The Sony Bravia 5 sits right in the middle of Sony’s 2025 lineup between the flagship Bravia 7 (review) and the more accessible Bravia 3 (review). It’s built for those who crave near-flagship picture quality and cinematic accuracy without the sky-high price tag of an OLED TV. The Bravia 5 delivers a blend of brightness, realism, and colour finesse that’s distinctly Sony and I feel it is the most complete Mini LED TV Sony has made in a long time, here’s why.
Sony Bravia 5 Mini LED TV Specifications
Model: XR-55A / XR-65A / XR-75A / XR-85A / XR-98A
Display: 4K Mini LED with XR Backlight MasterDrive, XR Triluminos Pro
Panel Type: VA LCD
Refresh Rate: Native 120Hz / 100Hz
HDR Formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG, IMAX Enhanced
Processor: Cognitive Processor XR
Speakers: 2.1ch – 50W (55”, 65”), 56W (77”)
Audio Features: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Acoustic Multi-Audio, Acoustic Center Sync
Operating System: Google TV (Android 12)
Smart Features: Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Alexa & Google Assistant support
Gaming Features: HDMI 2.1 (4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, eARC), Game Menu 2, PS Remote Play, Dolby Vision for Gaming
Other Features: Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, Prime Video Calibrated Mode, SONY PICTURES CORE, BRAVIA Cam support
Price (India): 1,33,660 (55-inch)
Sony Bravia 5 Mini LED TV Review: Display and Picture Quality
The Bravia 5 uses Sony’s XR Backlight MasterDrive Mini LED system, which finely controls thousands of LEDs for stunning luminance consistency and contrast control. In our Calman tests, the Bravia 5 reached 913 nits at a 25% window and 710 nits at 10%, with deep blacks measured at just 0.22 nits and a native contrast ratio of 3229:1. This gives the Bravia 5 an extraordinary dynamic range with preserved shadow detail and minimal blooming.
In HDR mode, the panel achieved 95.85% UHDA-P3 coverage, alongside 77.28% BT.2020 coverage which is comfortably within the premium performance range. The XR Triluminos Pro engine produces rich, natural tones, especially in skin textures and shadows, while XR Clear Image enhances texture in upscaled content.
Color accuracy is another strong suit and show just how well-calibrated the TV is out of the box. Our HDR ColorChecker test recorded an average DeltaE of 2.8 and a maximum of 5.8, indicating reference-grade precision. The grayscale tracking graph showed a tight RGB balance with minimal deviations and Sony’s EOTF curve nearly mirrored the PQ target line which is a testament to how well Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR manages tone mapping.
In daily use, HDR content looks phenomenal on the Bravia 5. The viewing experience feels cinematic without needing manual tweaking. Details in low-light scenes are exceptional, and you get the kind of clarity where you can distinguish subtle background gradations in The Revenant’s bonfire sequence or the desert sequence in Rings of Power. In mixed-brightness scenes, the panel demonstrates remarkable balance with bright reflections and darker regions coexisting beautifully without colour shift or crushed blacks.
Sony’s local dimming algorithms deserve particular credit. There’s virtually no visible blooming or haloing around subtitles or text, even during high-contrast transitions. The TV also preserves dark skin tone details in bright scenes, something most Mini LEDs struggle with.
Judder control is also impressive. Motion feels fluid, with almost no visible judder, even in challenging pan shots like the opening of The Martian or the tracking sequences in Severance. You’ll only notice it if you go looking for it.
SDR and Calibration Accuracy
Switching to SDR, the Bravia 5 maintains its accuracy-first DNA. In Professional Mode, the TV recorded an average DeltaE of 1.8 (maximum 4.5), which is well below the visible error threshold. Grayscale tracking was impressive too, with an average DeltaE of 1.6, a colour temperature of 6568K (almost perfectly aligned with D65), and a gamma average of 2.08.
This accuracy translates beautifully to everyday viewing. SDR content looks neutral and natural where whites appear clean, skin tones warm yet accurate, and contrast remains balanced even in challenging ambient light.
Upscaling through XR Clear Image deserves a nod here. Older HD and SDR content scales cleanly to 4K, with minimal noise and preserved texture, whether it’s broadcast sports or legacy films and TV shows.
HDR Performance and Creator Modes
The Bravia 5 supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG, and IMAX Enhanced, and it takes full advantage of these formats. Its calibrated modes, particularly the Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode and Prime Video Calibrated Mode automatically optimise brightness and tone mapping based on ambient light, ensuring a faithful rendition of the creator’s intent even in non-ideal room conditions.
