Sony KD55X80K 55 inch TV: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

The Sony X80K is a mid-range 4K LED TV that was released in early 2022. This review will focus specifically on the 55-inch Sony KD55X80K model in the X80K series.

The X80K line sits below Sony's high-end OLED and QLED TVs, but still delivers good overall performance and features for the price. The 55X80K model offers a nice balance of picture quality, smart capabilities, and connectivity in an affordable 4K package. Key specs of the 55-inch X80K include a 3840 x 2160 4K resolution panel, Sony's 4K HDR Processor X1 for upscaling and image processing, and support for HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range formats.

This TV utilizes a standard 60Hz refresh rate rather than 120Hz, and lacks more advanced features like local dimming. But the X80K still provides Sony's well-regarded 4K picture and motion processing for smooth, detailed images. As an entry-level Sony 4K LED model, the 55X80K aims to deliver good value and performance without all the extras of the premium lines.

Design

The Sony KD55X80K has an attractive, minimalist design that will blend into any living room decor. This 55-inch TV features an ultra-slim profile and thin bezels around the display for a streamlined look.

The bezels are quite slim, just 0.39 inches thick on the sides and top. This helps keep the focus on the large 55-inch screen and provides a more immersive viewing experience without thick black borders around the image. The slim dimensions also allow the TV to mount flush to the wall with a wall mount.

The rear of the TV has a nice brushed metal finish with only a small Sony logo along the bottom - there is no overt branding. The stand the TV sits on is metal with angled legs spaced wide apart for stability. The stand enhances the high-end aesthetic.

At just 2.09 inches thick, this TV has an extremely thin depth. Even from the side view, the profile is svelte and compact. Overall, the minimalist design with thin bezels and a slim form is perfect for a simple, refined look.

While the Sony KD55X80K has a sleek, minimalist design, the SAMSUNG UN55TU8300FXZA is another 55-inch 4K TV option with an attractive, slim build. It has a 0.3 inch thin profile and super slim bezels for a nearly all-screen look. The stand has an artful Serif-like design with two legs on the outer edges. This stand provides stability while complementing the TV's slim form factor. At just 2.2 inches deep, the Samsung TU8300 is comparably slim to the Sony model. With seamless edges and a small footprint, this TV can blend into room decor seamlessly. While both the Sony and Samsung models have excellent minimalist designs with slim bezels and profiles, the Samsung may appeal more to those wanting a statement stand design versus Sony's traditional two-footed stand.

In summary, the Sony KD55X80K 55-inch 4K TV has an attractive minimalist aesthetic with an ultra-slim form factor. The thin bezels and compact depth allow it to mount flush to a wall or sit elegantly on its sleek stand. For those wanting a similar slim design but with a unique artistic stand, the SAMSUNG UN55TU8300FXZA offers a great alternative option.

Picture Quality

The Sony KD55X80K offers excellent picture quality for a mid-range 4K TV. It has a 55-inch 4K Ultra HD LCD panel with 3840 x 2160 resolution, providing four times the detail of 1080p Full HD. The 4K resolution results in a sharper, more detailed image that reveals fine textures and subtle gradations in colors.

For high dynamic range (HDR) content, the X80K supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision formats. This allows it to take full advantage of HDR's expanded brightness, contrast and wider color gamut. HDR content looks more natural and true-to-life, with highlights that sparkle and shadows that reveal more detail. The X80K can't get as bright as premium Sony TVs, but its HDR performance is very good for the price.

Overall, the picture quality is vibrant and accurate straight out of the box. The 4K resolution and HDR support result in an excellent viewing experience whether you're streaming movies, watching sports or gaming.

The SAMSUNG QN55Q70C is another great 55-inch 4K TV option worth considering. It features Samsung's advanced QLED technology for brighter colors and deeper blacks. The Quantum Processor 4K provides powerful upscaling for non-4K content. Gaming performance is excellent with support for 120Hz refresh rate and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). The smart TV platform is fast and intuitive, with built-in support for Alexa, Google Assistant and Bixby voice assistants. With sleek, modern styling, the QN55Q70C is an attractive 4K TV that delivers superb picture quality.

When choosing between the Sony X80K and Samsung Q70C, the main differences come down to the display technology and smart features. The Sony uses a traditional LCD panel while the Samsung has QLED technology. QLED typically provides better brightness, contrast and viewing angles. However, the X80K is no slouch in picture quality for its price point. For smart features, the Samsung has more advanced voice control abilities and an overall faster, smoother smart TV system. But Sony's Android TV platform also provides broad app support and Google Cast integration.

Overall, the X80K and Q70C are both excellent mid-range options. The Sony provides great 4K picture and HDR performance at a very affordable price point. But the Samsung adds more premium Quantum Dot display tech along with superior gaming specs. For buyers who want better smart features and connectivity, the Q70C is likely the better overall value despite costing a bit more.

Sound

The X80K has decent sound quality for a mid-range TV thanks to its 20W audio output through 2 downward-firing speakers. The speakers can get reasonably loud without too much distortion.

