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- 📺 Sony’s X90L LCD TV is positioned as a mid-range option with potential sleeper hit status for 2023.
- 🌟 The TV delivers bright, impactful picture quality and excellent colour balance.
- 💡 Backlight control is generally impressive, contributing to a satisfying picture performance.
- 👍 The TV’s design is conservative, with feet for placement and soundbar support, but chunky feet could limit soundbar options.
- 🎮 Gaming performance is good, but it’s outperformed by Samsung and LG in gaming.
- 📺 X90L uses Google TV interface, supports HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM, and has a focus on movies.
- 🌈 Dolby Vision is supported, but no dedicated game mode for it, resulting in input lag.
- 📊 X90L features a Cognitive Processor XR chip and improved dimming zones for better contrast and picture quality.
- 🎶 Audio quality is decent for its size and price, with good punch and spaciousness, but not as focused as OLEDs.
- 👍 X90L provides consistently cinematic and cinematically consistent results, making it an excellent buy.
- 📐 The 55-inch X90L model is priced at £1599 / $1300 / AU$2095, making it more affordable than A80L OLED TV.
Sony X90L TV: A Mid-Range TV Sleeper Hit in 2023?
In the quickly changing field of television technology, where OLEDs and QLEDs have taken centre stage, it’s easy to ignore the understated yet impressive challengers, such as Sony’s X90L LCD TV. While it lacks the hype of cutting-edge OLED and QLED breakthroughs, the X90L stands out as a possible sleeper hit primed to establish a name for itself in the mid-range TV market.
Presenting the X90L by Sony
The X90L demonstrates Sony’s drive to push the frontiers of TV technology, a tribute to the company’s devotion to getting every ounce of performance from conventional LCD technology. The X90L stands out with its well-rounded features and engaging visual quality, building on the popularity of its preceding models.
The Cost Advantage
The X90L offers an appealing alternative to its OLED rivals, such as the A80L OLED TV, which costs £1999 / $1900 / AU$2995 for the 55-inch form (XR-55X90L). This low price, paired with its impressive performance, makes the X90L an appealing option for anyone looking for a high-quality TV experience without breaking the bank.
Design and Display
While the X90L’s design isn’t groundbreaking, its conservative aesthetics ooze elegance and simplicity. The TV has a balanced design, measuring 5.6cm thick and weighing 17kg, with the option of positioning the feet at the corners or closer to the centre. Notably, these feet can also support a soundbar, making them a useful alternative for audiophiles.
The 55-inch screen of the X90L, which has a 4K resolution and shows vibrant and fascinating graphics, is the highlight of its display prowess. The Full-Array LED backlight technology from Sony provides even and constant illumination, while the increased number of dimming zones improves contrast and shadow detail.
Performance and Features
The X90L’s feature list demonstrates Sony’s dedication to improving the user experience. The TV has two HDMI 2.1 ports, which allow for high-quality signals for gaming and multimedia programmes. While gaming is not the X90L’s major focus, it does support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) for a more fluid gaming experience.
Furthermore, the X90L’s devotion to moviegoers is clear through features such as the proprietary Bravia Core streaming service, which provides exceptional movie quality. The Google TV interface on the TV offers a plethora of content and apps, and compatibility for HDR codecs such as HLG, HDR10, and Dolby Vision ensures a vivid and interesting watching experience.
Image and Audio Quality
The X90L’s visual quality genuinely shines, with rich colours, deep blacks, and outstanding brightness levels. This combination of factors results in a visually captivating experience that rivals OLED technology. Sony’s attention to detail is also visible in the TV’s upscaling features, which improve the quality of non-4K content and produce clear and clean pictures.
The audio quality of the X90L is remarkable given its size and price range. While not as sophisticated as specialised sound systems, the TV’s audio performance is well-tuned, with clear dialogue and dramatic soundscapes.
Final Verdict
Sony’s X90L LCD TV defies expectations, becoming as an unexpected hit in the competitive 2023 television market. Its affordable price, great picture quality, and intelligent features make it a tempting choice for both moviegoers and gamers. While it may not be as well-known as its OLED and QLED contemporaries, the X90L’s modest design conceals a performance powerhouse that captures the spirit of cinematic entertainment. The X90L is ready to redefine expectations and set new benchmarks in the mid-range TV category, thanks to Sony’s continuous dedication to innovation.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | VA, Direct LED (Full-Array Local Dimming), 3840 x 2160 pixels, Viewing angles (H/V): 178 ° / 178 °, Brightness: 560 cd/m², Static contrast: 4700 : 1, Refresh rate: 40 Hz – 120 Hz |
| TV Tuner | Analog (NTSC/PAL/SECAM), ATSC, Clear QAM |
| Cores | 4 |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Dimensions | 1445 x 831 x 57 mm |
| Weight | 24.2 kg |
| Panel Type | VA |
| Panel Bit Depth | 10 bits |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 pixels (Ultra HD / 4K) |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.372 mm |
| Pixel Density | 68 ppi |
| Backlight | Direct LED (Full-Array Local Dimming) |
| Brightness | 560 cd/m² |
| Static Contrast | 4700 : 1 |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) |
| Horizontal Viewing Angle | 178 ° |
| Vertical Viewing Angle | 178 ° |
| Response Time | 3.7 ms (G2G) |
| Refresh Rate | 40 Hz – 120 Hz |
| Input Lag | 9.5 ms |
| 3D Support | No |
| Power Supply and Consumption | 100 V – 120 V (110V), 220 V – 240 V (220V), 50 Hz – 60 Hz |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C – 40 °C (32 °F – 104 °F) |
| Operating Humidity | 10% – 80% |
| Connectivity Ports | 2 x USB, 1 x Ethernet RJ45, 4 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Cable/Antenna In, 1 x AV Composite In 3.5 mm jack, 1 x Optical Audio Out, 1 x 3.5 mm Audio Out, 1 x RS232 (C) |
| Additional Features | Alexa, Google Assistant, Dolby Atmos, HDR Support, Chromecast built-in, XR 4K Upscaling, XR Clear Image, XR Contrast Booster, XR HDR Remaster, XR Motion Clarity, XR Smoothing, XR Super Resolution, XR Triluminos Pro |
| VESA Mount | Yes (300 x 300 mm) |
| Accessories Included | Standard remote control, Voice remote control |
| Operating System | Google TV |
| Audio | 2 x 10 W + 2 x 5 W speakers |
| Network | LAN, Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Stand | Aluminium Slim Wedged Stand |
| Dimensions (With Stand) | 1445 x 861 x 57 mm |
| Weight (With Stand) | 25 kg |
| Box Dimensions | 1574 x 1004 x 167 mm |
| Box Weight | 33 kg |
| Brand | Sony |
| Model | XR-65X90L |
| Series | X90L |
| Model Year | 2023 |
