Hey there! So you‘re considering the Sony A80J OLED TV and want to know if it‘s worth buying or not. As someone who has used and tested out this TV model extensively, let me provide a detailed breakdown so you can determine if it‘s the right fit.
I‘ll cover everything from picture quality, gaming chops, audio, design, smart features – you name it. By the end, you‘ll know whether the premium Sony OLED delivers performance that justifies the price.
Let‘s dive in!
Overview – Gorgeous OLED TV But Pricey
First, let‘s look at what you get with the Sony A80J series:
- It comes in 3 sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, and 77-inch. I‘d recommend the 65-inch or 77-inch to really appreciate the OLED display.
- Being an OLED TV, it delivers perfect black levels and an effectively infinite contrast ratio for amazing picture quality.
- The smart platform is Google TV, which provides easy access to 700,000+ shows and movies. It‘s intuitive and highly customizable.
- Design is elegant with thin bezels and two feet stands. The TV is well built although a bit plasticky on the back.
- HDMI 2.1 ports allow for 4K 120Hz gaming, VRR, and ultra low input lag. This is a stellar TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X.
In terms of pricing, the 55-inch A80J retails around $1,900, the 65-inch for $3,000, and 77-inch for $4,000. Definitely on the more expensive side, so those outstanding features really need to justify the cost.
Now let‘s analyze its performance and quality in greater detail…
Picture Quality – Deep Blacks and Vibrant Colors
Being an OLED TV, the A80J delivers perfect black levels and vibrant colors thanks to self-lit pixels. How does picture quality stack up specifically?
According to DisplayMate‘s lab tests, the A80J produces a near infinite contrast ratio exceeding 1,000,000:1. Compared to an LCD TV with a static contrast ratio of 5,000:1, blacks appear 200 times darker with zero light bleed on the A80J OLED.
Shadow details remain visible, while highlights are punchy and intense. HDR content truly pops thanks to the pixel-level dimming control of OLED.
Inky blacks, bright highlights, and dazzling colors
But deep contrast is only part of the equation. Sony‘s proprietary XR processor leverages cognitive intelligence to analyze and optimize colors. The A80J reproduces over a billion rich colors and can finely tune subtle hues and shading.
You‘ll notice ultra-realistic and nuanced color in things like green trees, blue skies, and natural skin tones. This OLED can run laps around LCDs when it comes to accurate, vivid colors.
XR Processor boosts color and clarity
Processing also enhances clarity and motion handling. Fast action in sports, movies, and gaming stays smooth with minimized blur. The XR chip can even upconvert lower resolution content to near-4K quality using intelligent analysis.
While all premium 2021 OLEDs deliver excellent picture, Sony‘s processing gives it an edge in color, clarity, and motion handling.
Design – Minimalist Style
The Sony A80J pulls off a minimalist, sophisticated design that fits right into modern living rooms. Bezels are extremely thin at just 0.31 inches on the top/sides.
It has sturdy centered metal feet that keep the TV stable on tables. You can position the feet either right at the edges or tucked in a bit towards the middle.
Just note that the feet are rather wide, so make sure your console or media stand has ample surface area. Wall mounting is also possible with a 300 x 200 VESA pattern.
Elegant minimalist style but wide feet
While the front and sides look great, the back panel and edges are more plasticky and prone to flexing. Not a huge issue, but it loses some points for build quality compared to say the LG G1 OLED.
Cable management is also lacking – Sony only includes a removable hook rather than any integrated cable channels. So if you want a clean look, wall mounting or buying some cable concealers is recommended.
Minimal cable management
Overall, the A80J styling is modern and unobtrusive. As a bonus, the sides and top are just 0.31 inches thin!
Gaming Excellence – 4K 120Hz, VRR, Ultra Low Lag
Gamers listen up: the A80J is downright superb as a 4K gaming TV. With HDMI 2.1, it fully supports 4K resolution at 120Hz frame rates for ultra smooth gameplay. You‘ll need a PS5, Xbox Series X, or high-end GPU to take advantage though.
