Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

Sharing is caring!

Sony X95K Reviewed at $2,499.00 (65")

Product Name: Sony X95K

Product Description: 2022 4K mini-LED TV

  • Design - 9.3/10
    9.3/10
  • Video Quality - 8.9/10
    8.9/10
  • Ports & Connectivity - 9.1/10
    9.1/10
  • OS, Apps and Features - 9.2/10
    9.2/10
  • Price / Quality - 8.4/10
    8.4/10
9/10

Summary

Reviewed at $2,499.00 (65″)

Pros

  • Amazing SDR and HDR brightness
  • Very nice colors
  • Good for gaming
  • Many streaming and online features

Cons

  • Blooming still visible
  • Only 2 HDMI 2.1 ports
  • You cannot use both VRR and local dimming
  • Average surround audio performance

Cheapest Places to Buy :

 

*We are a reader-supported website. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Home Media Entertainment does not accept money for reviews.*


Last year the X90J and the X95J were almost the same TV with the X95J simply using a more advanced FALD backlight making the distinction between the two models harder for most consumers. Today in our Sony X95K review we are going to test Sony’s new 2022 4K flagship and although it again looks similar to the 2022 X90K there is one fundamental difference this time around. The inclusion of the new mini LED backlight.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

Sony didn’t have any mini LED TVs in 2021 so practically the X95K marks their first try with this more advanced LED LCD backlight. And probably this is why this is also their only mini LED model this year along with the fact that is being offered in sizes of 65″ and up. In general the X95K feels like a X90K slapped with the better backlight as everything else is the same so it will be interesting to see how much better it performs.

Looking at the specs the X95K is a 4K TV with a VA panel and a frequency of 120Hz. It uses a mini LED backlight system along with Sony’s best Cognitive Processor XR while it comes with all the advanced features Sony has like Acoustic Multi-Audio, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, HDMI 2.1 ports with VRR, ALLM and HFR and Google TV that includes Chromecast, Airplay and voice control among others.

The X95K seems like an interesting one as the inclusion of the mini LED backlight makes things easier for consumers when compared to the X90K. But how much of a difference this new backlight makes? Let’s put it to the test to find out.

Design

Although the X95K looks similar in layout and overall dimensions the chassis being used is not the same as the one that was used in the X95J. And this is more apparent from the stand and also the back side that looks slightly different from the other models we have seen.

In general the X95K is a nice looking premium TV which has thin black borders that we measured close to 0.3″ (0.8 cm). The TV’s overall thickness is also good measured at 2.4″ (6.1 cm) and although it may not be OLED thin it will still look great on a wall.

The back of the X95K features a checkerboard design which is very typical in many Sony TVs but the squares this time do not feature the diagonal lines of the X95J. On the far right are the connection ports, on the left the power connector and in the middle the VESA wall mount holes. This year Sony decided not to include the Bravia XR logo on the plastic body as the X95J had.

The design of its stand follows the fairly standard bench type that offers the TV more stability but on the other hand you need a bigger furniture if you plan on placing it on one instead of the wall. The TV was fairly stable with the stand provided and there was little wobble overall.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

What is different is the actual design and this most probably has to do with the fact that they changed the body of the TV also so a new stand was necessary. As was the case last year the stand of the X95K can be adjusted in two different heights, something that can be very practical in case you are planning on having a soundbar under the TV.

Lastly as far as cable management is concerned there is none. No grooves to drive the cables through and no special clips that can be attached to the legs and keep all cables together.

As for the new updated remote, this feels simpler, less cluttered and easier to handle. Design wise the remote of the X95K is no different from all other Sony releases in 2022. The only aesthetic difference is that this comes with a brushed black body while some other premium models use one made of brushed metal. So basically the one in the X95K is exactly the same as all other Sony TVs we have tried this year.

We really liked Sony’s 2021 remote but to be honest it had too many buttons with many of them never to be used. So making the remote smaller and simpler was the right thing to do and we do love what they have come up with. Also keep in mind that Sony’s remote is backlit and comes with a speaker that beeps in order to find it in case you forgot where you placed it.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

Excellent quality for both the TV and the remote. The X95K looks and feels like a premium product and Sony did an excellent job here.

