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Tom's Guide
24-05-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Epic Amazon Memorial Day sale is live from $5 — 37 can't-miss deals to shop on Yeti, Adidas, Blink, LG OLED TVs and more
Amazon Memorial Day sales are live. If you plan to spend the long weekend shopping, you've come to the right place! I've been scouring Amazon's website for the best deals on my favorite products, and there's plenty to talk about. The Amazon Memorial Day sale is packed with awesome savings. For example, you can currently shop TVs on sale from $79 at Amazon. I currently have my eye on the awesome Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 OLED 4K TV on sale for $1,498 at Amazon. Or, if you want to upgrade your smart home setup, you can grab Amazon device deals from $19. The sale includes deals on Fire TV Sticks, Echo, Ring and more. Finally, there are a ton of awesome deals on apparel right now. You can currently shop Adidas apparel from $6 at Amazon. And if you're tailgating and need something to keep your drinks cool, check out these Yeti deals from $17. Keep scrolling to see all my favorite Amazon Memorial Day sales. Plus, check out our full guide to this holiday's best Memorial Day sales, our Amazon promo codes, and see the best deals in Lowe's Memorial Day sale. Amazon Haul: deals from $5 @ AmazonAmazon Haul is a new storefront featuring inexpensive deals on fashion, home, lifestyle, and more. It features over 300 million products across more than 35 product categories including brands like Columbia, Under Armour, Adidas, and more. As part of their Memorial Day sale, you can get Under Armour apparel from $5. Adidas sale: deals from $6 @ AmazonFrom t-shirts to sneakers, Amazon is offering a wide variety of Adidas deals on men's, women's and children's apparel. After discount, deals start as low as $6. For instance, the women's Adidas Logo Tanktop (pictured) is over 40% off on Amazon and is available in a variety of colors. Lego sale: deals from $8 @ AmazonThe best Lego deals can usually be found in November and December, so I'm a little shocked that so many Lego sets are on sale now for the spring. You can get everything from Disney to Star Wars as well as generic sets. Carhartt sale: deals from $14 @ AmazonIf you're looking to upgrade your wardrobe, Carhartt has tons of rugged and stylish pieces you'll want to rock all season long. YETI sale: up to 20% off @ AmazonFor anyone who is always on the go, Amazon has multiple Yeti tumblers, coolers, and ramblers on sale from $17. We rarely see YETI deals so I recommend hopping on this ASAP. TV sale: deals from $79 @ AmazonAmazon's current TV sale slashes prices as low as $79. While the cheapest deals are on lower-resolution 720p and 1080p sets, you can also score great discounts on 4K sets. Best Buy and Walmart are running similar check: from $69 @ Best Buy | from $74 @ Walmart The latest Apple Watch model has a larger display than its predecessors, as well as a performance bump to include sleep apnea notifications, faster charging, and temperature sensing. The design is extra sleek, too. In our Apple Watch 10 review we said the optimized watchOS 11 experience and faster charging are worthwhile and make this the Apple Watch to get for most people. Plus, you can't go wrong with a pastel blue band for springtime. If you like the idea of having a covered storage area for your propane tank, the E-210 is a great option. It offers 450 square inches of cooking space total, with 360 inches of this sitting on the main cooking grid, a good amount of space for a two-burner grill. LG C4 4K OLED TV sale: deals from $796 @ AmazonThe C4 is LG's flagship OLED TV. It's powered by LG's A9 processor and features a 120Hz panel, Dolby Vision/ HDR10/HLG support, built-in Amazon Alexa, four HDMI 2.1 ports and Apple AirPlay 2 support. It's also one of the few OLED TVs that can natively accept a 144Hz input from a PC. In our LG C4 OLED TV review, we said the content looked colorful and dazzlingly bright on the new C4 series.42" for $79648" for $89655" for $1,196 65" for $1,29677" for $1,99683" for $2,996 ^ Back to top These 4-inch long Adidas shorts provider a cool, silky feel against your skin. They're great for volleyball, running, or any sport. They're available in a handful of colors with various inseam sizes ranging from 3 inches to 5 inches. It's sold via Amazon Haul. Right now you can score this Adidas Essentials Stretch Training T-Shirt on sale from just $13. It's made with Adidas AeroReady fabric, that wicks sweat and keeps you feeling cool and dry. The UA Tech V-Neck T-Shirt is an athletic shirt that looks at good at the gym as it does when you're out running errands. It's lightweight and made from a quick-drying, moisture-wicking fabric that'll keep you cool and dry on hot days. It's sold via Amazon Haul. These Adidas training shorts are now on sale from as low as $15. They have a flattering high-rise fit, and are lightweight and comfortable whether you're running or relaxing at home. With fast-drying, moisture-wicking material, these shorts also pack an internal brief to