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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 X800H TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.6
Review updated Jul 27, 2021 at 11:49 am
Latest change: Retest Feb 13, 2024 at 11:44 am
Sony X800H Picture
7.0
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
5.9
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.1
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.8
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.0
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.9
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.3
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the Sony X80J

The Sony X800H, also known as the Sony X80H, is a decent entry-level 4k TV with an IPS panel on most sizes. It's a great TV for watching TV shows in a bright room, with decent reflection handling, high peak brightness, and great viewing angles. Like many Sony TVs, it has excellent accuracy out of the box, excellent gradient handling, and it upscales lower-resolution content well, with no noticeable issues. Unfortunately, it's not very good for watching movies in a dark room, and it doesn't deliver a very impactful HDR experience, as it has low contrast, okay black uniformity, and no local dimming. It doesn't have much to offer for gamers either, as it has a limited 60Hz refresh rate and doesn't support any advanced gaming features, like FreeSync or HDMI 2.1. The 85 inch model is a bit better for dark-room viewing, as it has a VA panel, so it likely has much better contrast and better black uniformity, but this comes at the expense of viewing angles.

Our Verdict

7.0 Mixed Usage

The Sony X800H is a decent overall TV. It can get bright in SDR and displays 480p, 720p, 1080p, and 4k content well with no upscaling artifacts. The viewing angles are great if you plan on putting this TV in a wide room, but unfortunately, the contrast ratio is mediocre so blacks look gray in a dark room. With an incredibly low input lag and good response time, this TV performs best for sports or video games. HDR content doesn't look great as it doesn't get bright enough to make highlights stand out. With no risk of permanent burn-in, this TV also serves well as a computer monitor.

Pros
  • Great peak brightness.
  • Image remains accurate at an angle.
  • Good response time.
Cons
  • Mediocre contrast ratio.
  • Might not be able to handle intense glare.
5.9 Movies

The Sony X800H is disappointing for watching movies. The contrast ratio isn't bad for an IPS panel TV, but blacks still look gray when viewed in the dark, and there's no local dimming feature to further darken any blacks. Additionally, the black uniformity is just okay. Older movies on DVD or Blu-ray are upscaled well, and look almost as good as native 4k movies. Unfortunately, it can only remove judder from native 24p sources.

Pros
  • Good gray uniformity.
Cons
  • Mediocre contrast ratio.
  • No local dimming.
  • Can only remove judder from 24p sources.
8.1 TV Shows

The Sony X800H is great for watching TV shows. It can get bright and it handles reflections well enough in most average-lit rooms. 720p content, like from a cable box, looks great, as does 1080p and 4k content. The image remains accurate even at a wide angle, great if you have a wide seating arrangement or like to move around with the TV on. Also, the built-in speakers produce dialogue very well. The built-in smart platform has a huge selection of streaming apps, so you're sure to find something for everyone.

Pros
  • Great peak brightness.
  • Image remains accurate at an angle.
  • Good gray uniformity.
Cons
  • Might not be able to handle intense glare.
7.7 Sports

The Sony X800H is good for watching sports. It has a good response time so motion looks clear and this TV can get bright enough to combat glare in most rooms. It has good gray uniformity, which is important for watching sports, with minimal dirty screen effect that most people won't notice. Also, the viewing angles are great, so people watching the big game from the side of the TV won't lose any image accuracy.

Pros
  • Great peak brightness.
  • Image remains accurate at an angle.
  • Good response time.
  • Good gray uniformity.
Cons
  • Might not be able to handle intense glare.
6.8 Video Games

The Sony X800H is okay for gaming. It has an incredibly low input lag and good response time that most gamers should appreciate. Unfortunately, it isn't recommended for dark room gaming due to its low contrast ratio and okay black uniformity. It has a black frame insertion feature to improve motion clarity, but it can cause some image duplication. Unfortunately, it doesn't support any advanced gaming features like FreeSync or HDMI 2.1.

Pros
  • Incredibly low input lag.
  • Good response time.
  • Good gray uniformity.
Cons
  • Mediocre contrast ratio.
  • No local dimming.
  • No advanced gaming features like VRR or HDMI 2.1.
6.0 HDR Movies

The Sony X800H is mediocre for watching movies in HDR. The contrast ratio is mediocre, and the black uniformity is just okay, so blacks look gray in dark rooms, and there's no local dimming feature to further darken any blacks. It displays a wide color gamut, but its color volume is unremarkable, so it can't display certain shades of colors. It has okay HDR peak brightness, bringing out some highlights, but it can't deliver a truly impactful HDR experience.

Pros
  • Good gray uniformity.
  • Can display a wide color gamut.
Cons
  • Mediocre contrast ratio.
  • No local dimming.
  • Can only remove judder from 24p sources.
6.9 HDR Gaming

The Sony X800H is just okay for gaming in HDR. The input lag is extremely low, and it has a good response time that makes motion look fairly clear. It displays a wide color gamut, but it can't produce deep shades of colors with its mediocre color volume. It has an unremarkable contrast ratio, no local dimming feature, and only okay black uniformity, so the X800H isn't suggested for HDR gaming in the dark.

Pros
  • Incredibly low input lag.
  • Good response time.
  • Good gray uniformity.
  • Can display a wide color gamut.
Cons
  • Mediocre contrast ratio.
  • No local dimming.
  • No advanced gaming features like VRR or HDMI 2.1.
8.3 PC Monitor

The Sony X800H is great to use as a computer monitor. The input lag is remarkably low, and the viewing angles are very good if you need to share your screen with people around you. It displays proper chroma 4:4:4, which is important for reading text. Unfortunately, it doesn't handle reflections well in really bright rooms, but there's no permanent burn-in risk or temporary image retention on this TV.

Pros
  • Image remains accurate at an angle.
  • Incredibly low input lag.
  • Good response time.
Cons
  • No advanced gaming features like VRR or HDMI 2.1.
  • Might not be able to handle intense glare.
  • 7.0 Mixed Usage
  • 5.9 Movies
  • 8.1 TV Shows
  • 7.7 Sports
  • 6.8 Video Games
  • 6.0 HDR Movies
  • 6.9 HDR Gaming
  • 8.3 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Feb 13, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  2. Updated Dec 05, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  3. Updated Oct 12, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  4. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  5. Updated Jun 07, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  6. Updated Apr 03, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  7. Updated Feb 06, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for two months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  8. Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  9. Updated Dec 16, 2021: The input lag issue in Game Mode has been fixed.
  10. Updated Jul 27, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  11. Updated Jul 13, 2021: We added two local dimming videos with real content to demonstrate the backlight behavior, and we replaced our viewing angle video.
  12. Updated Mar 01, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.6.
  13. Updated Nov 02, 2020: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  14. Updated May 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  15. Updated Mar 11, 2020: Review published.
  16. Updated Mar 06, 2020: Early access published.
  17. Updated Feb 27, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  18. Updated Feb 09, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the XBR55X800H, and we expect our results to be valid for the other sizes, except for the 85 inch model, which uses a different panel. The 43" and 49" models are edge-lit, which may affect some results, like contrast and uniformity. The X800H is also known as the X80H or the XH80 depending on the region. At Costco, it's sold as the X81CH, and it's available in the larger sizes.

Size US Model Alternative Name Costco Model EU Model Panel Type Backlight type
43" XBR43X800H XBR-43X800H KD-43XH8096 IPS Edge-lit
49" XBR49X800H XBR-49X800H - KD-49XH8096 IPS Edge-lit
55" XBR55X800H XBR-55X800H XBR55X81CH KD-55XH8096 IPS Direct LED
65" XBR65X800H XBR-65X800H XBR65X81CH KD-65XH8096 IPS Direct LED
75" XBR75X800H XBR-75X800H XBR75X81CH  KD-75XH8096 IPS Direct LED
85" XBR85X800H XBR-85X800H XBR85X81CH KD-85XH8096 VA Direct LED

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Sony X800H doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests, like the gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.

Note: We were able to confirm the 85 inch model has a VA panel, and you can see the pixels photo here. We thought the 75 inch model also had a VA panel, but we confirmed it uses an IPS, as you can see in this photo.

Our unit of the Sony X800H was manufactured in January 2020; you can see the label here.

Compared To Other TVs

Comparison picture

Top left: Samsung Q60T QLED (QN55Q60TAFXZA). Bottom left: Samsung RU8000 (UN55RU8000FXZA). Middle: Sony X800H (XBR55X800H). Top right: LG SM8600 (55SM8600PUA). Bottom right: Sony X800G (XBR55X800G). 

The Sony X800H performs very well as a budget TV. The IPS panel has a better contrast ratio and black uniformity than most IPS TVs, so it's better suited for dark room viewing than some of its competitors. Although the X800H is supposed to be a direct replacement to the Sony X800G, it performs similarly to the higher-end X850G, which is great.

See our recommendations for the best TVs, the best 4k TVs, and the best smart TVs.

Sony X80K/X80CK
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X80K/X80CK is a newer version of the Sony X800H, but it's a bit of a downgrade. The X800H has better overall picture quality because it gets brighter and has a quicker response time. It also has a wider viewing angle, so the image remains accurate at wider angles. However, the X80K has eARC support, which the X800H doesn't have, so you can connect a receiver and pass lossless audio to it from devices connected to the TV.

Sony X850G
55" 65" 75" 85"

Although the 2019 Sony X850G is supposed to be a higher-end model over the 2020 Sony X800H, the X850G is only slightly better. Both have IPS panels and the X800H has much better viewing angles, black uniformity, and contrast ratio, although the X850G has better gray uniformity, quicker response time, and a more effective black frame insertion feature to help reduce motion blur. Both can get equally as bright, but the X850G handles reflections much better, so it's better suited for a bright room. For a cheaper price, the X800H compares well to a more expensive X850G.

Sony X900H
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X900H is significantly better than the Sony X800H. The X900H has a much higher contrast ratio due to its VA panel, it has local dimming, and it gets brighter overall. Response time is faster on the X900H; however, the X800H has lower input lag, and its IPS panel has wider viewing angles.

Sony X900F
49" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X900F is a better TV for most uses than the Sony X800H, especially when it comes to HDR content. The X900F has much better contrast and black uniformity thanks to its VA panel, while the IPS panel on the X800H gives it much wider viewing angles. The X900F also has full-array local dimming, and high peak brightness, especially with HDR. On the other hand, the X800H has much lower input lag, but only uses a 60Hz panel, while the X900F is 120Hz.

Sony X80J
43" 50" 55" 65" 75"

The Sony X80J replaces the 2020 Sony X800H. Both use IPS panels with wide viewing angles and low contrast ratios. They perform similarly overall, although the X800H has a bit more to recommend it. It gets brighter in both SDR and HDR, and its viewing angles, which are the main benefit of IPS panels, are even wider than the X80J's.

Sony X750H
55" 65" 75"

The Sony X800H is marginally better than the Sony X750H. The X800H gets much brighter in both SDR and HDR, it has wider viewing angles due to its IPS panel, and faster response time. The X800H also has better color accuracy out of the box. On the other hand, the X750H has a VA panel with a much higher contrast ratio, making it a better choice for dark rooms.

Sony X800G
43" 49" 55" 65" 75"

The Sony X800H is better than the Sony X800G. The X800H can get much brighter, the viewing angles are significantly better, and there's minimal dirty screen effect, which is distracting with fast-moving objects. The X800G handles reflections slightly better and the response time is slightly quicker, but the input lag is much lower on the X800H. Overall, the X800H is an improvement over its predecessor, the X800G.

Sony X950H
49" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X950H is higher up in the lineup than the Sony X800H, so it performs better, but they also have different panel types. The X950H has a VA panel with a much better contrast ratio and a full-array local dimming feature, so it displays deep blacks. It also gets much brighter, delivering a better HDR experience. However, the X800H has an IPS panel, so it has much wider viewing angles.

Samsung TU8000
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X800H is a marginally better TV than the Samsung TU8000. The differences come down to their panels, as the Sony has an IPS panel, so it has much better viewing angles. It also supports a wide color gamut and the out-of-box color accuracy is much better, plus it can get significantly brighter. On the other hand, the VA panel on the Samsung delivers a much better dark room performance with an excellent contrast ratio and incredible black uniformity.

