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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 X85J TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.8
Review updated Nov 30, 2021 at 12:04 pm
Latest change: Retest Feb 13, 2024 at 11:44 am
Sony X85J Picture
7.6
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.2
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.8
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.6
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.8
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.3
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.9
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.0
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the Sony X85K

The Sony X85J is a mid-range 4k TV in Sony's 2021 lineup. It's a replacement for the Sony X85H that was never released in North America; the closest model we've tested was the Sony X850G. It's a good TV, with excellent dark room performance thanks to its fantastic contrast ratio and excellent black uniformity. It's well-suited for bright rooms as it has great peak brightness and decent reflection handling, so glare isn't much of an issue unless you have a lot of natural light. It runs the updated Google TV interface, similar to the Android TV interface found on previous Sony TVs, but it's a bit more intuitive to use. It has the same great selection of streaming apps, so you're sure to find your favorite streaming service. Gamers will appreciate the low input lag, HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and variable refresh rate (VRR) support after a firmware update. Sadly it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve the contrast in dark scenes.

Our Verdict

7.6 Mixed Usage

The Sony X85J is a good TV for most uses. The outstanding contrast and excellent black uniformity are great for watching movies in the dark, but it lacks a local dimming feature, which is a bit disappointing. It's a good TV for watching sports or TV shows during the day, and its low input lag and fast response time make it a good choice for playing games.

Pros
  • Outstanding contrast.
  • Great response time.
  • Huge selection of smart apps.
  • Upscales low resolution content well.
Cons
  • Image degrades at an angle.
  • Direct reflections can be distracting.
7.2 Movies

The Sony X85J is a great TV for watching movies in a completely dark room, but it lacks a local dimming feature. It has outstanding contrast and excellent black uniformity, so dark scenes look great in a dark room, but, unfortunately, there's no local dimming feature. Older, low-resolution movies upscale well, and this TV can remove judder from any source. Unfortunately, there is some stutter when watching movies, especially in slow, panning shots.

Pros
  • Outstanding contrast.
  • Can remove 24p judder from any source.
  • Upscales low resolution content well.
  • Excellent black uniformity.
Cons
  • Stutters in panning shots.
  • No local dimming.
7.8 TV Shows

The Sony X85J is a very good TV for watching TV shows. There's a large selection of apps, so you don't have to worry about an external box for your streaming service of choice, and it upscales older content well, with no noticeable issues. It has great peak brightness, but direct reflections can still be distracting in a bright room. Unfortunately, the image degrades when viewed at an angle, so it's not a great choice if you like to move around.

Pros
  • Huge selection of smart apps.
  • Upscales low resolution content well.
  • Great SDR peak brightness.
Cons
  • Image degrades at an angle.
  • Direct reflections can be distracting.
7.6 Sports

The Sony X85J is a good TV for watching sports. It has a great response time, resulting in little blur behind fast-moving objects. It also has a large selection of apps, including many sports streaming apps, and if you're watching on cable, it upscales lower resolution content well. This TV has great peak brightness, but direct reflections can still be distracting. Unfortunately, the image degrades when viewed at an angle, which isn't ideal for watching the big game with lots of friends.

Pros
  • Great response time.
  • Huge selection of smart apps.
  • Upscales low resolution content well.
  • Great SDR peak brightness.
Cons
  • Image degrades at an angle.
  • Direct reflections can be distracting.
7.8 Video Games

The Sony X85J is a good TV for playing video games, and it's expected to get even better with a future update. It has low input lag, a great response time, and great peak brightness in SDR, and it's future-proof, with two HDMI 2.1 ports, and although it displays 4k @ 120Hz signals properly for playing games, text looks blurry with it. It also has VRR support to reduce screen tearing after a firmware update, but it doesn't support FreeSync.