minimize seams and provide a frictionless run. There's a back zip pocket, too. It can cost as much as $65 at New Balance, but it's on sale in limited sizes for just $15. It's sold via Amazon Haul. ^ Back to top The Blink Mini 2 is Blink's new indoor and outdoor security camera. It's weatherproof and comes with several useful features like color night vision, person detection and an easy-to-use companion app. We noted in our Blink Mini 2 review that it didn't have the best sound quality, but if you want a cheap security camera with Alexa integration, you can't go wrong here. Blink's video doorbell can be installed on any doorway since it runs on battery power, but it can also be wired into your existing setup to tap into your home's chime. This is an inexpensive way to monitor your property and talk to visitors via two-way audio. The included Sync module means you can store video locally without paying a monthly subscription. At just $54, the best value Ring Video Doorbell got even better. The newest of Ring's doorbells has head-to-toe video and package detection. You can't replace its battery, but it's a fantastic option at this price. This bundle gets you a Blink Outdoor 4 Camera and a Blink Floodlight Mount for 50% off their combined price. This wireless setup runs entirely on battery so it can be placed on virtually any surface without existing floodlight wiring. It's perfect for use in dark areas like on a shed or the side of your home. ^ Back to top The Roku Pro Series is what we called "great performance on a budget" — and that's when it was full price. For just $698, you're getting 4K quality, Mini-LED backlighting and Dolby Atmos sound. Plus, it's Roku, so there's a bunch of smart features to take advantage of, too. LG C4 4K OLED TV sale: deals from $796 @ AmazonThe C4 is LG's flagship OLED TV. It's powered by LG's A9 processor and features a 120Hz panel, Dolby Vision/ HDR10/HLG support, built-in Amazon Alexa, four HDMI 2.1 ports and Apple AirPlay 2 support. It's also one of the few OLED TVs that can natively accept a 144Hz input from a PC. In our LG C4 OLED TV review, we said the content looked colorful and dazzlingly bright on the new C4 series.42" for $79648" for $89655" for $1,196 65" for $1,29677" for $1,99683" for $2,996 Panasonic TVs are making a comeback in the U.S. Built around Panasonic's HCX Pro AI Processor MKII, this OLED TV offers support for HDR10/HDR10+/Dolby Vision/HLG and Dolby Atmos audio. On the gaming front, you get a 120Hz panel with VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium, and NVIDIA G-Sync support. It comes in 55- and 65-inch size options. The Sony Bravia 8 OLED TV is a stellar 2024 TV. It corrals a 120Hz refresh rate on an OLED panel built for entertainment. As for HDR support, it comes equipped with Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR10, and a 50W 2.1 speaker is quite the added touch. In our Sony Bravia 8 OLED TV review, we said it offers the perfect blacks and wide off-center viewing angles that customers appreciate about OLED technology. Introduced in LG's 2025 TV lineup, the LG C5 OLED is here as the value pick of the year. Offering a slew of features, like a range of HDR certifications and gaming specs for the PS5 Pro crowd, the C5 proves a major improvement over its predecessor. We called it "nearly flawless" and gave it a 5-star rating in our LG C5 OLED TV review. ^ Back to top Nothing adds outdoor ambiance like a killer playlist and the very best solar lights. This outdoor-rated pack is built with shatterproof plastic bulbs that are currently 56% off at Amazon. Plug them in when the sun sets and enjoy 27 feet-worth and up to six full hours of a soft, white glow. Lounge in your backyard, on your patio or poolside in ultimate comfort with this set of padded, weather-resistant reclining chairs. The chairs conform to your body while an adjustable headrest adds an extra level of comfort. They also feature a lightweight, folding design so you can bring them along with you to the beach, park or your next tailgate. Skip the gas and charcoal for this plug-and-play electric grill. Its 320 square inches of cook space is plenty enough for up to 12 burgers or 4 large steaks. The infrared technology heats up fast, maintains even temperatures, and prevents flare-ups. Traeger grills: deals from $389 @ AmazonAmazon has select Traeger grill on sale from $389. The sale includes electric grills, wood pellet smokers, and portable grills. Prices start from $389 after discount. ^ Back to top We were seriously impressed with these tiny but mighty earbuds in our Jlab Jbuds Mini review. They're incredibly compact but deliver excellent sound and up to 20 hours of battery life. They even made our list of the best cheap wireless earbuds. They may cost less than $55, but the 1More SonoFlow SE are still an incredible pair of headphones. Packing 50-hour battery life, robust sound, great ANC and excellent sound quality, these 'phones delivery pretty much everything you could want for a very low price. In our 1More SonoFlow SE review, we rated them 4/5 stars. The Sony WF-C710N are our new choice for the best wireless