When it comes to Android TV we have little new to report. After several software updates, the operating system is more stable than when we reviewing last year’s TV, and Sony has added missing features such as recording but besides that it is basically the same. Sony has even chosen to use the same hardware in the 2016 TVs so all improvements come from software optimization. The best part about Android TV is probably that it has full Google Cast support baked in. Android TV is still not what we had hoped for.
In more ways than not XD93 (X93D) resemble last year’s X85C or w800C. It is not very similar to last year’s X93C that it on paper replaces. This has to do with Sony’s choice of panel but also because Sony has chosen to remove the big elephant ear speakers. However, XD93 also offers some neat hardware upgrades over X85C in the form of semi local dimming. The introduction price is almost on par with last year’s X85C.
The most obvious improvement that XD93 brings to the table is HDR support. Besides that Sony has managed to eliminate the bright edges that we saw on last year’s X85C. On the other hand, clouding is back, which is not surprising given Sony’s choice of edge LED. The adaptive backlight control will to some extent eliminate these issues and it is required for reproducing HDR content but it is not a perfect solution, and it struggles with subtitles.
On the feature side XD93 has a thinner profile but significantly worse speakers. It also has a new remote, which - in our eyes - is another step back from an already poor remote.
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