Television audiences across the world are changing. They are becoming discerning enough not to watch live television. I am clearly one of those who likes to keep the choice of what I want to watch with myself. And that is why I am convinced connected televisions have a great future. And what better than a connected Android TV.
Sony was among the first to embrace the connected television concept. A year later, it seems to be getting better and the televisions are getting more affordable. The Sony Bravia W950D 2016 version costs just R83,000 and comes with almost everything you could ask for in a television these days. And yes it is smart too.
What is good?
The Sony Bravia W950D has a clean design that reduces the bezel and puts the 1080p screen in the centre of the action. You can easily focus on the action as there is no steel frame to distract you. The TV stands on a speaker bar and not only
offers stunning sound but also makes the entire unit seem composite.
I have always loved the colours on Sony televisions, and I am talking about the time when the colours on Trinitron televisions were way sharper and natural than any other telly. Sony still retains that unique trait.
The Sony Bravia W950D has one of the best audio setups I have heard in a television and I can say this with a lot of conviction. Playing the preloaded songs and some other numbers I streamed from an external drive I was convinced that you don’t need another pair of speakers for your living room.
This Bravia has a very intuitive and easy to use user interface and that is crucial for any television that wants to pass itself off as smart. The Home gives you access to everything in clearly stacked rows, nothing missing. I loved the new addition, a Discover button that gives you quick access to anything from channels to apps on the TV. For anyone who is familiar with
Android, there is almost no learning involved here.
This is a truly connected television. So while you can play stuff from your connected devices to this larger screen, the TV can stream directly using a host of pre-installed apps. For me YouTube was more that sufficient, but you can download anything from the Google Play store if you need more. Also, there is a webcam that comes in the box so that you can use apps like Skype right out of your living room.
What is not that good?
There is nothing much wrong with this Bravia TV. However, being a connected television and one thing I hope to take us away from dependence on boring live television, it was frustrating that it kept losing the Wi-Fi connection every time there was a packet drop in the network. This might not be a issue in many parts of the globe, but in India Internet connection still have these issues and maybe Sony needs to figure out a patch.
Should you buy?
Yes, if you are looking to upgrade from an early generation flat screen and now need something truly smart and connected. The best thing about this Bravia W950D is the fact that it is functional out of the box and that is what matters at the end of the day. Buying this television will be a smart decision.
Estimated street price: Rs 82,900