earbuds under $150. They excelled in pretty much every category in our Sony WF-C710N review, delivering impressive sound, strong active noise canceling and amazing bass. Plus, their battery life lasts up to 33.5 hours with ANC off or up to 30 hours with ANC on. And their Glass Blue colorway looks amazing. The XM5s are Sony's premium noise-canceling headphones and our pick for the best headphones on the market. The large, over-ear cushions are incredibly comfortable and the active noise cancelation is excellent. Plus, despite ANC being a drain on battery life, these amazing headphones still give you up to 30 hours with ANC enabled. You can push that up to 40 hours of battery life with ANC turned off. ^ Back to top The JBL Go 3 is the ideal Bluetooth speaker for traveling and outdoor adventures, and it's dropped to $29 at Amazon. It's IP67 waterproof and dustproof, and ultra-compact in size. But it still offers surprisingly strong sound and up to five hours of playback on a single battery charge. This deal brings a long-awaited discount to the Beats Pill. We had a Beats Pill hands-on, and found a speaker that has (as you might expect) some massive bass and a slick look. Battery life is respectable at 24 hours, and its waterproofing makes it perfect for pool parties and outdoor use. The Sonos Move 2 remains our top pick for Bluetooth speakers. It's not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but it's loaded with smart features and has 24 hours of battery life to make sure you can keep listening for hours on end. Its sleek good looks help it worm its way into your heart as well. ^ Back to top This sleek electric Kettle heats and boils your brews quickly. With six preset heating profiles to choose from, it can extract the most flavor out of your tea or morning coffee. We rank it as one of the best electric kettles. This is a great discount for a super portable stain removing vacuum that can be used to remove spills and messes. The clean water tank has a large 48 oz capacity, giving you more time between emptying and refilling. Plus, it comes with a 3-inch tough stain tool, HydroRinse self-cleaning hose tool, spraying crevice tool and a trial size cleaning solution. We gave this device a perfect score of 5/5 stars in our Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima review and said "you'll struggle to do better." It looks stylish, is easy to use and clean and makes delicious drinks. After this discount, it has only gotten better. ^ Back to top
CNN
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Best Buy's Memorial Day sale is filled with editor-favorite gadgets, grills and more
If you're searching for the best electronics and gadgets on sale for Memorial Day, you've come to the right place. Best Buy has launched its annual long weekend sale, and I'm ready to put my near-decades worth of deals-hunting experience to work finding all of the retailer's best deals. This year's best early Memorial Day deals include CNN Underscored's top-tested TV brands, patio gadgets like grills and pizza ovens, gaming PCs and Samsung appliances. Below, you'll find the 21 best ways to save through May 26. Sony 65-Inch Bravia 8 OLED 4K Smart Google TV Sony makes some of the best OLED TVs in the game with its Bravia lineup. I've been eyeing this exact television for a few months now, and at $800 off, it might just be time for me to pull the trigger and add this to my home theater while it's at the best price of 2025. Samsung 55-Inch The Frame TV It's rare to find a product that is loved by CNN Underscored editors and our readers this much. But that's exactly what you get with Samsung's The Frame TV. It won us over year after year with a design closer to a picture frame than your typical TV. Save $500, scoring one of the best discounts to our review LG 65-Inch Class C4 Series OLED Evo TV If the Sony Bravia was too pricey for you, the LG OLED is the next best thing. The previous generation C4 series is at the best prices of the year, with this 65-inch version at $300 off. That means you can enjoy its impressive 1,500-nit screen without paying full our review Samsung B-series 3.1-Channel DTS Virtual:X Soundbar If you already have a television you love, it's time to improve your home theater's sound. This affordable soundbar includes a wireless subwoofer for added bass to help round out movie nights with the kind of booming sound you'd find at the actual theater. Samsung 77-Inch S84D 4K OLED TV If your television isn't cutting it for viewing baseball games, upgrade to this massive 77-inch OLED TV, going big for the rest of the year. It's $200 below the previous discount I tracked over Presidents Day, marking its best price of the year. LG 65-Inch UT70 4K Smart webOS TV This 65-inch TV won't break the bank. It has a 4K panel and built-in streaming support with LG's webOS tech. At the best price I've tracked, take $250 off ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Lenovo Legion Go Gaming Handheld This gaming handheld combines the flexibility of a PC with the convenience of a Nintendo Switch. We found it a worthy competitor to the Steam Deck, and today's $100 