The Sony Bravia 8 II is a 2025 flagship QD-OLED TV made by Sony, the successor to the Sony A95L, available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes. It runs Google TV, supports 4K resolution with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, and includes four HDMI inputs — two of which are full-bandwidth 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports for next-generation gaming. What Hi-Fi? named it TV Product of the Year for 2025, and a current £800 discount makes the case for buying it right now almost impossible to argue against.
Key Takeaways
- The Sony Bravia 8 II uses a latest-generation QD-OLED panel, delivering significantly brighter performance than its predecessor, the Sony A95L.
- What Hi-Fi? unanimously named it the best TV overall after testing it against the Samsung S95F, LG G5, and Panasonic Z95B.
- It supports 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and Dolby Vision game mode — a strong package for console and PC gaming.
- The Philips OLED910 is a genuine alternative at a lower price, but the Bravia 8 II wins on natural image quality with less setup effort.
- A current £800 saving makes this the lowest price the Bravia 8 II has reached since launch.
Why the Sony Bravia 8 II Wins the 2025 OLED Fight
The Bravia 8 II doesn’t just edge ahead of the competition — it won a unanimous verdict from What Hi-Fi?’s reviews team in a direct shootout against the Samsung S95F, LG G5, and Panasonic Z95B. The deciding factors were cinematic authenticity, image solidity, subtle sharpening, and a three-dimensional picture quality that its rivals couldn’t match.
Sony’s picture processing is the real differentiator here. Accurate colours, natural-looking motion, and a sense of depth that makes the image feel solid rather than flat — these aren’t just subjective impressions but the consistent reasons the Bravia 8 II kept coming out on top in comparative testing. Crucially, it delivers these results without requiring hours of manual calibration. That matters for most buyers, who want a great picture immediately, not after a weekend of tinkering with settings.
The QD-OLED panel is a meaningful upgrade over the W-OLED technology in the standard Sony Bravia 8, which remains in the lineup as a lower-cost option. The Bravia 8 II’s panel produces significantly brighter output than the A95L it replaces — a real-world improvement that makes highlights pop and HDR content genuinely impressive.
How Does the Sony Bravia 8 II Compare to the Samsung S95F?
The Samsung S95F uses the same QD-OLED panel as the Bravia 8 II, which makes the comparison between them particularly revealing. Shared hardware means the differences come down entirely to processing and software — and Sony wins that fight convincingly.
The S95F is a strong TV. It isn’t embarrassed in this comparison. But the Bravia 8 II produces a more cinematic, more solid image with better audio, and that’s what tips the balance for serious home cinema buyers. Samsung’s processing produces a picture that can feel slightly more aggressive; Sony’s approach is more restrained and, ultimately, more convincing for long viewing sessions.
Audio is another area where the Bravia 8 II pulls ahead. Sony’s approach — using the entire screen as a vibrating speaker surface — outperforms the Samsung S95F, LG G5, and Panasonic Z95B in sound quality, according to What Hi-Fi?’s testing. That said, a dedicated sound system is still the recommendation for anyone who takes audio seriously.
Sony Bravia 8 II vs Philips OLED910: The Closest Challenge
The Philips 65OLED910 is the most credible alternative to the Bravia 8 II, and it’s worth taking seriously. It uses a Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel, features Bowers & Wilkins audio, and comes with Ambilight — a genuinely distinctive feature that no Sony or Samsung rival offers. It also comes in more sizes and, at £1,699 after a £500 discount, costs considerably less than the Bravia 8 II.
So why does the Bravia 8 II still win? Because when picture quality is the primary criterion — and for a flagship TV purchase, it should be — Sony’s natural, solid, cinematic image edges ahead. The Philips OLED910 is superb and represents outstanding value. But the Bravia 8 II produces a more effortlessly convincing picture, and it does so without demanding that you spend time in the settings menu earning it.
Is the Sony Bravia 8 II good for gaming?
Yes. The Bravia 8 II supports 4K at 120Hz, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Dolby Vision game mode. Two of its four HDMI ports run at the full 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 specification, which covers everything a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X can currently output. It’s a genuinely capable gaming display, not just a cinema screen that tolerates gaming.
What sizes does the Sony Bravia 8 II come in?
The Sony Bravia 8 II is available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes only. The 65-inch model measures 83 x 144 x 3.4cm without its stand. Both sizes have been reviewed and tested by What Hi-Fi?, with the 55-inch forming the basis of the original review and the 65-inch featuring in the flagship OLED shootout.
Is the Sony Bravia 8 II worth buying over the standard Bravia 8?
The standard Sony Bravia 8 uses a W-OLED panel and sits below the Bravia 8 II in the lineup at a lower price point. If budget is the priority, it remains an excellent premium OLED TV. But the Bravia 8 II’s QD-OLED panel, significantly brighter output, and improved processing represent a clear step up — and with the current £800 discount bringing it to its lowest price since launch, the gap in value has narrowed considerably.
The Sony Bravia 8 II is the best OLED TV you can buy in 2025, full stop. It beat every serious rival in direct testing, earned What Hi-Fi?’s TV Product of the Year award, and now sits at its most accessible price yet. The Philips OLED910 offers a compelling alternative for buyers who want more sizes, better design flair, or Ambilight — but if you want the most naturally convincing picture with the least effort, Sony’s flagship is still the one to buy.
Where to Buy
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: What Hi-Fi?
