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Sony X930E  TV Review

Reviewed Mar 24, 2017 at 09:00am
Retest Jun 12, 2018 at 02:51pm
Tested using methodology v1.2 
Sony X930E
8.3
Mixed Usage 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.4
Movies 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.3
TV Shows 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.0
Sports 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.4
Video Games 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.4
HDR Movies 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.4
HDR Gaming 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.1
PC Monitor 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

 0
 TV Settings
The Sony X930E 4K HDR TV is a great LED TV with top of the line picture quality. It's one of the brightest TVs we've reviewed, so it does great with HDR. It covers everything quite well as both motion and input lag are good. Its only real pitfall is the quite narrow viewing angle.

Our Verdict

8.3
Mixed Usage 

Very good TV for a mixed usage. The X930E performs well with almost any use-case thanks to its excellent picture quality. Excellent for HDR, but its image quickly degrades at an angle.

Pros
  • Exceptionally bright, which is great for HDR
  • Deep and uniform blacks
  • Very good motion handling
Cons
  • Image degrades rapidly at an angle
8.4
Movies 

Great TV for movies. Very deep and uniform blacks and the good local dimming gives the X930E a very good picture with a lot of depth.

8.3
TV Shows 

Great for TV shows. The TV gets exceptionally bright and can reduce reflections a fair bit. Its Android TV smart platform is also quite good and provides all of the services most people need.

8.0
Sports 

Very good TV to watch sports. Motion is excellent, and the uniform reproduction of colors helps create sports fields without blotches. Unfortunately, picture quality deteriorates quickly at an angle.

8.4
Video Games 

Excellent TV to play video games on. Low input lag in 4k, so modern video games feel quick and responsive. Motion blur is also low, so no issues with long trails following objects appear.

8.4
HDR Movies 

Excellent HDR TV. The X930E gets extraordinarily bright, even during real movie scenes. Its contrast is also very good, and the TV can display a wider color gamut.

8.4
HDR Gaming 

Terrific HDR gaming TV. The X930E doesn't have any additional input lag in HDR, and its HDR capabilities are great. The wide color gamut makes HDR games look very saturated and pretty.

8.1
PC Monitor 

Very good PC monitor. The X930E has low input lag and motion blur, so the mouse cursor feels responsive. Text can be displayed without any issues, but its picture quality can degrade at the edges and corners if sitting close to the TV.

  • 8.3
    Mixed Usage
  • 8.4
    Movies
  • 8.3
    TV Shows
  • 8.0
    Sports
  • 8.4
    Video Games
  • 8.4
    HDR Movies
  • 8.4
    HDR Gaming
  • 8.1
    PC Monitor
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jun 12, 2018: A note for Xbox One X and Xbox One S owners: 1080p @ 120 Hz from the Xbox is only supported on this TV when the Xbox's connection type is changed from Auto-detect (Recommended) to HDMI, but unfortunately in this mode 4k and HDR aren't supported.
    2.  Updated Mar 12, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
    3.  Updated Jan 23, 2018: High-end Sony TVs have now been updated with Dolby Vision through a firmware update (PKG6.2818.0075NAA). The input section has been updated.
    4.  Updated Dec 11, 2017: Google Assistant has now been added to Android TV on Sony TVs, and it brings a lot of new features to the voice control. The remote score has been increased to reflect the new fuctionality.

    Check Price

    55"XBR55X930E
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    65"XBR65X930E
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    We tested the 55" (XBR55X930E). For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 65"(XBR65X930E) as well.

    Note that the 65" model doesn't have an external power brick, which may make it easier to wall mount.

    If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Sony XBR-55X930E doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.

    Size Model Alternative Name UK Model
    55" XBR55X930E XBR-55X930E KD-55XE9305
    65" XBR65X930E XBR-65X930E KD-65XE9305

    Popular TV Comparisons

    Comparison picture

    Top left: Vizio P Series 2016 (P65-C1). Bottom left: LG B6 (OLED55B6P). Middle: Sony X930E (XBR55X930E). Top right: Samsung Q7F (QN55Q7F). Bottom right: X900E (XBR55X900E). Unlike our other photographs, this picture wasn't taken under a controlled environment, so do not draw conclusions from it.

    The Sony X930E is one of the best LED TVs we've reviewed, but it faces some tough competition in its category. See our recommendations for the best 4k TVs and the best TVs.

