Compare: Sony Bravia 7 (XR70) vs Samsung Neo QLED QN95D

Testing the Sony Bravia 7 quickly revealed that this television is capable of quite a lot. Although it is the "lowest" model from the Japanese manufacturer in the new 2024 range, it certainly does not feel like a compromise. The picture impressed us with its depth of black and the detail in bright scenes – thanks to the Mini LED technology, which makes a difference. When playing films in Dolby Vision, it was immediately noticeable how much HDR adds life to every scene. The intense colours and excellent dynamics made watching evening screenings a true pleasure for us. Daily use of this television also pleasantly surprised us. The Google TV system worked flawlessly, and the choice of apps was extensive enough that we had no trouble finding everything we wanted to watch. The backlit remote is a small but practical addition – in the evenings, we greatly appreciated not having to fumble around for buttons. Older content that we watched gained quality thanks to the advanced image processing. When we checked the television for gaming, it also left a good impression on us. The 120 Hz refresh rate provided a smooth image, and the low input lag allowed us to enjoy fast and dynamic gameplay. We particularly liked the Game Bar feature – easy access to settings during gameplay is something every gaming enthusiast will appreciate. The television handled even more demanding titles excellently. However, not everything was perfect. Only two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which is intended for eARC, may be an issue if someone plans to connect several devices simultaneously. Additionally, when we watched the television from an angle, we noticed that the picture quality was not as good as when viewed straight on – the lack of a layer to improve viewing angles was noticeable here. Nevertheless, the Bravia 7 is a television that pleasantly surprised us. It combines excellent picture quality with functionality that works well for both everyday use and during evening screenings or dynamic gameplay. The minor limitations are noticeable, but they do not overshadow the whole, which definitely deserves the attention of a buyer.

The Samsung QN95D immediately made a great impression on us. Right from the start, we felt that the Tizen system is intuitive and quick. The fast access to streaming applications such as PrimeVideo, Netflix, and MAX, as well as the ability to integrate with the SmartThings ecosystem, makes using the television simply convenient. The solar remote is a clever solution – eco-friendly and practical, as it allows control of other devices, such as a decoder (e.g. Canal+) or soundbar. While watching films and series, we quickly noticed how much of a difference the MiniLED technology makes. Thanks to the precisely functioning backlight zones, the picture gained incredible depth - which was confirmed by our contrast tests. The blacks are truly deep, and bright scenes using HDR stand out with excellent detail despite the lack of Dolby Vision. Additionally, the high brightness combined with the anti-reflective coating allows for comfortable viewing even in a sunlit room. When we played on this television, we immediately appreciated the low input lag and the fluidity of the image. The 144 Hz panel and support for HDMI 2.1 guaranteed dynamic and responsive gameplay, regardless of the game. All these features made every gaming session pure pleasure, especially in dynamic titles where precision and lack of delays matter. In terms of design - which is worth mentioning for this television - the QN95D simply looks great. The slim housing, solid central stand, and Ambient Mode function, which allows the screen to blend into the room's decor, give it an elegant touch. The included camera is an interesting addition that can be useful during video calls or when using interactive applications – like personal training through the Daily+ tab. However, for such, let’s be honest, an expensive piece of equipment, there are a few downsides. The lack of a recording function and support for sound in DTS:X format may be a problem for users seeking this feature. Nevertheless, the Samsung QN95D is a television that combines exceptional picture quality, functionality, and elegant design. The MiniLED backlighting makes a real difference here, especially if we care about deep blacks, high contrast, and excellent brightness. This is a device that will perform well during movie screenings, dynamic gaming, and everyday television watching.

