Sony LED 4K - X90 Sony - 65" Class BRAVIA XR X90L LED 4K UHD Smart Review
The Sony X90L proves you don't need to spend OLED money for a stunning picture. Sony's killer processing and great gaming features make this the smartest buy in its class.
The 30-Second Version
The Sony X90L is the king of the mid-range. You get flagship-level processing and gaming chops without the flagship price. Just plan to buy a soundbar.
Overview
The Sony X90L is the TV you buy when you want a fantastic picture without the OLED anxiety. It's a masterclass in LED performance, punching way above its price tag. The one thing you need to know is that Sony's Cognitive Processor XR is the real deal, delivering a picture so smart and natural that it makes other TVs in this range look a bit clumsy.
Performance
What surprised us was how it handles motion. Sony's X-Motion Clarity tech is no joke. Fast-paced sports and action scenes are buttery smooth, with almost none of the blur you'd expect from a non-OLED panel at this price. Our data shows its picture quality and HDR performance are in the 99th-100th percentile for its class, and after watching it, we believe it. The 1600-nit brightness makes HDR content pop, and the full-array local dimming keeps blacks impressively deep for an LED.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Picture quality that humiliates most other LEDs. Sony's processing is just better. 100th
- Fantastic for gaming with full HDMI 2.1 support (4K/120, VRR, ALLM) and a dedicated Game Menu. 100th
- Google TV is the best smart platform right now, and it's perfectly integrated here. 100th
- The 'Perfect for PlayStation 5' features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping are genuinely useful if you own one. 99th
Cons
- The built-in audio is just okay. You'll want a soundbar, which is a bummer at this price. 25th
- It's a chonky boy. The bezels and overall design aren't winning any beauty contests.
- The included Bravia Core movie credits are a nice perk, but the app's library is niche.
- While great, it's still an LED. If you crave the infinite contrast of OLED, this isn't it.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 65" |
| Resolution | 4K (2160p) |
| Panel Type | LED |
| Backlight | Full Array Local Dimming |
| Curved | No |
| Year | 2023 |
Picture Quality
| Brightness | 1600 nits |
| Contrast Ratio | 5000:1 |
| Motion Tech | X-Motion Clarity |
| Processor | Cognitive Processor XR |
HDR
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes |
| HDR10+ | No |
| HLG | Yes |
Gaming
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
Smart TV
| Platform | Google TV |
| Voice Assistant | Google Assistant, Alexa |
| Screen Mirroring | Miracast, Apple AirPlay |
| Works With | Google Home, Amazon Alexa |
Audio
| Surround Sound | DTS Digital Surround |
| eARC | No |
Connectivity
| HDMI Ports | 4 |
| HDMI Version | 2.1 |
| USB Ports | 2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 |
| Ethernet | Yes |
| Optical Audio | Yes |
| VESA Mount | 300x300 |
Power & Size
| Power | 265 |
| Energy Star | No |
| Annual Energy | 196 |
| Weight | 24.2 kg / 53.4 lbs |
Value & Pricing
At around $850, this TV is an absolute steal. You're getting near-flagship Sony picture processing and gaming features for mid-range money. It's worth every penny and then some.
Price History
vs Competition
The two biggest competitors are the TCL QM8 and the Hisense U6. The TCL QM8 gets brighter and has more dimming zones, so spec sheets love it, but Sony's processing is more refined and natural-looking in real use. The Hisense U6 is cheaper, but you feel it in the build quality and less polished software. If you're eyeing an OLED like the LG C3, know this: the X90L gets brighter and has zero risk of burn-in, but the LG will have perfect blacks. For most people in a bright living room, the X90L is the smarter, less fussy buy.
| Spec | Sony LED 4K - X90 Sony - 65" Class BRAVIA XR X90L LED 4K UHD Smart | Sony BRAVIA 5 Sony BRAVIA 5 98" 4K HDR Smart Mini-LED TV | Samsung Neo QLED Samsung QN85QN90F 85 inch Class QN90F Series Neo | Hisense U65QF Mini-LED Hisense - 75" Class U6 Series MiniLED QLED UHD 4K | LG OLED evo AI LG OLED evo AI G5 77" 4K HDR Smart TV with Wall | Roku Mini-LED QLED 4K - Pro Roku - 55" Class Pro Series 4K QLED Mini-LED Smart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 65 | 98 | 85 | 75 | 77 | 55 |
| Resolution | 4K (2160p) | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 |
| Panel Type | LED | Mini-LED | Mini-LED | Mini-LED QLED | OLED | Mini-LED QLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120 | 120 | 120 | 144 | 120 | 120 |
| Hdr | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Google TV | Google TV | Tizen | Fire TV | webOS | Roku TV |
| Dolby Vision | true | true | false | true | true | true |
| Dolby Atmos | — | false | false | true | false | true |
| Hdmi Version | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the 120Hz refresh rate good for gaming?
Absolutely. With HDMI 2.1, it handles 4K at 120 frames per second from a PS5 or Xbox Series X without breaking a sweat. The Game Menu is a nice bonus for tweaking settings on the fly.
Q: Can I hook up a soundbar?
Yes, and you should. It has HDMI eARC, which is the best port for connecting a modern soundbar or AV receiver to get the highest quality audio.
Q: How are the speakers?
They're fine for news or background TV, but they're basic down-firing speakers. For movies, sports, or gaming, you'll want external audio. It's the one clear compromise.
Who Should Skip This
If your dream TV has paper-thin bezels and a sleek gallery design, skip this. It's a workhorse, not a showpiece. Also, if you watch almost exclusively in a dark room and your budget stretches to an OLED like the LG C3, go for the OLED. The perfect blacks are worth it there.
Verdict
We're giving this a strong buy recommendation. Unless you're a dedicated cinephile who watches in a pitch-black room and must have OLED contrast, the Sony X90L is the best balance of performance, features, and value you can get in a 65-inch TV right now. It makes watching anything a joy.