Tested Sony XR-55A90J

The Sony way is up

The firm has given its 2021 flagship OLED some fancy feet, a slick processor and a new smart TV platform… and but owning one of these will cost you

Rtba (R55 000 est.) / sony.co.za

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There’s nothing groundbreaking about what Sony’s trying to do with its new XR-A90J range of 4K HDR OLED TVs.

Like every other TV maker that takes things seriously, it’s shooting for great picture quality, an intuitive smart TV portal, sound the right side of ugly, a bit of style and a solid build. Looks simple, doesn’t it?

But this is a competitive market and getting more cut-throat all the time. So can Sony possibly meet all those criteria to the point that the XR-55A90J justifies its hefty asking price?

The 55in version we’re testing can be yours for a bit under R60k. Yes, that is expensive for a set this size. But from the panel itself, via the picture-processing engine to the height-adjustable feet, this TV is the result of rigorous thinking and engineering.

Only problem is, the app support for this particular model could stand to be a little more extensive. No, we’re not kidding.

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Bassline chunky Physically, it’s one of those ‘slim yet not slim’ OLEDs we’re still a little disappointed by (1). There’s a brief portion that’s 6mm deep, but the majority of the chassis is a much less exciting 41mm thick in order to house the electronics, the inputs and two rear-firing low-frequency speakers. Feet surrender If the depth deters you from hanging it on the wall, at least its feet earn their keep. In their first position (2), the bottom of the screen is mere nanometres from the surface it’s standing on, while in position two they raise it high enough to accommodate a soundbar. Screen and shout Sony has tried hard to eradicate the need for a soundbar, though. Those rear-firing drivers support its Acoustic Surface Audio+ tech, which turns the screen surface into a speaker (3). Sony has even added speaker connections so it can be used as a surround-sound centre channel.

GOOD MEH EVIL

Bit chunky for hanging on a wall Picture is superb in every way Nice new Google TV interface…

App selection needs work Effective sound system

Not cheap compared to rivals

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Shake a lag PS5 and XSX owners rejoice: there are two HDMI 2.1 sockets with 4K @ 120Hz, and an input lag of just 9.9ms in game mode.

Tech specs

Screen 55in 3840x2160 OLED OS Google TV Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, 4x HDMI, 2x USB, optical HDR formats HLG, HDR10, Dolby Vision Dimensions 1220x709x41mm, 19kg

Allalongthewatch power

Spending some quality time with the XR-55A90J is a feast for the eyes… and only slightly less for the ears

■ Proving

Native 4K content looks deeply impressive. Black levels are classic OLED in their depth, but they’re also very detailed; white tones pop in a most un-OLED fashion, and they’re equally loaded with information. ■ Moving

The colour palette is extensive, nuanced and believable. Edge-definition is assured and, where motion is concerned, the Sony just doesn’t put a foot wrong – slow or rapid, horizontal or vertical, simple or complex.

I lost my heart to XR chip, super The latest XR picture-processing engine takes the AI capabilities of the old X1 and adds ‘cognitive intelligence’. This combines AI analysis of picture performance with more in-depth inspection across multiple zones. So the chip responds to depth of field, detail, colour and contrast (4). My friend Goog Google TV is clean, logical and much less pushy than Android TV; and while its recommendation algorithms need finessing, it’s more usable overall. Sony’s exclusive Bravia Core streaming service features too, which is a genuine plus: content is extensive and super-high-quality. ■ Improving

If you’re watching HD or worse, it’s also a very accomplished upscaler. Picture noise is kept to a minimum, edges don’t soften too badly, detail levels remain high and movement is (again) kept completely under control. ■ Grooving

Sound quality is equally, er, sound. There’s depth and body to the bass, and the sort of direct delivery of the midrange that comes from using the whole screen as a driver. Images and audio are in close alignment.

The Sony XR-55A90J is a brilliantly accomplished TV that delivers utterly absorbing and believable images from any source. It has you covered for next-gen consoles, but more extensive app support from Sony’s competitions means that, right now, we’d be tempted by more affordable options from LG, Samsung and others.