The Sony BRAVIA 7 television with a VA panel and MiniLED backlighting technology offers excellent black quality. The tested 65-inch variant is equipped with 512 dimming zones, which allows for very good contrast, particularly in demanding movie scenes. Naturally, larger sizes of the television have more zones, positively impacting contrast and image depth. During testing, in scenes from the film "Oblivion," the BRAVIA 7 performed excellently in capturing dark and light areas, providing decent separation of lights (the light effect did not blur into a large spot) from deep black. However, as is often the case with televisions featuring local dimming, certain difficulties arise with small, bright light elements. In more demanding segments (e.g., scenes 4 and 5), it is noticeable that the television "struggles" to maintain high brightness of these elements, affecting the contrast – bright objects are either too dark (resulting in poor contrast) or a slight halo effect appears around them. In a scene from the film Sicario 2, the action of the zones can be seen, causing the aforementioned effect, but it is slight. Despite these minor imperfections, the overall impression is positive – the local dimming algorithm works really well, ensuring that the image maintains high contrast, and the quality of black and details is satisfying.

Samsung QN95D is a television that certainly attracts attention thanks to the use of a VA panel and innovative Mini LED backlighting. This model stands out with an impressive number of 1344 local dimming zones, achieving an exceptional level of contrast and black depth. It is worth noting that the number of backlighting zones may vary depending on the screen size – in larger models, these zones naturally increase, allowing for even better performance in terms of contrast and black levels. Mini LED, with smaller diodes, enables more precise control of backlighting, significantly enhancing the quality of the displayed image. The tested 55-inch model handles detail reproduction excellently, and its ability to adjust brightness in different parts of the screen results in a phenomenal visual effect. During our tests, Samsung QN95D on the test pattern from the film "Oblivion" surprised us with results that could compete with OLED televisions, offering nearly reference-level contrast. However, how does the television perform in more challenging conditions? In more demanding scenes, the local dimming algorithm may show some flaws. In some cases, on dark backgrounds, smaller bright elements may lose a lot of brightness, which we noticed during tests with the Pioneer Kuro test disc. Additionally, when we take a closer look (e.g. a scene from the film Sicario 2), some imperfections can be observed. The television sometimes struggles with brightness optimisation – in some scenes, it dims elements too much, while in others, it brightens the screen too intensely. These phenomena can be noticeable enough to capture the viewer's attention, especially in demanding night scenes. However, if we do not pay much attention to the mentioned imperfections, Samsung QN95D proves to be one of the best choices in terms of black depth among displays with MiniLED technology.

Since we know that the television handles contrast well, let's check how it performs in terms of HDR effects. The luminance graph shows the very high capabilities of this model – 1500 nits is a truly impressive result. The HDR effects are particularly striking in scenes where most of the screen is covered in light, such as in scenes 1, 3, and 5 of the test. Minor shortcomings, typical of this technology, are still visible with very small light effects, as in the scene from the film "Sicario 2," where brightness drops to 500 nits. Although these are not stunning results, they can be considered decent. Additionally, it is worth praising the television for its high coverage of a wide colour gamut – DCI-P3 at 96%, which allows for vibrant, saturated colours.

Samsung QN95D handles HDR exceptionally well, achieving a peak brightness of around 2000 nits. In the tested movie scenes, where the screen is fully lit, the television provides intense and realistic representation of HDR content, significantly enhancing the visual experience. Nevertheless, similar to contrast, the dimming algorithm may sometimes show limitations. Despite the considerable number of Mini LED zones, the television does not surprise the user with incredible brightness. For instance, in scenes from the film "Life of Pi," where a bright moon appears against a dark background, and in excerpts from "Sicario 2," where a strong light effect occurs on a dark background, the television displays very poor results. At such moments, the television attempts to reduce the halo effect by darkening the image to a level reminiscent of SDR quality. As a result, blacks appear deep and uniform, but this comes at the cost of losing some detail in bright areas. It is a compromise aimed at maintaining the best possible quality of black, although it simultaneously causes the image to lose a bit of its dynamism. Despite certain flaws in the operation of the local dimming algorithm, this television deserves praise for its wide coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. This is made possible by the use of a quantum dot coating, also known as QLED technology, which allows for vibrant and rich colours.

