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To try to better understand how long a TV should last, we're running 100 TVs through an accelerated longevity test for the next two years. We've just posted our 1-year video update with our latest findings on temporary image retention, burn-in, and more!

Sony X720E TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed Sep 05, 2017 at 09:03 am
Latest change: Retest Nov 29, 2018 at 04:18 pm
Sony X720E Picture
7.2
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.0
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.6
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.4
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.0
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
5.9
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.2
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.2
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench

The Sony X720E is a decent entry-level 4k TV with a better than average viewing angle and low input lag for gaming. It lacks the fully-featured smart platform found on other Sony TVs and instead, offers only a limited set of apps distributed through the Opera TV Store. Due to the mediocre picture quality in a dark room, it is better placed in a brighter environment where the less uniform blacks won't be an issue.

Our Verdict

7.2 Mixed Usage

Decent TV for a mixed usage. The Sony X720E does especially well for sports and TV shows thanks to its good performance in a bright room and wide viewing angle. Unfortunately, its performance in a dark room leaves a lot to be desired due to its shallow, uneven blacks.

Pros
  • Looks good even if viewed from the sides
  • Low input lag is great for gaming
Cons
  • Limited app selection
  • Blacks aren't uniform.
6.0 Movies

Subpar TV for watching movies in a dark room. When sitting directly in front, black regions of the screen can appear blotchy which causes letterboxes to be quite distracting. The low contrast also reduces the depth of the picture which gives the image a flatter look.

7.6 TV Shows

Very good choice for watching TV shows in a bright room. The X720E gets decently bright to overcome reflections well, and it is free of any temporary image retention. Unfortunately, fans of the soap opera effect might be disappointed by its motion interpolation capabilities.

7.4 Sports

Good TV for watching sports. The Sony X720E's grays and colors are quite uniform, so sports fields and ice rinks look smooth and free of blotchiness. The TV's wide viewing angle is also great for game day parties with friends where people will be watching the TV from the sides.

8.0 Video Games

Great TV for playing video games. The Sony X720E's low input lag and great handling of motion keep games responsive and immersive. Even if it is only 60 Hz, it can flicker to reduce motion blur even further.

5.9 HDR Movies

Subpar choice for HDR movies. While the X720E does have some support for HDR formats, it cannot display a wide color gamut and cannot get bright enough to showcase a good HDR effect.

7.2 HDR Gaming

Mediocre for HDR gaming. While its input lag remains low across input types, the X720E's limited HDR capabilities mean that you won't see much of a difference when playing HDR games.

8.2 PC Monitor

Great TV to use as a monitor. It supports important resolutions such as 4k@60hz with 4:4:4 for smooth text. Combined with its low input lag, low motion blur, and wide viewing angle, it makes for a PC monitor that would suit almost every uses. It's only missing support for a 120hz refresh rate for competitive gaming.

  • 7.2 Mixed Usage
  • 6.0 Movies
  • 7.6 TV Shows
  • 7.4 Sports
  • 8.0 Video Games
  • 5.9 HDR Movies
  • 7.2 HDR Gaming
  • 8.2 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Nov 29, 2018: The X720E was incorrectly listed as having a Direct backlight. It is actually Edge-lit.
  2. Updated Mar 12, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
  3. Updated Sep 21, 2017: Added note on input lag bug
  4. Updated Sep 05, 2017: Review published.
  5. Updated Sep 03, 2017: Early access published.
  6. Updated Aug 31, 2017: Our testers have started testing this product.
  7. Updated Aug 11, 2017: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 43" (KD43X720E). For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 49" (KD49X720E) and 55" (KD55X720E).

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Sony X720E doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Unlike the 43" and 49" models, the 55" variant has an internal power brick.

Size Model
43" KD43X720E
49" KD49X720E
55" KD55X720E

Compared To Other TVs

Comparison picture

Top left: Vizio M Series 2017 (M65-E0). Bottom left: Sony X800E (XBR43X800E). Middle: Sony X720E (KD43X720E). Top right: Samsung MU7000 (UN55MU7000). Bottom right: TCL P607 (55P607).  Unlike our other photographs, this picture wasn't taken under a controlled environment, so do not draw conclusions from it.

