4
The Sony Bravia XR-55A95K – the first QD-Oled television on the market – has just arrived at the editorial office, and we hastened to pass this model to the laboratory to answer a question: does QD-Oled technology offer it a gain in brightness compared to the classic Oled?
Sony XR-55A95K
Introductory price €2999
Fnac.com2,999.00
How the pricing table works
The Sony Bravia XR-55A95K is the first television to use the new QD-Oled panel. Manufactured by Samsung Display, this panel marks the Korean giant’s return to the OLED TV market after a failed entry in 2013 (the Samsung KE55S9C only lasted a month in stores). QD-Oled technology promises the best of both worlds: the infinite contrast of Oled – thanks to individual management of the lighting of each pixel – and high brightness thanks to the use of a quantum dot filter. It’s a radically new technology, and not just a marketing ploy. We also note that Sony does not necessarily highlight QD-Oled technology and is content to speak of Oled equipped with XR Triluminos Max and XR Oled Contrast Pro technologies.
The Intense bright mode, but very far from fidelity
EOTF curve in HDR10, 10% window. Intense Mode
HDR luminance curve, 10% window. Intense Mode
EOTF
Light. Max. : 1050 cd/m²
In Intense picture mode, peak brightness reaches 1050 cd/m² over a 10% window. On the other hand, in this image mode, the luminance curve is not respected at all and the television systematically displays an image that is too bright.
HDR Colorimetry – Intense Mode
HDR colorimetry
Delta E = 16.7
The other issue with Intense mode is image quality. The color temperature is whimsical and pulls far too blue, while the colors are totally wrong. We measured a delta E of 16.7, very, very far from the delta E of 3 below which the colors are considered faithful. In fact, the colors are way too saturated. Example, a pale green will turn into an almost fluorescent green.
Standard mode, high brightness and slightly better colors
EOTF curve in HDR10, 10% window. Standard Mode
HDR luminance curve, 10% window. Standard Mode
EOTF
Light. Max. : 1040 cd/m²
In Standard image mode, the peak brightness measured at 1040 cd/m² is a little higher than a standard Oled TV (around 750 cd/m²). However, the picture is still very far from perfect.
HDR Colorimetric – Standard Mode
HDR colorimetry
Delta E = 9.1
The color temperature still pulls a little towards the blue, but everything is much better controlled than with the Intense mode. On the other hand, the colors remain far from faithful, with a delta E close to 10.
Expert mode for perfect HDR, but less impressive peak brightness
EOTF curve in HDR10, 10% window. Expert Mode
HDR luminance curve, 10% window. Expert Mode
EOTF
Light. Max. : 965 cd/m²
In Expert image mode, the peak brightness measured at 965 cd / m² is higher than that of the majority of Oled televisions, and even those equipped with an Oled Evo panel such as the LG 65G1 or the latest LG 65C2 (around 800 cd/m²). However, the Sony television with its QD-Oled panel does not really stand out from the Panasonic 65JZ2000 of 2021 with its Oled Professional Edition panel, which can reach a peak brightness of 962 cd / m² while maintaining perfect image quality. . The difference is actually in the color saturation of the Sony QD-Oled model, which displays more saturated red and green primary colors, which has a visual impact with certain content.
HDR Colorimetry – Expert Mode
HDR colorimetry
Delta E = 2.3
As always with Sony, the Expert mode makes it possible to find a simply perfect image, with colors very faithful to those sent by the source and to the vision of the director.
The Sony 55A95K on the test bench, but it’s not an HDR test.