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Sony A90J OLED TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.11
Review updated Oct 18, 2023 at 04:34 pm
Latest change: Retest Nov 20, 2024 at 07:20 am
Sony A90J OLED Picture
8.8
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
8.4
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
8.5
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
9.2
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
9.0
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
9.0
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
9.0
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: no price info

The Sony A90J OLED is a premium 4k TV from Sony's 2021 flagship OLED lineup and sits above the Sony A80J OLED. Like other OLEDs, it delivers unparalleled picture quality thanks to its self-emitting pixels, which produce perfect blacks and a near-infinite contrast ratio. While its HDR brightness is only decent relative to LED TVs, it still delivers a great HDR experience thanks to its wide color gamut and high contrast ratio. It also has a near-instantaneous response time for clear motion, and it supports variable refresh rate (VRR) technology to reduce screen tearing, but it doesn't support FreeSync. On the upside, it has two HDMI 2.1 ports, eARC, and Dolby Vision support. Sony released the Sony A90K OLED in 2022, but it's not a direct replacement for the A90J as it's only available in 42 and 48-inch sizes.

Our Verdict

8.8 Mixed Usage

The Sony A90J is an amazing TV for mixed usage. It delivers exceptional picture quality for movies and TV shows, and its near-instantaneous response time results in smooth motion for sports and video games. While it doesn't get as bright as an LED TV, it's bright enough to bring out most highlights in HDR, aided by its near-infinite contrast ratio. Unfortunately, there's a risk of permanent burn-in, though it isn't an issue if you watch varied content.

Pros
  • Near-perfect black levels.
  • Exceptionally wide viewing angle.
  • Motion looks exceptionally smooth.
Cons
  • Risk of permanent burn-in.
  • May not be bright enough in SDR for some.
8.4 TV Shows

The Sony A90J is great for watching TV shows. It has adequate SDR peak brightness and fantastic reflection handling, so glare from bright lights or windows isn't an issue. The Google TV platform is smooth and lets you access all your apps and shows from one smart hub. It has a very wide viewing angle, which is great for a wide seating arrangement.

Pros
  • Fantastic reflection handling.
  • Exceptionally wide viewing angle.
  • Google TV platform is smooth and easy to use.
Cons
  • May not be bright enough in SDR for some.
8.5 Sports

The Sony A90J is excellent for watching sports. Its near-instant response time results in smooth motion with almost no blur behind fast-moving objects or players. It also has a very wide viewing angle, which is great for watching the game with friends in a wide seating arrangement. It has adequate SDR peak brightness with fantastic reflection handling, so glare from bright lights or windows isn't an issue.

Pros
  • Fantastic reflection handling.
  • Exceptionally wide viewing angle.
  • Motion looks exceptionally smooth.
Cons
  • May not be bright enough in SDR for some.
9.2 Video Games

The Sony A90J is fantastic for playing video games. It has a near-instantaneous response time that results in exceptionally clear motion with almost no blur behind fast-moving objects. Its input lag is slightly higher than on competing TVs, but it's still fantastic, so your inputs are responsive. The TV's exceptionally high contrast ratio is great for gaming in the dark, and the TV's adequate SDR peak brightness and fantastic reflection handling make it a good fit for bright rooms, too. Finally, it has great gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support.

Pros
  • Near-perfect black levels.
  • Motion looks exceptionally smooth.
  • Low input lag.
  • VRR and ALLM support after firmware update.
Cons
  • No FreeSync support.
  • May not be bright enough in SDR for some.
9.0 HDR Movies

The Sony A90J is excellent for watching movies in HDR. It has a wide color gamut, good HDR peak brightness, and a nearly infinite contrast ratio, so bright highlights look amazing in a dark or moderately lit room. The TV has fantastic image processing, so movies look their best no matter if they're from streaming platforms or physical media. Finally, its color accuracy is excellent without needing to be calibrated.

Pros
  • Near-perfect black levels.
  • Removes 24p judder.
  • Upscales low resolution content without issue.
  • Wide HDR color gamut.
  • Good HDR peak brightness.
Cons
  • Noticeable stutter with low frame rate content.
9.0 HDR Gaming

The Sony A90J is fantastic for HDR gaming thanks to its extremely fast response time and fantastic input lag. The TV has perfect black levels, and while it doesn't get as bright in HDR when in Game Mode as most LED TVs do, its brightness is still very decent, and it does make bright highlights pop in a dark or moderately-lit room. The TV is also very colorful thanks to its wide color gamut. It has great gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support.

Pros
  • Near-perfect black levels.
  • Motion looks exceptionally smooth.
  • Low input lag.
  • Wide HDR color gamut.
  • VRR and ALLM support after firmware update.
Cons
  • No FreeSync support.
  • Lower HDR peak brightness in Game Mode.
9.0 PC Monitor

The Sony A90J is an excellent TV to use as a PC monitor. It has a fantastic input lag and near-instant response time, so your mouse inputs are extremely responsive. It can also display proper chroma 4:4:4 at most resolutions, and its wide viewing angle ensures the image stays consistent when you're sitting up close. Unfortunately, it doesn't support 1440p. There may also be more risk of permanent burn-in with static elements like a desktop user interface.