discount makes it an even better value. Read our review Sonos Move 2 Portable Durable Smart Speaker I was excited to see the Sonos Move 2 go on sale this week but even more so now that the olive color I own is joining in on the savings. It's not available at other retailers, but Best Buy is offering a new all-time low price on this color. This is the best portable smart speaker I've used. HP 14-Inch Chromebook If you're searching for an affordable way to browse the web and check emails, this Chromebook is it. It's down to a record-low price at Best Buy with $210 in savings. That's over 60% off. GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini Capture all your upcoming hikes or outdoor adventures with this GoPro action camera. The Hero 11 Mini is smaller than its standard camera but still features the same rugged, go-anywhere design. It's also far more affordable at $120 off the usual price. Marshall Woburn II Bluetooth Speaker I listen to music every day on this speaker's newer version, the Woburn III. This earlier iteration packs all the same retro designs and booming sound but with a far more affordable price tag due to today's $200 all-time low discount. Asus 16-Inch ROG Zephyrus G16 If your portable gaming needs aren't met by something like the Lenovo Legion Go on sale above, this Asus laptop has entered the chat with a $500 discount. It's matching the last low price, tracked during Presidents Day weekend. It offers better performance with an Nividia RTX 4060 graphics card. Segway Max G30P Electric Kick Scooter Take a whopping $450 off this electric kick scooter from Segway. The brand is one of the most trusted in the micro mobility space, which makes today's offer even better. This scooter is great for cruising around the neighborhood this summer or taking quick trips to the store. Sony Ult Wear Headphones A $50 deal landed on this pair of CNN Underscored-approved Ult Wear headphones that launched last spring. These are some of my favorite headphones, especially when you factor in the sale price. I particularly enjoy the booming bass and respectable ANC features. Today's offer is $1 below our previous mention. Read our review Logitech Pro X Superlight Wireless Gaming Mouse This is still the best gaming mouse money can buy. I purchased mine in 2021, and it has been handling gaming sessions like a pro ever since. I recommend it years later, especially when a 33% discount lands. Traeger Grills Pro 22 Pellet Grill and Smoker When we tested the best grills, Traeger stood above the rest in the pellet grill category. This discounted model has the same reputation as our best-tested pick but with a smaller design perfect for compact patio setups. It's also matching its lowest price. Samsung Stackable Smart Front-Load Washer There's more to like about this front-load washer than its sleek stainless steel finish. It also features Samsung's Super Speed Wash tech and smart features to streamline laundry day. Ooni Koda 16 Gas-Powered Outdoor Pizza Oven This outdoor pizza oven is seeing a rare discount for Memorial Day weekend. It's the first notable chance to save in 2025 with $120 in savings attached. Samsung 27-Cubic-Foot 3-Door French Door Smart Refrigerator Our experts previously walked away impressed by the higher-end version of this Samsung Bespoke refrigerator. This one shares many of the same features but mostly nixes some fancier additions to offer the same cooling for less. Throw in this $500 discount, and it's an even better way to renovate your kitchen. Traeger Grills Pro 34 Pellet Grill and Smoker If you need more grilling and smoking space than the Traeger above, this discounted model offers a larger cooking area and even more savings. It's a bit pricier, but it is at least resting at a new low price this year for the holiday weekend. Bella 4.2-Quart Pro Touchscreen Air Fryer Take half off this affordable air fryer at its best price of the year. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles as our top-tested model, but it'll certainly get the job done if you want to upgrade the kitchen for less. CNN Underscored's deals experts are always shopping for the best discounts online. Outside of holiday weekends, we cover weekly guides to the steepest price cuts from specific retailers. These early Memorial Day deals are worth a closer look now, considering many items are down to their lowest prices of the year, even beating previous discounts I've covered. I'm constantly tracking price cuts across multiple online storefronts to ensure the deals are as good as the retailers say. The rest of the deals team and I dive into each product's price history while cross-referencing reviews and guides from other CNN Underscored editors to determine if it's worth your cash. Quite simply, our goal here at Underscored is to save you money. Our senior deals editor Rikka Altland has been doing just that for nearly a decade, and that kind of experience extends to the rest of our deals team. Being an advocate for buyers to make sure we're only recommending the best prices on the best products is what we're all about, and that focus comes across in our work.
