Sony Brava 5 review: affordable mini-LED TV brings premium features down the range
Sony's Bravia 5 mini-LED TV delivers strong picture and sound for the price, offering a rare value win for the brand in its mid-range lineup.
The 65-inch model reviewed by TechRadar, also known as the K65XR55, carries a suggested price of $1,499.99 in the United States, £1,499 in the United Kingdom, and AU$2,299 in Australia. Other sizes range from a 55-inch model at $1,399.99 to a 98-inch version at $4,999.99, with 75-inch and 85-inch options also available.
TechRadar's reviewer found that the Bravia 5 retains more of Sony's mid-range and even premium TV DNA than expected, given where it sits in the company's lineup. The television is built around a VA-type mini-LED panel with local dimming, which TechRadar counted as operating across approximately 240 dimming zones. The screen supports a native 120Hz refresh rate and handles high dynamic range formats including Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, though not HDR10+.
The TV is powered by Sony's XR processor and runs Google TV as its smart platform. It includes four HDMI ports, two of which support the full range of gaming features such as variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode. Sony's 'Perfect For PlayStation 5' feature is also present. The audio system delivers 40 watts through what Sony calls its acoustic multi-audio speaker configuration, with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding.
In testing, TechRadar described pictures as vibrant, crisp, and full of contrast, with bold color and minimal blooming. Sound was praised as punchy, clean, and detailed. The reviewer did note some limitations, including constrained viewing angles, occasional color inaccuracies in dark scenes, and the absence of one or two gaming features. The 120Hz panel lacked full-bandwidth support on all four HDMI inputs, with only two ports providing the complete gaming feature set.
The Bravia 5 was characterized as a significant improvement over comparably positioned Sony models in previous generations, which had historically struggled to maintain the brand's high standards in the mid-range. TechRadar concluded that the Bravia 5 is 'the Sony value TV we’ve always wanted.'