Video Quality

Processor technology used

In terms of image processing the X95K uses Sony’s best Cognitive Processor XR. As is the case with all new models we don’t know if this is exactly the same chip as it was last year as Sony is secretive about anything that has to do with their chips but judging by its specs and features this seems to be the same.

The Cognitive Processor XR divides the screen into hundreds of zones and recognizes individual objects in these zones better than ever before. What’s more, it can cross-analyze around a few hundred thousand different elements that make up a picture in a second like focal points, contrast, colors, motion and clarity and determine ways in order to improve the end result even more.

As for its up-scaling capabilities the X95K was as good as any TV that came before using the same processor. Everything we threw at it from low quality 480p, 720p, 1080p and broadcasting content up-scaled really well to 4K without any visible artifacts from the process. Really good capabilities here.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

But the new processor is not only good at providing excellent picture quality as it has also a few interesting audio features. Being included in the XR Sound suite the processor supports XR Sound Position in order for the audio to match exactly what is displayed on screen through the included Acoustic Multi-Audio system while XR Surround is responsible in creating a virtual 3D environment in order to up the immersion even more.

Also with the new Bravia Cam the built-in Ambient Optimization Pro can calibrate the audio no matter your viewing position. But more on the audio in the appropriate section.

Lighting technology used

Sony is a bit late to the mini LED party as 2022 marks their first year with a TV that bears this new backlight system. Samsung and LG have already from 2021 tackled with this improved tech so surely Sony’s first try is not without a few problems.

The arrival of mini LED brought several improvements over what was previously possible with the older FALD backlights although this still has its fare share of problems.

The X95K is using a Mini LED backlight which is accompanied by Sony’s XR Backlight Master Drive that utilizes a unique local dimming algorithm to control the thousands of tiny, high-density Mini LEDs with much better precision and independence than any previous FALD system could.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

The major advantage of Mini LED is that its LEDs has 1/40 the height of a conventional LED. Instead of using a lens to disperse light, and a package to fix the LED in place, Mini LED has incredibly thin micro layers filled with many more LEDs. This way this technology has much better and more precise control of the densely packed LEDs, preventing what was the most obvious disadvantage of previous LCD backlight systems, blooming.

Keep in mind that while mini LED technology is vastly superior to any other LCD backlight system so far, from what we have experienced in 2021 and this year, it is not alleviating the blooming problem completely and it is still very much dependent on the number of zones that have been added to each panel along with how efficient the dimming algorithms are.

There is no 55″ version of the X95K so the 65″ is the smallest you can go with it and from what we saw this size utilizes 432 zones in a 36×12 array. The bigger sizes surely will use more zones but we don’t have specific numbers to provide for them.

In our blooming test patterns the X95K did really good but it still had a few problems. And we say that because there was still blooming visible in specific scenes. Obviously in bright scenes occupying the whole screen this is a non issue but in dark backgrounds bright objects will still show halos around them. Subtitles in a black screen makes this very obvious as well as many bright objects moving on a black screen.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

On the other hand zones transitioning was fast and the algorithms were responsive enough not to show any delay. Even with fast moving objects the TV was very capable at enabling/disabling the appropriate zones in time.

Overall we can say that while the X95K did good we were hoping for a bit better. We were expecting to see a glaring difference compared to last year’s X95J but the blooming didn’t make things any better. In fact the X95J’s local dimming feature seemed pretty capable compared to the X95K’s which is a bit shocking bearing in mind the new backlight used here.

The X95K still looks great and if you are not very picky about blooming you may not even notice it. But for those that look for it they are going to see it. We were expecting things to look a little better in this area but maybe next year Sony will nail it.

Brightness / Contrast

Brightness is one of the most important aspects of any HDR TV nowadays as with HDR content the need for high brightness output is bigger than ever.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

For our review we used the Custom mode, which tends to be the most accurate one in many Sony TVs, Expert 1 color tone and Brightness set to max. In our SDR brightness test over a 10% white window we got 1,250 nits, which is amazing and more than enough for any kind of SDR content. On our HDR brightness test we switched to Expert 2 color tone and over a 10% white window we got 1,455 nits of brightness which is excellent and all HDR highlights will show impressive on this TV.