Samsung AU8000
43" 50" 55" 60" 65" 70" 75" 85"

The Sony X800H and the Samsung AU8000 are two decent TVs with different panel types. The Sony uses an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, while the Samsung has a VA panel with higher contrast. The Sony gets brighter, making it a better choice to use in well-lit rooms, and even though it displays a wide color gamut, which the Samsung doesn't, the Sony isn't a better choice for HDR content because of its lower contrast. The Sony also has a quicker response time, so motion looks smoother.

LG GX OLED
55" 65" 77"

The LG GX OLED is much better than the Sony X800H, but they use different panel types. The LG has an OLED panel with an infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity. It's better for gaming thanks to its VRR and HDMI 2.1 support, and its near-instant response time. However, the Sony uses an LED panel that's immune to permanent burn-in, and it gets brighter than the LG.

Samsung TU8300
55" 65"

The Samsung TU8300 and the Sony X800H perform very similarly, but the Samsung features a curved screen. Other than that, the Samsung also has significantly better contrast, and much better black uniformity, thanks to its VA panel. On the other hand, the IPS panel on the Sony offers much better viewing angles, and the TV can get much brighter as well. The Sony also has much more accurate colors out-of-the-box and has a wider color gamut and better overall motion handling.

LG NANO81
55" 65" 75"

The Sony X800H is slightly better overall than the LG NANO81. The Sony gets much brighter, it has wider viewing angles, much better out-of-the-box color accuracy, and it has better built-in speakers. However, lower-frame rate content stutters less on the NANO81 and it removes judder from native 24p sources.

Samsung TU7000
43" 50" 55" 58" 60" 65" 70" 75" 82" 85"

The Sony X800H performs better for most uses than the Samsung TU7000, but they both use different panel types with different advantages and disadvantages. The Sony has a significantly better viewing angle thanks to its IPS panel, gets brighter, and has a faster response time. However, the Samsung's VA panel has a better contrast ratio, resulting in deeper blacks, so it's better suited for watching movies in the dark.

LG UN7300
43" 49" 50" 55" 65" 70" 75"

Overall, the Sony X800H is better than the LG UN7300. The X800H can get significantly brighter, it has better viewing angles, and its response time is faster. Furthermore, the X800H has much better color accuracy out of the box, and it has a flicker-free backlight. However, the UN7300's reflection handling is much better and its slower response time results in less stutter in low frame rate content.

LG NANO85 2020
49" 55" 65" 75"

The LG NANO85 2020 is a bit better than the Sony X800H. Both have IPS panels, so they both have low native contrast and wide viewing angles. The Sony gets brighter, has better out-of-the-box color accuracy, and lower input lag. Meanwhile, the LG has much better reflection handling, can remove judder from any source, and has a higher refresh rate.

Samsung Q70/Q70T QLED
55" 65" 75" 82" 85"

The Sony X800H and the Samsung Q70/Q70T QLED are both decent TVs but use different panel types. The VA panel on the Samsung has a much better contrast ratio to display deeper blacks. It has an HDMI 2.1 input, so it supports 4k @ 120Hz content, and it also has VRR support. On the other hand, the IPS panel on the Sony has much wider viewing angles, and despite having a 60Hz panel, it has a quicker response time for smoother motion.

Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED
43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 75" 82" 85"

The Samsung Q60T QLED is slightly better than the Sony X800H, but most of their differences are because they use different panels. The VA panel on the Samsung has a much better contrast ratio and black uniformity, so it performs a lot better in dark rooms. On the other hand, the IPS panel on the Sony gives it great viewing angles, so it's better suited for wide seating arrangements, and the slightly better peak brightness and reflection handling means it's better suited at overcoming glare in bright rooms.

LG SM8600
49" 55" 65" 75"

For a budget TV, the LG SM8600 performs slightly better than the Sony X800H. Motion looks a lot clearer on the LG thanks to its better response time and black frame insertion feature to help reduce motion blur. Its native refresh rate is higher at 120Hz and it's also able to remove judder from lower frame rate sources, such as native apps. The Sony has significantly better viewing angles, black uniformity, and it can get much brighter with both SDR and HDR content.

Sony X950G
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X950G is a much better TV than the Sony X800H. The X950G has a better picture quality thanks to its much better contrast, local dimming feature, significantly brighter screen, better black uniformity, more accurate colors, and better reflection handling. Its motion handling is also much better, making it a better choice for sports. On the other hand, the X800H has lower input lag, which may make it a better choice for video games. It also has much better built-in speakers, and significantly wider viewing angles thanks to its IPS panel.