The IMAX Enhanced mode on the Sony BRAVIA 7 television is undoubtedly the best mode available on this model, although it is not without its flaws, as its name might suggest. The biggest issue is the white balance – both in HD and 4K HDR content, there is a clear dominance of red, which causes the image to take on pink hues. This is particularly noticeable on the tested snow pattern, where the pinkish tint becomes very apparent. Errors in the Colour Checker test also confirm these deviations – although they are not catastrophic, there is a tendency to drift towards warmer colours. As for brightness performance, the gamma remains at a decent level with a slight peak but without major issues. However, the biggest challenge comes from 4K materials. It is clear that the EOTF curve is significantly above the reference graph, which causes the image to become overly brightened.

In the category of factory colour reproduction, the television Samsung QN95D was tested in Filmmaker mode, which offers the best settings from the manufacturer. Nevertheless, it is not entirely free from flaws. In the case of HD content, there is a noticeable colour deviation, particularly in white balance, where the red colour clearly dominates the graph. The situation improves with 4K HDR content; however, there are still significant drops in blue colour reproduction. These effects can be observed in a scene from the film "Star Wars," where the protagonist is depicted in overly warm tones.

As for contrast, we can observe an initial large jump on the gamma graph, indicating that the television effectively highlights the brighter parts of the image. However, at the end of the graph, we notice a distinct drop, which may mean that in darker tones, details can be lost. Such a shape of the gamma curve can affect the way users perceive dark scenes, where some details may become too blurred or too dark, causing the image to lose clarity. It is also worth noting the curve responsible for brightness (EOTF), which is quite correct, except for the initial drop.

Although Samsung QN95D boasts impressive parameters and advanced technologies to deserve the title of one of the best televisions on the market, it requires certain adjustments in colour reproduction and contrast to fully utilise its potential.

Sony BRAVIA XR70 offers a wide range of tools that allow for adjusting the picture to individual preferences, enabling us to make significant adjustments to the settings. The white balance has been free from the problem of red colour dominance – snow no longer takes on pink shades, which was previously noticeable. Although one can detect slight deviations in the final part of the white balance graph, concerning a drop in blue colour, they are acceptable and difficult to notice in everyday use. The Colour Checker test confirms that errors in colour reproduction are no longer as pronounced and rarely exceed a value of 2, which is a very good result. As for brightness, gamma, while not requiring much improvement, was slightly adjusted. The most significant change was noted in the EOTF curve – the television no longer has issues with excessively brightening the entire image in 4K material. However, upon closer analysis and the inclusion of EOTF characteristics in film material, some limitations of the television become apparent due to the previously discussed dimming algorithm. Some small elements may be slightly more brightened, but these errors are so minor that most users will not notice them. Overall, the calibration results are very, very positive.

After calibration, the picture on the Samsung QN95D television achieves truly impressive results. The white balance is perfectly aligned, and error readings rarely exceed 2, which means that colours are displayed very accurately. Most samples from the Color Checker test fall within an acceptable error range, confirming that the television reproduces hues excellently. The contrast has also improved significantly, and the gamma curve is more stable, resulting in better visibility of details in both dark and bright scenes. However, it is worth noting the EOTF (Electro-Optical Transfer Function) curve, which shows some discrepancies in film tests. Although the television performs well in most scenes, details in the blacks can still be lost in more extreme cases – this is due to an aggressive dimming algorithm.

Nevertheless, these minor imperfections do not detract from the overall picture quality. After calibration, the Samsung QN95D impresses with its visual quality, offering an exceptional experience that will certainly satisfy anyone looking for a top-tier television.

The Sony XR70 television handles gradation excellently. In the test sequence, only a few scenes exhibit slight issues with tonal transitions in dark areas; however, most of these problems disappear when the gentle gradation option is switched on. Generally speaking, the television offers great gradation that will satisfy even the most demanding users.

