Sony Maximises Mini LED and OLED TVs

Sony’s 2022 range of OLED TVs will boast the widest colour palette yet for its flagship series and the same premium backlighting system that drives its Mini LED TVs for unprecedented brightness.

It also will launch its pre-loaded movie streaming service in more than 75 countries, although it’s not known if NZ will be among these, and has announced at CES the ultimate in OLED TV tech, its first QD OLED series.

“The race to bring Quantum Dot OLED (QD OLED) TVs to market has been on ever since rumours emerged a couple of years back that Samsung was turn towards the technology as a living room option amid struggles with manufacturing its Micro LED technology,” John Archer writes in Forbes.

“Today Sony has won that QD OLED race, announcing at the current CES two fully featured QD OLED models, the 65-inch and 55-inch A95Ks, that are absolutely definitely 100% going to be hitting stores at some point in 2022.”

TV3 says the Sony MASTER Series A95K will be “Sony’s highest-end 4K TV of this year, and is the first TV with what Sony is calling the ‘new OLED’ panel, but is also known as QD-OLED.”

Sony has yet to issue a media release for NZ and Australia but here’s what was announced for Europe:

Sony introduces 2022 BRAVIA XR TV line-up, featuring XR Backlight Master Drive for Mini LED and XR Triluminos Max for new OLED

04 Jan, 2022 Sony Europe B.V. today announced the new BRAVIA XR television series, including MASTER Series Z9K 8K and X95K 4K Mini LED, MASTER Series A95K, MASTER Series A90K and A80K 4K OLED, and X90K 4K LED.

Powered by Cognitive Processor XR, the unique XR Backlight Master Drive precisely controls our latest generation Mini LED backlight in the Z9K and X95K series for incredible brightness.

Enjoy an unprecedented dynamic range with incredibly dazzling lights and deep blacks, as well as beautifully natural mid tones with almost no flare or halos around highlights.

The Cognitive Processor XR also powers our A95K’s new OLED panel with XR Triluminos Max, which delivers our widest colour palette and reproduces naturally beautiful shades and hues. With millions of individual, self-illuminating pixels, the A95K delivers more colours than ever before for an entirely new viewing experience.

These new innovations help us deliver the best and most immersive viewing experiences, authentically delivering the creator’s true intent. When watching movies, viewers can experience our enhanced Acoustic Surface Audio+ for OLED models and Acoustic Multi-Audio for LED models, precisely matching the position of the sound with the images on the screen for a truly immersive audiovisual experience.

The line-up also includes new features that customise and enhance at-home entertainment. Together with Netflix, we’ve released Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, which automatically adjusts image processing based on ambient light, so users’ favourite shows and films look like the creator intended, under any conditions.

Additionally, Sony’s new BRAVIA CORE Calibrated Mode will automatically adjust the image quality on screen to better align with the video creator’s original vision. All 2022 BRAVIA XR televisions will also be designated ‘Perfect for PlayStation 5′, which includes two PS5 exclusive features – Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode.

This year, Sony also introduces a newly developed original camera device, BRAVIA CAM, which recognises where users are sitting and optimises the picture and sound accordingly. It includes gesture controls, video chat and many other fun, new experiences waiting to be explored.

Additionally, Sony’s BRAVIA CAM can recognise when viewers are no longer in front of the TV and dim the display to conserve energy.