Digital Trends
05-05-2025
- Digital Trends
This 8 out of 10 Sony OLED TV has a $500 discount today
The Sony Bravia 8 is a fantastic OLED TV we gave a glowing review to last year. In fact, our review states, 'The Bravia 8 is the Sony OLED TV most folks should buy.' Fortunately, it's on sale, too. For a limited time, you'll be able to get the Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 Series 4K OLED for only $1,800 at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. The MSRP on this model is $2,300, so you can think of it as saving $500! Why you should buy the Sony Bravia 8 Series The Sony Bravia 8 is a powerhouse OLED that supports a wide color gamut and delivers exceptional HDR performance. While you can't watch HDR10+ content, the Bravia 8 displays glorious highlights and other peak brightness effects when streaming in 4K HDR. The TV also has good SDR brightness, though most OLED screens are best suited to a darker space. The Bravia 8 has fantastic motion handling, too, as well as low input lag, HDMI 2.1 connectivity, and VRR and ALLM support. It's one of the best OLED TVs for gaming you can buy in 2025! Apps, screen mirroring, and smart home controls are made possible by the TV's built-in Google TV OS. Use the platform to access services like Netflix and YouTube, along with hundreds of free live TV channels. Save $500 on the Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 Series 4K OLED when you buy right now. We also recommend looking through our lists of the best Sony TV deals, best OLED TV deals, and best TV deals.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Yahoo
We compare the excellent Sony Bravia 8 OLED TV with the new Bravia 8 II QD-OLED – stick or twist?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The competition for the best OLED TV is more fierce than ever, with Sony's 2025 TV lineup entering the fray. The headline model, the Bravia 8 II, promises to deliver significant improvements over the awesome A95L, particularly in the brightness department. But how will it fare against last year's five-star-rated Bravia 8, which it will sit alongside in the 2026 range? Before we dive into the detailed comparison, it's important to note that while we've fully reviewed the Bravia 8, we've only had a comparatively brief hands-on session with the Bravia 8 II. Until we put the new model through its paces in our test rooms, this comparison will be based on our experiences to date and the respective specs of the two TVs. Naturally, we'll update this piece once we've conducted our full review of the Bravia 8 II. Despite the Sony Bravia 8 II being positioned at the more premium end of Sony's 2025 lineup, it surprisingly comes in at a more competitive price point than we initially expected. In the UK (we don't yet have US or Australian pricing), the 55-inch model is priced at £2499, while the 65-inch version costs £2999. Both versions are set to start shipping on 6th June 2025. This pricing is particularly noteworthy when compared with that of the A95L that it replaces, which launched at £2999 for the 55-inch model, and £3699 for the 65-inch version – making the Bravia 8 II around £500-700 cheaper than its predecessor at launch. The Bravia 8, which is the subject of today's comparison, officially sits below the Bravia 8 II in Sony's range. It launched at £2199 / $2000 / AU$2995 for the 55-inch model, £2699 / $2800 / AU$3995 for the 65-inch version, and £3999 / $3900 / AU$6495 for the 77 incher. Having now been on sale for around a year, the Bravia 8 has also been on the receiving end of a fair few discounts so is now available for significantly less than it was at launch. Here's a table with the launch prices of the Bravia 8 and Bravia 8 II, and below that you will see the latest and lowest prices for the Bravia 8. The Bravia 8 II appears to share much of its design with the A95L. It features a slim profile with a premium metal edge, and the same two-way stand that can be positioned to either sit the TV directly on your furniture, or raise it slightly to accommodate a soundbar underneath. At 34mm in thickness, the Bravia 8 II is 3mm thinner than the Bravia 8 (not that you'd notice), despite housing the Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology that uses actuators to vibrate the screen itself to produce sound. More on that later. Both TVs use blade-style feet, but the Bravia 8 II's can only be positioned at the furthest extremes of the TV's bottom edge. This means that it can't be placed on furniture narrower than the set's width (122cm for the 55-inch model and 145cm for the 65-inch version). While