While the sound is good enough for everyday TV watching, it lacks the fullness and clarity of higher-end TVs. The speakers don't produce very deep bass, and the audio can sound slightly muffled at high volumes. The TV also lacks more advanced audio features like Dolby Atmos support.

Overall, the sound quality is decent for casual viewing and complements the strong picture performance of the X80K. But for a truly immersive home theater experience, connecting the TV to a soundbar or speaker system is recommended, especially for movie watching and gaming. The TV has an optical audio output to easily connect external speakers.

Smart Features

The Sony KD55X80K comes with Google's smart TV platform, Google TV. This provides easy access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and more.

Google TV offers personalized recommendations based on your viewing history and preferences. Its "For You" tab shows TV shows and movies you'll likely enjoy from across different services.

Voice controls are built-in through Google Assistant. You can search for content, get recommendations, and control TV functions completely hands-free. Say "Ok Google" into the remote to activate voice commands. Ask it to launch apps, adjust volume, switch inputs, control playback and more.

Google Assistant also provides smart home control capabilities. You can use voice commands to control compatible smart home devices like lights, thermostats, security cameras and more. This allows you to turn off the lights or check security cameras without picking up your phone.

Overall, the Sony KD55X80K's Google TV interface and voice control features provide a smooth, personalized smart TV experience.

Ports

The Sony KD55X80K has a good selection of ports, including:

• 4 x HDMI - The 4 HDMI ports allow you to connect 4 HDMI devices like Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, streaming devices etc. The HDMI ports support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, HDCP 2.3, eARC, and 4K 120Hz passthrough.

• 2 x USB - The 2 USB ports allow you to connect USB devices like hard drives to play media files. One of the ports also supports USB recording to record TV programs onto a USB drive.

• 1 x Composite Video Input - Lets you connect older composite video devices like VCRs.

• 1 x RF Connector - An RF coaxial connector lets you connect an antenna for accessing over-the-air channels.

• 1 x Ethernet - For connecting directly to your home network and accessing smart features.

• 1 x Digital Audio Output (Optical) - Optical out port to connect a sound system.

• 1 x 3.5mm Audio Out - For connecting headphones or analog speakers.

The ports selection covers most connectivity needs and allows you to connect multiple devices at once. The HDMI 2.1 support ensures compatibility with latest gaming consoles and Blu-ray players. Overall the ports provide good future-proofing for the TV.

Remote

The Sony KD55X80K comes with a simple and easy-to-use remote control. It has a clean design with large, easy-to-read buttons for core functions like power, volume, channel change, input selection, and quick access buttons for popular streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube.

The dedicated app buttons allow you to launch streaming apps quickly without having to navigate through menus. This makes it easy to switch between live TV and your favorite streaming content. The remote fits nicely in your hand and the buttons have a tactile feel when pressed.

Overall, the remote is intuitive and simple to use, even for those who aren't as tech-savvy. The dedicated app buttons and core controls are handy for everyday TV watching.

Pros

• With its premium Google TV smart features, XR image processing, and 4K resolution, the Sony X80K gives you a lot of bang for your buck. The exceptional picture quality and smart streaming in a reasonable package make it a solid choice in the mid-range market.

• The X80K produces stunning colors and deep blacks thanks to Sony's XR cognitive intelligence. It upscales HD/FHD content close to 4K quality. You'll enjoy sharp clarity and vivid images whether you're watching movies, sports, or gaming.

• The minimalist design looks great in any living room. The thin bezels and two-way stand offer flexibility, allowing you to place it on a credenza or mount it on the wall. Weighing just 38.9 pounds, it's relatively lightweight for a 55" model.

• Google TV offers a wealth of apps, streaming services, Google Cast capabilities, and smart home controls. The hands-free voice search makes it easy to find content across multiple platforms. Customizable profiles allow each user to curate their own watchlist and recommendations.

Cons

• The Sony KD55X80K only has 2 HDMI ports, which may be limiting for some users who want to connect multiple devices. Many competitors offer 3 or 4 HDMI ports.

• The refresh rate is 60Hz, which is decent but not as fast as some higher-end 4K TVs that offer 120Hz refresh rates. For fast motion like sports and gaming, a higher refresh rate can help reduce motion blur. So the 60Hz may not be ideal for users looking for the smoothest fast motion performance.

Conclusion

The Sony X80K is a solid mid-range 4K TV, and a great option for most content viewing and casual gaming. It delivers vibrant and accurate colors with good contrast and decent HDR performance. The X80K also has low input lag, making it very responsive for gaming. While the sound quality and smart features are fairly basic, it has all the necessary ports for connecting media devices. The remote is simple and functional too. So for buyers looking for an affordable 4K TV with good picture performance, the X80K ticks all the right boxes. It may lack more premium features like local dimming and Dolby Vision support, but for the price it's an excellent value. Casual viewers and gamers will be very satisfied with the beautiful 4K images and snappy responsiveness the X80K provides.