Sony’s Bravia A1 series of stunning OLED TVs is available in Australia today in 55- and 65-inch models. The new models look likely to become the new gold standard in Android TV with premium, high-end features and design.
At a launch event in Sydney last night, we got the chance to go face to face with Sony’s new premium TV’s. They combine the viewing quality of an OLED display with a bold design and advancements in sound technology.
As you’d expect from an OLED display, picture quality is amazing. Blacks are absolutely black, colours are bright and vivid and you can absolutely combine the two in the same frame. Sony put some of us in a dark demo room with TVs mounted on the walls around us; with the lights off and TV’s powered on you couldn’t see a thing.
With Android TV running the show, the A1 series also represents the pinnacle of Android-powered Smart TVs, w with Sony throwing focus on individual features rather than the OS itself. That means voice control and the built-in Chromecast functionality are front and center.
Design-wise, the unit is a looker. It doesn’t look like other TV’s on the market at the moment because there’s no “feet” on it – the display sits flush with the surface on which its placed, and there’s almost no bezel. Instead, there’s a support at the rear of the TV on which it leans. It creates a look that’s quite unlike the TV as we know it – the A1 is simply all-screen.
As Sony’s representatives were keen to point out, this is perhaps the first Sony product that doesn’t have the “Sony” wordmark emblazoned in the front. There’s a simple reason for this, though – there’s no space. The front of the TV consists of the display, the frame (& a small power indicator light bottom center), and nothing more.
There’s no speakers in the frame, because the TV doesn’t need them. Sound is emitted from the screen itself through a system Sony has dubbed “Acoustic Surface” technology. It’s clear and loud, with stereo separation as wide as the screen itself.
Finally, behind the scenes, there’s a “big brain” watching the picture. Sony’s X1 Extreme processor analyses what’s on screen and upconverts, upscales and enhances the picture to ensure the best quality.
The A1 series wowed the tech media at CES, with some pundits claiming it’s the most beautiful TV ever made. Now it’s Australia’s turn to be impressed. The TVs are in store from today, with RRPs of $4999 and $7499 for the 55- and 65-inch models, respectively.
Are you in the market for a new Android TV? Will you be considering the A1 series? Tell us in the comments!
According to the specs the 65″ typical power draw is 470watts, by comparison my 60″ LED Bravia only draws 175w
Wow when does this sound from behind the screen come to phones
Looks great… all the manufacturers top end units are well designed/”works of art”.
i know viewing angles are not really much of an issue these days (only at the extremes) but can this unit sit bolt upright or does it have to have a slight upward angle to it.
Just seems that this angle would give more annoyance from say overhead lights reflecting or obscuring view.
It will look the part on a low profile entertainment unit
If it’s sitting on an entertainment unit it has to be placed on a slight slant.
the only way you can watch it flat is mounted on a wall
I bought an LG OLED and a Shield TV because I was hearing that Sony’s implementation of Android TV was often buggy or laggy. I hope they’ve got that sorted now because the A1 is a gorgeous looking TV.