Sony 85 4K UHD TV X77L: Review, Features & More

Hey guys! Today, we’re diving deep into the Sony 85-inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L Series. If you're in the market for a new big screen that offers a fantastic viewing experience, this might just be the TV you've been waiting for. We’ll break down everything from picture quality and sound to smart features and overall performance. So, grab your popcorn, and let’s get started!

Unboxing and First Impressions

First things first, let’s talk about the unboxing experience. This 85-inch beast arrives well-packaged, ensuring it's protected during shipping. Inside the box, you'll find the TV itself, the stand components, a remote control, batteries, and the usual documentation. Setting it up is relatively straightforward, but given the size, you might want an extra pair of hands to help you lift it onto the stand or mount it on the wall. The initial impression is definitely striking. The TV boasts a sleek, minimalist design that will fit nicely into any living room setup. The bezels are slim, which means more screen and less frame, making for a truly immersive viewing experience right off the bat. The build quality feels solid, as you'd expect from a Sony product. The materials used give it a premium look and feel, which is always a good sign when you're investing in a high-end television. Connecting your devices is a breeze thanks to the multiple HDMI ports and other connectivity options available. Whether you're plugging in a game console, Blu-ray player, or streaming device, the X77L has you covered. The initial setup process is user-friendly, guiding you through connecting to your Wi-Fi network and setting up your favorite streaming services. From the moment you power it on, you’re greeted with a vibrant and clear picture, hinting at the visual delights to come. Sony's attention to detail in both design and functionality is apparent, making the first impression a strong one. This TV is designed not just to be a screen, but a centerpiece of your home entertainment system.

Picture Quality: A Visual Feast

The picture quality of the Sony X77L is where this TV truly shines. The 4K Ultra HD resolution delivers stunning clarity and detail, making everything from movies to video games look incredibly sharp. The X77L boasts a vibrant color palette, thanks to Sony's Triluminos Pro technology. This means you get a wider range of colors, and they look more natural and lifelike. Skin tones appear accurate, and landscapes are rendered with rich, vibrant hues. Whether you're watching a nature documentary or a high-octane action movie, the colors pop off the screen. Contrast is another area where this TV excels. The dynamic range is impressive, with deep blacks and bright whites coexisting beautifully. This is crucial for creating a sense of depth and realism in the image. Shadow detail is also excellent, meaning you won't miss any of the finer nuances in dark scenes. One of the standout features is the 4K HDR Processor X1. This processor is the brains behind the operation, working to enhance color, contrast, and clarity in real-time. It does an outstanding job of upscaling non-4K content, making your older movies and TV shows look better than ever. Motion handling is smooth and natural, thanks to Sony's Motionflow XR technology. This is especially important for fast-paced action scenes and sports, where you want to avoid motion blur. The TV keeps up with the action, ensuring that everything remains crisp and clear. Viewing angles are also quite good, meaning you don't have to be sitting directly in front of the TV to enjoy a great picture. Colors and contrast remain consistent even when viewed from the side, which is a definite plus for larger living rooms where seating might be spread out. Overall, the picture quality on the Sony 85-inch X77L is exceptional. It delivers a visually stunning experience that will immerse you in your favorite content. The combination of vibrant colors, excellent contrast, and smooth motion handling makes this TV a top performer in its class. If picture quality is a priority for you, the X77L should definitely be on your radar.

Sound Quality: Immersive Audio

Okay, so we've talked about the visuals, but what about the sound? The audio experience is just as crucial for a truly immersive entertainment setup. The Sony 85-inch X77L doesn't disappoint in this department either. The TV is equipped with Dolby Audio, which enhances sound clarity and adds a surround sound effect. While it might not replace a dedicated sound system, the built-in speakers do a commendable job of delivering rich and balanced audio. The sound quality is clear and detailed, with dialogue coming through crisp and intelligible. This is particularly important for movies and TV shows where you want to catch every word. The bass response is decent for built-in speakers, adding some depth and rumble to the audio. Of course, if you're a true audiophile, you might still want to consider pairing the TV with a soundbar or a full surround sound system for an even more cinematic experience. One of the cool features is Sony's Clear Phase technology, which analyzes and compensates for inaccuracies in the speaker's response. This results in a more natural and balanced sound output. The TV also includes various sound modes, allowing you to customize the audio to suit different types of content. For example, there's a Cinema mode for movies, a Music mode for listening to your favorite tunes, and a Standard mode for everyday viewing. While the built-in speakers are quite good, the X77L also offers plenty of connectivity options for external audio devices. You can easily connect a soundbar or receiver via HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) or optical output. This gives you the flexibility to upgrade your audio setup down the line if you choose. Overall, the sound quality on the Sony X77L is impressive for a built-in system. It provides clear, balanced audio that enhances the viewing experience. While it might not match the power and immersion of a dedicated sound system, it's more than adequate for most users. The inclusion of Dolby Audio and various sound modes adds to the versatility, making this TV a great all-around performer in the audio department.