The fluidity of tonal transitions is one of the strongest points of the Samsung QN95D television, which received a very high rating in this category. Such results are rarely seen in televisions that offer such high brightness. Thanks to the precise operation of the panel, tonal transitions are exceptionally smooth and natural. The only noticeable shortcomings might be slight errors around the blacks, but they are subtle enough that most users are unlikely to notice them. This makes the Samsung QN95D an excellent choice for those who value image quality and detail, especially in scenes with complex lighting.

Since we know that the television performs very well with high-quality materials, it is worth checking how it fares with lower-quality content. Here, the television shows its potential, and the applied graphics processor works really brilliantly. On the test screen with the light bulb, there are no issues with colour transitions, and the smooth gradation feature works very well – we recommend setting it to "Medium".

As for digital processing, or so-called upscaling, the television sharpens the image quite noticeably, which leads to slight aliasing, for example, on the branches in the background, but it does not remove desirable details. Nevertheless, the overall appearance is really appealing and may be to the taste of most users. However, if we prefer a softer, more plastic image, this effect can be reduced in the settings by adjusting the sharpening level according to personal preferences.

The Samsung QN95D television handles tonal transitions even in lower quality materials, thanks to the noise reduction feature employed, which functions like a gentle gradation. This feature is extremely effective, smoothing out the image and eliminating unwanted noise while significantly improving the quality of the displayed material. However, as is often the case, too much effectiveness can lead to unintended side effects. In some materials, this feature may also blur elements that should remain sharp, such as film grain.

Despite this, the television performs well in the context of image scaling, eliminating larger jagged edges. In a scene where branches are visible, they are not excessively artificially sharpened, allowing for a natural appearance, and the model does not have an artificial outline. Overall, this means that even in more challenging conditions, the film material presents itself satisfactorily on the Samsung QN95D. The only downside when watching HD/SD content (such as regular terrestrial television) is the fact that we have a slightly cropped image – this is caused by the so-called overscan, which cannot be turned off.

The Sony BRAVIA 7 television with a 120 Hz display will satisfy most users in terms of motion smoothness. Additionally, Sony offers the Motion Flow feature, which allows for the selection of three different picture settings, tailoring them to individual preferences: Smoothness – Film: This setting enhances motion smoothness, giving the image a more cinematic or theatrical quality. Smoothness – Camera: This setting provides even greater smoothness, useful when watching dynamic scenes such as sports broadcasts. Clarity: This setting focuses on minimising noise and motion artifacts, resulting in a more stable and clear image.

The panel in Samsung QN95 performs very well in terms of motion blur and smoothness of movement. With a refresh rate of 120 Hz and features for reducing blur and judder, the picture settings can be customised to personal preferences, whether for watching films or for dynamic sports broadcasts. The user has the option to adjust the smoothness of the image on a 10-point scale – from a more frame-like appearance reminiscent of traditional film to a smooth, almost theatrical effect, which works particularly well for sports transmissions.

Sony Bravia 7 has significantly improved its capabilities for working with consoles compared to earlier models. The television supports variable refresh rate (VRR), which eliminates the tearing effect, and is compatible with graphics cards, ensuring smooth display. The auto low latency mode (ALLM) effectively reduces input lag, which is crucial in dynamic games. Dolby Vision with low latency additionally provides impressive HDR effects that look great during gameplay.

Sony Bravia 7 also offers a Game Bar feature, which allows quick access to settings and monitoring parameters while gaming. An interesting option is the ability to enable a virtual on-screen crosshair, which can provide a slight advantage in shooter games. Nevertheless, compared to the Bravia 9 model, the HGIG feature in the Bravia 7 does not perform as well, which may be noticeable for more demanding gamers – especially as the HGIG mode is becoming increasingly popular among players as the preferred method for reproducing HDR effects.

A drawback is the lack of support for 1440p@120 Hz resolution, which could make gaming easier for users with less powerful graphics cards. Furthermore, the Sony Bravia 7 is equipped with two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which is often used to connect an audio system via eARC, limiting the available connections for new generation consoles.

