Sony 2020 TVs: 4K, 8K, OLED, everything you need to know
With an Award-winning year for Sony in 2019 and high hopes that are for the Sony 2020 TV line-up
All the sets within the 2020 range feature Sony's Ambient Optimization technology, which is designed to automatically control the picture brightness and sound output according to the conditions of the room. They're all AirPlay 2 enabled so that you can stream directly from iPhones and iPads.
Sony has stayed with Android TV for the operating system.
Sony Televisions have both features of Netflix Calibrated Mode and IMAX Enhanced certifications, which promise authenticity with both contents respectively.
There is no place anywhere in the line-up for HDR10+ but Dolby Vision is supported throughout.
Television Designs:
Sony ZH8 8K LED TV
At the top of the Sony 2020 TV Ladder has a 8K viewing experience but at a more affordable price than the Master Series 7G9 models of 2019 ( which continue for the time being). The Panel sizes are also a little more manageable and come with a pair of two position feet to make the ZH8 as furniture friendly as possible.
Sony's top-end Picture Processor X1 Ultimate is joined by 8K X-Reality PRO upscaling technology. Both draw on the Sony's on-board 8K image database for object-based HDR remastering and upscaling.
Sound-wise, there's Sony's frame tweeter, which turns the TV's aluminium frame into a drive unit thanks to actuators built into the set. That allows the audio to come straight at you from the front of the TV.
Sony ZH8 8K TV specs
- Sizes: 75in (KD-75ZH8), 85in (KD-85ZH8)
- Screen type: Full Array LED
- Resolution: 8K
- Processor: Picture Processor X1 Ultimate
- HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
- Operating system: Android TV
- Certification: Netflix Calibrated, IMAX Enhanced
- Sound: Dolby Atmos, frame tweeter
Sony A8 / A85 4K OLED TV
The big headline for Sony's 2020 OLEDs is that they come with Sony's class-leading X-Motion Clarity motion processing technology for the very first time. That should make for some of the smoothest OLED motion anywhere.
Like the ZH8, the 55in and 65in Sony A8 4K OLED TVs are powered by Sony's Picture Processor X1 Ultimate. The onboard 4K image database aims to help out with HDR production and upscaling by detecting and analysing individual objects and adjusting the contrast, detail and colour to make the most lifelike scenes possible.
Sony A8 / A85 4K OLED TV specs
- Sizes: 55in (KD-55A8), 65in (KD-65A8)
- Screen type: OLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Processor: Picture Processor X1 Ultimate
- HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
- Operating system: Android TV
- Certification: Netflix Calibrated, IMAX Enhanced
- Sound: Dolby Atmos, Acoustic Surface Audio
Sony A9 4K OLED TV
The Sony A9 OLED is the company's very best OLED picture performance but in a small and manageable form factor. It's only available in one size - a very reasonable 49in model.
The panel sits on a small, central, aluminium stand and is aimed at those with more diminutive spaces who still want a premium experience. As with the A8 OLEDs, that experience includes Sony's class-leading X-Motion Clarity motion processing technology and high-end processor.
Sony A9 4K OLED TV specs
- Sizes: 48in (KD-48A9)
- Screen type: OLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Processor: Picture Processor X1 Ultimate
- HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
- Operating system: Android TV
- Certification: Netflix Calibrated, IMAX Enhanced
- Sound: Dolby Atmos, Acoustic Surface Audio
Sony XH95 4K LED TV
The Sony XH95 series is the top of the tree for Sony's 4K LED TVs for 2020. It features the same picture processing headlines as the sets above and a full-array LED panel with as many local dimming zones as Sony has to offer.
Sony's X-Wide Angle tech should ensure colours stay strong at all viewing angles but do note that it's not available for the 49in model, which also misses out on a few of the larger models' other features.
The most significant of these is the improved Acoustic Multi-Audio, Sound-from-Picture audio design concept. That consists of a bi-amp system, which controls the main speaker and invisible tweeter separately. Plus there's the size-optimised X-Balanced Speaker that fits into the underside of the slim design.
