Sony's Bravia X1 4k TV X82L Review - An In-Depth Look

Sony X82L: The Complete Guide to Its Features and Performance

sony x82l review

Are you in the market for a new TV that boasts breathtaking visuals? Look no further than Sony's newly-launched Bravia X1 4k TV X82L! This top-of-the-line model is now available in sizes 55 and 65 inches, with a 75-inch variant expected to be released soon. In the following article, we'll closely examine the X82L's features and performance, so you can decide if it's the right TV for you.

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Sony X82L Review: The Pros and Cons You Need to Know

 Packaging and Accessories 

What's included in the box

 

The unboxing experience reveals the 65-inch Bravia Sony X82L 4k TV, accompanied by a power cord, two metallic table-top stands, a remote with two AAA batteries, an instruction manual, 2 cable management clips, 4 VESA mount adapters, and a warranty card. 

Remote

The remote is slim and sleek, made with high-grade plastic and a black brushed metallic finish. It features dedicated buttons for popular apps like Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney Hotstar, Bravia Core, and SonyLiv.

Design and Build

Physical design description

Dimensions and weight of the model

Colour options available

The build quality of the Sony X82L

Specs

• Display: LED 
• Panel: ADS
• Resolution: 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
• HDR (High Dynamic Range): Yes
• Picture Processor: 4K Proccesor X1
• Backlight Technology: DLED
• Local Dimming: Yes
• Refresh Rate: 50 Hz (Motionflow XR200 for improved motion clarity)
• Wide Color Gamut: Yes
• Wide Viewing Angle: Yes
• Picture Upscaling: Yes
• Preset Picture Modes: Vivid, Standard, Cinema, Game, Photo, Graphics, Dolby Vision Bright, Dolby Vision Dark, Custom
• Audio: 2 speakers with Bass Reflex X-Balanced,  
• Audio Enhancements: DTS, Dolby Atmos support, Sony's acoustic multi-audio technology
• Smart TV Platform: Android TV (Google TV UI)
• Operating System: Android 10
• App Store: Google Play Store
• Voice Control: Built-in Google Assistant, compatibility with Alexa and Google Home
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth
• HDMI Ports: 4 (with HDMI eARC support)
• USB Ports: 2
• Gaming Features: HDMI 2.1, Auto Low Latency Mode, Auto HDR Tone Mapping, Auto Genre Picture Mode
• Gaming Console Compatibility: PlayStation 5 (and other gaming consoles)
• Additional Features: Chromecast built-in, Living Decor app, Bravia Core app, Support for select Sony cameras and Logitech webcams, Gesture control with Bravia Cam, Auto power-saving mode

Picture Quality

Now let's talk about the real performance of this TV. Sony has launched several new series of TVs this year. Some of these series have genuinely good models. Compared to last year's models, this year's Sony TVs have seen significant upgrades. The Sony Bravia X82L series is also among these good and reasonably priced models. So let's discuss it in detail.

The Sony X82L is a 4K TV that features an IPS-type panel, which can also be an ADS panel. Even last year's models had an ADS panel. ADS panel is a variation of the IPS panel, which also offers a good viewing angle just like IPS. Research suggests that ADS panel can achieve a higher contrast ratio than IPS. This TV offers excellent grey uniformity, and in my unit, there is negligible darkness in the corners, so you won't notice any dirty screen effect on the entire screen. In terms of contrast, it may not have an excellent contrast ratio due to the IPS panel, but it can be considered quite good according to IPS standards. The black uniformity in this TV's IPS panels can also be good. Last year, I wasn't very happy with the brightness of the X80k model, which was priced around 1 lakh. I felt that the company should have provided slightly higher brightness in this range of TVs. The 55-inch variant of the X80L series, priced around 1 lakh, has superb picture quality! This TV comes with Calman's auto calibration, which provides a great out-of-the-box picture quality. Speaking of brightness, it may not be as good as the X90 series, but it's the first Sony TV under 1 lakh that provides sufficient brightness for HDR content. The measured peak brightness of the TV is 413 nits on a 100% window. The best thing about this TV is that it displays dark scenes of Dolby Vision and HDR content with excellent detail clarity. This TV beautifully plays not only SDR content but also Dolby Vision and HDR contents. You will enjoy Netflix, Disney Hotstar, and Amazon Prime's HDR, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ content on this TV.

When it comes to colors, this TV features wide color gamut and Triluminos technology along with 3D color algorithm processing, which together make the colors as vibrant as QLED. The punchy bright colors on this TV appear even more attractive than on a QLED TV due to the amazing picture clarity. Speaking of blacks, they may not be as deep as VA panel but are considered quite good compared to an IPS panel. In an illuminated room, blacks appear deeper than in a dark room. However, this TV's dark room performance is also quite good. The TV has a black level adjustment feature, which allows you to make blacks somewhat deeper for dark room viewing.

The TV has almost negligible banding, whether it's a light blue sky or a stretched grey, you won't see any banding issues causing problems. The pictures appear clear, sharp, and fine. There is no issue with digital noise on this TV; the pictures look clean. 4K videos exhibit a 3D depth, making it feel like you are looking at things outside your window with the naked eye. The colors become more vibrant, enhancing the attractiveness of the scenes. Due to the wide color gamut, this TV has the capability to reproduce almost every shade of different colors, resulting in excellent color accuracy. The dark room performance of this TV is also quite good. The viewing angle of this TV is excellent, making it suitable for installation even in large illuminated halls. It is fully appropriate for wide seating arrangements.

