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Sony launched the Bravia XR A80L in 2023 as its mid-range organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV, and it quickly became a favorite with movie fans who wanted Sony’s picture processing without flagship pricing. Sony has since replaced it, first with the Bravia 8 in 2024 and then with the brighter Bravia 8 II in 2025, and both models carry over into Sony’s 2026 lineup. So why read a Sony A80L review in 2026? Because the A80L still turns up on clearance, open-box, refurbished, and used listings, often for far less than its successors. This updated review explains what the A80L does well, where it falls short against newer OLEDs, and which current TVs to consider instead.
Quick verdict: The Sony A80L delivers rich, natural OLED picture quality, excellent upscaling, and some of the best built-in sound on any TV. Its weak points are modest brightness, only two High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) 2.1 ports, and higher input lag than LG and Samsung rivals. At a steep discount it remains a smart buy for movie lovers in dim rooms; at anything close to the price of a new Bravia 8, buy the newer model. Check the Sony A80L price on Amazon.
Sony A80L at a glance
| Spec | Sony A80L |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2023 (replaced by the Bravia 8 in 2024) |
| Panel | 4K (3,840 x 2,160) white OLED (W-OLED) panel, 120 hertz (Hz) refresh rate |
| Sizes (US) | 55, 65, 77, and 83 inches |
| Launch prices (US) | $1,699.99 (55-inch), $2,299.99 (65-inch), $3,299.99 (77-inch), $5,499.99 (83-inch) |
| Processor | Cognitive Processor XR |
| High dynamic range (HDR) formats | HDR10, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), and Dolby Vision; no HDR10+ |
| Measured HDR peak brightness | About 676 to 800 nits on a 10% window, depending on the review and picture mode |
| Inputs | Four HDMI ports (two HDMI 2.1, one with enhanced Audio Return Channel, or eARC), two Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, optical output |
| Gaming | 4K at 120Hz, variable refresh rate (VRR), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) on two ports; about 16 milliseconds of input lag |
| Sound | Acoustic Surface Audio+ with three screen actuators and two rear subwoofers (50 watts total) |
| Smart platform | Google TV with Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast built in, and hands-free voice control |
Specs and measurements come from Tom’s Guide’s review and TechRadar’s review.
Is the Sony A80L discontinued?
Yes. Sony stopped producing the A80L after its 2023 model year. Its direct replacement is the Sony Bravia 8 (2024), which uses the same type of W-OLED panel in a slimmer chassis. Sony then added the Bravia 8 II in 2025, a quantum dot OLED (QD-OLED) model that reviewers treat as the true successor to the A95L flagship rather than the A80L. Both the Bravia 8 and the Bravia 8 II remain in Sony’s 2026 range, and Sony did not announce a new OLED for 2026.
That matters for pricing. New A80L stock dried up after 2024, when Amazon deals dropped the 65-inch model to about $1,500. Today, you will mostly find it open-box, refurbished, or used, and those prices vary widely. As a rule, an A80L only makes sense if it costs clearly less than a new Bravia 8 of the same size, which Sony has sold for around $1,700 in 65 inches during sales.
Design and build quality
The A80L looks understated and premium. A thin metal-trimmed frame surrounds the screen, and the back panel uses Sony’s textured grid pattern. The panel is slim at the top and thicker at the bottom, where the electronics, speakers, and ports live. A removable cover hides cables, although it also makes the rear- and side-facing ports harder to reach once you hang the TV on a wall.
The two-piece stand is one of the A80L’s most practical features. According to Tom’s Guide, you can attach the feet near the edges, closer to the center for a narrower piece of furniture, or in a raised position that leaves room for a soundbar underneath. The TV also accepts a standard 300 x 300 millimeter Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) mount, so any of our recommended wall mounts for a 65-inch TV should fit the 65-inch model.
