Have you ever bought a TV all by yourself, without anyone’s help? If you haven’t, now is the right time! The main goal of this article is to teach you everything you need to know to choose the right TV. For that purpose, we are going to compare the Sony X900H vs X950H. So, don’t hesitate to read the whole article and choose a suitable TV for yourself!
Sony X900H vs X950H – Quick Comparison
As you know, Sony has always been a huge name when it comes to TV brands. They are known for always bringing something new to the table. As an innovative company, they tend to introduce new features to their TVs. But overall, their TV models are high quality. These two TV models are no exception.
Whether you want to play games or watch movies with family and friends, Sony X900H and X950H are the best for both types of usage. After reading this article, you will know exactly which TV suits your needs. So, let’s start with the basic specifications.
| Sony X900H | Sony X950H | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen sizes | 55, 65, 75, 85 inches | 49, 55, 65, 75, 85 inches |
| Screen panel | LED (VA) | LED (VA) |
| Image processor | 4K HDR X1 Extreme | 4K HDR X1 Ultimate |
| Operating system | Android TV 9.0 | Android 9.0 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh rate | Yes | No |
| Resolution | 4K | 4K |
| Contrast ratio | 4800:1 | 3800:1 |
| HDMI ports | 4 (2x HDMI 2.0, 2x HDMI 2.1) | 4 (HDMI 2.0) |
USB ports | 2 (1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0) | 3 (2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0) or 2 (1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0) |
Sony X900H
Pros:
- Variable refresh rate
- HDMI 2.1 ports
- Great TV for watching movies
- Good motion handling
Cons:
- Viewing angles
- Subpar reflection handling
Sony X950H
Pros:
- Lots of HDMI and USB ports
- Strong speakers
- Fantastic brightness
- Great image processor
Cons:
- No HDMI 2.1 port
- No variable refresh rate
Features Face to Face
Panel Technology
When buying a TV, you have probably noticed labels such as VA or IPS. Before you buy a TV, it is important to know what these labels mean. In other words, these are the types of LED screens that are built into the TV. Find out more about different types of display panels.
The Sony X900H and X950H come with VA panels. VA or Vertical Alignment panels are great for people who want great contrast and black uniformity on their TVs. However, their main downside is color. If you watch TV from different angles, you will probably notice a change in color tone.
Winner: Draw
Image Processor
The Sony X900H comes with the standard X1 Extreme image processor. However, this time Sony decided to equip the X950H with the upgraded version of this processor, called the X1 Ultimate.
The main goal of both processors is to deliver upscaled, polished images without noise around objects. So, the main difference between these two processors is the way they perform. The X1 Extreme upscales every pixel, frame by frame. The X1 Ultimate, on the other hand, renders each object separately in every frame.
Additionally, the X1 Ultimate offers twice as much processing power compared to the previous processor. Since a powerful processor is crucial for a good image and good performance, you might want to consider investing in the X950H TV model.
Winner: Sony X950H
Motion Technology
It is recommended to pay a lot of attention to this segment, especially if you are a gamer. Unfortunately, VA panels are not a good choice for gamers since they have a slow response time.
In general, VA panels have a response time of around 5 milliseconds. That means you can experience motion blur in games. A much better choice for gaming would be an IPS panel.
Many people don’t know the difference between the terms response time and refresh rate. Simply put, the response time is the time it takes for the TV to change color from black to white and vice versa. Refresh rate is the number of pictures displayed per second. It is expressed in Hertz.
In this Sony 900h vs 950h comparison, both TVs have a refresh rate of 120 Hz. In other words, they can show 120 pictures per one second, which is excellent for today’s standards.
But, the Sony X900H stands out in this segment since it has a variable refresh rate. TVs that have the variable refresh rate feature have clearer and smoother images with less stuttering and flicker. So, if you like TV content with fast movements, the X900H might be a better solution for you.
Winner: Sony X900H
Picture Quality
Resolution is not the only thing that matters when it comes to picture quality. The relation between the resolution and supported refresh rates is quite important. So, these TVs have pretty much the same numbers except when it comes to one category, which is the most important one – 120 Hz at 4K resolution.
The X950H can only achieve a 120 Hz refresh rate at 1080p resolution, while the X900H model can achieve 120 Hz at 4K resolution. In addition to HDMI 2.1 and the VRR support, the X900H is definitely the best choice for gaming.
| Resolution | Sony X900H | Sony X950H |
|---|---|---|
| 4K/120Hz | Yes (native support) | No |
| 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 Sony X900H has a native contrast of 4800:1, and the X950H model has a lower contrast ratio of 3800:1. Both of these improve a little with the local dimming feature turned on.
The reason why the X950H has lower contrast is the X-Wide Angle filter. Sony included this filter to expand the viewing angles, which is one of the major downsides of the X900H model.
You can still have deep blacks with either of these models, especially in the dark rooms. But, the X900H model does a better job, especially with local dimming on.
Winner: Sony X900H
Local Dimming
The local dimming feature is essential when watching dark scenes in dark rooms because it improves the contrast ratio. The best local dimming is the full array, and both of these models have full-array local dimming. They have a pretty good local dimming, but the Sony X900H has less blooming than the X950H.
Winner: Sony X900H
Peak Brightness
The X900H has a peak brightness of 740 Nits, which is great for handling glare in bright rooms. However, the X950H has an excellent peak brightness of 1180 Nits. So if you want to watch TV in the brightest environment, this one could be an excellent option for you.
