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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 X80K/X80CK TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.11
Review updated May 05, 2023 at 09:38 am
Latest change: Retest Feb 13, 2024 at 11:44 am
Sony X80K/X80CK Picture
6.6
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
7.3
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
7.5
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
6.4
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
5.8
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
6.8
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
7.7
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: no price info

The Sony X80K/X80CK is an entry-level TV in Sony's 2022 lineup. It replaces the Sony X80J and sits between the Sony X75K and the Sony X85K. Compared to the higher-end models, it's bare in terms of features as it lacks any variable refresh rate (VRR) support and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and it's limited to a 60Hz panel in all available sizes except the 85-inch version. Still, it comes with the same Google TV interface with many apps you can download, and it's compatible with Sony's proprietary TV webcam, so you can use it to make video calls or for hands-free gestures. It also comes with Sony's redesigned remote, which still has a built-in mic for voice control, letting you use various voice commands. It's powered by Sony's entry-level 4k HDR Processor X1 and offers a few motion enhancement features powered by Sony's 4K X-Reality PRO processor.

Our Verdict

6.6 Mixed Usage

The Sony X80K is okay overall. It's a good TV for watching sports or TV shows in wide seating areas because it has a wide viewing angle and the image looks consistent from the sides. It also has decent reflection handling and SDR peak brightness, so it's fine for rooms with a few lights around. However, it isn't good for watching movies or for gaming in dark rooms because it has a low contrast ratio and lacks a local dimming feature. Its HDR performance is also sub-par as it has a low HDR peak brightness.

Pros
  • No issues upscaling lower-resolution content.
  • Wide viewing angle.
  • Fine for rooms with a few lights around.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Lacks a local dimming feature.
  • Not bright enough to fight intense glare from bright windows.
  • Poor low-quality content smoothing.
7.3 TV Shows

The Sony X80K is decent for watching TV shows. The image looks consistent from the sides thanks to the wide viewing angle, so it's a good choice for wide seating arrangements. It also has decent peak brightness and decent reflection handling, so it's fine for rooms with a few lights around, but it struggles in really bright rooms. It doesn't have any issues upscaling lower-resolution content, but as its low-quality content smoothing is poor content from cable channels and DVDs have noticeable visual issues, such as macro-blocking in dark scenes.

Pros
  • No issues upscaling lower-resolution content.
  • Wide viewing angle.
  • Fine for rooms with a few lights around.
Cons
  • Not bright enough to fight intense glare from bright windows.
  • Poor low-quality content smoothing.
7.5 Sports

The Sony X80K is good for watching sports. It's a decent choice to use in well-lit rooms because it has decent reflection handling and peak brightness. It's also good if you want to watch the game in a wide seating area as it has a wide viewing angle, meaning the image looks consistent when watching off-center. It has a decent response time, but there's some blur behind fast-moving players or balls.

Pros
  • No issues upscaling lower-resolution content.
  • Wide viewing angle.
  • Fine for rooms with a few lights around.
Cons
  • Not bright enough to fight intense glare from bright windows.
  • Some blur trail behind fast-moving objects.
  • Poor low-quality content smoothing.
6.4 Video Games

The Sony X80K is mediocre for gaming. It's an entry-level TV that doesn't have too many gaming features like variable refresh rate support or HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, meaning you can't use it for high-frame-rate gaming from a gaming PC, a PS5 or an Xbox Series X. Still, it has a low input lag for a responsive feel, but its response time is only decent, so some motion looks a bit blurry.

Pros
  • No issues upscaling lower-resolution content.
  • Low input lag for responsive feel.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Some blur trail behind fast-moving objects.
  • No VRR support.
5.8 HDR Movies

The Sony X80K is sub-par for watching HDR movies. Although it supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, and displays a wide color gamut, HDR content doesn't look good. It has a low contrast ratio, meaning blacks look gray in the dark, and it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve its dark scene performance. Also, it has low HDR peak brightness, meaning that highlights don't pop the way they should.

