Both Sony and Samsung are undoubtedly the top TV brands highly trusted by the public. And while their selections often come with premium technologies and great picture quality, differentiating Sony vs. Samsung TV isn’t as simple as you think. Fortunately, our experts are here to test each of their offerings to save you from another TV shopping disaster.
Sony or Samsung?
Track Record and Origins
Believe it or not, Sony TVs weren’t the initial offering of this Japanese tech giant when they founded the company in 1946. While it’s true that this popular TV brand was already set to create their first televisions, they didn’t introduce them to the world until 1959.
On the other hand, Samsung TVs are from South Korea and only entered the electronics scene in 1969. Approximately a year later, they decided to ship premium-quality televisions worldwide that we all come to love and trust.
To this day, both brands are tagged as reliable manufacturers by leading digital publisher companies for releasing the best TVs and other home electronic products every year. Despite the similarity in track records and industry experience, Sony is more known today for its OLED screens, while Samsung has its QLED smart TVs.
Comparing Sony and Samsung TVs
Sony and Samsung: Up to $300
Smart TV
- Motion Clarity: Motionflow XR 240
- Refined Picture Quality
- Enhanced Built-in Audio
- Smart Compatibility: Wi-Fi
- Cable Management
Smart LED TV
- SmartHub User Interface
- HD Picture Quality
- Ultra Clean View
- Natural Color Contrast
- Motion Rate: 60 Hz
Size and Design
Considering that we’re looking for Samsung and Sony TV options under $300, our team wasn’t too surprised to find ones with smaller displays. Their 32-inch screen size will most definitely suit smaller spaces, and both looked pretty standard in design.
The Sony Television option in this list has a very sturdy built-in stand compared to its Samsung alternative. While it’s a bit bulky and has a larger footprint, KDL32W600D didn’t wobble as much as UN32M4500A during the testing.
Their wall mount compatibility is pretty much the same as well. Upon setting these selections up, we noticed that both smart TVs tend to stick out when mounted due to their thick construction. Despite that, this Sony TV unit is still better in design as it has appropriate cable management and thinner borders.
Image Quality and Technology
In this Sony vs. Samsung TV roundup, we ensured that our main priority was the TV’s image quality. Although Sony wins in terms of construction, Samsung undoubtedly delivers higher image quality for its richer and lifelike color contrast.
Amid content viewing evaluations, our testers noticed a slight difference between the two when placed in wider rooms. Apparently, this Sony TV unit has relatively better viewing capacities than other TVs operating with LED technology in this price range.
On the other hand, Sony TVs under $300 noticeably have a very limited content interface compared to its competition. While it’s not the best TV out there, Samsung UN32M4500A has a reliable Tizen OS where you can find a wide range of apps and multimedia without any hassle.
Connectivity Options
Your smart TV’s connectivity options determine how much access you can have with multiple devices and other on-demand apps [1]. Lucky for you, both Samsung and Sony models include HDMI and USB inputs for wired connections like sound bars.
In addition to that, these TV selections have Wi-Fi connectivity that makes integration with smart devices even easier.
Despite the sturdier construction and better viewing angle, Samsung TVs in this price range take the crown for their more accessible content interface. They also provide better image quality and reliable connectivity options that blend well with other smart home devices.
Sony and Samsung: Up to $500-$800
Android TV
- Dolby Vision HDR
- Android TV User Interface
- Ultra HD Picture Resolution
- Acoustic Surface Audio
- Built-in Google Assistant
QLED TV
- 4K Ultra HD TV Resolution
- High Dynamic Range
- Multiple Voice Commands
- Smart Remote Control
- Object Tracking Sound Lite
Design and Size
Although these smart TV options fall in the same price category, Sony X80J certainly has a wider display with 55 inches screen size. Upon closer inspection, our resident cinephiles noted that Samsung has a sleeker design that easily blends with any living room interior.
Image and Sound Quality
To properly evaluate TV sound quality, our testers put Sony Acoustic Surface Audio and Samsung Object tracking Sound in a comparison test. Even though both audio technologies enabled an immersive viewing experience, it’s evident that X80J provided a more balanced sound profile.
