Sony BRAVIA 7 4K QLED TV Review
Table of contents
Sony has made a big shift in its product lineup this year, moving from the familiar X95L, X90L, etc. model names to a more straightforward numerical approach: BRAVIA 9, 8, 7, and 3. This change aligns with Sony's strategy to unify its TVs, soundbars, and other home audio products under the BRAVIA banner, creating a more cohesive brand experience. This rebranding is described by Sony as a step towards "the ultimate home cinema experience."
In this review, we focus on the BRAVIA 7 which is designed to offer a balanced blend of performance and features and replaces the outgoing X95L from last year.
The BRAVIA 7 comes in a variety of sizes, each with its own price point:
Sony 55XR70 (55-inch): $1,699.99
Sony 65XR70 (65-inch): $1,999.99
Sony 75XR70 (75-inch): $2,499.99
Sony 85XR70 (85-inch): $3,299.99
Specifications
The BRAVIA 7 QLED features a Mini LED backlight and sits below the Sony BRAVIA 8 OLED and the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED, but above the entry-level Sony BRAVIA 3. It's Sony's cheapest TV in 2024 to feature local dimming. It comes with the XR Backlight Master Drive, the same technology found in the BRAVIA 9, which Sony introduced at CES. The XR Backlight Master Drive increases brightness by 30% and improves light control with eight times as many local dimming zones compared to the X90L.
The XR processor on board contributes to several features, including XR Triluminous Pro, which offers over a billion colors, XR Clear Image for upscaling content, and XR Motion Clarity to improve on-screen motion. The TV also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, along with Dolby Atmos and DTS for audio.
Regarding audio, the TV features a two-channel Acoustic Multi-Audio configuration with four speakers, including two sound-positioning tweeters and dual woofers. Acoustic Center Sync, which was introduced last year, returns to allow the BRAVIA TV to function as a center channel in a larger audio setup. A new addition is the Voice Zoom 3 feature, which uses AI sound separation technology to detect, isolate, and enhance vocals, ensuring you don't miss a word. Voice Zoom 3 also offers the option to isolate and remove dialogue, which can be useful if you prefer not to hear the commentators during a sporting event.
Design
The BRAVIA 7 is an attractively designed television with thin bezels on three sides and a slightly larger bottom bezel with a brushed metallic finish. It features a two-way stand with slim metal feet that can be set in either a wide or narrow position, depending on your cabinet. Both options offer low and high settings, allowing you to place a soundbar in front of the screen without blocking it.
Unlike the BRAVIA 9, the BRAVIA 7 does not include X-Wide Angle and X-Anti Reflection features. While the BRAVIA 7 supports the use of Sony’s BRAVIA Cam and its associated perks, it does not come with one in the box, so it’s an optional extra.
At the back, the BRAVIA 7 sports a clean checkerboard pattern, a common design in many Sony TVs. You’ll also find four HDMI ports, with ports three and four being HDMI 2.1 compatible and supporting 4K at 120Hz. There is also an RF input for antenna/cable signals, a Toslink optical digital audio output, two USB inputs, and an RS-232C port for advanced control options.
Remote
The BRAVIA 7 comes with a remote design similar to Sony TVs from recent years, with a slight color change. This year's remote features blue and green specks, which is a result of using eco-friendly recycled plastics. I find it slightly reminiscent of the '90s movie theater tiles. Unfortunately, the remote is not backlit.
New menu keys and direct-access buttons for various streaming services can be found on the remote. Anime fans will appreciate the dedicated Crunchyroll button. There's also a Sony Pictures Core App button, which acts as a storefront for purchasing movies and a streaming service. The Sony Pictures Core App, which I used for the majority of my testing, supports Dolby Atmos and features Pure Stream technology, which streams at roughly 80 Mbps for optimal performance. The remote also offers quick-access buttons for Disney+, Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube.
Google TV
Sony's BRAVIA 7 continues to operate on the Google TV platform, similar to last year's models, offering voice commands and shortcuts, as well as support for Google Assistant and Alexa. It also features built-in Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2. The BRAVIA 7 includes the refreshed menu system from the A95L, which allows for settings like picture and sound adjustments.
There are also a couple of new additions to the user interface on the eco-friendly dashboard. This centralizes all the ECO options, making it easier for users to activate various sustainability features, such as power-saving modes and light sensor adjustments.
Performance
It's clear while watching the BRAVIA 7 that the new XR Backlight Master Drive significantly reduces the backlight haloing seen in its Mini LED predecessor. This improvement takes Sony’s Mini LED picture quality to a higher level. During my testing, which included challenging scenes from both movies such as “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” and YouTube clips, the BRAVIA 7 excelled. For example, when a bright HDR object appears against a dark background, there's much less light blooming around it. While you can still see some blooming if viewed off-axis or if you're specifically looking for it, there’s an improvement in the new backlight system, thanks to the 480 local dimming zones on this 65-inch model.
