Sony BRAVIA 55" XR Review (UK): A Film Lover's TV
Quick verdict
Sony's BRAVIA XR TVs are built for people who care about natural, cinematic pictures. The 55-inch A80L OLED combines superb contrast, excellent upscaling and Sony's clever screen-as-speaker sound. It's a 2023 model, has only two HDMI 2.1 ports and lacks HDR10+, so buy it at a good discount.
See Sony BRAVIA 55" XR TVs on Amazon UKBRAVIA XR was Sony's premium TV range from 2021 to 2023, built around its Cognitive Processor XR. Our link shows the 55-inch BRAVIA XR models on Amazon UK. The specs below refer to the most popular of them, the 2023 XR-55A80L OLED. Sony has since moved to the BRAVIA 7, 8 and 9 names, so stock of XR models is limited.
Who is it for?
The A80L suits film and drama fans who want an accurate, natural picture rather than an over-saturated one, and PS5 owners who'll appreciate Sony's console-specific features. Its built-in sound is unusually good, so it's a smart choice if you don't want a soundbar straight away.
Key specs
- Model referenced: Sony XR-55A80L (2023)
- Panel: 55-inch 4K HDR OLED
- Processor: Cognitive Processor XR with XR Clear Image, XR 4K Upscaling, XR OLED Contrast Pro and XR Triluminos Pro
- HDR: Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced and Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode (no HDR10+)
- Sound: Acoustic Surface Audio+ with Dolby Atmos; Acoustic Center Sync with compatible Sony soundbars
- Gaming: HDMI 2.1 with 4K/120, VRR and ALLM; Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode for PS5
- Smart TV: Google TV with Google Assistant, BRAVIA CORE movie app
- Extras: BRAVIA CAM support (sold separately), Eco Dashboard
Picture quality
Sony's Cognitive Processor XR is designed to reproduce images the way people see the real world, and reviewers agree it delivers. Expert Reviews called the A80L a great mid-range OLED, and What Hi-Fi? praised its insightful, composed and dynamic images. Contrast is superb, colours are nuanced and natural, and upscaling of lower-quality content is among the best around. The main weakness is HDR brightness, which is lower than the brightest rivals.
Sound
Instead of conventional speakers, Acoustic Surface Audio+ uses actuators that vibrate the screen itself, so voices really do come from the people on screen. Reviewers found the sound surprisingly spacious for a TV, though a little light on bass. If you add a compatible Sony soundbar later, Acoustic Center Sync turns the TV into the centre speaker.
Gaming and smart features
PS5 owners get Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode, and HDMI 2.1 brings 4K at 120Hz, VRR and ALLM. However, only two HDMI ports are HDMI 2.1, which can be limiting if you have several consoles. Google TV is feature-rich, and BRAVIA CORE includes movie credits for selected films.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Superb, natural OLED picture
- Excellent upscaling
- Acoustic Surface Audio+ sound
- PS5-specific features
- Google TV with BRAVIA CORE
Cons
- Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
- No HDR10+
- HDR brightness trails rivals
- Older 2023 model, limited stock
UK price
BRAVIA XR models are older stock now, and What Hi-Fi? suggests the A80L only makes sense at a substantial discount compared with Sony's newer BRAVIA 8. Our link opens Amazon UK search results so you can compare what's available. Check current prices on Amazon UK.
Verdict
The Sony BRAVIA XR A80L is a film lover's OLED, with superbly natural pictures, outstanding upscaling and sound that comes from the screen itself. Limited HDMI 2.1 ports, no HDR10+ and its age stop it being an automatic choice, but at the right price it's still a five-star TV for movies.
FAQs
Which Sony BRAVIA XR model is this review based on?
Our specs refer to the 2023 55-inch XR-55A80L OLED. Our Amazon link shows all 55-inch BRAVIA XR TVs, so check the exact model number before buying.
Is the Sony A80L good for PS5?
Yes. It supports 4K at 120Hz, VRR and ALLM, plus PS5 features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping. It only has two HDMI 2.1 ports, though.
Does the Sony BRAVIA XR A80L have good sound?
Better than most TVs. Acoustic Surface Audio+ vibrates the screen to produce sound, which reviewers found spacious, though a little light on bass.
How we researched this review: we compiled this guide from Sony Europe's official 2023 BRAVIA XR press release and independent hands-on reviews from Expert Reviews, Trusted Reviews, What Hi-Fi? and T3. Because our link covers several BRAVIA XR models, check the specs of the exact model you choose. We have not tested this unit ourselves.