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Sony W850C TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Review updated Mar 01, 2017 at 06:31 am
Sony W850C Picture
6.7
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.5
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.0
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.9
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.4
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
5.2
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
4.3
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
5.7
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench

The Sony W850C is a good TV with excellent contrast and motion control. Unfortunately, it has too much motion blur and input lag to be a great gaming TV. For movies and general use though, it is a good choice.

Our Verdict

6.7 Mixed Usage

The Sony W850C LED TV is a good TV, but not a great one. Last year's W850B was a better gaming TV, with less motion blur and input lag. The contrast ratio and black uniformity is great, so it is a good choice for movies or TV shows.

Pros
  • Great blacks and native contrast ratio.
  • Good motion controls.
Cons
  • Limited viewing angle.
  • More motion blur and input lag than average, which is not ideal for gaming.
  • 6.7 Mixed Usage
  • 6.5 Movies
  • 7.0 TV Shows
  • 6.9 Sports
  • 7.4 Video Games
  • 5.2 HDR Movies
  • 4.3 HDR Gaming
  • 5.7 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Mar 01, 2017: Review published.
  2. Updated Jun 16, 2015: Our testers have started testing this product.
  3. Updated May 22, 2015: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Test Results

Design
9.0
Design
Style
Curved No
Design
Stand

The stand of our Sony KDL65W850C has a footprint of 24" by 10.5", which is relatively small for a 65" TV. It wobbles a little bit back and forth though.

Design
Back

The Sony W850C has a sleek design, with thin borders. However, the TV is a bit thick and heavy.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.51" (1.3 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 2.68" (6.8 cm)
Picture Quality
8.7
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
4,867 : 1

The contrast ratio is 4867:1, which is great, and means the blacks are deep.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Direct
5.8
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Peak 2% Window
242 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
242 cd/m²
6.3
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
4.237%
50% DSE
0.228%

Our unit has a few visible vertical bands across the screen, as well as darker edges.

4.2
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
LCD Type
VA
Color Shift
20°
Brightness
30°
Black Level
18°

At a wide viewing angle, the colors are not the same as in front. The blacks are not as good, either. The picture quality is better when you sit directly in-axis.

Update 01/06/2017: We have changed the methodology of testing. Since this is an old TV which we don't have anymore, we extrapolated the results from 2016 TVs.

9.2
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
0.863%

The black uniformity is great. There is a slight clouding spot in the top left quadrant, but it wasn't noticeable with normal content.

8.1
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
4.17
Color dE
2.8539
Gamma
2.15
9.6
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.35
Color dE
1.0701
Gamma
2.21
8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

Upscaling of lower-resolution content like DVDs looks good.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

Cable TV will also looks good when upscaled.

10
Picture Quality
1080p Input

Native 1080p looks very good on this TV.

0
Picture Quality
4k Input
6.9
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
No
DCI P3 xy
77.07%
DCI P3 uv
83.59%
Rec 2020 xy
54.17%
Rec 2020 uv
58.53%
8.0
Picture Quality
Reflections
Reflection
1.8%
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss

It reflects slightly more light than average, but it doesn't have the rainbow glare that most other TVs do.
The maximum brightness is a bit below average. Nothing to worry about with one or two windows, but it isn't the best choice for more than that.

9.0
Picture Quality
3D
3D
Yes
3D Type
Active

The 3D picture quality is good, without noticeable crosstalk.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Motion
7.0
Motion
Motion Blur
Refresh Rate 120 Hz
Response Time
22.3 ms
Overshoot
0 ms

We changed our test for motion blur. The score is now only based on the response time and overshoot of the pixel transitions. We test 12 different transitions. Click the response time number to see all the data and graphs. We retested all our 2015 reviews with this new methodology. We also capture how the backlight handles different luminosity settings. We will update our motion blur article in a few days to explain how all of this works, and how it translates into practical application.
The Sony W850C has more motion blur than average. The trail length for dark to bright transitions is a lot longer than bright to dark. At least it has very good backlight control. See here for details on how the 'Clearness' setting affects the clarity of movements via the backlight.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz
BFI
Yes
BFI Frequency
60 Hz
BFI In Game Mode
Yes
10
Motion
24p Playback
Judder-free 24p
Yes
Judder-free 24p via 60p
Yes
Judder-free 24p via 60i
Yes

Set 'Motionflow' to 'True Cinema' to enable 24p playback without judder, even over 60p.

10
Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes
Inputs
7.7
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
36.2 ms
1080p With Interpolation
50.5 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
54.3 ms
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
36.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz
N/A
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
N/A
4k @ 60Hz + HDR
N/A
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR
N/A

The input lag under game mode is 36.2ms, which isn't bad, but not great. The input lag with motion interpolation is really low at 50.5ms, which is definitely playable. So it is a good choice if you want your 30 fps console game look like a 120 fps game.

2.0
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 1080p
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
No

To get chroma 4:4:4, set the picture mode to 'Game' or 'Graphics'.

Inputs
Side Inputs
Inputs
Rear Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 2
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 1 (shared)
Composite In 1 (shared)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 1
SD/SDHC 0
Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
No
5.1 Passthrough ARC Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Vision
No
5.1 Passthrough ARC DTS
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical Dolby Digital
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical DTS
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth No
ARC Yes (HDMI 4)
USB 3 No
HDCP 2.2 No
CEC Yes
MHL Yes (HDMI 1)
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Sound Quality
7.2
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Std. Dev. @ 70
3.53 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.48 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ Max
5.45 dB SPL
Max
92.8 dB SPL
Low-end Cutoff
113 Hz

This TV gets loud. Good frequency response at moderate levels, but at higher volumes the frequency response suffers and pumping may be present. Low-end cut off is not very good.

5.4
Sound Quality
Total Harmonic Distortion
Distortion @ 70
0.015
Distortion @ 80
0.008
Distortion @ Max
2.497

Very clean sound at lower volumes, but like other Sony TVs, there's a big jump in distortion level when the TV is pushed hard.

Smart Features
Smart Features
Apps

The current selection of apps on Sony's Android TV is a bit limited, but most of the main ones are there, and the Google Cast functionality is a nice touch.
See our full review of the smart features.

7.5
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Android
10
Smart Features
Ads
Ad-free
Yes
Opt-out
N/A
Smart Features
Remote
Remote Basic

The included remote is basic, but you can install an app on your smartphone to control the TV.

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 73 W
Power Consumption (Max) 186 W
Firmware PKG2.197.0010NAB