XBR65X800G HDR 60Hz Smart LED/LCD TV
Review Summary
Product Name: XBR800G
Product Description: 4K HDR | 4K X-Reality PRO | Direct-lit LED backlighting w/ frame dimming | Android TV with Chromecast Built-in | IPS panel provides very good off-axis viewing
Brand: Sony
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Sony XBR65X800G
See full review below
Model year: 2019
Screen size reviewed: 65”
Bottom Line: Sony’s XBR65X800G is a good 4K smart TV. It delivers respectable picture quality and does quite well with HDR content, although, it could use a bit more peak brightness to enhance small highlights in HDR images. Its overall picture brightness makes it a good choice for well-lit rooms. It is also capable of producing a vivid and rich color palette with very good color accuracy. This TV has a good wide-angle viewing performance and is ideal for rooms with seating placed off-axis from the center of the TV screen.
The X800G may not be your best option if you do a lot of your TV viewing in a dark room; this is due to the TV’s IPS panel which restricts contrast range and black levels and can cause black levels in dark scenes to appear with a grayish overtone instead of a deep black. However, this will be less of an issue when watching this TV in a moderately or brightly lit room. In this setting, contrast and black levels will appear much better.
Dimensions:
- With stand: (W x H x D) 57 5/8” x 35 7/8” x 13 1/4″
- Without stand: (W x H x D) 57 5/8” x 33 ¼” x 3 1/4″
Weight:
- With stand: 48.5 lbs.
- Without stand: 46.1 lbs.
Warranty: One year parts and labor
Pros
- Decent HDR performance
- Solid performer with HD content (4K, 1080p, 720p)
- Vivid color reproduction
- Good side angle viewing – minimal contrast and color loss
- Good motion handling during sporting events and fast-paced movie scenes
Cons
- IPS panel reduces contrast and black levels
- No Dolby Vision HDR support
Intro
Sony’s X800G is the entry-level model for its premium XBR series of 4K TVs. And since it is a lower-end model, it will not have some of the features reserved for the top-tier displays such as better picture processing, panel (screen) lighting technologies and better build quality, just to name a few.
The X800G is available in five screen sizes: 43”, 49” 55”, 65” and 75” models. This assortment of sizes gives consumers more options in finding a size that fits their décor and viewing environment. Prices range from $649.00 to $1,999.00. For this review, I evaluated the 65” model.
Note: As mentioned above, this review is also a comparison to Sony’s X950G. And since I’ve already posted a thorough review of the X950G, I will not mention its features or stand-alone performance in this review. I will, however, talk about how it compares to the X800G in the performance section below. You can check out the full XBR65X950G review here.
Side View
Design and Features
The XBR65X800G is an average-looking display with decent build quality, although it isn’t as well made as Sony’s more expensive 950G, and by comparison, the 800G feels more cheaply made. This was apparent when I examined the back panel. The plastic cover felt and sounded much thinner as I tapped on it with my hand.
Furthermore, the frame and bezel are made of plastic, as well as the back portion of the TV’s stand (feet). The front portion of the stand is made of metal. The stand does, however, provide good stability. The bezel is not as thin as the X950G’s and seems a bit thick in comparison and measures approximately 5/8”.
The screen has a semi-gloss finish and contains direct-lit LED backlighting with frame dimming. I did notice the X950G’s screen surface is slightly glossier, which in my opinion adds a bit more clarity and transparency to the picture image. The X950G uses full-array LED backlighting with local dimming which provides much better contrast and black level capability when compared to the screen lighting method used on the 800G.
I’d also like to mention, and to the best of my knowledge and research, the 800G models use an IPS panel, with the exception of the 75″ screen size which uses a VA panel which will improve contrast and black levels. IPS display panels are known for their inability to produce good contrast and deep black levels. On the other hand, IPS panels do have an advantage over VA panels as they usually provide better off-axis (side angle) viewing by comparison. I will talk more about this in the performance section below.
The remote control is of basic design and offers soft push-button control, and features a built-in mic for voice recognition. This feature will allow you to control select Android TV functions through the built-in Google Assistant. The remote is not backlit.
