The Sony X85K offers a lot more value for its mid-range price. It ticks all the boxes for a TV ideal for casual gaming and movie watching, leaving more advanced, nice-to-have features for higher-end models.
Announced as a mid-range display in 2022, the Sony X85K is a 4K LED TV capable of seamlessly upscaling HD content into 4K quality thanks to its 4K X-Reality PRO processing technology.
The display’s picture quality is enhanced by its 4K HDR Processor X1, and it is also blur-free thanks to a combination of its 120Hz variable refresh rate and its Motionflow XR technology.
Like most modern, top-rated TVs, the X85K also features voice assistant support and is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for the perfect smart home setup.
The Google TV platform that the X85K runs on provides access to a library of more than 700,000 movies and TV shows to enjoy, and with two HDMI 2.1 ports, the display is fully compatible with the PS5 and the Xbox Series X.
Consensus
our Verdict
The Sony X85K is a mid-range 4K LED display with a peak HDR brightness rating of 536 nits which is bright enough to fight off glare in a well-lit room, and a contrast ratio of 7,458:1 that keeps blacks deep with impressive black uniformity.
Its port selection includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, four HDMI, and two USB ports. This, and its 120Hz VRR, will satisfy gamers, as it significantly reduces screen tears.
Its Google TV platform is user-friendly, and motion blur is prevented by a fast 12.8ms response rate. Even though the TV’s viewing angles result in washed-out images at 34 degrees, reflection handling is excellent
Overall, the X85K TV is a good performing all-around TV that will only fail to impress the most discerning buyer.
Reason to Buy
Good brightness levels, even in well-lit rooms
Blacks stay deep in dark rooms
Excellent picture quality
Seamless compatibility with PS5 and Sony sound systems
Easy connectivity with Apple devices through Airplay 2
Smooth gaming experience with 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support
Remote has dedicated buttons for popular streaming services
Excellent value for money
Reason to Avoid
Limited viewing angles
No native support for Dolby Vision, limiting HDR options
No FreeSync support
No local dimming
Noticeable shadow or discoloration in the corner of the TV
Not compatible with the Spectrum TV app
Inability to fully customize settings due to Google-related limitations
Difficulties with ARC setup for soundbars
Absence of numeric buttons on the remote
Sony X85K TV Specs
Backlight Type
Direct Lit
Display Type
LED
HDMI Inputs
4
HDR Format
Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
LED Panel Type
LED
Max Resolution
3840 x 2160 (4k)
Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Screen size
43", 50", 55", 65", 75", 85"
Smart Platform
Google TV
Sync Technology
No
VRR
Yes
All Specs
Test Results
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Announced as a mid-range display in 2022, the Sony X85K is a 4K LED TV capable of seamlessly upscaling HD content into 4K quality thanks…
Announced as a mid-range display in 2022, the Sony X85K is a 4K LED TV capable of seamlessly upscaling HD content into 4K quality thanks to its 4K X-Reality PRO processing technology.
The display’s picture quality is enhanced by its 4K HDR Processor X1, and it is also blur-free thanks to a combination of its 120Hz variable refresh rate and its Motionflow XR technology.
Like most modern, top-rated TVs, the X85K also features voice assistant support and is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for the perfect smart home setup.
The Google TV platform that the X85K runs on provides access to a library of more than 700,000 movies and TV shows to enjoy, and with two HDMI 2.1 ports, the display is fully compatible with the PS5 and the Xbox Series X.
While the Sony X85K uses an LED display, the Sony A90J OLED is built with an OLED display. In terms of color quality, the Sony…
While the Sony X85K uses an LED display, the Sony A90J OLED is built with an OLED display. In terms of color quality, the Sony A90J OLED still comes out on top, with a broader 97% coverage of the DCI P3 color space compared to the X85K’s 90%, and lastly, the A90J’s viewing angles are also better. For those who are keen on having a sharp contrast, the A90J has a much better near-infinite contrast ratio (Inf:1) than the X85K’s 7,458:1, making the A90J’s blacks much deeper and more vivid. They both lack local dimming as a feature, so if this is something you want, then our Sony Bravia X93L Mini LED TV review might be of interest.
The Sony X85K and the Samsung Q60B are both LED TVs with VA panels, but the X85K has a better native contrast ratio of 7,458:1…
The Sony X85K and the Samsung Q60B are both LED TVs with VA panels, but the X85K has a better native contrast ratio of 7,458:1 compared to the Q60B’s 5,901:1. However, the Q60B offers better black uniformity, with less blooming compared to the X85K. Even though both have poor viewing angles, the X85K handles reflections a lot better than the Q60B, and it also has a faster 12.8ms response time compared to the Q60B, which is rated at 16.2ms. Finally, the X85K has a variable refresh rate of 120Hz to reduce screen tearing, unlike the Q60B, which has a native refresh rate of 60Hz. However, if you’re in the market for an outdoor TV, our Sunbrite TV Pro 2 TV 4K review might be worth considering.
The first major difference between the Sony X85K and the Sony X80K is that the X85K uses a VA panel while the X80K uses an…
The first major difference between the Sony X85K and the Sony X80K is that the X85K uses a VA panel while the X80K uses an IPS panel. The X85K also has a much better contrast ratio of 7,458:1 compared to the X80J’s 1,173:1, and as a result, blacks on the X85K look a lot deeper in a dark room compared to the X80K. Black uniformity is also much better on the X85K than on the X80K, but the latter offers better viewing angles than the former, making it ideal for large-crowd viewing. While both TVs are flicker-free, the X85K has a 120Hz variable refresh rate, while the X80K is limited to 60Hz. You can check out the X80K in our Sony X80K TV review, but for a no-frills alternative that’s big on ease of use, here’s our Toshiba V35 (32V35KU,-43V35KU) TV review.