Pros
  • Not much stutter with low-frame-rate movies.
  • Displays a wide range of colors.
Cons
  • Only removes judder from native 24p sources.
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Lacks a local dimming feature.
  • Disappointing black uniformity.
  • Low HDR peak brightness.
  • Poor low-quality content smoothing.
6.8 HDR Gaming

The Sony X80K is alright for HDR gaming, but it isn't anything special. It has low input lag for a responsive feel, but its response time is only decent, so some fast-moving content has a blur trail behind it. Unfortunately HDR content looks mediocre due to blacks looking gray in the dark, disappointing black uniformity, and the lack of a local dimming feature. Also, it has low HDR peak brightness, so highlights don't pop.

Pros
  • Low input lag for responsive feel.
  • Displays a wide range of colors.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Lacks a local dimming feature.
  • Some blur trail behind fast-moving objects.
  • No VRR support.
  • Low HDR peak brightness.
7.7 PC Monitor

The Sony X80K is good as a PC monitor. The wide viewing angle means that the image remains consistent at the edges if you sit close. Large areas of bright colors, like on a webpage, look good due to its good gray uniformity. It also displays text well with 1080p and 4k signals as it displays proper chroma 4:4:4, and your mouse movements feel responsive thanks to the low input lag.

Pros
  • Wide viewing angle.
  • Fine for rooms with a few lights around.
  • Low input lag for responsive feel.
  • Displays proper chroma 4:4:4.
Cons
  • Not bright enough to fight intense glare from bright windows.
  • 6.6 Mixed Usage
  • 7.3 TV Shows
  • 7.5 Sports
  • 6.4 Video Games
  • 5.8 HDR Movies
  • 6.8 HDR Gaming
  • 7.7 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Feb 13, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  2. Updated Jan 09, 2024: Specified that the TV's refresh rate is 120Hz on the 85-inch model in the Introduction and Differences Between Sizes and Variants.
  3. Updated Dec 05, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  4. Updated Oct 12, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  5. Updated Aug 28, 2023: We bought and tested the Sony X77L/X77CL and added a few relevant comparisons below.
  6. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  7. Updated Jun 07, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  8. Updated May 05, 2023: We've updated the text in the review to reflect our latest test methodology updates.
  9. Updated Apr 28, 2023: We've added a mention of the newly-reviewed Samsung CU8000 in the Contrast section of this review.
  10. Updated Apr 28, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.11. With this update, we've added a new Upscaling: Sharpness Processing test and revamped our Blooming test so the scores and picture better match the real world experience. With this change, it was necessary to remove the Black Crush test. Finally, we've updated our usage scores to better align our scores with user expectations.
  11. Updated Apr 03, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  12. Updated Feb 24, 2023: We bought and tested the Sony X75K. We've added a few relevant comparisons between the two models below.
  13. Updated Feb 16, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for two months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  14. Updated Feb 16, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.10. With this update we've revamped our Gradient testing, added a new test for Low Quality Content Smoothing, and expanded our Audio Passthrough testing.
  15. Updated Jan 11, 2023: Updated to Test Bench 1.9, modifying our Contrast testing and splitting our local dimming testing into multiple sections covering Blooming, Black Crush, and Lighting Zone Transitions. You can see our full changelog here.
  16. Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  17. Updated Sep 02, 2022: Updated the text in the Color Volume section for accuracy.
  18. Updated Sep 02, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.8, adding a new box for PQ EOTF tracking and updating our Color Volume and Color Gamut tests to better reflect real world usage. You can see our full changelog here.
  19. Updated Aug 24, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.7 with an updated HDR Brightness test that better reflects real world usage. We've also split the console compatibility boxes into separate PS5 Compatibility and Xbox Series X|S Compatibility tests. You can see our full changelog here.
  20. Updated May 18, 2022: Fixed a mistake with the width measurement on the stand.
  21. Updated May 05, 2022: Review published.
  22. Updated Apr 28, 2022: Early access published.
  23. Updated Apr 18, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  24. Updated Apr 15, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  25. Updated Mar 30, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 65-inch Sony X80K, which is also available in 43, 50, 65, and 75-inch sizes. The results are valid for all models, but the 50-inch version may have a different panel type. Many of the 50-inch TVs have a VA panel, but it's also possible they still have an ADS panel, so if you have this model, let us know how it performs. There are also variants of the 55, 65, and 75 inch models with the model code Sony X80CK sold at Costco and come with a 3-year warranty and a one-year subscription to the Bravia Core Streaming service. In Europe, it's also called the X81K, depending on the size of the model. The 85-inch version of the TV is the only size variant that comes with a 120Hz panel. 