Here we see a big improvement over what the X95J was able to output last year and surely rises above its predecessor in this area.

Brightness levels followed the EOTF reference values perfectly up to a relatively smooth roll-off point which means that all bright details are retained and there is no information lost.

In terms of contrast the X95K comes with a VA panel, and as a result contrast ratio was very good with blacks looked deep enough while using its local dimming feature improved things even more. But keep in mind that the use of the X-Wide Angle layer in the panel do have a negative effect here.

In pure numbers the X95K seemed to have worse native contrast compared to the X95J but things look better with the local dimming enabled.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

Overall the X95K trashes the X95J in terms of peak brightness both in SDR and in HDR. The X95K is a very impressive TV and highlights are vivid and lifelike no matter the scene they are on.

Viewing angles

The X95K is using a VA panel which doesn’t mean good things when it comes to viewing angles. Fortunately Sony is using their X-Wide Angle and X-Anti Reflection technologies here in order to improve things a bit. These two technologies are basically special layers on the panel in order to improve its performance but while these do improve viewing angles and reflections they tend to have a negative effect on native contrast.

From what we saw we would say that up to 40 degrees the TV retains good image quality. But anything above that and image starts to degrade a lot as the image looses a lot in terms of brightness, colors and black levels. This extra layer helps a lot in order to bring the viewing levels up to average levels although in no way it can compete with what OLEDs can do nowadays.

So if you are considering to use this as a family TV you shouldn’t have any problem with various viewing positions.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)
HDR support

As far as HDR protocols Sony likes to include the same across the entire lineup, either it is top tier or lower end TV. Although this doesn’t make much sense in a lower performing TV this is something that Sony has been doing for a while now so no real changes here.

In total the X95K features the standard trio of HDR protocols that include the basic HDR10 which is required for 4K UHD playback, HLG that is used in broadcasting and lastly the more advanced Dolby Vision that uses dynamic metadata and offers the best quality from the three available.

If you don’t care about HDR10+ then you shouldn’t really worry about it. Dolby Vision has far more support although HDR10+ seems to be getting some traction both from online streaming services like Amazon Prime and in the UHD format.

If you really want to have both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision then you will have to look at some other brand like Hisense or depending where you live to Panasonic or even Philips as none of the big three (LG, Samsung and Sony) support all of them.

Our opinion remains that this is a pointless conflict and all manufacturers should embrace all HDR formats instead of pushing consumers to choose by brand because of this.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)
Color coverage

The X95K, as with some other premium Sony TVs, is equipped with certain tech in order to allow it to display deeper and more lifelike colors. As such Sony has used a XR Triluminos Pro display in combination with XR Color technology which is included in their XR Picture suite. Basically we get the same tech that we had seen in the other premium LED LCD offerings from Sony like the X95J and the X90K.

According to our measurements the TV has about 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space which is excellent for its category. On the wider REC.2020 color space we got a coverage of 73% which is also very good.

From the numbers above it seems that the X95K has improved considerably compared to its predecessor which results in much better and vivid colors.

Before calibration the X95K had decent color accuracy but we did notice more than a few problems. White balance needed major adjustment and a few colors had values above the DeltaE limit of three. But both of these can be vastly corrected after calibration which improved the overall image considerably.

Color gradients were very good although some banding was visible in some darker shades which was to be expected. There is also a Smooth Gradation feature in case banding is bothering you but you are going to loose some fine detail if enabled as is always the case with this feature.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)
Motion performance

We move on to our next part which includes our motion performance tests. It seems that the X95K is very similar to last year as it comes with a 100/120Hz panel along with a backlight dimming frequency of 720Hz which is exactly the configuration we saw in the X95J. Also due to the inclusion of Sony’s best processor we get XR Motion Clarity which is the latest technology used to smooth out motion.