the feet can't be positioned closer to the centre of the chassis, they can be extended to lift the TV a few centimetres to accommodate a soundbar. Both models are powered by Google TV, which offers a slick and user-friendly experience, with access to all the major streaming services you'd expect. As for connectivity, both sets include four HDMI ports – two of those are HDMI 2.1 spec with support for 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM for next-gen gaming, while the other two are 2.0 affairs. Unfortunately, one of those HDMI 2.1 ports also doubles as the eARC connection for external audio systems. This means that if you have an eARC speaker connected along with multiple gaming devices (such as a Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X), you'll need to choose which one gets the full-fat HDMI 2.1 connection – or resort to cable swapping. That's a limitation compared with competitors such as LG, which offers four HDMI 2.1 ports on its OLED models, including the new LG G5 and LG C5. Both TVs feature Sony's 'Perfect for PlayStation 5' features, which allow the TV to automatically adjust settings when connected to a PS5 console. This is handy for getting a pretty accurate HDR game performance with zero effort, but we generally find that these automatic settings are just shy of spot-on. HDR format support on both TVs includes HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision, but as with all Sony TVs, neither supports HDR10+. Elsewhere, the Bravia 8 II benefits from an updated version of Sony's XR Processor, which includes what Sony calls "AI Scene Recognition" – a feature that analyses scene data in real-time for optimised picture performance. This is where things get interesting, and where the two models are really set apart. Despite the similar naming convention, the Bravia 8 II uses a latest-generation QD-OLED panel, while the Bravia 8 employs a standard WOLED panel. The Bravia 8 II's QD-OLED panel, combined with Sony's XR Triluminos Max technology, promises significant improvements in brightness and colour volume over both the Bravia 8. In fact, according to Sony, the Bravia 8 II is 50% brighter than the Bravia 8. This increased brightness should allow the Bravia 8 II to push highlights higher without compromising colour purity – a traditional limitation of WOLED technology. The result should be punchier highlights and more vibrant detail while maintaining the perfect black levels OLED is known for. While we've yet to properly put the Bravia 8 II through its paces in our testing rooms, our hands-on session at Sony's Tokyo HQ revealed better brightness handling than the A95L and competing models, with bright highlights maintaining better detail and more natural warmth. In dark scenes, the Bravia 8 II also showed improved shadow detail and better low-light colour volume. The Bravia 8, which we've fully tested, delivers excellent picture quality in its price bracket, with the typically perfect blacks and infinite contrast that OLED technology is known for. In our review, we praised its natural, authentic picture quality and excellent motion handling, though we did note it's not the brightest OLED on the market – something the Bravia 8 II specifically aims to address. Both TVs benefit from Sony's excellent motion processing and colour accuracy, but the QD-OLED technology in the Bravia 8 II should provide a punchier, more vibrant picture, particularly with HDR content. Watch this space. Both Sony models feature the company's Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which uses actuators attached to the screen itself that vibrate the panel to produce sound, effectively turning the entire display into a speaker. This creates a more immersive audio experience where sound appears to come directly from the relevant part of the image, unlike conventional TV speakers that fire downward or from the rear. There are, however, differences between the two sets. The Bravia 8 II inherits the audio system from the A95L, with two actuators and two subwoofers, while the Bravia 8 uses a similar, but slightly less advanced version of this tech, featuring two smaller actuators and only one subwoofer. If the Bravia 8 II does indeed sound the same as the A95L, it will be weightier, more enveloping and more dynamic. Both TVs support Dolby Atmos, and both feature Sony's Voice Zoom technology for enhancing dialogue clarity, with the Bravia 8 II specifically sporting Voice Zoom 3. If paired with compatible Sony sound systems such as the Bravia Theatre Bar 9, both TVs can also use Acoustic Centre Sync, which allows the TV