Samsung Q70/Q70R QLED
49" 55" 65" 75" 82" 85"

The Samsung Q70/Q70R QLED is much better than the Sony X800H. The VA panel on the Samsung has a much better contrast ratio and black uniformity and includes a local dimming feature to further deepen any blacks. The Q70R also has a higher refresh rate and supports FreeSync variable refresh rate technology to reduce screen tearing in games. However, the IPS panel on the Sony has much better viewing angles, the gray uniformity is significantly better, and it has a lower input lag. 

Samsung Q60/Q60R QLED
43" 49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The Samsung Q60/Q60R QLED is a better TV than the Sony X800H for most uses. Since the Q60R uses a VA panel, it's better for movies as it has a much better contrast ratio and better black uniformity. It also has better motion handling and an easier-to-use smart system. On the other hand, the Sony uses an IPS panel which gives it much better viewing angles, which can be good if you watch a lot of sports with large groups, especially since its better gray uniformity will result in less dirty screen effect during fast movement. It's also slightly brighter, making it better in bright rooms or if you watch a lot of HDR content.

Samsung RU7100
43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 75"

The Sony X800H is a bit better TV than the Samsung RU7100. Thanks to its IPS panel, it has much wider viewing angles, so it's better suited for a wide seating arrangement. The Sony also has much better peak brightness and somewhat better reflection handling to combat glare in bright rooms. On the other hand, the VA panel on the RU7100 has a much better contrast ratio and black uniformity, producing deep blacks, so this TV performs better in dark rooms. Choosing one over the other comes down to how you're going to use it.

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Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved No

The Sony X800H has a similar design to its predecessor, the Sony X800G, but the cable management isn't as good. Instead of cables running through the feet, like with previous Sony TVs, there are two hooks to attach the cables with. It's thinner than the X800G, and the stand is wider, so there's more space to put a larger soundbar. The feet are made out of plastic, and the stand holds the X800H well. Also, there's a large and noticeable grate across the back of the TV for heat dispersion.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures
Design
Stand

The stand supports the TV well, but it still wobbles. The feet are made out of plastic and are nearly as wide as the TV, so you need a large surface to put it on if you don't plan on wall-mounting it. Unlike the Sony X800G and the Sony X850G, the feet aren't reversible. The stand on the 43 inch and 49 inch models is a bit different, as the feet are closer together.

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 300x300

Simple design in the back, which is made entirely out of plastic. There's minimal cable management with two hooks that are meant to attach the cables to the feet. This might be disappointing for some people. The 43 inch and 49 inch models have a different design on the back, as they have a different type of backlight.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.59" (1.5 cm)

The borders are fairly thin and aren't distracting.

Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 2.87" (7.3 cm)

The Sony X800H is relatively thin and doesn't stick out as much when wall-mounted.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

This TV seems to have decent overall build quality. The entire TV is made out of plastic. There's a lot of flex around the bezels and on the back near the inputs. There's also a fair amount of wobble.

Picture Quality
6.1
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,083 : 1
Contrast with local dimming
N/A

As expected for an IPS panel, the Sony X800H has a mediocre contrast ratio, resulting in gray-looking blacks in a dark room. Unfortunately, there's no local dimming feature to improve black levels. If you're looking for a VA panel TV with an excellent contrast ratio, check out the Samsung TU8000, or the curved version, the Samsung TU8300. Note that the contrast ratio can vary between units, but these results are what we expect from an IPS panel.

Note: We confirmed the 85 inch model has a VA panel, so it's expected to have a much higher contrast ratio.

8.0
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene Peak Brightness
415 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
431 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
443 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
443 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
443 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
442 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
430 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
442 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
442 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
442 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
441 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.002

The Sony X800H has great peak brightness in SDR, with no noticeable variation in brightness with different content. It's bright enough to overcome glare in most settings.

We measured the peak brightness after calibration with the 'Custom' Picture Mode and the Color Temperature set to 'Expert 1.'

