If you're looking for an affordable option, the Samsung CU8000 is much less expensive and offers reasonable performance in many areas, including sports and cartoon content. However, it has limited brightness for HDR content and might not be the best for dark room viewing due to lower black uniformity.
On the other hand, the Sony X90J is more expensive but provides significantly better picture quality across the board, including excellent gaming performance and dark room viewing experiences. It also offers better motion processing and overall color performance.
Consider the Samsung CU8000 if budget is a priority, but if you're seeking high performance for a wide range of content and environments, the Sony X90J is a compelling choice despite its higher cost. 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 CU8000 (LCD)
The Samsung CU8000 (LCD) has no clear advantages over the Sony X90J (LCD).
Advantages of the Sony X90J (LCD)
Good for bright room
Good for dark room
Very good for gaming
Good for movies & TV
Good for sports
Very good for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for cartoons & animation
Good for use as monitor
Best in class for upscaling
Best in class motion processing
Key differences
Picture Quality
5.8/10
7.8/10
4.92/10
CONTRAST
7.63/10
6.9/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.4/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
LED FALD
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The Sony X90J (LCD) has good picture quality, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) has poor picture quality.
Movies & TV
5.3/10
7.9/10
4.92/10
CONTRAST
7.63/10
6.1/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.4/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X90J (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung CU8000 struggles with watching movies and cinematic TV due to lower contrast, lack of local dimming, and poorer black uniformity, which can compromise dark scene presentation. In contrast, the Sony X90J excels in these areas with significantly higher contrast, effective local dimming, and better black uniformity, providing a richer and more consistent viewing experience for movies.
Sports
6.4/10
7.1/10
8.2/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
8.7/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.0/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
6.7/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.6/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X90J (LCD) is good for sports, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung CU8000 has a slower response time and less effective motion processing compared to the Sony X90J, which is more capable in these areas, making the Sony preferable for watching fast-moving sports. Additionally, the Sony X90J handles reflections better and maintains a wider viewing angle, ensuring clearer visibility from different seating positions, though both models could perform better in this aspect.
Gaming
5.5/10
8.2/10
4.9/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
8.0/10
8.7/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
0.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
80.0/100
5.8/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.2/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Sony X90J is considered very good for gaming because it has a very good response time, which is important for smooth motion, and good input lag, ensuring a quick reaction to user commands. On the other hand, the Samsung CU8000 has a poor response time, which can lead to motion blur in fast-paced games, but it does have very good input lag, which is beneficial for gaming responsiveness.
Cartoons & Animation
5.9/10
8.3/10
7.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.0/10
6.9/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.4/10
6.7/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.6/10
6.2/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.0/10
6.6/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.8/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Sony X90J (LCD) displays cartoons and animation very well with its excellent out-of-the-box colors, ensuring vivid and accurate renditions of animated content without adjustment. In contrast, the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is less ideal for such content due to its fair performance in out-of-the-box colors, which may result in less accurate color representation when first viewing.
News, Talk, & Other TV
5.7/10
8.9/10
6.7/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.6/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) is very good for news, talk, & other TV, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung CU8000 struggles with upscaling and SDR brightness, giving a fair performance which can compromise the clarity of news and talk shows; furthermore, its color out of the box is only fair, indicating less vibrant and accurate colors initially. In contrast, the Sony X90J excels with very good upscaling and SDR brightness, ensuring clear and bright images for standard content, and its colors out of the box are excellent, providing vivid and accurate colors without the need for major adjustments.
Bright Room
5.9/10
7.6/10
5.2/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.2/10
6.7/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.6/10
5.5/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.9/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
5.9/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) is good for bright room, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Sony X90J outperforms the Samsung CU8000 in bright rooms primarily because it has superior SDR and HDR brightness, helping it to maintain picture quality even in well-lit conditions; this is essential since both TVs struggle with reflections handling which is important when ambient light is present. Additionally, the higher contrast, color volume, and color gamut of the Sony X90J contribute to a more vibrant and detailed image in bright environments, whereas the Samsung CU8000's performance in these aspects is less impressive, making it less suitable for bright room viewing.
Cost
$578
$998
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Samsung CU8000 (LCD) has a price of $578 and the Sony X90J (LCD) costs $998.
How the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) and the Sony X90J (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
Samsung CU8000 (LCD)
Sony X90J (LCD)
GENERAL
Price
Price
$578
$998
Brand
Brand
Samsung
Sony
Release Date
Release Date
March 4, 2023
April 3, 2021
Full name
Full name
UN65CU8000
XR-65X90J
Screen Size
Screen Size
65"
65"
Screen Resolution
Screen Resolution
4K
4K
Screen Type
Screen Type
LCD
LCD
Screen Sub-type
Screen Sub-type
LED VA
LED FALD VA
Smart TV
Smart TV
Yes
Yes
TV FEATURES
Operating System
Operating System
Tizen
Android TV
Sound Quality Score
Sound Quality Score
7/10
7.3/10
NextGen Ready
NextGen Ready
No
Yes
HDMI Ports
HDMI Ports
3
4
Coax Ports
Coax Ports
1
1
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
60Hz
120Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
No
Yes
HDR Supported formats
HDR Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
Accessibility
Accessibility
Voice Commands
None
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES
Picture Quality Score
Picture Quality Score
5.8/10
7.8/10
Bright Room Score
Bright Room Score
6/10
7.7/10
Gaming Score
Gaming Score
5.5/10
8.2/10
Movies & TV Score
Movies & TV Score
5.3/10
7.9/10
Sports Score
Sports Score
6.4/10
7.1/10
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
5.7/10
8.9/10
Cartoons & Animation Score
Cartoons & Animation Score
6/10
8.4/10
Use as Monitor Score
Use as Monitor Score
5.8/10
7/10
PHYSICAL
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
32.8" x 57.1" x 1"
32.8" x 57.2" x 2.8"
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
34.4" x 57.1"
35.6" x 57.2"
Weight without Stand
Weight without Stand
Unknown
50.5 lbs
VESA Mount
VESA Mount
400 x 300
300 x 300
DISPLAY
Color Depth
Color Depth
10 bit
10 bit
Black Frame Insertion
Black Frame Insertion
Yes
Yes
Auto Low Latency Mode
Auto Low Latency Mode
Yes
Yes
Contrast
Contrast
4.9/10
7.6/10
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
2.5/10
8/10
Gaming Local Dimming
Gaming Local Dimming
0/100
8/100
Game HDR Brightness Score
Game HDR Brightness Score
5.9/10
8.3/10
SDR Brightness Score
SDR Brightness Score
6.8/10
8.6/10
HDR Brightness Score
HDR Brightness Score
5.6/10
7.9/10
Gray Uniformity
Gray Uniformity
6.6/10
6.8/10
Black Uniformity
Black Uniformity
6.1/10
6.4/10
Viewing Angle
Viewing Angle
5.3/10
5.3/10
Reflections Score
Reflections Score
6/10
5.9/10
Upscaling
Upscaling
6/10
10/10
Motion Processing
Motion Processing
8.3/10
10/10
Color Gamut Score
Color Gamut Score
7.3/10
7/10
Color Volume Score
Color Volume Score
6.9/10
7.4/10
Response Time Score
Response Time Score
4.9/10
8.1/10
Input Lag Score
Input Lag Score
8.8/10
7/10
Colors Out of the Box Score
Colors Out of the Box Score
6.3/10
9/10
Quality Control
Quality Control
6.7/10
8.8/10
Chroma Subsampling Score
Chroma Subsampling Score
7/10
8/10
SOUND
Speaker Setup
Speaker Setup
2.0
2.0
Speaker Power
Speaker Power
20 W
20 W
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Yes
DTS:X
DTS:X
No
Up to DTS Digital Surround, Bypass only
Get a great deal on the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) or the Sony X90J (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
385
TVs evaluated
33,110
TVs stats compiled
21
Proprietary TVs ratings developed
121,830
Recommendations made
18,275
Consumer hours saved
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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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.