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
The Sony A8G OLED is an excellent 4k TV. Like all OLED TVs, it delivers outstanding dark room performance, thanks its ability to produce perfect blacks and perfect black uniformity. It also has a nearly-instantaneous response time, delivering crystal-clear motion with almost no noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects. This lack of blur can bother some people, though, as it results in stutter when watching movies or other low frame rate content. Unfortunately, like all OLEDs, there is a possibility of burn-in with static content, and the brightness of the screen changes depending on the content, also known as ABL, which may bother some people.
Our Verdict
0.0
Mixed Usage
The Sony A8G is an excellent TV for almost any usage. It has great viewing angles and outstanding reflection handling, so it looks great in almost any room. Like all OLEDs, though, it truly shines in a dark room, thanks to perfect, uniform blacks. Fast-moving objects in games and movies look great, due to the nearly-instantaneous response time, but this results in more stutter, which is especially noticeable when watching movies.
Pros
Excellent dark room performance.
Outstanding low motion blur.
Image remains accurate when viewed at an angle.
Cons
Brightness varies with different content, due to the Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL).
Possibility of permanent burn-in with static content (see here).
The Sony A8G OLED is an outstanding TV for watching movies in a dark room. It looks great in a dark room, thanks to the nearly infinite contrast ratio and outstanding black uniformity. Fast-moving action movies look great, thanks to the nearly-instantaneous response time, which results in very little blur, but this lack of blur may bother some people when watching movies.
This is an excellent TV for watching TV shows during the day. It has outstanding reflection handling and wide viewing angles, great if you like to leave the TV on while you move about, but it might not be bright enough if you have a lot of windows. Cable content looks great thanks to the TV's great upscaling performance, and it has a huge selection of streaming apps, great for cord-cutters.
The TV is an excellent TV for watching sports. It has excellent motion handling, thanks to the nearly-instantaneous response time, so fast-moving objects (or players) look great, with almost no blur behind them. When watching the big game with a group of friends, everyone can enjoy the game thanks to the TV's wide viewing angles. There also shouldn't be any issues in a bright room, due to the excellent reflection handling, but it might not be bright enough to overcome glare in a really bright room.
This is an excellent TV for video games, mainly due to the outstanding picture quality. Games look great thanks to the deep, uniform blacks and nearly-instantaneous response time, so there is no blur behind fast-moving objects. Unfortunately, the A8G has higher-than-average input lag, and isn't ideal for competitive gaming.
The TV is an outstanding TV for watching HDR movies in a dark room. The OLED panel delivers deep, inky blacks, with perfect uniformity. Subtitled movies look great, with no blooming around subtitles. The TV has a nearly-instantaneous response time, so there is very little blur behind fast-moving objects, but this lack of blur may bother some people, especially when watching movies. Finally, it can display an excellent wide color gamut, but can't get bright enough in HDR for some content.
0.0
HDR Gaming
This is an excellent TV for gaming in HDR for most people. It has a nearly-instantaneous response time, so fast-moving objects in your favorite games look extremely clear, with no blur. It also looks amazing gaming in a dark room, thanks to the perfect blacks, and perfect black uniformity. Unfortunately, it has higher-than-average input lag, which isn't ideal for competitive gaming, and it doesn't support any of the variable refresh rate technologies, like FreeSync.
0.0
PC Monitor
The TV looks great as a PC monitor, but it should be used with care, as long-term exposure to static elements (such as the taskbar or desktop icons) can cause permanent burn-in. It has wide viewing angles and a nearly-instantaneous response time, but unfortunately, it has higher-than-average input lag, which may bother some people. We also encountered an issue when the TV is sent a 4k signal, with chroma 4:4:4 or RGB, which isn't ideal for desktop use.
We tested the 55" A8G (XBR55A8G), and we expect our results to be valid for the 65" (XBR65A8G) as well.
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Sony OLED A8G doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.
Size
US Model
Alternative Name
EU Model
55"
XBR55A8G
XBR-55A8G
XBR55AG8
65"
XBR65A8G
XBR-65A8G
XBR65AG8
The A8G we reviewed was manufactured in April 2019.
Popular TV Comparisons
Top left: LG C9 (OLED55C9). Bottom left: Sony A9F (XBR55A9F). Middle: Sony A8G (XBR55A8G). Top right: Samsung Q90R (QN65Q90R). Bottom right: Sony A8F (XBR55A8F). Unlike our other photographs, this picture wasn't taken under a controlled environment, so do not draw conclusions from it.
The LG C9 OLED is a bit better than the Sony A8G OLED. The C9 supports many new technologies, including HDMI 2.1 on all four HDMI ports, eARC, and HDMI Forum's new variable refresh rate technology, which is great for Xbox One gamers. The C9 also has significantly less input lag, which is great for gaming or using as a PC monitor.
The LG B9 OLED is a bit better than the Sony A8G OLED. The B9 has HDMI 2.1 on all four HDMI ports, as well as eARC. The B9 is better for gaming as it has a much lower input lag and supports HDMI Forum's new variable refresh rate technology, which is great news if you have an Xbox One.
The Sony A8H OLED is marginally better than the Sony A8G OLED for most uses. The A8H got a few improvements over its predecessor. It has a higher SDR and HDR peak brightness, has better pre-calibration color accuracy, and its input lag is much lower, making it a better option for gaming. The A8G has slightly better viewing angles, but not by much.
Other than the design changes, there is almost no difference between the Sony A8F OLED and the Sony A8G OLED. The A8G has slightly worse sound, but most people won't notice this, and it's slightly less bright in HDR than the A8F, but this could vary between units.
Show more
Video
How We Test TVs
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.
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
Sort:
RATINGS
Category:
All
Market Context
Market Context
Become a member to view the full test results and text of the reviews, as well as extra website features and tools with no ads.