Size US Model Alternate Code Panel Type Refresh Rate
43" KD-43X80K   ADS 60Hz
50" KD-50X80K   Unknown  
55" KD-55X80K KD55X80CK ADS 60Hz
65" KD-65X80K KD65X80CK ADS 60Hz
75" KD-75X80K KD75X80CK ADS 60Hz
85" KD-85X80K  KD85X80CK  ADS 120Hz

Our unit was manufactured in February 2022. You can see the label here.

Compared To Other TVs

The Sony X80K is an okay overall TV, but there's nothing special about it versus other TVs. You can get higher-end Sony TVs like the Sony X85K or Sony X90K/X90CK, which have more features for gaming. Other budget models from budget brands like Hisense and TCL also provide better value, such as the Hisense U6/U6H or the TCL 4 Series/S455 2022. However, it's an adequate choice if you want something small to use as a PC monitor and you want a wide viewing angle, and it's better than some of the newer budget Sony TVs like the Sony X77L/X77CL.

Also see our recommendations for the best TVs to use as PC monitors, the best smart TVs, and the best sports TVs.

Sony X85K
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X85K is a higher-end TV than the Sony X80K/X80CK, and it's better for most uses. If you're a gamer and tend to watch content in dark rooms, the X85K is the better choice as it has a higher native contrast ratio and more gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. The X85K is also better for well-lit rooms as it gets brighter. However, the only advantage the X80K has is that it has a wider viewing angle, meaning the image remains consistent from the sides.

Sony X77L/X77CL
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X80K/X80CK is better than the Sony X77L/X77CL. The X80K is especially better for watching movies, as it can remove judder from 24p sources like a Blu-ray player, resulting in a smoother movie-watching experience. The X80K also adds Dolby Vision support, whereas the X77L only supports HDR10 and HLG.

Samsung CU7000/CU7000D
43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 70" 75" 85"

The Sony X80K/X80CK is better than the Samsung CU7000/CU7000D in most ways. The Sony gets brighter in HDR, supports a wider color gamut, and has better color volume, so colors are more vibrant and lifelike, and highlights pop a lot more than on the Samsung. The Sony also gets brighter in SDR, so it overcomes glare better in a bright room. The Sony is better for watching shows or sports as a group because of its much wider viewing angle. However, the Samsung has much better contrast and black uniformity, so it’s better for a dark room as blacks are much deeper than the Sony.

Sony X90K/X90CK
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X90K/X90CK is a higher-end TV than the Sony X80K/X80CK with better performance. The X90K gets brighter and has deeper blacks, meaning the overall picture quality is better, and it's better for both dark and bright rooms. Also, if you're a gamer, the X90K is a superior choice as it has a higher refresh rate and more features. However, if you have a wide seating area, the X80K has a wider viewing angle that makes the image remain consistent from the sides.

Samsung CU8000
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Samsung CU8000 is better than the Sony X80K/X80CK. The Sony X80K uses an IPS panel, which gives it a wider viewing angle than the CU8000. The CU8000 has a VA panel, so it has far better contrast and better black uniformity. The CU8000 also has far superior low-quality content smoothing and can remove 24p judder from native apps. However, the X80K has a traditional RGB subpixel layout, so it displays clearer text when used as a PC monitor than the CU8000, and it gets a bit brighter than the Samsung in both SDR and HDR. The X80K also supports passthrough of DTS audio formats, as well as a 7.1 uncompressed LPCM signal.