The Sony X720E offers decent value overall compared to most of its competition. It doesn't have the best picture quality, but it's still a good choice for some usages. See our recommendations for the best cheap TVs and the best TVs.

Sony X800E
43" 49" 55"

The Sony X720E is slightly better than the Sony X800E. The Sony X720E has better input lag, and this is great for gaming or for use as a PC monitor. Also, the Sony X720E has slightly better gray uniformity which is great if you watch a lot of sports. The Sony X800E has better smart features and reflections that you will appreciate if you watch TV shows in a brighter room.

Sony X690E
50" 60" 70"

The Sony X690E is a bit better than the Sony X720E for most users, unless you have a wide seating arrangement. The X690E uses a VA panel, which performs better in a dark room thanks to the better contrast ratio and much better black uniformity. The X690E also has better reflection handling and a faster response time. The X720E uses an IPS panel which has much wider viewing angles and is a bit brighter.

Samsung MU6100
58"

If you have a wide seating arrangement, then the Sony X720E is a better choice since it has better viewing angles. The Sony X720E also has better 24p judder removal, which is great for movie lovers, and slightly better gray uniformity which will please sports fans. The Samsung MU6100, on the other hand, has much better contrast and somewhat better black uniformity that is great for watching movies in a dark room, and better reflections and smart features for those who enjoy TV shows in brighter rooms.

Samsung NU7100
40" 43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 75"

The Samsung NU7100 is a bit better than the Sony X720E, unless you have a wide seating area. The NU7100 uses a VA panel, and is better for a direct seating arrangement but has better dark performance due to the better contrast and better black uniformity. The X720E uses an IPS panel which has much wider viewing angles but isn't recommended for a dark room.

Test Results

Design
8.0
Design
Style
Curved No

The Sony X720E has a similar design to most other Sony TVs. It has the iconic central stand which supports the TV well and has a small footprint. Note that the 43" model we reviewed and the 49" model both have an external power brick, but the 55" model does not. This may make the smaller sizes a bit more difficult to wall-mount depending on your setup.

Design
Stand

The stand of the X720E is very similar to other Sony TVs. It has a fairly small footprint, so fits well on most tables. Despite the small footprint it feels sturdy and provides good support.

Footprint of the 43" TV stand: 9.4" x 21.9"

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 100x200

The rear of the TV is quite basic, and the majority of it is plastic. Most of the inputs run parallel to the back of the TV and so are fairly easy to access if wall mounted. There are a couple of inputs directly out the back of the TV that may be difficult to use when placed close to a wall.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.55" (1.4 cm)

The borders are quite thin, and look good. They are black plastic, like the rest of the TV.

Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 2.76" (7.0 cm)

The TV appears a bit thick when viewed from the side. The thickest part is near the base of the TV, and as such it may stick out a bit if wall mounted.

Design
Temperature
Maximum Temperature
109 °F (43 °C)
Average Temperature
93 °F (34 °C)

The bottom of the screen gets quite warm, but fortunately, the bottom of the frame only gets a little warm to the touch. Most of the TV's vents are along the bottom so this shouldn't be a problem.

6.5
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is fine. The TV is almost entirely plastic, but it still feels quite well made and strong due to the use of screws throughout the body, rather than just glue or clips.

Picture Quality
5.8
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
907 : 1
Contrast with local dimming
N/A

The contrast ratio of the Sony X720E is disappointing, even for an IPS TVs, which usually have a lower contrast ratio than VA TVs. When set in a dark room, the low contrast ratio means that blacks look more grayish than really black and dark scenes look washed out. Because of this low contrast ratio, the X720E is better suited for a bright room setting, where ambient light will prevent the low contrast from being noticeable.

In comparison, this is a very similar result as the 2017 Sony X800E and the 2016 W600D, which both have a contrast ratio between 900:1 and 1000:1.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

The Sony X720E does not have a local dimming feature. The video is for reference only.

Update 11/29/2018: The X720E was incorrectly listed as having a Direct backlight. It is actually Edge-lit.