While the X900H model has great SDR brightness and fairly good HDR brightness, the X950H is way better in this segment. It excels in both the SDR and HDR brightness.
Winner: Sony X950H
Color
The color accuracy is fantastic when it comes to both of these TVs. The X900H model has a good color gamut and color volume. The X950H TV has an incredible color gamut and excellent color volume. Since both TVs have a high contrast ratio, they display dark colors very well.
However, they are LED TVs which means that displaying bright blues is not that great. The X900H is good at gradient handling with some banding of the darker shades. The X950H model has some banding when it comes to gray and green colors. But overall, its gradient handling is fantastic, even better than the X900H.
The black uniformity in both of these TVs is excellent. Without local dimming, they have practically the same black uniformity. However, with the local dimming feature on, the X900H model is slightly better than the X950H, but not significantly.
Winner: Sony X950H
Viewing Angle
Both of these TV models have VA panels which, by default, have narrow viewing angles. The Sony X900H loses brightness at 34 degrees, which is good enough to watch TV only when sitting directly in front of it.
Even though the X950H model has the X-Wide Angle layer for improved viewing angles, they are still not that good. You can expect brightness loss at 50 degrees and black level rise at around 25 degrees. It is still better than the X900H model but still not good enough.
Winner: Sony X950H
Reflections
The X900H model is not so great at handling reflections. Since it has a semi-gloss finish, it is not good to place the screen opposite from a light source like windows or other bright lights.
The X950H model with a glossy finish is fantastic at handling reflections. It also has a high peak brightness, so even in the brightest environments, you will not see a lot of reflections. The only thing that might bother you is the rainbow effect because of this TV’s X-Wide Angle filter.
Winner: Sony X950H
Sound Quality
The X900H model has two audio channels with 20 Watts. The other model has four channels with 30 Watts. Both of these TVs have rather good sound quality.
The X900H has great speakers, which are among the better speakers in its price range. But the X950H model has four superb speakers, out of which two are down-firing. It also has a speaker on each side.
Of course, a soundbar is always a better option than integrated TV speakers. But this model offers a pretty good alternative.
Winner: Sony X950H
Smart TV Platform (Operating System)
These TV models use the same Smart TV platform, which is the Android TV, version 9.0. The Android platform runs smoothly and is relatively easy to navigate. In addition, you have access to several apps via the Google Play Store, and you can enjoy using Google Assistant.
There are also various streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, HBO Max, Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, Starz, Paramount+, Disney+, etc. On top of that, the Chromecast is built-in, and the system supports Apple Airplay 2.
Winner: Draw
Connectivity
Inputs
Both TV models come with four HDMI ports. But only the X900 supports HDMI 2.1 through its two HDMI ports. The X900H model has two USB ports, and one of them is USB 3.0.
However, the X950H can have two or three USB ports, depending on the screen size. But regardless, one of them supports USB 3.0. Both models have an ethernet port, a headphone output, and a digital audio output.
| X950H | 49” | 55” | 65” | 75” | 85” |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI | 4 (1 Side, 3 Bottom) | 4 (Side) | 4 (Side) | 4 (Side) | 4 (1 Side, 3 Bottom) |
| USB | 3 (2 Side, 1 Bottom) | 2 (Side) | 2 (Side) | 2 (Side) | 3 (2 Side, 1 Bottom) |
| Ethernet | 1 (Bottom) | 1 (Side) | 1 (Side) | 1 (Side) | 1 (Bottom) |
| Headphone | 1 (Side) | 1 (Side) | 1 (Side) | 1 (Side) | 1 (Side) |
| Digital audio | 1 (Bottom) | 1 (Side) | 1 (Side) | 1 (Side) | 1 (Bottom) |
As we can see in the table above, the 55”, 65” and 75” versions of the X950H TV all have ports on the side. The 49” and 85” versions have some on the side and some on the bottom.
Even though the X950H can have more USB ports, the slight advantage goes to the X900H model. The main reason is HDMI 2.1 support which is essential for gaming.
Winner: Sony X900H
Voice Assistants
These TV models support voice control via built-in Google Assistant. But they support Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit, as well. The remote has a built-in microphone, and you can search for content or change inputs but can’t change the settings. Besides the Google Assistant button, the remote has shortcut buttons for Google Play Store and Netflix.
Winner: Draw
Wireless technologies
Smart TVs need a stable internet connection, so you can download your favorite apps and watch the favorite streaming services. You can achieve that via cable or a WiFi connection. The X900H and the X950H models support WiFi on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
Whether you want to connect your mobile phone to a TV or other wireless gadgets, you will be able to do that if you choose any of these TVs. Some people prefer to use a Bluetooth connection. If you are one of them, you should know that both TVs support Bluetooth 4.2.
Winner: Draw
Conclusion
When comparing the Sony X900H vs X950H, the most notable difference is that the X900H model is more suitable for gaming. But the X950H has better viewing angles and better sound quality.
After examining each category, you should decide what you can expect from a TV. Most importantly, it should be easy to make up your mind. If you still haven’t decided which TV to buy, here are our final tips:
Get the Sony X900H if you:
- Want to play games
- Plan to watch TV in dark rooms
- Want to watch movies and series in 4K resolution
- Want to place your TV in a smaller room
Get the Sony X950H if you:
- Want to watch TV with your family and friends
- Wish to place the TV in a brighter room
- Like the superb sound quality
- Want a fantastic picture quality with vivid colors
