Compare TCL P7K / P79K vs SONY BRAVIA 3

The time has come to gather all observations. The TCL P7K / P79K is a television that cleverly juggles compromises, offering significantly more than we could expect in its price range. Its undeniable advantage is the VA panel, guaranteeing deep blacks and high contrast, and a surprisingly rich package for gamers (with VRR and 120 Hz support at lower resolutions) makes it a phenomenal choice for console owners. The whole package is tied together by the functional Google TV system. Of course, low peak brightness means that HDR content lacks spectacular highlights, and the TV's performance in sunlit rooms is limited. And while at its relatively low price, the P7K / P79K is quite a decent option, its biggest competitor turns out to be… its more refined sibling, the P8K. Often FOR a small extra charge, we get a device a class higher – with a native 4K 144 Hz panel, significantly better audio system, and generally higher build quality, which is reflected in its much higher rating on our portal. Therefore, the final verdict must be as follows: if your budget is absolutely non-negotiable, the P7K / P79K will be a good and cost-effective choice. However, if you can afford to add a small amount, the P8K model will offer significantly more and will ultimately be a more satisfying investment.

Sony Bravia 3 is a television that brings several important improvements over its predecessor, while still staying true to its core. The biggest change is the design – slim bezels and solid metal legs make it look modern and fit much better in a living room than the X75WL. Improved colors thanks to the PFS filter and really good upscaling are also a plus. It is in lower-quality content, especially in classic SDR, that the Bravia 3 can show its best side – colors look pleasant, the image is clean, and thanks to the IPS panel, the viewing angles are at a very good level. For a role as a "classic" television receiver, where viewing comfort from different places in the room and decent quality of everyday content matters, it is virtually perfect. A huge advantage is also the Google TV system. During our tests, there were instances where the interface did not always work as smoothly as we would have liked, and some functions could freeze. However, despite these imperfections, the presence of Google TV is a huge plus – access to thousands of applications and a full streaming library compensates for the minor shortcomings. Unfortunately, what was weak in the X75WL remains weak here too. The IPS panel has very low contrast and does not offer local dimming, making watching movies in a dark room quickly lose its appeal – the black resembles gray and effectively detracts from the enjoyment of viewing. Additionally, the option to record content to USB, which was available in the predecessor, has been removed. It’s hard not to notice this and not add it to the list of cons.

So who is the Bravia 3 for? Primarily for those who want to enter the world of Sony televisions in the most affordable variant and at the same time value the Google TV system. However, it is not the most attractive option in its class – the competition in this budget can offer models with Mini-LED backlighting, whose image performs significantly better in terms of contrast and HDR. Therefore, the Bravia 3 is worth keeping in mind, but mainly when there is a solid discount. At its regular price, it will be very difficult to stand out against its more competitive rivals.

In the discussion about image quality, the conversation almost always starts with the issue of black depth and contrast, which are parameters defining the plasticity and realism of the observed world. And here, the TCL P7k/P79k immediately lays its strongest asset on the table – a VA-type panel. It is its construction that makes the native relationship between the brightest and darkest parts of the image more than satisfactory, especially in the context of the price segment that this model represents. In the majority of scenes, the achieved black has a noble depth, which allows for building an engaging viewer experience. To illustrate the scale, it is worth mentioning that competitive constructions based on IPS panels often offer results that are even four or sometimes five times lower, which constitutes a chasm in direct comparison. Of course, entering the territory of models oriented towards affordability, we must be aware of certain compromises. In the discussed television, we will not find an advanced local dimming system that could further enhance the impression of contrast. However, the absence of this feature is fully understandable and constitutes a logical consequence of positioning the product in the market – this technology in TCL's portfolio for 2025 has been reserved for higher-positioned, more prestigious series marked with the letter "C".

Bravia 3 in most variants, including the 65-inch model we tested, uses an IPS panel and unfortunately, this is not the best news for those who value depth of image and truly velvety blacks. This technology has its advantages, as it offers decent viewing angles, but this comes at the cost of very low contrast, which is especially noticeable during evening screenings when we expect the screen to go dark where it should. However, this is not the end of the list of problems. Our unit also showed noticeable inconsistencies in black levels, which exacerbate the effect of its shallowness. For example, in the scene with the helicopter, the light bleed in the corners of the screen and noticeable vignetting are clearly visible.

