia 5 handles multimedia playback from USB quite efficiently. In practice, almost everything works – movies, music, photos – although we did encounter some minor issues. Some subtitles can cause problems, as can exotic photo formats, which were not always recognized correctly. However, this is standard in the world of TVs, and it's hard to take offense at it seriously. A significant advantage is the fact that thanks to Android, we are not limited to the system's player. Simply installing an external app, like VLC, eliminates all restrictions. This is the advantage of this system – the manufacturer does not confine us to their ecosystem, but rather gives us the freedom of choice.

How does the QNED80A perform as a home multimedia center? After connecting an external drive or USB stick, the television easily recognizes and plays the vast majority of popular video and audio formats. It can be confidently stated that in everyday 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? It means that if the built-in player cannot handle an exotic format, we do not have a "lifeline." We cannot go to the store and download an external app like VLC, which "plays everything," as is the case with Android or Google TV. The specific deficiencies we managed to catch mainly concern graphic files. The television does not support the HEIC format, which is standard on Apple devices (iPhone/iPad). Photos with very high resolution (in the range of 20-28 Mpix) also turned out to be problematic – when attempting to open them, the system often gave up. It is worth keeping this in mind if you plan to view vacation photos directly from the drive.

Bravia 5 positively surprises in terms of audio. The sound is pleasant, with a slightly noticeable bass thanks to the proprietary Bass Reflex speakers. The overall output is loud, clear, and decidedly above average for a television – 40 W of power in a 2.2 configuration is an impressive result in this class. The placement of the speakers on the sides of the housing also plays a significant role here, allowing the sound to spread across the room and providing a sense of space. However, one shouldn't get carried away with optimism. It is still not at the level of even the simplest soundbar. The Bravia 5 performs excellently in everyday use, but for those who enjoy powerful sound and a cinematic effect, additional audio equipment will be a must – just like with nine out of ten televisions available on the market today.

In terms of audio, the LG QNED80A does not try to enchant us. It simply plays like... a typical flat-screen TV. The installed speaker system with a total power of 20W may not be the strongest aspect of this unit. If you expect cinematic punch or depth known from more expensive models equipped with subwoofers, you'll feel a bit shortchanged. There is simply a lack of bass, and the sound is quite 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 handles it quite well. 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 even a simple soundbar.

Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5) vs LG QNED80A6A (VA)

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

Daytime performance

Panel details

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

GoogleTV and SmartTV features

User features

Smart TV System and WebOS

Classic Features and Multimedia

Apps

Playing files from USB

Sound

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements