Sony Unveils Full 2015 TV Lineup With Android TV

This morning, Sony unveiled a complete list of its 2015 4K and HD televisions complete with pricing information for most models.

Amongst the announcements are six new 4K (UHD) series, three new 1080p (HD) series, and the company's new Android TV smart platform. It's clear that Sony intends to maintain a strong focus on 4K/UHD televisions this year.

Premium TVs will utilize the 4K Processor X1 engine

Sony's high-end lineup includes the X940C, X930C, X910C, X900C, X850C, and X830C 4K series.

The premium X940C and X930C televisions make strides into true Ultra High Definition territory via High Dynamic Range compatibility, a new media format that produces brightness and contrast that greatly outpaces traditional picture quality.

Available in 75- and 65-inches, respectively, Sony's best-in-class options also boast enhanced color abilities and full-array LED backlighting.

The X940C and X930C will be available for pre-sale today at $7,999 and $4,499 MSRP.

All of Sony's 4K TVs will utilize the company's revamped 4K Processor X1 engine to add sharpness, detail, and contrast/color enhancement to both 4K and sub-4K content to ensure the viability of current formats while providers like Netflix, Amazon Instant, and UltraFlix continue to introduce a wider variety of native 4K options over the course of the year.

The 4K X900C stands out in particular as Sony's thinnest ever television; at just shy of 0.2 inches thick, it's one of the thinnest TVs ever produced.

{{amazon name="Sony XBR65X930C 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz 3D Smart LED TV (2015 Model)", asin="B00R45YYD8", align="right"}} We saw this TV in person during CES 2015 and also during Sony's showcase event in New York City last week, and it rivals the slender quality of OLED models. The included wall-mount bracket takes advantage of the X900C's tapering design so that it appears to float directly on the wall.

The X900C is available in 55- and 65-inch sizes later this summer, when pricing will be announced.

Android TV expands functionality and cross-platform parity

All of Sony's 4K series will be equipped with the company's new Android TV platform. The platform strives to appeal to general familiarity with Google's services and popular Android platform on mobile devices.

Sony will deliver content from the Google Play store, as well as partners Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, and YouTube.

With Android TV, the prolific Google Cast functionality will be popular for many apps and mobile services, enabling Android, Windows, and Mac-based operating systems to directly cast proprietary services, such as HBO GO, directly to the TV.

The new Android TV platform should also support Sony's new PlayStation Now service, enabling streaming of AAA video game titles right to the TV.

Sony continues to offer a small selection of HD TVs

Though 4K TVs clearly take the spotlight this year, Sony will continue to offer 1080p (HD) televisions in the W850C, W800C, and R510C series. The "W" series TVs will support Android TV as well, while the R510C series strips away any and all frills, offering a dressed-down entry-level lineup.

All of Sony's HD options are available for pre-order today. The larger 65- and 75-inch W850C TVs start at $1,899 and $2,999, while the W800C offers mid-range sizes at 50 and 55 inches for $999 and $1,299 respectively. The R510C will be available in 40- and 48-inch sizes starting at $479.

Source: SAN DIEGO, April 19, 2015 - Sony Electronics announced a comprehensive 4K Ultra HD TV lineup complete with picture enhancing technologies, beautiful and sleek design and a smarter TV experience. Powered by the new 4K Processor X1, the entire lineup offers better picture quality from any source with improved contrast, color and clarity while Android™ TV brings the world’s most popular mobile platform to the television. “Sony has always been the leader in 4K and our exclusive Sony technologies have been at the core of providing TV lovers with the best picture quality, no matter what content they are watching. Our decade of experience allows us to now improve color accuracy and clarity even better than before,” said Taka Fujita, vice president of home entertainment and sound at Sony Electronics. “And now, by pairing our unrivaled picture quality with Android TV, we are setting out to provide our customers with the best user experience possible.”

