Our Verdict
Good TV for mixed usage. Has good picture quality, and great motion handling. Lacks some of the features to improve picture quality found on higher end TVs, such as local dimming. Picture quality deteriorates when viewed from an angle.
- Excellent motion handling
- Wide color gamut
- Low input lag
- Picture quality degrades at an angle
- Average peak brightness
Average TV for watching movies. Picture quality is good, but lacks features such as local dimming to improve it further. Native contrast ratio provides good dark scene performance.
Better than average for watching TV in a bright room. The whole screen can get bright enough to deal with glare. Picture quality is good but degrades when viewed at an angle. Android TV platform works well for casual watching in a living room.
Really good sports performance. Uniformity is better than average, and picture quality is good. Great at handling fast motion. Unfortunately picture quality isn't as good when viewed at an angle.
Great for gamers. Very responsive TV, has low input lag and is great at handling fast motion. Picture quality is good.
Above average for watching HDR in a dark room. Picture quality is good, but lacks features such as local dimming to improve dark room performance. Highlights don't get bright. Wide color gamut is great.
Good TV for HDR gaming. Supports HDR10 and displays a wide range of colors. Unfortunately can't produce very bright highlights. Input lag is low in HDR mode, and picture quality is good.
Good for PC use. Supports a wide range of resolutions. Offers chroma support for clear text at all resolutions. Picture quality is good.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 43" (XBR43X800D). Note that the 49" variation (XBR49X800D) has an external power brick, instead of the internal one in the 43". The 49" also has an IPS panel, so expect a lower native contrast ratio and wider viewing angle compared to the 43" model we reviewed and closer performance to the X700D but with a wide color gamut.
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Sony XBR43X800D doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review.
| Size | Model |
| 43" | XBR43X800D |
| 49" | XBR49X800D |
Popular TV Comparisons
The Sony X800D provides a good picture quality and overall performance. For those looking for a TV to watch HDR content at a lower price, it is a good pick. It also works well for sports and video games due to the great motion handling.
Although the Samsung Q60A and the Sony X800D both have a VA panel, they're quite different. The Samsung is available in various sizes, while the Sony is only available in a 43-inch or 49-inch size, and the 49-inch uses an IPS panel instead of VA. The Samsung has a higher contrast ratio to produce deeper blacks, and it has lower input lag, making it more ideal for gaming. However, the Sony has better response times that result in a clearer image in fast-moving scenes. The Samsung runs on Tizen OS, and the Sony runs on Android TV. Both platforms have plenty of apps available through the app store.
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
Test Results
Older Test Bench: This product has been tested using an older TV test methodology, before a major update. Some of the test results below aren't directly comparable with other TVs. Learn more
for pictures & test results
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