Sony has begun rolling out its Sony 2020 TV range, and it looks impressive.
The Sony 2020 TV range identifier is ‘H’ – 2019 was ‘G’. We won’t see these for a while, but it helps to know what is coming.
In some respects Sony is going its own way – not a Quantum Dot screen in sight, instead using full-array backlit VA-LED panels in premium models and of course LG sourced OLED Panels. But it rightly says that its what’s inside that counts.
Features (on most Sony 2020 TV models)
- X1 Ultimate Chipset or X1
- Pixel Contrast Booster
- Dolby Atmos decoding
- Dolby Vision HDR, HDR10, HLG
- Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit
- Android 9 TV OS (unsure of an update to Android 10 for AV1 decoding to be used by Netflix, YouTube and others
- LCD – Side frame speaker
- OLED – Acoustic surface speaker
- OLED – Auto-calibration via the CalMAN software but you will need the right equipment.
- Netflix Calibrated Mode
- 4K/8K Upscaling
- 120Hz Black Frame Insertion (for 120Hz models)
- Ambient light optimisation (for premium models)
- 8K HDMI eARC 2.1 for 8K@60fps or 4K@120fps
- 4K – HDMI 2.0b
- New stand feet on 75/85” to allow for flat or soundbar under
- Wi-Fi AC and BT 4.2
- ATSC 3.0 tuner/HDMI 2.1 on X900H only
You can find some basic information on each model at Sony Asia website here.
Australian Models
- Z8H – 8K VA-LCD, X1 Ultimate, frame tweeter, 75/85
- A9H – 4K, OLED, X1 Ultimate, (could be called A9G as it is a 48” version of the 2019 model)
- A8H – 4K, OLED, X1 Ultimate, 55/65” (this is the main OLED for 2020)
- A85H/87/89 4K – no info but appears to be regional variants of OLED
- X950H Premium 4K Advanced Full Array (FALD) VA-LED, X1 Ultimate, wide-angle, 49/55/65/75/85
- X900H mid-range 4K Standard FALD IPS LCD, X1 Processor 55/65/75/85
- X800H – entry-level 4K IPS LCD 43/49/55/65, 4K edge-lit IPS, X1 processor, 43/49/55/65/75/85
There may also be regional variants within the series.
GadgetGuy’s take – Sony 2020 TV range – a lot of choices
The scant information above does not do the Sony 2020 TV range justice.
For example, the OLED and top of the range VA-LED support Netflix Calibrated mode may support Dolby Vision IQ, have Apple/Google and Alexa support etc.
I particularly like Android TV for its huge range of apps, and it is now a very stable OS.
Sony products consistently rate well on GadgetGuy.
So now you have preliminary information on Sony, Samsung’s 2020 TV range and LG’s 2020 TV range that all show some innovations for 2020.
In the end, it comes down to picture quality, and that is why we hope to review most models when released.
Is there any word on when the Sony 2020 range will hit stores in Australia?
Late May at this time but it is likely to be its top of the range models.
No word yet but I noted that Hisense (yes anotehr brnad) has pushed its 2020 range back to August so Sony may be similarly affected.
Anyone know when the Sony X900H TV’s will be released in Australia?
Hi
The GoodGuys are listing X95H and X80H but no X90H
https://www.thegoodguys.com.au/sony-55-inches-x9500h-4k-uhd-android-bravia-led-tv-kd55x9500h?istCompanyId=3bea4a6c-bec2-47ac-ad52-cc426c68327c&istFeedId=e8d5c196-db26-43bb-982c-cfe72bb147d0&istItemId=irqpaamwa&istBid=t&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrpeE_saF6gIVWQ4rCh26KwYyEAkYASABEgKRD_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Sony only lists these two 2020 models. I have asked and will post an update when I know more.
Spoke to Sony Australia today and the answer is never.
Do you have confirmation if and when the 48 inch Sony OLED will be released in Australia?
Hi Darren
Something is going on at Sony as its 2019 model range is sold out and there has been no mention of the 2020 models since we published info back in March. We assume COVID related supply issues.
48A9H should be the model but on a Japanese site (not Sony) it says ‘only the A8H was released in spring (Autumn here), and there is no A9H series this year”. The A8H only comes in 55/65/77. That gels with another rumour that the only 9-series this year will be the A9G (2019) – no refresh.
LG was supposed to bring in a 48″ OLED but did not and the only place you can get as compatble on is Singapore.
The UK model number for the 48 inch is KD-48A9. It’s not a G or H, but it does appear to be a 48 inch 9G.
Sony tends to release their flagship OLED later in the year. There’s been no mention of an 9H OLED thus far.
Yes the UK model is the equivalent of the 49A9G (G is for 2019). Unfortunately, the tuner system in the UK will not work here. Agreed on the later launch date – A9G OLED release here was August 2019.
I have just spoken to Sony Australia about the X900H tv, which is the ONLY led tv with 2.1 HDMI features and have been told Australia will NOT be getting this TV.
So as usual with Australian electronics consumers we get treated with contempt by international sellers.
I for one will not buy another Sony product ever after finding this out and i have had more than 15 over my lifetime.
I highly recommend the rest of Australia’s electronics consumers do the same so this second rate company gets the message.
To be fair 2.1 HDMI only matters with 8K. To my knowledge only LG has implemented 2.1 on its 4K 2020 TVs.
Sorry but you are 100 % wrong.
Many gamers are now using 4K tvs for gaming, and the next gen consoles, XBOX SERIES X and Sony’s own PS5 due out Q4 this year need HDMI 2.1 to take advantage of 120 fps, VRR and lower latency.
So obviously Sony management team are not even bright enough to have support for their own products on their own tv’s.
Obviously my reply to your reply to about Sony didn’t make the cut, because
A. Your are not used to having your knowledge, or in this case, lack of knowledge questioned, ie Sony not even being smart enough to support their own product, PS5, with 2.1 HDMI on their tvs in Australia.
B. You are just another corporate advertiser site that has Charlie Brown views on products you write about, and are therefore not worth the read.
We don’t always check Disqus daily – but we try to but it is harder with a skeleton staff during COVID.
I totally agree that HDMI 2.1 for 2020 4 and 8K TVs, soundbars, Blu-ray and set-top boxes should be mandatory. I am not a gamer so I don’t even think about PS5 so sorry about not responding to your earlier comment.
Charlie Brown is a nice guy and has a business model that he is open about and works for him.
GadgetGuy is 100% independent, does not sell anything nor accept affiliate click-through commissions. Sadly we are probably the last Australian-owned and publically accessible ‘deep-dive’ review site. Perhaps that is why we keep increasing our audience credibility rating to 93% – ten times that of competitive sites.