Pros
  • Exceptionally wide viewing angle.
  • Low input lag.
  • Displays proper chroma 4:4:4.
  • Near-instantaneous response time.
  • VRR and ALLM support after firmware update.
Cons
  • Risk of permanent burn-in.
  • No FreeSync support.
  • Doesn't support 1440p.
  • May not be bright enough in SDR for some.
  • 8.8 Mixed Usage
  • 8.4 TV Shows
  • 8.5 Sports
  • 9.2 Video Games
  • 9.0 HDR Movies
  • 9.0 HDR Gaming
  • 9.0 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Nov 20, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  2. Updated Sep 11, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  3. Updated Jul 17, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  4. Updated May 02, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  5. Updated Feb 13, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  6. Updated Jan 09, 2024: We verified the TV's 1440p support with firmware PKG6.7480.0852NAA. The TV doesn't natively support 1440p, as it either upscales the signal to 4k or simply shows a black screen when trying to force the resolution. Updated the results in the Input Lag, Supported Resolutions, Variable Refresh Rate, PS5 Compatibility and Xbox Series X|S Compatibility boxes.
  7. Updated Dec 05, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  8. Updated Oct 18, 2023: We refreshed the text to correct for our latest methodology changes and consistency with our most recent TV reviews.
  9. Updated Oct 12, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  10. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  11. Updated Jul 24, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.11. With this update, we've added a new Upscaling: Sharpness Processing test and revamped our Blooming test so the scores and picture better match the real world experience. With this change, it was necessary to remove the Black Crush test. Finally, we've updated our usage scores to better align our scores with user expectations.
  12. Updated Jun 22, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.10. With this update we've revamped our Gradient testing, added a new test for Low Quality Content Smoothing, and expanded our Audio Passthrough testing.
  13. Updated Jun 07, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  14. Updated Apr 03, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  15. Updated Feb 24, 2023: Updated to Test Bench 1.9, modifying our Contrast testing and splitting our local dimming testing into multiple sections covering Blooming, Black Crush, and Lighting Zone Transitions. You can see our full changelog here.
  16. Updated Feb 16, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for two months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  17. Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  18. Updated Oct 06, 2022: We bought and tested the Sony A90K OLED, and added a few relevant comparisons to this review.
  19. Updated Aug 30, 2022: Retested 1080p VRR range to see if there were still the same issues with latest firmware, and changed the PS5 VRR test to 'Yes' because it supports it.
  20. Updated Aug 02, 2022: We updated the local dimming text to be more technically accurate, and removed mention of the backlight, as OLED panels are self-emissive and don't have a backlight.
  21. Updated Aug 01, 2022: We discovered a flaw with the equipment used to force an HDR signal when measuring color volume and the color gamut. We've switched to a new tool and updated our measurements. The color gamut and volume have changed slightly.
  22. Updated Jul 28, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.8, adding a new box for PQ EOTF tracking and updating our Color Volume and Color Gamut tests to better reflect real world usage. You can see our full changelog here.
  23. Updated Jul 14, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.7 with an updated HDR Brightness test that better reflects real world usage. We've also split the console compatibility boxes into separate PS5 Compatibility and Xbox Series X|S Compatibility tests. You can see our full changelog here.
  24. Updated May 06, 2022: We changed the subtype from WRGB to WOLED as it's more accurate and more consistent with other TVs.
  25. Updated Mar 04, 2022: Checked for VRR support after latest firmware update.
  26. Updated Jul 20, 2021: We retested the frequency response and distortion with the feet in the lowered position.
  27. Updated Jul 07, 2021: We retested the input lag and the frequency response with the latest firmware.
  28. Updated May 28, 2021: Listened to the speakers to confirm testing results.
  29. Updated May 19, 2021: Downloaded the Calman for Bravia app to see how it works.
  30. Updated May 14, 2021: Retested judder removal with BFI; tested to see if it works with Android TV app.
  31. Updated Apr 23, 2021: Retested the brightness after warming up the TV for over 100 hours.
  32. Updated Apr 08, 2021: Retested TV with video games in 4k at 120Hz to check for differences in banding between SDR and HDR.
  33. Updated Apr 06, 2021: Review published.
  34. Updated Apr 01, 2021: Early access published.
  35. Updated Mar 22, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  36. Updated Mar 19, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  37. Updated Mar 14, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 55-inch Sony A90J OLED (XR-55A90J), which is also available in 65-inch (XR-65A90J) and 83-inch (XR-83A90J) sizes. The results are also valid for those models. The model codes are the same in Europe and the UK.

Size US Model
55" Sony XR-55A90J
65" Sony XR-65A90J
83" Sony XR-83A90J

Our unit was manufactured in February 2021, and you can see the label here.

Compared To Other TVs

The Sony A90J OLED is an amazing overall TV. It has good HDR peak brightness, fantastic image processing, and is very well-built. That said, it also comes with a very premium price tag, and while it has gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support, other OLEDs are better for gaming, like the LG C1 OLED, which has FreeSync support and lower input lag.

For more options, see our recommendations for the best OLED TVs, the best 55-inch TVs, and the best TVs on the market.

