Sony Bravia XR X90J Review

The X90J replaced the popular X900H in 2021 and carried Sony's new Cognitive Processor XR down to a price most households could reach. It pairs a VA panel with full array local dimming, supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, and was among the first sets to ship with Google TV, plus Sony's Bravia Core film service.

The consensus is that its picture punches well above its class. Contrast is deep for an LCD, the dimming is well judged with little blooming, HDR highlights have real snap, and the processing makes ordinary HD broadcasts and streams look cleaner than rivals manage. Colors are natural out of the box, and the speakers beat most at the price.

The compromises are in the hardware. Only two of the four HDMI ports take 4K at 120Hz, one of them shared with eARC, variable refresh rate arrived only through a later firmware update, and Dolby Vision cannot run at 120Hz for gaming. Viewing angles are narrow, as with most VA panels, and a bright window opposite the screen causes glare.

The 65 inch launched at 1,799.99 dollars and fell quickly. For film and TV fans who sit square to the screen, it was one of the smartest buys of its year and a reminder of how much processing matters.