There are TVs that play games, and then there are TVs designed by the people who make the games. The Sony BRAVIA XR8B OLED falls into the latter category. For years, gamers have known a secret: if you own a PlayStation 5, a Sony TV just works better.

Now, Sony has made the decision easier by bundling the new 2025 Model BRAVIA XR8B (65-Inch) with a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (Slim). This isn’t just a sales gimmick. It is a calculated move to offer the most cohesive gaming ecosystem on the market. From “Auto HDR Tone Mapping” to the legendary XR Processor, every pixel is engineered to make your games look exactly how the developers intended.

In this Sony BRAVIA XR8B OLED review, we test the TV’s gaming chops, its cinema performance, and whether this bundle offers better value than piecing together a setup with an LG C5 or Samsung S85.

1. Product Overview: The Ecosystem Advantage

The Sony BRAVIA XR8B is the direct successor to the popular A80L. It sits right below the flagship A95L QD-OLED. It uses a high-performance WOLED panel, but the secret sauce is the Cognitive Processor XR. This chip analyzes images the way human eyes do, focusing on the main subject to enhance depth and realism.

The bundle includes the PS5 Slim Digital Edition, creating an instant next-gen gaming station out of the box.

The bundle includes the PS5 Slim Digital Edition. This sleek console plays all the latest hits like Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine at 4K 120Hz. Specifically, when paired with this TV, the console unlocks exclusive features that you simply cannot get with other TV brands.

2. Picture Quality: XR Processor Magic

While LG and Samsung chase peak brightness numbers, Sony chases accuracy. The XR8B delivers an image that looks “correct” right out of the box. Skin tones are natural, not reddish. Grass looks like grass, not neon green astroturf.

XR OLED Contrast Pro boosts color and contrast in bright areas, making HDR content pop.

XR Clear Image

A new feature for 2025 is XR Clear Image. This technology reduces noise and blur in fast-moving scenes without making them look artificial. Furthermore, if you watch a lot of streaming content (Netflix, YouTube), Sony’s upscaling is widely considered the best in the industry. It can take a 1080p stream and make it look nearly identical to native 4K.

3. Gaming Features: “Perfect for PlayStation 5”

This is why you buy this bundle. Sony has programmed the BRAVIA XR8B to communicate directly with the PS5. Consequently, you get two massive advantages:

• Auto HDR Tone Mapping: The PS5 automatically detects the exact model of your TV and optimizes the HDR settings instantly. You never have to fiddle with those annoying “adjust the sun until it is barely visible” calibration screens again.
• Auto Genre Picture Mode: The TV knows when you are playing a game (switching to Game Mode for low latency) and when you are watching a Blu-ray on your PS5 (switching to Cinema Mode for better picture quality). It happens automatically.

The dedicated Game Menu lets you turn on VRR, Motion Blur Reduction, and Crosshairs with one click.

The TV supports 4K at 120Hz via HDMI 2.1, ensuring you get the smoothest possible gameplay. Input lag is incredibly low, making it competitive with the LG C5.

4. Audio: Acoustic Surface Audio+

Most TVs have tiny speakers firing out the bottom. Sony does something different. Acoustic Surface Audio+ uses actuators behind the screen to vibrate the glass panel itself, turning the entire screen into a speaker.

This means sound comes directly from the action. If a character on the left side of the screen is talking, the sound comes from their mouth, not from a speaker below them. Additionally, if you have a Sony soundbar, you can use Acoustic Center Sync, which allows the TV speakers to act as the center channel for clearer dialogue.

5. Smart Features: Google TV & Bravia Core

The XR8B runs on Google TV, which is our favorite smart TV interface. It aggregates content from Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Prime Video into one clean home screen. The recommendations are actually useful, unlike other platforms.

Exclusive Bonus: Sony Pictures Core. Formerly known as Bravia Core, this streaming service is exclusive to Sony TV owners. It streams movies at up to 80Mbps—which is essentially 4K Blu-ray quality. It puts Netflix’s 15Mbps streams to shame. You get 5 or 10 movie credits included with the TV.

6. Sony BRAVIA XR8B Specifications

7. Pros & Cons Verdict

Is the ecosystem worth it? Here is the breakdown.

8. Sony XR8B vs. LG C5 vs. Samsung S90F

The battle for your living room is fierce. Here is how to choose.

• Buy the Sony XR8B Bundle if: You are a PlayStation gamer or a movie buff who values accuracy over brightness. The integration with the PS5 is seamless, and Sony’s image processing is unmatched for movies.
• Buy the LG C5 OLED if: You own multiple consoles (Xbox + PS5 + PC). The LG has four HDMI 2.1 ports, whereas the Sony only has two.
• Buy the Samsung S85 Bundle if: You want a massive 83-inch screen. The Sony gets very expensive at larger sizes, while Samsung offers better value for pure size.

9. FAQ: HDMI 2.1 & Setup