The Sony A90J OLED TV is a strong, mid-range 4K HDR TV for mixed usage. Its 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate are fantastic for gaming, while movies get an extra boost from a wider color gamut and near-perfect black levels. Its peak brightness could be better, but most users will not be bothered by this.
PICTURE QUALITY
4K
- All experts agree: the Bravia XR Sony A90J OLED TV does display in native 4K resolution. Additionally, upscaling hasn’t revealed any issues. That said, you may want to check out the Sony A80J OLED that has been touted to give a great 4K viewing experience.
Color
- RTings praised the OLED XR Sony A90J for having incredibly accurate colors, fresh out of the box, so there’s no need to calibrate it unless you want perfection. Color gamut coverage was upwards of 98%, but 100% of the Rec. 709 color space.
Black
- Since the Sony A90J is an OLED TV, it can achieve near-perfect black levels by shutting off individual pixels and producing pure blacks for a truly immersive experience. This is done via XR OLED Contrast Pro and Cognitive Processor XR technology.
Brightness
- Experts find the peak brightness of the Master Series Sony A90J OLED to be passable. It ranges from average, to slightly above average depending on the content. SDR content can appear dim in scenes with large swathes of brightness; HDR is marginally better.
Contrast
- Due to its ability to shut off individual pixels, the Master Series Sony A90J can produce an impressive contrast ratio and pure blacks. Its XR processor does much of the heavy lifting, though image retention is most noticeably after watching high contrast content. It doesn’t stick around for long.
Dimming
- Reviewers point out that the Sony A90J OLED gets away with excluding local dimming by having the ability to shut off individual pixels and creating more pure blacks. That shift in technology gives it a phenomenal contrast ratio.
Gaming
- With its 4K 120Hz resolution and refresh rate combo, and a 12ms input lag, experts love the Sony A90J for gamers. This is thanks to Game mode and its HDMI 2.1 ports, which also support variable refresh rate.
- However, as noted by Digital Trends, it won’t be available until a firmware update.
HDR
- The Sony A90J features HDR10 and Dolby Vision, both of which use its contrast ratio, peak brightness, and wide color gamut to create stunning picture quality and a truly immersive experience.
- Bright spots will pop against dark sections, though testers noted it drops down a peg for having average peak brightness.
Motion
- RTings findings show, thanks to Black Frame Insertion and motion interpolation, the Master Series Sony A90J handles motion incredibly well.
- It is only during low frame rate content that you’ll notice a stutter here and there.
Refresh
- Since the Master Series Sony A90J OLED TV has HDMI 2.1 ports, it supports not only 4K resolution, but also a 120Hz refresh rate. Variable refresh rate (VRR), however, is not part of the package until Sony releases a firmware update.
Response
- Reviewers were thrilled with the Master Series Sony A90J’s response time, which is super fast, clocking in at 3.1ms during a full color transition, according to RTings.
Viewing Angle
- Viewing angles for the Master Series Sony S90J OLED are wide and accommodating of large rooms. Picture quality doesn’t experience noticeable degradation until around 65-degrees. That’s already too sharp of an angle for anyone to enjoy content comfortably.
Burn-in
- Testers all agree that while not uncommon with OLEDs, the Sony A90J is susceptible to burn-in. Perhaps not as harmful as it once was, it’s still advantageous to refrain from leaving static elements on display for long periods of time.
DESIGN
Stand
- Not content with one static stand, the Sony A90J can convert its stand into three positions: raised, flushed to the surface, or inwards to save space. Want to add a sound system? Raise it to make room for surround sound or a sound bar.
Back
- Experts enjoyed that the back of the Sony A90J OLED TV offers cable management and is supportive of a wall mount. You’ll see that with its sideways facing ports.
Borders
- While not borderless, the Sony A90J OLED TV’s bezels only measure 0.35 inches, which is very thin and practically fades away when viewing.
Thickness
- Testers appreciated the thinness of the Master Series A90J. Not including the legs, the Sony A90J OLED TV only measures 1.61-inches in thickness.
FEATURES
Tuner
- Yes, the Sony A90J OLED supports an antenna/cable connection. Reviewers did not come across any issues.
Input
- Reviewers noted a good selection of ports behind the Sony A90J, which features four HDMI ports, two of which are 2.1, a single USB 3.0, Wi-Fi support, Ethernet, cable/ant, and variable audio out. What reviewers treasured was the inclusion of Dolby Atmos and eARC support, for higher audio bandwidth, speed, and quality.
Remote Control
- The remote control for the Sony A90J is a little busy, but includes a nice collection of features. Dedicated buttons are available for YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and even Disney+. Google Assistant answers with voice controls. Additionally, it can be used as a universal remote.
SMART TV
Apps
- Reviewers really like the ability to access a TV app along the bottom, like the Apple TV app, or movies and TV shows along the top. Since the interface uses Google TV, you gain access to a very wide range of apps, like Apple TV, PlutoTV, and more.
Streaming
- Streaming content on the Sony A90J OLED relies on the speed of your ISP, but it should be noted HDR can be enabled when streaming YouTube and Netflix. On a side note, Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2 are both supported for casting devices.
Menu
- Reviewers were delighted with the Sony A90J OLED’s menu. This was because navigating was smooth, responsive, and easy to learn. It wasn’t bogged down by convoluted design choices. Another great smart TV is the Sony Bravia A8H OLED.
SOUND QUALITY
Audio, Bass, and Soundstage
- Without a soundbar, experts agree the A90J is good with audio. Bass response in particular not only has weight, but also a great depth to it. Users will be satisfied, but for a truly immersive experience, a sound bar is necessary.