    Sony X900E

    The Sony X930E is slightly better than the Sony X900E. The Sony X930E has marginally better input lag when sent a 4k @ 60Hz + HDR input signal and can also decode a Dolby vision signal, and this is great if you play HDR games. The Sony X930E has slightly better SDR peak brightness which makes it suitable for watching TV shows in a brighter room and also has better local dimming which improves picture quality when you watch a movie. On the other hand, the Sony X900E has a slightly better response time that will please gamers.

    LG B7/B7A OLED

    If you watch movies or HDR content in a dark room, then the LG B7A is a better choice, whereas if you extensively use your TV as a PC monitor or watch a lot of news with static banners, go with the Sony X930E. The LG B7A, as an OLED TV, has perfect blacks that you will appreciate in a dark room while watching movies. Also, the LG B7A has a somewhat better response time and a bit better input lag to please those who play video games. Watching sports with a group of friends is better on the LG B7A as it has slightly better gray uniformity and better viewing angles to accommodate those viewing from the side.

    Sony X900F

    The Sony X900F and the Sony X930E have very similar performance. The Sony X900F has a marginally better response time that you might notice if you're a hardcore video gamer. On the other hand, the Sony X930E has better contrast that produces deeper blacks in dark environments and is great if you watch HDR content. Also, the Sony X930E has somewhat better SDR peak brightness that you will appreciate if you watch TV shows in a brighter room.

    LG C7 OLED

    If you are a movie fan, then go with the LG C7, whereas if you use your TV as a PC monitor or watch the news with static banners for prolonged periods of time, go with the Sony X930E. The LG C7 has perfect blacks that are great for movies and HDR content in dark rooms. The LG C7 also has a slightly better response time and somewhat better input lag so that you can enjoy playing video games. Finally, the LG C7 has better viewing angles for those sitting on the side and better gray uniformity for those sports fans. The Sony X930E is a better choice if you worry too much about the permanent burn-in.

    Show more 

    Test Results

    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    8.5
    Style
    CurvedNo

    The design of the X930E is great. From the front it looks like most other Sony TVs with the familiar center stand and minimalistic look. The cable management is excellent, due to the textured plastic covers and built-in cable guides. The build quality is also great, and the body of the TV feels very sturdy. 

    Stand

    The TV features a very similar central stand to the X900E. It supports the TV well and is very stable. It also provides a channel through the rear legs for cable management.

    Footprint of the 55" TV stand: 11.1" x 19.8"

    Back
    Wall MountVESA 300x300

    The back of the TV has many textured plastic panels which are used to hide cables (shown here). The wall mount bolt holes can be found under the panels.

    Borders
    Borders0.51" (1.3 cm)

    The borders of the TV are thin and look good. They are made of metal and feel high quality.

    Thickness
    Max Thickness1.77" (4.5 cm)

    The TV is relatively thin, and can be mounted very close to a wall.

    Temperature
    Maximum Temperature
    95 °F (35 °C)
    Average Temperature
    90 °F (32 °C)

    The X930E is a fairly cool TV, and only gets slightly warm after prolonged usage. The exception is its power brick, which reaches a warm 42 °C; however this should not be a problem.

    9.0
    Build Quality

    The build quality of the X930E is excellent. All of the parts feel high quality and fit together well, and the build is solid. The back is plastic but the stand and borders are metal. The TV is very heavy though.

    Picture Quality
    9.1
    Contrast
    Native Contrast
    5,744 : 1
    Contrast with local dimming
    6,564 : 1

    The native contrast ratio of the Sony X930E is excellent. The TV can produce very deep blacks and provides superb picture quality when set in a dark environment. This contrast ratio is almost double that of the 2016 X930D. When 'Auto local dimming' is enabled and 'X-tended Dynamic Range' is set to high, we measured a contrast ratio of 6564.

    7.0
    Local Dimming
    Local Dimming
    Yes
    Backlight
    Edge

    The local dimming feature of the X930E works surprisingly well for an edge-lit TV. Blooming still happens when there is a very bright highlight, but it looks much better than on the 2016 X930D when compared side by side, even though the X930E is much brighter. The local dimming reacts really fast and you don't really see the changing of zones when the small white dot is moving fast.

    When compared to the X900E, a full array backlight TV with local dimming, the X930E local dimming feels more refined and in the end, the result looks a bit better.

