Sony BRAVIA 8 II OLED review
Overview and current range position
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II is a premium QD-OLED television introduced in 2025 as the successor to Sony's long-lived A95L. Unlike the LG C5 and Samsung S90F, it remains Sony's principal OLED model in the 2026 UK range while new RGB Mini LED televisions sit alongside it rather than directly replacing it. It is available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, so buyers wanting a compact 42-inch gaming screen or a very large 77-inch-plus OLED must look elsewhere.
Its appeal is not based on maximum specification quantity. Sony prioritises film-oriented processing, colour control, motion handling and an unusually capable screen-actuated audio system. This makes the BRAVIA 8 II a strong choice for viewers who want a refined television without immediately adding a soundbar. The trade-offs are a high price, only two HDMI 2.1-capable inputs and gaming features that are less expansive than LG or Samsung at similar money.
QD-OLED picture, HDR and film performance
QD-OLED combines self-emissive pixels with quantum-dot colour conversion. The screen can produce perfect pixel-level blacks, wide viewing angles and strong colour volume without a white subpixel diluting bright colours. Sony's processing aims for natural gradation, convincing skin tones and careful upscaling rather than the most aggressive showroom image. High-quality films have excellent depth, fine shadow detail and smooth motion when the television is correctly configured.
The set supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG but not HDR10+. Dolby Vision is available for compatible streaming and disc content, while HDR10+ material falls back to HDR10. Sony's tone mapping and picture presets are strong, although no television can recover detail lost in compressed low-resolution sources. The Netflix Adaptive Calibrated and Sony Pictures Core-related modes may appeal to streaming enthusiasts, but they do not replace correct room lighting and sensible picture settings.
QD-OLED can be affected by strong ambient light. Direct illumination may make black areas appear slightly raised or tinted, reducing the dark-room advantage. Reflections remain visible, and sustained full-screen brightness cannot match the most powerful Mini LED televisions. The BRAVIA 8 II is therefore at its best in controlled evening lighting, though its bright highlights and colour volume make it more adaptable than older OLED generations.
HDMI, gaming, Google TV and sound
The television has four HDMI inputs, but only two provide the full HDMI 2.1 feature set for 4K at 120Hz, Variable Refresh Rate and Auto Low Latency Mode. One of those two is also the eARC connection. A household using an eARC soundbar, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series console and gaming PC may therefore need an HDMI switch, receiver or direct source-to-soundbar arrangement. This is the most important practical limitation relative to LG C5 and Samsung S90F, which offer four high-bandwidth inputs.
Sony supports current-console 4K/120Hz gaming, VRR and PlayStation-specific conveniences such as Auto HDR Tone Mapping when used with compatible hardware. It does not target 144Hz or 165Hz PC gaming. Input responsiveness is good, but buyers whose priority is several high-refresh sources will find LG and Samsung easier to integrate.
Google TV provides a broad application catalogue, Chromecast support, voice search, profiles and integration with Google services. Apple AirPlay support broadens device compatibility. The interface can promote recommendations and requires account choices during setup, but UK streaming coverage is strong.
Acoustic Surface Audio+ uses actuators to vibrate the panel so dialogue appears to come from the image rather than a speaker beneath it. The presentation is clearer and more spatially convincing than most thin televisions, although deep cinematic bass still benefits from external audio. Exact speaker layout and supplied accessories should be checked against the UK model code.
OLED ownership, value and verdict
The BRAVIA 8 II includes panel-protection routines, pixel shifting and static-image management, but QD-OLED remains susceptible to uneven ageing if bright channel logos, scoreboards or desktop elements are repeated for long periods. Protection features should stay enabled, and the television should be allowed to complete standby maintenance rather than being switched off at the wall after every session.
This is the strongest television in the category for film-first buyers who value Sony's processing, accurate motion and integrated sound more than connection quantity. It remains a current Sony OLED in 2026, so discounts may be less dramatic than on C5 or S90F. Gamers with one console will still be well served; households with multiple HDMI 2.1 sources should plan connections before buying. Choose TCL C8K or Hisense U8Q for greater sustained brightness, LG C5 for flexible gaming connectivity, and BRAVIA 8 II for refined cinematic presentation.