Sony Bravia XR A90K OLED TV review

Summary

The Sony Bravia XR A90K is a tiny TV that thinks big; it comes in two screen sizes only: 42 inches and 48 inches. It doesn’t come in huge sizes, but you don’t have to since it has an OLED screen and uses all of Sony’s image technologies, which dominate the market. The end product is a set that performs equally well in benchmark testing and in regular movie and television watching.

Sony Bravia XR A90K OLED TV review

But it’s not budget-friendly, and many people would not be able to afford it for its intended usage as a secondary or gaming TV due to its high price. It also faces formidable rivals, and it is not always victorious in its conflicts. However, despite those limitations, it performs so well that it easily makes the list of the finest TVs and the best tiny TVs available for purchase.

Review of the Sony Bravia XR A90K TV: News and updates

Although it was introduced in 2022, the Sony Bravia XR A90K is still a fantastic substitute for LG’s C2 OLED lineup even after a few years of use. Although it costs more, the image quality is more realistic thanks to improved motion processing and upscaling. It is still the greatest 42-inch TV available right now, but there will probably be a better model in 2024.

Review of the Sony Bravia XR A90K TV: Cost and Availability

Positioned between Sony’s Premium and Master Series TVs, albeit officially belonging to the latter group, the A90K series is expensive and packed with features, with screen size being an exception. There are only two choices, neither of which is very significant by today’s standards.

Sony Bravia XR-42A90K, 42-inch Class A90K: $1,149.99

$1,199.99 for the Sony Bravia XR 48″ Class A90K (XR-48A90K).
Although the less priced 42″ Class model was the one we reviewed, we anticipate that the 48″ Class model will function similarly in almost all situations.

Review of the Sony Bravia XR A90K TV: Design

The A90K skillfully blends the physical requirements smaller sets need with the design attention of Sony’s bigger TVs. The screen is around one-eighth inch thin, as small as you’d expect from an OLED these days, but the control box on the rear naturally takes up a lot of room. With its overall dimensions of 36.73×21.5×2.24 inches and its weight of 29.3 pounds without a stand, the 42-inch A90K should be manageable for one person to carry securely.

The broader bezel on the bottom (just under 0.5 inch) serves as the background for the only noticeable differences (the Sony logo on the left and the power light in the center), while the one-sixteenth-inch bezel around the screen on the left, right, and top furthers the sleek appearance.

The back panel of the TV has four 200x200mm VESA holes in case you want to mount it on the wall. The stand is an oval, metallic foot that attaches to the TV with either two legs (in which case the TV is flat against the foot) or four legs (which elevates the whole thing up a few inches to enable a soundbar) for placing the TV on a table or entertainment center. Although the installation instructions aren’t as clear as they may be, the stand is simple to assemble. However, the procedure is worth figuring out since the finished product is both appealing and robust.

On the left and right of the set’s back are two detachable plastic panels that, once again, have a square shape. These panels conceal the power cord and the ports, respectively. Regarding the former, it has three HDMI ports—two supporting the higher-bandwidth 2.1 standard, and one supporting the older 2.0 standard—as well as an Ethernet line, S/PDIF optical audio out, RS-232 connection, and one 900mA USB port. One of those ports is also configured for eARC.

The on-board far-field microphone switch, an additional HDMI 2.0 connector, a 500mA USB port, inputs for composite video or S-center speaker, and an IR remote are all facing out to the left. While it would be fantastic to have all HDMI 2.1 connections, Sony’s most costly TVs don’t even have that feature.

Sony Bravia XR A90K TV review: Test results and performance

	Sony Bravia A90K OLED	Samsung QN90B Neo QLED	Vizio M-Series Quantum X
Input Lag (ms)	16.1	9.8	13.2
SDR Brightness (Window 10%, in nits)	218.7232	699.7083	499.2412
Delta-E (lower is better)	8.2386	9.2853	9.9094
HDR Peak Luminance (Window 10%, in nits)	640.237	1143.922	428.61
UHDA-P3 Color Gamut	99.78%	94.91%	99.92%
BT.2020 Color Gamut	71.2%	72.2%	73.96%

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Using an X-Rite i1 Pro spectrophotometer, a SpectraCal VideoForge Pro pattern generator, and Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software, we conducted lab tests on the A90K and found that, when equipped with Sony’s exclusive line of XR-branded, real-time image processing technologies, it was pretty much what you would expect from an OLED in this price range: powerful, but not revolutionary.

The SDR brightness of the A90K was about as low as we’ve seen from TVs in this size range, but OLED TVs seldom become very bright. It was 219 nits in Standard image mode and 206 nits in Custom (Sony’s version of calibrated). The nearest competition to the A90K that we have assessed, the 43-inch Samsung QN90B, achieved similar modes scores of 700 and 277 nits; the far less expensive 43-inch Samsung Q60B scored 378 and 315, while the 50-inch Vizio M-Series Quantum scored 499 nits in Standard (albeit its Calibrated Dark result was lower, at 121 nits).

