Speaking of 4K Blu-rays, this TV really shows off its excellent processing when in Movie mode and watching a recently acquired copy of Alfred Hitchcock. Vertigo. The beautiful use of light and shadow is presented without aggressive blooming, and the colors look deep and well saturated. A scene where the two leads face the Golden Gate Bridge is especially like a painting on this screen, praise belongs to the XR chip and Sony’s excellent use of multi-zone, mini-LED backlighting.

Photo: Parker Hall

Streaming apps provide good quality, and it also works well with darker scenes from the Apple TV In manyand in Sport mode when streaming F1. Colors are vivid, and the TV’s 120-Hz refresh rate is on full display, but not as sharp as when I plugged in Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro. Big Tourism looks smooth and realistic in Gaming mode, with a variable refresh rate that helps everything stay smooth, even when doing tough processes like wet races on shiny cars.

This screen is available in a variety of sizes, from 55 inches to a whopping 98 inches (it’s fun to hang that on the wall), and I think the taller sizes are probably where more people will be shopping for this model than a more expensive Bravias 7, 8, or 9 option.

Competitors include TCL QM6K, Hisense U8QGand Samsung QN80F. The TCL is cheaper, looks brighter, and has the same usable interface. The Sony has better, more natural processing. The Hisense is a bit harsher but looks good in the brightest rooms, making it a good choice for anyone who doesn’t want or need the Sony Pictures Core and looks more casual. Samsung has amazing mini-LED quantum dot panels, but a scary interface and no support for Dolby Vision.

Sony is clearly a premium option in this category for processing, but given that it costs a fair amount more than the competition and the screen is not as bright, it is worth asking yourself: How often do I plan to watch high-end content on this TV?

If you’re expanding your digital media, Plex server, or 4K Blu-ray collection, the Sony is probably the best buy. Otherwise, cheaper brands with equally good streaming apps (and almost identical performances) can do just fine, especially in brighter rooms.