Samsung QN95D offers quite a few features that gamers will appreciate. First and foremost, the television supports variable refresh rate (VRR), which allows for smoother gameplay, eliminating issues with tearing, especially during dynamic scenes. We also find the auto low latency mode (ALLM) feature, which automatically switches the television to low latency mode when it detects a connected console or computer, ensuring more responsive controls.

Furthermore, the QN95D Samsung has a game mode that reduces input lag to a very low level, which is crucial in games where reflexes play an important role. With a high refresh rate of 120 Hz, the picture is exceptionally smooth, significantly enhancing the experience of fast-paced action games and sports productions. The television also supports G-Sync and FreeSync technologies, which further enhance gameplay smoothness and improve user comfort. An interesting addition is the 'Game Bar' – a special menu that provides quick access to all game-related settings, allowing easy adjustments of picture and parameters to suit user preferences without the need to interrupt gameplay.

Although the Samsung QN95D does not support Dolby Vision – which is quite obvious for Samsung televisions – it does offer the HGiG feature, which ensures appropriate picture quality in HDR games, in line with the creators' vision.

Sony BRAVIA 7 delivers exceptional results in terms of input lag, particularly with 120 Hz content, where the delay is around 11 ms – this is an excellent result that will satisfy even the most demanding gamers. The Dolby Vision mode also deserves recognition, as it is usually associated with higher input lag, but here it works really well, providing a comfortable gaming experience. However, we deducted 0.3 points for the results above 20 ms for 60 Hz content, although we believe that for most users, this difference is more of a placebo effect.

QN95D Samsung stands out with excellent input lag performance, achieving values below 15 ms. This is an impressive result that is not dependent on resolution or refresh rate. With such low latency, gamers can enjoy the TV's instant response to their commands, which is crucial in dynamic games. Whether we are playing 4K titles at 120 Hz or lower resolution games, the QN95D ensures exceptional gameplay smoothness and precise motion rendering. Such a level of responsiveness makes the TV an ideal choice for any avid gamer.

The Sony BRAVIA 7 TV performs well when working with a computer, providing clear and readable fonts. An input lag of 11 ms is also an excellent result that will satisfy users using the TV for gaming and work. However, it should be noted that in the case of grey letters, a slight fading of some pixels can be observed, which somewhat deteriorates the readability of darker fonts, for which we deducted a few points.

In the category of collaboration with a PC, the Samsung QN95D television stands out with its high performance, offering support for 4:4:4 chroma and impressively low input lag. Thanks to these features, users can enjoy fluidity and responsiveness, making it an ideal choice for office work or everyday applications. However, one noticeable issue is the poor visibility of horizontal lines on a dark background. In the test image on the right, it is evident that the letters resemble vertical lines, which can be somewhat frustrating. Nonetheless, the television generally offers good compatibility with a computer, and users can expect comfortable operation in their daily tasks.

The Sony BRAVIA 7 television has poor viewing angles, which is characteristic of VA matrices. The picture quickly loses quality when viewed from a greater angle – colours become washed out and contrast decreases. Considering the price of the device, it is a pity that a coating was not applied to extend the viewing angles, which would certainly improve the watching comfort from different spots in the room.

In the case of TVs with VA panels, one can usually expect limited viewing angles; however, QN95D Samsung surprises in this category. Thanks to the applied coating that widens viewing angles, the TV offers really good performance, which is rarely seen in devices with this type of panel. Although VA panels are usually not the best in this regard, in this model, the picture remains clear and vivid even when viewed from the side, making it an excellent choice for larger rooms and group watching.

BRAVIA 7 performs excellently when watching in bright environments. The satin coating effectively reduces reflections while simultaneously minimising the blurring of elements to the sides, resulting in very good visibility during the day. A brightness level of 1000 cd/m² in SDR mode is astonishing and ensures that the image remains sharp even in heavily lit rooms.