Picture quality
Contrast and black levels
Like every OLED, the A80L lights each pixel individually and switches pixels off completely for perfect blacks. That gives it effectively infinite contrast, deep shadow detail, and no blooming around bright objects. TechRadar described its picture as beautifully refined, praising Sony’s processing for natural colors and subtle gradations in dark scenes.
Brightness
Brightness is the A80L’s main weakness. Tom’s Guide measured about 676 nits of HDR peak brightness on a 10% window, and TechRadar measured roughly 800 nits in its brightest accurate mode. The LG C3 and Samsung S95C, which competed with it in 2023, measured noticeably higher in the same tests. In a dark living room, that difference rarely matters. In a sunlit room, the A80L looks dimmer than modern QD-OLED sets and Mini LED TVs.
Color accuracy
The A80L covers about 99% of the Digital Cinema Initiatives P3 (DCI-P3) color space used for HDR content, according to Tom’s Guide. Out-of-the-box accuracy is good rather than perfect: Tom’s Guide recorded a Delta-E (color error) score of 3.38, higher than the LG C3’s 1.39. Some reviewers and owners also notice a slight blue tint in certain presets. Switching to the Custom or Professional picture mode and choosing a warmer color temperature setting fixes most of it.
Upscaling and motion
Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR and its XR Clear Image feature do an excellent job of cleaning up and sharpening cable TV, older Blu-rays, and lower-quality streams. Motion looks smooth and natural, with Sony’s motion processing avoiding the overly smooth soap-opera effect when you set it sensibly. OLED pixels respond almost instantly, so fast sports and action scenes stay crisp, although very low frame rate content can show slight stutter, as on every OLED.
Gaming performance
The A80L supports 4K gaming at 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM, but only on HDMI ports 3 and 4. Because port 3 also handles eARC, a soundbar connection leaves you with a single full-speed port for a PlayStation 5 (PS5), an Xbox Series X, or a gaming PC. Tom’s Guide measured input lag at about 16 milliseconds, which feels responsive for most players but trails the roughly 9 milliseconds that LG and Samsung OLEDs achieve.
Sony’s Game Menu adds a crosshair overlay, a Black Equalizer for spotting enemies in shadows, motion blur reduction, and a smaller screen-size option. PS5 owners also get Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. TechRadar notes that the A80L can’t run Dolby Vision gaming at 4K and 120Hz together and lacks native Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync certification. Serious competitive gamers should compare it with our list of the best gaming TVs for PS5 and Xbox.
Sound quality
Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ system turns the screen itself into a speaker. Three actuators behind the panel vibrate the screen to create left, center, and right channels, and two rear-mounted subwoofers add bass. TechRadar lists 50 watts of total output. Because the sound comes from the screen, dialogue seems to come from the actors’ mouths. Both Tom’s Guide and TechRadar rated the A80L’s sound well above average for a TV.
The A80L also offers a center speaker input, which lets a compatible Sony soundbar use the TV’s screen as its center channel. Bass still can’t match a dedicated subwoofer, so home theater fans should budget for a Sony soundbar.
Smart features
The A80L runs Google TV, which pulls recommendations from your streaming apps into one home screen. It includes Chromecast built in, Apple AirPlay 2, and Apple HomeKit support, so iPhone owners can cast and control it easily. A built-in microphone enables hands-free Google Assistant voice commands, and a physical switch on the TV turns the microphone off. The TV also works with Amazon Alexa through a separate Alexa device.