For 2015, Sony will offer six new series of 4K Ultra HD TVs. The X830C, X850C and X930C/X940C are available for pre-order today and will ship in May. The X900C/X910C will be available this summer. The new models join the X950B and X800B, a line of 4K Ultra HD projectors, including the VPL-VW350ES and the 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector, and an extensive list of sound products to provide consumers with more choices than ever to create an ideal home entertainment experience.

“With screen sizes starting at 43” and going up to our 180” large screen 4K projectors, Sony’s new lineup offers a 4K solution for almost every room and situation,” added Fujita.

The full 2015 4K Ultra HD lineup is powered by the X1 processor engine, maximizing contrast, color and clarity in both HD and 4K content. While Sony TVs have had expanded color, brightness range and upscaling for years, the X1 processor takes another step forward in improving these features. Thanks to X-Reality™ PRO Picture Engine, developed from over ten years of experience in upscaling, all existing HD content is upscaled to super clear 4K quality. And TRILUMINOS™, found on the X850C series and up, provides the widest color range ever and dynamic color correction ensures colors are as consistent and accurate as possible.

The X930C and X940C series will also be compatible with High Dynamic Range (HDR) content via a network update this summer. HDR is an emerging video format that can display a wider range of brightness levels which will allow content creators, such as movie directors, to expand their range of creativity. HDR content will be available from major video service providers like Amazon and Netflix this year. With Sony’s unique technology, X-tended Dynamic Range™ PRO (75-inch model) and X-tended Dynamic Range (65-inch model), customers can enjoy a peak brightness of LED as well as deeper blacks, providing them with a superior viewing experience compared to that of normal HDR video sources as well as any other video source.

Sony’s commitment to developing the 4K Ultra HD ecosystem continues, from lens to living room. As a founding member of the UHD Alliance, Sony has joined a coalition of companies united to establish new standards to support innovation in video technologies including 4K and higher resolutions, high dynamic range, wider color gamut and immersive 3D audio.

Android TV brings the world’s most popular mobile platform to Sony’s TVs, allows users to easily access content from their favorite apps like Netflix, YouTube and Hulu, providing a tailored and intuitive entertainment experience. TV lovers can watch hit shows and timeless movies from Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, PBS and PBS KIDS. Users can also access a huge selection of games and additional content from the Google Play store right on the TV. Additional popular apps available via Android TV include EPIX, YuppTV, iHeartRadio, Madefire, PlutoTV and Vevo.

With Google Cast™, users can cast their favorite entertainment apps such as HBO GO from their Android or iOS device, Mac or Windows computer or Chromebook to the TV. The voice search feature helps users find content quickly and easily just by speaking into the One-Flick remote or compatible smartphone and the Android TV home screen personalizes content and recommendations based on what you like to watch. Android TV is available on all of the new 2015 X series TVs and the W850C and W800C series TVs. This summer, gamers can also bring the immersive world of PlayStation® direct to the TV with PlayStation® Now. PlayStation® 3 games can be streamed to the TV and played with a DUALSHOCK® 4 controller.

At just under 0.2 inches thin, the X900C model is thinner than a smartphone and is the thinnest LED TV in the world. With a Vanishing Edge™ screen, the picture fills the screen to the very edge so it appears the picture floats on the wall. The bezel-free edge is so thin that it practically vanishes while watching, leaving only a stunning 4K picture. With an included wall mount, the X900C and X910C are easy and fast to mount and rest flush against the wall.

The X830C, X850C, X930C and X940C 4K Ultra HDTVs are available for pre-sale today, and will be on-sale in May at store.sony.com, amazon.com/sony, bestbuy.com and other authorized dealers nationwide.

The 2015 HDTV series (R510C, W800C, W850C) are also available for pre-sale today, and will be on-sale in May at store.sony.com, amazon.com/sony, bestbuy.com and other authorized dealers nationwide.

The X900C and X910C will be available this summer, pricing to be announced.