Sony XH95 TV specs
- Sizes: 49in (KD-49XH9505) , 55in (KD-55XH9505), 65in (KD-65XH9505), 75in (KD-75XH9505), 85in (KD-85XH9505)
- Screen type: Full Array LED
- Resolution: 4K
- Processor: Picture Processor X1 Ultimate
- HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
- Operating system: Android TV
- Certification: Netflix Calibrated, IMAX Enhanced
- Sound: Dolby Atmos, Acoustic Multi-Audio with X-Balanced Speaker
Sony XH90 / XH92 4K TV
The Sony XH90 TV range loses the 49in size and drops down to the lower spec 4K HDR Processor X1. These are still full-array LED backlight sets with local dimming and Acoustic Multi-Audio is supplied by the rear-positioned tweeters and X-Balanced Speakers on the underside of the frame.
The XH90 range will also be 4K 120fps compatible via a future software update.
Sony XH90 / XH92 4K TV specs
- Sizes: 55in (KD-55XH9005), 65in(KD-65XH9005), 75in (KD-75XH9005), 85in (KD-85XH9005)
- Screen type: Full Array LED
- Resolution: 4K
- Processor: 4K HDR Processor X1
- HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
- Operating system: Android TV
- Certification: Netflix Calibrated, IMAX Enhanced
- Sound: Dolby Atmos, Acoustic Multi-Audio with X-Balanced Speaker
Sony XH85 4K TV
The TVs below the XH90 do without local dimming. If that kind of subtlety of contrast is what you're after, you'd better look higher up this list.
There are other direct-lit models further down but the Sony XH85 series is edge-lit only.
Sony XH85 4K TV specs
- Sizes: 43in (KD-43XH8505), 49in (KD-49XH8505)
- Screen type: Edge LED
- Resolution: 4K
- Processor: 4K HDR Processor X1
- HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
- Operating system: Android TV
- Certification: Netflix Calibrated, IMAX Enhanced
- Sound: Dolby Atmos
Sony XH81 4K TV
The XH81 series offers a broader and bigger range of panel size options compared to the XH85. The small ones are edge-lit LED panels while the larger sizes are direct-lit.
Again, it has ice skate-style metal blade stands and a hairline finish bezel along with a matching aluminium remote control.
Sony XH81 4K TV specs
- Sizes: 43 (KD-43XH8196), 49 (KD-49XH8196), 55 (KD-55XH8196), 65 (KD-65XH8196)
- Screen type: Edge LED (43in, 49in) Direct LED (55in, 65in)
- Resolution: 4K
- Processor: 4K HDR Processor X1
- HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
- Operating system: Android TV
- Sound: Dolby Atmos, X-Balanced Speaker (55in and over)
Sony XH80 4K TV
The differences between the XH80 and XH81 TVs are largely cosmetic. The XH80 comes with V-shaped Slim Blade feet rather than the arguable more stylish ice skate-style variety. There's also a far bigger range of sizes which, again, begin as edge-lit LED models, without the X-Balanced Speaker, up until the 55in version.
Sony XH80 4K TV specs
- Sizes: 43in (KD-43XH8096), 49in (KD-49XH8096), 55in (KD-55XH8096), 65in (KD-65XH8096), 75in (KD-75XH8096), 85in (KD-85XH8096)
- Screen type: Edge LED (43in, 49in) Direct LED (55in, 65in, 75in, 85in)
- Resolution: 4K
- Processor: 4K HDR Processor X1
- HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
- Operating system: Android TV
- Sound: Dolby Atmos, X-Balanced Speaker (55in and over)
Sony XH70 4K TV
And then at the bottom of the pile are the Sony X70 4K TVs. There's a good array of sizes on offer but none come with the 4K HDR Processor X1 or the Object-based HDR remaster technology that goes with it. There's also no Dolby Vision support but the basic HDR standards are present.
We lose the X-Balanced Speaker option here, too, dropping down to the Bass Reflex Speaker. This is boosted by Sony's ClearAudio+ and S-Force surround sound simulation technologies.
Motion processing is not quite as advanced either. The Motion Flow operational frequency drops down to 200Hz instead of 400Hz. There are also just three HDMI sockets to play with instead of four.
The X70 series has the same Slim Blade stands as the XH80 but there's no Android TV OS. Instead it's a system based on Linux. Along with that, there's no AirPlay or voice assistant support either.
Sony X70 4K TV specs
- Sizes: 43 (KD-43X7052), 49 (KD-49X7052), 55 (KD-55X7052), 65 (KD-65X7052)
- Screen type: Edge LED (43in, 49in) Direct LED (55in, 65in)
- Resolution: 4K
- Processor: TBC
- HDR: HDR10, HLG
- Operating system: Linux-based OS
- Sound: Bass Reflex Speaker, ClearAudio+
