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Sony, the Japanese electronics giant, is the sole TV brand that unveiled its entire lineup of Bravia 2016 TVs at CES 2016. The Bravia 2016 series will carry the designation D at the end (X8500D, X9300D, X9400D, etc.) to differentiate from the C series (X8500C, X9300C, X9400C, etc.) of 2015.
1. Tet 2016 - Should you buy a Sony Bravia 2015 or wait until after Tet to purchase Bravia 2016?
At the recent CES, Sony released initial details about the Sony Bravia 2016 generation. Although not yet complete, it provides insights into what the Japanese electronics company will bring to users with its new TV models. This information can be helpful in deciding whether to wait for the new products or buy the current lineup during the upcoming Tet holiday. Stay tuned for versions dedicated to LG and Samsung tomorrow and the day after.
5. Compilation of Current Information on Bravia 2016
Sony, the Japanese electronics giant, is the sole TV brand that unveiled its entire lineup of Bravia 2016 TVs at CES 2016. The Bravia 2016 series will carry the designation D at the end (X8500D, X9300D, X9400D, etc.) to differentiate from the C series (X8500C, X9300C, X9400C, etc.) of 2015.
Sony's 2015 lineup of 4K TVs, including Bravia X9400D, X9300D, X8500D, and S8500D, will support HDR technology.
The 2016 Bravia generation serves as a direct upgrade from the previous models, featuring a new design language and added HDR content projection capabilities (Bravia 4K). Regarding Smart TV functionality, Sony doesn't delve into many details. This is understandable as the company utilizes the Android TV platform developed by Google. Although the full extent of what Android TV will offer in 2016 is unknown, the first-generation platform has already left a positive impression with its user-friendly interface, smooth operation, and a rich app ecosystem.
With an increasing number of brands adopting it, Android TV stands out as one of the most promising Smart TV platforms currently. Currently, not much is known about mid-range Android 4K models such as X8500D and S8500D. However, information about the flagship models, X9400D and X9300D, has been revealed at this year's CES event.
The flagship X9400D will continue to use full-array LED backlighting.
Last year, the X9000C, while not a flagship model, stood out with its ultra-thin design, making it one of the most impressive Bravia TVs of 2015. However, this year, you won't find an upgraded version of this TV series. Sony emphasizes a focus on image quality rather than a race for slim design. Despite this, the flagship X9400D and X9300D models are still much slimmer compared to last year. The Slim Backlight Drive technology allows the edge-lit LED to deliver image quality comparable to traditional full-array LEDs while maintaining a remarkable thinness.
In reality, the X9300D can be considered an upgrade from both X9300C and X9000C with an impressive slim profile (Sony doesn't disclose specific details but it's slightly thicker than the 5mm thinnest point of X9000C). It still features local dimming technology. The flagship X9400D will continue to use traditional full-array LED combined with local dimming technology to deliver the best image quality, similar to the X9400C model from last year.
The integration of liquid-free speakers and the use of Slim Backlight Drive technology contribute to the significantly slimmer profile of the X9300D compared to its predecessor.
Another change that makes Sony's flagship X9300D series slimmer is the removal of Magnetic Fluid speakers. It remains to be seen whether this affects the audio experience, and Sony might introduce an equivalent new speaker technology. Last year, when Sony introduced X9300C and X9400C in Vietnam, questions were raised about the necessity of integrating high-end speakers into flagship TVs. The assumption was that users investing in such high-end TVs would likely also invest in a high-quality audio setup.
During the launch event of Bravia 2015 TVs last year, Nobuki Asahina, the Marketing Director of Sony Vietnam, acknowledged this trend. Sony is currently researching the optimal solution for users. Therefore, it's not ruled out that the 2016 Bravia models may not heavily focus on integrated speakers, allowing users the freedom to choose additional audio solutions. In the Vietnamese market, Sony's soundbars are popular, indicating users' interest in separate audio solutions. For more details on the flagship X9400D and X9300D models, check out the article 'Hands-on with Sony's 4K HDR TVs at CES 2016.'
To meet the demand for enjoying 4K movies, Sony will introduce the Ultra service, allowing direct streaming to its Bravia 4K TVs. Although fundamentally an Android app, Ultra is currently only compatible with Sony TVs and is temporarily exclusive to the U.S. market. The service will initially offer 50 movies, including highlights such as Chappie, Elysium, Fury, The Walk, Salt, Men in Black 3, Pineapple Express, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hancock, and After Earth. The service cost has not been disclosed yet. For more details, please refer to the article 'In Vietnam, the recently launched Netflix service promises to be a decent alternative at a cost of 280,000 VND/month for the 4K package.'
Sony will not continue launching FullHD Android TVs like the W800C last year.
Sony will still introduce affordable Full HD TV models this year. However, the absence of the W800D series indicates that the company aims to steer users towards higher-end 4K TVs. The top-tier Full HD model this year is the W750D, which only integrates standard Smart features without the Android operating system like the W800C last year.
Sony states that the 2016 Bravia models will be available in Europe at the beginning of 2015. Last year, Sony Vietnam introduced the 2015 Bravia models around late May, but some high-end models were officially available in the market in August. So, if you want to own Sony's 2016 TV models, you might have to wait until mid-year. Decide between the Sony Bravia 2016 TV or get a Sony TV from 2015 for the Lunar New Year festivities.
This is probably a question many of you are pondering. While the new TV models promise better image quality than the current generation, the attractive promotions currently available often offer a 15-20% discount on 2015 TVs along with many freebies (depending on the store). Specifically, for the 2015 Bravia 4K models, like X8000 and X8300, they remain solid choices for the upcoming Tet holiday despite not having direct 2016 counterparts. The X9000 will still be Sony's thinnest LED TV to date if you're concerned about overall design.
The 2015 Bravia models, including X8500C, S8500C, X9000C, X9300C, and X9400C, will all receive updates to support HDR.
Another factor to consider is the upcoming software upgrade to add HDR functionality to 2015 Bravia Android TV 4K models (excluding X8000 and X8300). This means users don't necessarily have to own the 2016 Bravia models to experience this new technology. While it's still unclear whether the 2016 Bravia generation will deliver superior image quality compared to last year's models, at least in terms of features, it's not a significant drawback for those considering X8500C or higher-end models from last year. The X8000 and X8300 models won't support HDR content, and with LG promising to bring this feature to cheaper models, they might not be the ideal choices if you're interested in HDR.
In the Full HD TV segment, the W800C has been a popular choice recently and seems to be a safe bet. As of now, there's a high chance Sony won't continue introducing Full HD Android TVs, making the W800C possibly the first and last model of its kind from the Japanese electronics giant. So, if you want to experience Android TV in Full HD, the W800C is your only option even with the introduction of Bravia 2016. Other Full HD models will have 2016 replacements, and the image quality upgrade will be the deciding factor to buy or wait. However, that remains an uncertainty, so I can't provide technical advice. Instead, choose based on your financial situation. If you find the price reasonable, go for it because it's likely to be lower than equivalent 2016 models at launch. A comparison table of 2015 and 2016 Bravia models.