You have the option to use either the standard motion interpolation system or use the Black Frame Insertion (BFI) interpolation that is adding black frames in between individual frames and can potentially smooth out motion. BFI can be enabled by turning Clearness to max if you use the Custom setting in the MotionFlow menu.

BFI was able to improve overall motion, as is always the case, but the TV had similar image duplication issues we had seen in the X95J. As we had mentioned previously this is not a problem visible all the time but in particular scenes you can notice it. And keep in mind that in general BFI has also a negative effect on brightness due to the black frames that are inserted.

Overall motion performance on the X95K was very solid. There were slight missteps here and there but overall the TV has a very cinematic feel to it and surely will not disappoint you when it comes to motion in general.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)
Input lag

Onto our input lag tests next and here we are expecting to see good values overall. After all most TVs nowadays, no matter their price range, are doing exceptionally good in this part.

According to our measurements the X95K measured an average of 18ms input lag in both 1080p and 4K resolutions at 60Hz with the use of Game mode. At 120Hz we measured 9.8ms in both 1080p and 4K resolutions which is amazing and will result in a completely satisfying gaming experience.

These numbers are great and very close to what the X95J could do last year. But in general they are slightly higher than what LG and Samsung offer in their TVs. But even as such with such low figures, gaming can really be a pleasure, just make sure you use the available Game mode as outside that the input lag will greatly increase to around 144ms which can still can be fine for slow paced games but for nothing more.

We should also not forget to mention that the TV supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) that can be used with any devices that support that like the PS5 and Xbox consoles and can greatly benefit users. As with all Sony TVs there is no HGiG mode but we do get Auto Genre Picture Mode and Auto HDR Tone Mapping which are Playstation 5 specific features.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

Thankfully, this year the X95K comes with VRR support out of the box unlike the X95J that we had to wait for an update. HDMI Forum VRR and G-Sync are supported but not FreeSync. One thing that we need to mention here is that the TV cannot use both its local dimming feature and VRR at the same time. It’s either one or the other which is a same really and hopefully something that Sony will address in 2023 models.

For testing the X95K’s capabilities we connected our PS5 and tried the game Astro’s Playground which comes with VRR support. What we mentioned above was true as we had to either choose VRR or local dimming and to be honest we preferred the local dimming as the picture quality is dramatically better with that.

Even without VRR our gaming session was exceptionally smooth with fast response times and no delays of our commands on screen. All in all a great gaming TV, but not without some minor issues.

Image quality impressions

In terms of overall image quality the X95K is a great performer but as all TVs it has a few problems.

It managed to improve its brightness output and color reproduction by much while retaining excellent upscaling, low input lag and good viewing angles.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

On the other hand the mini LED backlight didn’t impress us as much as we were expecting. It was still good but we were hoping for better as there was still blooming to be seen in some cases and to be honest the change compared to last year’s X95J was not all that dramatic as the new backlight should offer.

Also if you are into gaming you have to choose if you want VRR or local dimming which is a decision you shouldn’t have to make with such a premium TV.

Audio Quality

As for the sound Sony is using their own Acoustic Multi-Audio technology. The one we find in the X95K is similar to the one used in the X95J but there are small changes.

Sound on conventional TVs with speakers located below the screen is often out of sync with the picture. Sony’s Acoustic Multi-Audio includes two sound-positioning tweeters at the back of the TV in addition to the down firing drivers that enable sound to follow the action for a more accurate experience.

Independent amps are controlled separately to precisely manage sound positioning of these speakers in high tone areas, enhancing sound pressure and stability for more realism.

We cannot say if this system should be rated as a 4.2 channels or as a 2.2 channels one as Sony is not providing details but it seems that compared to last year a second subwoofer was added and as a result the low end seems a bit more alive, although not by much.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

Power output is at 10 W + 10 W + 10 W + 10 W + 10 W + 10 W with two Mid Range drivers, two tweeters and dual subwoofers.