Pros
  • Outstanding contrast.
  • Low input lag.
  • Great response time.
  • Great SDR peak brightness.
  • VRR support after a firmware update.
Cons
  • No local dimming.
  • Direct reflections can be distracting.
  • 4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4 isn't displayed properly.
7.3 HDR Movies

Although it lacks a local dimming feature, the Sony X85J is great for watching movies in HDR. It has fantastic contrast and excellent black uniformity, resulting in deep, uniform blacks in a dark room. It also has decent peak brightness in HDR, so small highlights stand out a bit, but they're not as bright as the director intended. Finally, it has a great HDR color gamut, meaning it can display a wide range of colors with the latest HDR content.

Pros
  • Outstanding contrast.
  • Can remove 24p judder from any source.
  • Excellent black uniformity.
Cons
  • Stutters in panning shots.
  • No local dimming.
  • Some scenes are overbrightened.
7.9 HDR Gaming

The Sony X85J is good for gaming in HDR. It has outstanding contrast and excellent black uniformity, so blacks look black in a dark room. It delivers a great gaming experience, with low input lag and a great response time, for a responsive gaming experience with little blur. Also, it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on two ports for 4k @ 120Hz games, and it supports VRR, but it doesn't have FreeSync support.

Pros
  • Outstanding contrast.
  • Low input lag.
  • Great response time.
  • VRR support after a firmware update.
Cons
  • No local dimming.
  • Some scenes are overbrightened.
  • 4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4 isn't displayed properly.
8.0 PC Monitor

The Sony X85J is a great TV for use as a PC monitor. It has low input lag, so the cursor feels responsive and lag-free, and the fast response time results in relatively clear motion. It has great peak brightness in SDR, so glare isn't an issue in most rooms. It can display chroma 4:4:4 properly, which is important for clear text, but it doesn't display text properly with 4k @ 120Hz signals. Unfortunately, the image degrades at an angle, which can be an issue if you're too close.

Pros
  • Low input lag.
  • Great response time.
  • Great SDR peak brightness.
Cons
  • Image degrades at an angle.
  • Direct reflections can be distracting.
  • BGR subpixel layout can cause issues with text.
  • 4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4 isn't displayed properly.
  • 7.6 Mixed Usage
  • 7.2 Movies
  • 7.8 TV Shows
  • 7.6 Sports
  • 7.8 Video Games
  • 7.3 HDR Movies
  • 7.9 HDR Gaming
  • 8.0 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Feb 13, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  2. Updated Dec 05, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  3. Updated Oct 12, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  4. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  5. Updated Jun 07, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  6. Updated Apr 03, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  7. Updated Feb 06, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for two months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  8. Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  9. Updated Aug 30, 2022: Retested 1080p VRR range to see if there were still the same issues with the latest firmware.
  10. Updated Aug 04, 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.
  11. Updated Jul 14, 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.
  12. Updated Mar 04, 2022: Checked for VRR support after the latest firmware update.
  13. Updated Jan 28, 2022: We tried to reproduce a frame skipping bug that some users have reported when watching 23.976fps content.
  14. Updated Nov 30, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  15. Updated Nov 24, 2021: We rechecked 4k @ 120Hz support.
  16. Updated Aug 16, 2021: We rechecked for blur when displaying a 4k @ 120Hz signal from a PC and recent consoles.
  17. Updated Jun 15, 2021: We incorrectly stated that this TV has a Smooth Gradation feature; it doesn't.
  18. Updated Jun 09, 2021: Review published.
  19. Updated Jun 04, 2021: Early access published.
  20. Updated May 26, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  21. Updated May 25, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  22. Updated Apr 11, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 55 inch Sony X85J TV (XB55X85J), and it's also available in a 43 inch, 50 inch, 65 inch, 75 inch, and 85 inch size. We expect our results to be valid for the other sizes as well, but we've seen some reports that the 43 inch model has an IPS-type panel in some regions, so we expect those variants to have worse contrast but better viewing angles. As Sony doesn't provide any panel information, if you have any information on the panel types for the other sizes, let us know in the discussions below.

The Sony X85J is also available as the X89J in some regions. We expect our results to be valid for it as well; the only difference is that the X89J has an adjustable stand.