It’s hard not to think that even a simple local dimming system could save the situation and add a bit of drama to the picture, which is lacking here. Unfortunately, Sony did not opt for such a solution and as a result, we have a repeat of last year's performance. Bravia 3 is therefore not a television that will enchant with cinematic depth of black. At night, instead of intense black, we will rather see gray pretending to be darkness, which may disappoint more demanding viewers.

When evaluating the HDR effect, we must make it clear and without marketing embellishment: the P7K/P79K is not and was never meant to be a master in this field. The maximum peak brightness that this panel can generate is only around 300 nits. This is a borderline value, a sort of thin red line between what can be considered a barely satisfactory HDR signal and what is really not much different from standard dynamic range (SDR), unfortunately leaning towards the latter. Synthetic tests found brutal confirmation in reality – our measurements taken during movie screenings showed that luminance in key bright parts of the content rarely exceeded the threshold of 200-250 nits. Therefore, this is not a television that would allow content produced in a wide tonal range to truly shine, and we must openly acknowledge that.

Unfortunately, the issue of color reproduction is presented equally restrained. Although the manufacturer positions this model in the "QLED" family, thanks to the use of a PFS LED filter, the results do not match the heightened expectations. The coverage of the wide DCI-P3 color gamut is only 86%. Compared to the market, this is at best an average result, as most devices that employ additional layers to expand the color spectrum easily achieve values at a minimum level of 90-92%.

Bravia 3 does not hide the fact that it belongs to the group of televisions that are rather modest in terms of brightness. Our measurements showed around 370 nits, which is a value balancing on the borderline where one can still speak of any HDR effect. For some, this is an acceptable level; for others, it is rather typical for SDR materials, where spectacular highlights or vivid contrasts are not expected. The impression is that this is not a television for those focused on the highest image quality in demanding film content. However, this does not mean that we won't find any advantages here. Compared to its predecessor, the X75WL, Bravia 3 has gained an additional PFS filter, functioning similarly to solutions known from QLED technology. Thanks to this, the DCI-P3 color gamut has been significantly expanded and reaches over 91 percent, which in practice provides more saturated colors and a more pleasant image texture. As a result, even everyday content looks a bit livelier, and movies and series can surprise with their colorful presentations, despite the limitations in brightness itself.

Every reliable image quality assessment must begin by selecting the most optimal factory mode. In the case of the tested model P7K/P79K, the choice was confidently made for the "Film" mode. It is this mode that presents an image closest to the creators' intentions, avoiding both the exaggerated brightness of dynamic mode and the excessive dimming known from eco settings. And it must be admitted that, for a device in this price range, the factory calibration is surprisingly decent, although it is not free from a few stumbles. The most noticeable flaw turned out to be an imperfectly adjusted white balance. A slight dominance of the blue component gives the image a subtly cool, chilly character, thus deviating from the exemplary neutrality that the director wanted to show us. The television performs much better in reproducing the grayscale in a standard dynamic range – the gamma curve is executed almost perfectly. A minor reservation can only be made for the darkest parts of the image, where a slight deviation from the norm causes a loss of some detail in the shadows. The most serious challenge for TCL's software, however, was the interpretation of the HDR signal, which is illustrated by the EOTF curve. The television follows its own, rather free path here – the darkest details are disproportionately brightened, followed by a noticeable slowdown in brightness increase for midtones. Fortunately, most of these imperfections are software-related issues that can be eliminated. With this thought in mind, we proceeded to the professional calibration process.

We primarily tested the Sony Bravia 3 in movie mode, which immediately proved to be the best choice among the factory settings. The picture is not perfect, but compared to the eco mode that the TV suggests right out of the box, the difference is significant and for the better. In movie mode, one can notice a certain problem—the image seems too warm, which results from a lack of blue in the white balance. Despite this, in SDR content, the final effect can still be considered 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 color gamut coverage further exposes the shortcomings of the image in this mode. All of this makes HDR on the Bravia 3 look unconvincing and can spoil the impression left by the quite decent SDR content settings. Fortunately, this is not a situation without a solution. Various errors can be somewhat mitigated, and some can even be completely corrected through professional calibration. Therefore, we decided to check how the TV would perform after such adjustments.