LG C1 OLED
48" 55" 65" 77" 83"

The LG C1 OLED and the Sony A90J OLED are both amazing TVs. They each have OLED panels with near-infinite contrast ratios and perfect black levels. That said, the Sony can reach higher peaks of brightness in both SDR and HDR. The LG, however, is the better option for gaming since it has FreeSync support and lower input lag, while the Sony is G-SYNC compatible.

Sony A80J OLED
55" 65" 77"

The Sony A80J OLED and the Sony A90J OLED are very similar TVs overall, and both offer stunning picture quality in a premium, well-built package. That said, the A90J uses Sony's new heatsink technology, which allows it to get brighter in HDR, although the difference is relatively small. The A90J also has a better remote with motion-activated backlighting. The other big difference is that the A90J is available in 55, 65, and 83 inch sizes, while the A80J is available in 55, 65, and 77 inch sizes. If none of these are dealbreakers, the A80J is still an excellent choice that performs about the same as its more expensive sibling.

Sony A80L/A80CL OLED
55" 65" 77" 83"

The Sony A90J OLED and Sony A80L/A80CL OLED are extremely similar, with almost nothing to differentiate them. The biggest difference is the A90J's better pre-calibration accuracy, but it's close and could be due to panel variance. Otherwise, the A90J is a bit brighter in HDR, while the A90L is a bit brighter in SDR, but you won't notice it in practice.

LG G1 OLED
55" 65" 77"

The LG G1 OLED and the Sony A90J OLED are similar and fantastic TVs. They each deliver a near-infinite contrast ratio for deep blacks. The LG has the new evo OLED panel, allowing it to get brighter than other OLEDs, and while the Sony isn't advertised to have the evo panel, it has about the same brightness as the LG. The main difference is that the LG is designed to sit flush against a wall and doesn't come with a dedicated stand like the Sony.

Sony A95K OLED
55" 65"

The Sony A95K OLED is an improvement over the Sony A90J OLED, especially with watching HDR content. The A95K uses new QD-OLED technology, which is a type of OLED that allows it to display more vivid colors and brighter highlights than the A90J. However, if you want to use your TV in a well-lit room, the A90J maintains perfect black levels in well-lit rooms, as the black levels raise on the A95K when there's ambient lighting.

Sony A90K OLED
42" 48"

The Sony A90J OLED is a bit better than the Sony A90K OLED, but the differences are very minor. The A90J is a bit brighter than the new model, meaning it can handle a bit more glare, and bright highlights in HDR stand out a bit more. Although sharing a similar model name, the A90K isn't a direct replacement for the A90J, as they're available in different sizes. The A90J is available in a 55", 65", and 83" size, while the A90K is only available in 42" and 48" sizes.

LG C2 OLED
42" 48" 55" 65" 77" 83"

The LG C2 OLED and the Sony A90J deliver a nearly identical experience overall, but the LG is slightly brighter with some scenes. The LG also has more advanced gaming features, including HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all four HDMI ports. On the other hand, the Sony TV has better processing, with much better HDR tone mapping and motion handling, so it's a better choice for movie lovers who care about an accurate image.

LG G2 OLED
55" 65" 77" 83" 97"

The Sony A90J OLED and the LG G2 OLED are very similar overall, but the LG is slightly better for most users. The LG is brighter, especially when displaying small, bright highlights in HDR, and it has better gaming features. The Sony has better gradient handling and much better tone mapping, so it's a better choice for anyone who cares about an accurate image.

Sony A9G OLED
55" 65" 77"

The Sony A90J OLED and the Sony A9G OLED are both excellent OLED TVs. They can both turn off pixels individually to produce an infinite contrast ratio and perfect black levels, which is great for watching movies and other content. If you're a gamer, though, the A90J has a bit of an edge because it supports HDMI 2.1 and has a bit less input lag. It also gets a bit brighter in HDR if you watch a lot of HDR content.

Sony A80K/A80CK OLED
55" 65" 77"

The Sony A90J OLED is a higher-end TV than the Sony A80K/A80CK OLED, so it performs a bit better overall. The A90J gets slightly brighter in HDR, delivering a more impactful HDR experience. That's the main difference between the TVs, so if you're after the best picture quality, stick with the Sony A90J OLED.

Sony X90J
50" 55" 65" 75"

The Sony X90J and the Sony A90J OLED are very different performance-wise because they don't use the same panel type, but they have similar features. The A90J is an OLED TV that delivers better picture quality because it has a near-infinite contrast ratio, and it can produce perfect blacks by turning the pixels off. It has wider viewing angles and better reflection handling, but it doesn't get as bright, so it might not overcome intense glare. The A90J has near-instantaneous response times, making it better for fast-moving content like sports or gaming, but it also causes low frame rate content like movies to stutter. Both TVs have a 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 support, and run on Google TV. Lastly, the A90J is susceptible to permanent burn-in, whereas the X90J is immune.

Sony A8H OLED
55" 65"

The Sony A90J OLED and the Sony A8H OLED are very similar TVs overall. The biggest difference is that the A90J has two HDMI 2.1 ports, which is great if you plan on using it for the latest gaming consoles, while the A8H doesn't have any. Otherwise, they both deliver the same exceptional picture quality and performance that most OLEDs do, thanks to their ability to turn off individual pixels and their near-instantaneous response times.