7.8
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
317 cd/m²
SDR Peak 2% Window
340 cd/m²
SDR Peak 10% Window
342 cd/m²
SDR Peak 25% Window
342 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
343 cd/m²
SDR Peak 100% Window
343 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
340 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
341 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
341 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
342 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
342 cd/m²
SDR ABL
0.000

Plot over time

Good SDR peak brightness, good enough for a fairly bright room. The brightness also stays nearly constant no matter the content shown, which is great. Surprisingly, increasing the 'Contrast' setting from its default 90 to maximum raises the peak brightness by ~10%. The X720E is slightly less bright than the higher tier X800E, roughly equal to the LG UJ6300 in 'Standard' mode, but far less bright than the TCL P607.

6.3
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
326 cd/m²
HDR Peak 2% Window
337 cd/m²
HDR Peak 10% Window
339 cd/m²
HDR Peak 25% Window
340 cd/m²
HDR Peak 50% Window
340 cd/m²
HDR Peak 100% Window
341 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 2% Window
337 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 10% Window
338 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 25% Window
339 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 50% Window
340 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 100% Window
340 cd/m²
HDR ABL
0.001

Plot over time

Mediocre HDR peak brightness. Even though it is effectively identical to the SDR brightness, HDR demands higher brightness because highlights are mastered for 1000-4000 cd/m², which is far brighter than this TV is able to produce. On the plus side, the TV is very consistent with its brightness, which is good. Overall, the brightness is a little better than the LG UJ6300, but worse than the Sony X800E and TCL P607.

7.8
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.498%
50% DSE
0.184%
5% Std. Dev.
0.427%
5% DSE
0.080%

The X720E overall gray uniformity is good. The 50% gray uniformity test picture shows some dark patches on each side of the screen, but besides that, the screen is pretty even, which is great since dirty screen effect is very limited and not really a problem.

Looking at the 5% gray test picture, not much comes up which is good and no problems can be seen here.

7.5
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Shift
41°
Brightness
51°
Black Level
75°

Good viewing angle, better even than most other TVs with IPS panels like the LG UJ7700. The black level stays fairly consistent at an angle which is great, while colors shift and brightness decreases when viewed from a large angle. This TV is a great fit for a room where people often sit to the side of the TV and view it at an angle.

4.8
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
2.785%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The X720E has a poor black uniformity. Flashlighting is visible on both top corners and also on the bottom left side. Note that in this test the black level is not taken into account, only the screen uniformity.

6.8
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
5.6%
Indirect Reflections
2.0%

The reflection handling of the Sony X720E is decent. It has a semi-gloss finish which diffuses reflection across the screen but also reduces their intensity. It is fine for an average room but may be an issue in a bright room.

It is the best budget outdoor TV we've tested, but since this TV wasn't intended for outdoor use, so it is important to have a proper enclosure for outdoor use.

7.0
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
Picture Mode
General
White Balance dE
3.71
Color dE
3.01
Gamma
2.19
Color Temperature
5,871 K

The X720E has a decent accuracy even without calibration when the 'Scene Select' is set on 'General', the 'Picture Mode' set to 'General' and the 'Color Temperature' set to 'Expert 1'. Other color temperatures like 'Expert 2' and 'Warm' are in the same range of accuracy, but 'Neutral' and 'Cool' are the more inaccurate by far. The white balance dE is a bit high and tending toward the warm side, with the brighter IRE being more affected. Gamma is not too off, tracking close to our 2.2 target.

The color dE is a bit better than the white balance dE and more of the issues could be related to the fact that the white point is a bit off target and as so, the rest of the color are all drifting in the same direction. But even with this, the color accuracy is still acceptable.

9.0
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
Picture Mode
General
White Balance dE
0.54
Color dE
2.18
Gamma
2.20
Color Temperature
6,492 K

After calibration, the X720E is very accurate. The white balance dE was brought down to 0.54, which is imperceivable. The only problem that came up in the calibration was that some IRE point control (5 and 6) were overlapping each other, making it very difficult to adjust them correctly. This is reflected on our white balance calibration image, where the 50 and 60 point have a higher dE than the rest. After calibration, the gamma was also spot on our 2.2 target, with once again the little bump near the 50 and 60 IRE.

