Bravia 5 / XR5
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 120Hz Brand: SONY Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
Sony Bravia 5 is the latest Mini-LED television in the offering of the Japanese manufacturer for 2025. This model continues the line of the popular Bravia X90L, introducing a greater number of dimming zones while simultaneously retaining what was a strong point of the X90L, namely: the XR processor responsible for image processing and the 120 Hz panel with MotionFlow technology. Additionally, it features support for Dolby Vision, a complete set of functions for gamers, and the well-known Google TV system. Therefore, Bravia 5 aims to be a universal television – one that is supposed to excel in both cinematic screenings and dynamic gameplay as well as in everyday television viewing. Is it truly a worthy successor to the X90L model? We checked this for you in our review!
7.6
Overall rating
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.
Exemplary upscaling and digital image processing – proprietary Sony XR processor
Very good image quality after calibration
Solid contrast for a Mini-LED screen
Excellent support for HDR content thanks to Dolby Vision and dynamic tone mapping
High motion smoothness at 120Hz
Outstanding input lag (7 ms at 120 Hz)
Very good cooperation with PC – super readability of fonts, G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro support.
Google TV at its best, fast and without annoying bugs
2 remotes included
Pleasant, loud sound at 40 W from a 2.2 system.
The algorithms need refinement – despite the higher number of dimming zones, contrast and brightness in difficult scenes sometimes perform worse than in the X90L
Screen mirroring practically did not work with Windows and Android
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports – for a TV of this class, that's definitely too few, especially if someone plans to connect a console, soundbar, and additional devices
Movies and series in UHD quality
7.0
Classic TV, YouTube
7.4
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
7.2
Gaming on console
8.7
TV as a computer monitor
8.0
Watching in bright light
6.9
Utility functions
7.6
Apps
9.6
Sound quality
7.0
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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
At first glance, the Bravia 5 closely resembles its two-year older sibling, the X90L. The differences are subtle but noticeable. The legs have been more "flattened," giving the TV a slimmer silhouette, and the thin metal frame around the screen looks elegant and minimalist. The back, on the other hand, is classic Sony – a distinctive pattern reminiscent of a chocolate bar, which has been their hallmark since the XR series. However, in practice, there's quite a bit of plastic, and the whole thing is quite thick from that side. This means that the Bravia 5 won't hang perfectly flat on the wall. Despite these shortcomings, it all presents itself as really solid. It's clear that we are dealing with a high-end device, one that not only gives the impression of being fast but also looks good in the living room. This is not a design that will elicit a "wow" effect like the most expensive models, but no one will mistake the Bravia 5 for a cheap, plastic TV from a discount store.
Select size:
7.5/10
Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 190 (10 x 19)
Result
104,650:1
Result
23,850:1
Result
21,300:1
Result
9,350:1
Result
6,450:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
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.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
5.4/10
Supported formats: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 96.6%, Bt.2020: 74.7%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
637 nit
Result
320 nit
Result
550 nit
Result
251 nit
Result
731 nit
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.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Despite all the confusion that accompanied us during the brightness tests and dimming algorithms, it's impossible not to admit that the Bravia 5 can make an impression when we simply sit down in front of the screen and start a movie. This is the moment when numbers and tables cease to matter so much, and emotion takes precedence. And here, Sony, almost in defiance of earlier criticisms, performs really well. During screenings of the already iconic "Mr." and "Billy Lynn," we had surprisingly little to complain about. Yes, minor color deviations were noticeable, and the amount of detail in some shots could have been slightly greater, but the overall picture is hard to describe as disappointing. On the contrary – most scenes were rendered with great precision and retained a cinematic character that captures the eye and allows the viewer to immerse themselves in the story. This is largely thanks to dynamic tone mapping – a technology that Sony has been fine-tuning for years. Here, it acts as a kind of salvation for scenes that on other televisions with similar, somewhat "mixed" brightness, could simply appear weak. In the Bravia 5, especially when we switch on the "preferred gradation" mode (which we sincerely recommend doing immediately after purchase), the image regains a lot of details. Details that can simply get lost in shadows or highlights on competitive screens. Movies then gain depth and character, and the viewer has a sense that they are watching something more than just a regular image – they receive a taste of a true cinematic experience.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
The topic of HDR formats cannot be overlooked, as they often determine how we ultimately perceive the image. In the case of Bravia 5, static HDR10 can deliver an unpleasant surprise. Sony, which has this "cinematic edge" in its DNA, can be overly aggressive here, leading to severe screen bleaching in very bright scenes. On the test screen with horses, the effect simply looked poor: the amount of detail in the brightest parts of the image was just blown out, as if someone had overdone the brightness slider. Fortunately, the support for dynamic metadata in the form of Dolby Vision comes to the rescue. This mode can adjust the brightness of the television scene by scene, and even frame by frame. Here, Bravia 5 shows its better side. The image suddenly gains precision, details are extracted, and blown-out areas give way to a more balanced, cinematic effect. The difference is visible to the naked eye, and the reservations we had with HDR10 practically disappear in Dolby Vision. This is very good news for those who watch streaming platforms, as most of the content recorded there is in this standard.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
5.5/10
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.
8.9/10
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.
8.8/10
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.
8.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
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.
7.7/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 120Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
BFI function 120Hz: Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Brightness drop with BFI: 49%
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.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Smużenie (MotionFlow ON):
But not everything is as perfect as we would like it to be. Regarding motion blur, there is a noticeable regression compared to the X90L model. In our UFO test, this was particularly evident with 120 Hz content – there was a distinct trail following the object, most bothersome when the outlines were displayed on a dark background. This is the moment when expectations start to clash with reality. Fortunately, the right MotionFlow configuration can completely eliminate this effect. After a few minutes of playing with the settings, the picture becomes pleasant to the eye, and motion blur stops being an issue.
9.8/10
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.
9.9/10
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."
SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
---|---|---|
1080p60: 16 ms | 2160p60: 15 ms | 2160p60 DV: 15 ms |
1080p120: 7 ms | 2160p120: 7 ms | 2160p120 DV: 7 ms |
2160p60: 16 ms | ||
2160p120: 7 ms |
8/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 7ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 120Hz
G-Sync: Yes
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.
3.2/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 62%
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.
6.9/10
Matrix coating: Satin
Reflection suppression: Good
Black levels during daytime: Good
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.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5) : 641 cd/m2
7.6/10
System: Google TV
System performance: Good
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.
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.
9.6/10
8.9/10
Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
---|---|
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.
7/10
84dB
Maximum volume
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
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.
84dBC (Max)
75dBC
Software version during testing: BRAVIA_AE2_eu-user 12 STT2.231117.001 632050 release-keys
Image processor: MT5897 6GB RAM
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: PFS LED
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