Sony claims that this TV is equipped with MotionFlow XR200, which increases the 50 Hz refresh rate to 200 Hz. It is difficult to confirm whether it reaches 200 Hz or not. However, in the case of this particular TV, the company's claim seems somewhat accurate because even with a 50 Hz refresh rate, this TV manages to control motion blur. There is no notable issue of motion blur on this TV. It provides smoothness even in fast action scenes, enhancing the viewing experience. Now, let's talk about picture upscaling. This 4K TV offers good picture upscaling. Both OTT content and content played through USB exhibit good picture upscaling. Even low-resolution content plays in good quality on this TV. You get several preset picture modes on the TV, such as Vivid, Standard, Cinema, Game, Photo, Graphics, Dolby Vision Bright, and Dolby Vision Dark. In addition to these, a custom mode is also available, allowing you to set picture settings according to your preference. When it comes to the performance of set-top boxes, HD channels look good on this TV, but SD channels don't look as good. To be honest, SD channels won't look good on any real 4K TV because high-range 4K TVs are designed specifically for high-resolution content. SD channels look good on HD Ready or FHD TVs.

Audio

Now let's talk about the audio of this TV. Out of the box, the audio is loud, but it doesn't sound appealing. The highs and lows are not well-balanced, and the treble tends to overpower. The most annoying thing is the absence of preset audio modes, making it difficult for a common man to adjust the audio settings. The only workable alternative provided to enhance the sound is the equalizer, but setting it up is not easy. However, once you adjust the equalizer settings, the audio improves significantly. You can take note of these settings. This TV features Sony's Surface Acoustic Audio technology, which, according to the company, makes the sound appear to originate from the same place as the screen. If you carefully observe the screen, you will notice this technology in action. This TV supports Dolby Atmos, but if you think you will get the Dolby Atmos experience through the TV speakers alone, that won't be the case. To experience Dolby Atmos, you need a complete home theater setup, including ceiling speakers and rear speakers. This TV features HDMI eARC, and if you connect this TV to a good Dolby Atmos home theater system like the Sony A3000, you can enjoy a satisfying Dolby Atmos experience.

Smart Features

Now let's talk about the smart features of this TV. It is an Android TV that comes with the Google TV UI, which is very fluid. It runs on Android 10. On the Google TV UI, you get access to more than 10,000 apps and games, with new additions being made daily. Additionally, you get access to over 700,000 movies and shows on this TV. The Google TV UI provides a clean and convenient browsing experience. Keeping your browsing history in mind, the TV's home screen displays contents from your favorite genres, simplifying your browsing experience. This TV is fully loaded and supports the latest features. It offers numerous features, and the more you explore the TV, the more new features you will discover. Apart from the Bravia Cam, this TV also supports select Sony cameras and Logitech webcams. It is a great option if you make video calls on a large screen using Zoom and Google Duo. You can purchase the Bravia Cam or a Logitech camera separately to make video calls through them. With the Bravia Cam, you can even control the TV using gestures. The Bravia Cam also supports auto power-saving mode.

When you are not in the room, the TV's brightness reduces significantly, saving power. In addition to the remote, you can also operate the TV directly using voice commands. This TV is compatible with Alexa and Google Home. It has built-in Chromecast, allowing you to smoothly cast content from your Apple and Android devices to the TV's large screen. It also features the Living Decor app, which lets you turn your TV into a piece of art by displaying your photos or Google photos as a screensaver in ambient mode. This TV comes with the Bravia Core app, which offers unlimited movies, including some IMAX Enhanced movies. Watching IMAX movies in high-quality full-screen is a thrilling experience. Bravia Core allows you to watch movies in the highest streaming quality, providing an immersive experience.

Gaming Performance

When it comes to gaming, even though this TV does not have a 120 Hz refresh rate or VRR, gaming is enjoyable on it. For gaming on PlayStation 5, it features HDMI 2.1, auto low latency mode, auto HDR tone mapping, and auto genre picture mode.

During HDR gaming, the TV automatically switches to HDR mode, and if you start watching a movie in the middle of gaming, the TV automatically switches to movie mode. The graphics on this TV are impressive, and motion blur does not negatively affect the gaming experience. You can enjoy gaming on this TV.

Pricing and Availability

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Conclusion

After testing the X82L for 12 days, we can confidently say that it's one of the best TVs on the market. Its sleek design, exceptional picture quality, and impressive features make it an ideal choice for anyone who wants a top-notch viewing experience. So, whether you're a gamer looking for low input lag, a movie buff looking for outstanding visuals, or just someone who wants a sleek and modern TV, the Bravia X1 4k TV X82L is a fantastic choice!

FAQs

Q. What is the difference between the Bravia X1 4K TV X82L and the X92H? 

A. The main difference between the Bravia X1 4K TV X82L and X92H is that the X92H offers additional features such as Dolby Vision and HDMI 2.1.

Q. Is the TV suitable for use in a bright room? 

A. Yes, the TV’s brightness and contrast make it well-suited for use in a bright room.

Q. Does the TV come with an included wall mount? 

A. No, the TV does not come with an included wall mount.

Q. Can the TV be used to stream content from a PC or laptop? 

A. Yes, the TV can be easily connected to a PC or laptop to stream content.

Q. What is the warranty period for the Bravia X1 4K TV X82L? 

A. The TV comes with a one-year warranty.