TVs / Sony BRAVIA 8 II vs Sony A95L
Sony BRAVIA 8 II vs Sony A95L
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
This is a close call. The Sony BRAVIA 8 II edges ahead by 0.1 points overall, but the Sony A95L is still an excellent choice — especially if sony's original flagship qd-oled — still one of the best-reviewed panels on the market.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II and Sony A95L are both closely matched tv, and the Sony BRAVIA 8 II is $201 cheaper than the Sony A95L ($3299 vs $3499.99). 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 test 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 BRAVIA 8 II | Sony A95L |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3299.00 | $3499.99 |
| Release Year | 2026 | 2023 |
| Screen Size (in) | 65 | 65 |
| Panel Type | 3rd-Gen QD-OLED (Sony custom heatsink + XR processing) | QD-OLED (Sony XR Triluminos Max) |
| Resolution | 3840x2160 (4K UHD) | 3840x2160 (4K UHD) |
| Peak Brightness (nits) | 1584✓ | 1507 |
| 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, 50W (2 actuators + 2 subwoofers) | Acoustic Surface Audio+, 2.2ch, 60W |
| Built-in Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
On picture quality, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 9.5/10 versus 9.3/10 for the Sony A95L — panel technology, contrast, and color accuracy. The Sony BRAVIA 8 II has the edge (9.5 vs 9.3).
Brightness & HDR
On brightness & hdr, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 8.3/10 versus 7.9/10 for the Sony A95L — peak nits and hdr format support for highlight detail. The Sony BRAVIA 8 II has the edge (8.3 vs 7.9).
Gaming Features
On gaming features, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 8.3/10 versus 8.2/10 for the Sony A95L — refresh rate, vrr, input lag, and console support. The two are essentially tied here.
Smart Platform
On smart platform, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 8.5/10 versus 8.5/10 for the Sony A95L — os responsiveness, app ecosystem, and voice assistant support. The two are essentially tied here.
Built-in Sound
On built-in sound, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 8.8/10 versus 8.6/10 for the Sony A95L — onboard speaker power, clarity, and dolby atmos support. The Sony BRAVIA 8 II has the edge (8.8 vs 8.6).
Design & Build
On design & build, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 9.0/10 versus 8.8/10 for the Sony A95L — panel thinness, bezels, stand/mount options, and finish. The Sony BRAVIA 8 II has the edge (9.0 vs 8.8).
Connectivity
On connectivity, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 7.0/10 versus 7.0/10 for the Sony A95L — hdmi 2.1 port count and other i/o for consoles and soundbars. The two are essentially tied here.
Value
On value, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II scores 6.5/10 versus 6.3/10 for the Sony A95L — performance and features relative to price. The Sony BRAVIA 8 II has the edge (6.5 vs 6.3).
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 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
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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Sony BRAVIA 8 II or Sony A95L 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 BRAVIA 8 II or the Sony A95L?+
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 BRAVIA 8 II or the Sony A95L?+
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 BRAVIA 8 II or the Sony A95L?+
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 BRAVIA 8 II or the Sony A95L?+
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 BRAVIA 8 II worth the price difference over the Sony A95L?+
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II is the cheaper option at $3299 versus $3499.99. 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 BRAVIA 8 II is the better fit if you mainly care about flagship. The Sony A95L is the better fit for gaming.
What's the warranty on the Sony BRAVIA 8 II vs the Sony A95L?+
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sony A95L 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