The Japanese brand's White Oled 2023 offer therefore consists of four Sony XR-55A80L (55'', 140 cm), Sony XR-65A80L (65'', 165 cm), Sony XR-77A80L (77 '', 196cm) and Sony XR-83A80L (83'', 211cm). This year again, Sony therefore considers its QD Oled A95L TVs as the premium models in its range, with the exception of the Sony Z9K Ultra HD 8K TV series.
XR Cognitive Processor 2023, XR Clear Image
Sony announces the new XR Clear Image feature for its XR Cognitive Processor 2023 chip (see our news Sony XR Processor 2023: new XR Clear Image feature for more information). For the rest, we find the developments offered by the XR Cognitive Processor Phase 2 chip vintage 2022, namely an excellent display of colors with a multitude of new shades thanks to an adjustment not only of luminance but also of saturation. The relief of the images is also improved through finer management of the objects present in the foreground which concentrate most of the video processing (accuracy, color, etc.) unlike those in the background managed with a subtle bokeh effect again very sophisticated for greater overall realism and similar to human vision.
Sony A80L: XR Oled Contrast Pro
After discussion with the Japanese engineers, it appears that the A80L televisions offer performances very similar to the A80K in terms of luminosity, improving at best by 10%. If the panels are Oled EX models, as suggested by the exclusive Sony XR Oled Contrast Pro function intended for the brand's brightest Oled screens, they are of the "classic" type, that is to say without a heat sink ( nor MLA process necessarily).
To return to the expected light performance similar to that of last year, we recall that Sony, with White Oled technology, is undoubtedly one of the most conservative brands in terms of peak with the aim of 'to avoid, to reduce drastically at least, the phenomenon of marking (Burn-In).
Sony A80L: XR Oled Motion and XR Upscaling 4K
For the rest of the specifications, there is of course a native 100 hertz 10-bit panel within these two broadcasters. The capabilities offered by the XR Cognitive Processor vintage 2023 have enabled Japanese engineers to refine the XR Upscaling 4K technology. This new algorithm, associated with a third image database dedicated to textures, detects and analyzes each object composing an image. These are individually optimized to display a sharper texture, greater depth with the aim of increased naturalness and reality. Of course, the XR Smoothing process to greatly reduce (or even eliminate) the posterization phenomenon is still on the menu.
Sony A80L TVs also incorporate XR Oled Motion motion compensation for exemplary fluidity whatever the nature of the content (Sport, films, video games, documentaries, etc.) and the XR Triluminos Max function for even richer, brighter and more accurate colors. Of course, Sony A80L TVs are compatible with HDR10, HDR HLG and HDR Dolby Vision.
Sony A80L: Smart Google TV
We find on the Sony 2023 Smart TVs the Google TV operating system which gives pride of place to content. Like Android TV, Google TV consolidates and organizes all your apps and streaming subscriptions in one place. But, while with Android TV, the applications are at the top of the menus, here it is the content that takes precedence, displayed next to each other by theme. More than 6,500 applications are concerned, including Disney+, Netflix, Canal+, France TV or YouTube and more than 700,000 films and episodes of series. And no more juggling from one service to another to find what you want to watch: the hundreds of thousands of films and series are organized and searchable by genre, whatever their origin.
Precisely, the XR Cognitive Processor 2023 is of course also used for the Smart TV functionality, for improved ergonomics via almost immediate fluidity and responsiveness. Finally, Sony A80L TVs immediately integrate the Google Assistant function via Chromecast certification (integrated) and a microphone on the remote control. Works with Alexa certification (need for an Amazon Echo type connected speaker) is also included, as well as for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit.
Sony A80L: Bravia Cam function
If Google Meet is included (camera provided), the same goes for the “Find the remote control†function and the smaller backlit remote control with far fewer buttons that appeared in 2022, the camera is only optional on the Sony A80L. Of course, once installed, gesture control is in order.
Namely, the Bravia Cam function offers many features. In addition to gesture control, the camera triggers the display of an automatic reverse message and an audible alert if the person looks at the television too closely (very useful for children), allows energy savings by automatically lowering the brightness of the TV if the viewer leaves the room and optimizes sound processing according to the position of the viewer in front of the TV. Last precision, it is possible to completely turn off (via a switch) the camera and no private data is stored on it or the television.
Sony A80L: OTT Bravia Core service
Like all Sony Bravia XR televisions, the Sony A80Ls offer the exclusive Bravia Core (for Center of Real Entertainment) streaming platform. This one, mainly animated by Sony Pictures productions, offers for the purchase of a TV Bravia XR Sony A95L, A80L, X95L or X90L the possibility of watching a selection of 10 films from the studio's greatest films free of charge for 24 months. Hollywood and the largest collection of feature films bearing the Imax Enhanced label, to choose from a catalog that is regularly enriched. The purchase of a Sony X85L, X80L, X75WL TV also allows you to benefit from the Bravia Core service but for 12 months for a selection of 5 films. For example, in 2023, the Bravia Core film library should be enriched with feature films The Son, Equalizer 3, Gran Turismo, Insidious Chapter 5, Living, The Pope's Exorcist, Kravan The Hunter, Missing... And this, with extreme quality, i.e. a speed of up to 80 Mbps for consumers with an adequate subscription.
Sony A80L: Acoustic Surface Audio+ and Haas effect
The 3.2 sound section of the Sony A80L series is still called Acoustic Surface Audio+. It uses three exciters placed behind the slab (called Actuator) with a power of 10 W each. These vibrate the surface of the slab to transmit the sound information. Precision, the Sony A80L benefit from two subwoofers (10 W each) for a total power delivered of 50 W (3 x 10 + 2 x 10). Support for Dolby Atmos remains of course. The same goes for the Acoustic Center Sync function. The latter offers to leave the TV sound system active if (exclusively) a Sony soundbar is connected to widen the sound stage.
Also note an extensive sound interaction within the framework of a combination of a Sony television equipped with the XR Cognitive Processor 2023 chip, either from the Sony X95L, X90L, A95L or A80L series, and a bar its Sony HT-A7000, HT-A5000, HT-A3000 or the Sony HT-A9 speaker pack. In this configuration, the use of the Hass effect (also known as the precedence effect) is required to slightly enhance the soundstage and give the viewer the impression that the sound is coming from the center of the screen. .
Sony A80L: Perfect for PlayStation 5 and Game Menu
Perfect for PlayStation 5 certification with its two features Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode is also on the program. As a reminder, Sony A80L Bravia XR TVs automatically switch to Game or Standard mode depending on the nature of the signal sent by the PS5 console.
But the big novelty of Sony 2023 TVs concerns the presence of a Game Menu allowing very simple and quick access to game settings: VRR, motion blur reduction (Motion Blur), Black Equalizer function (for clear areas of the image and flush out an enemy or a bonus) or even the tiller of the displayed image (to reduce it on the screen).
Too bad, support for HDR Dolby Vision Gaming is up to 120 Hz and Multiview mode to display two images side by side on the screen to, for example, play a PS5 title and watch a tutorial on YouTube , are the prerogative of the only A95L televisions. None of this on the A80L.
Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode and Bravia Core Calibrated Mode functions
Among the other advantages of Sony A80L TVs, in addition to Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode certifications (to enjoy series, documentaries, films, etc. on your TV with the same quality as that of Netflix post-production studios regardless of the environment, dark or bright) and Imax Enhanced, we find in 2023 the Bravia Core Calibrated Mode. The TV adapts its settings perfectly to those of Bravia Core content for maximum picture quality.
Otherwise, still in terms of features, the Calman Ready function (for fine calibration of the TV with the tools of the same name), and Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth compatibility are still part of the range of Sony TVs A80L. Namely, Sony A80L TVs still have only two HDMI 2.1 inputs with management of VRR, ALLM, eARC and 4K/120 functions via a bandwidth of 48 gigabits. There are also two other HDMI 2.0 connectors (18 Gbps bandwidth).
Last precision, Sony A80L TVs can adopt three different positions: no stand if the TV is fixed to the wall, double central stand with spaced apart and raised supports to accommodate a sound bar or double central stand to place the TV on a piece of furniture of reduced width.
Availability announced for spring. Indicative prices still unknown.
Reminder of the key characteristics of Sony A80L TVs:
• 10-bit panel
• Ultra HD/4K panel
• Oled EX panel
• 120 Hz panel
• Processor: XR Cognitive Processor 2023• Wide Color Gamut function
• UPnP (DLNA) multimedia gateway function
• Acoustic Surface Audio+ function
• Screen Mirroring function
• eARC function
• VRR function
• ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) function
• 4K HFR 120 function
• XR Upscaling 4K function
• XR Smoothing function
• Calman Ready function
• Acoustic Center Sync function
• 3D Surround Upscaling function
• XR Oled Contrast Pro function
• Bravia Core function
• Ambient function Optimization Pro
• XR Oled Motion function
• XR Triluminos Max function
• XR Clear Image function
• HDR10 and HDR HLG compatibility
• Chromecast, Google Home compatibility, Google Assistant
• NTFS compatibility (via USB)
• Miracast compatibility
• HDR Dolby Vis compatibility ion
• HEVC compatibility
• Dolby Atmos compatibility
• Bluetooth 4.2 compatibility
• Wi-Fi ac compatibility
• DTS compatibility
• VP9 compatibility
• HDCP 2.3 compatibility
• Imax Enhanced certification
• Netflix Calibrated Mode certification
• Bravia Core Calibrated Mode certification
• Inputs: 2 HDMI 2.1, 2 HDMI 2.0
• Multimedia AirPlay 2• Multimedia HomeKit
• Multimedia Works with Alexa
• Multimedia Google TV
• Multimedia Ok Google
• Dual DVB-T2 tuner
• Dual DVB-C tuner• Dual DVB-S2 tuner
• Sound section: 3.2
• Power: 50 W (5 x 10 W)
• Other: Bravia camera Optional Cam