Bravia X95K: Review finds that Sony's first Mini-LED TV doesn't perform much better than its LED predecessor

High-contrast OLED displays and the brand-new Quantum-Dot OLED panels made by Samsung are all the rage in the TV industry these days. Still, the Japanese electronics behemoth Sony decided to introduce a new Mini-LED TV as part of its 2022 lineup of 4K HDR televisions, but this new Bravia X95K first has to prove itself against the quite successful predecessor.

Thankfully, the experts at Rtings.com have now put the Sony Bravia X95K through its paces and published a detailed review of the new premium television set. With an overall rating of 8.3 out of 10 possible points, the new Mini-LED TV received the exact same test score as last year's model, which was still equipped with a traditional LED backlight.

Most notably, there is a measurable step backwards in terms of native contrast when the local dimming function is deactivated. In this case, the VA panel in the Sony Bravia X95K has a contrast ratio of only 1,723 to 1, while the predecessor X95J delivered a noticeably better 2,290 to 1 in this test. Despite its higher number of dimming zones, the aforementioned local dimming feature also performed worse, which resulted in more discernible blooming around bright objects in darker scenes.

Better HDR peak brightness at a much higher price

On a more positive note, the Sony Bravia X95K TV showed an improved HDR performance as the review found that the Mini-LED backlight can flex its muscles in this regard. Smaller HDR details in particular can be displayed at up to1,450 nits, which is significantly brighter than on the X95J. Nevertheless, the overall brightness in regular HDR scenes has only improved marginally - Rtings measured 1,308 nits instead of 1,257 nits on last year's model.

Overall, the Sony Bravia X95K is still a great TV according to Rtings’ review, but unfortunately, the new Mini-LED display barely has any advantages over the previously used LED backlight. For budget-conscious buyers, this may be a problem considering the enormous price difference between these two 4K HDR TVs. The new 65-inch Sony Bravia X95K currently costs a whopping US$2,798 on Amazon, while the similarly performing predecessor in the same size can be ordered for US$1,298.