    9.1
    SDR Peak Brightness
    SDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
    837 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 2% Window
    999 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 10% Window
    1,452 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 25% Window
    1,015 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 50% Window
    854 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 100% Window
    762 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 2% Window
    991 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 10% Window
    1,436 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 25% Window
    970 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 50% Window
    847 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 100% Window
    755 cd/m²
    SDR ABL
    0.032

    Excellent brightness for SDR content, and brighter than any TV we tested in 2016. The X930E will be usable in even the brightest of rooms. The TV's local dimming helps small areas like our 10% window achieve a great best case brightness, but even the 100% window is still very bright. The TV also remains bright for a long period of time after a transition which is great.

    9.2
    HDR Peak Brightness
    HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
    1,442 cd/m²
    HDR Peak 2% Window
    1,159 cd/m²
    HDR Peak 10% Window
    1,540 cd/m²
    HDR Peak 25% Window
    1,027 cd/m²
    HDR Peak 50% Window
    866 cd/m²
    HDR Peak 100% Window
    764 cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 2% Window
    1,155 cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 10% Window
    1,510 cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 25% Window
    1,002 cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 50% Window
    855 cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 100% Window
    751 cd/m²
    HDR ABL
    0.035

    The X930E has exceptional brightness for HDR, and is brighter than any TV we tested in 2016. Local dimming helps to make small areas incredibly bright, but large areas also remain very bright. The TV maintains this high brightness for a long time. This high brightness will make highlights in HDR content very bright so they stand out from the rest of the picture.

    7.0
    Gray Uniformity
    50% Std. Dev.
    5.450%
    50% DSE
    0.186%
    5% Std. Dev.
    1.060%
    5% DSE
    0.093%

    The gray uniformity of the X930E is average. The edges are darker than the rest of the screen, and there is a darker band on the bottom half of the screen. Fortunately there is not much dirty screen effect, which is important when watching video content with big panning shots over a uniform surface, such as hockey or football.

    When looking at our 5% gray uniformity picture there are not too many uniformity problems. The bottom of the screen is a bit brighter than the rest, but the difference is almost unnoticeable.

    4.9
    Viewing Angle
    Color Shift
    19°
    Brightness
    47°
    Black Level
    12°

    Poor viewing angle. Blacks become gray when viewed from even a slight angle, which lowers the contrast ratio and makes the picture look more washed out. Colors also shift significantly at an angle. It is not recommended to view this TV from the side.

    7.4
    Black Uniformity
    Native Std. Dev.
    1.060%
    Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
    1.109%

    The black uniformity is decent and is similar to what we measured on the X900E. Some clouding can be seen on the two bottom corners, but this isn't an issue when watching most normal content. When the local dimming is turned on, the clouding that was visible in the lower corners is not present anymore, which is very good. The local dimming is actually doing a good job here and should be left on most of the time, especially when watching movies where dark scene a prominent.

    8.6
    Reflections
    Screen Finish
    Semi-gloss
    Total Reflections
    3.5%
    Indirect Reflections
    0.5%

    The X930E has a semi-gloss finish which helps to diffuse reflections, reducing their intensity. Its reflection handling isn't as good as on some of the competition such as the Q7F or B6 but it should still be fine for a bright room. The reflection handling is the same as the X900E.

    7.7
    Pre Calibration
    Picture Mode
    Custom
    White Balance dE
    2.81
    Color dE
    2.70
    Gamma
    2.16
    Color Temperature
    6,020 K

    Out of the box, this TV is not bad and for normal home use it could be used as is and most people would not notice anything wrong. Overall the image is a bit warm, but this isn't too dramatic. When looking at the color reproduction, all the colors track well but the blues have the most error.

    9.3
    Post Calibration
    Picture Mode
    Custom
    White Balance dE
    0.27
    Color dE
    1.81
    Gamma
    2.20
    Color Temperature
    6,482 K

    Just like the X900E, the calibration is very easy to do via the 2 and 10 points white balance. The TV responds fairly well to the calibration. The gamma was flattened to more closely follow the gamma 2.2 curve, and the overall white balance dE error was reduced to a negligible 0.27 which is great. The color dE was brought down a bit, but it couldn't be reduced further because the TV lacks a color space management system.

    You can see our recommended settings here.

    8.0
    480p Input

    Low-quality content such as DVDs are upscaled quite well. The image remains clear, but very little smoothing is applied.

    8.0
    720p Input

    720p content such as cable looks good. Very few smoothing or sharpening artifacts can be seen and details are preserved well.

    9.0
    1080p Input

    1080p content such as Blu-rays look good. The image is very clear.