Fortunately, the Sony’s SDR color was much better: its 99.78% coverage of the Rec. 709 color gamut was second only to the Vizio’s 99.92%. Its Delta-E value, which measures the difference between color at the video source and as displayed on the screen (with lower numbers being better), was a category-leading 8.2386. (A lot of OLED televisions reach above 100%, but the A90K could only reach 128.28% in its gaudy Vivid setting.)

The A90K significantly increased brightness in our HDR testing; for instance, at 10% window size, it showed 640 nits in Standard and 541 nits in Custom. This is less than Samsung’s previous model, the QN90B, which measured 1,143 nits and 981 nits in comparable settings. However, the A90K outperformed the Samsung in terms of HDR color, at least when it came to the UHDA-P3 color gamut (covering a winning 97.66% compared to the Samsung’s 94.91%). In the broader Rec. 2020 gamut, the QN90B prevailed over the Sony, 72.2% to 71.2%, despite the fact that neither device’s result is very noteworthy.

Real-world viewing quality was excellent with the A90K. Luxurious visuals are standard in special effects-heavy films like Spider-Man: No Way Home, but you don’t get the full impression of the most stunning sequences without that truly piercing brightness to balance the OLED screen’s flawless blacks. The military-accurate color and pulse-pounding suspense of Top Gun: Maverick’s well-choreographed combat sequences remained intact. The essential contrast between the barren deserts of Arrakis and the pitch-black desolation of both space and the cramped confines of the plot was well captured in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. While The Batman relished in the all-consuming inkiness of the hyperviolent Gotham City backdrop and its terrifying protagonist, Disney’s Encanto burst with color in every scene. Additionally, everything seemed flawless from every aspect since this is an OLED.

The sharply carved immediacy of Mission: Impossible — Fallout was preserved in its 4K upgrade from 1080p. On a 4K test screen that we use to evaluate how well TVs handle fine detail, the only image defect we saw was a little blurring of a 1-pixel chess pattern. While this isn’t ideal, smaller 4K TVs often experience this, and it wasn’t enough to keep the A90K’s overall very pleasing image quality.

Review of the Sony Bravia XR A90K TV: Audio

Sony uses a method known as Acoustic Surface Audio+ on its higher-end models to make the screen act as the TV’s speaker. It was only used on Sony’s largest sets up to now—the Bravia XR A80J in the last generation and the Bravia XR A95K in this one—and it performed well. What is its performance like on the A90K? Nearly as good.

That seems sense since the A90K isn’t comparable to the A95K, which has everything twice as strong, with its two 10W actuators and one 5W subwoofer. It was still loud enough to see TV, and most of it had terrific sound. This applied to Dune as well as, more specifically, Top Gun: Maverick, in which the texture of the movie depends on the deft blending of music, dialogue, and sound effects. Additionally, the bass is easily greater than average, as shown by The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” whose thunderous opening line really made the floor tremble. (Some, but not much.)

Higher ranges have somewhat greater difficulty. I used a soprano voice recording for this, and at the very top of the volume range, it got very shrill, giving the song’s creamy climax B-flat just a hint of a sharp, metallic edge. The sound quality of this TV is better than most tiny TVs, so unless you’re a really picky listener, you may compensate for it by connecting one of Tom’s Guide’s top soundbars.

Review of the Sony Bravia XR A90K TV: Gaming

Sony smartly markets the A90K as a possible gaming TV as it is packed with features made specifically to appeal to gamers looking to get the most out of their Xbox Series X or, more likely, Sony PlayStation 5. And for the most part, the A90K meets those standards.

Input latency is its lone minor flaw. Leo Bodnar Lag Tester results show that it is 16.1 ms, which puts it in the “good but not great” range. It is considerably over the 10 ms mark, which is when superb gaming begins, and below the 20 ms mark, which is considered the top barrier for decent gaming. Two of the greatest 43-inch gaming TVs we’ve seen in this area are the Samsung Q60B, which has an incredible 9.1 ms response time, and the QN90B, which has a 9.9 ms response time.

There’s not much else to be unhappy about. The support for 4K at 120Hz, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and Auto Low-Latency Mode (ALLM)—three features that are quickly becoming standards on any TV meant for gamers—is made possible by those HDMI 2.1 connectors. On the A90K, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla looked stunning and performed flawlessly. The set’s excellent shadows and highlights meticulously recreated the ice-crusted landscape of 800s Anglo-Saxon England and Norway in the game.

The A90K also has Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode (like ALLM, but for other kinds of material) when paired with a PlayStation 5; it’s obvious—and maybe understandable—that Sony wants to keep you as much as possible within its own hardware ecosystem.

Review of the Sony Bravia XR A90K TV: Interface of a smart TV

Google TV continues to be one of the greatest smart interfaces available and Sony’s preferred option. Finding where you want to be is simple thanks to an accessible top navigation menu that offers a ton of obvious, helpful options (Search; “For you,” or the home screen; Live; Movies; Shows; Apps; Library, which contains your personal content; and Sony, which gives you access to the company’s carefully chosen entertainment and promotional materials).

