Buying a new TV for most people is a big challenge considering there are a vast number of different models, screen sizes, brands, features, etc. For this reason, we have summarized the most common customer questions and dilemmas and created this short guide. If you want to know which TV is better, the Sony A80J vs A90J, you’re reading the right post.
Sony A80J vs A90J – Quick Comparison
At first glance, these TVs are very similar and provide pretty much the same features. But, there are some differences between the two. And if you want to find out more, you can do that in our A80J vs A90J comparison.
First, check out the table below to find out more details about each TV in this comparison as this guide will help you find a suitable TV for your needs.
| Sony A80J | Sony A90J | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen sizes | 55, 65, 77 inches | 55, 65, 83 inches |
| Screen panel | OLED | OLED |
| Processor | Cognitive Processor XR | Cognitive Processor XR |
| Operating system | Google TV 10 | Google TV 10 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh rate | No | No |
| Resolution | 3840×2160 | 3840×2160 |
| Contrast ratio | infinite :1 | infinite :1 |
| HDMI ports | 4 (2x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0) | 4 (2x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0) |
| USB ports | 3 (2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0) | 3 (2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0) |
| WiFi and Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | 30 Watts | 60 Watts |
| HDR 10 | Yes | Yes |
| HDR 10+ | No | No |
As you can tell, the two TVs in our Sony A80J vs A90J comparison share more similarities than differences. Be sure to read the entire article to learn more about each feature.
Sony A80J
Pros:
- Fantastic sound quality
- Smooth Smart TV OS
- Image processor
- Fantastic colors
Cons:
- Lacks variable refresh rate
- Subpar reflection handling
Sony A90J
Pros:
- Ideal for watching movies and TV shows
- Superb reflection handling
- Better brightness than the A80J model
- Impressive motion handling
Cons:
- Sound quality
- No variable refresh rate
Features Face to Face
Panel Technology
OLED technology has many advantages when compared to other types of panels. IPS or VA panels don’t provide very good color accuracy, viewing angles, or contrast as OLED panels do.
These panels have individual pixels that emit their own light, which their name implies. OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode. However, these panels may struggle with low brightness.
In this A80J vs A90J comparison, both TV models have the same OLED technology, so they are equal in this category.
Winner: Draw
Image Processor
Since both of these TVs come from the same manufacturer, they have Sony’s Cognitive XR processor. This processor divides the entire screen into zones. Then, it identifies all of the objects in each zone. It allows cross-analyzation, which is the communication between the objects.
The result of the cross-analyzation is a clear, colorful picture with smooth motions and excellent contrast. This processor technology makes both of these two TVs ideal for watching movies.
Winner: Draw
Motion Technology
People looking to buy a TV are probably searching for the one that will provide the best viewing experience. The refresh rate determines a large portion of the viewing experience. TV manufacturers today are trying to provide the best refresh rate they can for consumers.
The refresh rate shows how many images your TV can show in one second. The higher that number is, the better motion handling the TV has. Also, high refresh rates mean less blurring and ghosting around objects.
The refresh rate is expressed in Hz, and most TVs today range from 60 to 240 Hz. These TVs have the same native refresh rate, which is 120 Hz. However, neither has a variable refresh rate, making them not the best choice for high-end gaming.
As you can see in the picture above, the time between the objects is measured in milliseconds. For example, a 30 Hz TV has the longest time before two images are refreshed. In other words, when you look at one object, you may feel like you are seeing two.
Therefore consider purchasing a 120 Hz TV if you want to avoid flickering. In that case, the Sony A80J or A90J could be a great solution.
Winner: Draw
Picture Quality
The TV’s picture quality depends on many things, but the most significant features are the resolution and refresh rates. While most TVs provide the basic HD resolution, many TV models today support 4K or 8K resolution. It is up to you to choose the resolution and how much money you’re willing to spend on a new TV.
Many people claim that 4K is an impeccable resolution. In that case, the Sony A80J or A90J might be a great solution since they both support 4K resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate.
Unfortunately, as you can see in the table below, neither of them can achieve a 1440p resolution at 120 Hz.
| Resolution | Sony A80J | Sony A90J |
|---|---|---|
| 4K/120Hz | Yes (native support) | Yes (native support) |
| 4K/60Hz/4:4:4 | Yes | Yes |
| 4K/60Hz | Yes | Yes |
| 1440p/120Hz | No | No |
| 1440p/60Hz | Yes (forced resolution) | Yes (forced resolution) |
| 1080p/120Hz | Yes (native support) | Yes (native support) |
| 1080p/60Hz/4:4:4 | Yes | Yes |
Contrast Ratio / Black Level
The contrast ratio shows the correlation between the TV’s black and the brightest white. So, it shows how much brighter the white is when compared to the black color. With that being said, both of these TVs provide an infinite :1 native contrast ratio, showing perfect blacks.
Winner: Draw
Local Dimming
As we mentioned earlier, both of these TVs have OLED panel technology. OLED panels are known for not having a backlight. However, it’s exactly the thing that enables them to be so thin and sleek.
