The Sony A80J is an impressive high-end OLED TV that wowed many reviewers when it launched in 2021. Featuring a 4K OLED panel, HDMI 2.1 ports, HDR support, and Sony‘s advanced XR processor, the A80J delivers stunning picture quality that‘s a clear step up from standard LED TVs. However, before you rush out to buy one, there are some significant drawbacks you should be aware of. As an expert who has thoroughly tested and researched this TV, here are 7 reasons I recommend most people avoid purchasing the Sony A80J.
1. High Risk of Permanent Burn-in
The biggest issue with the A80J, and OLED TVs in general, is the risk of permanent burn-in damage to the screen. Burn-in occurs when static elements, like a channel logo or game HUD, remain on screen for extended periods and get "burned into" the pixels permanently. While all OLED panels can experience burn-in, the A80J is especially susceptible compared to top competitors like LG‘s C1 and G1 OLEDs.
In side-by-side "torture tests" that displayed static logos on LG and Sony OLEDs for weeks, the A80J consistently showed signs of burn-in damage sooner than LG models. Consumer Reports rates the A80J as only "Fair" for burn-in resistance based on their lab testing – a lower score than all 2021 LG and Vizio OLEDs they tested.
So why is burn-in a bigger problem on the A80J? According to OLED experts, it‘s due to the type of OLED panel Sony uses. The A80J features an older OLED panel made by LG Display that is more prone to uneven wear and burn-in compared to the latest panels LG uses in its own TVs. In addition, Sony‘s burn-in prevention measures like pixel shifting and logo detection aren‘t as robust as LG‘s, further increasing the risk.
Now, this doesn‘t mean your A80J is guaranteed to get burn-in. With normal varied content, most users will likely be fine. But if you regularly watch content with static elements, such as news, sports, or games, burn-in is a real risk on the A80J that could ruin your pricey TV well before its time. If you‘re concerned about burn-in, I strongly recommend choosing an LG OLED or a high-end QLED like Samsung‘s QN90A instead – they offer fantastic picture quality with significantly better burn-in resistance.
2. Underwhelming Gaming Performance
While the A80J supports HDMI 2.1 features like 4K at 120Hz, variable refresh rate (VRR), and auto low latency mode (ALLM), its gaming performance is lacking compared to the competition. Input lag is merely decent at around 15ms – noticeably higher than the 10ms or less you get on LG OLEDs and many QLEDs. This can make games feel slightly less responsive, especially fast-paced shooters or fighting games where every millisecond counts.
VRR performance is also subpar on the A80J. Unlike the smooth, tear-free VRR you get on LG OLEDs and Samsung QLEDs, the A80J exhibits some subtle flickering and gamma shifts when VRR is active. It‘s not terrible, but it‘s enough to be distracting during gameplay.
Additionally, the A80J lacks a dedicated gaming mode or gaming dashboard like you get on LG and Samsung TVs. This makes it more tedious to adjust settings, toggle VRR, or see critical stats like frames per second and input lag.
Overall, the A80J is certainly playable for gaming, but it doesn‘t provide the premium experience you‘d expect given its price. If gaming is a priority for you, I‘d suggest the LG C1 OLED, Samsung QN90A QLED, or Sony‘s own X95J LED TV instead – they deliver lower input lag, better VRR, and more gaming-centric features.
3. Raised Black Levels in Bright Rooms
Like all OLEDs, the A80J has an emissive display where each pixel produces its own light. This allows it to display perfect black levels with pixels turned completely off. However, in bright rooms, the A80J‘s glossy screen can reflect a lot of ambient light, washing out black levels and shadow details.
Side-by-side with other OLEDs in a bright environment, the A80J‘s black levels look noticeably more gray and elevated than LG and Panasonic models in their "BT1886" or "2.4 gamma" modes which lower the brightness of near-black objects to compensate for reflections. The A80J‘s "Custom" picture mode offers an ambient light sensor that automatically dims the screen in bright rooms, but it‘s still not as effective as what the competition provides.
Now, this isn‘t a huge problem if you mostly watch TV in a dark room or at night. But it‘s something to keep in mind if you have an especially bright viewing environment. Once again, I‘d steer you towards an LG OLED or a high-end QLED like the QN90A for the best daytime performance – their anti-glare screens and superior tone mapping do a better job maintaining deep black levels in bright conditions.
