Picture quality of Sony smart TVs
Sony smart TVs are a bit of a mixed bag this year. Many have great picture quality, with strong contrast and good uniformity. Others sacrifice contrast for a wide viewing angle, but are still relatively good.
To get a better idea of the differences between Sony’s Android TVs, take a look at our list of this year’s Sony lineup.
The rest of this article reviews the smart features found in Sony smart TVs. We used the Sony XBRX850C for this review, but will point out differences between models where applicable.
Remote Controls
The default remote included with Android TVs is just a basic one.
Some TVs, like the X850C, come with a Touchpad remote control, and it’s also possible to purchase one separately. We don’t recommend it.
Unlike the fancier remotes you get with the higher-end Samsung and LG TVs, the Sony Touchpad doesn’t allow for motion controls. Instead, you can swipe on the touchpad to navigate the menus. It’s tricky to use at first, and while it does get a bit simpler, it’s still not worth using over the traditional remote, and definitely not worth purchasing.
A better option is to download Sony’s TV Sideview App for iOS or Android. It allows you to connect your phone to your TV and use it as a remote. You can use the onscreen arrows to navigate, but you can also track your finger across the screen to control a cursor. It also enables voice search, and can even turn it on when the TV is in standby mode. It’s the best solution for controlling your TV, though it’s still not as good as Samsung and LG’s smart remotes. It’s a free download for iOS and Android.
Main Interface
The interface is clean, and pretty simply to navigate. The top row is video and game content from YouTube, Crackle, and the Play Store.
Below that is a row of ‘Featured’ apps. ‘Sony Selects’ is a collection of apps and games Sony suggests downloading. It’s mostly basic stuff.
‘Input’ is just the selection of whatever devices you have connected to your TV.
‘Apps’ lists everything you have downloaded to your TV, as well as the Play Store.
The Play Store selection is growing pretty quickly. Apps need to be optimized for Android TV before they become available, so some favorite apps might not be usable just yet.
There is a 'Games' Row, too, separate from the Play Store. 'Gameloft' is one of the available options, and 'PlayStation
Voice Search
One area where the Android TV excels is with voice search. Press the voice search button on the remote (either the Touchpad or in the TV Sideview app) and say what you’re looking for, and Android TV will deliver suggestions from the Play Store, Google Play Movies & TV, and YouTube, as well as relevant results from downloaded apps. It’s a convenient way to navigate to content quickly, and much better than the swipe controls.