Like most of other Sony TVs, there is no color management system and as such, the only correction to the color accuracy was done via the white balance calibration. The white balance did correct the white point and most of the color repositioned themself with the same correction and the dE was brought down a bit, to reach 2.18, which is good enough that even the enthusiasts would not really notice the color inaccuracy.

You can see our recommended settings here.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

Upscaling of DVDs or other low-quality content is good. Lines aren't smoothed as much as some other TVs but this helps to retain details.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

720p content such as cable looks good. Some more artifacts from the camera are visible in the photo, but this isn't present on the TV. Very few haloing artifacts are visible.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

Full-HD sources such as Blu-rays are upscaled well. The image remains sharp and details are preserved.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

No issues can be seen when displaying native 4k content.

6.5
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
No
DCI P3 xy
71.96%
DCI P3 uv
78.89%
Rec 2020 xy
51.63%
Rec 2020 uv
57.49%

Standard color gamut, only good enough for SDR content using the Rec 709 color space. Deep colors in HDR content won't look as saturated as intended, however most of the scene will have reasonably accurate colors.

The EOTF in the 'HDR Video' picture mode of the 'HDR' 'Scene Select' follows the PQ curve fairly closely up until it clips at the TV's peak brightness. Raising the 'Gamma' setting to max raises the EOTF nicely and brightens nearly everything, as shown here, making it useful for watching HDR content in a bright room. HDR content is only shown properly in the 'HDR' 'Scene Select'; in any other 'Scene Select' such as Game and Graphics the EOTF follows the SDR gamma curve rather than the HDR PQ curve, making dim parts of the scene too bright and bright parts too dim.

5.0
Picture Quality
Color Volume
Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
56.4%
10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
23.3%
Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
44.4%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
18.3%

Poor color volume, mostly limited by the TV's standard color gamut. The TV's disappointing contrast ratio also prevents it from accurately showing dark colors, as seen in the bottom of the color volume.

8.3
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
Red (Std. Dev.)
0.115
Green (Std. Dev.)
0.110
Blue (Std. Dev.)
0.099
Gray (Std. Dev.)
0.080

The Sony X720E does a decent job at displaying our gradient test image. Looking at our test picture, some bands are very visible, especially in the dark green and blue areas, but these obvious bands are fortunately few. With this TV banding won't be problematic when watching most content, such as HDR movies.

10
Picture Quality
Temporary Image Retention
IR after 0 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 2 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 4 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 6 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 8 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 10 min recovery
0.00%

The X720E does not suffer from image retention at all and this is very interesting as this TV has an IPS panel, which often suffers from image retention. This is a very similar result as seen on the Sony X800E, which is also an IPS TV but does not suffer from image retention.

10
Picture Quality
Permanent Burn-In Risk
Permanent Burn-In Risk
No

Although some IPS panels can suffer from temporary image retention, this doesn't appear to be permanent as seen in our long-term test.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Sub-Type
IPS
Motion
7.6
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
7.5 ms
100% Response Time
20.8 ms

Response time for the X720E is good, resulting in short trails following moving objects. This is good when watching fast-paced content. The LCD panel response is similar to the X800E, but this TV overdrives the pixels more, which causes some overshoot in all of the low-to-high transitions.

10
Motion
Flicker-Free
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

Like most Sony TVs, the X720E doesn't flicker, and instead shows each image for a full frame. Oscillations at a frequency of 10 kHz appear at low backlight settings, but this is much too fast to be noticeable without specialized equipment. The absence of flicker makes motion appear slightly smoother, but does result in persistence blur.

6.5
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
Yes
Min Flicker for 60 fps
60 Hz
60 Hz for 60 fps
Yes
120 Hz for 120 fps
N/A
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
0 Hz

It is possible to add 60Hz or 120Hz backlight flicker, which helps to reduce persistence blur. To add 120Hz flicker, set the 'Motionflow' option to 'Custom', and move the 'Clearness' slider to '1'. To clear up motion even more with a 60Hz flicker, set the 'Clearness' slider to 'Max'. Note that the BFI option on this TV has a very short duty cycle, which dims the image considerably when the Clearness option is enabled.