Feature highlights:
- 4K X-Reality PRO ensures the cleanest, clearest picture for all video sources
- Direct-lit LED backlighting with frame dimming helps to provide better picture contrast and black levels (55″ 65″ 75″ models)
- Edge-lit LED backlighting with frame dimming helps to provide enhanced picture contrast and black levels (43″ 49″ models)
- High Dynamic Range (HDR10, HLG – HDR) for extended picture contrast and brightness when viewing HDR content ( no Dolby Vision HDR support)
- TRILUMINOS Display technology for a wider range of color reproduction
- Motionflow XR 240 (60Hz refresh rate)
Smart TV Features
- Android TV with Chromecast Built-in lets you cast your favorite entertainment apps and video content from your Android or iOS device, or laptop
- Supports voice control of compatible apps: Built-in Google Assistant controls basic TV functions and works with Google Home-compatible voice control assistants. The TV also works with Amazon Alexa-compatible voice control assistants
- Netflix Recommended TV – This certification makes it easier for consumers to know which manufacturers HDTVs work best with its streaming video service.
Connectivity
- 4 HDMI 2.0b inputs (HDCP 2.3 compliant)
- 1 Component/composite video input shared
- 3 USB inputs – one is USB 3.0
- 1 Ethernet input
- 1 RF input for antenna/cable/satellite
- 1 Digital optical audio output
- 1 Analog audio output 3.5 mm
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11ac) provides fast, reliable wireless streaming
Rear Panel
Note: This review can also be applied to the 55” and 75” models since they have the same technical design specs as the 65” display. The 43” and 49” models use edge-lit LED backlighting, whereas the 55”, 65” and 75” displays use direct-lit LED backlighting with frame dimming.
This design difference can be advantageous to the three larger sizes in this series and can have an effect on picture quality in the crucial areas of contrast and black level performance. With that said, I will stop short of saying this review can be applied to the two smaller sizes in this group; although I suspect the actual differences in picture quality will be minimal.
Performance/Comparison
The XBR65X800G delivered good picture quality but had less than optimal performance in two key picture metrics: contrast and black levels. In fact, these two metrics are closely related, and without a good contrast ratio, any given TV will not be able to produce deeply saturated black levels. And this was certainly the case with the X800G.
This shortcoming was primarily due to the IPS panel used on this TV. And as mentioned earlier, IPS display panels are not capable of producing great contrast and deep black levels. When viewing dark content in a dark room environment, this becomes readily apparent as black levels will appear somewhat grayish instead of a solid deep black. It is even more evident when viewing a completely black screen or a black screen with white highlights (text). In those prior examples, the lack of contrast range was easy to see.
Nevertheless, if you are particular about seeing deep blacks in the content you are viewing, then this TV will not be your best choice. I do need to point out, however; that this problem will not be an issue when watching dark content in a brightly lit room as the room lighting will greatly diminish the effects of contrast and black level loss, leaving blacks to appear much darker and deeper, and more natural in appearance.
By comparison, the X950G uses a VA panel and does not suffer from the lack of contrast range and black levels as do IPS panels. The contrast ratio on the X950 is very good which allows this TV to render deeply saturated blacks; this type of performance makes the X950G ideal for viewing in a dark room environment and will greatly enhance your viewing experience.
Shadow detail was also better on the X950G; for example, in an outdoor scene with very low lighting (dusk), images of the surrounding building structures were much more resolved and easier to see, in addition, I could also see more of the building’s detail in these same scenes.
Black screen uniformity in a dark room was a lot better on the 950G. Again this was primarily due to the 800G’s IPS panel. By comparison, a completely black screen was uniformly dark on the 950G; but on the 800G, the screen was not a deep black, but instead grayish in tone, and was subject to clouding across the screen’s surface.
The X950G also has an advantage in picture brightness. Don’t get me wrong, the X800G was more than bright enough, but when compared directly to the X950G, the difference was very obvious. This peak brightness advantage gave the X950G’s images more brilliance and pop. Peak whites, for example, with white text against a black background were much whiter and brighter, mind you, better contrast also played a part in these results.
Picture detail and clarity – not surprisingly – were better on the X950G and brought an extra layer of refinement to the on-screen images. Picture images were also sharper on the X950G, in addition to having excellent transparency and image depth. The X800G performed very well in these same areas, just not at the same levels as the X950G.
Okay, by now you may be wondering if there is an area the 800G can compete with the 950G in picture performance. And the answer is yes – the playing field becomes a bit more equal when it comes to color performance.
Both of these TVs produced excellent color rendering – the colors were vibrant and rich. Colors were also fully saturated while still maintaining a very natural looking and accurate color palette. This performance was most notable with HDR content, which by the way, both displays did a great job at presenting color with this type of content.
However, I still have to give the edge to the 950G for color performance since it is better equipped to deliver better overall picture quality, having such features as full-array LED backlighting w/ local dimming, a much better contrast ratio, X-tended Dynamic Range Pro and a beefed-up picture processor to name a few.