Smart Features: Entertainment at Your Fingertips

Let's dive into the smart features of the Sony 85-inch X77L. In today's world, a TV is more than just a screen; it's a portal to a world of entertainment. The X77L runs on the Google TV operating system, which is a fantastic platform that brings together all your favorite streaming services in one place. Navigating through the interface is smooth and intuitive. The home screen is well-organized, making it easy to find what you're looking for. You can customize the layout to prioritize your favorite apps and content. Speaking of apps, Google TV offers access to a vast library of streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, and many more. Chances are, if you have a streaming subscription, you'll find the app available on this TV. Google Assistant is built right in, which means you can control the TV with your voice. Just press the Google Assistant button on the remote and speak your command. You can ask it to change channels, adjust the volume, search for movies, and even control your smart home devices. Voice control is a convenient feature that adds a layer of ease to your viewing experience. The TV also supports Chromecast, allowing you to cast content from your smartphone, tablet, or computer directly to the big screen. This is perfect for sharing photos and videos with friends and family or for mirroring your device's screen for presentations. Another cool feature is the Google Play Store, where you can download additional apps and games. This expands the functionality of the TV beyond just streaming video. You can even connect a game controller and play Android games right on the big screen. The X77L also has built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, ensuring a stable and reliable internet connection. This is crucial for streaming 4K content without buffering or interruptions. Overall, the smart features on the Sony 85-inch X77L are top-notch. The Google TV platform is user-friendly and packed with features, making it a joy to use. The inclusion of Google Assistant, Chromecast, and the Google Play Store adds to the versatility, making this TV a true smart entertainment hub. If you value a seamless and feature-rich smart TV experience, the X77L is an excellent choice.

Gaming Performance: A Gamer's Delight

For all the gamers out there, let's talk about the gaming performance of the Sony 85-inch X77L. A big screen with excellent picture quality is a game-changer, and this TV delivers on that front. The 4K resolution and vibrant colors make games look incredibly immersive. Whether you're exploring vast open worlds or engaging in fast-paced action, the visuals are stunning. Input lag is a crucial factor for gaming, and the X77L performs admirably in this area. Sony has implemented features to reduce input lag, ensuring that your button presses translate to on-screen actions with minimal delay. This is essential for competitive gaming where every millisecond counts. The TV also supports HDMI 2.1, which is a must-have for next-gen consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. HDMI 2.1 enables features like 4K gaming at 120Hz, which results in smoother and more responsive gameplay. While the X77L doesn't have all the advanced gaming features of Sony's higher-end models, it still provides a very enjoyable gaming experience. The smooth motion handling ensures that there's minimal motion blur, even in fast-paced games. The vibrant colors and excellent contrast enhance the visuals, making games look more detailed and lifelike. The large screen size adds to the immersion, drawing you into the game world. Playing games on this TV is a blast. The combination of a big, beautiful display, low input lag, and smooth motion handling makes for a fantastic gaming experience. Whether you're a casual gamer or a hardcore enthusiast, the X77L will not disappoint. It's a great choice for anyone looking to elevate their gaming setup with a high-quality 4K TV. Overall, the gaming performance of the Sony 85-inch X77L is excellent. It offers a smooth, responsive, and visually stunning gaming experience that will keep you coming back for more.