The TV supports not only Dolby Atmos and Dolby Audio but also DTS. Keep in mind that Sony is one of the few companies that still support DTS and can even pass-through DTS:X signals from its eARC port so if this important to you then the Sony is a no brainer as Samsung and LG have long abandoned DTS completely.

But Sony went one step further and included XR Surround which is their proprietary virtual surround technology.  By upconverting inputs, XR Surround virtually reproduces a multi-surround speaker system within your TV so you can enjoy all the thrills of more immersive sound…in theory.

Now we have seen many TVs support Dolby Atmos but with their simple audio systems they fail to reproduce it the way it was meant to. The Acoustic Multi-Audio system is in general a step up from the standard 2.0 channels system we see in many middle-tier and most low cost TVs but don’t expect any real miracles here.

Audio feels more immersive and full but there is no surround action and virtual tech can do so much with that. Also heavy actions scenes feels a bit flat and uninspiring compared to having a dedicated audio system so all in all while the TV can do good with casual use if you want cinematic immersion get at least a soundbar with either Atmos or surround speakers support.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

Before closing this part we should mention that the X95K also features Sony’s Acoustic Auto calibration in order to get the best audio performance no matter your sitting position. This can be used in combination with the new Bravia Cam as it will detect where you sit in the room and calibrate the audio accordingly. This feature will be available after a firmware update and unfortunately we didn’t have the chance to try it out ourselves.

Ports and Connectivity

The X95K seems to be using the same ports layout we had seen in the X95J with two groups available, with one looking sideways that includes a Remote IR input, a AV input that needs a special adapter, a USB port and a single HDMI along with a small switch at the bottom for turning on and off the built-in microphone.

On the other group looking downwards we get the antenna/cable port, an Ethernet port for connecting to a local network, a digital optical output, an RS-232 jack, three more HDMI ports and another USB.

Overall it seems that the X95K sees a reduction in ports as Sony has taken out the headphones jack, something that all manufacturers seems to be doing this year anyway, along with one of the sideways USB ports. Not a big deal but something worthy of mentioning.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)
Tap on image for a closer look

Sony, unlike some of the other big manufacturers, actually provide a USB 3.0 port in most of their TVs, even the most low cost ones. Usually manufacturers don’t seem very fond of using the newer USB ports and rely mostly on the archaic 2.0 version even for many of their top premium models so this is definitely a plus and good for Sony that decided to do the obvious.

Also another thing to mention is that, as with all Sony TVs, we get two HDMI 2.1 ports along with two more older HDMI 2.0 ones. Although some other manufacturers like LG offer more HDMI 2.1 ports at least two are better than one.

The problem here is that one of them is also the one with ARC/eARC functionality so if you plan on using that then you are left with a single HDMI 2.1 port. In general all TVs that feature only two ports use Mediatek’s SoC but at least the HDMI 2.1 ports in the X95K provide full 48Gbps bandwidth in order to allow high frame rate gaming and all HDMI 2.1 gaming features.

The HDMI 2.1 ports of the X95K support ARC, eARC, HFR, ALLM and VRR. With VRR you should know that it is supported out of the box, something that applies for all 2022 models, but only HDMI Forum VRR and G-Sync are available. FreeSync VRR is not supported.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

One thing that doesn’t seem to have changed is the Ethernet port that for one more year will only support up to 100Mbps which is a real shame but not entirely surprising given the fact that all manufacturers still include 100Mbps adapters in their TVs. We don’t believe that upgrading these ports to Gbit speeds would up the cost so much and with streaming requirements increasing every single year this change should have been made some time ago.

And considering that the X95K comes with Bravia Core we are even more harsh to Sony for not updating their Ethernet adapters. The reason for this, is because in order to access Bravia Core’s highest quality Pure Stream available at 80Mbps you must have a minimum internet speed of 115Mbps. So in essence you cannot do that with a wired connection and have to rely on wireless with all the problems this can bring.

As for its wireless capabilities things are pretty much the same across the board so the X95K comes with built-in WiFi (802.11ac) along with Bluetooth v4.2. Unfortunately no Bluetooth 5 for one more year although in most cases v4.2 should be just fine.