Size Model Number Alternate Model
43" KD-43X85J KD-43X89J
50" KD-50X85J  KD-50X89J
55" KD-55X85J  KD-55X89J
65" KD-65X85J  KD-65X89J
75" KD-75X85J  KD-75X89J
85" KD-85X85J  KD-85X89J

If you come across a different type of panel or your Sony X85J doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, like the gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.

Our unit was manufactured in April 2021; you can see the label here.

Compared To Other TVs

The Sony X85 is a good mid-range 4k TV and Sony's cheapest TV with HDMI 2.1. There are better options available from other brands at a lower price point, though, so this isn't the best choice for everyone. It has more gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support, meaning if you want those gaming features without a premium price point, it's a good choice.

For more options, check out our recommendations for the best TVs, the best 4k gaming TVs, and the best movie TVs.

Samsung Q70/Q70A QLED
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q70/Q70A QLED and the Sony X85J are nearly identical. The Sony that we tested has better gray uniformity, but this can vary between units. The Samsung is a bit better for gaming, as it has lower input lag for a more responsive gaming experience, and it has FreeSync support. However, the Sony is G-SYNC compatible, which is good if you have a NVIDIA graphics card.

Sony X90J
50" 55" 65" 75"

The Sony X90J and the Sony X85J are very similar overall. The X90J has a full array local dimming feature that can improve contrast and reduce blooming in dark scenes, but the X85J has better native contrast and a flicker-free backlight. The X90J is brighter in HDR and HDR content displays at the correct brightness. If you care about calibrating your display for the most accurate image possible, one important difference here is that the X85J doesn't have a color management system.

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

The Sony X85J is better than the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED. The Sony has slightly better contrast, a much faster response time, and can remove judder from any source. The Sony is also better for gaming and more future-proof, as it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, a 120Hz refresh rate, and it has VRR support after a firmware update.

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

The Sony X85K is the newer version of the Sony X85J, and the differences between them are minor. Picture quality is nearly the same between each, and they use the same processor, so they have many of the same features. The X85K improves on some of its gaming features as it has a wider 1080p VRR range, but other than that, the differences between them are minor.

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

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.

Sony X80K/X80CK
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 X90K/X90CK
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X90K/X90CK is a higher-end TV than the Sony X85J, so it has a few more features and better performance. If you tend to watch movies in dark rooms, the X90K is the better choice because it has a local dimming feature and has higher HDR peak brightness. However, if you're going to use it in a well-lit room or for gaming, both TVs are similar, so it would be better to get whichever you can find for cheaper.

Hisense U8G
55" 65"

The Hisense U8G is much better than the Sony X85J. The Hisense has a full array local dimming feature to improve contrast and reduce blooming in dark scenes. The Hisense also has much better reflection handling and can overcome glare in most rooms. The Hisense is also much brighter, and small highlights in some HDR content stand out much better.

Sony X95J
65" 75" 85"

The Sony X95J is much better than the Sony X85J. The X95J has an excellent full array local dimming feature, whereas the X85J has no local dimming. The X95J also has much better reflection handling, a wider viewing angle thanks to the 'X-Wide Angle' layer, and much higher peak brightness.

Sony X95K
65" 75" 85"

The Sony X95K is a higher-end TV than the Sony X85J. If you want premium picture quality, the X95K is the better choice because it gets brighter to make highlights pop and has a local dimming feature to improve the picture quality in dark scenes, which the X85J doesn't have. Even if you watch TV in bright rooms, the X95K has better reflection handling and can fight glare better than the X85J.

Sony X900H
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X900H and the Sony X85J are very similar overall. The X85J has a higher native contrast ratio, but the X900H has a full array local dimming feature that can reduce blooming in dark scenes and improve contrast. On the other hand, the X85J has a flicker-free backlight, and the more recent Google TV interface is a bit faster than the older Android TV 9.0 interface on the X900H.