Connectivity: Ports and Options

Let's talk about connectivity, because having the right ports and options is crucial for integrating a TV into your home entertainment setup. The Sony 85-inch X77L comes with a solid array of connectivity options to accommodate all your devices. The TV features multiple HDMI ports, which is essential for connecting game consoles, Blu-ray players, streaming devices, and more. The inclusion of HDMI 2.1 is a big plus, as it supports the latest gaming features and ensures compatibility with next-gen consoles. There are also USB ports available, which you can use to connect external storage devices, such as hard drives or flash drives. This allows you to play media files directly on the TV. For audio connectivity, the X77L includes an optical audio output, which you can use to connect a soundbar or receiver. There's also an HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) port, which simplifies the connection to a soundbar and allows you to control the audio with your TV remote. In terms of network connectivity, the TV has built-in Wi-Fi, allowing you to connect to your home network wirelessly. There's also an Ethernet port for a wired connection, which can provide a more stable and reliable internet connection, especially for streaming 4K content. The X77L also supports Bluetooth, which is great for connecting wireless headphones or speakers. This is particularly useful for late-night viewing when you don't want to disturb others. In addition to the physical ports, the TV also supports various wireless connectivity options, such as Chromecast, which allows you to cast content from your smartphone, tablet, or computer to the big screen. Overall, the connectivity options on the Sony 85-inch X77L are comprehensive and should meet the needs of most users. The inclusion of multiple HDMI ports, USB ports, and both wired and wireless network connectivity provides plenty of flexibility. The support for HDMI 2.1 and Bluetooth adds to the versatility, making this TV a great choice for a wide range of setups. Whether you're connecting gaming consoles, streaming devices, or audio equipment, the X77L has you covered.

Pros and Cons: Weighing the Options

Alright guys, let's break it down with a quick rundown of the pros and cons of the Sony 85-inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L Series. This will help you get a clear picture of what this TV offers and whether it's the right fit for your needs.

Pros:

• Stunning Picture Quality: The 4K Ultra HD resolution and vibrant colors, thanks to Sony's Triluminos Pro technology, deliver an exceptional viewing experience.
• Excellent Contrast and Shadow Detail: The dynamic range is impressive, with deep blacks and bright whites coexisting beautifully, and shadow detail is excellent.
• Smooth Motion Handling: Sony's Motionflow XR technology ensures smooth and natural motion, which is crucial for fast-paced action scenes and sports.
• User-Friendly Smart Features: The Google TV platform is intuitive and packed with features, offering access to a vast library of streaming services and Google Assistant voice control.
• Good Gaming Performance: Low input lag and HDMI 2.1 support make it a great choice for gaming, providing a smooth and responsive experience.
• Comprehensive Connectivity: Multiple HDMI ports, USB ports, and both wired and wireless network connectivity offer plenty of flexibility.

Cons:

• Built-in Speakers: While the sound quality is decent, audiophiles may want to invest in a dedicated sound system for a more immersive experience.
• Advanced Gaming Features: It doesn't have all the advanced gaming features of Sony's higher-end models, such as variable refresh rate (VRR).

Overall, the Sony 85-inch X77L is a fantastic TV that offers a lot of value for the price. The picture quality is outstanding, the smart features are user-friendly, and the gaming performance is solid. While the built-in speakers may not be the best for audiophiles, and it lacks some advanced gaming features, these are minor drawbacks compared to the overall performance and features this TV offers. If you're looking for a big-screen TV that delivers stunning visuals and a great smart TV experience, the X77L is definitely worth considering.

Final Verdict: Is the Sony X77L Right for You?

So, after taking a comprehensive look at the Sony 85-inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L Series, let's wrap things up with a final verdict. Is this the TV for you? Well, if you're in the market for a large screen that offers exceptional picture quality, a user-friendly smart TV experience, and solid gaming performance, the X77L is definitely a strong contender. The 4K resolution, vibrant colors, and excellent contrast make for a visually stunning experience, whether you're watching movies, TV shows, or playing games. The Google TV platform is a joy to use, providing easy access to all your favorite streaming services and offering the convenience of Google Assistant voice control. For gamers, the low input lag and HDMI 2.1 support ensure a smooth and responsive gaming experience, though it's worth noting that it doesn't have all the advanced gaming features of higher-end models. The built-in speakers are decent, but if you're an audiophile, you might want to consider pairing the TV with a soundbar or dedicated audio system for a more immersive sound experience. In terms of connectivity, the X77L has you covered with multiple HDMI ports, USB ports, and both wired and wireless network connectivity. This TV is a great all-around performer that offers a lot of value for its price. It's ideal for families, movie buffs, and gamers alike who want a big screen that delivers on both picture quality and smart features. If you prioritize a large, beautiful display with a seamless smart TV experience, the Sony 85-inch X77L is an excellent choice. It’s a fantastic addition to any home entertainment setup, providing hours of immersive viewing pleasure. Overall, we highly recommend the Sony X77L for anyone looking to upgrade their TV experience. It's a top performer in its class, offering a winning combination of picture quality, smart features, and gaming performance. So go ahead, grab some popcorn, and get ready to enjoy your favorite content on this amazing TV!