OS, Apps and Features

The X95K is using the same Google TV platform that Sony is using in all their releases and is the same as the one we saw in the X90K so our observations here are entirely the same as in our other reviews. In our opinion Sony did the right thing to move from Android TV to Google TV as this proved to offer a better overall experience in comparison.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

Now many of you may be puzzled what the difference between Android TV and Google TV is. Well, it’s not so much difficult to understand what has changed really. Google TV is still Android TV but with an extra layer on top of it. Think of it like it is in Android smartphones. Most manufacturers that use Android in their releases they use on top of that their own layer that gives this extra something to their UI that make them unique both in appearance and functionality.

The same is with Google TV. You still basically use Android TV but there is the extra Google TV layer on top in order to make the UI feel different both in looks and functionality. It seems that all 2022 Sony TVs come with the same Google TV 10.0 we saw in last year’s models so almost everything is once again the same as what we experienced a year ago.

Google TV seems to have been designed around recommendations, either it be movies, TV shows or applications and this seems to be the main focus of the new OS in general. During setup the wizard asks you of what specific streaming services you use in order to customize the Home screen recommendations.

Keep in mind that Google TV is still Android at its core even though it looks different. But with Google TV things seem more fluent, more direct and more easy to navigate around.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

If there is one thing that Android has in abundance that is huge app support. Through the included Google Play Store you can find literally thousands of apps that you can download and use except from the pre-installed ones. There is so much content available that you will definitely find the ones you are looking for and the list goes on and on.

All the big names are obviously present like Google TV, Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu and Youtube as well as Pandora, Tidal, Google Play Music, Spotify or iHeartRadio. As always some of them are region dependent so make sure the ones you are interested in are working in your area. Lastly many apps like Netflix and Youtube support playback for both 4K and HDR content for those interested in it.

The X95K also comes with the updated Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode and what this does is to allow you to experience picture quality close to a filmmaker’s vision and intent for all content that is streamed through the Netflix streaming service.

We say updated because now this feature works together with the ambient light optimization feature of the X95K by optimizing the picture brightness based on your room lighting conditions.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

The TV also comes with Bravia Core and this is Sony’s online streaming service that promises high quality streams up to 80 Mbps and additional IMAX Enhanced content. Bravia Core offers some very decent and high quality streams but unfortunately you cannot use a wired connection for their best quality as this needs a 115Mbps connection and the Ethernet port is only 100Mbps, thus forcing you to use wireless only.

Chromecast is also available here and it gives you the ability to stream content from other Chromecast enabled devices like mobile phones and tablets directly to the TV. Voice control is also present but it seems that it is a bit limited compared to other competing models. By that we mean that although you can use the remote’s built-in microphone to give commands to Google Assistant, for Amazon Alexa you will need an external Alexa enabled device to work. Additionally there is also Sony’s Voice Search available.

We have seen the same thing in many other Sony TVs and probably this has to do with the fact that it’s using Google’s Android system and thus having Alexa built-in was not possible. With voice control you can issue various commands to the TV but functionality extends far beyond that as you can control any smart devices you have in your house also.

There is also a built-in media player available that you can use to playback various video and audio content from an external storage connected to the USB ports. Support is pretty good for a built-in player and compared to the competition we can admit that it will be able to play more files in comparison but in general don’t expect it to replace your dedicated media player box if you use one. If there is a file that is not following the usual standards it will not play it, something that a dedicated player might will.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

Going through various files we keep just for this part of our tests revealed that the built-in media player was able to play all of those that had standard codecs. We have a couple very high bitrate files along with a couple files that don’t follow the standards and the TV had problems with these but in general the support you will get is pretty extensive and you should have no problem in general.

Sony has also added support for both Apple Airplay 2 and HomeKit. With Airplay 2 you can stream content from other Apple devices on your TV while HomeKit lets you control certain aspects of the TV through your mobile device. Also if you are all Apple then keep in mind that the X95K supports Apple TV which is Apple’s online streaming service in order to have the complete Apple’s suite. So in case you favor Apple’s products the X95K will certainly cover you in this respect.