Sony bundled access to Bravia Core, its high-bitrate movie streaming service, with 12 months of streaming and five movie credits at launch. Buyers of used or open-box sets shouldn’t count on those credits, since the original owner may have redeemed them. The A80L also supports Sony’s optional Bravia Cam, which adds video calls, gesture control, and picture and sound adjustments based on where you sit.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Natural, refined OLED picture with perfect blacks
- Excellent upscaling of lower-resolution content
- Some of the best built-in TV sound available
- Flexible three-position stand with a soundbar-height option
- Google TV with AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and hands-free voice control
- Often sells for far less than its successors on clearance and open-box listings
Cons
- Dimmer than current OLEDs, so it struggles in bright rooms
- Only two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which doubles as the eARC port
- Higher input lag than LG and Samsung OLEDs
- No HDR10+ support
- Rear ports are hard to reach when wall-mounted
- Discontinued, so new stock and full warranties are scarce
Sony A80L vs. newer OLED TVs
Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries the A80L’s successors and the strongest current OLED alternatives. Here’s how they stack up for buyers in 2026:
Compare similar OLED TVs on Amazon
| OLED TV | Panel type | HDMI 2.1 ports | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A80L (2023) | W-OLED | Two | Bargain hunters who find a deep discount | Check price |
| Sony Bravia 8 (2024) | W-OLED | Two | Sony fans who want the A80L’s direct successor | Check price |
| Sony Bravia 8 II (2025) | Quantum dot OLED (QD-OLED) | Two | The brightest, best-looking Sony OLED | Check price |
| LG C5 (2025) | W-OLED | Four | Gamers on a midrange budget | Check price |
| LG C6 (2026) | W-OLED | Four | The newest midrange OLED | Check price |
| Samsung S90F (2025) | QD-OLED (most sizes) | Four | Bright, vivid color for the money | Check price |
- Sony Bravia 8: The A80L’s direct replacement keeps Sony’s processing and sound but adds a slimmer, more modern design. It still has only two HDMI 2.1 ports. See the Bravia 8 on Amazon.
- Sony Bravia 8 II: Sony’s current flagship OLED uses a QD-OLED panel that What Hi-Fi says is about 50% brighter than the Bravia 8. It costs much more, but it’s the Sony OLED to buy if budget allows. See the Bravia 8 II on Amazon.
- LG C5 and C6: LG’s midrange OLEDs offer four HDMI 2.1 ports, lower input lag, and higher brightness than the A80L. The C5 is the better value now that the C6 has arrived. See the LG C5 on Amazon.
- Samsung S90F: It delivers brighter, more saturated color than the A80L and strong gaming features. Read our Samsung S90F review for details. See the Samsung S90F on Amazon.
Who should buy the Sony A80L in 2026?
Buy the A80L if you find one at a clear discount from a trustworthy seller, you watch mostly movies and TV shows in a room you can darken, and you value Sony’s natural picture and strong built-in sound. Check the warranty terms carefully on open-box and used sets, and inspect the screen for burn-in or damage before you buy.
Skip it if your room gets lots of daylight, if you need more than one free HDMI 2.1 port for consoles, or if the price comes within a couple of hundred dollars of a new Bravia 8 or LG C5. Pairing an OLED with bias lighting can also make dark scenes more comfortable to watch at night.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sony A80L still worth buying?
Yes, at the right price. Its picture and sound still hold up well, but newer OLEDs are brighter and offer more HDMI 2.1 ports. Buy it only if it costs noticeably less than a new Bravia 8 or LG C5.
What replaced the Sony A80L?
The Sony Bravia 8 replaced the A80L in 2024. The Bravia 8 II arrived in 2025 as Sony’s top OLED, and both models remain on sale in 2026.
What is the difference between the A80L and the A80CL?
They’re the same TV. Sony sells retailer- and region-specific versions under names such as A80CL, A83L, and A84L, which can differ in bundled extras like the remote or warranty, but not in picture performance.
Does the Sony A80L have HDMI 2.1?
Yes, but only on two of its four HDMI ports. Those two ports support 4K at 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM, and one of them also serves as the eARC port for a soundbar.
Final verdict
The Sony A80L remains a beautiful OLED TV with refined picture processing, excellent upscaling, and impressive built-in sound. Time has exposed its limits, though: it’s dimmer than current OLEDs, has just two HDMI 2.1 ports, and lags behind LG and Samsung for gaming. If you can find one well below the price of a new Bravia 8, it’s still a satisfying TV for movie nights. Otherwise, step up to the Bravia 8 or Bravia 8 II. Check the current Sony A80L price on Amazon.
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