Can’t afford OLED? These Sony 4K TVs are much better value
The X90J and X80J finally have pricing confirmed
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There are two newSony4K TVson sale for 2021 – and even if they don’t haveOLEDpanels, there’s a lot worth that’s worth recommending about them.
We now have pricing and availability for the Sony X90J and X80J, both of which are available to pre-order in the US, with the X80J available in the UK.
The Sony X90J is the company’s flagship LCD TV this year, starting at $1,299 / £1,149 (around AU$1,700) for a 50-inch size, and going up to $1,499 / £1,249 (around AU$2,000) for a 55-inch size and $1,799 / £1,499 (around AU$2,400) for a 65-inch size. The X90J features Full Array LED backlighting and the new-for-2021 Cognitive Processor XR found also in Sony’s high-endOLED TVs. You’ll also get a flush bezel design,HDMI 2.1support (with4K/120fps,eARC, and ALLM for low latency), and the new Google TV operating system found on the latestChromecast.
The Sony X80J is a step-down model with a 60Hz panel, meaning you won’t get the benefits of HDMI 2.1. You will, however, get a 4KHDRpanel, theGoogleTV platform, and the capable X1 processor from previous Sony TV ranges. The X80J also packages all this at around half the price of the X90J, costing just $849 / £799 (around AU$1,100) at a 50-inch size, and starting at $749 / £584 (around AU$1,000) for a43-inchmodel.
UK shoppers can also consider an X81J alternative to the X80J, which features slightly more advanced motion processing (and adds a small price premium to smaller sizes) but is otherwise functionally identical.
Considering the $2,999 / £2,699 starting point of theA90J OLED(55 inches), you’re clearly saving at any screen size, with the option of some smaller panel sizes not found in Sony’sOLEDrange.
Sizing up
OLED TVs are undergoing something of a sizing transformation, with the introduction of last year’s48-inch OLEDpanel size, this year’s 83-inch alternative, and aconfirmed 42-inch optionlikely to come to differentTV brandsin the coming year.
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Sony doesn’t seem overly interested in pushing OLED to new sizes just yet; while the 2019A9Gtelevision did get a new lease of life with the48-inch A9S OLED, it’s not a size we’ve seen elsewhere in the range or to help push newer sets.
To get a capable Sony TV below 50 inches this year, you can opt for the A9S, which is still on sale and will offer a step up in picture quality over the average LCD. Otherwise, though, Sony’s LCDs will offer far more flexibility in the lower end of screen sizes.
Henry is a freelance technology journalist, and former News & Features Editor for TechRadar, where he specialized in home entertainment gadgets such as TVs, projectors, soundbars, and smart speakers. Other bylines include Edge, T3, iMore, GamesRadar, NBC News, Healthline, and The Times.
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