Side angle viewing was better on the 800G. Therefore, I have to call the 800G the winner with this metric, since IPS panels usually have better off-axis viewing capability than VA panels, and this was apparent during this comparison, with the 800G having minimal contrast and color saturation loss when viewing these TVs at wide angles. Chop one up for the 800G!
Motion handling was very good on both TVs. My live-action demo content of sporting events and fast-paced movie scenes played without any motion artifacts, including an absence of motion blur and judder.
Input lag is decent on the X800G at approximately 32.0 ms and should be responsive enough for all but the most competitive gamers.
The sound quality was pretty equal on both displays, delivering clean and easy-to-discern sound output that contained good imaging and stereo separation. Bass output was lacking on both sets as was expected. The 950G does have Sony’s Acoustic Multi-Audio speaker system which in theory should provide better audio quality. But to my own ears, the sound quality was very similar.
Conclusion
After reading this review, you may have perceived this as an unfair comparison, but my true purpose was to actually show you the differences in performance that an entry-level model vs a higher-end model in Sony’s XBR series will offer, and how much more performance and features can be obtained for the higher price tag.
It’s obvious from this comparison that the X950G is the better of the two models presented here, which was no surprise to me. With that said, the X800G is certainly no slouch when it comes to performance. I consider it a good 4K HDR TV, and it does what it is supposed to do within its design parameters.
My biggest concern with the X800G’s performance is its less than stellar contrast range due to its use of an IPS panel; and with contrast being the key metric for optimum picture quality, this particular design limits it performance and could certainly be an issue for anyone who does much of their TV viewing in a dark room and is expecting saturated black levels. If this last statement speaks to you, then you may want to look elsewhere for a TV that delivers better contrast and deeper black levels, such as the X950G.
However, if you don’t want to spend the extra cash on the X950G for an upgrade in picture quality, then a better alternative to the X800G would be last year’s XBR900F. This 4K TV will give you excellent black level performance with overall fantastic picture quality and at a cheaper price than the equivalent size of the X800G.
Nonetheless, if you do want the latest 2019 model and don’t mind the sacrifice in contrast and black levels, then Sony’s XBR65X800G is definitely worth checking out.
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We purchased this TV a week ago and after 4 days of nominal viewing, the Picture went dark/off to where we heard audio but NO picture. We turned the TV off for awhile, then back on but the picture was still off. Then all of a sudden the picture came back on. This continues to happen with the picture being on then no picture. We called the store and after some discussion they agreed to replace the TV. But, now we’re very suspicious about the reliability and dependability of this Sony X800G 65” model. We will try the replacement but if it so much as blinks at us we will opt to buy an LG brand.
Hi Winston.
Sorry to hear about your situation with the X800G. You did the right thing in taking it back for a replacement. I understand your concerns regarding the reliability of this TV after what has happened. Hopefully, your replacement unit will be OK.
With that said, and to hopefully give you some piece of mind, manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung and LG, etc, mass produce thousands of TVs and being produced on such a large scale, there are bound to be a few bad apples in every bunch. Its unfortunate you had to be on the receiving end on one of those defective units, and as I said earlier, let’s hope this unit will not have any issues.
Furthermore, I didn’t have any issues with my review X800G unit. So we can let that be a positive sign that there shouldn’t be an inherent reliability or design issue with the X800G.
Please let me know how your replacement works out.
Regards,
Milton
HDTVs and More
What is your opinion regarding calibration of the X800G? Is it worth having it done by a professional or can I do it from guidelines published on line?
Hi James,
Getting the X800G professionally calibrated will give you the best overall picture quality. But, if you are tech-savvy, you can purchase the proper calibration equipment and do the calibration yourself and achieve the same results. However, these options will be somewhat costly.
That being said, a much cheaper and simpler option would be to purchase a calibration disc and do a more basic self-calibration. This option will also give you very good results.
Your final option is to not do a calibration at all and just change the picture menu settings. In the case of the 800G, changing the picture mode to Custom and the color temperature to Expert 1 will give you decent picture accuracy without having to do any type of calibration.
Today’s TV’s, and especially the higher-end models, can and do have good to very good out-of-box picture accuracy when set to the right picture mode and color temperature; which in turn can actually make calibration unnecessary.
So, to answer your question, using calibration settings found online can be used as a guideline for a particular TV if you choose to go that route. But be aware that using the “white balance “settings found online even for the same model is not always a good idea since white balance settings are specific to each TV and may actually worsen your picture image if set incorrectly.
