Bravia, you beauty!

Sony's regular OLED TVs now face competition from the brand's own Quantum Dot-enhanced models. But that doesn't stop John Archer enjoying the 55A84K

- John Archer

EXPLAINING WHERE THE 55A84K fits into Sony's current TV scheme of things is no easy task. First we need to clear up that it's a traditional 'White OLED' (WOLED) design, with white sub-pixel, not a new Quantum Dot OLED set. This should mean that its pictures are (probably) not as bright or richly coloured as Sony's A95K QD OLED (HCC #337) - although at £1,299, the 55in model tested here is a great deal more affordable than its same-sized A95K sibling.

AV INFO 

PRODUCT: 4K HDR OLED TV with EX panel 

POSITION: The best specified WOLED TV in Sony's current lineup, below its new A95K QD OLED

PEERS: LG OLED55C2; Philips 550LED937, Panasonic TX-55LZ1500

More confusingly, we also have to explain how the 55A84K relates to the A90K and A80K OLED ranges that flank it. You'd think the A90K designation would indicate that those models were more high-end. That's not actually true, though; Sony saves the A90K designation for its smaller, 42in and 48in OLED TVs, with the only differences beyond their size being that a) the A90Ks use centrally mounted stands while the A84Ks have dual multi-position feet, and b) the A90Ks drive their Acoustic Surface Audio + systems with two actuators and one subwoofer outputting 25W, while the A84Ks use three actuators and two subwoofers for a total output of 50W. In other words, despite their 'lower' model number, the 55A84K lineup is actually better specified.

As for differences over the A80K TV, the 55A84K is exclusively available from Currys and comes with a slicker metal remote. Buyers also receive 10 free premium movie releases and 24 months of unlimited streaming from Sony's Bravia Core service, instead of the five movies and 12 months of streaming bundled with the A80K.

Caught on camera