The calibration process turned out to be a home run, especially in the context of standard dynamic range (SDR) content. We successfully managed to eliminate the TV's tendency to emphasize cool tones, restoring the whites to their natural neutrality. Furthermore, precise adjustments allowed us to correct a slight error in the gamma curve, so the darkest areas of the image regained their proper depth, without a trace of unnatural brightening. The effects are measurable and impressive – in the ColorChecker test, the vast majority of color reproduction errors fell below the perceptual threshold, achieving a deltaE value below 2. This is a result that would not shame much more expensive constructions. Unfortunately, in the case of HDR content, we hit a wall in the form of the inherent limitations of the panel itself. And although we managed to bring the colors in line, the software's specifics mean that the TV still adapts brightness in its own way, as evidenced by the persistent, non-standard EOTF curve. In summary, calibration brings tremendous added value, but one must be aware that it cannot overcome certain physical barriers. A slight boost in black levels, resulting from the lack of local dimming, and limited peak brightness mean that HDR content will not always be able to showcase its full potential. This is simply not the main task of this display; its true strength, especially after professional tuning, lies in the viewing of SDR materials.

The calibration allowed us to extract significantly more from ChooseTV 3 than we could have expected at the beginning. First and foremost, we managed to address the shortage of blue color, which previously caused a noticeable warming of the image. After a slight adjustment in white balance, most of the errors in Color Checker measurements for SDR content practically disappeared. The shades of white gained a natural quality, and brightness management in gamma stabilized to a level that is nearly perfect, not exceeding the threshold of human eye perception. Therefore, it can be confidently said that in SDR content, after a few tweaks in settings, ChooseTV 3 performs really excellently. HDR content, however, fares much worse, although it is still definitely better than before calibration. The white balance has been corrected, but the limitations of the IPS panel are insurmountable. The lack of local dimming means that even the smallest elements can be overexposed, which immediately stands out. Color-wise, the effect has also improved, although it is 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 before that ChooseTV 3 is not a television designed to amaze with HDR quality. Nonetheless, it is gratifying that in SDR content, after calibration, the image can look really great, and in this category, the television pleasantly surprised us.

The issue of fluidity in tonal transitions, or popular grading, is another area where the P7K / P79K evokes mixed feelings and surprises with its dual nature. If we were to evaluate solely its ability to render smooth color gradients, we would undoubtedly give it a solid score of 8/10. Unfortunately, this positive image is marred by the use of very aggressive and unsightly dithering. This artifact is particularly noticeable on demanding test patterns – such as the one depicting an actor submerged in red water – where a rough, unnatural texture appears on uniform color surfaces, revealing the digital nature of the image. This is particularly disappointing as it is not a new issue. It seems to be a sort of legacy from previous generations of budget TCL models, which is a shame because it constitutes a flaw on what is essentially a quite competent image and is a mistake that could have been avoided.

In terms of the fluidity of tonal transitions, Bravia 3 performs really well. In brighter scenes, we did not notice any significant errors – the screen handles color blending almost perfectly and does not create artificial contours that can spoil the viewing experience. Also, in darker segments, there are no major issues with color gradation, though another problem arises here. Strong brightening and uneven backlighting of the panel in dark scenes make it difficult to unequivocally evaluate the gradation itself, as the effect is spoiled by the unevenness of the image. However, when we focus solely on color blending, the result can be considered very good.

After a series of harsh evaluations, fortunately, the time comes for praise, and this is due to the TCL AiPQ image processor for its work in digital processing and content scaling. It should be noted right away that we are not talking about the level known from flagship designs; nevertheless, in the price segment represented by the P7K/P79K, the results achieved are more than solid. The feature that smooths tonal transitions performs particularly well, effectively eliminating posterization, which are the characteristic bands often visible in materials with higher compression, such as from the YouTube service. The algorithm can elegantly remove unwanted gradients, which ultimately looks really good. The television also competently handles upscaling, which is the task of raising low-resolution materials to 4K standard. The output image, although it may seem a bit too sharp out of the box, fortunately, is not a problem. The software allows for easy adjustment of this parameter using a sharpness slider, so the final appearance can be easily tailored to personal preferences.

Bravia 3 brings something more to the Sony television family than just a common name. It stands out primarily for its ability to improve the quality of weaker materials thanks to the applied processor. Of course, we won't find the advanced XR chip known from more expensive models here, but it must be acknowledged that the image at a lower resolution looked surprisingly good. Scaling worked effectively, and most parts of the screen were free from the typical excessive jagged edges found in budget constructions.

The feature that enhances the fluidity of tonal transitions is also worth noting. In the high setting, it works really well, effectively masking the imperfections of gradation without significant loss of detail. It does happen that the algorithm overly smooths elements that should remain sharp – for example, faces – however, in overall terms, 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.