2022 BRAVIA XR line-up highlights: 

• • Cognitive Processor X: Take vision and sound to the next level with Cognitive Processor XR. Our revolutionary processor on Sony BRAVIA XR TVs reproduces content the way humans see and hear for an incredibly lifelike experience. Images are cross analysed and cleaned, especially around the focal point, to give real life depth, extraordinary contrast, and beautifully vivid colours
  • XR Backlight Master Drive: Powered by Cognitive Processor XR, the XR Backlight Master Drive uses a Sony-developed local dimming algorithm to control thousands of tiny, ultra-dense Mini LEDs with absolute precision and independence, delivering extraordinary brightness, impressive dynamic range, deep blacks, and beautifully natural mid tones
  • Acoustic Surface Audio+/Acoustic Multi-Audio: For a truly immersive audiovisual experience, these powerful features ensure that sound matches precisely with what’s on the screen
  • 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer: In combination with BRAVIA XR TVs, this technology offers a perfectly optimised spatial sound experience for neckband speakers, like Sony’s SRS-NS7, as well as select Sony headphones – all with minimal configuration. Dedicated apps even personalise the cinematic sound field by analysing users’ individual ear shape
  • Elevate the experience with Sony’s sound products: Sony’s new BRAVIA XR TVs are an excellent match for an array of Sony sound products, such as the HT-A9 Home Theater System or the HT-A7000 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, a new frontier of spatial sound technology, is the latest addition to the HT-A7000. By calibrating sound to the chosen viewing room, the technology creates multiple optimally arranged phantom speakers for a wider and more immersive cinematic sound field. Using the Acoustic Center Sync feature, a BRAVIA XR TV plays the centre channel role with the home theatre system or soundbar as part of the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping setup, enabling sound to perfectly match what’s on the screen
  • BRAVIA CAM: This trailblazing new technology ensures users always have the best seat in the house by optimizing picture and sound quality. BRAVIA CAM also offers gesture controls, video chat and many other fun, new experiences
  • Ambient Optimization Pro: Users can connect their BRAVIA XR TV with BRAVIA CAM and enjoy TV like never before. BRAVIA CAM recognises where users are in the room and how far they are from the TV, then adjusts sound and picture settings so they’re just right
  • Google TV: Brings together more than 700,000 movies, shows, live TV and more from apps and subscriptions and organises them seamlessly. Easily find something to watch with personalised recommendations and bookmark shows and movies to a single Watchlist to keep track of what to watch. Users can even add to their Watchlist from their phone or laptop with Google Search.
  • Premium Remote: Our new premium aluminium remote is easy to use and clean, with simplified buttons and a backlight so users can see everything clearly, even in the dark. Never lose the remote behind sofa cushions again; with the Finder function, users can tell the TV to find the remote and the remote will ring
  • BRAVIA CORE: The BRAVIA CORE app is a pre-loaded movie service that includes up to 10 movies to redeem and up to 24 months unlimited streaming with the purchase of a BRAVIA XR TV. With BRAVIA XR technology, Pure Stream and IMAX Enhanced, content is delivered with stunning visuals and expressive sound quality. With BRAVIA CORE Calibrated Mode, movies will automatically adjust to the optimal picture settings to create a truly exceptional at-home movie viewing experience. Over time, the app experience will be enriched with new features. BRAVIA CORE will be available in over 75 countries in 2022
  • Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode: A new display mode that leverages Sony’s BRAVIA XR ambient light sensor to ensure that the artistic intent is preserved in all lighting conditions. Sony’s close collaboration with Netflix on this feature means viewers can enjoy Netflix content with precise colours, accurate contrast, and true motion, whether the content is enjoyed in a dark or well-lit environment
  • Perfect for PlayStation 5: Pair a BRAVIA XR TV with a PlayStation 5 console to get a fantastic gaming experience. Only BRAVIA XR TVs automatically adjust and optimise the picture to the best settings for the PlayStation 5 console, whether it’s used for gaming or watching a movie. With immersive picture and sound, users will feel like they’re right in the middle of the action. And with 4K 120fps, as specified in HDMI 2.1, our TVs give smooth and clear movement for responsive gameplay.
  • Commitment to sustainability: Sony is committed to sustainability from the development process all the way through to the viewing experience. This year select models use Sony-developed SORPLAS, a 99% recycled plastic material that has reduced the amount of virgin plastic used by up to 60%. TV packaging size has also been reduced by approximately 15% and features a significant reduction in ink (approx. 90%) and plastic (approx. 35%). Additionally, BRAVIA CAM can recognise when viewers are no longer in front of the TV and dim the display to conserve energy. To learn more, please visit: https://www.sony.net/electronics/eco-tv?press-release.