Sony A95L OLED
55" 65" 77"

The Sony A95L OLED is significantly better than the Sony A90J OLED. The A95L delivers a much more impactful HDR experience thanks to its significantly better color volume, as bright colors are more vibrant and realistic. There's also less banding in gradients, and it gets brighter, so bright highlights stand out better. The A95L is also a bit better for gamers, as it supports Dolby Vision gaming at up to 4k @ 120Hz, which is a first for Sony TVs.

Samsung S95C OLED
55" 65" 77"

The Samsung S95C OLED is better than the Sony A90J OLED. Highlights stand out more in HDR content on the Samsung due to its better HDR brightness. It also does a better job at fighting glare due to its higher SDR peak brightness. The Samsung is a little better for gamers thanks to its 4k @ 144Hz support and lower input lag. Finally, colors are brighter, more vibrant, and more lifelike on the Samsung due to its wider color gamut and better color volume.

Sony X95J
65" 75" 85"

The Sony A90J OLED and the Sony X95J use different panel types, each with strengths and weaknesses. The A90J uses an OLED panel, which delivers true inky blacks with perfect black uniformity, whereas the X95J uses an LED backlight. The X95J is a lot brighter, but the A90J has better dark room performance, better uniformity, and better viewing angles. The A90J also has a nearly instantaneous response time, so it's a better choice for gamers.

Samsung S95B OLED
55" 65"

The Samsung S95B OLED is a better TV than the Sony A90J OLED for most users. The Samsung TV gets a bit brighter in general, and colors are significantly brighter thanks to its new QD-OLED display technology. On the other hand, the Samsung TV sacrifices accuracy in HDR for a more vivid, impactful image, so if image fidelity matters to you, the Sony is a better choice.

LG GX OLED
55" 65" 77"

The LG GX OLED and the Sony A90J OLED are both high-end, well-designed OLED TVs. If you want something that looks sleek and will sit absolutely flush against the wall, the LG is one of the thinnest TVs we've tested, designed to look like a piece of art on your wall. Otherwise, the two perform very similarly, delivering the same perfect black levels that all OLEDs do. That said, the Sony also gets a bit brighter in HDR and is technically capable of hitting an exceptionally high peak brightness in 'Vivid' mode, but not for sustained periods of time.

LG CX OLED
48" 55" 65" 77"

The Sony A90J OLED and the LG CX OLED perform very similarly overall. Like all OLEDs, the perfect blacks and near-instantaneous response times on both deliver exceptional picture quality and performance. The biggest differences are in design and features. The Sony feels a little bit more premium overall, but the LG comes four HDMI 2.1 ports, as opposed to the two on the Sony. All in all, they're both amazing TVs.

LG B2 OLED
55" 65" 77"

The Sony A90J OLED and the LG B2 OLED are similar TVs. The LG is a better choice if you're a gamer because it has lower input lag. Also, if you want to use the TV in a well-lit room, the LG gets brighter. However, if you watch movies, the A90J is a better TV because it has better image processing and improved gradient handling, so movies appear more life-like.

Samsung QN90A QLED
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85" 98"

The Sony A90J OLED and the Samsung QN90A QLED are both excellent all-around TVs, but they use different panel types. The Sony is an OLED, so it has perfect blacks and an infinite contrast ratio. The Samsung, on the other hand, is an LED TV, and its use of Mini LED backlighting allows it to get exceptionally bright. The Sony may be a better option if you prioritize movies and picture quality, but the Samsung is a better option for gaming since it has lower input lag.

Hisense U8G
55" 65"

The Sony A90J OLED and the Hisense U8G use different display panels, each with strengths and weaknesses. The Sony looks best in a dark room, as the OLED panel displays perfect blacks, with no blooming or uniformity issues. The Sony also has much better viewing angles, making it a better choice for a wide seating arrangement. Unfortunately, OLED technology comes with some inherent risks, including the possibility of permanent burn-in. The Hisense, on the other hand, is much brighter, and it supports some of the latest gaming features, including support for a variable refresh rate.

Samsung QN900A 8k QLED
65" 75" 85"

The Sony A90J OLED is better than the Samsung QN900A 8k QLED. While it can't display an 8k signal like the Samsung, there isn't much 8k content yet. Plus, the Sony is an OLED, so it has a near-infinite contrast ratio that can display perfect blacks with no blooming. The Samsung uses a VA panel but has low native contrast. While it's improved heavily by local dimming, the local dimming feature produces noticeable blooming. The biggest advantage of the Samsung is that it gets significantly brighter, so it's a little better suited to very bright rooms.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved No

The Sony A90J looks similar to other high-end Sony OLEDs and has an adjustable stand. With its thin bezels and metal accents, it looks sleek and premium and is sure to make an impression in any living room.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures

Update 10/16/2023: After seeing its brightness surprisingly increase after eight months, the TV's brightness has come back down to expected levels. Again, we're not sure why the TV's brightness is fluctuating so much.