    10
    4k Input

    Native 4k content looks great. No issues can be seen.

    7.9
    Color Gamut
    Wide Color Gamut
    Yes
    DCI P3 xy
    88.06%
    DCI P3 uv
    92.99%
    Rec 2020 xy
    63.78%
    Rec 2020 uv
    68.81%

    Great color gamut. Deep colors in HDR content will be well reproduced. The TV does struggle to show deep green and cyan in the rec. 2020 gamut, but this is fairly typical of modern TVs.

    7.3
    Color Volume
    Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
    82.0%
    10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
    51.3%
    Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
    63.9%
    10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
    39.5%

    Decent color volume. The X930E is able to show its wide color gamut at a range of brightness values. Extremely dark or bright deep colors are not as well represented as colors of moderate brightness, but they are still well represented. The color volume of the X930E is mostly limited by its color gamut which is not extremely wide, unlike the Samsung Q7F which has a very wide gamut.

    9.0
    Gradient
    Color Depth
    10 Bit
    Red (Std. Dev.)
    0.090
    Green (Std. Dev.)
    0.092
    Blue (Std. Dev.)
    0.082
    Gray (Std. Dev.)
    0.049

    The panel of this TV is excellent, just like the 2016 X930D. It can display our gradient test image without banding almost perfectly. Note that this test was done with 'Smooth gradation' off to really showcase the native performance of the panel used in this TV.

    10
    Temporary Image Retention
    IR after 0 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 2 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 4 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 6 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 8 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 10 min recovery
    0.00%

    The Sony XBR55X930E does not suffer from image retention. It features a VA panel which usually perform well in this test.

    10
    Permanent Burn-In Risk
    Permanent Burn-In Risk
    No

    We don't expect VA panels to experience permanent image retention, as the VA panel in our long-term test appears immune.

    Pixels
    TypeLED
    Sub-Type
    VA
    Motion
    8.7
    Response Time
    80% Response Time
    5.3 ms
    100% Response Time
    12.7 ms

    The TV has a very low response time which results in little motion blur following moving objects. Unfortunately it is slightly worse than the X900E, mostly due to the longer 0%-20% transition.

    Update 04/03/2017: The 0%-20% and 20%-0% transition have been remeasured with less noise.

    9.9
    Flicker-Free
    Flicker-Free
    No
    PWM Dimming Frequency
    960 Hz

    The Sony X930E uses PWM at 960Hz to dim the backlight, starting at 17/50 backlight setting, but at that frequency it is not noticeable. Lowering the setting reduces the amplitude, while duty cycle remains constant.

    6.0
    Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
    Optional BFI
    Yes
    Min Flicker for 60 fps
    120 Hz
    60 Hz for 60 fps
    No
    120 Hz for 120 fps
    Yes
    Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
    120 Hz

    The X930E can decrease its flicker frequency to 120 Hz to help clear up motion, by setting 'MotionFlow' to 'Custom' and increasing the 'Clearness' slider. Unfortunately the frequency can't be reduced to 60 Hz to greatly clear up 60 Hz motion, like the Z9D can.

    10
    Motion Interpolation
    Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
    Yes
    Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
    Yes

    The X930E has a 120Hz panel which is able to interpolate lower frame rate content. To do so, set 'MotionFlow' to 'Custom' and increase the 'Smoothness' slider. To reduce the threshold for interpolation (increasing the soap opera effect) set 'CineMotion' to 'High'.

    7.3
    Stutter
    Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
    29.0 ms
    Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
    4.0 ms

    The Sony X930E is decent at displaying 24p movies and 60p content without stutter. Due to the fast response time, the image won't appear completely smooth for long panning shots in movies though. This is because there is not much blur to smooth the transition between frames.

    10
    24p Judder
    Judder-Free 24p
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via 60p
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via 60i
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
    Yes

    Movies playing from DVDs, Blu-rays or any other source outputting at 24p don't suffer from judder on the Sony X930E.

    Movies playing from cable/satellite boxes can play smoothly when 'Motionflow' is set to 'RealCinema' and 'Cinemotion' is set to high.

    Update 07/18/2017: The TV has been tested with the newest firmware update (PKG6.2648.0065NAA). The 24p playback performance remains the same.

    Update 10/17/2017: With the latest firmware (PKG6.2669.0070NAA) the judder over 60Hz signals has been fixed.