7.0
Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
No

The Sony X720E has a 60Hz panel which can interpolate lower frame rate content. To enable interpolation, set 'Motionflow' to 'Custom' and increase the 'Smoothness' slider. Note that any motion interpolation will introduce artifacts, so use a small value unless you really like the soap opera effect. Interpolation on the X720E showed more artifacts than normal on our test pattern, so a low Smoothness value is recommended.

8.5
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
20.9 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
0.0 ms

The Sony X720E is great at producing a smooth image, without stutter. This is because the pixel response time smooths the image between what would be jarring frame changes. For the worse case scenario of long panning shots in low frame rate movies it may be noticeable, but otherwise the image is smooth.

5.6
Motion
24p Judder
Judder-Free 24p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60p
No
Judder-Free 24p via 60i
No
Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
No

The X720E can only display 24p movies without judder when those movies are played via 24p sources like DVD or Blu-ray players and this without the need to turn on any specific option from the picture setting. On the other hand, the TV can't correctly display at the right cadence 24p movies playing via 60p/60i sources like cable/satellite boxes. When the 'CineMotion' turned on or set to 'Auto', the TV did actually try to change the cadence but was not able to correctly display it as seen in this picture.

0
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
4k VRR Maximum
N/A
4k VRR Minimum
N/A
1080p VRR Maximum
N/A
1080p VRR Minimum
N/A
VRR Supported Connectors
N/A

As with other 2017 TVs, the X720E doesn't support a variable refresh rate.

Inputs
9.2
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
19.7 ms
1080p @ 60Hz + HDR
19.7 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
121.0 ms
1080p @ 120Hz
N/A
4k @ 60Hz
19.8 ms
4k @ 60Hz + HDR
19.7 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
18.7 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR
N/A
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
120.8 ms
4k With Interpolation
120.8 ms
4k @ 120 Hz
N/A
4k with Variable Refresh Rate
N/A
1080p with Variable Refresh Rate
N/A

Update 10/18/2017: There is currently a bug on the Sony X720E that causes the input lag to rise after the TV is restarted. To make use of the low input lag, it is necessary to change picture mode to something other than "Game" or "Graphics" then back to either for them to function properly.

Update 12/28/2017: The input lag bug is now fixed in firmware v4.503, which you can download here.

Excellent low input lag, which will please all but the most competitive gamers. Both the Game and Graphics 'Scene Select' modes always have low input lag and show 4:4:4 color properly, but never show HDR content properly. The 'HDR' 'Scene Select' surprisingly has low input lag as long as 'Motionflow' is turned off, but it does not show 4:4:4 color properly. Overall the input lag is significantly lower than almost all Sony TVs, and roughly equal to Samsung TVs, but a little higher than most TCL and LG TVs.

8.3
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No

The TV supports most common resolutions. 4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 or 4:2:2 color is only supported on HDMI inputs 2 and 3, and only when 'HDMI Signal Format' is set to 'Enhanced'. 4:4:4 color is only displayed properly in the 'Game' and 'Graphics' modes in 'Scene Select'. 'Graphics' mode is recommended for PC monitor use as the TV's CE dimming is completely disabled. HDR content is only displayed properly in the 'HDR' 'Scene Select', which unfortunately does not display 4:4:4 color properly.

Inputs
Side Inputs
Inputs
Rear Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 3
USB 3
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 1 (incl. adapter, shared)
Composite In 1 (incl. adapter, shared)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
SD/SDHC 0
Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
Dolby Vision
No
HLG
Yes
3D
No
5.1 Passthrough ARC Dolby Digital
Yes
5.1 Passthrough ARC DTS
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical Dolby Digital
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical DTS
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 2,3)
HDMI 2.1 Full Bandwidth
No
ARC
Yes (HDMI 3)
USB 3.0
No
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
CEC Yes
MHL No
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz)

HDR is only displayed properly in the 'HDR' 'Scene Select'. HDR content is detected when 'Scene Select' is set to 'Auto', and the TV changes to 'HDR' automatically. When HDR content is viewed in any other 'Scene Select' it will not be displayed properly (darks will be too bright, brights will be too dark, etc).