HDR performance is consistently cinematic. Bright HDR sequences like daylight exteriors retain vibrancy and specular highlights without clipping, while low-light HDR scenes maintain structure and tone separation. In mixed-APL scenes, the Bravia 5 handles both bright and shadowed areas beautifully, preserving the shimmer of light sources and the texture of darker zones simultaneously and maintains depth and detail without visible crushing. It’s a masterclass in tonal balance.
Sony Bravia 5 Mini LED TV Review: Audio and Sound Performance
Sony continues to excel in sound. The Acoustic Multi-Audio system features sound-positioning tweeters and down-firing full-range drivers, complemented by a subwoofer for fuller bass. Total output sits at 50W (2.1ch), and thanks to AI Sound Separation technology, dialogue clarity remains strong even in busy scenes.
Pair the TV with a compatible Sony soundbar, and you can enable Acoustic Center Sync, which turns the TV into a functional centre channel. The experience is immersive and the sound feels like it’s coming directly from the screen, not below it. Support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X adds further spatial depth, especially during high-action or orchestral sequences.
Sony Bravia 5 Mini LED TV Review: Gaming Performance
Gamers are well-catered to here. The Bravia 5 offers HDMI 2.1 features such as VRR, ALLM, 4K 120Hz, and eARC, along with Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode for PS5 users. The new Game Menu 2 lets you adjust Black Equaliser, Crosshair, and Screen Size mid-session, without leaving your game.
Motion clarity remains excellent with minimal latency and zero tearing. Fast-paced titles like Spider-Man 2 or Ghost of Tsushima feel responsive and fluid, making this one of the most gaming-capable TVs in Sony’s lineup.
Sony Bravia 5 Mini LED TV Review: Software and Smart Experience
The Bravia 5 runs Google TV and offers one of the most polished smart experiences around. The interface is fluid, intuitive, and neatly organised into content tabs. The interface is snappy and personalised, with tabs for recommendations and watchlists. Google Kids Mode offers robust parental controls, while BRAVIA Cam support adds gesture controls, proximity alerts, and auto power-saving features.
Video calling through Google Meet or Zoom is also supported (via the optional Bravia Cam), and a physical camera shutter ensures privacy. Eco-conscious users will appreciate Sony’s Eco Dashboard, which consolidates all power-saving settings in one place. The remote is also built from recycled materials and feels durable and premium.
Sony Bravia 5 Mini LED TV Review: Design and Build Quality
The Bravia 5 features Sony’s “One Slate” design philosophy. The aluminium chassis with diamond-cut edges and a two-way adjustable stand that looks refined and minimal. The bezels are nearly invisible, and whether wall-mounted or on a table, the TV looks elegant and understated. Sony also bundles free installation and choice of wall mount or tabletop stand, which adds to its premium experience.
Despite its slim form, the build quality is excellent, and the TV feels sturdy. Cable management is tidy, and even the 85-inch and 98-inch variants maintain structural integrity without panel flex. The design complements high-end interiors just as well as it fits modern living rooms.
Verdict
The Sony Bravia 5 is an all-rounder that brings the best of Sony’s TV engineering and blurs the line between flagship and mid-range. You get precise colour reproduction, superb brightness control and intelligent tone mapping wrapped in a sleek design.
Its ability to retain details in low-light scenes, suppress blooming, and handle mixed-brightness frames puts it among the most refined TVs in its segment. Motion handling is excellent, colour accuracy is reference-grade, and Sony’s intelligent processing ensures that every frame feels deliberate and cinematic.
If you’re after a TV that can do justice to movies, games, and daily streaming alike, the Bravia 5 is the sweet spot for most premium buyers. It’s bright enough for Indian homes, tuned for purists, and it’s a reminder of why Sony still leads when it comes to making TVs that feel alive.
Sony Bravia 5 XR55 55 inch Ultra HD 4K Smart Mini LED TV (K-55XR55A) Key Specs, Price and Launch Date
| Release Date: | |
| Market Status: | Launched |
Key Specifications
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Siddharth Chauhan
Siddharth reports on gadgets, technology and you will occasionally find him testing the latest smartphones at Digit. However, his love affair with tech and futurism extends way beyond, at the intersection of technology and culture. View Full Profile