For one more year all Sony TVs are Calman Ready. To address color variations from the production process, the TV is ready to use Portrait Displays’ high-performance Calman auto-calibration software.

This allows an unprecedented level of calibration and the ability to fine-tune adjustments simply not possible through conventional picture settings. It delivers high-fidelity color reproduction that’s true to the original TV signal, and can even adapt to the subtlest changes in color that may occur over time.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

As we already mentioned above the X95K comes with IMAX Enhanced certification. This means it can playback IMAX Enhanced content although this is still very scarce to find.

As with the other Sony TVs of 2022 the major addition this year seems to be the new Bravia Cam. This an optional accessory that can be purchased separately and can further enhance the functionality of the X95K.

With the Bravia Cam the TV can detect where you sit in the room and adjust the picture and audio accordingly. Other functions include gesture control and power saving features among others.

One last thing we need to mention is that there is no official app support for controlling the TV. If you want to control the X95K using your mobile device you can use the Android TV app made by Google that supports many of Sony’s TVs the last few years. It’s nothing major but can be a nice alternative to the included remote if you want to have more options.

The X95K offers exactly the same feature set that all other top tier Sony TVs come with and provides an excellent smart TV experience in line with what you should expect from a 2022 release.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

Final Thoughts

The X95K is a really nice TV no matter how you see it. It is the first Sony TV utilizing the new mini LED backlight and is backed by all the advanced technologies Sony has in its arsenal.

Its major strengths are its exceptional up-scaling capabilities, amazing SDR and HDR brightness, good viewing angles, great colors and gradients, solid motion performance, low input lag, HDMI 2.1 support and a Google TV that is full of apps, online and smart features. Oh, and not to forget the support for DTS along with DTS:X pass-through from the eARC port.

What we didn’t like was that despite the mini LED backlight there was still blooming visible, contrast is lower due to the inclusion of X-Wide Angle technology, only two HDMI 2.1 ports will greatly limit your options, you cannot have both VRR and local dimming at the same time and the audio while good for casual use it cannot really immerse you even with its virtual tech and Dolby Atmos support.

Closing what we can say about the Sony X95K is that it is a great choice for any kind of use. No TV is perfect and the X95K surely has its fare share of problems but if you are not very picky then we assure you that you are going to enjoy it either you use it for games or movies. It can do great in both and shows what a premium flagship should really be.

Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)

For more reviews you can check our dedicated 4K LED LCD TV reviews list or even look at our Product Reviews Table where you can find the brand and specific product you are looking for.



Cheapest Places to Buy :

 

*We are a reader-supported website. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Home Media Entertainment does not accept money for reviews.*


Sony X95K Specifications

Sharing is caring!

18 thoughts on “Sony X95K Review (2022 4K mini-LED TV)”

  1. You have so much valuable content on here!   I haven’t bought a tv in YEARS.  But when my husband and I move into our new home I’ll need to purchase a good quality, larger tv for our great room.  

    One thing I’ve noticed on all the newer TV models is that none come with the number pad to select channels. I know that most people don’t do cable anymore, they just use streaming services, but I would like to have the number pad to type the channels.  I know there’s an option to buy a different remote and connect it to the TV, but a lot of the time the remote that comes with the TV has other features that would be nice to use as well.   Maybe I’m not on the majority vote on this one lol But just wondering if anyone else is frustrated by this and if manufacturers make an option for people that prefer to have the number pad. 

    Reply
    • Hello Rebecca. Manufacturers are trying to reduce the number of buttons on their remotes as they rely more on the UI of the TV for everything. If you really need a numerical pad and you want it to be on the original remote and nt some third party one I would suggest some of the 2021 Sony TVs as these still use a remote that has a numerical pad. And surely with the new models now out on the market their price will have dropped a lot.

      Reply
  2. I still remember sony used to provide a woofer as a separate component. After there are smart tv’s in the market, tv became thin and had everything within one component…

    Is there browser support in sony X95K? I agree most of the smart tv’s don’t have a browser by default…but, I heard there is a way and am not sure…

    If you know, could you please share some details about the browser in smart tv???