Design
Stand

The stand can be set up in one of two ways, either with the feet flat, bringing the TV flush against the table, or raised up to give you space for a soundbar. There's also a third configuration where the feet face inward to make a smaller footprint, but it's only available on the 83-inch variant.

Footprint of the stand: 51.1"x12.5" (standard position) or 45.3"x12.5" (soundbar position)

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 300x300

The Sony A90J doesn't have much in the way of cable management except for some paneling that covers a portion of the cables and an included cable tie, but overall it looks fairly clean. The back of the panel itself is metal, while the rest is plastic with vertical ridges. Some of the inputs are bottom-facing and are hard to reach when the TV is wall-mounted.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.35" (0.9 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 1.61" (4.1 cm)
9.5
Design
Build Quality

The Sony A90J's build quality is superb. It feels incredibly sturdy in either of the stand positions, with no wobble or flex. It's a very solid-feeling TV, as expected from a high-end model like this.

Picture Quality
10
Picture Quality
Contrast
Contrast
Inf : 1
Native Contrast
Inf : 1

The Sony A90J has a near-infinite contrast ratio thanks to its OLED panel, which can produce perfect blacks. They look deep and inky in a dark room, which is ideal for movies.

10
Picture Quality
Blooming

Since this TV uses self-emissive OLED technology, there's absolutely no blooming around bright highlights or subtitles in otherwise dark scenes.

10
Picture Quality
Lighting Zone Transitions
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
No Backlight
Dimming Zones Count Of Tested TV
8,294,400

The panel doesn't have a backlight, but thanks to its nearly infinite contrast ratio, it has the equivalent of a perfect local dimming feature with no zone transitions. We still film the zone transition video on the TV so you can see how the screen performs and compare it with a TV that has local dimming.

9.5
Picture Quality
Contrast And Dark Details In Game Mode

There's no difference in dark scene behavior between the calibrated picture modes and Game Mode.

7.6
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
622 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
382 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
247 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
766 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
764 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
597 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
333 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
181 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
752 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
750 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
590 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
332 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
179 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.092

The Sony A90J has good HDR brightness, good enough to make bright highlights pop. However, there isn't much consistency across scenes with different luminance levels due to the TV's Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL). It performs similarly to the LG G1 OLED, but it's not as bright as the LG G2 OLED. Warming up the TV doesn't significantly impact the HDR brightness.

These measurements are before calibrating the HDR white point with the following settings:

  • Picture Mode: Custom
  • Brightness: Max
  • Contrast: 90
  • Color Temperature: Expert 1
  • HDR Tone Mapping: Gradation Preferred

We also measured the brightness in the 'Vivid' Picture Mode. It reached 777 nits in the Real Scene Highlight and 976 nits in the 10% window.

In 2021, there’s a new settings menu called HDR Tone Mapping. Our measurements use the 'Gradation Preferred' setting, but it may be helpful to note that while the 'Gradation Preferred' setting results in a more accurate EOTF, the 'Brightness Preferred' setting lets you get a brighter image without having to make too many other adjustments. If you want to see the difference these settings make, you can see the 'Brightness Preferred' EOTF here and the EOTF with HDR Tone Mapping disabled here.

To make HDR brighter, set Advanced Contrast Enhancer to 'High', Peak Brightness to 'High', set Brightness, Contrast, and Gamma to max, and 'Brightness Preferred' in the HDR Tone Mapping menu. These settings result in this EOTF. We should also note that we were able to adjust the settings to achieve a peak HDR brightness measurement of 1291 nits in the 2% window, which is close to the 1300 nits that early reviews claimed. However, the screen got very hot and quickly dropped back down to a lower luminance level, so while the TV is technically capable of hitting an exceptionally high peak brightness for an OLED, realistically speaking, you won’t get that kind of brightness with real content using ideal settings.

7.1
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness In Game Mode
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
398 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
423 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
211 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
765 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
735 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
502 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
302 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
197 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
751 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
723 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
498 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
302 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
196 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.086

The HDR brightness in 'Game' mode is very similar to the HDR brightness outside of ‘Game’ mode. That said, the brightness measured slightly lower than outside of 'Game' mode, especially the real scene brightness. As with SDR, you can set HDR Tone Mapping to 'Brightness Preferred' to get a slightly brighter image, though we expect that this will depend highly on the content. Warming up the TV makes certain Real Scenes brighter, but doesn't change much overall.

These measurements are before calibrating the HDR white point with the following settings:

  • Picture Mode: Game
  • Brightness: Max
  • Contrast: 90
  • Color Temperature: Expert 1
  • HDR Tone Mapping: Gradation Preferred

These are measurements in the 'Game' Picture Mode with the Brightness Preferred setting enabled:

  • Real Scene Highlight: 667 cd/m²
  • Peak 2% Window: 804 cd/m²
  • Peak 10% Window: 769 cd/m²
  • Peak 25% Window: 511 cd/m²
  • Peak 50% Window: 293 cd/m²
  • Peak 100% Window: 193 cd/m²
  • Sustained 2% Window: 763 cd/m²
  • Sustained 10% Window: 723 cd/m²
  • Sustained 25% Window: 499 cd/m²
  • Sustained 50% Window: 293 cd/m²
  • Sustained 100% Window: 192 cd/m²

9.3
Picture Quality
PQ EOTF Tracking
600 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0086
1000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0049
4000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0038

The TV has superb PQ EOTF tracking, so content is displayed at the correct brightness level. It's slightly over-brightened at all luminance levels but barely so, and it never strays far from what it should be. The TV follows the curve nearly perfectly up until the panel's max brightness, followed by a slow roll-off which preserves bright details.