    0.0
    Variable Refresh Rate
    Native Refresh Rate
    120 Hz
    Variable Refresh Rate
    No
    4k VRR Maximum
    N/A
    4k VRR Minimum
    N/A
    1080p VRR Maximum
    N/A
    1080p VRR Minimum
    N/A
    VRR Supported Connectors
    N/A

    Like most 2017 TVs, this TV doesn't support any variable refresh rate features.

    Inputs
    8.3
    Input Lag
    1080p @ 60Hz
    42.3 ms
    1080p @ 60Hz + HDR
    42.2 ms
    1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
    104.8 ms
    1080p @ 120Hz
    14.5 ms
    4k @ 60Hz
    25.7 ms
    4k @ 60Hz + HDR
    25.8 ms
    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    25.7 ms
    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR
    25.8 ms
    4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
    88.4 ms
    4k With Interpolation
    85.5 ms
    4k @ 120 Hz
    N/A
    4k with Variable Refresh Rate
    N/A
    1080p with Variable Refresh Rate
    N/A

    The X930E has good input lag with a 4k signal but only mediocre input lag with a 1080p signal. The 1080p input lag is good enough for most gamers, but competitive gamers may be disappointed. The 4k input lag on the other hand should be good enough for nearly anyone. The 'game' and 'graphics' picture modes both have the same low input lag and both support chroma 4:4:4.

    Update 05/23/2017: The TV has been retested after the update to Android TV 7.0 Nougat, and the input lag is unchanged.

    Update 07/18/2017: The TV has been tested with the newest firmware update (PKG6.2648.0065NAA). The input lag remains the same.

    Update 09/20/2017: Tested 1080p @ 120 Hz input lag using our new input lag tool. It is much faster than the 1080p @ 60 Hz input lag, likely due to the TV bypassing some processing when it detects such an unusual signal.

    Update 11/10/2017: Retested input lag with the latest firmware (PKG6.2676.0070NAA); there was no significant change.

    10
    Supported Resolutions
    Resolution4k
    1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    Yes
    1080p @ 120Hz
    Yes (forced resolution required)
    1440p @ 60Hz
    Yes
    4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4
    Yes
    4k @ 60Hz
    Yes
    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    Yes
    4k @ 120Hz
    No

    The TV supports all the common input signals. 1080p @ 120 Hz was displayed properly without the artifacts seen in the X930D and without the jagged scaling of the X900E. To play 4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 or 4:2:2 color, HDMI port 2 or 3 must be used and 'HDMI Enhanced Format' must be enabled. Both the 'game' and 'graphics' picture modes properly display 4:4:4 color.

    Update 06/12/2018: A note for Xbox One X and Xbox One S owners: 1080p @ 120 Hz from the Xbox is only supported on this TV when the Xbox's connection type is changed from Auto-detect (Recommended) to HDMI: (Xbox > Settings > Display & sound > Video fidelity & overscan > Display > Connection > HDMI). Unfortunately in this mode 4k, HDR, 50 Hz and 24 Hz aren't possible, so this mode is only recommended when the higher refresh rate of 120 Hz is more important to you than these other features.

    Update 06/18/2018: Correction, 24 Hz and 50 Hz are in fact possible with the Xbox's connection type set to HDMI.

    Side Inputs
    Rear Inputs
    Total Inputs
    HDMI4
    USB3
    Digital Optical Audio Out1
    Analog Audio Out 3.5mm1
    Analog Audio Out RCA0
    Component In1 (shared)
    Composite In2 (shared)
    Tuner (Cable/Ant)1
    Ethernet1
    DisplayPort0
    IR In1
    SD/SDHC0

    The TV has a shared composite/component port and an additional small composite port that needs an adapter, which unfortunately is not included. An example of a compatible adapter is found here.

    Inputs Specifications
    HDR10
    Yes
    Dolby Vision
    Yes
    HLG
    Yes
    3D
    No
    5.1 Passthrough ARC Dolby Digital
    Yes
    5.1 Passthrough ARC DTS
    Yes
    5.1 Passthrough Optical Dolby Digital
    Yes
    5.1 Passthrough Optical DTS
    Yes
    HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
    Yes (HDMI 2,3)
    HDMI 2.1 Full Bandwidth
    No
    ARC
    Yes (HDMI 3)
    USB 3.0
    Yes (1)
    HDCP 2.2Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
    CECYes
    MHLNo
    Variable Analog Audio OutYes
    Wi-Fi SupportYes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

    To enable audio passthrough, the TV's audio output needs to be changed from 'TV speakers' to 'Audio system'.

