A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Sony X90J generally performs better than the Sony X85J, with improved picture quality, making it a good choice for those who prioritize superior contrast, deeper blacks, and better HDR performance, which is essential for watching movies and gaming in a dark room. However, this comes at a higher cost compared to the X85J. The X85J, on the other hand, offers a better sports viewing experience and is less expensive, which could be more appealing if you often watch sports or if budget is a concern. Both TVs might not be the best in very bright rooms, but they handle reflections decently. For gaming, the X90J offers a slightly better experience due to its lower input lag and quicker response time. Both models have similar sound quality and lack built-in great speakers, which means you might want to invest in an external audio solution for a more immersive sound experience. 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 Sony X85J (LCD)
- The Sony X85J (LCD) has no clear advantages over the Sony X90J (LCD).
Advantages of the Sony X90J (LCD)
- Good for dark room
- Very good for gaming
- Good for movies & TV
- Good for use as monitor
Key differences
Picture Quality
7.3
7.8
7.88/10
CONTRAST
7.63/10
7.3/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.4/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
LED FALD
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The Sony X90J (LCD) and Sony X85J (LCD) both have good picture quality, though the Sony X90J (LCD) has somewhat better picture quality.
Movies & TV
6.5
7.9
7.88/10
CONTRAST
7.63/10
6.9/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.4/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
No
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
Yes
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X90J (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the Sony X85J (LCD) is only fair.
The Sony X90J provides a better experience for movies and cinematic TV than the Sony X85J primarily because it has local dimming, which improves contrast and black uniformity, key factors for a good cinematic experience. Additionally, the X90J has slightly better gray uniformity, which is beneficial for watching content with large areas of similar color, although it has a marginally narrower viewing angle when compared to the X85J.
Gaming
7.6
8.2
7.8/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.0/10
10.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
0.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
80.0/100
7.5/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.2/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Sony X85J (LCD) is good.
The Sony X90J is considered very good for gaming due to its very good response time, which results in smooth motion, and good input lag, ensuring minimal delay between user actions and on-screen reactions. Meanwhile, the Sony X85J is rated slightly lower because, despite its good input lag and response time, it does not match the X90J's performance in these critical areas for gaming.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.2
8.9
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.6/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) and Sony X85J (LCD) are both very good for news, talk, & other TV, though the Sony X90J (LCD) is somewhat better.
The Sony X85J and Sony X90J both excel at watching news, talk shows, and TV programs largely because they have very good SDR brightness and excellent upscaling, crucial for clear images in standard definition content. Moreover, their colors are impressive out of the box, which is beneficial for colorful content, although the X90J has an advantage with better local dimming and contrast that can enhance picture quality in various lighting conditions.
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Key similarities
Sports
7.2
7.1
10.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
7.6/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.0/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.6/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X85J (LCD) and Sony X90J (LCD) are both good for sports.
The Sony X85J and Sony X90J both excel in sports viewing thanks to their quick response times and proficient motion processing which are crucial for fast-moving scenes. However, the X90J edges out with a slightly better response time, which means even smoother motion in sports but it handles reflections similarly to the less expensive X85J, and both have limited viewing angles which could affect viewing from the side.
Cartoons & Animation
8.6
8.3
7.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.4/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.6/10
9.1/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.0/10
8.2/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.8/10
The Sony X85J (LCD) and Sony X90J (LCD) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
The Sony X85J and Sony X90J both have excellent colors out of the box, meaning they display vibrant and accurate colors right when you start using them, which is essential for animated content. While the color gamut and color volume are good on both, indicating a wide range of colors, the X90J has a higher color volume, which means it can express more shades of colors, enhancing the viewing experience for cartoons and animation.
Bright Room
7.3
7.6
5.3/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.2/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.6/10
7.1/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.9/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
5.9/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) and Sony X85J (LCD) are both good for bright room.
The Sony X85J and Sony X90J both have very good SDR brightness which makes them suitable for bright rooms, but their poor ratings in reflections handling mean they may struggle with direct light. Although the Sony X90J offers slightly better HDR brightness and color volume, which enhances the viewing experience for HDR content, this is a subtle difference and both TVs have a good color gamut for vivid colors.
Cost
$850
$800
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Sony X85J (LCD) has a price of $850 and the Sony X90J (LCD) costs $800.
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How the Sony X85J (LCD) and the Sony X90J (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sony X85J (LCD) | Sony X90J (LCD) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$850 | $800 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sony | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 2, 2021 | April 1, 2021 | |
Full name | |||
Full name | KD-50X85J | XR-50X90J | |
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 50" | 50" | |
Screen Resolution | |||
Screen Resolution | 4K | 4K | |
TV FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android TV | Android TV | |
Sound Quality Score | |||
Sound Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.3/10 | |
NextGen Ready | |||
NextGen Ready | Yes | Yes | |
HDMI Ports | |||
HDMI Ports | 4 | 4 | |
Coax Ports | |||
Coax Ports | 1 | 1 | |
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Picture Quality Score | |||
Picture Quality Score | 7.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Bright Room Score | |||
Bright Room Score | 7.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.6/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Movies & TV Score | |||
Movies & TV Score | 6.6/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Sports Score | |||
Sports Score | 7.3/10 | 7.1/10 | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | |||
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | 25.5" x 44" x 2.8" | 25.5" x 44" x 2.7" | |
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | |||
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | 28.1" x 44" | 28.1" x 44" | |
Weight without Stand | |||
Weight without Stand | 28.0 lbs | 29.8 lbs | |
VESA Mount | |||
VESA Mount | 200 x 200 | 200 x 200 | |
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 | 7.9/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Local Dimming | |||
Local Dimming | 2.5/10 | 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 | Up to DTS Digital Surround, Bypass only | Up to DTS Digital Surround, Bypass only | |
Get a great deal on the Sony X85J (LCD) or the Sony X90J (LCD)
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.
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