6.6
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene Peak Brightness
277 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
464 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
481 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
481 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
311 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
187 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
451 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
460 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
464 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
309 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
185 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.059

The Sony A90J has okay SDR brightness. It’s a bit dim in real scenes compared to an LED TV, and the Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL) causes scenes with large areas of brightness to dim overall, so the brightness isn’t the most consistent across different scenes. It's a bit brighter than the new, smaller sizes of the Sony A90K OLED. Warming up the TV has no significant impact on its SDR brightness. If you want a high-end TV that gets much brighter, check out the Samsung QN900A 8k QLED.

These measurements are after calibration with the following settings:

  • Picture Mode: Custom
  • Brightness: Max
  • Peak Luminance: High
  • Color Temperature: Expert 1

We checked the brightness with other Picture Modes. 'Cinema' isn't as bright as 'Custom' because it has a Real Scene Peak Brightness of 248 nits. 'Vivid' is also still brighter as we measured a peak of 780 nits in the 10% window.

8.5
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
97.64%
DCI P3 uv
97.64%
Rec 2020 xy
71.01%
Rec 2020 uv
72.77%

The TV has an excellent color gamut. It's wide enough for HDR content and has near-perfect coverage of the commonly used DCI P3 color space. Its coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 is only decent, though.

7.8
Picture Quality
Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
70.1%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
32.8%
White Luminance
532 cd/m²
Red Luminance
72 cd/m²
Green Luminance
237 cd/m²
Blue Luminance
35 cd/m²
Cyan Luminance
259 cd/m²
Magenta Luminance
96 cd/m²
Yellow Luminance
284 cd/m²

The color volume is decent. It only really struggles a bit with very bright colors, which aren't as bright as on QD-OLED displays like the Samsung S95B OLED.

8.5
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
1.93
Color dE
1.99
Gamma
2.18
Color Temperature
6,700 K
Picture Mode
Custom
Color Temp Setting
Expert 1
Gamma Setting
0

The Sony A90J has amazing pre-calibration color accuracy. Colors and white balance are both excellent, with few inaccuracies. The color temperature is quite close to our 6500K target, but it's on the cooler side. Lastly, gamma follows the target very well, with only the brightest scenes appearing a bit brighter than they should.

9.7
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.13
Color dE
0.72
Gamma
2.20
Color Temperature
6,511 K
White Balance Calibration
10 point
Color Calibration
Yes

After calibration, the Sony A90J has exceptional color accuracy. Any remaining inaccuracies aren't noticeable, and the TV's color temperature is very close to the target value. Gamma is practically perfect. The TV was also very easy to calibrate. You can download the Calman for Bravia app to access 20-point calibration and Custom Pro, but you also need a 2018 version of Calman or newer on your PC to access calibration. You can see our full calibration settings here.

8.6
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
1.377%
50% DSE
0.137%
5% Std. Dev.
0.333%
5% DSE
0.063%

The Sony A90J has excellent gray uniformity. The screen looks very uniform overall with almost no dirty screen effect, and we didn't notice any banding or issues in near-dark scenes, although this can occur with more extensive use.

Note: A few owners have reported seeing a grid-like pattern on their TVs in uniform scenes. It's usually not noticeable with real content, but this is a manufacturing defect; if you see it on yours, you should exchange it.

10
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Std. Dev.
N/A
Native Std. Dev.
0.297%

Since OLEDs can turn off individual pixels, the Sony A90J has perfect black uniformity, with no distracting blooming or halo effect around bright areas of the screen in dark scenes.

8.6
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
51°
Color Shift
27°
Brightness Loss
64°
Black Level Raise
70°
Gamma Shift
61°

The Sony A90J has an excellent viewing angle, but it's not quite as good as the LG A1 OLED. It's wide enough that the image won't look washed except at extreme angles, where the TV is considerably dimmer.

9.3
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Glossy
Total Reflections
1.4%
Indirect Reflections
0.1%
Calculated Direct Reflections
1.3%

The Sony A90J has fantastic reflection handling. It diffuses both direct and indirect reflections very well, so glare isn't an issue, especially in more moderate lighting conditions.

8.3
Picture Quality
HDR Native Gradient
100% Black to 50% Gray
8.0
50% Gray to 100% White
8.0
100% Black to 50% Red
8.0
50% Red to 100% Red
10
100% Black to 50% Green
10
50% Green to 100% Green
6.0
100% Black to 50% Blue
8.0
50% Blue to 100% Blue
8.0

The Sony A90J has great gradient handling in HDR, with only bright greens having noticeable banding.

8.7
Picture Quality
Low-Quality Content Smoothing
Smoothing
9.0
Detail Preservation
8.0

The Sony A90J has excellent low-quality content processing. It's very effective at smoothing out macro-blocking and pixelization when streaming content, with very little loss of fine details.