It also means that they don’t have a local dimming feature. And there is no need for them to have it since they have self-emitting diodes. So, you can expect to have no blooming around the objects, alongside the perfect blacks.
Winner: Draw
Peak Brightness
Even though brightness is not the strength of OLED TVs, these models provide good brightness levels. The Sony A80J model has a maximum brightness of 870 nits. However, the Sony A90J model has a slightly higher maximum brightness of 890 nits.
Winner: Sony A90J
Color
In general, OLED TVs provide vivid colors and incredible shades of darker colors, and they do a fantastic job at displaying dark colors. However, they sometimes struggle with brighter colors.
Both TVs provide similar performance in color volume and gradient handling. However, they have some banding in green and gray colors, which you can smooth out by turning on the Smooth Gradation feature.
But unlike the Sony A90J, which has a good color gamut, the Sony A80J excels in this segment. Even though they are similar, the Sony A80J provides better color accuracy.
Winner: Sony A80J
Viewing Angle
The OLED TVs excel when it comes to viewing angles. The color washout and brightness loss are minimal on these TVs. Of course, the perfect angle for watching TV is to sit straight in front of the screen.
If you opt for one of these models, you can set up wide seating arrangements. You can call your friends and family for a fantastic movie night or watch a sporting event without worrying about angles.
Winner: Draw
Reflections / Anti-glare
Even though both of these models are equipped with OLED screens, which are great at handling reflections, there is a significant difference between the two.
The Sony A80J model can have glare issues near a light source. So, you shouldn’t place it against the window or in a room that has a lot of sunlight. The Sony A90J, on the other hand, is fantastic at handling reflection.
Winner: Sony A90J
Sound Quality
The Sony A90J model can’t brag about its sound quality. Unfortunately, it has a weak bass, which might downgrade your listening experience. In this case, it is recommended to set aside more money and purchase a budget-friendly soundbar and provide yourself with fantastic sound.
Even though the Sony A80J comes with 30 Watts speakers, it delivers better overall sound quality. It also has 2.2 channels, but it has acoustic auto-calibration, and even the screen is used as a speaker.
This TV detects your exact location in the room and delivers the best possible sound based on that information. So, the Sony A80J has far better speakers and it prevails in this category.
However, if you prefer the Sony A90J, here is how you can mount a soundbar to your TV and boost your sound experience.
Winner: Sony A80J
Smart TV Platform (Operating System)
As expected, both TVs in this Sony A80J vs A90J comparison come with the same operating system. They come with the Google TV 10 OS. You can watch thousands of TV shows and various movie titles on this platform. You can also take advantage of the most popular streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
And not only that, it will bring all your subscriptions to one place. That means it will organize the content for you. The systems are easy to use and run very smoothly, so you shouldn’t experience any trouble.
| OS Features | Sony A80J | Sony A90J |
|---|---|---|
| OS Version | Google TV 10 | Google TV 10 |
| Ease of Use | Average | Average |
| Smoothness | Very Smooth | Very Smooth |
| Time to Change Backlight | 2 s | 2 s |
| Time to Load YouTube | 2 s | 2 s |
Winner: Draw
Connectivity
Inputs
The Sony A80J and A90J have the exact same number of inputs. There are four HDMI and three USB ports. The good thing is that two of those HDMI ports support HDMI 2.1, which can improve your gaming experience. Also, one of the USB ports is the USB 3.0, which is a nice addition.
| Sony A80J | Sony A90J | |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI ports | 4 (2x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0) | 4 (2x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0) |
| USB ports | 3 (2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0) | 3 (2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0) |
| Audio Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Optical audio out | Yes | Yes |
But, one thing is for sure for both of these models, all HDMI cables are 4K. So, if you want to watch a 4K movie from a laptop or external SSD, take advantage of all these available HDMI and USB ports. Plus, both TV models have a headphone jack and optical audio out.
Winner: Draw
Voice Assistants
Both of these models come with the built-in Google Assistant. So, you can use it to change the settings, change inputs, or search through the app. You can do that via the built-in mic on the remote. The remote has a dedicated Google Assistant button for easy access.
The downside to both models is that neither comes with integrated Amazon Alexa, but they are only Alexa compatible.
Winner: Draw
Wireless technologies
Among all the features TVs offer today, we should not forget about wireless connectivity. It is hard to imagine not having the option to connect to the internet or connect other devices to the TV.
For that reason, you should always check to see if a TV supports WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. If you opt for one of these Sony models, no need to worry about wireless connections.
Both of these support WiFi connectivity, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Also, you can connect your devices via Bluetooth, version 4.2.
Winner: Draw
Conclusion
To conclude this Sony A80J vs A90J comparison, we will summarize all the essential features. It can help you decide which TV to purchase.
Choose the Sony A80J if you:
- Appreciate accurate and vivid colors
- Want superb sound quality
- Want to watch TV with family and friends
- Enjoy having a smooth smart TV system
Get the Sony A90J if you:
- Intend to watch a lot of movies
- Want great picture quality
- Appreciate great motion handling
- Want a powerful image processor
