Sony BRAVIA XR8B K77XR8B 77"

The Sony XR8B's OLED panel sits in the 97th percentile for display quality, delivering inky blacks that owners can't stop praising. Google TV smarts are top-tier, and gaming performance is strong—but lab-measured picture quality only hits the 36th percentile, and the built-in speakers are weak. If you can snag it near the $1,751 street price, it's a steal; at higher prices, better picture performance exists elsewhere.

Sony's BRAVIA XR8B 77" OLED pulls off a neat trick: it's one of the most loved TVs in our database while also posting a surprisingly mediocre picture quality score. With a 97th percentile display ranking and a 95th percentile smart platform, this big-screen set delivers inky blacks, vivid colors, and a buttery Google TV experience right out of the box. Owners can't stop talking about the lifelike image, and the 4.6-star average from nearly 900 reviews backs that up. But our benchmarks tell a more complicated story. The panel's pure contrast is exceptional, yet its overall picture quality lands in the bottom third of TVs we've tested, suggesting its processing or out-of-box accuracy might trail some rivals. That disconnect between user delight and lab numbers makes this a fascinating, if imperfect, flagship.

The TV is a slam dunk for PlayStation 5 owners, thanks to 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and dedicated console features. Connectivity is generous with four full-spec HDMI 2.1 ports, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3. The built-in 2.1-channel Acoustic Surface Audio+ system is a neat idea—the screen itself vibrates to create sound—but real-world owners call it thin and lacking punch. Plan on adding a soundbar if you want audio that matches the visual spectacle. And a word of caution: prices for this exact model swing from a bargain $1,751 all the way up to an eye-watering $65,399 across different stores. You'll want to comparison shop before clicking buy.

Let's start with the display, because that's what you're really paying for. The 77-inch OLED panel is an absolute stunner in terms of contrast. Since each pixel can turn off completely, black levels are effectively infinite, and the near-infinite contrast ranking in the 97th percentile puts this right up there with the best displays we've ever measured. The 120Hz native refresh rate keeps fast motion crisp, and XR OLED Motion technology means sports and action movies stay smooth without veering into soap opera territory. HDR support covers all the key formats—Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG—though the 76th percentile HDR score hints that peak brightness doesn't quite hit the heights of top-tier QLEDs. That's a classic OLED trade-off: perfect blacks but not blistering highlights.

Gaming performance is another bright spot. With VRR, ALLM, and that 120Hz panel, the XR8B earns a solid 79th percentile gaming rank, outperforming most TVs in its class. Input lag feels nonexistent in Game Mode, and the exclusive PlayStation 5 features, like Auto Genre Picture Mode, make it a no-brainer for console players. It's not the absolute fastest gaming TV we've tested—some newer QD-OLEDs have an edge—but it's more than quick enough for all but the most competitive esports fans. The Cognitive Processor XR does heavy lifting for upscaling lower-resolution content, though our 36th percentile picture quality metric suggests its processing might not be as refined as some competitors when it comes to color accuracy or out-of-box settings. Real-world owners don't seem to mind; they rave about vibrant colors and sharp clarity. But if you're a purist who calibrates every nit, you might notice a slight gap versus the very best OLEDs we've measured.

Pricing on this 77-inch Sony is all over the map. Across different retailers, you'll find it listed anywhere from $1,751 to an absurd $65,399—a $63,648 spread that's basically unheard of for a consumer TV. That lower end is a genuine bargain for a premium OLED this size, especially when you factor in the top-tier smart features and gaming chops. But if you pay anywhere near the high end, you're getting fleeced. No 77-inch TV is worth luxury car money. Our advice: hunt down the stores offering it in the $1,700–$2,500 range—that's where the price-to-performance ratio makes this a stellar deal, even with the picture quality quirks. At that price, it handily undercuts many competitors with comparable screen size and features.

Stacked against key rivals, the Sony XR8B wins on smart platform polish and gaming integration, but stumbles on raw picture fidelity. The LG C5 Series OLED often scores higher in our picture quality benchmarks, with better out-of-box color accuracy and slightly brighter HDR highlights, making it the pick for videophiles. Samsung's QN85D Neo QLED brings a brightness advantage that gives HDR content more punch, though it can't match the Sony's pixel-level contrast. The TCL QM8K and Hisense U7 both offer jaw-dropping value, often undercutting the Sony's price with mini-LED brightness that beats OLED for daytime viewing, but their smart platforms feel clunkier. Where the Sony shines is in the living room: Google TV is buttery smooth, and the gaming features are tailor-made for PS5 owners. If you want the least friction and best user experience, the Sony is tough to beat. But numbers-wise, you can find objectively better picture quality for the money from LG or even some TCL sets.

If you're after the absolute best picture quality benchmarks can measure, this isn't your TV. The 36th percentile picture score means rivals like the LG C5 or even some premium QLEDs will deliver more accurate colors and brighter HDR right out of the box. Also, if you plan to rely on built-in audio, you'll be disappointed—the weak speakers are a recurring gripe among owners. And if you spot this TV priced anywhere near the $65,000 mark, run the other way; no 77-inch OLED is worth that kind of cash.

The Sony BRAVIA XR8B is a tale of two TVs: the one owners adore for its gorgeous OLED contrast and seamless smart TV experience, and the one our benchmarks peg as a mid-pack performer for picture accuracy. If pure data ruled, we'd point you elsewhere for the best dollar-for-dollar image quality. But the 97th percentile display rating and 4.6-star user satisfaction tell a different story—most people find the picture stunning, and the PS5 integration is genuinely best-in-class. At the right price (think under $2,500), this is a fantastic big-screen OLED that will make your living room pop. Just don't expect it to win any spec-sheet shootouts, and budget for a soundbar to do justice to that 77-inch canvas.