Sony 85-Inch X90L: Is This TV Worth Buying?

Hey guys! So, you're thinking about grabbing the Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L? Awesome choice! This is a beast of a television, and it's packed with features. But is it the right TV for you? Let's dive deep and explore everything this TV has to offer, from the picture quality to the smart features, and ultimately help you decide if it's worth the investment. This article will be your go-to guide, so grab a snack, sit back, and let's get started!

Unboxing and Initial Impressions

First impressions matter, right? When the Sony X90L arrives, you're immediately struck by its sheer size – it's an 85-inch screen, after all! The packaging is secure, and the TV is well-protected. Unboxing is a two-person job, trust me. Once you get it out, you'll notice the sleek design. Sony usually keeps things clean and minimalist, and the X90L is no exception. The bezels are thin, which means more screen and less frame, creating a more immersive viewing experience. The stand is sturdy, though you might want to consider a soundbar to really complete the setup. The build quality feels premium; you can tell this is a high-end product. Setting it up is relatively straightforward, thanks to the easy-to-follow instructions. Connecting your devices, like a gaming console or a Blu-ray player, is a breeze, thanks to the multiple HDMI ports. Overall, the first impression is overwhelmingly positive: a large, beautiful TV that promises a top-notch viewing experience. But of course, the real test is in the picture quality, which we'll get into shortly.

Now, let's talk about the design. The Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L has a minimalist design, which means the focus is on the screen. The bezels are incredibly thin, providing a more immersive viewing experience. The stand is a simple, yet sturdy design that holds the massive screen securely. Sony has always been known for its premium build quality, and the X90L is no exception. The TV feels incredibly solid, and the materials used are high-quality. The back of the TV is also well-designed, with cable management features that help keep everything neat and tidy. The remote is also user-friendly. Setting up the TV is easy; the on-screen instructions are clear and concise. Connecting your devices is also a breeze, as the TV has multiple HDMI ports and other connectivity options. This TV looks great in any room, whether you're setting it up in your living room or a dedicated home theater. It is important to consider the size, though. An 85-inch screen is massive, so make sure you have enough space to accommodate it. It's a statement piece that will instantly elevate your home entertainment setup.

Picture Quality: The Heart of the Experience

Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: the picture quality of the Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L. This is where the TV truly shines. It features a Full Array LED panel with local dimming, which means the backlights can be controlled in specific zones. This technology significantly improves contrast, creating deeper blacks and brighter highlights. The result? A more dynamic and realistic picture. The X90L also boasts Sony's X1 Processor, which is responsible for image processing. This processor enhances colors, reduces noise, and upscales lower-resolution content to near-4K quality. The picture is incredibly sharp and detailed, even when viewing older content. Colors are vibrant and accurate, thanks to Sony's TRILUMINOS Pro display technology. This technology expands the color spectrum, allowing the TV to reproduce a wider range of colors than a standard LED TV. The result is a more natural and lifelike picture. The viewing angles are also excellent, meaning the picture quality remains consistent, even when viewed from the side. You don't have to be sitting directly in front of the TV to enjoy the full impact of the picture. HDR (High Dynamic Range) is another key feature. The X90L supports a variety of HDR formats, including HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision. HDR content provides a wider range of brightness and contrast, resulting in a more immersive viewing experience. The picture looks even more realistic, with greater detail in both the bright and dark areas of the screen. For gamers, the X90L offers a low input lag and a fast refresh rate, making it an excellent choice for gaming. The picture quality is simply stunning. The combination of Full Array LED, local dimming, the X1 Processor, TRILUMINOS Pro, and HDR creates a truly exceptional viewing experience. Movies, TV shows, and games look incredible on this TV, and the size of the screen only enhances the immersion.

The Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L picture quality is superb. The combination of a Full Array LED panel with local dimming, Sony's X1 Processor, and TRILUMINOS Pro display technology results in a vibrant, detailed, and realistic picture. Local dimming significantly improves contrast, leading to deeper blacks and brighter highlights. The X1 Processor enhances colors, reduces noise, and upscales lower-resolution content. TRILUMINOS Pro expands the color spectrum, creating a more natural and lifelike picture. The viewing angles are wide, so the picture quality remains consistent even when viewed from the side. The TV also supports a variety of HDR formats, including HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision, which provide a wider range of brightness and contrast. This makes the picture look even more realistic, with greater detail in both the bright and dark areas. Overall, the picture quality is a standout feature of this TV, making it an excellent choice for anyone who values a premium viewing experience. Gamers will also appreciate the low input lag and fast refresh rate, which provide a responsive and immersive gaming experience. The TV is able to handle fast-moving action scenes without any blur or stuttering, making it ideal for sports and action movies as well.

Smart Features and User Experience

Okay, let's talk smarts. The Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L runs on Google TV, which is a significant upgrade from previous Sony TVs. Google TV offers a user-friendly interface that's easy to navigate, with a clean and intuitive design. The home screen is personalized, recommending content based on your viewing habits. You can easily access your favorite streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and more. The Google TV platform also supports voice control through Google Assistant. You can use your voice to search for content, control the TV, and even control other smart home devices. The remote control is well-designed, with a dedicated Google Assistant button for easy access. The remote is also backlit, making it easy to use in the dark. The TV also supports Chromecast, allowing you to easily cast content from your smartphone or tablet to the TV. This is super convenient for sharing photos, videos, or even mirroring your screen. The overall user experience is smooth and responsive. The TV boots up quickly, and the apps load without any lag. The interface is intuitive, making it easy to find what you want to watch. The Google TV platform is a major improvement, offering a more personalized and streamlined experience. Sony has done a great job of integrating the smart features into the overall TV experience. The smart features are a key part of the Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L. The Google TV platform provides a user-friendly and personalized experience, with easy access to your favorite streaming services. Voice control through Google Assistant and Chromecast support adds to the convenience. The remote control is also well-designed and easy to use. The user experience is smooth and responsive, making it a joy to use. With Google TV, you also get access to a massive library of apps and content, ensuring there's always something to watch. The integration of smart features makes the X90L a complete entertainment package. You can easily switch between streaming, gaming, and watching live TV, all from one device.

