Bravia 7 Mini-LED QLED 4K TV
It does not fairly meet the bar set by Sony’s personal Bravia 9 mini-LED, but it surely’s nonetheless an ideal TV, as long as you ignore the off-angle viewing points.
In a crowded marketplace for QLEDs, Sony’s Bravia 7 does not do an excessive amount of to face out. Nonetheless, its vibrant, lovely show makes watching colourful movies an actual deal with with some glorious HDR. The largest points come from its dangerous off-angle viewing expertise and unflattering glare in direct gentle, however for those who’re set on a Bravia, this can be a sensible choice for the value.
Beginning at $1,700 at 55 inches (Reviewed at $2,000 at 65 inches)
Professionals
Nice HDR capabilities
Comparatively clear Google TV-based interface
A good selection for PlayStation 5-specific gaming
Cons
Glare points in direct gentle
Off-angle viewing is kind of dangerous in comparison with costlier choices
There’s just one 4K 120 Hz HDMI port
Sony is pushing its mini-LED TVs hard, tougher than one would possibly count on when it has its Bravia 8 OLED TV up on the market concurrently with final yr’s A95L QD-OLED. Sony positioned that final high-end OLED in the identical flagship tier alongside the Bravia 9 mini-LED with its unbelievable new driver know-how. OLED is an costly panel to supply, however that doesn’t imply you need to accept much less when selecting out your huge, costly TV.
The Bravia 7, however, is your bread and butter 4K QLED TV. It’s not as low-cost as a number of the best 4K mini-LED TVs you should buy, but it surely’s darned good, even when it’s not the brightest on the block. It begins at $1,700 at 55 inches and can set you again $3,300 MSRP for those who go for 85 inches.
Sony’s push for mini-LED is refined and overt all through the newest Bravia line. When you’re getting a Sony TV, you may get a bigger dimension 4K mini-LED for a similar value as a smaller OLED. That’s one thing we reviewers are extra eager to level out, however Sony positioned its TVs equally. That’s why Sony’s pushing the XR Backlight Masterdrive know-how on the LCDs, one thing that’s not there on the Bravia 8. TCL is also making its mini-LED TVs on par or higher than comparative OLED,
Can the Bravia 7 beat OLED? No, not fairly. The Bravia 9 has higher general high quality, however the final time I checked out one in individual was again in April. When you accept one thing nearer to mid-range, you’ll see the tiny variations in shade distinction and the way deep the blacks go. The Bravia 7 is definitely one of many high contenders within the 2024 realm of high-quality 4K QLEDs with some glorious HDR settings. Can it match as much as QD-OLED? Not fairly.
It makes a very stable try, although. The blacks are very near ink-deep. Watching a film like Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse on the Bravia 7 is a deal with with all that impeccable alternative of shade. Nonetheless, it’s not almost as vibrant because the Bravia 9, and also you’ll see it for those who’ve ever sat lengthy sufficient in entrance of Sony’s costlier choices. An already darkish film just like the horrendous Madame Web would possibly solely really feel slightly additional muddy. I additionally discovered some fairly huge points with viewing angles that detract from the expertise for those who’re not watching the display dead-on.
You’ll be able to simply examine the Bravia 7 to the Samsung QN90D 4K QLED when it comes to general image high quality, costing lots of of {dollars} much less. It’s a Google TV, so take that as you’ll, however Sony nonetheless has room to develop by fixing its settings menus. It doesn’t play as properly with non-Sony gaming merchandise as with PlayStation.
Sony Bravia 7 Setup and Usability
Why Can’t We Have Extra Than One 4K HDMI?
The setup on the Bravia 7 was not too totally different from some other huge TV, save for the ft that slot into the underside of the show. That’s as a result of you possibly can place the ft within the middle and sides of the display if in case you have a smaller cupboard or need extra room to put a soundbar. I rocked and quaked the TV, however all the things appeared stable. The Bravia 7 is about 2.5 inches alongside the again, so take into account that for those who plan on hanging it out of your wall.
You’ll first discover that whereas there are 4 HDMI ports, just one helps 4K at 120 Hz eARC/ARC. That’s annoying if in case you have a number of sport consoles or gamers that assist excessive refresh charges at 4K. It additionally must be stated that it’s fairly irritating that the facility cable is on the opposite facet of the TV from its field with two USB-A, 4 HDMIs, and ethernet. You most likely need to plug all the things into the identical outlet, however you would possibly want an extension cable only for the TV. The plug within the field wasn’t almost lengthy sufficient to succeed in the outlet.
Getting a great image high quality going is one other story. The TV’s default IMAX Enhanced image mode was superb for probably the most half, after which Skilled was appropriate for many other forms of content material. It takes a variety of effort to search out after which flip off the rattling movement smoothing setting, although, on the very least, you possibly can pin Image Settings to the short settings menu on the distant. The Image & Sound menu. After that, I spotted my image was dipping in brightness and graininess. I shortly realized that the automated ambient gentle setting was deep beneath Ambient Optimization Professional beneath the Image & Sound menu.
Sony likes to stay many buttons and choices in its menus, however I want the corporate might clear up its UI so it’s simpler to show off all these undesirable choices that vastly affect the viewing expertise. It might even be good for those who might tune extra of those settings with the Bravia Join app, however all that does is act as a secondary distant with some fast entry to Voice Zoom, image mode, and brightness settings.