The 'Vivid' Picture Mode with Advanced Contrast Enhancer set to 'Max' is a tiny bit brighter, but it's also less accurate, so we don't recommend those settings.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Direct

Update 07/13/2021: We've added two new videos demonstrating the backlight behavior with real content.

This TV doesn't have a local dimming feature. The video is for reference only, so you can see how the local dimming feature on other displays compares to one without local dimming.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming In Game Mode
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Direct

Update 07/13/2021: We've added two new videos demonstrating the backlight behavior with real content.

This TV doesn't have a local dimming feature. The video is for reference only, so you can see how the local dimming feature on other displays compares to one without local dimming.

6.8
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
Real Scene Highlight
504 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
446 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
532 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
531 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
531 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
531 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
444 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
530 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
530 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
530 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
530 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.011

Okay HDR peak brightness, though still an improvement from the Sony X800G. Small highlights in dark scenes aren't as bright as other content, but overall, the brightness remains pretty consistent with different content. Large bright scenes aren't dimmed at all. The EOTF follows the PQ curve well, but it cuts off sharply near the TV's peak brightness, which can cause a loss of fine details in bright scenes. Near-black scenes are displayed brighter than they should be, but most other content is displayed close to the desired brightness.

We measured the HDR peak brightness before calibration with the Picture Mode set to 'Cinema' and Color Temperature on 'Expert 2.' These settings are about as bright as this TV can get.

If you find HDR too dim, set the Color Temperature to 'Expert 2,' Contrast to 'Max,' Gamma to 'Max,' Advanced Contrast Enhancer to 'Low,' and Picture Mode to 'Vivid.' These settings result in a slightly brighter image, as you can see in this EOTF, but the overall peak brightness is about the same.

6.8
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness In Game Mode
Real Scene Highlight
515 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
519 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
539 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
538 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
538 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
538 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
518 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
538 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
537 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
537 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
537 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.002

The HDR peak brightness is about the same in Game Mode, but strangely, the TV doesn't dim small highlights in dark scenes as much. They're still dimmed a bit, but it's not really noticeable. The EOTF behaves the same, with the same sharp cut-off near the TV's peak brightness, and near-black scenes are still too bright.

7.7
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.302%
50% DSE
0.173%
5% Std. Dev.
0.383%
5% DSE
0.099%

The Sony X80H has good gray uniformity. The corners of the screen are a bit darker, but the center remains fairly uniform, and dirty screen effect is minimal. In near-dark scenes, the uniformity is much better. Note that gray uniformity can vary between individual units.

6.7
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.532%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

This TV has okay black uniformity. There's visible clouding throughout and blooming around the center cross, which can be distracting in dark scenes if the TV is in a dark room. If black uniformity is important to you, take a look at the Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED. Note that black uniformity can vary between units.

8.4
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
42°
Color Shift
60°
Brightness Loss
44°
Black Level Raise
70°
Gamma Shift
59°

Update 07/13/2021: We replaced our viewing angle video, as the original was shot slightly off-center, and was improperly zoomed. This doesn't impact our measurements, which aren't taken from this video.

As expected for a TV with an IPS panel, the image remains accurate even at a very wide angle. This makes the Sony X800H a great choice for a wide seating arrangement.

Note: We confirmed the 85 inch model has a VA panel, so it's expected to have much worse viewing angles.

7.2
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
5.7%
Indirect Reflections
0.6%
Calculated Direct Reflections
5.1%

The Sony X800H has decent reflection handling, similar to the Sony X800G. The semi-gloss finish diffuses small amounts of light well but struggles with direct light, so it's best to avoid placing it opposite bright lights or a window.

8.5
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
1.88
Color dE
2.17
Gamma
2.18
Color Temperature
6,291 K
Picture Mode
Custom
Color Temp Setting
Expert 1
Gamma Setting
0

The Sony X800H has amazing accuracy out of the box, but this can vary between units. Gamma is nearly flat, close to the 2.2 target we use for a dark room. The white balance is excellent, with no noticeable issues, and most colors are displayed accurately, but there are a few issues with saturated blues and reds. The color temperature is a bit on the warm side, giving everything a red-yellow tint.

