Yes, historically Sony has sourced its OLED panels from LG Display, meaning many Sony OLED TVs use the same core screen technology as LG's own OLED TVs, but Sony adds its own advanced picture processing (like the Cognitive Processor XR) and audio tuning, while some high-end Sony models (like the A95K/L) now use Samsung's QD-OLED panels instead. So, while the panel might be LG-made, the overall TV experience is uniquely Sony, with exceptions for Samsung's QD-OLED.
Sony employs two main types of OLED panels in its televisions: LG Display's White OLED (WOLED) panels and Samsung Display's Quantum Dot OLED (QD-OLED) panels. Most mid-tier Sony OLED TVs use LG's WOLED panels, which rely on white OLED sub-pixels with color filters.
Our Verdict
The LG C5 OLED is better than the Sony BRAVIA 8 OLED. The LG is brighter in SDR, making it better suited for a bright room. The LG is also brighter in HDR and it's the more accurate TV, so it provides a more impactful HDR experience that stays closer to the filmmaker's intent.
BRAVIA televisions and their components are manufactured in Sony's plants in Mexico, Japan, and Slovakia for their respective regions and are assembled from imported parts in Brazil, Spain, China, Malaysia, and Ecuador.
The machines that apply these materials can operate continuously for 5–6 days, and can process a mother substrate in 5 minutes. OLED displays are mainly made by Samsung Display and LG Display.
The Sony Bravia 8 II OLED TV was crowned the 2025 King of TV by Value Electronics | OLED-Info.
Why Is Sony OLED Expensive Compared to Other TVs? Sony OLED TVs integrate advanced processing chips and premium components, increasing manufacturing complexity and cost. The brand's market positioning as a luxury product with superior picture processing technology also adds to the price premium.
Neither LG nor Sony is definitively "better" overall; the best choice depends on your priorities, with Sony often favored for superior image processing, color accuracy, and built-in sound (especially for movies), while LG leads in gaming features, brightness, and value, particularly with OLEDs offering deep blacks and wide viewing angles. LG excels for gamers needing features like HDMI 2.1 and faster response, while Sony's strength lies in natural, film-like picture quality, making it great for cinephiles.
LG Electronics, sister company of Sony's panel supplier LG Display, also produces its own OLED TVs. Japan's Toshiba and Panasonic are rivals as well.
Common problems with Sony Bravia TVs often involve the smart features (freezing, app issues, voice search), picture/display glitches (lines, flickering, black screen), audio problems (no sound, distortion), and connectivity (Wi-Fi, HDMI), with power issues and remote unresponsiveness also frequent, typically resolved by updates, resets, or sometimes hardware repair for older models.
Sony OLED TVs, while delivering exceptional visuals, come with notable downsides such as a premium price, susceptibility to burn-in from static images, and limited peak brightness in bright rooms. These factors may impact user experience depending on viewing habits and budget.
The Sony has very impressive contrast for an LED TV, but the LG is still better, providing even deeper blacks than the Sony with less blooming. The LG is better suited for watching TV with a big group due to its wider viewing angle. Its faster response time delivers fast motion with less blur behind it.
QLED is brighter
In my tests, however, OLED TVs can still get plenty bright for most rooms, and their superior contrast still allows them to deliver a better overall HDR image than any QLED/LCD TV I've tested. The author reviewing OLED TVs, QLED TVs, and other smart TVs in CNET's testing lab.
The leading brands are LG, Sony, and Samsung. LG is known for its wide OLED lineup and gaming-friendly features. Sony excels in cinematic processing and natural color accuracy. Samsung's QD-OLED models combine high brightness with rich contrast, ideal for bright rooms.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 II OLED is the 2025 successor to the Sony A95L OLED. It technically sits above the Sony BRAVIA 8 OLED, which has been carried over from 2024. It only sits below the flagship Sony BRAVIA 9. It uses a new QD-OLED panel, which is the same as the one found in the Samsung S95F OLED.
It depends on your budget and viewing habits. If you don't mind spending more for exceptional picture quality, then OLED is definitely worth it. However, casual viewers may not require the advanced features that come with the best TVs.
Bravia televisions and their components are manufactured in Sony's plants in Mexico, Japan, and Slovakia for their respective regions and are also assembled from imported parts in Brazil, Spain, China, Malaysia and Ecuador.
LG Display, based in Korea, is one of the world's largest display makers. LGD produces screens for TVs, laptops and mobile devices, focusing on OLED technologies. LG Display is the world's leading OLED TV and monitor panel producer (based on its WOLED architecture).
Best overall
The Sony Bravia 8 II is the top-end OLED our reviewers recommend to most people when asked, offering the best holistic package for movie fans with cash to spare.
Our Verdict
The LG C4 OLED is better than the Sony BRAVIA 5 in almost every way. The LG displays inky blacks with no blooming around highlights and is significantly brighter in HDR, giving its image more depth. The LG is the superior gaming TV, with much sharper motion and 144Hz support.
OLED's main disadvantages include the risk of burn-in from static images, shorter overall lifespan compared to LCDs due to organic material degradation, lower peak brightness (especially in bright rooms), susceptibility to humidity and heat, and generally higher costs, particularly for large sizes. These issues stem from the organic nature of the pixels, which wear out unevenly over time.
It's a well-known fact that Sony use LG Display panels for their OLED TV, however, it's the technology within that separates them.
Sony TVs, especially OLED models, are praised for picture quality but have disadvantages like high cost, potential for screen burn-in, and lower peak brightness in bright rooms compared to some competitors; some users also note occasional software/hardware glitches or panel lottery issues, making extended warranties a consideration.