A pristine demo reel tells you little about a TV's treatment of a cable broadcast. That's where the BRAVIA 5 has one of its better arguments. Its XR processor also drives a Mini LED backlight, an important hardware change from the X90L.
In depth
Sony BRAVIA 5 review
Published
Best forViewers who want a large Google TV for broadcasts, streaming and movies.
At a glance
- Display technology
- Full-array Mini LED LCD
- Available sizes
- 55 inches65 inches75 inches85 inches98 inches
- Native resolution
- 3840 × 2160
- Native refresh rate
- 120 Hz
- HDR formats
- Dolby VisionHDR10HLG
Pros
- The tested 65-inch handled lower-resolution video well. 1
- The US range includes a 98-inch screen.
Cons
- Only two inputs support 4K at 120 Hz.
- Motion and off-axis viewing were weaknesses on the 65-inch sample. 1
Picture Processing
- XR Processor
- 4K upscaling
- Google TV
RTINGS found its 65-inch BRAVIA 5 particularly effective at presenting lower-resolution video. That's a practical advantage if local sports, old shows and live television occupy more of your week than reference-quality discs. It won't turn a soft broadcast into a native 4K recording. 1
Display
- Full-array Mini LED
- Dolby Vision / HDR10 / HLG
The 65-inch produced a convincing daytime image with indirect lighting, but mirrors of direct light sources remained distracting and the view deteriorated from the side. RTINGS separately tested the 98-inch and reports stronger brightness and contrast. The smaller screen's verdict shouldn't be copied wholesale to a 98-inch theater. 1
Connectivity
- Four HDMI inputs
- Two 4K/120 Hz inputs
- eARC
HDMI 3 handles eARC and is also one of the two high-bandwidth inputs. Using it for a soundbar leaves one direct 4K/120 socket for a console or PC. A compatible receiver or passthrough soundbar can help if you need two fast sources without changing cables.
Alternatives
For an X90L owner, the move to Mini LED is tangible, but the value depends on where the old screen falls short. For a room with seats well to the side, an OLED is a more direct response to off-axis viewing than a bigger BRAVIA 5.
Verdict
The BRAVIA 5 earns a place on the shortlist for a front-facing family room and a mixed-quality video library. Competitive gamers should weigh motion performance and HDMI allocation before choosing the screen size.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- RTINGSSony BRAVIA 5 review (opens in a new tab)https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/sony/bravia-5
65-inch XR processing, 98-inch comparison, viewing angle, HDMI and motion.