    Reply
    • Most, if not all, smart TVs have a browser nowadays. Some low tier ones may be missing all smart features including a browser but most do have it.

      Reply
  3. Hello, I had a question, I wanted to know if the value of buying x95k TV is higher than x95j? I want to buy a TV, mostly for movies and football in the end game… is it worth paying more money, to get the x95k or go for the x95j? Please guide me, thank you.

    Reply
  4. Hello, thank you for your explanation. Regarding, x95J or x95K, which one is good in terms of image, sound, ports, and for gaming? 65 inch TV, what is the minimum distance to sit and watch and what is the maximum? Thank you

    Reply
  5. Hello, good time. I had a question. What changes has the X93L TV made compared to the X65K? Is it worth buying or not in terms of the viewing angle, the quality of darkness and brightness, and what changes has it made for the game? Or should we go and buy the X95K? Thanks

    Reply
    • Hey there. You write X65K but I guess you mean X95K, correct? Well, I cannot give you an answer right now as we have not yet published our review of the Sony X93L. But it’s in the making right now so hopefully pretty soon you will be able to get all your answers.

      Reply
  6. Hello, thank you for reminding me. Yes, I’m sorry. The X95K is correct. The time is also known. When will you check it? Thanks

    Reply
  7. Hello, good time, I asked you for some advice. If I buy a TV X95K or X95L, will the sound quality be good, so I don’t want to spend money and buy a soundbar? Instead of a soundbar, should I buy a Harman speaker for music? Is the sound of the TVs good? Thanks

    Reply
    • Hello there. It really depends on what you expect from the sound. Do you want a cinematic experience? Do you want surround sound? The X95K is good enough for casual use. But if you really want to have cinematic immersion, it cannot really offer that. As for the Harman speaker you mention I don’t know which one you refer to. If you give me more details I may be able to tell you more.

      Reply
  8. Hello, good time, how is the sound quality of the X95K? How is it compared to TV X95L in terms of image quality, blooming and sound? What do you think about choosing these or should I not spend a lot of money? I should buy X95J.. Which of these is good? I prefer Sony TV because of its natural color and longevity of the components. How about the Harman Kardon Aura 4 speaker compared to the Onyx 8, the quality and clarity of the sound. I want it for home. thanks

    Reply
    • Hey there. First of all as far as the sound of the X95K is concerned I will repeat what I wrote in my review. Sound is good enough for casual use. This means broadcasting, news, talk shows and sports. The TV has pretty distinct dialog and good volume. But it lacks any kind of cinematic immersion. This means that if you want it primarily for movies you will be slightly disappointed. For these occasions you will definitely need a dedicated surround system or soundbar.

      I cannot speak for the X95L since this model we haven’t tested yet and I do not know its real capabilities. Right now we are testing the Sony X93L and soon our review will be published.

      As for the Harman Kardon speakers I haven’t tested neither of them so I don’t have any opinion on them.

      Reply
  9. I’m still struggling to decide between a 98″ X90L or a X95K 85″ in a room with a lot of ambient light, but no direct sunlight and no indoor lighting that would be directly reflecting on the screen from overhead lights or lamps. I do prefer picture modes that are more vivid and I love TVs with good color volume, as accuracy is not a critical to me. Motion and upscaling are important to me as I watch a lot of streaming services (Netflex, Amazon Prime, Paramount, etc.) and also watch both youtube and youtubetv. Other reviewers like Rtings show the X93L is basically a rebranded X95K with very minor differences. As I’m still awaiting for your X93L review to validate this, which would you pick, the bigger size for a TV like the x90L which has a great picture, but still not as good as the X95K, or would you choose the better picture of the X95K at the smaller 85″ size? My head is about 10 1/2 feet from the TV :-).

    Reply
    • Hello Keith. Well size vs image quality is entirely a personal matter. It depends what you priority is. If you would ask me what I would do, I would take image quality. Since 85″ is still very good size for that distance.

      And to give you a small tip. Our review of the X93L is up next. It should be published very very soon. 😉

      Reply

Leave a Comment