The issue of fluidity and sharpness of the image in motion is inextricably linked to the fundamental parameter of the panel, and in the case of the TCL P7K/P79K, we are dealing with a panel that has a native refresh rate of 60 Hz. This specification already defines its capabilities and makes it difficult to unequivocally recommend it to enthusiasts of dynamic sports broadcasts. During rapid camera movements, the image loses sharpness, and the panel itself also shows a slight tendency to blur, which may be noticeable to more sensitive viewers. Fortunately, not everything in this aspect has been left to chance. The manufacturer has implemented a simple motion smoothing system, which is primarily used in film materials recorded at 24 or 30 frames per second. Thanks to a dedicated slider, the user can independently decide on the final character of the motion – from a fully cinematic, slightly juddery image to achieving a very smooth, almost theatrical effect. It is a simple yet effective tool that allows users to tailor the viewing experience to their own preferences.

The fluidity of motion has never been a strong point of TVs equipped with 60 Hz panels, and the Bravia 3 is no exception. Nevertheless, Sony has added something that might appeal to those who are more sensitive to the way images are displayed. We are talking about the proprietary Motion Flow motion smoother, which offers users a lot of adjustment options. Thanks to it, one can make the image smoother, even theatrical, or stick to a more cinematic style with the characteristic stuttering that many simply associate with the film atmosphere. These features work with content at lower frame rates, such as movies and series recorded at 24 or 30 frames per second, which are the materials we encounter on a daily basis. It is precisely in this area that the motion smoother proves to be one of the most important features in everyday use of the television, and here the Bravia 3 performs really well.

Although on paper the native 4K@60Hz matrix might suggest that the TCL P7K/P79K is not a TV tailored for gamers, the reality turns out to be surprisingly different. On the contrary, the manufacturer has ensured a rich package of features that make it a very friendly companion for next-generation consoles. Onboard, we find key technologies such as ALLM, which provides automatic switching to low-latency mode, and VRR, or variable refresh rate, which eliminates screen tearing. The list is completed by support for Dolby Vision Gaming and a simple yet functional Game Bar. However, the real and extremely pleasant surprise is something else. It turns out that the TV easily supports high refresh rate signals of 120 Hz, but at lower resolutions – 1080p and 1440p. This is fantastic news for console owners who know full well how rarely games run in native 4K at a full 120 frames per second. The ability to choose between higher resolution and doubled smoothness is therefore an extremely sensible compromise.

In summary, although the P7K/P79K may not be the target screen for the most avid tournament gamers, it offers a package of options for the casual or occasional console user that is hard to find among many competitors at this price point.

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 wraps up the topic before it can even develop. This is a TV for casual gamers who, after work, want to fire up FIFA or racing games, not for someone who measures every frame in a spreadsheet. Nevertheless, Sony has added a few nice extras so it’s not too barren. ALLM works as it should, automatically switching the TV to game mode (low latency). We even find a simple Game Bar here that is clear. However, the biggest curiosity is the PlayStation Portal app. With it, you can launch games from PS5 wirelessly and immediately see them on the TV screen. It sounds great, but it only takes a few minutes to feel significant delays. In our opinion, it’s more of a showcase of capabilities than something usable on a daily basis. If someone really wants to play, it’s better to connect the console with an HDMI cable right away and forget about wireless problems.

Complementing this rich package for gamers is a parameter that has a direct impact on comfort and performance in gameplay – input lag. Even in native 60 Hz mode, the television boasts an excellent result of just 15 ms. However, the real magic happens when switching to 120 Hz mode, when the lag drops nearly in half, reaching values below 10 ms. Such responsiveness means that every command from the controller is transferred to the screen in the blink of an eye, something not only professionals will appreciate, but anyone who values smooth and immediate interaction with the game.

Here, Bravia 3 shows its best side. Delays drop below 12 milliseconds almost in every resolution and mode, so the response to controller movements is instantaneous and there is no feeling of lag. It feels as if the console and the TV are speaking the same language, without any unnecessary pauses or hesitations. The Dolby Vision Gaming mode deserves special attention. In its predecessor, the X75WL model, using this feature was simply a nightmare – input lag could exceed 100 milliseconds, which effectively took away the enjoyment of gaming. In Bravia 3, this problem has been completely eliminated.