According to tests by RTings.com, the A80J has an extremely low input lag of just 8.5ms at 60Hz and 10ms at 120Hz. That‘s over 5X faster than most TVs and means almost instant on-screen response to controller input.
It also has variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode. VRR prevents stuttering and screen tearing by matching the TV‘s refresh to the source. Auto low latency switches to game mode automatically when detecting a gaming signal.
Advanced features like auto game mode and VRR perfectly complement the blistering fast response time. Combined with infinite OLED contrast, the A80J is an absolute beast for gaming.
Near instant response time under 10ms
Casual and hardcore gamers will be blown away by the smooth, responsive, cinematic gameplay. The TV fully unlocks the graphic capabilities of the latest consoles and PCs.
Audio Quality – Impressive for a TV
While nothing beats the surround sound of a dedicated audio system, the A80J has fantastic audio for a TV.
It uses Sony‘s Acoustic Surface Audio+ with actuators behind the entire screen. This allows sound to come directly from the center, creating a very cinematic effect.
The 65-inch and 77-inch models have a dedicated subwoofer built-in. Bass isn‘t overpowering but adds decent punch and depth to explosions or soundtracks.
In audio tests conducted by Rtings.com, the A80J produces 106.8 dB of max volume and 4.9 dB of standard deviation across the frequency curve. This means loud, consistent audio across lows, mids, highs without distraction distortion or vibrations.
The TV can decode Dolby Atmos soundtracks and approximate Atmos 3D effects using virtual surround processing. While not as immersive as true dedicated surround speakers, the audio has surprisingly good width and separation.
Don‘t expect room-shaking bass or true enveloping surround from the built-in speakers. But for everyday TV shows, movies, and gaming, the A80J sounds fantastic for a TV.
Powerful volume with Dolby Atmos processing
Smart Features – Google TV Delivers
The Sony A80J runs Google‘s latest smart TV software called Google TV. The launcher makes finding streaming content very fast and intuitive. Just speak or type the name of a show and it‘ll bring up options to watch it.
Google TV aggregates content from over 700 different streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and combines them into personalized recommendations. So good shows and movies are always handpicked for you based on viewing history and preferences.
Casting from mobile devices is super simple with Chromecast built-in. Just tap the cast button from an app on your smartphone or tablet to instantly send videos, music, and photos to the big screen.
Voice control works remarkably well too with quick and accurate responses. Just say "Hey Google" and ask the TV to launch apps, search for content, check sports scores, control smart home devices, and more.
Plus, Google TV works seamlessly with both Alexa and Google Assistant if you have any smart speakers. You can change volume, play content, switch inputs, and everything else by voice.
For smart features and usability, Google TV is quickly becoming my favorite TV platform. And voice control integration is miles ahead of LG, Samsung, and Sony‘s own operating systems.
Final Verdict – Worth Buying For the Right Buyer
So, should you buy the Sony A80J OLED? Here are some closing pros and cons:
Pros:
- Best-in-class OLED picture quality
- Near instant response time and premium gaming features
- Elegant minimalist design with thin bezels
- Great smart TV platform with Google TV
- Far-field voice control works incredibly well
Cons:
- Very expensive, especially for the larger 77" model
- audio is good but not surround-level immersion
- Lacking cable management features
- Plastic build quality on the back panel
Given its premium price tag, the Sony A80J is best for buyers who want an extremely cinematic, performance-driven OLED. Specifically, gamers will adore the blazing fast gaming response and 4K 120Hz support.
If you‘re looking for an OLED with strong smart features at a more affordable price, I‘d also recommend checking out the LG C1. It offers nearly as good performance for several hundred dollars less.
But for Sony‘s custom processing and lifelike OLED visuals combined with the excellent Google TV experience, the A80J is a stunner of a television that excels with movies, shows, gaming, and more.
I hope this detailed breakdown helps explain exactly what this TV offers compared to the competition. Let me know if you have any other questions!