When it comes to delivering bright images, TVs have two possible outcomes with color reproduction. Either the colors can appear washed out if the screen lacks the adequate color gamut, or the increased brightness can improve the color volume. Fortunately, the Sony BRAVIA 7 excels in the latter category, especially while watching a movie like “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” which maintains vibrant and accurate colors even at higher brightness levels.
The BRAVIA 7 leverages quantum dot technology to produce colors that appear natural and vibrant in both HDR and SDR content. The TV covers approximately 94.77% of the P3 wide color gamut and about 72.87% of the broader REC. 2020 color spectrum, resulting in excellent color reproduction.
Speaking of brightness levels, the BRAVIA 7 performs very well for a model that isn't the flagship. In professional HDR picture mode, I measured peak brightness at just below 2,000 nits, precisely 1,987 nits on a 10% window. This was evident while watching the machine gun versus helicopter scene in “Bad Boys for Life”, where the TV's brightness made the neon lights on the buildings stand out. Even in SDR mode, the TV still achieves a considerable peak brightness of 1,722 nits on a 10% window.
The BRAVIA 7's 4K resolution is impressive on its own, but the XR Processor chipset brings noticeable improvements. While watching "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," the processor's impact was clear in the intricate details of the characters' suits and the pores on their faces. It doesn’t make the picture look flashy, rather, it subtly improves the focus within each shot. The result is an image with depth that feels more true to life without appearing over-processed.
This year, the new Prime Video Calibrated Mode joins Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode and IMAX Enhanced. Tailored for Amazon’s streaming platform, this mode considers over 80 parameters and offers eight preset options to automatically adjust the TV settings based on the type of content being viewed, such as movies, TV shows, or sports. Testing this feature was particularly enjoyable, as it was interesting to see the TV automatically switch modes. For example, when watching a replay of a Thursday night football on Prime Video, the TV switches to a more vivid mode, while it adjusts to a different setting for movies.
Gaming
The BRAVIA 7 comes with new features designed to improve the gaming experience. One notable improvement is the support for Dolby Vision Gaming, which looked great while playing Spider-Man 2 on the PlayStation 5. There was a noticeable improvement in contrast and color compared to regular HDR.
It also supports 4K/120 and includes "Perfect for PlayStation 5" features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping for more accurate HDR and Auto Genre Picture Mode. The Game Menu makes it easy to adjust settings while gaming, offering different modes tailored for different genres, such as first-person shooters. There’s a new feature this year called Multi-View which allows for a split-screen experience, so you can game in one window while following a YouTube walkthrough in another. This TV shows good responsiveness in game mode, with a latency of just 9.2 milliseconds at 4K 120Hz, making it a solid choice for casual gamers.
Sound Quality
The BRAVIA 7 features a two-channel Acoustic Multi-Audio configuration with four speakers, including two sound positioning tweeters. This setup effectively creates a soundstage that makes sound effects seem to originate from their on-screen positions. The addition of Voice Zoom 3 this year is a welcome upgrade, as it increases dialogue clarity. This was particularly noticeable while watching "Masters of the Air'' on Apple TV+, where the dialogue sometimes became muffled beneath the roar of airplane engines. Don’t get me wrong, this setup won’t replace a dedicated system or soundbar, but it sounds good for TV speakers.
Since Sony sent us the BRAVIA Theatre Quad and the BRAVIA 7 together, I used both during my testing. This duo definitely improves the overall sound experience and delivers noticeable height effects, clear sound, and precise audio placement. While it might not completely replace a dedicated system, it certainly gets close.
Conclusion
While the BRAVIA 7 is not a flagship model, it delivers nearly flagship-level performance at a significantly lower price. With its impressive brightness levels and effective local dimming due to the XR Backlight Master Drive, it provides an excellent viewing experience for both HDR and SDR content. The overall picture quality is very good, and the audio performance is commendable for TV speakers. Priced at $1,999 for the 65-inch version, the BRAVIA 7 offers great value for its performance.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Impressive brightness levels | Occasional off-axis blooming |
Effective local dimming | No backlit remote |
Great out-of-the-box picture settings |
FAQ
What is the difference between OLED and QLED TVs?
It ultimately comes down to different technologies. QLED TVs use quantum dots, which are inorganic, durable, stable, and provide excellent color and brightness. In contrast, OLED TVs use an organic material, which can be prone to image retention.
What is local dimming on a TV?
Local dimming allows individual areas of pixels to be turned off, keeping blacks deeper and whites brighter, ideal for watching movies or a dark TV series. There are three main types of local dimming—edge-lit, back-lit, and full-array—so you'll need to choose the one that suits your needs best.
What is the lifespan of a Mini LED?
The lifespan of mini LEDs is similar to traditional LEDs and can vary based on factors like the quality of the lights, the operating environment, and the frequency of use. Generally, mini LED lights are expected to last around 50,000 hours.