We finally come to an area that can undoubtedly be described as the biggest Achilles' heel of the TCL P7K/P79K – its cooperation with a PC. This is paradoxical because on paper, everything looks promising. The presence of G-Sync and support for high refresh rates at lower resolutions might suggest that it would also be a great monitor. Unfortunately, practice brutally verifies these assumptions. The key issue is the lack of support for full 4:4:4 chroma sampling. In everyday use, this translates to terrible font rendering quality – they, especially colorful ones, become jagged, surrounded by artifacts, and simply hard to read. This is not the end, as in PC mode, a significant issue with aggressive dithering also becomes evident, giving the entire image an artificial, overly digital appearance. The only consolation in this situation is the fact that in games, we can take advantage of additional hertz and G-Sync technology, but these are not benefits that could compensate for the fundamental shortcomings in displaying a static interface. The verdict is therefore clear: while it can still hold up as a screen solely for gaming on PC, in the role of a monitor for work or internet browsing, the P7K/P79K simply performs poorly.

The applied IPS matrix, combined with properly functioning 4:4:4 chroma support, ensures that font readability is at an excellent level. Letters appear sharp, regardless of the background color or the content itself, making work with documents or browsing websites easy on the eyes. In this role, the television definitely deserves a very good rating, if not an excellent one, as few models in this budget perform as well. Of course, if we look at the Bravia 3 from a PC gamer's perspective, the picture won't be as rosy. We won't find G-SYNC or Free Sync frame synchronization with graphics cards or high refresh rates here, so for fast-paced computer games, the television is not the best choice. However, in the role of a monitor for work, whether in a home office or a student’s room, it performs excellently, and in this regard, it's really hard to criticize.

When it comes to viewing angles, we enter a territory where VA matrix technology dictates inevitable conditions. As expected, this is the weak point of this model. It is enough to move away from the screen's axis to observe a gradual degradation of the image: colors begin to fade, contrast noticeably drops, and black loses its depth. In direct competition with IPS panels, which are renowned for their generosity in this aspect, the VA matrix must concede superiority to its competitor. Is there a plus side to this? Paradoxically, yes. Poor viewing angles are, in fact, the price we consciously pay for the fundamental advantage of this technology – a significantly higher native contrast and deeper blacks when viewed head-on. So, one could say that this is a television that favors the viewer sitting in the "ideal" spot, offering them a maximally vibrant image at the cost of universality.

Thanks to the applied IPS matrix, colors do not lose intensity as quickly as with screens based on VA panels. Even when watching television in a larger group, when some people sit at an angle, the image remains clear and does not appear washed out. Of course, this is not the level offered by organic OLED matrices, where the image looks identical from almost every position, but for an LCD television, the viewing angles in the Bravia 3 are among the better ones. This provides a sense of comfort and freedom, especially in larger living rooms or during family screenings, where it is difficult for everyone to sit directly in front of the screen.

The last practical test for any television is its daily performance in daylight conditions when it must compete with ambient light. In this competition, the TCL P7K / P79K has a slight advantage thanks to its satin screen coating. Its structure manages to quite effectively dampen direct reflections, dispersing them and protecting the image from excessive color fading or black brightness. However, passive combat with reflections is one side of the coin. The other is the active ability to "break through" bright surroundings, and here one of the key limitations of this model becomes apparent. The previously mentioned peak brightness of around 300 nits is simply too low to provide a fully comfortable and dynamic viewing experience in a brightly lit living room. In such conditions, the image may lack punch, and lower brightness scenes may lose clarity.

The Bravia 3 performs quite decently against daylight. The applied satin coating on the screen effectively reduces reflections, and colors do not lose their intensity when stronger light from outside hits the screen. As a result, in typical home conditions, with the blinds open or in a living room with a larger window, the image maintains its readability. However, it is important to remember that this is not a high-brightness television. The Bravia 3 has no chance of competing with brighter models, so in very sunlit rooms, there are moments when the screen simply cannot compete with the intense light. Under normal conditions, it handles well, but in more challenging scenarios, one should not expect miracles.

Smart Features – the Power of Google TV

The heart and brain of the TCL P7K / P79K is the Google TV system, which in itself is a huge advantage. This platform provides access to an almost endless library of applications from the Play Store, ensuring that we won't be missing any key streaming service. Integration with other devices is exemplary – Apple device owners will appreciate the seamless cooperation via AirPlay, while Windows and Android users will easily take advantage of the screen mirroring feature. It is also worth highlighting the Google Assistant, which performs fantastically with voice searches in Polish, remaining one of the most effective and convenient solutions of its kind on the market. The operation of the system on the tested model can be described as "average plus." The interface is mostly smooth, but during testing, it experienced occasional slowdowns and even sporadic "freezes" requiring a moment of patience. Minor hiccups are also visible in the translation of some system messages, which can be awkward – however, these are just small oversights on TCL's part, not affecting overall functionality.

