Sony X800H  TV Review

Review updated Jul 27, 2021 at 11:49am
Writing modified Sep 11, 2024 at 03:56pm
Tested using Methodology v1.6 
Sony X800H
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

 0
 TV Settings
Notice: This TVs was replaced by 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
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Sep 11, 2024: We've updated the Accelerated Longevity Test with more details on this TV's failure. Unfortunately, it's been removed from the test permanently.
    2.  Updated Aug 07, 2024: Updated the investigation status in the Accelerated Longevity Test.
    3.  Updated Jul 29, 2024: We posted an update to the Accelerated Longevity Test section of the review, as the backlight has failed, and this TV has been removed from the test.
    4.  Updated Jul 17, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.

    Check Price

    43"XBR43X800H
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    49"XBR49X800H
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    Amazon.com
    55"XBR55X800H
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    65"XBR65X800H
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    75"XBR75X800H
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    85"XBR85X800H
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    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.

    Popular TV Comparisons

    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 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 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 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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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 Q70T
    55" 65" 75" 82" 85"

    The Sony X800H and the Samsung Q70T 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 Q60T
    43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 75" 82" 85"

    The Samsung Q60T 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 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.

    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.

    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.

    Samsung Q70R
    49" 55" 65" 75" 82" 85"

    The Samsung Q70R 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 Q60R
    43" 49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

    The Samsung Q60R 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.

    Video

    How We Test TVs

    We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests are done with specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    CurvedNo

    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.

    Accelerated Longevity Test
    Uniformity Pictures
    50-gray-18
    Month 18
    50% Gray
    See details on graph tool

    Update 09/11/2024: The backlight doesn't turn on anymore, even after replacing the electrical components and all LED strips. We've removed this TV from our test, as we can't repair it.

    Update 08/7/2024: The backlight failure was caused by a partial failure of the TV's power supply. We've ordered replacement parts and expect to return this TV to the longevity test shortly.

    Update 07/29/2024: Unfortunately, the Sony X800H's backlight failed, and it's no longer usable. It's been removed from the test for now, but we'll dismantle it to try to find the cause of the backlight failure and determine if we can repair it. Watch this space or our main longevity article update page for updates.

    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.

    Back
    Wall MountVESA 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.

    Borders
    Borders0.59" (1.5 cm)

    The borders are fairly thin and aren't distracting.

    Thickness
    Max Thickness2.87" (7.3 cm)

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

    7.0
    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
    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
    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.

    0.0
    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.

    0.0
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    480p Input

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

    8.0
    720p Input

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

    9.0
    1080p Input

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

    10
    4k Input

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

    0.0
    8k Input

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

    Pixels
    TypeLED
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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 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
    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
    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.

    0.0
    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
    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
    Supported Resolutions
    Resolution4k
    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.

    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 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
    CECYes
    HDCP 2.2Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
    USB 3.0
    Yes (1)
    Variable Analog Audio OutYes
    Wi-Fi SupportYes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
    Input Photos
    Total Inputs
    HDMI4
    USB2
    Digital Optical Audio Out1
    Analog Audio Out 3.5mm1
    Analog Audio Out RCA0
    Component In0
    Composite In1 (adapter required, not incl.)
    Tuner (Cable/Ant)1
    Ethernet1
    DisplayPort0
    IR In1
    SD/SDHC0

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

    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
    Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    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
    Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    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
    Interface
    Smart OSAndroid TV
    Version9.0
    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.

    0.0
    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
    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
    Remote
    Size
    Large
    Voice Control
    Many Features
    CEC Menu Control
    Yes
    Other Smart Features
    No
    Remote AppAndroid 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.

    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.

    In The Box

    • Remote
    • Batteries
    • VESA mount adapters
    • Manual
    • Clips for cable management (not shown)
    Misc
    Power Consumption53 W
    Power Consumption (Max)139 W
    FirmwarePKG6.4624.0605NAA