Sony X75K
55" 65"

The Sony X80K/X80CK is a bit better than the Sony X75K, although the differences are extremely minor. The Sony X80K has a much wider color gamut and better tone mapping, so HDR content looks more vivid and lifelike overall, and it can remove judder from 24p sources, while the X75K can't. There are a few issues with the X75K, including a pixel inversion issue with certain patterns, and it has high input lag in the only picture mode that can display chroma 4:4:4 signals properly, so it's unsuitable for use as a PC.

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

The Sony X80K/X80CK is the replacement to 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 anyways.

Samsung Q60B [Q60, Q60BD] QLED
43" 50" 55" 60" 65" 70" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q60B QLED and the Sony X80K/X80CK are different types of entry-level TVs, although the Q60B is more versatile. The Samsung is better for bright and dark rooms because it gets brighter and it has a better contrast for deeper blacks. On the other hand, the Sony is better for wide seating areas because it has a wider viewing angle, and it also has better motion handling thanks to its quicker response time.

Sony X85J
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X85J is better overall than the Sony X80K/X80CK and it has more features. The X85J is better for gaming because it has a 120Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for high-frame-rate gaming, which the X80K doesn't support. The X85J also has better overall picture quality because it has a higher native contrast and it gets brighter, so highlights pop more in HDR. On the other hand, the X80K is better for wider seating areas because it has a wider viewing angle.

Sony X90J
50" 55" 65" 75"

The Sony X90J is better overall than the Sony X80K/X80CK because it's a higher-end TV. The X90J has many more features like a local dimming feature that makes it a better choice to watch movies in dark rooms. It's also better for gaming as it has a 120Hz panel, HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and VRR support, while the X80K is limited to a 60Hz panel without VRR support. The X90J also gets brighter, making it a better choice for well-lit rooms.

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

The Samsung AU8000 and the Sony X80K are similar TVs, but the Sony is a bit better. The Sony has a better viewing angle which makes it the better choice for watching shows or sports in a group setting, as the image doesn’t degrade nearly as fast from the sides. The Sony is also a bit better for playing video games, as it has a slightly faster response time and supports 1440p. When it comes to HDR, the Sony is also a bit better because of its higher HDR peak brightness, wider color gamut, and better color volume, so it has more vibrant and lifelike colors, and highlights pop a bit more than on the AU8000.

Hisense U7H [U7, U75H]
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Hisense U7H is better than the Sony X80K. Due to its local dimming feature and its significantly better contrast, blacks are much deeper on the U7H, so it performs better in a dark room. The U7H gets much brighter in HDR and SDR, so highlights pop more with HDR content and the TV fights glare better with SDR content in a bright room. The U7H is also better for gaming due to its VRR and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth support.

LG UQ8000
43" 50" 55" 65" 70" 75" 86"

The Sony X80K/X80CK is mostly better than the LG UQ8000. The Sony has higher SDR peak brightness, so it overcomes glare better in a bright room. The Sony also gets brighter in HDR, supports a wide color gamut, and has better color volume, so colors are more vibrant and lifelike, and highlights pop more than they do on the LG. However, the LG has better low-quality content smoothing, so low-quality streams are cleaned up better than on the Sony. The LG also has better black uniformity, so blacks look a bit better in a dark room than they do on the Sony.

Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED
32" 43" 50" 55" 60" 65" 70" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED is a bit better overall than the Sony X80K/X80CK. The Samsung performs better in dark rooms because it has a higher native contrast with much better black uniformity, and it also gets brighter if you want to use it in a well-lit room. However, the Sony has a wider viewing angle, making it a better choice for wide seating areas, and motion looks smoother thanks to its quicker response time.