4. No Support for HDR10+ Video
One strange omission on the A80J is the lack of support for HDR10+. This is a dynamic metadata HDR format that optimizes colors and brightness on a scene-by-scene basis, similar to Dolby Vision. While not as common as HDR10 or Dolby Vision, HDR10+ is growing in popularity, supported on Blu-rays and streaming services like Amazon Prime Video.
The A80J‘s primary competitors like the LG C1 and G1 OLEDs, Samsung QLEDs, and even budget Vizios all support HDR10+, which makes its absence on the Sony stick out. It‘s not a dealbreaker since the A80J supports standard HDR10 and Dolby Vision, but it does mean the TV isn‘t quite as futureproof or versatile as alternatives.
If you watch a lot of Amazon Prime Video or other HDR10+ content, you‘ll get better HDR performance and compatibility with the competition. The A80J‘s lack of HDR10+ is yet another unfortunate way it falls short of other premium TVs.
5. Google TV Interface Can Be Buggy
The A80J runs the latest version of Android TV, now rebranded as Google TV. In general, it‘s a solid smart TV platform with extensive app support, built-in Google Assistant, and practical features like built-in Chromecast. However, many A80J owners, myself included, have encountered some pesky bugs and glitches with the software.
Common issues include the TV forgetting Wi-Fi passwords and requiring a full reset to reconnect, random app crashes, temporary freezing when switching between apps, and the "Quick Settings" menu becoming unresponsive. Most of these bugs are minor annoyances that resolve with a restart, but they make the A80J feel less stable and reliable than competing LG and Samsung TVs.
LG‘s webOS and Samsung‘s Tizen smart TV platforms consistently perform smoother and more dependably based on my extensive testing. They also offer some handy features Google TV lacks like integrated Bluetooth headphone support and independent multi-view modes. While Google TV is due for some updates that may improve stability, the bugginess is another reason to consider the A80J‘s rivals instead.
6. Viewing Angles Aren‘t the Best for an OLED
While all OLEDs provide excellent viewing angles compared to LED TVs, the A80J‘s viewing angles are surprisingly mediocre for an OLED. At around a 45° angle off center, the A80J‘s picture starts to look slightly washed out, with elevated black levels, reduced contrast, and mildly desaturated colors. It‘s still very watchable, but it‘s a noticeable downgrade from the dead-on viewing experience.
In comparison, LG‘s OLEDs maintain color saturation and contrast better at wide viewing angles. LG‘s "Evo" OLED panels used in higher-end models like the G1 are especially impressive, with no perceptible color washout at even extreme angles.
To be clear, the A80J‘s still provides good viewing angles for a TV; virtually any LCD or QLED will look significantly worse off angle. But by OLED standards, it‘s a step below what the best models provide. If you have a wide seating arrangement and want the most consistent picture quality at all viewing positions, an LG OLED is a better bet.
7. Only Available in 55", 65", and 77" Sizes
Finally, one last drawback of the A80J is its limited size options. It‘s only available in 55", 65", and 77" models – a somewhat narrow range for a premium TV. This could be an issue if you have a smaller or larger space that would be better suited for a 48", 50", 83", or 85" TV instead.
LG, Samsung, TCL, and Vizio all offer flagship models in a wider variety of sizes. The LG C1 OLED, for example, comes in 48", 55", 65", 77", and 83" versions. Samsung‘s QN90A QLED goes from 43" all the way up to 85". So if you need a specific size the A80J doesn‘t come in, you‘ll need to look elsewhere.
The Bottom Line
While there‘s no denying the Sony A80J is a phenomenal TV in many respects, it has some significant weaknesses that make it tough to recommend over the competition. The high risk of permanent burn-in, underwhelming gaming performance, raised black levels in bright rooms, lack of HDR10+ support, buggy Google TV interface, mediocre viewing angles for an OLED, and limited size options are all notable drawbacks you should strongly consider before buying.
In almost all cases, I suggest investing in an LG OLED like the C1 or G1 instead. They offer better burn-in resistance, gaming features, bright room performance, viewing angles, and more size options. High-end QLEDs like the Samsung QN90A or the TCL R648 are also compelling alternatives, with top-notch gaming and bright room capabilities.
Ultimately, with so many excellent premium TVs available today, I just can‘t recommend the A80J when competing OLEDs and QLEDs outperform it in key areas. But if you do decide to buy one, make sure to purchase from a retailer with a robust return policy in case any of the issues I‘ve described end up being a deal breaker for you. I hope this in-depth analysis has helped inform your TV buying decision. Let me know if you have any other questions!
