The Samsung Q80B typically costs more than the Sony X85K, but it offers a slightly better gaming experience with lower input lag, making it more suitable for gamers. The Q80B also has better sound quality and supports Dolby Atmos, which can enhance the audio experience for movies and series considerably.
On the other hand, the Sony X85K is less expensive and delivers better performance for sports content and cartoons & animation, due to its higher scores in those areas. It also has better black uniformity which is good for dark room viewing, but its dark room overall picture quality isn't as good as the Samsung's.
Both have VA panels which are suited for dark room viewing but struggle with viewing angles, meaning colors and contrast can look washed out from the sides. This might not be ideal if you often watch TV with a large group spread across the room.
If you plan to watch in a bright room, both will perform similarly, but reflections might be handled a bit better by the Q80B.
If cost is a significant factor, the Sony X85K might be the better pick, unless gaming and a more immersive sound experience are priorities for you, in which case the Samsung Q80B would be the superior choice. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Samsung Q80B (LCD)
Very good for gaming
Good for use as monitor
Good viewing angle
Advantages of the Sony X85K (LCD)
Good for sports
Very good for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for cartoons & animation
Best in class for upscaling
Best in class motion processing
Good reflections
Key differences
Sports
6.8/10
7.4/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.3/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
8.8/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.4/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X85K (LCD) is good for sports, while the Samsung Q80B (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung Q80B is considered fair for watching sports mainly due to its fair performance in handling reflections, which may be distracting in bright rooms, whereas the Sony X85K handles reflections better, ensuring clearer visibility during fast-moving sports. Additionally, the Sony X85K has better response time, which means that fast-paced action will appear more fluid and less blurry; however, it offers a more limited viewing angle, which can affect the clarity of the image when viewed from the side compared to the Samsung Q80B.
Gaming
8.2/10
7.5/10
8.1/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
7.6/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.3/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
60.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
0.0/100
8.0/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.3/10
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Sony X85K (LCD) is good.
The Samsung Q80B is rated very good for gaming largely due to its superior response time and input lag, which translates to a smoother and more responsive gaming experience compared to the Sony X85K, which has lower ratings in these key gaming performance areas.
Cartoons & Animation
7.6/10
8.5/10
7.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.5/10
7.5/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.4/10
8.8/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.4/10
7.8/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.1/10
6.4/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
7.5/10
The Sony X85K (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung Q80B (LCD) is good.
The Sony X85K is very well-regarded for watching cartoons and animation due to its excellent color accuracy right out of the box and a respectable color gamut, which helps in delivering vibrant and true-to-source hues. Conversely, the Samsung Q80B is merely good in these aspects as it provides decent color accuracy and gamut, which although satisfactory, might not display the colors in animated content as vividly as the Sony X85K.
Cost
$998
$1,098
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) has a price of $998 and the Sony X85K (LCD) costs $1,098.
The Sony X85K (LCD) and Samsung Q80B (LCD) both have good picture quality.
Movies & TV
6.4/10
6.4/10
5.33/10
CONTRAST
7.50/10
5.2/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.8/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) and Sony X85K (LCD) are both only fair for movies & TV.
The Samsung Q80B and Sony X85K both offer a fair experience for watching movies and cinematic TV; however, the Samsung Q80B has lower contrast and black uniformity which can affect the depth of blacks and overall picture richness compared to the Sony X85K which has higher contrast, leading to deeper blacks and a more immersive viewing. Furthermore, Samsung performs better with colors out of the box, suggesting a more vibrant and accurate color presentation without the need for professional calibration compared to Sony's fair performance in this area.
News, Talk, & Other TV
7.8/10
8.2/10
8.8/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.4/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony X85K (LCD) to be very good for news, talk, & other TV, while the Samsung Q80B (LCD) is good.
The Samsung Q80B excels in upscaling low-resolution content and has very good SDR brightness, making it suitable for watching news and daytime TV shows in well-lit environments. The Sony X85K offers a wide color gamut and effective local dimming, enhancing the viewing experience with vibrant colors and better contrast for those who also prioritize picture quality for regular programs.
Bright Room
7.4/10
7.4/10
7.4/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.5/10
8.8/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.4/10
7.7/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.0/10
6.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
7.3/10
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) and Sony X85K (LCD) are both good for bright room.
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How the Samsung Q80B (LCD) and the Sony X85K (LCD) compare to other TVs
"For most people its picture, sound, and price make it a midrange TV worth considering. HDR brightness was generally exceptional. Its viewing angles are shockingly good, among the very best we’ve seen recently from any non-OLED TV. For gamers input lag isn’t too shabby."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Q80B (LCD) or the Sony X85K (LCD)
About Samsung
Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, holds the title of being the largest global TV vendor in terms of units sold. They offer a diverse lineup of TV products that cater to various budget ranges. A notable achievement in recent years is the development of Quantum Dots, a technology that enhances color reproduction, resulting in richer and more vibrant hues. Samsung TVs are well-regarded for their high manufacturing quality and user-friendly software, making them an excellent choice for consumers seeking an intuitive viewing experience.
About Sony
Sony stands as a highly experienced and widely trusted TV manufacturer, earning a reputation that surpasses all others. A Japanese company, Sony has been making TVs for far longs than it has been making Playstation game consoles. Sony's high-end TVs are often regarded as the ultimate choice for videophiles, representing the epitome of quality, albeit at a premium price point. Renowned for their advanced and precise motion handling, as well as their cutting-edge local dimming algorithms, Sony consistently delivers unparalleled performance in these areas. They include Google TV software with all their TV sets, which grants access to the largest selection of apps available and they also include Bravia Core which is a movie streaming platform specifically for Sony TVs that offers higher picture quality by using more bandwidth.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec TVs team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest TV information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the TV team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and TVs Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Jaime Roldán
TVs Expert
Jaime is a Colombia-based TV expert. He is an electronics engineer with 8 years of experience in the telecom sector and has been making TV recommendations for 12 years.