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

The Sony X80K/X80CK is better than the Samsung TU7000 in most ways. The Sony gets brighter in HDR, supports a wider color gamut, and has better color volume, so colors in HDR content are more vibrant and lifelike, and highlights pop a lot more than on the Samsung. The Sony also gets brighter in SDR, so it overcomes glare better in a bright room. The Sony is better for watching shows or sports as a group because of its much wider viewing angle. However, the Samsung has much better contrast and black uniformity, so it’s better for a dark room as blacks are much deeper than the Sony.

LG QNED80 2022
50" 55" 65" 75" 86"

The Sony X80K and the LG QNED80 2022 are similar TVs, apart from their gaming capabilities. Both have very low contrast ratios and middling black uniformity, so neither is great for watching content in a dark room. The LG is a much better choice for gaming, as it supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, VRR, and 120Hz.

Hisense A6H [A6, A65H]
43" 50" 55" 65" 70" 75"

The Sony X80K/X80CK is a bit better than the Hisense A6H. The Sony is quite a bit brighter, so it looks better in a room with a bit of natural lighting and is bright enough to overcome a bit of glare. The Sony also has much better picture quality, with significantly better gradient handling, a wider color gamut, and better tone-mapping with HDR content.

Sony X800H
43" 49" 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.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved No

The TV is slightly redesigned from the Sony X80J, and it looks closer to the Sony X85J. Although it's a basic design, it looks nice overall.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures

After four months on our TV accelerated longevity test, the brightness of this TV has dropped by more than 5%, but no new uniformity issues have developed.

Design
Stand

The stand is typical of Sony, with wide-set metal feet that have a big footprint, so you'll need a large table to place it on. It supports the TV well, and it raises the screen 3.3 inches off the table, meaning most soundbars won't block it.

Footprint of the 65-inch TV: 47.6" W x 13.3" D x 2.60" H (to the bottom bezel).

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 300x300

The back features a checkerboard pattern that gives it a bit of character. The inputs are side-facing, but they're set into the back, so they aren't the easiest to access with the TV wall-mounted on a fixed bracket. There are clips on the back of each foot for cable management.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.59" (1.5 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 2.72" (6.9 cm)
7.0
Design
Build Quality

The TV has decent build quality. It's stable on the stand without much wobble thanks to the solid metal feet. The TV itself is made entirely out of plastic that's well-put-together, and there aren't any issues with it, but the plastic itself isn't very strong. The back panel flexes easily, especially towards the center.

Picture Quality
2.0
Picture Quality
Contrast
Contrast
1,173 : 1
Native Contrast
1,173 : 1

The TV has a very low native contrast ratio, so blacks look gray in the dark, and it isn't a good choice for watching movies. Sadly, there's no local dimming feature to improve it either. If you want something with a higher contrast, then check out the Sony X85K or the Samsung CU8000.

10
Picture Quality
Blooming

This TV doesn't have a local dimming feature, so there's no blooming around bright objects or subtitles in dark scenes. But as the X80K is unable to brighten highlights without impacting the rest of the image, dark scenes look washed out.

10
Picture Quality
Lighting Zone Transitions
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Direct
Dimming Zones Count Of Tested TV
N/A

This TV doesn't have a local dimming feature, so it can't adjust the backlight level of individual zones to brighten up highlights without impacting the rest of the image. However, the lack of dimming zones means that there's no distracting flicker or brightness changes as bright highlights move between zones.

4.0
Picture Quality
Contrast And Dark Details In Game Mode

The Sony KD65X80K is slightly brighter in Game Mode, but it doesn't make any noticeable difference in dark scene performance.

6.1
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
320 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
233 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
171 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
353 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
353 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
353 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
354 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
354 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
352 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
353 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
353 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
353 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
354 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

The HDR peak brightness is mediocre. It isn't nearly high enough to make highlights pop and deliver a satisfying HDR experience.

These measurements are after calibration with the following settings:

  • Picture Mode: Cinema
  • Brightness: Max
  • Color Temperature: Expert 2

6.3
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness In Game Mode
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
337 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
260 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
178 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
390 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
390 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
390 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
391 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
391 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
389 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
390 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
390 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
390 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
390 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

Although this TV is very slightly brighter in Game Mode, its overall HDR brightness is still mediocre.

