Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED (First Look): What's New?

The battle for best OLED heats up as Sony reveal new Flagship QD-OLED Bravia 8 II, successor to the successful Sony A95L.

FAQS & Tutorials - Updated 4th April 2025

Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED (First Look): What's New?

Written By

Lui Gazzard

Sony Bravia 8 II - Sony's best OLED yet?

Sony has officially pulled back the curtain on its 2025 TV lineup, and leading the charge is the brand-new Sony Bravia 8 II – the much-anticipated successor to the award-winning Sony Bravia A95L. With a new generation QD-OLED panel delivering a brighter performance and a more competitive price point, this model has all the makings of a flagship.

As competitors like Panasonic and LG explore new panel structures, Sony continues to push its QD-OLED models. But, will the advancements to the Bravia 8 II be enough to stand out in 2025’s fiercely competitive OLED landscape?

A new flagship, but with a familiar name

At first glance, the Bravia 8 II might sound like a continuation of the Sony Bravia 8, Sony’s WOLED model that picked up a What Hi-Fi? TV of the Year award in 2024. But don’t be misled – the Bravia 8 II is in fact replacing the A95L, Sony’s top-tier QD-OLED, and is now the brand's flagship OLED TV for 2025.

The Bravia 8 will continue in 2025 and sit beneath the Bravia 8 II in Sony's OLED lineup.

While many expected Sony to unveil a “Bravia 10” for their next-generation OLED, it appears the company is holding that title back – potentially for an even more advanced model in 2026. For now, the Bravia 8 II leads Sony’s OLED charge.

Sony Bravia 8 II UK Pricing

While the Sony Bravia 8 II steps in to replace the outgoing A95L - this time, Sony is shaking things up with a far more competitive price point. In fact, it's priced much more aggressively and could put real pressure on rivals like LG and Samsung. Traditionally, Sony's flagship OLEDs have carried a premium over the competition, but the Bravia 8 II marks a notable change in strategy.

The 55" Bravia 8 II has an RRP of £2,500, considerably lower than the £3,000 launch price of the 55" A95L. The 65" version of the Bravia 8 II is set to launch at £3,000, lower than the 65" LG G5 which has an RRP of £3,299.

Sony Bravia 8 II vs A95L: What’s Different?

The Bravia 8 II builds on the strong foundation of the A95L with a series of notable upgrades. Here's how they compare:

Brighter QD-OLED Panel: The Bravia 8 II is 25% brighter than the A95L, thanks to a more efficient generation of QD-OLED technology. It also delivers a 50% brightness boost over the Bravia 8 WOLED, making it a substantial leap forward in overall luminance..
Refreshed Picture Processing: While still powered by the XR Processor, the 8 II introduces AI Scene Recognition for more precise real-time optimisation of picture content.
No 77” Version (Yet): Unlike the A95L, the Bravia 8 II launches only in 55” and 65”. The 77” A95L remains in the lineup for large screen shoppers—for now.
More Competitive Price: Despite the upgrades, the Bravia 8 II comes in at a lower launch price than the A95L. The 55” and 65” variants both undercut their A95L equivalents, offering greater value at the flagship level

Overall, the Bravia 8 II improves on the A95L in key areas while bringing flagship OLED performance to a slightly more accessible price point.

QD-OLED Picture Quality and AI Processing

The big story here is the latest-generation QD-OLED panel, which brings enhanced brightness compared to both the A95L and Bravia 8. Thanks to improved efficiency in the blue OLED pixel layer, Sony can push brightness higher without compromising colour purity – a common limitation in previous OLED generations.

Combined with Sony’s advanced XR Triluminos Max display technology, the Bravia 8 II boasts an ultra-wide colour gamut and stunning contrast. This should deliver the deep blacks we expect from OLED, but now with punchier highlights and more vivid detail.

At the heart of this TV is Sony’s updated XR Processor, featuring what Sony calls “AI Scene Recognition”. This intelligent system analyses scene data in real-time, optimising each frame for maximum realism. Whether you're watching a dark cinematic thriller or a sunny wildlife documentary, the processor aims to deliver a picture that feels lifelike and immersive.

We expect this to translate into stunning HDR performance and natural colour reproduction – something Sony TVs have long excelled at.

