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151

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158

TVs

x81ch1

True Score Methodology v2.0

Sony X81CH Review

Michael Iaboni Avatar
Michael Iaboni
Michael Iaboni Avatar
Michael Iaboni
Michael Iaboni is a Canadian Freelance Writer and Editor. He graduated from York University with a Degree in English and Creative Writing and then attended Queen’s University where he obtained a Professional Editing Standards Certificate. He is a member of Editor’s Canada and, in his spare time, enjoys reading, writing, soccer, and gaming.
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Updated Feb 9, 2024 1:54 PM

Published

True Score

True Score is an AI-powered algorithm of product tests and customer reviews.

69

Meh

69
2

Experts

74
325

Consumers

Expert Rankings

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2

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The Sony X81CH has excellent contrast ratios, virtually no motion blur, and a healthy amount of ports. It’s held back by a poor color gamut, an unimpressive remote, and a clunky interface. It’s a good LED TV for those who enjoy watching action movies. For buyers looking for a 4K TV on a strict budget, we recommend the Sony X80J.

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Sony X81CH is the brand’s entry-level LED Android TV model released in 2020. It promises to deliver excellent 4K picture quality over traditionally less-expensive LED TVs and excellent native contrast thanks to its being a Sony LED TV. It’s a great TV for those who might be on a tight budget but still value great picture quality.

This X81CH boasts a 4k display, possesses a healthy amount of ports (4 HDMI and 3 USB), and includes an Android OS which provides access to a wide variety of streaming apps. Keep reading our Sony X81CH review to learn more about what top experts said and don’t forget to check out some of the other highly rated TVs available right now.

Consensus

our Verdict

The Sony X81CH is a great LED Android TV for action movie fans, with virtually no motion blur and excellent native contrast ratios. It also has a tuner for an HDTV antenna and plenty of ports. The downside? Poor color gamut, thick borders, an unimpressive remote, clunky interface (but it’s improving), and very poor bass. If you’re looking for excellent color accuracy, check out the Sony X90J.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Excellent Native Contrast
  • Almost No Motion Blur
  • Tuner For an HDTV Antenna
  • Good Amount of Ports

Reason to Avoid

  • Poor Color Gamut
  • Very Thick
  • Unimpressive Remote
  • Clunky Interface
  • Poor Bass

Sony X81CH Specs

Backlight TypeBacklight Typen/a
Display Typen/a
HDMI Inputs4
HDR Formatn/a
LED Panel TypeLED Panel Typen/a
Max Resolution3840 x 2160 (4k)
Refresh Rate120 Hz
Screen sizen/a
Smart PlatformSmart PlatformAndroid TV
Sync TechnologySync Technologyn/a
VRRVRRn/a

All Specs

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    Score Card

    E

    Expert Score

    69

    *.75

    We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

    C

    Customer Score

    74

    *.25

    We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

    True Score

    69

    Expert Scores

    Publications with higher Trust Ratings are given more weight.

    • Rtings
      101.4

      Category Trust Rating

      75
      Good performance all-round. Good picture quality for movies, and handles motion well for sports. Video… Read More

      By:

    • Consumer Reports
      47.6

      Category Trust Rating

      NR
      Read More

      By: