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We published new results of an investigative study on the long-term durability of TVs, revealing significant durability issues with popular edge-lit models. Read the full details here.

Sony X850C TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Review updated Mar 01, 2017 at 06:31 am
Sony X850C Picture
7.8
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.5
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.5
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.6
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.9
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.1
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.8
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the Sony X850D

The Sony X850C 4k TV has good overall picture quality, except when viewed at an angle - the colors lose saturation. The blacks are great and it doesn't have much motion blur.

Our Verdict

7.8 Mixed Usage

The Sony X850C is a great 4k TV. It has deep and uniform blacks, little motion blur, and great 1080p upscaling. The input lag could have been better for gaming though, but because of its good backlight control, it is still a great gaming TV.

Pros
  • Good motion handling, with full control over the backlight flickering.
  • Great picture quality in both a dark room and a bright room.
Cons
  • Limited viewing angle.
  • Poor gray uniformity.
  • 7.8 Mixed Usage
  • 7.7 Movies
  • 7.5 TV Shows
  • 7.5 Sports
  • 8.6 Video Games
  • 7.9 HDR Movies
  • 8.1 HDR Gaming
  • 7.8 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Mar 01, 2017: Review published.
  2. Updated May 13, 2015: Our testers have started testing this product.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

Test Results

Design
8.5
Design
Style
Curved No

The Sony X850C is a nice looking TV. The bezel is thin, although the pixels on the top edge don't start right where the bezel ends.

The stand is simple. The TV wobbles a little bit when you push it.

Design
Stand

Dimensions of 55" TV stand: 25" by 9".

Design
Borders
Borders 0.51" (1.3 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 2.00" (5.1 cm)
Picture Quality
8.3
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
3,877 : 1

This TV's contrast is very good, so the blacks are deep.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge (only 55")
6.8
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Peak 2% Window
418 cd/m²
HDR Peak 10% Window
418 cd/m²
HDR Peak 25% Window
418 cd/m²
HDR Peak 50% Window
418 cd/m²
HDR Peak 100% Window
418 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 2% Window
418 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 10% Window
418 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 25% Window
418 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 50% Window
418 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 100% Window
418 cd/m²

Update 11/14/2016: We retested the peak brightness with HDR. In HDR the peak brightness is about 100cd/m² more than what you get in SDR.

6.8
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
4.93%
50% DSE
0.19%

Our unit has very little dirty screen effect. However, the top part of the screen is significantly darker, as are the edges and corners.

4.3
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
LCD Type
VA
Color Shift
20°
Brightness
30°
Black Level
20°

The colors shift as soon as you are a little bit to the side of the TV.

Update 01/06/2017: We have changed the methodology of testing. Since this is an old TV which we don't have anymore, we extrapolated the results from 2016 TVs.

9.4
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
0.745%

The black uniformity is really great. No noticeable clouding.

10
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
9.3
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
1.5
Color dE
1.1424
Gamma
2.24
9.8
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.36
Color dE
0.5487
Gamma
2.2
8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

480p content like DVDs look good without being over-sharpened. Be sure to have the latest firmware update installed, since when first tested, the upscaling was sub-par, but was fix with a firmware update.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

720p content also looks good once upscaled with the latest firmware installed.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

1080p upscaling is great. In some cases, it's better than Samsung's UHD TVs, although not in every scene.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

4k movie looks good and very sharp.

8.1
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
89.35%
DCI P3 uv
95.83%
Rec 2020 xy
65.39%
Rec 2020 uv
72.15%
8.0
Picture Quality
Reflections
Reflection
1.8%
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss

Its semi-gloss finish doesn't reflect a lot of light.
The Sony X850C has average maximum luminosity, and can get bright enough for a room with a few windows.

8.5
Picture Quality
3D
3D
Yes
3D Type
Active

There are no 3D glasses included with the TV. 3D is good, but there is a very slight amount of crosstalk.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Motion
8.1
Motion
Motion Blur
Refresh Rate 120 Hz
Response Time
16.5 ms
Overshoot
0 ms

The motion blur is good. Also, you can control exactly how you want to set the backlight for motion purposes, without the soap opera effect. See Q&A section for more details.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz
BFI
Yes
BFI Frequency
60 Hz
BFI In Game Mode
Yes
10
Motion
24p Playback
Judder-free 24p
Yes
Judder-free 24p via 60p
Yes
Judder-free 24p via 60i
Yes

For the reverse 3:2 pulldown, set Motionflow to TrueCinema. It won't add the soap opera effect.

10
Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes
Inputs
7.9
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
35.3 ms
1080p With Interpolation
65 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
71.3 ms
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
35.3 ms
4k @ 60Hz
31.7 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
31.7 ms
4k @ 60Hz + HDR
31.6 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR
N/A

The 1080p input lag of the Sony X850C in game mode is good, but nothing exceptional. Outside of game mode, the input lag is surprisingly low - even when turning on the soap opera effect.

Update 10/26/2016: After the Latest firmware update (PKG3.531.0108NAB), the HDR input lag has gone down from 94ms to around 58ms, which is a good improvement and should be good enough for casual 4k HDR gaming.

Update 12/16/2016: A new firmware update has been released to upgrade the TV to Android Marshmallow. This has reduced the 4k input lag (including HDR). When in HDR mode, the TV can't display chroma 4:4:4 accurately as it is forced into the 'HDR Video' picture mode.

10
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes

To enable chroma 4:4:4, set the mode to either Game or Graphics.
Just like with last year's Sony TVs, 1080p @ 120Hz produces little artifacts (lines), but this shouldn't be too bothersome while gaming.
Update: With the new firmware update PKG2.463.0010NAB, This TV now supports 4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4. To enable this, go to Home button - Settings - External Inputs - HDMI Signal Format - Enhanced (new).

Inputs
Side Inputs
Inputs
Rear Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 3
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 1 (shared)
Composite In 2 (shared)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 1
SD/SDHC 0
Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
5.1 Passthrough ARC Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Vision
No
5.1 Passthrough ARC DTS
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical Dolby Digital
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical DTS
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth Yes
ARC Yes (HDMI 4)
USB 3 Yes (1)
HDCP 2.2 Yes
CEC Yes
MHL Yes (HDMI 2)
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Sound Quality
6.8
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Std. Dev. @ 70
4.31 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ 80
4.51 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ Max
6.54 dB SPL
Max
94.3 dB SPL
Low-end Cutoff
113 Hz

This TV does get loud but the bass extension and the frequency response, especially under heavy load, is not good. Pumping may be present too.

4.2
Sound Quality
Total Harmonic Distortion
Distortion @ 70
0.026
Distortion @ 80
0.06
Distortion @ Max
4.163

Acceptable distortion under comfortable listening levels, however under louder volumes the distortion jumps to unacceptable levels.

Smart Features
Smart Features
Apps

Major Apps Available

  • Netflix
  • YouTube
  • Hulu Plus
  • CinemaNow
  • Crackle
  • Pandora
    See our full review of Sony's smart features.

  • 8.0
    Smart Features
    Interface
    Smart OS Android

    The smart OS is Android. The app selection isn't the biggest, but most main apps are covered, and there are plenty more on the way.

    Two remotes are included: a basic one and a touch one. The touch one isn't very useful, because you cannot control a mouse pointer with it by pointing at the TV.

    10
    Smart Features
    Ads
    Ad-free
    Yes
    Opt-out
    N/A
    Smart Features
    Remote
    Remote Smart
    Smart Features
    Misc
    Power Consumption 72 W
    Power Consumption (Max) 162 W
    Firmware PKG2.173.0010NAB - Android 5.0.2