TLDR Review: Sony BRAVIA 98 Inch TV K-98XR50
Verdict
If you're craving a massive 98-inch cinematic experience with stunning 4K Mini LED picture quality and excellent gaming features for your PS5, the Sony BRAVIA K-98XR50 is a compelling choice. It shines with vivid colors, smooth motion, and strong smart TV capabilities, backed by solid Sony reliability. However, be mindful of its narrow viewing angles, potential screen uniformity issues, and customer service hurdles. If you prioritize peak HDR brightness or wide seating arrangements, you might want to consider exploring OLED alternatives, but keep in mind this model’s greater durability. For gamers looking for supreme HDR and smoothing at 120Hz with Google TV integration, this one checks most boxes.
- Top pro:
- The picture quality is incredible, featuring deep blacks, vibrant colors, and very smooth motion thanks to Mini LED technology and Sony’s XR Processor with AI.
- Top con:
- The screen may exhibit a noticeable curl or warped gray spot caused by the diffusion panel, which some users reported.
Pros
- •The picture quality is incredible, featuring deep blacks, vibrant colors, and very smooth motion thanks to Mini LED technology and Sony’s XR Processor with AI.
- •Excellent color accuracy and brightness make streaming apps like Netflix and Prime look significantly better than older models.
- •120Hz refresh rate with HDMI 2.1 ports supports 4K at 120Hz and VRR, making this TV a strong choice for PS5 and other next-gen gaming.
- •Built-in Google Assistant voice control adds convenience for smart home and TV integration.
- •Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support provide an immersive audio-visual experience, elevating movies and games.
- •The TV offers very good SDR brightness that helps reduce glare from indirect lighting.
- •The compact 23” leg span fits well on smaller TV stands considering the massive 98-inch screen.
- •Reliable Sony build quality with promising durability, especially when compared to OLED alternatives that may fail earlier.
- •WiFi 6E support ensures faster and more stable wireless streaming and connectivity.
- •Extras like free movie credits and access to pre-installed movie apps sweeten the deal.
Cons
- •The screen may exhibit a noticeable curl or warped gray spot caused by the diffusion panel, which some users reported.
- •Customer service issues exist, including denied warranty claims and unhelpful support experiences.
- •Narrow viewing angles limit optimal viewing if you have a wide seating arrangement.
- •Peak HDR brightness is mediocre, which can diminish the wow factor on HDR content.
- •The TV struggles with reflections from direct light sources, which can distract from the picture.
- •Dirty screen effect and dimmer corners at times reduce uniformity in viewing.
- •Pixel response times in Game Mode can be slow, causing motion blur during fast action scenes.
- •Only two HDMI 2.1 ports are available, with one doubling as an eARC port—this might restrict connectivity for heavy users.
- •Built-in speakers are adequate but not stellar; an external sound system is recommended for a richer audio experience.
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How we researched this
About this review: it summarizes the professional reviews and customer ratings ShopSavvy collected for this product, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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