TVs / Sony A95L vs Sony BRAVIA 8 II
Sony A95L vs Sony BRAVIA 8 II
Sony BRAVIA 8 II
Sony's brightest OLED yet, built around Acoustic Surface Audio+ and a new 3rd-gen QD-OLED panel.
Wins overall by 0.1 points
Quick Verdict
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II wins by 0.1 points, which is not enough to settle it. Sony's original flagship QD-OLED — still one of the best-reviewed panels on the market. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.
The Sony A95L and Sony BRAVIA 8 II are both closely matched TV models, and the Sony BRAVIA 8 II is $201 cheaper than the Sony A95L ($3,299 vs $3,499.99). On Brightness & HDR, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II leads (8.3 vs 7.9/10) — peak nits and HDR format support for highlight detail. On Built-in Sound, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II leads (8.8 vs 8.6/10) — onboard speaker power, clarity, and Dolby Atmos support. On Value, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II leads (6.5 vs 6.3/10) — performance and features relative to price. Overall, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 8.2/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 8.1/10 for the Sony A95L, though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Sony A95L | Sony BRAVIA 8 II |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3499.99 | $3299.00 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2026 |
| Screen Size (in) | 65 | 65 |
| Panel Type | QD-OLED (Sony XR Triluminos Max) | 3rd-Gen QD-OLED (Sony custom heatsink + XR processing) |
| Resolution | 3840x2160 (4K UHD) | 3840x2160 (4K UHD) |
| Peak Brightness (nits) | 1507 | 1584✓ |
| Refresh Rate (Hz) | 120 | 120 |
| Processor | Cognitive Processor XR | Cognitive Processor XR |
| HDMI 2.1 Ports (ports) | 2 | 2 |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Google TV | Google TV |
| Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Audio System | Acoustic Surface Audio+, 2.2ch, 60W | Acoustic Surface Audio+, 2.2ch, 50W (2 actuators + 2 subwoofers) |
| Built-in Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II is marginally ahead, 9.5 to 9.3. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if panel technology, contrast, and color accuracy is your priority.
Brightness & HDR
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II is marginally ahead, 8.3 to 7.9. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if peak nits and HDR format support for highlight detail is your priority.
Gaming Features
The Sony A95L and Sony BRAVIA 8 II are level here, at 8.2/10 each. refresh rate, VRR, input lag, and console support is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Smart Platform
The Sony A95L and Sony BRAVIA 8 II are level here, at 8.5/10 each. OS responsiveness, app ecosystem, and voice assistant support is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Built-in Sound
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II is marginally ahead, 8.8 to 8.6. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if onboard speaker power, clarity, and Dolby Atmos support is your priority.
Design & Build
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II is marginally ahead, 9.0 to 8.8. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if panel thinness, bezels, stand/mount options, and finish is your priority.
Connectivity
The Sony A95L and Sony BRAVIA 8 II are level here, at 7.0/10 each. HDMI 2.1 port count and other I/O for consoles and soundbars is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II is marginally ahead, 6.5 to 6.3. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if performance and features relative to price is your priority.
Best For
Choose the Sony BRAVIA 8 II if…
- • Brightness & HDR matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 8.3/10 here (peak nits and HDR format support for highlight detail).
- • Built-in Sound matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 8.8/10 here (onboard speaker power, clarity, and Dolby Atmos support).
- • Value matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 6.5/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
- • Picture Quality matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 9.5/10 here (panel technology, contrast, and color accuracy).
- • Design & Build matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 9.0/10 here (panel thinness, bezels, stand/mount options, and finish).
Pros & Cons
Sony A95L
Pros
- +Sony's benchmark-setting original QD-OLED panel
- +Acoustic Surface Audio+ delivers 60W of screen-driven sound
- +PS5-specific gaming features including Auto HDR Tone Mapping and 120fps VRR
- +Google TV with broad app and Chromecast support
Cons
- −Succeeded by the brighter BRAVIA 8 II — lower peak brightness
- −Only 2 of 4 HDMI ports are full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1
- −120Hz cap, no 165Hz mode
Sony BRAVIA 8 II
Pros
- +25% brighter than the outgoing A95L thanks to Sony's 3rd-gen QD-OLED panel
- +Acoustic Surface Audio+ turns the whole panel into a 50W 2.2-channel speaker
- +AI Scene Recognition for real-time picture optimization
- +Google TV smart platform with deep Chromecast/Assistant integration
Cons
- −Maxes out at 4K/120Hz — no 165Hz mode like the LG/Samsung flagships
- −Only 2 of 4 HDMI ports are full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1
- −Available in just 55" and 65" sizes
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Sony A95L or Sony BRAVIA 8 II better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Brightness & HDR, the Sony A95L or the Sony BRAVIA 8 II?+
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores higher on Brightness & HDR (8.3/10 vs 7.9/10) — peak nits and HDR format support for highlight detail.
Which is better for Built-in Sound, the Sony A95L or the Sony BRAVIA 8 II?+
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores higher on Built-in Sound (8.8/10 vs 8.6/10) — onboard speaker power, clarity, and Dolby Atmos support.
Which is better for Value, the Sony A95L or the Sony BRAVIA 8 II?+
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores higher on Value (6.5/10 vs 6.3/10) — performance and features relative to price.
Which is better for Picture Quality, the Sony A95L or the Sony BRAVIA 8 II?+
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores higher on Picture Quality (9.5/10 vs 9.3/10) — panel technology, contrast, and color accuracy.
Is the Sony A95L worth the price difference over the Sony BRAVIA 8 II?+
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II is the cheaper option at $3,299 versus $3,499.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Brightness & HDR.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Sony A95L is the better fit if you mainly care about gaming. The Sony BRAVIA 8 II is the better fit for flagship.
What's the warranty on the Sony A95L vs the Sony BRAVIA 8 II?+
The Sony A95L ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sony BRAVIA 8 II ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Samsung S95H — $3299.99
Premium Option
Samsung S95H — $3299.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.