Sound Quality
5.6
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
142.54 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
6.86 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
6.87 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
7.16 dB
Max
97.1 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
2.65 dB

Poor frequency response. The X720E has a strong overemphasis on lower frequencies and a very poor bass extension, causing it to sound muddy and to lack clarity. At 97.1 dB of maximum volume though, it does get fairly loud for a TV.

6.0
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.081
Weighted THD @ Max
16.588
IMD @ 80
0.77%
IMD @ Max
31.74%

Mediocre distortion performance. While it does decently at lower volumes, THD levels spike up with higher volume settings reaching noticeable levels.

Smart Features
6.0
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Custom Sony
Version N/A
Ease of Use
Not Easy
Smoothness
Very Smooth
Time Taken to Select YouTube
4 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
4 s
Advanced Options
Many

The TV's interface has no animations and is very responsive, so navigation is fast. However, it has some very unintuitive organization choices, mostly involving the picture settings. When content is playing, there is an 'Options' menu containing quick settings. The first item is 'Picture Adjustments' and the sixth item is 'Scene Select', yet the contents of 'Picture Adjustments' depend on which 'Scene Select' (ex Auto, Game, Movie, HDR) is active. There is also a 'Picture Mode', which is easily confused with 'Scene Select'. There is no indicator that content is playing in HDR, and HDR is only displayed properly in the 'HDR' Scene Select, so it's possible to play HDR content in a different Scene Select and have it shown improperly (darks too light, brights too dim) without knowing this is happening. Leaving 'Scene Select' on 'Auto' should avoid most of these cases, but it's still a very unintuitive way to organize picture settings.

When changing channels or inputs there is an info bar that displays the video information at the top of the screen. This bar cannot be disabled and appears any time there is a change detected (navigating through Netflix, changing channels on an Apple TV, etc..).

10
Smart Features
Ad-Free
Ads
No
Opt-out
N/A
Suggested Content in Home
No
Opt-out of Suggested Content
N/A

The TV has no ads in its main interface or suggested content in its home screen, which is great.

6.5
Smart Features
Apps and Features
App Selection
Not Many
App Smoothness
Average
Cast Capable
Yes
USB Drive Playback
Yes
USB Drive HDR Playback
Yes
HDR in Netflix
Yes
HDR in Amazon Video
Yes
HDR in YouTube
Yes

The TV has a few apps built in, such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Video. It also has the OperaTV app store, which doesn't have many major apps.

6.5
Smart Features
Remote
Size
Large
Voice Control
No
CEC Menu Control
Yes
Other Smart Features
No

The remote is large with many buttons like other Sony remotes, but it has no smart features such as voice control. It is fairly light for its size, but its build quality isn't very good and its rubber chunk buttons aren't as easy to press as the buttons on other remotes. Overall it's very similar to the remotes of the X800E and X850E, but without voice control and with some button differences due to their different smart platforms.

1.0
Smart Features
Remote App
Acts as the Remote
No
Directly Launches Apps and Inputs
No
Inputs Text in YouTube
No
Inputs Text in Netflix
No
Streams Device Files
Limited Support
Controls TV Settings
No
Voice Control
No

The TV has no official remote app, but it does have a 'Photo Sharing Plus' feature. The TV creates its own Wifi Direct connection with a device, then provides a web address containing a web app that can play the device's own images and music files on the TV. One limitation of this is that the device must disconnect from their wifi internet in order to connect to the TV's Wifi Direct, which can be inconvenient.

Smart Features
TV Controls

The TV has three physical buttons. A short press on the middle button changes between inputs and volume functions, while the up and down arrows increment the function. A long press on the middle button turns the TV on and off.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • Manual
  • Batteries
  • Remote
  • External power brick
  • Power cable
  • Cable management strap
  • Component adapter

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 38 W
Power Consumption (Max) 76 W
Firmware 4.421-1.080-05