Sony Bravia A1 OLED TV. (Image source: Sony.)
It’s no longer a rumor: Sony has officially announced its first big-screen Bravia 4K OLED TV at CES 2017.
Called the XBR-A1E (or simply A1 in Singapore), this 4K TV also supports Dolby Vision, a HDR standard that up till now is found mostly on LG and Vizio TVs. Sony didn’t say where it sources the A1’s OLED panels from, but I won’t be surprised if they’re from LG, who is the only one currently capable of making large-size OLED panels in volume.
Available in 77, 65, and 55-inch screen sizes, the A1’s also equipped with an Acoustic Surface technology, which means it generates sound not from conventional speakers at the sides but by vibrating the whole screen itself. Coupled with a stand-less form factor (when you’re looking from the front), Sony claims the A1 is a “perfect unification of picture and sound that conventional TVs cannot deliver.”
Other features of the A1 include an 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme that’s capable of object-based HDR remastering, Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR, and dual-database processing; 4K X-Reality Pro that draws from a reality creation database to enhance the content; and Triluminos Display tech for color enhancement.
Like last year’s Bravias, the A1 runs Android TV, which easily brings movies, TV shows, and thousands of apps into the home. It’s compatible with Google Home too, so users can voice-control the TV and ask it to perform commands via the device. Android TV also provides access to PlayStation Vue, a live TV streaming service of premium content, including sports, news and more, with no annual contract, as well as Ultra, a 4K HDR streaming service.
You won't see any speakers (because there aren't any) or what props up the TV from the front.
X94E and X93E 4K LCD TVs
Also announced are the X940E (X94E) and X930E (X93E), which are 4K HDR LED-LCD TVs and successors to last year’s X94D and X93D. Like the A1, the X94E (75-inch) and X93E (65 and 55-inch) support Dolby Vision, are equipped with the X1 Extreme processor, and are powered by Android TV. Chrome Cast functionality is also built into them, so you can easily send content from your smartphone or tablet to the TVs.
The X93E comes in 55 and 65-inch screen sizes.
To break it down further, the X93E features Slim Backlight Drive+ with a unique quad-edge LED structure, to allow precise local dimming control in an ultra-slim design. The X94E on the other hand uses a full-array direct LED backlight system. Furthermore, X-tended Dynamic Range Pro is used to enhance HDR and non-HDR content by boosting and dimming the backlight levels precisely for each zone of the screen with a unique backlighting algorithm. Design-wise, the new TVs are designed to flush against the wall when wall-mounted, and have cable management provisions for an uncluttered table top mount.
Other newly announced 4K TVs that are coming our way include the X90E and X85E/X80E series. There are also new 1080p models under the W75E, W66E/W61E, and R45E series.
Pricing and availability details of Sony’s 2017 4K TVs aren’t available at this moment.
Source: Sony.
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