The Sony Bravia 7 isn’t as high-flying because the amazingly daring claims made in regards to the Bravia 9. They’re each mini-LED 4K televisions, however this yr’s flagship Sony TV boasts unbelievable driver know-how and amazingly excessive said brightness. It’s not fairly a match for the most effective OLED screens, but it surely nonetheless has some glorious distinction.
![Sony’s base remote is already good enough you don’t need the app.](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/e7ded39967ec41cf4216168d3ac6fc80.jpg)
It’s a Google TV, which, for all its faults, felt like a straightforward, breezy setup after coping with the LG QNED 90 T and its irritating UI. There are a number of different Sony-exclusive accouterments within the Sony tab on the primary web page, like PlayStation distant Play on Android TV and some Bravia how-tos that might be helpful.
This TV likes it whenever you use different Sony merchandise with it, like a PlayStation 5. The TV routinely detected it when plugged into the singular eARC HDMI, and it routinely turned on the Sport Menu and game-specific image high quality choices. You’ll be able to activate settings like a black equalizer to get rid of shadows or add a crosshair immediately in the course of the display. You too can immediately see your present decision and refresh charges. There’s an alternative choice for picture-in-picture, in case you need to watch YouTube on the identical time you play your sport. It’s most likely not an important factor for most individuals, but it surely’s useful to understand it’s there.
Sony Bravia 7 Image High quality and Sound
Seems Nice, However Not From Any Off Angle
![There are some obvious glare problems on the Bravia 7 when under direct light.](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/d62b26bf21aea4c89aed57c727adb266.jpg)
This TV shouldn’t be as thrilling as the large Bravia 9 with its extreme dimming zones and driver know-how. Nonetheless, Sony says this comparable mini-LED TV makes use of the identical lighting management know-how with fewer dimming zones, so that you’re not getting as a lot shade definition as you’ll from the costlier mannequin. Basically, Sony is saying you’ll get the identical picture high quality as its earlier flagship X95L from final yr, although at a fraction of the price with much more zone management than the earlier X90L mannequin.
What any of meaning in follow is fairly nebulous, but it surely’s nonetheless fairly good picture high quality for the value. Sony likes to boast your Sony Footage Core app, and its 4K HDR motion pictures are equal to a bodily Blu-ray DVD. I’ve watched each on the TV, and sure, the 80 Mbps streaming from Core was fairly rattling good general, and I didn’t discover any problematic blooming.
Gaming is equally good, although on titles like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, I wanted to bump up HDR brightness and black level to get the a lot of the visuals. That’s with the Black Equalizer within the Sport Menu turned on and off the Customary mode for visuals. FPS mode vastly will increase general brightness however blooms the colour to a cartoonish diploma.
![Image for article titled Sony Bravia 7 Review: A Solid Choice So Long as You Don't Mind Following the TV's Lead](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/9dfdf9355811413c0f5f62a50e91e595.jpg)
What you’ll additionally discover is that the viewing angle on the Bravia 7 isn’t too nice. Take a number of steps out of line, and the image seems to be washed out. I used to be solely 30 to 40 levels off-center earlier than seeing a dip in picture high quality. One other huge situation that turns into obvious fairly shortly is how reflective the display will be. There’s a great deal of glare throughout some daytime viewing or each time any lights shine close by.
So this TV desires you to be in good viewing circumstances; in any other case, it should falter. It’s not too exhausting to maintain your sofa in a straight-on view of the TV, and if in case you have the dosh for a big 4K TV, you most likely have a front room area with out many spotlights on the TV itself. Nonetheless, I’ve seen it performed higher on cheaper televisions than the Bravia 7.
The bottom audio system on Sony’s TV are nothing to write down dwelling about. They work effectively sufficient, however there’s little or no bass, and it solely serves till you may get a top quality sound system or sound bar. Sony advertises that you simply’ll get an attention-grabbing soundscape with a Bravia Bar 8 or 9, the place the sound comes from the TV audio system and the bar concurrently, although I couldn’t take a look at that. I additionally used the Bravia Theater U with Sony’s newest mini-LED, however yow will discover a separate speaker system if you would like a top quality audio setup.
Regardless of the Quibbles, the Bravia 7 is a Strong Entry in a Crowded Market
![Image for article titled Sony Bravia 7 Review: A Solid Choice So Long as You Don't Mind Following the TV's Lead](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/a2aea28f436076a9397dc86f49e2151f.jpg)
There’s no good TV on the market, however the area is so full of fine 4K mini-LEDs that you simply’ll be min-maxing on options and value. The Bravia 7 is taking a variety of good issues from the Bravia 9, together with a bit of that backlight driver, however I wouldn’t say it has a lot better high quality than the opposite staples popping out this yr.
You probably have loved Sony’s TVs up to now, you’ll really feel proper at dwelling on this new lovely display. That doesn’t imply you shouldn’t store and maybe discover the most effective deal. It’s not an ideal TV, however for those who play Sony’s sport (within the case of the PlayStation, actually), then you definitely’ll have a grand time with some glorious image high quality. Simply don’t count on to succeed in flagship heights on what’s nonetheless an upper-mid-range TV.