The Sony X80J is an entry-level 4k TV from Sony's 2021 lineup. It lacks many features you'd find on higher-end TVs but performs as expected for a lower-tier IPS-type model. With a low contrast ratio, its ADS panel has a low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray in a dark room, and it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve black levels. That said, it has good wide viewing angles, and it gets decently bright, meaning glare won't be an issue in moderately-lit rooms. While it has a wide color gamut for HDR content, it simply doesn't get bright enough to bring out highlights in HDR, so the overall HDR experience is limited. It's fairly basic in gaming features, without variable refresh rate (VRR) or Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and its HDMI ports are limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, but casual gamers should be pleased with its quick response time and low input lag. Like other 2021 Sony TVs, it comes with Google TV, which replaces Android TV. The new interface is fast, easy-to-use, and has a huge selection of streaming apps.
Our Verdict
The Sony X80J is okay for mixed usage. It looks best in bright rooms, and its wide viewing angles are great for wider seating arrangements. However, it's disappointing for watching movies or gaming in a dark room, and its HDR performance is lackluster, as it has low contrast and no local dimming feature to improve dark room performance. Competitive gamers will be disappointed by its lack of advanced gaming features, but its low input lag and fast response time should be fine for casual gaming.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Bright enough to overcome moderate amounts of glare.
- Great response time.
- Not bright enough to make highlights in HDR pop.
- Low contrast ratio.
- No local dimming.
The Sony X80J is inadequate for watching movies in a dark room. It has a mediocre contrast ratio, so blacks look more like gray in the dark, and it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve dark room performance. Unfortunately, it can only remove judder from sources that can send a 24Hz signal, like Blu-ray players, but not from 60Hz sources like a cable box. On the upside, it has no issues upscaling lower resolution content.
- Upscales lower resolution content well.
- Low contrast ratio.
- No local dimming.
The Sony X80J is good for watching TV shows in a bright room. It's bright enough to overcome glare in most moderately-lit rooms, and it has decent reflection handling. It also has wide viewing angles, so the image stays accurate from the side. The Google TV interface runs smoothly, with many apps available to download through the Google Play store covering most of the common streaming services.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Bright enough to overcome moderate amounts of glare.
- Upscales lower resolution content well.
- Low contrast ratio.
- Struggles with glare in very bright rooms.
The Sony X80J is a good TV for sports in a bright room. It has wide viewing angles, which is great for a wide seating arrangement. It also has a great response time, so motion looks clear, and it includes an optional black frame insertion feature to reduce blur further. It's bright enough to overcome glare in most moderately-lit rooms, and it has decent reflection handling.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Bright enough to overcome moderate amounts of glare.
- Great response time.
- Low contrast ratio.
- Struggles with glare in very bright rooms.
The Sony X80J is okay for playing video games. It has a low input lag, so your actions are in-sync with what you see on the screen. It also has a great response time that results in smooth motion. That said, its low contrast ratio can't produce deep blacks, so it's not ideal for dark room gaming. It also lacks advanced gaming features like variable refresh rate technology to reduce screen tearing, and it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate.
- Low input lag.
- Great response time.
- No VRR support.
- Low contrast ratio.
The Sony X80J is disappointing for watching movies in HDR in a dark room. While it supports Dolby Vision and has a wide color gamut for HDR content, it simply doesn't get bright enough to bring out HDR highlights. It also struggles to produce deep blacks due to its low contrast ratio and lack of local dimming.
- Wide color gamut.
- Dolby Vision.
- Not bright enough to make highlights in HDR pop.
- Low contrast ratio.
- No local dimming.
The Sony X80J is alright for HDR gaming, mainly due to its gaming performance, as HDR doesn't add much. Its low input lag and quick response time make gaming feel smooth and responsive, but it doesn't get bright enough to make highlights pop, and it has a low contrast ratio. It also lacks local dimming and VRR support.
- Low input lag.
- Great response time.
- Wide color gamut.
- No VRR support.
- Not bright enough to make highlights in HDR pop.
- Low contrast ratio.
- No local dimming.
The Sony X80J is great for use as a PC monitor. Its wide viewing angles ensure the image doesn't look washed out at the edges when sitting close. It also has a low input lag for a responsive desktop experience, and chroma 4:4:4 signals are displayed properly in most supported resolutions, which is important for clear text from a PC. Unfortunately, it doesn't support VRR or any other advanced gaming features.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Displays proper chroma 4:4:4, for the most part.
- Low input lag.
- Great response time.
- No VRR support.
- Low contrast ratio.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 26, 2025: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
- Updated Jul 08, 2025: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
- Updated Apr 17, 2025: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
- Updated Feb 11, 2025: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 55 inch Sony X80J (KD-55X80J), which is also available in 43, 50, 65, and 75 inch sizes. For the most part, we expect our results to be valid for those sizes, except for the 50 inch, which uses a different panel. There are also variants of the 55, 65, and 75 inch models with the model code X80CJ. That version appears to be the Costco and Sam's Club model, which should perform the same, except it comes with Sony's new Bravia CORE streaming service, which can stream movies at up to 80 Mbps, according to Sony. In Europe, you'll see the X80J sold alongside the X81J, but as far as we know, the two have the same specs. In Italy, it's called the X80JP.
| Size | US Model | Panel Type |
|---|---|---|
| 43" | KD-43X80J | ADS (IPS Family) |
| 50" | KD-50X80J | VA |
| 55" | KD-55X80J | ADS (IPS Family) |
| 65" | KD-65X80J | ADS (IPS Family) |
| 75" | KD-75X80J | Unknown |
If you come across a Sony X80J with a different panel type or that doesn't correspond to our review, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update the review. Some tests, like gray uniformity, can vary between individual units.
Our unit was manufactured in February 2021. You can see the label here.
Popular TV Comparisons
The Sony X80J is an okay entry-level TV, but it's a step down from 2020's Sony X800H. While it delivers fair picture quality and performance, it's on the pricier side, and there are better options out there for cheaper. Unlike some low-end TVs, it comes equipped with eARC and Dolby Vision support, although it can't fully take advantage of its HDR capability due to its limited brightness.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best TVs under $1,000, the best TVs to use as a PC monitor, and the best 4k TVs.
The Sony X80K/X80CK is the replacement for the Sony X80J, and both TVs are nearly identical, with only a few differences between them. The X80J is a bit better in a few areas like its improved color accuracy and faster response time, but the X80K also has less stutter. The X80K comes with the updated version of the Sony remote, but it has the same voice control features as the remote with the X80J anyway.
The Sony X90J is much better than the Sony X80J. The X90J uses a VA panel with a much better contrast ratio, and it has a full-array local dimming feature to improve black level, so it's better suited for watching movies or gaming in the dark than the X80J's IPS panel. The X90J also gets a lot brighter in both SDR and HDR. It has faster response times and a 120Hz refresh rate, and it has VRR support after a firmware update. If you often watch TV at an angle, the X80J might be a better choice because it has wider viewing angles.
The Sony X80J and the Sony X85J use different panel technologies, each with strengths and weaknesses. The X85J is better for a dark room, as it has much better contrast and better black uniformity. The X80J is better for a wide seating area, as it has better viewing angles.
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.
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
Test Results
Older Test Bench: This product has been tested using an older TV test methodology, before a major update. Some of the test results below aren't directly comparable with other TVs. Learn more
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