I saw Sony’s superb new Bravia TV lineup – and this is the one you should get

Sony has a long history of hugely confusing names for its products. But with last year’s TV range it tried to make things simpler by giving the new models series numbers. This approach broadly works as it builds out more of the Bravia range, but it feels like there are some confusing bits as I’ll explore.

This year sees the ‘cinema is coming home’ range expand. So now we’ve the Bravia 3 as the cheaper LED set, Bravia 5 is a more upmarket Mini LED set, Bravia 7 is QLED, Bravia 8 is OLED. Last year’s Bravia 9 is Mini LED rather than OLED, yet remains the de facto range-topper.

However, the best to buy is surely the new Bravia 8 II which boasts a newer QD-OLED panel (where QD means Quantum Dot and is Samsung tech). It replaces the outgoing A95L but brings stacks of new tricks to the party with 25% higher peak brightness compared to the older model.

It’s even 50% brighter than last year’s Sony Bravia 8 but bizarrely doesn’t replace it. I think Sony seems a little caught here by wanting to move this new set to QD-OLED even though Mini LED is clearly on the up and certainly seems to be filling a very sweet spot. QD-OLED’s future certainly seems uncertain, especially in the face of LG Display’s four-stack OLED tech used in the LG G5 and Panasonic Z95B.

So the Bravia 8 and 8 II fulfil a demand for the better and best that OLED has to offer, but it feels like both of these models are an uneasy fit alongside the Bravia 9. I think Sony is understandably hedging its bets here.

The naming conventions of the TV range are also muddied by some older 2023 models – like the X85L and ageing A90K – remaining in the range. Options for buyers aren’t that straightforward, but perhaps they will seem so as we move into 2026 and older sets are discontinued.

Back to the Bravia 8 II then; Google TV-based set is powered by Sony’s XR processor and comes in 55in and 65in screen sizes (not 77in, apparently due to supply issues), boasts the Google TV OS as well as Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG & IMAX Enhanced support.

Once again Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ tech is used which uses actuators behind the display to bring audio to life as if it’s actually coming from the screen. Interestingly, this model also won’t be able to have its feet positioned centrally unlike the Bravia 8 and 9 – it seems a little bizarre that Sony isn’t able to offer this option on the 8 II.

The Bravia 5 Mini LED set probably has the broadest appeal though, with sizes ranging between 55in and a huge 98in. The Bravia 9 from last year, Bravia 7 and Bravia 3 go up to 85in, however. Only the Bravia 3 from the new range is available in sizes smaller than 55in – with options at 43in and 50in (as well as 55in, 65in, 75in and 85in).

If you’re wondering why there’s no Bravia 10 as yet, well, that seems nailed on for 2026 – Sony has detailed its RGB Mini LED tech which will surely debut in a set next year. Keep your eyes peeled at CES 2026 in January. The names of Sony’s sets could be eventually just as confusing as they used to be, with various mk II or III type nomenclature.

There are also new audio products to go alongside the new Bravia sets in the form of the Theatre Bar 6 (a 3.1.2ch soundbar with wireless subwoofer), Theatre System 6 (a 5.1ch full system) plus there’s the Theatre Rear 8 and Sub 7 to add on.