Classic Features

In the age of smart systems, traditional television functions often take a back seat, and this is also the case here. A significant advantage is the inclusion of a classic remote control with a numeric keypad, which does not require precise aiming at the screen for communication, greatly enhancing user comfort. The presence of Bluetooth technology for connecting external devices, like headphones or speakers, should also be noted positively. However, this is where the list of conveniences basically ends. It is evident that TCL has placed nearly everything on the Google TV card, treating classic functions as an absolute minimum. Therefore, we will not find the option to record programs from built-in tuners to a USB drive or the once-popular PiP (Picture-in-Picture) feature. This is therefore a basic package that simply works, but does not offer anything beyond what is necessary.

Smart TV Features

The biggest advantage of the Bravia 3 in everyday use is the presence of the Google TV system. Thanks to it, 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 at their fingertips. The Google Assistant also worked very well, as it was able to respond to our commands quite "smartly." The Google TV system in theory should work very smoothly because 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 testing, we noticed slight stutters in the interface, and some functions, such as screen mirroring, simply refused to cooperate. One could get the impression that the processor in this model sometimes struggles with the demanding system, and not everything works as smoothly as we would hope.

Classic Features

Sony, even in the cheapest series, manages to remind us of its experience with various users. In the set, we find as many as two remotes. The first is modern and minimalist, with a small number of buttons, which works great when using applications and Google TV functions. The second is a classic remote with a richer set of keys and a numeric keypad, which will be appreciated especially by older people accustomed to traditional solutions. This is a nice nod to different user groups, and it must be admitted that Sony handled this very practically. It is a pity, however, that compared to the X75WL model, the ability to record content from TV tuners to USB memory has disappeared. The manufacturer has completely eliminated this feature, so if someone was attached to it, they will unfortunately not find it in the Bravia 3.

The built-in media player in the P7k/P79k model is at least a puzzling case, putting us in quite an unusual situation. On one hand, its engine handles decoding most popular video formats, which is obviously good news. On the other hand, we encountered a surprising and irritating issue – the default application has a fundamental problem displaying Polish diacritical characters in subtitle files correctly. Instead of letters like "ą", "ę", or "ż", empty squares or random, unreadable symbols appeared on the screen. Fortunately, thanks to the flexibility of the Google TV system, this problem can be easily circumvented. Installing an alternative, advanced player, such as the reliable VLC or KODI, completely resolves this inconvenience. The situation is peculiar because this flaw did not occur in other TCL models we tested previously. We are therefore dealing with a clear software oversight, which, hopefully, will be fixed in a future update.

Here Sony really did a great job. The built-in player works quickly and doesn't "struggle" when launching various formats. We didn't need to reach for external applications like VLC because the television handled even files that can cause a lot of problems on other models – such as HEIC photos from Apple devices. It's a small detail, but one that shows the manufacturer wanted the user to have a sense of complete convenience. By plugging a movie onto a USB stick or photos from vacation onto an external drive, you can simply connect them and watch immediately on the big screen. No fussing, no installing additional software, no searching for workarounds. This is really rare in televisions, and it must be admitted that in this aspect, the Bravia 3 pleasantly surprised us.

In terms of the built-in audio system, the TCL P7k/P79k presents a level that can be described as functional and correct, but lacking audiophile ambitions. The speakers play quite loudly, and dialogues in movies and TV shows are conveyed clearly and without distortion, which is crucial in everyday use. However, the soundstage definitely lacks a foundation in the form of low tones. This is a direct consequence of the absence of a dedicated subwoofer – an element that in the higher P8K series, with a large Onkyo subwoofer at the back of the cabinet, defined the strength of its sound. Here, that element is simply missing, making the sound seem flatter and lacking the depth that creates a cinematic atmosphere. We also noticed a peculiar feature in the software – when trying to set the maximum volume, the TV automatically reduces it. It's hard to conclusively determine whether this is a form of protection against distortion or a minor software bug; nonetheless, it's a pity, as the power reserves seem to be somewhat greater.

Bravia 3 sounds quite flat, but makes up for it with volume. It is excellent for watching traditional television, as the dialogues are clear and the mid-tones are easily audible. This type of sound profile will be especially appreciated by older users, who primarily care about speech intelligibility. 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 TV supports modern codecs, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, so an external sound system can easily take advantage of their potential. This assures that with a relatively small expenditure, one can achieve a much fuller and more engaging sound.

TCL P7K / P79K vs SONY BRAVIA 3

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:

Smart Features – the Power of Google TV

Classic Features

Smart TV Features

Classic Features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements