Updated January 12, 2024·Prices updated 24 hours ago
The Sony X85K is less expensive and still provides a good viewing experience with a high refresh rate and decent picture quality for various content, including movies and gaming. However, if you desire a TV that offers better overall performance in dark rooms, enhanced contrast, and better sound with a higher wattage and additional features like voice commands, the Sony X90L is the superior choice. The X90L is especially suited for users who prioritize top-tier picture quality and can accommodate the higher price point. Both models support HDR and have similar input capabilities for gaming, but the X90L's full-array local dimming will significantly improve viewing in darker environments. Give Feedback
This comparison is based on the 65" Sony X85K (LCD) and the 65" Sony X90L (LCD). At the time of writing the 65" Sony X85K (LCD) cost $998 and the 65" Sony X90L (LCD) cost $1,198. The Sony X85K (LCD) has dropped in price by $320. The Sony X90L (LCD) has dropped in price by $200.
Advantages of the Sony X85K (LCD)
Good reflections
Advantages of the Sony X90L (LCD)
Very good for bright room
Good for dark room
Very good for gaming
Good for movies & TV
Excellent for news, talk, & other TV
Good for use as monitor
Key differences
Picture Quality
7.2/10
7.8/10
7.50/10
CONTRAST
7.125/10
7.4/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.8/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
LED FALD
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The Sony X90L (LCD) and Sony X85K (LCD) both have good picture quality, though the Sony X90L (LCD) has somewhat better picture quality.
Movies & TV
6.4/10
7.6/10
7.50/10
CONTRAST
7.125/10
6.8/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.0/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
No
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
Yes
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X90L (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the Sony X85K (LCD) is only fair.
The Sony X90L offers a better viewing experience for movies and cinematic TV due to its effective local dimming feature, which enhances contrast and black uniformity, critical for dark scene reproduction. On the other hand, the Sony X85K lacks local dimming, which means it might struggle with deep blacks and contrast in comparison, although it has better gray uniformity and viewing angles for more flexibility in seating arrangement.
Gaming
7.5/10
8.1/10
7.6/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
8.0/10
7.3/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.0/10
10.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
0.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
73.0/100
7.3/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.6/10
The Sony X90L (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Sony X85K (LCD) is good.
The Sony X85K has good response time and input lag which are important for a smooth gaming experience, while the Sony X90L offers very good performance in these areas, thus providing an even smoother playing experience for fast-paced games with less delay between input and action on screen.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.2/10
9.0/10
8.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.4/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
The Sony X90L (LCD) is excellent for news, talk, & other TV, while the Sony X85K (LCD) is very good.
The Sony X85K is recognized for having excellent color accuracy straight out of the box and very good SDR brightness, making it a solid choice for watching news and TV programs in most conditions. However, the Sony X90L surpasses it with even better SDR brightness and local dimming features, enhancing contrast and overall picture quality, particularly beneficial in brighter rooms or for viewers seeking a more visually striking experience.
Bright Room
7.4/10
8.6/10
5.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.5/10
8.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.4/10
7.0/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.3/10
7.3/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
5.9/10
The Sony X90L (LCD) is very good for bright room, while the Sony X85K (LCD) is good.
The Sony X90L outperforms the Sony X85K in a bright room mainly because it has superior SDR and HDR brightness, which is vital for maintaining picture quality in well-lit environments. However, the X90L has lower reflections handling compared to the X85K, which might reduce its effectiveness in a room with many light sources.
Cost
$678
$998
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Sony X85K (LCD) has a price of $678 and the Sony X90L (LCD) costs $998.
The Sony X85K (LCD) and Sony X90L (LCD) are both good for sports.
The Sony X85K excels in sports viewing due to its excellent motion handling and low response time, ensuring fast-paced action is displayed clearly without blur, while its good reflection handling provides clear visibility even in well-lit environments. The Sony X90L, however, offers a brighter display that can combat glare effectively, good motion processing, and wider viewing angles, making it suitable for larger groups.
Cartoons & Animation
8.5/10
8.6/10
7.5/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.7/10
7.4/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.8/10
8.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.4/10
9.1/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
8.0/10
7.5/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.6/10
The Sony X90L (LCD) and Sony X85K (LCD) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
The Sony X85K is appreciated for its excellent colors out of the box, which means it has rich and accurate colors without the need for additional calibration, making cartoons & animation look lively and true to the creator's vision. The Sony X90L, while also very good with colors out of the box, offers a better color volume, which allows it to display a wider range of colors, enhancing the viewing experience of vibrant animated content.
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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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