9.0
Picture Quality
Upscaling: Sharpness Processing

The TV has superb sharpness processing and upscaling overall. Fine details in low-resolution content are upscaled well, and text is clear and easy to read.

These results are with the following processing settings:

  • Sharpness: 60
  • Reality Creation: Auto

Picture Quality
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
RWBG
Type OLED
Sub-Type
WOLED

The Sony A90J uses a WRGB sub-pixel layout, where all four subpixels are never lit simultaneously. While this TV is said to be able to brighten all four pixels at once to achieve a higher peak brightness, we never saw all four sub-pixels lit at the same time, even when we recorded 1291 nits. You can see some of the blue sub-pixels lit up in this photo.

Motion
9.8
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
0.2 ms
100% Response Time
3.1 ms

Like all OLEDs, this TV has an incredibly fast pixel response time. There's very little blur behind fast-moving objects, but due to the sample-and-hold nature of OLED technology, there's still some noticeable persistence blur.

10
Motion
Flicker-Free
Flicker-Free
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The TV isn't quite flicker-free, as a small decrease in brightness corresponds with the display's refresh cycle. It's very different from pulse width modulation flicker (PWM) on TVs with LED backlights and isn't noticeable.

Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
Yes
Min Flicker For 60 fps
60 Hz
60Hz For 60 fps
Yes
120Hz For 120 fps
Yes
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
60 Hz

The TV has an optional black frame insertion feature (BFI) that reduces the appearance of persistence blur caused by the TV's nearly instantaneous pixel response time. BFI also reduces the TV's perceived brightness, which is noticeable.

Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes

The TV can interpolate lower frame rate content up to 120fps to make motion look smoother, which is also known as the 'Soap Opera Effect'. It performs fine during slower scenes, but there's a fair number of artifacts in busier scenes or panning shots.

5.2
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
38.6 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
13.6 ms

Due to the TV's nearly instantaneous response time, there's noticeable stutter with low frame rate content. The black frame insertion feature and the motion interpolation feature can help reduce the appearance of stutter, but they both have their drawbacks.

10
Motion
24p Judder
Judder-Free 24p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60i
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
Yes

Unlike the LG A1 OLED, the Sony A90J TV can remove judder from all sources. You don't need to enable any additional settings for native 24p content. For 24p content via 60p/i or via native apps, set Cinemotion to 'High' and Motionflow to 'Custom' but leave the sliders at 0.

9.4
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
HDMI Forum VRR
Yes
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC Compatible
Yes
4k VRR Maximum
120 Hz
4k VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
1080p VRR Maximum
120 Hz
1080p VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
1440p VRR Maximum
N/A
1440p VRR Minimum
N/A
VRR + Local Dimming No Local Dimming

The TV has HDMI Forum VRR support with firmware v6.4048, and it works without any issue on the Xbox Series X for a tear-free gaming experience. However, it doesn't support FreeSync. It's also G-SYNC compatible, but there are some issues with it. It removes tearing with 4k @ 120Hz signals from the NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics card, but at first, the screen flickered until the TV and PC were both reset. Still, there wasn't any screen tearing or flicker in Destiny 2 with a 4k @ 120H signal. Despite there being a few issues depending on the signal, VRR reduces screen tearing when it works properly.

Inputs
9.3
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
17.5 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
168.6 ms
1080p @ 120Hz
12.1 ms
1080p @ 144Hz
N/A
1440p @ 60Hz
N/A
1440p @ 120Hz
N/A
1440p @ 144Hz
N/A
4k @ 60Hz
16.6 ms
4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
16.6 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
16.7 ms
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
151.9 ms
4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
143.7 ms
4k @ 120Hz
14.7 ms
4k @ 144Hz
N/A
8k @ 60Hz
N/A

The TV has a low input lag, although it's slightly higher than competing high-end models and rises significantly outside of 'Game' mode. To get low latency, you can use either the 'Game' or 'Graphics' Picture Mode, though we recommend 'Game' mode to get the lowest latency for gaming.

8.6
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
480p @ 59.94Hz (Widescreen)
Yes
720p @ 59.94Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 144Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 144Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 144Hz
No
8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
No
8k @ 60Hz
No

The TV supports most common resolutions up to 4k @ 120Hz. However, the TV doesn't support 1440p; it upscales 1440p signals to 4k or shows a black screen when trying to force a 1440p signal.

Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

The Sony A90J is not fully compatible with the PS5 due to not supporting 1440p. Still, as part of Sony's 'Perfect for PS5' lineup, it supports a few unique features when paired with a PS5, including Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. After a firmware update to version PKG6.5660.0668NAA, the Sony Bravia XR A90J also now supports both VRR and ALLM.

We received comments suggesting that the A90J has more banding issues in HDR at 4k @ 120Hz than in SDR. We retested the TV to check for this. With Destiny 2 on the Xbox Series X, there was slightly more banding in HDR in parts of the sky or the main menu, but you'd have to look for it to notice. On the PS5, we tested with Call of Duty: Cold War, and the visibility of banding is highly dependent on the map. With some maps, there was noticeable banding in both SDR and HDR, although it was worse in HDR. In others, the banding was more minimal and only noticeable in clouds in HDR. With Destiny 2 on the RTX 3070, however, we didn't notice an appreciable difference between SDR and HDR regarding banding. It leads us to believe that while there is more banding in HDR than in SDR at 4k @ 120Hz, it's highly dependent on the content.

Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

The Sony A90J can nearly take full advantage of the Xbox Series S|X consoles. It only supports Dolby Vision gaming at 60Hz, not at 120Hz, though, and the TV doesn't support 1440p. After a firmware update to version PKG6.5660.0668NAA, the TV now supports both VRR and ALLM.

We received comments suggesting that the A90J has more banding issues in HDR at 4k @ 120Hz than in SDR. We retested the TV to check for this. With Destiny 2 on the Xbox Series X, there was slightly more banding in HDR in parts of the sky or the main menu, but you'd have to look for it to notice. On the PS5, we tested with Call of Duty: Cold War, and the visibility of banding is highly dependent on the map. With some maps, there was noticeable banding in both SDR and HDR, although it was worse in HDR. In others, the banding was more minimal and only noticeable in clouds in HDR. With Destiny 2 on the RTX 3070, however, we didn't notice an appreciable difference between SDR and HDR regarding banding. It leads us to believe that while there is more banding in HDR than in SDR at 4k @ 120Hz, it's highly dependent on the content.

Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
HDR10+
No
Dolby Vision
Yes
HLG
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 3,4)
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
ATSC Tuner
3.0 (NEXTGEN TV)
USB 3.0
Yes (1)
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

HDMI ports 3 and 4 support the full 48 Gbps bandwidth of HDMI 2.1, while HDMI 1 and 2 are limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth. However, because HDMI 3 is also the eARC port, you lose an HDMI 2.1 slot if you connect a receiver, so you can't use HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on multiple devices simultaneously.

Inputs
Input Photos
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 3
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 0
Composite In 1 (adapter required, not incl.)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 1
Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC/eARC Port
eARC
eARC: Dolby Atmos Over Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
eARC: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Yes
eARC: LPCM 7.1 Over Dolby MAT
Yes
eARC: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Yes
eARC: DTS:X Over DTS-HD MA
Yes
eARC: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Yes
eARC: LPCM Channels (Bitstream)
7.1
ARC: Dolby Digital 5.1
Yes
ARC: DTS 5.1
Yes
Optical: Dolby Digital 5.1
Yes
Optical: DTS 5.1
Yes

The Sony XR55A90J supports eARC, allowing you to pass high-quality, uncompressed audio to a compatible receiver through an HDMI cable. It supports all major audio formats, so you don't have to worry about compatibility with external sources.

Sound Quality
7.3
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
75.51 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
4.02 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.92 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
6.18 dB
Max
96.6 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
4.37 dB

The TV has a decent frequency response. It has more bass than most TVs but is still very muted. While dialogue sounds okay overall, and the TV gets very loud, there's a lot of compression at higher volumes, resulting in pumping artifacts.

7.6
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.042
Weighted THD @ Max
1.106
IMD @ 80
0.37%
IMD @ Max
3.80%

Distortion performance is decent. There isn't much distortion at most volume levels, but it gets quite distorted at max volume.

Smart Features
8.0
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Google TV
Version 10
Ease of Use
Average
Smoothness
Very Smooth
Time Taken to Select YouTube
2 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
2 s
Advanced Options
Many

The TV uses the Google TV smart platform, which is very smooth and fairly easy to navigate, with no bugs or issues.

0
Smart Features
Ad-Free
Ads
Yes
Opt-out
No
Suggested Content in Home
Yes
Opt-out of Suggested Content
No

Unfortunately, there are ads in the app store and on the home page, which you can't turn off. You can opt out of some suggested content, but you can't get rid of it completely.

9.0
Smart Features
Apps and Features
App Selection
Great
App Smoothness
Very Smooth
Cast Capable
Yes
USB Drive Playback
Yes
USB Drive HDR Playback
Yes
HDR in Netflix
Yes
HDR in YouTube
Yes

The Google Play Store has tons of apps available to download, and they run very smoothly. It has Google Chromecast built-in, meaning you can cast content from your phone.

8.5
Smart Features
Remote
Size
Large
Voice Control
Many Features
CEC Menu Control
Yes
Other Smart Features
No
Remote App Android TV

The Sony Bravia A90J has a similar remote to other Sony OLEDs, like the Sony A9S OLED. It has shortcut buttons to the most popular streaming apps and a dedicated Google Assistant button that activates its voice command feature. You can use voice commands to change inputs, adjust certain settings, search within apps, and more. It can also be used as a universal remote, although it may depend on your country and particular device. The remote also has new, motion-activated backlighting, so you can see the buttons in the dark. We also tested the TV to check if it still works with the Android TV app, even though it now has Google TV. It works perfectly, and you get the same features as you did with Android TV, like voice control.

Smart Features
TV Controls

There's a single button on the back of the left side. Press it to move through options and hold it to select, which is also how you can choose to power the TV on/off.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • Remote control
  • 2x AAA batteries
  • Documentation
  • Cable tie

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 96 W
Power Consumption (Max) 176 W
Firmware PKG6.3628.0454NAA