Regards,
Milton
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I bought the Sony 65” x800g and having it delivered from Best Buy for $699 Black Friday price, the x950 is twice the amount and had them side by side. The x950 was brighter and a little sharper picture, but for twice the price it wasn’t enough to me to justify $1300. This was an excellent review but read it after purchasing, but for the money I hope it works out for me.
Hi Hank,
The X800G is a good 4K TV, and what matters most is what is pleasing to your own eyes, and with that said, you made a good choice in choosing the X800G. Enjoy your new TV.
Regards,
Milton
HDTVs and More
Milton – Does the 800g recognize when the input is switched to a video game console and adjust the picture mode accordingly like similar range LG and Samsung models? Thanks!
Hi Billy,
On the X800G you have to manually switch to Game mode. The TV will not detect a video game signal and switch to Game mode automatically.
Regards,
Milton
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I purchased the X800G 43″. I can not pair bluettooth headphones to it. Further, Sony says it does not support A2DP on the 43″ set. Looks to me it only supports bluetooth input devices.
Hi Brian,
Your comments are correct. Also, none of the X800G models (screen sizes) support A2DP.
Regards,
Milton
HDTVs and More
Hi. Thanks for the great review.
Can you please explain more about the cons and pros of Edge (Sony X850g) versus direct (Sony X800g) backlight? I am not a gamer mostly going to watch TV shows, sometimes movies, YouTube and maybe Netflix. I saw the price tags on both models in store… around $500 difference. So, after going through your reviews and comparisons of both models I could not see big differences between the two yet $500 price difference given they both come with similar IPS panels?!
So, in terms of the quality of the backlight systems on both models like their durability in the long run which one do you recommend because I am not going to keep it as long as it keeps working fine? And I do not mind to pay the extra $500 if it is really going to worth it taking into account the durability of the backlight system and overall quality. Thank you.
Hi Morti,
The possible benefits of direct-lit LED backlighting over edge-lit LED backlighting technologies are better contrast and black levels, in addition to better black screen uniformity which should/can result in better overall picture quality on displays that use direct-lit LED backlighting. However, this is not always the case since I have seen and reviewed many edge-lit TVs that have outperformed direct-lit LED TVs and were most likely due to the design/ implementation which includes the number of LED zones used in a particular TV panel.
In terms of quality and durability between the two backlighting designs – there actually isn’t any since they are both the same technology and use LEDs for lighting a TV panel. The only difference is the LED’s placement (location) within the TV’s panel.
Regards,
Milton
HDTV and More
Milton I am considering the x800G as a replacement for my KDL55V5100 and I want to know if the picture is going to be equal or better and if I should look at a different model of Sony; being paid for by my aftermarket warranty. It will hang on the wall in a very bright room except when it is night time. I want to get the best TV, picture, viewing angle, with multiple input/output options and quality sound. I will use the TV for all the smart tv options, sporting events and uploading videos.
Hi Audrey,
The X800G you are considering will deliver overall better picture quality than your KDL55V5100. The X800G has very good light output that will work well in your bright room. It also has plenty of input options. However, as with many flat-panel TVs available today, the sound quality is ok but not great. So I recommend you consider a soundbar to achieve high-quality sound. All screen sizes of the X800G (except the 75″ model) use IPS which provide very good side angle viewing.
If you want even better picture quality than the X800G and with all the features you desire, then consider going with Sony’s X850G. I also suggest going with a soundbar with this model for much better sound quality. Also, all screen sizes (except the 85″ model) for the X850G use IPS panels as mentioned above.
I hope this info helps.
Regards,
Milton
HDTVs and More
hi
i I bought a x8000g ..65 inch.. sony A few days ago
but when we Lay TV on stand.tv not flat in stand and It’s a little sloping..Is this normal in this model?
tanx
Hi ashkan,
When placed on the stand, the X800G should sit flat on the surface its placed on. Make sure the feet (stand) is properly attached to the TV.
Regards,
Milton
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Hi Milton,
Thanks for your thorough review. I have been considering purchasing either a 55 950g or 65 800h. Our room is bright and we won’t be watching in a dark setting. Based on your analysis, will the bright room factor nullify some of the advantages 950g has?
Thank you!
Hi Vikas,
A bright room won’t necessarily hurt any of the X950G’s performance advantages. However, you won’t be able to truly appreciate its outstanding contrast and black level performance outside the confines of a dark viewing environment.
Regards,
Milton
HDTVs and More
Can I record to a USB stick or HDD on my Sony 55x800G? I know I can format a USB stick on the blue USB port.
Hi Robert,
Sorry, you can’t record to a USB or to an HDD from the X800G.
Regards,
Milton
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