and soundbar to work together for a more unified soundstage (at least in theory). While we'll need to wait until we have the Bravia 8 II in our test rooms for a definitive assessment, the early signs are promising. With a significantly brighter QD-OLED panel, enhanced processing, and a surprisingly competitive price point, the Bravia 8 II appears to build meaningfully on the excellent A95L. As for the Bravia 8, it remains an excellent OLED TV in its own right, offering Sony's typically accurate picture processing and natural colours at a lower price point. It remains a solid choice if you're looking for a premium OLED experience without stretching to the higher price of the Bravia 8 II. We look forward to putting the Bravia 8 II through our rigorous testing process to see exactly how it stacks up against not only the Bravia 8, but also 2025's other flagship OLED contenders from the likes of LG, Samsung and Panasonic. Stay tuned. MORE: Here are all the new Sony 2025 TVs And these are the best TVs we recommend Check out the best OLED TVs available right now
WIRED
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- WIRED
Sony's Latest Bravia Home Theater Gear Gets Bolder, Brighter
Apr 2, 2025 12:00 PM We went hands-on with Sony's latest home theater gear, including its fiery new OLED TV. Photograph: Ryan Waniata; Getty Images Sony's glittering new RGB LED display made a big splash last month, and as one of the few to see it in the flesh, I can attest that it's a very exciting new advancement. It's also still deep in the prototype stage, so it'll be a while before we get our hands on one. Today, Sony unveiled the latest additions to its home theater lineup for the here and ( almost ) now. While pricing has yet to be announced, the 2025 lineup includes two new LED TVs, new home audio gear, and a blazing new OLED TV primed to compete with LG, Samsung, and others for the coveted title of best TV of the year. I traveled to Sony HQ in Tokyo to get a hands-on preview of all the new gear ahead of the official release. Here's everything I saw, heard, and learned about Sony's latest home theater gadgets. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today. New Bravia Sights There's a new king of Sony's TV lineup with an oddly underwhelming title. Despite sharing the naming convention of Sony's second-tier OLED from 2024, the Bravia 8 Mark II is positioned as Sony's 2025 flagship TV, with performance to match. In design, the TV looks a lot like 2023's A95L QD-OLED (9/10, WIRED Recommends), but Sony claims the new Bravia 8 is 25 percent brighter than that model and 50 percent brighter than its namesake. Built to compete with 2025's LG G5 and Samsung S95F OLEDs, the TV uses a version of Samsung's latest QD-OLED panel rather than LG's new 'Quad Stack' panel, along with Sony processing tech like XR Tiluminous Max for enhanced colors and Sony's XR Processor with AI for analyzing and optimizing content scene-by-scene. Sony claims one reason for sticking with a QD-OLED panel this year is that it allows for better off-axis color accuracy. It's also notable that this TV will purportedly undercut Sony's previous flagship in pricing, which should make it more competitive in a very tough market. In person, the TV showed fabulous color accuracy and saturation, alongside sizzly brightness at every turn. It was especially showy with high-caliber Blu-ray content mastered at the top of the brightness scale. In Sony's carefully curated demos, the TV showed less image clipping than last year's LG G4 and Samsung S95D (8/10, WIRED Recommends) viewed side by side. A blacksmith demo using the next-gen BT.2020 color gamut dazzled, revealing gleaming-bright molten metal that looked ready to pop off the screen and singe your eyebrows. It appeared to easily outpace the older models, including Sony's own 2023 A95L (9/10, WIRED Recommends), instantly drawing my eye each time it was fired up. I can't wait to compare it to the latest rivals in what looks to be another transformative OLED class for 2025. For those less inclined to splash out big, Sony's latest mini-LED TV should have some real street appeal. This TV slots in nicely below the Bravia 7 as part of the company's evolving three-year release strategy (we're apparently still waiting on the Bravia 6). The screen's rich colors and solid brightness are impressive, as is its availability in multiple (and massive) model sizes. The 98-inch version we saw in Sony's living room demo looked remarkably good for its size based on its presumptive price class, though we'll have to wait for the final numbers. In keeping with the