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

  • Picture Mode: Game
  • Brightness: Max
  • Color Temperature: Expert 2

7.7
Picture Quality
PQ EOTF Tracking
600 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0154
1000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0154
4000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0154

The Sony X80K has good PQ EOTF tracking. Due to its poor contrast, near-blacks are significantly raised, but then the TV follows the PQ EOTF well until it gets close to its peak brightness. It then dips below the PQ EOTF target, meaning that the TV is darker than it should be at this juncture. The TV clips everything above its peak, resulting in a loss of fine detail.

7.3
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene Peak Brightness
341 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
354 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
354 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
354 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
354 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
354 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
354 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
354 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
354 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
354 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
354 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

The TV has decent SDR peak brightness. It's fine for rooms with a few lights around, but it doesn't get bright enough to fight a ton of glare if you place it opposite a window. Luckily, it maintains its brightness very consistently across different scenes.

These measurements are after calibration with the following settings:

  • Picture Mode: Custom
  • Brightness: Max
  • Color Temperature: Expert 1 (Calibrated)

7.8
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
86.93%
DCI P3 uv
92.92%
Rec 2020 xy
62.91%
Rec 2020 uv
68.91%

The Sony X80K has a good color gamut for HDR content. It displays a wide range of colors in the commonly-used DCI-P3 color space, but it isn't future-proof because it has limited coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space, which more content will start to use. Unfortunately, the tone mapping is off, so some colors don't look accurate, especially in the Rec. 2020 color space.

6.7
Picture Quality
Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
50.6%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
23.7%
White Luminance
352 cd/m²
Red Luminance
70 cd/m²
Green Luminance
239 cd/m²
Blue Luminance
28 cd/m²
Cyan Luminance
263 cd/m²
Magenta Luminance
97 cd/m²
Yellow Luminance
315 cd/m²

The color volume is okay, as some colors get bright. However, it's limited by the incomplete color gamut, and it doesn't display dark colors well due to the low contrast ratio.

8.6
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
2.02
Color dE
1.36
Gamma
2.23
Color Temperature
6,174 K
Picture Mode
Custom
Color Temp Setting
Expert 1
Gamma Setting
0

The TV's out-of-the-box accuracy is excellent. There are only minor inaccuracies to colors and the white balance, and gamma follows the 2.2 target almost perfectly, but some scenes are a bit too dark. The color temperature is on the warm side, giving the image a slightly red tint, but it isn't that noticeable.

9.5
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.25
Color dE
1.04
Gamma
2.19
Color Temperature
6,516 K
White Balance Calibration
10 point
Color Calibration
No

After calibration, the color accuracy is remarkable. Any remaining inaccuracies aren't visible to the naked eye, and both the gamma and color temperature are nearly spot-on with the target.

You can see our full calibration settings here.

7.8
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.211%
50% DSE
0.183%
5% Std. Dev.
0.471%
5% DSE
0.087%

The TV has very good gray uniformity. For the most part, the screen is uniform throughout, which is good for watching sports or using it as a PC monitor. However, there's some vignetting in the corners, and there's a bit of dirty screen effect in the center, which you can notice with sports that have large playing surfaces with the same color, like in hockey.

5.5
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Std. Dev.
N/A
Native Std. Dev.
2.315%

The black uniformity is disappointing. The bottom right side of the screen looks patchy as there's noticeable backlight bleed, and the rest of the screen is blue due to the low contrast. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve it. If the black uniformity and dark room performance are important to you, then look into the Samsung Q60B QLED.

7.8
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
38°
Color Shift
57°
Brightness Loss
37°
Black Level Raise
70°
Gamma Shift
47°

The TV has a very good viewing angle. The image remains consistent when viewing off-center, and even if the screen looks darker at really wide angles, it's still good enough for watching TV in a wide seating arrangement.

7.3
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
5.3%
Indirect Reflections
0.4%
Calculated Direct Reflections
4.9%

The reflection handling is decent. It's fine if you have a few lamps around, but it struggles when there are strong reflections coming from a window.

7.3
Picture Quality
HDR Native Gradient
100% Black to 50% Gray
6.0
50% Gray to 100% White
10
100% Black to 50% Red
6.0
50% Red to 100% Red
10
100% Black to 50% Green
6.0
50% Green to 100% Green
6.0
100% Black to 50% Blue
6.0
50% Blue to 100% Blue
8.0

The Sony KD65X80CK's gradient handling is decent. There's some banding in every dark color gradient: dark greens, reds, blues, and grays, as well as in bright greens.

4.8
Picture Quality
Low-Quality Content Smoothing
Smoothing
3.0
Detail Preservation
9.0

The TV's low-quality content smoothing is poor. There's some visible macro-blocking in dark scenes, although details are preserved very well.

7.5
Picture Quality
Upscaling: Sharpness Processing

This TV does a good job when enhancing edges or test in a low-resolution signal.

The test image was upscaled using the following settings:

  • Sharpness: 60
  • Reality Creation, Manual: 20

Picture Quality
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
RGB
Type LED
Sub-Type
IPS

The TV has an ADS panel, which is similar to an IPS panel and shares the same characteristics. It has an RGB subpixel structure, so it displays text better than panels with a BGR subpixel layout, which negatively affects text clarity when using it as a PC monitor.

Motion
7.3
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
6.1 ms
100% Response Time
15.4 ms

The response time is decent. There's a bit of blur trail behind fast-moving objects, and because there's overshoot in dark transitions, it has inverse ghosting in dark scenes. The response time is also particularly slow in dark scenes; this is not the TV for fast-moving dark content.

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

The Sony X80CK's backlight is completely flicker-free at all brightness levels, which helps reduce eye strain. It doesn't cause image duplications.

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

The Sony X80CK has an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion, to reduce persistence blur. It only flickers at 120Hz, which causes image duplications with 60 fps content.

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

The Sony X80K has a motion interpolation feature to bring lower-frame-rate content up to 60 fps. It works well in scenes with slow movement, but it struggles when there's a lot of movement. It doesn't actually stop interpolating with busier scenes, so there's a lot of artifacts.

7.7
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
26.3 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
1.3 ms

Due to the relatively slow response time, there isn't much stutter with lower-frame-rate content as it doesn't hold each frame on for a long time.

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

The TV only removes judder from native 24p content, like from a Blu-ray player. Unlike the LG UQ9000, other sources like streaming or cable boxes that don't have a Match Frame Rate feature aren't completely judder-free, so motion in movies doesn't look as smooth.

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 + Local Dimming No Local Dimming

The TV doesn't support any variable refresh rate technologies. If you want a similar TV with VRR support, then check out the Samsung Q80B QLED or the Hisense A6H.

Inputs
9.6
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
11.8 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
132.7 ms
1080p @ 120Hz
N/A
1080p @ 144Hz
N/A
1440p @ 60Hz
11.4 ms
1440p @ 120Hz
N/A
1440p @ 144Hz
N/A
4k @ 60Hz
11.4 ms
4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
11.5 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
11.4 ms
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
132.5 ms
4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
132.5 ms
4k @ 120Hz
N/A
4k @ 144Hz
N/A
8k @ 60Hz
N/A

The Sony X80CK has low input lag for a responsive gaming experience, as long as you're in Game Mode. You can enable the motion interpolation feature, but it negatively impacts the input lag and isn't suggested for gaming.

7.1
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
480p @ 59.94Hz (Widescreen)
Yes
720p @ 59.94Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
No
1080p @ 144Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes (forced resolution required)
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 144Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4
No
4k @ 144Hz
No
8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
No
8k @ 60Hz
No

The Sony X80K supports all common resolutions up to 4k @ 60Hz. It displays proper chroma 4:4:4 with 1080p and 4k signals, which is important for clear text, but it doesn't display it properly with 1440p signals.