    Dolby Vision support is expected to be added in a future update.

    Update 01/23/2018: The update enabling Dolby Vision compatibility is now available.

    Sound Quality
    7.3
    Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    Low-Frequency Extension
    84.76 Hz
    Std. Dev. @ 70
    4.33 dB
    Std. Dev. @ 80
    4.31 dB
    Std. Dev. @ Max
    4.78 dB
    Max
    94.5 dB SPL
    Dynamic Range Compression
    3.16 dB

    Average frequency response, the low-end cutoff is poor, but the TV provides a good mid-range performance. Volume gets pretty high, but compression artifacts can be seen in the higher frequencies.

    7.4
    Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    Weighted THD @ 80
    0.182
    Weighted THD @ Max
    2.306
    IMD @ 80
    0.47%
    IMD @ Max
    1.52%

    Poor distortion performance. The amount of distortion at 70 is about average, but it steeply rises as the volume is raised. Maximum volume distortion is especially bad.

    Smart Features
    7.0
    Interface
    Smart OSAndroid TV
    Version6.0
    Ease of Use
    Average
    Smoothness
    Not Smooth
    Time Taken to Select YouTube
    4 s
    Time Taken to Change Backlight
    7 s
    Advanced Options
    Many
    10
    Ad-Free
    Ads
    No
    Opt-out
    N/A
    Suggested Content in Home
    Yes
    Opt-out of Suggested Content
    Yes

    The main interface of the TV has no ads. Third party apps may have ads, such as video ads in YouTube. There is an option in the TV's settings to opt out of personalized advertising for these third party ads.

    The first row of the Android TV Home menu is filled with suggested content. It is possible to disable all this suggested content until all that remains is a line saying "No recommendations available at this time". This can be done in the TV's settings by disabling all the sources of suggested content one by one, going back to the home screen, then going back into settings and disabling the Sony instructional links that appear as suggested content sources.

    9.0
    Apps and Features
    App Selection
    Very Many
    App Smoothness
    Average
    Cast Capable
    Yes
    USB Drive Playback
    Yes
    USB Drive HDR Playback
    Yes
    HDR in Netflix
    Yes
    HDR in Amazon Video
    Yes
    HDR in YouTube
    No

    The X930E comes preinstalled with many popular apps such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Video. More apps can be installed from the included Google Play Store.

    8.0
    Remote
    Size
    Large
    Voice Control
    Search, Some Other Features
    CEC Menu Control
    Yes
    Other Smart Features
    No

    The X930E has a large remote with many buttons. Fortunately commonly used buttons are located in the center of the remote, around the direction pad, so users don't have to reach very far. The exceptions to this are the Inputs and Power buttons, which are commonly used and hard to reach because they are at the remote's corners. Also hard to reach is the Voice Search button, which uses a microphone in the remote itself to do searches and text entry using only the user's voice.

    Update 12/11/2017: Google Assistant has now been added to Android TV on Sony TVs, and it brings a lot of new features to the voice control: commands like 'open Netflix', 'switch to HDMI 1', 'pause video', 'how's the weather' and 'turn off TV' all work well, though commands to change picture settings like 'set the brightness to 20' and 'switch to Game mode' don't work. The remote score has been increased to reflect the new fuctionality.

    7.0
    Remote App
    Acts as the Remote
    Yes
    Directly Launches Apps and Inputs
    Both
    Inputs Text in YouTube
    No
    Inputs Text in Netflix
    No
    Streams Device Files
    Yes
    Controls TV Settings
    No
    Voice Control
    Yes

    Update 09/12/2017: Sony has an app called 'Video & TV SideView' that is better than the Android TV app in most ways. The data fields and score have been updated to reflect the Sony app.

    Update 07/11/2018: Sony's Video & TV SideView remote app has been retested on version 5.5.0. The remote app can now stream video files and can only directly launch apps. The data fields have been updated.

    Update 10/12/2018: The remote app can directly launch both apps and inputs, even on version 5.5.0; "Apps Only" was a mistake. The value has been corrected to "Both".

    TV Controls

    The TV has only three buttons, which can control the volume, change the channel and change the input. The center button switches between volume, channel and input; and the (+) and (-) buttons increment the function.

    In The Box

    • Manual
    • Batteries
    • Remote
    • External power brick
    • RF Blaster
    • Wall mount screws

    Misc
    Power Consumption58 W
    Power Consumption (Max)178 W
    FirmwarePKG6.0710.0005Naa

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