It’s unlikely that, during routine surfing, you’ll wander much from the “For you” page unless you’re searching, which is probably as easy and simple as it gets since Google is involved. A roomy carousel situated immediately underneath the navigation bar recommends popular titles as well as additional pertinent films and television series that you will probably find incredibly engaging. A consistently good bar of suggestions follows, followed by the vast app store. It is fast to navigate between and within parts, and it often takes just a few seconds to get the information you want.

Buying the A90K also grants you premium access to Sony’s in-house streaming network, Bravia Core, with 24 months of high-quality streaming at up to 80Mbps and 10 credits that can be redeemed for a variety of TV shows and films. On the surface, this isn’t a bad deal, but your options are predictably limited to Sony properties, so you might not want to watch everything. As of this writing, some of the more well-known, recent titles available were The Woman King, Bullet Train, Uncharted, and Morbius. Older titles like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and other Spider-Man films are also available. You’ll initially receive your money’s worth since Bravia Core is free, but it’s unlikely that it will ever take the place of Netflix or HBO Max.

The Bravia Cam, an optional add-on for the A90K, offers two exciting new features: video chat and Sony’s Ambient Optimization Pro, which adjusts the picture and sound in the room according to various factors (like the number of people present and their seating arrangements) and allows you to operate the setup with hand gestures. While we enjoyed using the Bravia Cam during our evaluation of the A95K, we’re not convinced whether Sony’s $199.99 asking price is entirely justified by its evident fun factor.

Review of the Sony Bravia XR A90K TV: Remote

The A90K, like all of Sony’s new TVs, has an upgraded and streamlined remote control compared to the company’s previous model, making an already excellent remote much better. Its dimensions, which are 6.9 inches long and just less than 1.5 inches broad, allow it to sit securely in your palm without sacrificing any functionality.

The TV, Settings, Inputs, and Numbers buttons are located behind the Power button in the upper-right corner. Beneath that comes the five-way control pad, which is followed by Mute, Play, Pause, Guide, Back, Home, and Google Assistant controls for volume and channel. The last four buttons are Bravia Core, Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video shortcuts, and they are still located more than a third of the way up from the bottom.

The improved remote for the A90K is also the same as the one we previously seen with the A95K, adding even more flair to the set. The buttons are all backlit, the gunmetal sheen replaces the matte-black plastic, and using the TV’s far-field microphone to locate the misplaced remote is as simple as yelling “Hey Google!” “Find my remote!” and then paying attention to the beeping noise the misplaced device makes.

Conclusion of the Sony Bravia XR A90K TV review

A unique need in the TV industry is filled by the Sony Bravia XR A90K: the premium compact set. True, it’s an uncomfortably priced small-screen TV given its excellent image quality, but that doesn’t imply there’s no use for it. Do you desire amazing image quality but lack the space for a large TV? Or would you rather make the most of every dollar while keeping your bank account as little as possible? The A90K is the kind of TV you want in any scenario.

That being said, it’s not the only one available. In terms of brightness, input latency, and cost, the 43-inch Samsung QN90B Neo QLED TV surpasses the Sony model by $250. However, the Sony A90K’s OLED screen, best-in-class audio, improved HDR color and feature support, remote control, and Google TV use still make a strong case for it.

Whatever your demands, the A90K is a substantial product that shouldn’t be discounted due to its little size since it will physically and metaphorically light any space.

Our opinion

OLED TV technology has advanced significantly with the release of the Sony A95K QD-OLED TV. In the event that previous OLED TV models shown incremental advancements annually, the A95K signifies a noteworthy progression. It really is at a whole other level. And it’s really amazing, I swear.

Is there a superior substitute?

No, not just now. We will reassess if and when Samsung introduces its own QD-OLED TV, which is expected to occur in the latter part of 2022. When it comes to saving money, the LG C2 and Sony A80K OLED TVs are highly attractive substitutes, offering additional size possibilities and 90% of the image quality at a much lower cost.

For what duration will it last?

Compared to W-OLED technology, QD-OLED technology is designed to last longer and have a reduced burn-in risk. For the majority of its life, I anticipate the A95K to function at a very high level and to endure for a very long time.

Guarantee

Sony guarantees the XR-55A95K and XR-65A95K TVs for a full year. You can find more details about the warranty here.

Is it something you should purchase?

Indeed. One of the best-performing TVs ever produced, the Sony A95K has the potential to be the greatest TV of 2022.

SONY BRAVIA XR A90K: SPECS

Price: $1,149.99
Screen size: 42-inch
Model: XR-42A90K
Resolution: 3,840×2,160
HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
Refresh Rate: 120Hz
Ports: 2 HDMI 2.1, 2 HDMI 2.0, 2 USB
Audio: 25W
Smart TV Software: Google TV
Size (without stand): 36.73×21.5×2.24 inches
Weight (without stand): 29.3 pounds