TCL 6 Series/R646 2021 QLED
55" 65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series/R646 2021 QLED is better overall than the Sony X85J. The TCL has more features like Mini LED backlighting to make it brighter and a full-array local dimming feature, which the Sony doesn't have. The TCL also has better reflection handling, so it's a better choice for well-lit environments. They each have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and both have VRR support, but the TCL has FreeSync support while the Sony is G-SYNC compatible.

Sony X91J
85"

The Sony X91J is better overall than the Sony X85J because it's a higher-end model. While we tested the 55 inch model of the X85J, it's also available in an 85 inch model like the X91J. The X91J has a few extra features that make it better overall, like a local dimming feature. Motion also looks smoother on the X91J due to its quicker response time. On the other hand, the X85J has a higher native contrast ratio, but this may also vary between units.

LG NANO75 2021
43" 50" 55" 65" 70" 75" 86"

The Sony X85J is significantly better than the LG NANO75 2021 for most users. The Sony has much better contrast and better black uniformity, so blacks look black in a dark room, with significantly less blooming around bright objects. The Sony is also significantly brighter and has a faster response time. On the other hand, if you have a wide seating arrangement, the LG is a bit better, as the image remains consistent when viewed from the side, but it has worse picture quality overall than the Sony.

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

The Sony X85J is better overall than the Samsung Q60B QLED and has a few more features. The Sony is better for gaming because it has a 120Hz panel with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support, while the Samsung is limited to a 60Hz panel without HDMI 2.1 bandwidth or VRR support. The Sony also has better motion handling, but other than that, the picture quality between both TVs is very similar overall.

LG NANO85 2021
50" 55" 65" 75" 86"

The Sony X85J is better than the LG NANO85 2021, but they have different panels, each with strengths and weaknesses. The Sony delivers better picture quality because it has a higher contrast ratio, gets much brighter, and has significantly better black uniformity. However, the LG has wider viewing angles, so the image remains accurate from the sides.

Amazon Fire TV 4-Series
43" 50" 55"

The Sony X85J is significantly better than the Amazon Fire TV 4-Series in every way. The Sony has much better accuracy, it's significantly brighter, and it has better black uniformity. The Sony also has better contrast, a much faster response time, and better uniformity.

LG C1 OLED
48" 55" 65" 77" 83"

Although the LG C1 OLED and the Sony X85J use very different panel technologies, the LG is much better for most people. The LG delivers a perfect dark-room experience, with true inky blacks and perfect uniformity. The LG also has much better viewing angles and better reflection handling. On the other hand, the Sony is brighter, and unlike the LG, there's no risk of permanent burn-in with static content.

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

The Sony X950H is much better than the Sony X85J. The X950H has a good full-array local dimming feature, and it's much brighter than the X85J. The X950H also has much better reflection handling and slightly better viewing angles. On the other hand, although the X85J lacks a local dimming feature, it has better contrast. The X85J is also a bit more future-proof, as it has two HDMI 2.1 ports.

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

The Sony X85J is better overall than the Samsung AU8000. The Sony gets brighter, has a higher contrast, and displays a wide color gamut, delivering a better HDR experience. The Sony also has a 120Hz panel compared to 60Hz on the Samsung, so motion handling is better, and it has HDMI 2.1 inputs, while the Samsung is limited to HDMI 2.0. Despite the Sony's better gaming features, the Samsung still has lower input lag for a more responsive gaming experience.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved No

The Sony X85J has a nice but simple design. It doesn't look as premium as the Sony X90J, and it's mainly plastic, but it looks nice in most decors. The inputs face to the side, which is nice, especially if you wall-mount it.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures
Design
Stand

The stand is nearly identical to the one on the Sony X90J, and it supports the TV well, but there's a bit of wobble. Unfortunately, like the X90J, the feet aren't adjustable, but there's an alternate model known as the X89J that has two stand positions. The 43 inch and 50 inch models appear to have a different stand design, and the feet are closer to the center of the screen.

Footprint of the 55 inch stand: 41.9" x 13.3".

