Sony’s Bravia 8 II Tops OLED TV Shootout, Challenging LG, Samsung, and Panasonic

Value Electronics’ annual television shootout, a highly regarded industry event now in its 21st year, recently declared Sony’s Bravia 8 II the victor among leading OLED models. The competition rigorously evaluates televisions across numerous categories, including high dynamic range (HDR) performance, processing capabilities, picture quality under bright lighting conditions, and contrast ratios.

This year’s assessment focused specifically on standard dynamic range (SDR) and HDR performance, with judges assigning scores based on color accuracy, image processing, brightness in well-lit environments, contrast, and electro-optical transfer function (EOTF) precision – each rated from 1 to 5, with 5 representing the highest score. The Bravia 8 II, released in 2025 as a successor to the acclaimed Sony A95L OLED TV, features improvements such as enhanced contrast and refined motion handling, alongside exceptionally broad color coverage. It carries a price tag of $2,998 for the 65-inch model.

The shootout pitted the Bravia 8 II against rival flagship OLED models from Samsung (S95F), Panasonic (Z95B), and LG (G5). While Sony’s offering secured the overall top spot, the Panasonic Z95B presented a formidable challenge, particularly excelling in SDR color reproduction and achieving a marginally higher score than the Bravia 8 II and Samsung S95F in HDR performance (3.98 versus 3.88 and 3.80 respectively).

LG’s G5 trailed behind, with lower scores attributed to less robust processing power and diminished color output compared to its competitors, despite leveraging a similar advanced OLED panel technology shared with the Panasonic Z95B.

Value Electronics has published a detailed PDF report containing the full shootout results on their website. Independent lab testing utilizing specialized equipment such as spectroradiometers, colorimeters, and calibration software further examined each television’s performance; notably, Samsung’s S95F demonstrated exceptional brightness levels and a robust anti-glare coating—making it particularly well-suited for rooms with ample natural light or artificial illumination.

Ultimately, each model offers unique advantages. While Sony’s Bravia 8 II earned the title of champion in the shootout, the competition underscores that consumers have compelling options to consider based on their individual viewing preferences and environmental conditions.