In the daytime performance category, QN95D Samsung, despite using a glossy panel, may struggle with highly visible reflections on the screen. As seen in the photo on the right, the lamp disperses to the left and right, which is a result of the anti-reflective coating used. However, overall this coating performs very well when the television displays any colours other than black, where reflections become more noticeable. It is worth noting that the television achieves very high brightness for SDR content, exceeding 650 nits, which provides comfortable viewing even in bright rooms.

Sony Bravia 7 runs on the Google TV system, which offers an intuitive and quick interface, allowing easy access to a multitude of applications. Google Assistant supports the Polish language, making the use of the television even more convenient and personalised. The interface is clear, and access to features and applications is quick and trouble-free. It is worth mentioning the remote control, which is charged via a USB-C port. Additionally, the remote is backlit, which significantly facilitates its use at night.

Sony Bravia 7 offers wide-ranging capabilities that will satisfy most users. The ability to record programmes and easily connect devices via Bluetooth are significant pluses. Unfortunately, it lacks the Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature, which could prove useful for watching two sources of video simultaneously.

XR70 stands out with its practical and elegant design. The television is equipped with a 4-position stand, allowing it to be adapted to various spaces and settings – this is particularly useful when we seek flexibility in interior arrangement. Additionally, the slim aluminium frame gives the device a modern and stylish appearance. Although it is not as slim as some competitive Korean models, it still looks very attractive and solid.

The Tizen system in Samsung televisions is characterised by simplicity and speed of operation. The central point of the interface is the "Smart Hub," which allows for quick access to the most important applications and recommended content, such as Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video. Tizen also supports the Multi View function, allowing for simultaneous viewing of several image sources. Integration with AirPlay enables easy content sharing from Apple devices, and there is voice control in Polish. Users can control the television, search for content, and perform other operations using voice commands, which significantly facilitates the daily use of the device. One of the most distinctive elements of Samsung QN95D is the included Slim Fit camera, which offers functionality that goes beyond the standards of other models currently on the market. Thanks to the applied "POGO" connector, the camera can be easily connected directly to the television. It allows for video calls and personal training functions using the camera. This innovative approach opens up new possibilities for users in terms of interaction with the television.

It is also worth mentioning the solar remote control, which is an eco-friendly solution—it does not require battery replacement as it charges using solar energy. This remote is also universal, allowing control of other devices, such as the Canal+ decoder, without the need for additional remotes. This is a significant convenience that enhances user comfort. Features dedicated to users of traditional television include picture-in-picture (PIP), allowing for the simultaneous viewing of two programmes. However, the lack of recording functionality may be a disappointment, as this could be a drawback for some users.

The built-in player handles most popular video and audio formats, allowing you to enjoy a wide range of content without any issues. Although there are slight shortcomings when playing photos, thanks to the Google TV system, you can easily install other applications that effectively solve this problem and expand the multimedia capabilities of the television.

The built-in player in the Samsung QN95D television is undoubtedly one of its stronger points. It handles almost all video and audio file formats that we tested exceptionally well. The exception is the lack of support for Dolby Vision, which aligns with Samsung's policy, and less popular codecs. A significant advantage is the support for Polish characters in subtitles and the ability to customise font colours, which greatly improves the comfort of watching content with subtitles. A downside may be the limited support for photo formats – the television mainly supports JPEG, and there is a lack of support for more advanced formats such as PNG or Apple HEIC.

Although the Sony Bravia 7 television is equipped with only a 2-channel speaker system (2.0), there are two speakers per channel with a total power of 40 W. As a result, the sound quality is really good, and the bass is noticeable, making watching movies and listening to music more enjoyable.

The sound in Samsung QN95D is at a very good level thanks to the 4.2.2 system with a power of 70W. It provides clear, crisp audio, and the bass is well-balanced, which works well both for watching films and gaming. The support for Dolby Atmos adds a spatial effect, allowing for a fuller audio experience. However, there is a lack of support for DTS, which is a typical feature for Samsung TVs, but it may be a downside for those attached to that format. Overall, the sound performs very well and should meet the needs of most users.

Sony Bravia 7 (XR70) vs Samsung Neo QLED QN95D

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound