For pure sound and vision quality the Sony’s A95L QD-OLED is a delight – caveated with some design and feature quirks
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(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
T3 Verdict
Super-bright yet even-handed picture quality is stunning
Incredible sound offsets need for a soundbar
Reasons to avoid-Feet at outer edges makes for a foolish stand design-Only two of four slots are HDMI 2.1 standard-Google TV remains irksome
Feet at outer edges makes for a foolish stand design
Only two of four slots are HDMI 2.1 standard
Google TV remains irksome
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
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I was at Sony’s UK headquarters almost exactly a year ago thefirst time I laid eyes on the A95L– the company’s second-generation QD-OLED TV as part of its2023 TV range– and like a moth to flame (rather tech journalist to super-bright telly) it was mesmerising to look at. I’ve been keenly awaiting an A95L for review ever since.
Sony A95L: Price & Availability
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You can buy the Sony A95L right now, but you’ll need a decent lump of cash to do so. The 65-inch model I’m reviewing here (the XR-65A95L for its full codename) costs £3699 / $3500 / AU$5995 – much more than similar rivals, includingthe Samsung S95C(which houses the same base panel as this Sony), but as you can see from the shopping widget embedded above, the asking price has dropped since its original on-sale date.
If the 65-inch isn’t the right size for you (and, for many, it won’t be on account of its poor ultra-wide stand design – which I’ll get to in a bit) then the smaller 55-inch model (the XR-55A95L) retails at £2999 / $2800 / AU$5295. And if you’ve got stacks of space, wads of money, and an AV stand the size of a small country then the 77-inch model (the XR-77A95L) might be more up your street – if you can handle its £5999 / $5000 / AU$9495 outlay.
Sony A95L review: What’s New?
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
As I mentioned, the A95L is the second-generation QD-OLED model from Sony, succeeding the previousA95K model– which was also a true 5-star showing – and that means there are some notable upgrades for the newer model. It is the top-of-the-line model in the company’s range, after all.
First up is the addition of that 77-inch model – a whole new size which wasn’t present before. All three A95L size options are finished in a coating that better negates reflection too. But more importantly is a much brighter panel, thanks to an all-new heatsink, which means it hit peak brightness at double that of the previous generation’s maximum.
Sony A95L review: Design & Usability
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
But before you get to reap the rewards of that audio-visual and gaming goodness, you’ll need to set up the A95L. Which, as I found out first-hand with the 65-inch model on review, isn’t as straightforward as I’d expected. Not if you’re intending to use an AV cabinet or piece of furniture rather than wall-mounting anyway.
That’s because the A95L’s stand design foolishly positions the legs at the outermost points. My large wooden AV cabinet measures 140cm across – no problem for a 65-inchPanasonic MZ2000or 65-inchLG G3 OLED– but the XR-65A95L requires aminimumof 145cm. That’s why there’s a big stack of books to the side of the cabinet in my review pictures, to accommodate this perplexing design choice in supporting one of the two legs and, therefore, the whole telly. Yay for books!
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
However, the two legs can be mounted in a choice of two vertical options: so the TV sits almost flush with a cabinet’s surface; or raised, as per my pictures, to accommodate other hardware in front of the TV itself – whether one ofthe best soundbars, a streaming box, or whatever else you may wish to plant in front. I’d suggest keeping it clear if possible, though, as that’s how this Sony TV looks most elegant in my opinion.
Setup-wise you’ll then need to jump through the various stages of Google TV, the updated operating system on board here, which seemingly requires you to sign into an account, as to then make recommendations (many of which are highly peculiar – but thankfully can be hidden if you opt for an ‘apps only’ view). This is all controlled using one of the two included remotes. I have no idea why there are two – I’d prefer just one that functioned better overall, as the better-looking one of the pair has a lacklustre response even with clear line of sight.
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
As I’ve come to this A95L review later than some – it’s been in the shops for some months now – it’s benefitted from various app additions as part of Google TV. That means in addition tothe best streaming service’big guns', such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV+ all sitting pride of place, there’s also BBC iPlayer, ITV X, All4, and My5 all present and correct. Jolly good!
While Google TV is better implemented on Sony’s TV than you’ll find on, say, the current Philips range (where internal software seems to battle with Google’s own, disallowing various menu selects depending on which screen is showing), I still don’t love the evolution of Google’s software. The layout just isn’t that useful. The recommendations don’t make much sense to me. If you’re living in a set-top box or via other hardware inputs then you won’t really care, but I feel the only brand making logical inroads with software right now isPanasonic with its Fire TV-toting Z95A(and, okay,LG’s in-house and future-proofed softwareis also solid).
Sony A95L review: Picture Quality
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
Once you have the A95L setup in an altogether less book-laden fashion than I managed, and you’ve got over Google TV’s unneeded appearance each time you switch the TV on, what’s undeniable is the immediate quality that’s on hand here.
Sure, it’s early in 2024 as I write this, and there’s a reasonable chance Sony will announce an ‘A95M’ in the not-distant future, but I think the A95L provides the best-looking picture of any TV I’ve seen in 2024 (*that you can buy right now – I’m excluding theCES 2024product announcements that are forthcoming later this year).
That’s straight out of the box too. There are many meaningful presets and adjustments that can be made but, seriously, the A95L’s deft touch and understanding of picture quality is immediately obvious. It just presents such a clean visual, one that’s rich yet not overbearing in saturation, with a level of detail that’s undeniable. It’s bright yet measured, with colour that pops without becoming garish, and a depth and motion that feels genuine.
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
As you’ll have likely gleaned from my review images,Dune: Part Onehas been a notable recent catch-up watch for me (on4K Blu-ray, no less) – which you might immediately consider a poor choice for testing a TV so bright. But actually I see it as quite the opposite: it’s in the subtlety and sheer breadth of black-scale dynamism that this Sony can handle those super-dark HDR scenes. Even on a more muted colour palette and vision, but then every time colour does pop – when warm sun breaks through onto characters' faces – it adds another layer to its effortless ability.
At the opposite end of the scale, streamingSpider-Man: Into The Spider-Verseon Netflix is a great example of how a modern movie can really grab a technology and run with it. As per many animated movies, where the idea of HDR is almost endlessly more controllable, as we’re not dealing with film or digital capture of real-life scenes, bright scenes are really, truly,bright. It’s a stunning vision, presented so perfectly on this Sony – you can even go all out in Vivid mode, which isn’t something I’ve said about any live-action movie,ever.
WhatSpider-Versealso represents so well is how the Sony’s processing and motion-handling is so rarely fazed. Textures remain in tact even through pacey motion scenes, and it’s rare for there to be any ghosting, stutter or artefacts around more complex subject areas – something I’ve seen in the Panasonic MZ2000’s MLA OLED panel, for example. Upscaling is supremely handled, too, although not quite as clean-cut as the best source material.
Sony A95L review: Gaming & Sound
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
As an owner of both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, most TVs these days don’t possess enough HDMI 2.1 ports for my needs. Sadly it’s the same deal with the Sony A95L: only its number 3 and 4 ports are of that standard, required for 4K/120Hz, the other two are HDMI 2.0.
Regrettably one of those ports is also theHDMI eARC port, which I would often use for passthrough of a separate soundbar. I’ve not found that possible here, however, as Google TV seems to be fussy about specific soundbars – I had a similar issue on thePhilips OLED+808with a Polk soundbar exhibiting significant sync delay; the Sony, meanwhile, refuses to even talk with the Polk setup – but in the case of the A95L it’s actually not been a bother.
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
That’s because this Sony has among the best sound I’ve heard from any TV, ever. I’ve been genuinely surprised at just how well the so-called Acoustic Surface Audio+ system works, which uses the actual screen surface to produce sound vibrations. This is incredibly adept at delivering accurate on-screen sound reflection, with lots of height and width to the soundstage. This TV therefore really doesn’t require a soundbar at all – and its bass delivery is solid too.
That’s been great when gaming, with superb bright pictures matching up with crisp sound quality. There’s plenty of gaming support, too, withVariable Refresh RateandAuto Low-Latency Modeavailable and a Game Mode to define your preferences. The low input lag makes for great gaming sessions and as more titles will likely support true 4K/120Hz in the future the A95L is future-proofed beyond many of today’s current TVs.
Sony A95L review: Verdict
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
Sure, you’ll have to pay more cash to own one, but with built-in sound that’s bounds ahead of many competitors, you’ll never truly need to possess a separate soundbar. You will, however, need to own a massive AV cabinet to accommodate the ill-thought-out stand design. Some competitors, such as theLG G3 OLED(andnew G4 OLED), also offer a full suite of HDMI 2.1 ports – which, considering the A95L’s asking price, is something Sony should have provided.
Still, for sheer knock-out picture and sound quality rolled all into one, whether you’re a die-hard cinema enthusiast, a hardcore gamer, or both rolled into one, the Sony A95L at its best is a TV master at work – and a rare sight to behold.
Also consider
If you’re looking for a QD-OLED and don’t have as much to spend thenSamsung’s S95Cis a great alternative. Its pictures don’t look quite as natural, despite using the same base panel, and it doesn’t sound quite as good either. But it’ll save you cash.
If having four HDMI 2.1 ports is key to your needs (looking at you, avid gamers) then the wall-mountLG G3 OLEDis a great alternative to consider. Short of that, if you want a similar MLA OLED panel with mega integrated sound thenPanasonic’s MZ2000is the route to take.
Today’s best Sony XR-65A95L, LG OLED65G3, Panasonic TX-65MZ2000 and Samsung S95C 65-inch OLED TV dealsSony XR-65A95L$2,998ViewSee all pricesLG OLED65G3$2,326.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung S95C 65-inch OLED TV$2,397.95ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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Today’s best Sony XR-65A95L, LG OLED65G3, Panasonic TX-65MZ2000 and Samsung S95C 65-inch OLED TV dealsSony XR-65A95L$2,998ViewSee all pricesLG OLED65G3$2,326.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung S95C 65-inch OLED TV$2,397.95ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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Sony XR-65A95L$2,998ViewSee all prices
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Sony XR-65A95L
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