Putting Samsung’s VA panel technology into consideration, it was not a surprise that it has a better contrast ratio than Sony’s IPS configuration. However, the latter boasts a wider viewing angle that allows our team to watch undistorted multimedia content at any corner of the room.
It also has Dolby Vision support, so it enhances vivid HDR scenes quite smoothly.
(To understand more the different TV displays, you can also check how we compare HDX and UHD TVs here)
Smart Features and Connectivity Options
The battle between Samsung vs. Sony smart TV platforms are quite intense because both options offer diverse content selections. Whether you’d like to watch movies from Amazon Prime Video or HBO Max, both televisions will pretty much have what you’re looking for.
You may not know it, but these TVs can be navigated through a dedicated TV control app as well. Both also have compatibility to voice control speakers, which our team highly recommends if you have other smart devices at home.
During the full functionality testing, the smoothness and responsiveness of its smart interface verdict Sony as the better TV option. Besides that, this TV unit also has more HDMI and USB inputs than its competition.
While it doesn’t have the sleek design of other options in this Samsung vs. Sony TV comparison, we noticed that its strength focuses more on crucial features. With a smoother content interface and Dolby Vision support, we’re confident that this TV will elevate your home theater experience.
Sony and Samsung: Up to $1000+
OLED TV
- OLED Technology
- Acoustic Surface Audio
- Android OS
- Google Assistant Built-in
- Dolby Vision & IMAX
4K TV
- Ultra Viewing Angle Technology
- Amazon Alexa Built-in
- Smart TV features
- Local Dimming
- VRR Support
Size and Design
As you may have already noticed, Sony’s OLED screen TVs have smaller display sizes despite being in the same price range as Samsung TVs. Being the brand’s front-runner, the exceptionally thin bezels of these OLED TVs didn’t come as much of a surprise to our testers.
In comparison, Samsung’s QLED TV option comes in the same modern vibe. You wouldn’t notice it much, but XBR55A8 is a bit thinner than QN65Q80AAFXZA. But regardless of that, both would work well in any setup.
Image Quality and Operating System
When it comes to image quality, OLED displays will always reign supreme. This premium TV has an organic light-emitting diode, and its own light is enough to turn off pixels. Although Samsung QN65Q80AAFXZA delivers greater brightness, it lacks precise color processing when viewed in a dark environment.
Both operating systems provide great app and content selections as well. However, our testers deemed that Sony’s interface runs more seamlessly than its alternative after navigating its system.
Smart Features and Connectivity Options
Both TVs under this price range are often recommended by international media group companies, so it’s expected that they have the smartest functions. Their easy access to application stores also proved that these selections are worth adding to any modern home theater setup.
The advantage of these brands over their competitors is their wide-range connectivity options. With these advanced features, users can easily integrate wired and wireless devices into its system. When it comes to wired ports, both have similar specifications.
Additional Features
Given that these are premium quality TVs, our testers had a great time combing through all their additional features. We especially liked the HDR gaming touch of Sony’s OLED television.
Obviously, the manufacturers had gaming console compatibility in mind as it’s packed with responsive configurations. Besides that, it features IMAX enhanced technology that brings immersive harmony between the TV’s sound and image processing.
On the other hand, Samsung’s Adaptive Picture mode is truly a feature to die for when shopping for TVs. During the test, this feature automatically matches the brightness and contrast of the screen according to the content we’re watching. It also has an auto-optimized sound that blends with your room’s acoustics.
Delightfully enough, both TV selections also work with different voice command speakers now popular in the market. Whether you want to listen to Amazon Alexa Music or ask Google what’s the weather like, you’ll get what you want in a snap.
There’s no doubt that both televisions deserve the commendation they’re getting from customers and experts alike. However, Sony’s OLED model emerged as victor for its modern design, a much thinner construction, and precise image processing that enhances viewing experiences.
(Having issues with your Sony TV? Here’s how you can troubleshoot common Sony TV problems properly)
Overall Winner: Sony
This Sony vs. Samsung TV product roundup was a tough comparison from the get-go, given that both top-tier brands have extensive selections and industry experience. However, Sony’s line of television in every price range showcases a much more diverse smart function. It also delivers reliable interfaces and advanced technologies that will surely suit any modern home.
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