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 300x300

The back of the TV is nearly identical to the Sony X90J. It has a grid-like pattern across most of the back panel, but unlike the X90J, there's no brushed aluminum square in the middle. There's a clip on each leg for cable management. Although pretty basic, it can help to keep the back of your TV neat.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.39" (1.0 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 2.87" (7.3 cm)

Due to the direct-lit backlight, this TV is a bit thicker than edge-lit TVs, like the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

The Sony X85J has good build quality. It's entirely plastic, and there's some noticeable flex on the back panel, especially near the VESA mount and around the bottom edge. There's also a bit of concerning pull around the border. The TV leans a bit, but this isn't noticeable from the front at all. The stand supports the TV well overall, but there's a bit of wobble.

Picture Quality
9.2
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
6,308 : 1
Contrast with local dimming
N/A

The Sony X85J has fantastic contrast, so blacks look black in a dark room. The native contrast of this TV without local dimming is similar to the Sony X90J's contrast with local dimming, but this varies between units.

Note: We've seen some reports that the 43 inch model has an IPS panel in some regions. If this is the case, we expect it to have much lower contrast but better viewing angles.

8.4
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene Peak Brightness
506 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
518 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
528 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
527 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
526 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
526 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
518 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
528 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
527 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
526 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
526 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001

This TV has great peak brightness in SDR. It's about as bright as the Sony X90J, but not as bright as the Hisense U8G. There's no noticeable variation in peak brightness with different content, which is great.

We measured the SDR brightness after calibration in the 'Custom' Picture Mode, with Brightness at max, Contrast at '90', and Color Tone set to 'Expert 1'.

If you want a slightly brighter image, the 'Vivid' Picture Mode with Contrast at 'Max' results in a slightly brighter image, but this mode is less accurate.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Direct

Although the Sony X85J uses a direct-lit backlight similar to the Sony X90J, there's no 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. If you prefer something with local dimming, then look into the TCL 5 Series/S546 2021 QLED.

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

Unlike the Sony X90J, 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.

7.7
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
457 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
443 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
229 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
557 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
563 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
563 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
563 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
563 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
557 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
563 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
563 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
563 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
563 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001

The Sony X85J has decent peak brightness in HDR. It's bright enough to deliver an impact HDR experience with most content, but small highlights aren't bright enough to stand out the way the director intended.

Unfortunately, the TV doesn't follow the EOTF curve properly, as most scenes are brighter than they're supposed to be. It's not as bad as the Hisense U8G, but it's not ideal if you care about an accurate image. It also cuts off sharply at the TV's peak brightness, resulting in a loss of fine details in bright scenes.

If you want to make HDR content brighter and don't mind losing image accuracy, change to the 'Vivid' Picture Mode, and set Contrast to 'Max'. These settings result in a much brighter image, as you can see in this EOTF plot.

We measured the HDR brightness in the 'Custom' Picture Mode, before calibrating the TV, with Brightness at max, Contrast at '90', and Color Tone set to 'Expert 2'.

7.7
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness In Game Mode
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
460 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
454 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
229 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
563 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
569 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
568 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
568 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
567 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
563 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
569 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
568 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
568 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
567 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001

The brightness in 'Game Mode' is identical to the 'Custom' Picture Mode. The TV still doesn't follow the EOTF properly, but this isn't as much of an issue, as most games have an option to adjust the HDR brightness.

8.0
Picture Quality
PQ EOTF Tracking
600 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0130
1000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0131
4000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0132
8.7
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
Red (Std. Dev.)
0.082
Green (Std. Dev.)
0.109
Blue (Std. Dev.)
0.077
Gray (Std. Dev.)
0.089

The Sony X85J has excellent gradient handling. There's some banding in darker shades, especially greens, but it's not very noticeable with most content. It has a less powerful image processor than the Sony X90J, and it doesn't have a smooth gradation feature or other options to remove banding.

7.9
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.165%
50% DSE
0.151%
5% Std. Dev.
0.856%
5% DSE
0.106%

The Sony X85J has very good gray uniformity, but this can vary between individual units. The sides of the screen are a bit darker than the center, but there's very little dirty screen effect, great for sports fans. Near-dark scenes look even better, with no noticeable issues at all.

8.6
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
0.742%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The unit we tested has excellent black uniformity, but this can vary between units. There's a bit of cloudiness in the screen, which you can't reduce as there's no local dimming, but this isn't very noticeable in most content.

5.5
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
29°
Color Shift
36°
Brightness Loss
37°
Black Level Raise
10°
Gamma Shift
16°

Unfortunately, as expected of a VA-type panel, the Sony X85J's viewing angles are disappointing. Colors stay accurate to a wider angle than the Hisense U8G, but dark shades look washed out at a narrow angle. A TV with an IPS-type panel, like the LG NANO90 2021, is a better choice for a wide seating arrangement.

Note: We've seen some reports that the 43 inch model has an IPS panel in some regions. If this is the case, we expect it to have much better viewing angles but worse contrast.

7.1
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
5.7%
Indirect Reflections
0.7%
Calculated Direct Reflections
5.1%

The Sony X85J has decent reflection handling. The semi-gloss finish reduces the intensity of direct reflections a bit without smearing them across the screen. Bright lights can still be distracting, but overall we don't expect visibility to be an issue in most environments.

9.0
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
1.06
Color dE
1.72
Gamma
2.21
Color Temperature
6,614 K
Picture Mode
Custom
Color Temp Setting
Expert 1
Gamma Setting
0

Out of the box, the Sony X85J is remarkably accurate. Gamma is very close to our target of 2.2, and the white balance is nearly perfect. There are some inaccurate colors, especially highly saturated blues, but they're close enough to the targets that we don't expect most people to notice them. Note that the exact accuracy out of the box can vary between units.

9.4
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.31
Color dE
1.45
Gamma
2.20
Color Temperature
6,512 K
White Balance Calibration
10 point
Color Calibration
No

Calibration improved the white balance and gamma to near perfection, but as there's no color calibration on this TV, we weren't able to correct any of the color issues.

You can see our recommended settings here.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

We didn't notice any issues upscaling 480p content like DVDs.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

720p content, including most cable TV stations, is upscaled well by the Sony X85J, with no noticeable issues.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

Like most TVs we've tested, 1080p content looks almost as good as native 4k content.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

4k content is displayed perfectly, with no noticeable issues.

0
Picture Quality
8k Input

This is a 4k TV that won't accept an 8k signal.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
BGR
Type LED
Sub-Type
VA

Like most TVs on the market, the Sony X85J uses a BGR (Blue-Green-Red) subpixel layout instead of the traditional Red-Green-Blue layout. For video content, this doesn't cause any issues, but it causes text clarity issues with some programs when used as a PC monitor. You can read more about this here.

8.1
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
89.95%
DCI P3 uv
95.33%
Rec 2020 xy
65.89%
Rec 2020 uv
72.14%

The Sony X85J has a great color gamut. It can display nearly the entire DCI P3 color space used by most current HDR content, but it falls short on highly saturated greens, although this won't be very noticeable with most content. It also has okay coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space, but it's not as good as the Hisense U8G.

The X85J we tested displays a wider color gamut than the Sony X90J, which is unexpected. This can vary between units, though, and the difference isn't very noticeable. We found that the X90J has better tone mapping, and in person, with real content, the X90J looks better.

7.6
Picture Quality
Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
68.2%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
31.0%
White Luminance
564 cd/m²
Red Luminance
119 cd/m²
Green Luminance
371 cd/m²
Blue Luminance
48 cd/m²
Cyan Luminance
412 cd/m²
Magenta Luminance
165 cd/m²
Yellow Luminance
508 cd/m²

The Sony X85J has decent color volume. It's limited by the incomplete color gamut and, like most LCDs on the market, blues aren't as bright as other colors. Thanks to the high contrast ratio, this TV can display dark, saturated colors well, but not as well as the Hisense U8G.

10
Picture Quality
Temporary Image Retention
IR after 0 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 2 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 4 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 6 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 8 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 10 min recovery
0.00%

There are no signs of temporary image retention on our unit, but this can vary.