8.9
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.81
Color dE
2.09
Gamma
2.18
Color Temperature
6,576 K
White Balance Calibration
10 point
Color Calibration
No

Overall accuracy is a bit better after calibration. This TV doesn't have a full color calibration system, so we couldn't correct any of the color issues. White balance was already excellent before calibration, but it's a bit better after. Gamma didn't change, as it was already very close to the target.

See our recommended settings here.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

480p content, like DVDs, looks great, with no obvious artifacts or issues.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

720p content, like cable TV, looks great, with no noticeable issues.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

1080p content looks excellent, almost as good as the 4k content.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

4k content is displayed perfectly, with no pixel artifacts or rendering issues.

0
Picture Quality
8k Input

This is a 4k TV that doesn't support 8k content.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Sub-Type
IPS

We initially read reports of the 75 and 85 inch models having VA panels. However, we were able to confirm the 75 inch model has an IPS panel, and you can see the pixels photo here, while the 85 inch has a VA panel.

7.9
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
85.98%
DCI P3 uv
93.09%
Rec 2020 xy
63.62%
Rec 2020 uv
71.63%

The Sony X800H has a very good HDR color gamut. It has great coverage of the DCI P3 color space used by most current HDR content but falls short on all colors. Coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space is good enough to be considered a wide color gamut, but it's a bit limited.

6.4
Picture Quality
Color Volume
Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
67.5%
10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
31.5%
Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
59.4%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
27.4%

This TV has mediocre color volume. It can't display deep colors due to its low contrast ratio, but its great brightness helps it display brighter colors. Like most LCDs, it can't display very bright blues, but this isn't that noticeable.

8.6
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
Red (Std. Dev.)
0.100
Green (Std. Dev.)
0.101
Blue (Std. Dev.)
0.080
Gray (Std. Dev.)
0.088

The Sony X800H has excellent gradient handling. There's some banding in darker shades of red and green, but it's not really noticeable. Unlike the higher-end Sony models, there's no smooth gradation feature on this model, so gradients can't really be improved.

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%

There are no signs of temporary image retention, even immediately after displaying our high-contrast static test image for 10 minutes, which is great. Note that temporary image retention can vary between units.

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.

Motion
7.7
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
4.9 ms
100% Response Time
14.7 ms

This TV has a good response time overall, but there's still quite a bit of blur behind fast-moving objects. Darker scenes have a very slow response time, an issue commonly known as black smearing. This is more common on VA panels but can occur on IPS panels as well.

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

The Sony X800H has a flicker-free backlight, which is great. However, like other Sony TVs, there's a very high-frequency flicker at low backlight settings, which shouldn't be noticeable.

5.4
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
Yes
Min Flicker For 60 fps
120 Hz
60Hz For 60 fps
No
120Hz For 120 fps
N/A
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
120 Hz

This TV has a black frame insertion feature to help reduce motion blur, but it's a bit disappointing. It can only flicker at 120Hz, which creates some slight duplication since the TV's refresh rate is 60Hz. The BFI feature seems to make the screen dimmer, which is expected, but it doesn't really improve motion clarity.

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

The Sony X800H has a 60Hz panel and can interpolate lower frame rate content up to 60Hz. Content with fast-moving objects looks good.

See here for the settings that control the motion interpolation feature.

7.4
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
28.3 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
3.3 ms

Since the Sony X800H has a fairly quick response time, there's some noticeable stutter when watching 24p content. This is especially visible with slow panning shots.

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

Like the Sony X800G, the Sony X800H can remove judder in 24p content, but not from native apps and 60p/i sources. Enabling the Motionflow and CineMotion settings smooths out any content, but doesn't completely remove judder.

The LG NANO85 2020 is a similar TV that can remove judder from any source.

0
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
HDMI Forum VRR
No
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC Compatible
No
4k VRR Maximum
N/A
4k VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1080p VRR Maximum
N/A
1080p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1440p VRR Maximum
N/A
1440p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
VRR Supported Connectors
No VRR support

The Sony X800H has a refresh rate of 60Hz and doesn't support any variable refresh rate technology. If you want a TV with a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support, check out the Samsung RU9000.

