The Samsung CU8000 is a lower midrange price TV that's typically much less expensive than the Sony X95K. However, the Sony X95K, being a premium-priced TV, delivers significantly better overall picture quality, especially in dark and bright rooms. The Sony also excels in gaming, sports content, and movie viewing.
If gaming is a priority for you and you're willing to pay more, the Sony X95K has higher gaming performance and includes a 120Hz screen, which is better for fast-paced content. It also has better sound quality, with great speakers.
On the other hand, if you're on a tighter budget, the Samsung CU8000 still offers good performance for cartoons and animation, and it has a lower input lag, which is good for gaming — just not as premium as the Sony.
Regarding bright room usage, the Sony X95K is likely to provide a better experience with its higher bright room performance. So, if you often watch TV in a well-lit room, the extra investment in the Sony may be worthwhile. 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 X95K (LCD).
Advantages of the Sony X95K (LCD)
Best in class for bright room
Very good for dark room
Very good for gaming
Very good for movies & TV
Very good for sports
Excellent 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
Very good reflections
Key differences
Picture Quality
5.8/10
8.0/10
4.92/10
CONTRAST
7.50/10
6.9/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.8/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
LED FALD
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The Sony X95K (LCD) has very good picture quality, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) has poor picture quality.
Movies & TV
5.3/10
8.0/10
4.92/10
CONTRAST
7.50/10
6.1/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.1/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X95K (LCD) is very good for movies & TV, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung CU8000's lower contrast, absence of local dimming, and poorer black uniformity contribute to its lesser performance for movies and cinematic TV compared to the Sony X95K, which has higher contrast, effective local dimming, and good black uniformity that enhance picture depth and detail in dark scenes. Additionally, the X95K outperforms the CU8000 with better color reproduction and viewing angles, which translates to a more vibrant and consistent image when watching content from various positions in the room.
Sports
6.4/10
8.0/10
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
9.1/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X95K (LCD) is very good for sports, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung CU8000 tends to fall short in crucial aspects for sports viewing, such as motion processing and reflections handling, with both being rated lower than ideal. In contrast, the Sony X95K excels in these areas, with ratings indicating superior motion processing and reflections handling, and additionally offers a broader viewing angle and better gray uniformity which are desirable for watching sports with a group.
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
85.0/100
5.8/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.1/10
The Sony X95K (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung CU8000, with a lower response time score than the Sony X95K, might not handle fast-moving visuals as smoothly, affecting gaming experiences that demand precise timing. Additionally, despite both having good input lag scores, the Sony X95K's superior refresh rate offers a smoother and more responsive gaming experience on fast-paced games.
Cartoons & Animation
5.9/10
8.7/10
7.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.7/10
6.9/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.8/10
6.7/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.1/10
6.2/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
8.5/10
6.6/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
8.0/10
The Sony X95K (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Sony X95K is rated very good for watching cartoons and animation due to its excellent color reproduction and wider color gamut, providing vibrant colors and rich images right out of the box. Conversely, the Samsung CU8000 is considered poor in this regard because its out-of-the-box color accuracy and color gamut aren't as strong, which can result in less vivid and accurate colors for animated content.
News, Talk, & Other TV
5.7/10
9.1/10
6.7/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.1/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
The Sony X95K (LCD) is excellent for news, talk, & other TV, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Sony X95K excels in presenting news, talk shows, and other typical TV programs due to its excellent SDR brightness and superior upscaling capability, ensuring clear picture quality even from lower-resolution sources. In comparison, the Samsung CU8000 falls short with only fair SDR brightness and less effective upscaling, which could lead to a less vibrant and less detailed viewing experience in such content.
Bright Room
5.9/10
9.5/10
5.2/10
VIEWING ANGLE
6.0/10
6.7/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.1/10
5.5/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.1/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
8.4/10
The Sony X95K (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Sony X95K outperforms the Samsung CU8000 in a bright room mainly due to its excellent SDR and HDR brightness and better handling of reflections. In contrast, the Samsung CU8000 has lower SDR and HDR brightness, which, coupled with its poorer reflection handling, makes it less suitable for bright environments.
Cost
$578
$1,788
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Samsung CU8000 (LCD) has a price of $578 and the Sony X95K (LCD) costs $1,788.
How the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) and the Sony X95K (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
Samsung CU8000 (LCD)
Sony X95K (LCD)
GENERAL
Price
Price
$578
$1,788
Brand
Brand
Samsung
Sony
Release Date
Release Date
March 4, 2023
May 3, 2022
Full name
Full name
UN65CU8000
XR-65X95K
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
9.5/10
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
8/10
Bright Room Score
Bright Room Score
6/10
9.6/10
Gaming Score
Gaming Score
5.5/10
8.2/10
Movies & TV Score
Movies & TV Score
5.3/10
8/10
Sports Score
Sports Score
6.4/10
8/10
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
5.7/10
9.2/10
Cartoons & Animation Score
Cartoons & Animation Score
6/10
8.7/10
Use as Monitor Score
Use as Monitor Score
5.8/10
7.8/10
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"
32.9" x 56.9" x 2.4"
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
34.4" x 57.1"
33.4" x 56.9"
Weight without Stand
Weight without Stand
Unknown
70.8 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
7.5/10
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
2.5/10
8.4/10
Gaming Local Dimming
Gaming Local Dimming
0/100
8.5/100
Game HDR Brightness Score
Game HDR Brightness Score
5.9/10
9.2/10
SDR Brightness Score
SDR Brightness Score
6.8/10
9.1/10
HDR Brightness Score
HDR Brightness Score
5.6/10
9.1/10
Gray Uniformity
Gray Uniformity
6.6/10
8/10
Black Uniformity
Black Uniformity
6.1/10
6.1/10
Viewing Angle
Viewing Angle
5.3/10
6/10
Reflections Score
Reflections Score
6/10
8.4/10
Upscaling
Upscaling
6/10
10/10
Motion Processing
Motion Processing
8.3/10
10/10
Color Gamut Score
Color Gamut Score
7.3/10
7.8/10
Color Volume Score
Color Volume Score
6.9/10
7.9/10
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
8.5/10
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
4.2
Speaker Power
Speaker Power
20 W
60 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 X95K (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.
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About the TV team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and TVs Editor
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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.