Is it worth buying the Sony X95J 4K TV? As Sony's flagship 4K LCD for 2021, it's probably going to be a must-have for those looking for the best Sony TV without OLED splashes, but as it's not for sale yet, with no confirmed launch date or cost, as long as every circumstance there is a touch of mystery about it.
Sony is going to have to make sure its costs remain competitive, and flagship LCD TVs often have a pretty tough spot in a TV brand's lineup, beating the cost of entry-level OLED TVs. Select an expensive LCD screen or a partially cheap OLED (given the higher costs of the technology) can be tricky, and we advise you to Check out our full guide to OLED vs LCD for a more detailed look.
However, if you're eminently interested in the Sony X95J, how much it might be worth, when it might be released, and what specs and sizes are going to be available, read on now. We'll also walk you through gaming features like HDMI 2.1, a vital spec for Sony's PS5 that didn't support Sony devices last year, but is more of a priority this time around.
Sony X95J prices and sizes
The Sony X95J is one of the few Sony televisions that does not yet have a confirmed cost. That's strange, considering that ranks as Sony's flagship 4K LCD TV this year.
However, we have a good idea of the cost of the top and bottom TVs in the 2021 Sony TV lineup.
The X90J trimmer starts at $1299 / €1149 (about AU$1700) for a 50-inch waist, going up to $1499 / €1249 (about AU$2000) for a 55-inch waist and $1799 / €1499 (about AU$2400) for a 65-inch waist.
The Sony X95J is only available in 65-inch, 75-inch and 85-inch sizes, so you can expect cost increases for the larger models in particular, although the initial cost of the 75-inch option is probably going to be a step up from the X90J. Last year's 950-inch X95H / XH85 model also cost €3999 / €3999, making the larger size probably an equivalent amount.
However, it's worth noting that last year's model was also available in 45-inch and 55-inch sizes, and Sony limited the sizes of the X95J to larger models. The smaller sizes may not sell as well, or maybe Sony just wants to distinguish between its cheaper sets and more iconic models.
Sony X95J 4K TV: is this LCD flagship worth buying? 1
Sony X95J release date
The launch date of the Sony X95J is not confirmed, although the Sony A90J OLED and Sony A80J OLED are already on sale, as are the cheaper Sony X90J and X80J LCD.
Sony's site listing for the X95J claims the set is "coming soon", so we await an imminent launch, probably in April or early May.
Sony TVs tend to arrive in Australia somewhat later (the X95J is not yet listed on the Sony AU site), but occasionally it should.
Sony X95J Specifications and Features
The Sony X95J is the initial downward step in this mid-range of the Sony TV range compared to the expensive high-end models. That said, it doesn't sacrifice a ton of quirks here: the X95J still offers the XR Contrast Booster used by the Master series models (although it won't be quite as flashy) and XR 4K Upscaling technology. It has X-Wide Angle, XR motion clarity and 3D audio scaling thanks to the Cognitive XR processor, but it will only have X-Anti-Reflection on the 2 largest models.
This Cognitive XR processor is what elevates this set over the X90J and X80J, and Sony claims it employs a "brand new processing procedure developed to respond to the way humans see and hear," noting a so-called "focal point" in TV. Image to focus processing near the most essential parts of the image.
“While the usual artificial intelligence (AI) can only notice and examine image elements such as color, contrast and detail individually, the new processor can cross-analyze a set of elements for both, as and how our brains do it”, says Sony.
In terms of changes compared to last year's X950H / XH95One of our favorite Sony TVs from last year, the X95J is roughly 10mm thinner and adds HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K/120 gaming – perfect for PS5 and Xbox Series X as it was a huge pain in the year's model past, so it's great that Sony has added them for this year.
Here you will not get the Acoustic Surface Audio + technology that makes the screen tremble, since it only works with OLED panels. Nevertheless, the X95J features Acoustic Multi-Audio, which uses "sound positioning tweeters to ensure that high-frequency sounds come from the right place in the scene, precisely where the action is taking place."
You'll get front-facing speakers and a built-in subwoofer, as well as Dolby Atmos audio and a "3D surround sound upscaling" technique. to make non-Atmos sound feel vertical. Sony also supports Dolby Vision Dynamic HDR, but not with Samsung's preferred HDR10 + standard.
Sony 3D Surround Sound Scaling in Action (Image credit: Sony)
The X95J will also employ a smart Google TV platform, rather than the Android TV software typically seen on high-end Sony TVs, with built-in support for Chromecast and Google Assistant.
Netflix's Perfectly Calibrated Mode, heavily marketed, is also making a comeback, although we didn't bother using it, but IMAX Enhanced is also compatible with those with compatible content.
The Sony X95J also features a 3-position mount, making it easy to adjust to the meter setup or media unit you put the TV on, and a "hero position" to accommodate a soundbar. conveniently sized under the screen.
Until the cost is confirmed, it's going to be pretty hard to say if the X95J LCD is a better option than the A80J OLED., but we'll be putting both to the test in our reviews in the coming weeks, so you shouldn't have waited too long to find out for sure.
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