Sound Quality: Does It Match the Picture?

So, what about the sound? The Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L has built-in speakers that deliver decent sound quality. However, let's be honest, the audio isn't going to blow you away, especially considering the size of the screen and the price tag. The sound is clear and can get reasonably loud, but it lacks the depth and richness of a dedicated soundbar or home theater system. The TV supports Dolby Atmos, which can create a more immersive audio experience, but only if the content you're watching is encoded with Dolby Atmos. For most users, I'd strongly recommend pairing this TV with a soundbar. A good soundbar can significantly enhance the audio experience, providing a wider soundstage, deeper bass, and more immersive sound. Sony actually makes some excellent soundbars that are specifically designed to pair with their TVs. These soundbars often have features like acoustic center sync, which integrates the TV's speakers with the soundbar for a more balanced and natural sound. The built-in speakers are fine for casual viewing, but if you want the full cinematic experience, a soundbar is a must-have. The Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L includes clear audio with the built-in speakers, but a soundbar is recommended to enhance your viewing experience. A soundbar will provide a wider soundstage, deeper bass, and more immersive sound, enhancing the quality of your audio.

Gaming Performance

Alright gamers, let's talk about the Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L and its gaming capabilities. This TV is a solid choice for gaming, offering a great experience for both casual and serious gamers. It boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, which means the screen refreshes 120 times per second. This results in smoother motion and less blur, especially in fast-paced games. This is a huge advantage for gamers. The X90L also supports HDMI 2.1, which allows for features like 4K gaming at 120Hz and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). VRR helps reduce screen tearing and stuttering, providing a smoother and more responsive gaming experience. The TV also has a low input lag, which is the time it takes for the TV to respond to your controller inputs. Low input lag is crucial for gaming, as it ensures that your actions are reflected on the screen almost instantly. The X90L has a low input lag, making it a responsive and enjoyable gaming experience. The TV also includes a dedicated game mode, which optimizes the picture settings for gaming. Game mode reduces input lag and enhances the responsiveness of the TV. The TV supports both Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and VRR, which automatically adjust the settings for the best gaming experience. ALLM automatically switches the TV to game mode when it detects a connected game console. The X90L also provides great picture quality while gaming. The HDR performance is excellent, providing vibrant colors and great contrast. Games look stunning on this TV, with realistic graphics and immersive visuals. The Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L is an excellent choice for gamers, with its fast refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 support, low input lag, and dedicated game mode. If you are serious about gaming, the X90L will provide a responsive and immersive experience, making your gaming sessions even more enjoyable.

Connectivity and Ports

The Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L is well-equipped in terms of connectivity options. It features multiple HDMI ports, including HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K at 120Hz, perfect for next-generation gaming consoles. You'll have no problem connecting your gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and other devices. In addition to HDMI, the TV also has USB ports for connecting external hard drives or other USB devices. You can easily play your own videos, photos, and music from these external devices. The TV also supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Wi-Fi allows you to connect to the internet, and Bluetooth allows you to connect wireless headphones or other Bluetooth devices. The TV also has an Ethernet port, which is a wired internet connection. The connectivity options are extensive, so you can connect all your devices. The Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L offers a wide range of connectivity options, ensuring you can connect all your devices with ease. The HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K at 120Hz, making it ideal for gamers. The USB ports allow you to play your own media, while Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet provide multiple options for connecting to the internet and other devices.

Pros and Cons

Let's summarize the good and the bad of the Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L:

Pros:

• Amazing Picture Quality: The Full Array LED panel with local dimming, X1 Processor, and TRILUMINOS Pro technology create a stunning viewing experience.
• Excellent Smart Features: Google TV is user-friendly, with easy access to streaming services and voice control.
• Great for Gaming: 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 support, and low input lag make it a great choice for gamers.
• Sleek Design: The minimalist design with thin bezels looks great in any room.
• Wide Viewing Angles: The picture quality remains consistent, even when viewed from the side.

Cons:

• Sound Quality: The built-in speakers are decent but don't match the picture quality. A soundbar is highly recommended.
• Price: This TV is not cheap. It is a premium product with a price tag to match.

Final Verdict: Is the Sony 85-Inch X90L Worth It?

So, after all of this, should you buy the Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L? If you're looking for a large-screen TV with exceptional picture quality, great smart features, and solid gaming performance, then the answer is a resounding YES! The X90L delivers a truly immersive viewing experience. The picture quality is outstanding, thanks to the Full Array LED panel, local dimming, and the X1 Processor. The smart features are user-friendly, and the TV is well-equipped for gaming. The sound quality isn't the best, but that's easily remedied with a soundbar. Yes, it's expensive, but you get what you pay for: a top-of-the-line TV that will elevate your home entertainment setup. If you are going to buy a new TV, this one is an excellent choice.