10
Picture Quality
Permanent Burn-In Risk
Permanent Burn-In Risk
No

We don't expect VA panels to experience permanent image retention, as the VA panel in our long-term test appears immune.

Motion
8.2
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
4.0 ms
100% Response Time
11.7 ms

The Sony X85J has a great response time, resulting in very clear motion, with negligible blur behind fast-moving objects. Transitions in dark scenes look better than most VA panels, but there's still some black smearing behind dark objects. There's very little overshoot in any transition.

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

The Sony X85J uses direct (DC) dimming to dim the backlight. Like the Sony X850G, there's some noise at very low backlight levels, but this isn't noticeable at all, and the backlight never turns completely off. It's different from the Sony X90J, which uses Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) to dim the backlight. PWM can bother some people, as it can cause eye fatigue or headaches.

6.0
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
Yes
Min Flicker For 60 fps
120 Hz
60Hz For 60 fps
No
120Hz For 120 fps
Yes
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
120 Hz

This TV has an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion (BFI), that can reduce the amount of persistence blur. Like the Sony X90J, it can only flicker at 120Hz, which can cause duplications when watching 60Hz content. Note that our scoring is based only on the refresh rates that support BFI and don't reflect how effective it is.

Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes

The Sony X85J has an optional motion interpolation feature that can improve the appearance of lower frame-rate content. Subjectively, it seems to perform well, but we did notice some artifacts in busier scenes.

7.1
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
30.0 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
5.0 ms

Due to the fast response time of this TV, there is some noticeable stutter when watching movies. It's mainly noticeable in slow panning shots. If stutter bothers you, enabling motion interpolation can help to reduce it, but this can introduce the soap opera effect, which some people don't like.

10
Motion
24p Judder
Judder-Free 24p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60i
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
Yes

The Sony X85J can remove judder from all sources.

9.4
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
HDMI Forum VRR
Yes
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC Compatible
Yes
4k VRR Maximum
120 Hz
4k VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
1080p VRR Maximum
120 Hz
1080p VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
1440p VRR Minimum
Unknown
VRR Supported Connectors
HDMI

Update 08/30/2022: With firmware version PKG6.5942.0698NAA released in July 2022, there aren't any issues with 1080p signals using VRR below 120 fps. There were some issues with the screen going black before this firmware version, so if you notice anything, just make sure to update the TV to the latest firmware.

Update 03/04/2022: Sony released an update to include VRR support with firmware PKG6.5660.0668NAA.

The VRR support works without issue on the Xbox Series X and reduces screen tearing. Sadly, it doesn't support FreeSync at all, as there's screen tearing with the AMD RX 580 and RX 6600 XT graphics cards, and because the Xbox Series X supports both HDMI Forum VRR and FreeSync, it's confirmed that it has native HDMI Forum VRR support.

It has G-SYNC compatibility with NVIDIA graphics cards, but there are some issues with it. It's tear-free with 4k @ 120Hz signals from the NVIDIA RTX 3060, but initially, the backlight flickered until the TV and PC were reset. Also, 1440p @ 120Hz works without any problem, but the TV is upscaling 1440p to 4k. The replacement for this TV, the Sony X85K, doesn't have as many VRR issues.

Inputs
9.4
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
15.6 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
91.0 ms
1080p @ 120Hz
6.3 ms
1080p @ 144Hz
N/A
1440p @ 60Hz
15.1 ms
1440p @ 120Hz
N/A
1440p @ 144Hz
N/A
4k @ 60Hz
15.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
15.5 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
15.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
91.1 ms
4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
87.5 ms
4k @ 120Hz
6.3 ms
4k @ 144Hz
N/A
8k @ 60Hz
N/A

Update 03/04/2022: Sony released an update to include VRR support with firmware PKG6.5660.0668NAA. Like other TVs, we couldn't get proper VRR input lag readings because the TV kept crashing. We experienced the same issue with some other TVs like the Sony X90J, and we're looking into it.

The Sony X85J has outstanding low input lag, which is especially important when gaming or for use as a PC monitor. It's a tiny bit slower than the Hisense U8G but a bit faster than the Sony X90J.

8.9
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 144Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes (forced resolution required)
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 144Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
Resolution 4k
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4
No
4k @ 144Hz
No
8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
No
8k @ 60Hz
No

Update 01/28/2022: Some users have reported that this TV occasionally skips frames when playing 23.976fps content, like Blu-rays. We tested it but didn't notice any frame skipping or judder issues.

Update 11/24/2021: We rechecked 4k @ 120Hz with chroma 4:4:4 support on this TV. Unfortunately, like most other TVs we've tested in 2021, it can't display 4k @ 120Hz signals properly. The vertical resolution is cut in half, resulting in a 3840 x 1080 interlaced signal, so text isn't displayed properly. This isn't very noticeable when gaming, though.

The Sony X85J supports most common resolutions, except 1440p, which requires a forced resolution. Chroma 4:4:4 signals are displayed properly in most supported resolutions, except for 4k @ 120Hz, which is important for clear text from a PC.

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

Update 03/04/2022: After a firmware update (version PKG6.5660.0668NAA) the TV now supports both VRR and ALLM support, and no settings are required for ALLM to work.

The Sony X85J doesn't support 4k @ 120Hz and Dolby Vision at once, so you have to choose between them by changing the HDMI Signal Format setting.

Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes
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
Yes (HDMI 3,4)
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 Yes
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

The Sony X85J has two HDMI 2.1 ports. Unfortunately, one of these is also the eARC port, so if you're planning to connect a home theater system, you'll only be able to take full advantage of one HDMI 2.1 source.

Inputs
Input Photos
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 2
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 0
Composite In 1 (adapter required, not incl.)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 1
SD/SDHC 0

Unlike the Sony X850G, there's no dedicated component or composite input. Instead, there's a single composite in port, which requires a breakout adapter that's sold separately. It has a built-in tuner, which has received an update for NextGen TV ATSC 3.0, allowing it to receive over-the-air 4k broadcasts in supported regions.

Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC
Yes (HDMI 3)
eARC support
Yes
Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
Yes
DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
Yes
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

The Sony X85J supports eARC on HDMI port 3. This allows the TV to pass high-quality, uncompressed audio to an external home theater system or soundbar.

Sound Quality
7.3
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
100.79 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
1.78 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
1.99 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
4.92 dB
Max
93.1 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
5.21 dB

The Sony X85J has a decent frequency response. Like most TVs, the low-frequency extension (LFE) is high, as it can't produce any deep thump or rumble. Above the LFE, the frequency response is very balanced, resulting in clear dialogue. It can get very loud, but there's a bit of pumping at max volume.

6.6
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.035
Weighted THD @ Max
13.223
IMD @ 80
1.99%
IMD @ Max
20.51%

This TV has decent distortion performance. At lower volumes, there's very little total distortion, but it increases drastically at max volume. This varies between content, though, and not everyone will even notice it.

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 Sony X85J runs on Google TV instead of the Android TV interface used in previous years. The core of the smart interface is the same, but the overall layout and some functionality have changed. It's easy to use, and the built-in content store has a huge selection of additional content.

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

Unfortunately, like almost all TVs on the market now, there are ads throughout the interface. We noticed them in the app store and on the main page, but the exact location varies.

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

Through the built-in Google Play Store, this TV has a massive selection of apps.

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

The remote is identical to the one included with the Sony X90J. It's a bit larger than most remotes currently on the market, as Sony is one of the last brands to include a full numpad and full controls on the remote. The remote has a built-in mic for voice control, but it must be paired over Bluetooth with the TV for this feature to work. The voice commands work well, allowing you to change inputs, search for content, or even adjust some settings.

Smart Features
TV Controls
Smart Features
In The Box

  • Power cord
  • Remote control
  • Batteries
  • VESA mount adapters
  • Cable clips
  • User manual

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 52 W
Power Consumption (Max) 153 W
Firmware PKG6.3628.0454NAA