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

As the Sony X80CK is limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth and a 60Hz refresh rate, it can't play any game from the PS5 above 4k @ 60Hz. The Auto Low Latency Mode switches the TV into Game Mode when you launch a game from a compatible device to reduce input lag.

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

As the TV is limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth and a 60Hz refresh rate, it can't play any game from the Xbox Series X or S above 4k @ 60Hz. The Auto Low Latency Mode switches the TV into Game Mode when you launch a game from a compatible device to reduce input lag.

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)
ATSC Tuner
3.0 (NEXTGEN TV)
USB 3.0
Yes (1)
Variable Analog Audio Out No
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

The Sony X80K doesn't support HDR10+, so if you want to watch HDR content with this format, you'll be limited to HDR10 instead. Some websites advertise that it has HDMI 2.1 inputs, but it's still limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, and even if it supports eARC on HDMI 3 and Dolby Vision on HDMI 3 and 4, those don't require HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.

It has ATSC 3.0 support, meaning you can get 4k over-the-air channels in certain regions. Also, it doesn't have an analog output like the Sony X80J, so you can't connect headphones with a wired connection.

Inputs
Input Photos
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 2
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 0
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 0
Composite In 1 (adapter required, not incl.)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 1
Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC/eARC Port
eARC
eARC: Dolby Atmos Over Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
eARC: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Yes
eARC: LPCM 7.1 Over Dolby MAT
Yes
eARC: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Yes
eARC: DTS:X Over DTS-HD MA
Yes
eARC: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Yes
eARC: LPCM Channels (Bitstream)
7.1
ARC: Dolby Digital 5.1
Yes
ARC: DTS 5.1
Yes
Optical: Dolby Digital 5.1
Yes
Optical: DTS 5.1
Yes

Thanks to the eARC support, you can connect a receiver and pass high-quality lossless audio by connecting the sources directly to the Sony X80K.

Sound Quality
6.9
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
106.79 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
1.98 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
2.43 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
5.47 dB
Max
91.3 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
5.19 dB

The TV has an okay frequency response. It has a well-balanced sound profile with lower and moderate volume levels, but there's a dip in the treble range at the max volume, so dialogue sounds less clear, especially if there are background sounds. Like most TVs, it doesn't produce much bass, so it's best to get a soundbar or dedicated surround sound setup for the best sound possible.

6.3
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.097
Weighted THD @ Max
16.520
IMD @ 80
2.85%
IMD @ Max
10.43%

The distortion performance is unremarkable. There isn't too much distortion at moderate listening levels, but there's a lot more in the mid and treble range at the max volume.

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

The TV comes with the same Google TV interface as other Sony TVs. Navigating through the menus feels smooth, and there aren't any big issues with it, but it may take some time to learn if you aren't used to it.

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

Unfortunately, like most smart platforms, there are ads throughout the interface. You can opt-out of personalized ads, but that just means you'll get non-targeted ads instead.

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

The Google Play Store has a ton of apps you can download, so you're sure to find your favorite streaming service. The TV is compatible with the BRAVIA CAM, which is sold separately, and you can use it to make video calls or use hands-free gestures.

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

Sony released a redesigned remote with the 2022 TVs. It's smaller, with a sleeker look than the 2021 and older models, and it doesn't have a numpad. Instead, you need to press the '123' button for a virtual numpad to appear on the screen. It has a built-in mic for voice control, and you can ask it to do most common demands, including switching inputs, opening apps, and changing certain settings like the brightness.

Smart Features
TV Controls

There's a single button underneath that you can use to turn the power on/off, switch inputs, change channels, and adjust the volume.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • Remote
  • 2x AAA batteries
  • 4x VESA mount adapters
  • 2x clips for cable management
  • Power cable
  • Manuals and user guides

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 61 W
Power Consumption (Max) 166 W
Firmware PKG6.5524.0659NAA