Inputs
9.7
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
9.8 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
123.8 ms
1440p @ 60Hz
N/A
4k @ 60Hz
10.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
12.7 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
10.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
123.8 ms
4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
123.9 ms
8k @ 60Hz
N/A
1080p @ 120Hz
N/A
1440p @ 120Hz
N/A
4k @ 120Hz
N/A
1080p with Variable Refresh Rate
N/A
1440p with VRR
N/A
4k with VRR
N/A
8k with VRR
N/A

Update 12/16/2020: The bug with Game mode has been fixed. The TV now always has low input lag in Game Mode, even after restarting it.

The input lag is remarkably low and should provide a responsive gaming and desktop experience. To get the lowest input lag, enable Game Mode.

7.5
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No
8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
No
8k @ 60Hz
No

The Sony X800H supports most common resolutions at 60Hz, except for native 1440p. On 'Game' and 'Graphics' modes, it properly displays 4:4:4 chroma, which is important if you're going to use this TV as a computer monitor or read any fine text on it. Additionally, all four HDMI inputs support HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, which is an increase from the two inputs that supported HDMI 2.0 on the Sony X800G. For signals that require the full bandwidth of HDMI 2.0, set HDMI Signal Format to 'Enhanced Format' for the input in use.

Inputs
Advanced Console Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
No
PS5, 4k @ 120Hz + HDR
No
PS5, 4k @ 120Hz
No
PS5, 4k @ 60Hz + HDR
Yes
PS5, 1440p @ 120Hz
No
PS5, 1080p @ 120Hz
No
PS5, Variable Refresh Rate
No
Xbox Series X, 4k @ 120Hz + HDR
No
Xbox Series X, 4k @ 120Hz
No
Xbox Series X, 4k @ 60Hz + HDR
Yes
Xbox Series X, 1440p @ 120Hz
No
Xbox Series X, 1080p @ 120Hz
No
Xbox Series X, Variable Refresh Rate
No

This TV has a limited 60Hz refresh rate and doesn't support any advanced gaming features, so it can't take full advantage of the latest features supported by the new consoles.

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
No
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
USB 3.0
Yes (1)
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
Inputs
Input Photos
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 0
Composite In 1 (adapter required, not incl.)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 1
SD/SDHC 0

It has two USB slots, but one is USB 3.0 and the other is USB 2.0.

Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC
Yes (HDMI 3)
eARC support
No
Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
No
DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
No
5.1 Dolby Digital via ARC
Yes
5.1 DTS via ARC
Yes
5.1 Dolby Digital via Optical
Yes
5.1 DTS via Optical
Yes
Sound Quality
7.1
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
100.79 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
3.03 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.06 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
5.23 dB
Max
93.0 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
4.41 dB

This TV has a decent frequency response. The low-frequency extension (LFE) doesn't get as low as it should, so the bass only has a bit of a punch, and no thump or rumble. Above the LFE it has a more balanced sound profile, which is important for dialogue. This TV can get very loud but there are still some pumping artifacts.

5.2
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.091
Weighted THD @ Max
11.214
IMD @ 80
14.25%
IMD @ Max
60.10%

This TV has poor distortion performance. At lower levels, there's less distortion, but it's very noticeable at higher levels.

Smart Features
7.5
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Android TV
Version 9.0
Ease of Use
Average
Smoothness
Very Smooth
Time Taken to Select YouTube
2 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
2 s
Advanced Options
Many

Like the Sony X850G, the interface is easy to use and has very smooth navigation. We didn't experience any bugs. Sony has started updating older models to the new Google TV interface, but we haven't tested the update on older models.

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

Unfortunately, there are ads on this TV, which can't be disabled. They're not always present though, and we weren't able to get a photo of one.

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 Android TV interface has a massive selection of apps through the Google Play Store. The built-in apps cover the most common streaming services and work great.

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 X800H has an upgraded remote from the Sony X800G, which is the same as the Sony X850G. It has a Google Assistant feature with voice control that does most common demands, but the voice control only works when the remote is paired to the TV via Bluetooth. On the upside, with Bluetooth, you don't need a direct line of sight to control the TV.

Smart Features
TV Controls

There's a single button underneath the center logo. Pressing it brings up the on-screen menu, where you can control power, volume, inputs, channel, or reset the TV.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • Remote
  • Batteries
  • VESA mount adapters
  • Manual
  • Clips for cable management (not shown)

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 53 W
Power Consumption (Max) 139 W
Firmware PKG6.4624.0605NAA