Sleek Design with Sound to Match

Design-wise, it looks like Sony have kept most of the chassis of the A95L. It retains the flagship feel of the previous generation with a premium metal edge and 2 way stand. It's also a nice, slim model. Coming in at 34mm thickness, it’s 3mm thinner than the Bravia 8.

One reason this Sony TV is slightly thicker than the competition from other brands, is because the audio is handled by Acoustic Surface Audio+. This means there are actuators behind the screen which produce sound directly from the panel. This model also boasts Voice Zoom 3 to improve vocal clarity. While this system offers a cinematic audio experience straight out of the box, we’d still recommend adding a dedicated soundbar for those chasing full immersion. With Acoustic Centre Sync, the Bravia 8 II and the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 8 can work in tandem for a fuller, more unified soundstage.

Sony Bravia 8 II Gaming and Smart Features

There's not much change on the gaming and Smart features front. As expected, the Bravia 8 II runs Google TV which offers a slick and user-friendly experience with all your favourite streaming apps onboard.

For gamers, you’ll find HDMI 2.1, 4K at 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM support, making it a great pairing for PS5 or Xbox Series X. HDR formats include Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, though like previous Sony models, HDR10+ isn’t supported. There's also still no sign of the 4 x HDMI ports that are found in competitor models like the LG G5.

Where Does the Sony Bravia 8 II Sit in the 2025 Sony Range?

We now know that Sony will continue many of the new models launched in 2024 but will add a few more lines to expand the Bravia lineup. The Bravia 9 remains at the top of their lineup as their brightest 4K Mini LED ever.

Bravia 9 – Flagship Mini LED: Sony’s brightest 4K TV for a premium cinematic experience
Bravia 8 II – New flagship QD-OLED: Replaces the A95L with improved brightness and efficiency
Bravia 8 – Carryover WOLED model: More affordable OLED option
A90K – Compact OLED: Ideal for smaller spaces
Bravia 7 – Carryover Premium Mini LED model
Bravia 5 – New entry-level Mini LED: Replaces X90L
X85L – Carryover mid-range LED: Solid LED TV
Bravia 3 – New LED entry-level option

👉 Check out our Sony 2025 TV Range Buying Guide for a full breakdown of how each model stacks up.

Sony Bravia 8 II Early Verdict

We’ll be going hands-on with the Bravia 8 II very soon, but based on everything we’ve seen and heard so far, this TV looks set to carry on the legacy of the A95L and raise the bar for 2025. While the A95L has remained one of the top-performing OLEDs on the market, it's now two years old - and with LG and Samsung making big strides in panel innovation, it was time for Sony to refresh its OLED flagship.

Enter the Bravia 8 II, with an upgraded performance - all at a more competitive price - it's shaping up to be a serious challenger to the likes of LG's G5 and Samsung's S95D. But has it done enough to take the top spot? There's still plenty to test, especially against the latest RGB Tandem OLEDs.

Stay tuned for our in-depth reviews and comparisons, coming soon.

Sony Bravia 8 II FAQs

Is the Sony Bravia 8 II better than the A95L?
Yes, the Sony Bravia 8 II is an improvement on the Sony Bravia A95L – it’s 25% brighter, has better colour performance, and is launching at a lower price point.

Does the Sony Bravia 8 II support Dolby Vision and Atmos?
Yes, the Sony Bravia 8 II supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. HDR10+ is not supported.

What sizes is the Bravia 8 II available in?
At launch, the Bravia 8 II is available in 55” and 65”. The 77” A95L remains in the range for now.

What’s the difference between the Bravia 8 and Bravia 8 II?
The Sony Bravia 8 uses a WOLED panel, while the Bravia 8 II uses a brighter QD-OLED panel with more advanced processing. The QD-OLED Brava 8 II offers 50% better brightness than the Bravia 8 and better colours thanks to Quantum Dot technology.

When is the Sony Bravia 8 II launch date?
The Bravia 8 II models will start shipping from the 6th June 2025 in the UK and EU.

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Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED (First Look): What's New?

The battle for best OLED heats up as Sony reveal new Flagship QD-OLED Bravia 8 II, successor to the successful Sony A95L.