Bravia 7's biggest flaw, the TV struggles to keep color accuracy and brightness off-axis. Otherwise, it showed off good color accuracy and contrast at first blush, including solid black levels with minimal blooming. Part of its special sauce is Sony's XR Backlight Master Drive algorithm that helps its mini-LED backlight reduce light bloom through image recognition. The Bravia 5 will likely be the cheapest model to incorporate the system yet. Sony said the TV's Cinema mode includes technology to both dim the backlight and adjust the color for multiple lighting scenarios. It's a lot of tech for a Sony TV at this tier, so it'll be interesting to see how it stacks up against midrange models from brands like Hisense and TCL this year. Sony's Bravia 2 isn't technically new, at least not outside the US. This year, Sony brings its cheapest Bravia model stateside with some minor tuning updates, offered as an even more affordable option than last year's Bravia 3. Without official pricing, it's difficult to know how good a deal you're getting, but considering the Bravia 3 currently goes for around $700 to $800 for a 65-inch model, the Bravia 2 should be pretty competitively priced. Its performance is basic, but it does offer local dimming for solid black levels and overall contrast. The colors looked relatively natural in the short demos I saw, though they came off paler than the Bravia 5 (naturally), and off-axis viewing is pretty rough. That said, if the TV can come in at significantly lower pricing than its siblings, the Bravia 2 could be worth considering for those after a budget model under the Sony umbrella. With Sony's topline Bravia Projector 8 and Projector 9 clocking in at around $16K and $32K respectively, most of us can't come close to grabbing one. While those models are aimed at luxury or professional installs, the new Bravia 7 should be much more affordable, making it a contender for more down-to-earth installs. Offering 4K HDR resolution and a claimed 2,200 lumens of brightness from its laser light source (the Bravia Projector 8 hits 2,700 and the 9 claims 3,400), the 7 packs an impressive punch. It shares a lot of tech with its siblings, including XR Dynamic Tone Mapping for optimal brightness with color gradients, XR Deep Black to control laser dimming in dark scenes and increase gain in bright ones, and XR Triluminos Pro for enhanced colors. It's also compatible with Imax Enhanced video, and low-latency gaming at up to 4K/120 Hz. Huddled in a small room in the depths of Sony's demo halls, we got to see how the Projector 7 matched up against Sony's top two projectors, its precursor, and a few JVC models. The 7 really popped in the showiest HDR demos with much less white clipping and better clarity in high-nit scenes than the previous Sony model, the arduously named XW5000ES. It stood up similarly well to JVC's competing DLA-NZ7, again showing less clipping in tougher HDR scenes, though we'll have to see it in action outside Sony's demo room for a better idea of its skills. One drawback to the cheaper model is that, unlike the Projector 8 and 9, it requires manual lens focus. Otherwise, it's an intriguing new option for those building out a high-end home theater. New Bravia Sounds We didn't spend a lot of time with Sony's new audio systems, but the brand's new 1,000-watt 5.1 surround system made the biggest impression. The system comprises a soundbar up front, included rear surrounds, and a sizable subwoofer. Marketed like an old-school HTB (Home Theater in a Box), it uses an amp that connects to the bar wirelessly and feeds the proprietary rear speakers over speaker wires. It's a rather odd setup, but the sound was solid in our short demo, with a warm and relatively detailed midrange, solid surround expansion, and a thumpy sub. If it comes in at approachable pricing, it could be a great new midrange surround sound option. Not to be confused with the Theater System 6, the Theater Bar 6 is a 3.2.1 system comprising just a bar and subwoofer, though it's compatible with Sony's new Bravia Rear 8 speakers for an additional fee. The other big difference between the two systems is that the Bar 6 offers upfiring drivers for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X video, and Sony's Vertical Surround Engine for virtual 3D audio with traditional sources. Sony pitted the system against to Samsung's Q600C in a few film scenes Sony Pictures' Gran Turismo and Sony'd model strutted its stuff pretty well, especially for a midrange option. The sub is a fair bit bigger and thumpier than Samsung's model, and dialog sounded clear and detailed.
