Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED TV Review: How does it fare?

Home entertainment has become a priority for folks who prefer to trade in the big-screen theater experience for the cozy comfort of their living rooms. Over time, it could even be more practical (think of all the money you’ll save from movie tickets and cinema snacks!). But with so many TV brands vying for attention, how does the Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED stack up? 8List.ph spent two weeks putting it to the test to find out, and here’s our verdict:

Design that demands attention

The Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED makes a strong first impression. It’s equipped with a sturdily built chassis and a near bezel-less display, adding a premium touch to any setup without feeling flimsy. The 65-inch variant we tested fits perfectly in our living room and makes for an ideal centerpiece for an immersive home theater experience.

A visual feast

The Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED’s display is a true spectacle. It’s a significant upgrade from previous Sony Bravia models we’ve tried.

Brightness

For starters, the screen’s incredible brightness is a standout feature. Upon first power up, we were surprised at the difference in brightness that the 65-inch LED screen offered compared to our previous 55-inch TV. While some may find it too intense, it’s perfect for those who prefer a vibrant viewing experience, especially in well-lit environments. The ability to fine-tune the brightness and picture settings ensures that you can tailor the display to your exact preferences.

Sharpness

Whether you’re watching in full HD or in 4k FHD, the Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED definitely delivers. Videos in 1080p are digitally upscaled to 4k. If you’re not standing 3 inches away from the screen, you won’t really be able to tell any loss in detail even though the screen is so huge.

However, watching videos in 4k, 60 fps is where the Mini LED 7 really stands out. We tested the TV by watching CGI-heavy movies such as Pacific Rim and the Spider-Verse series, and the details did not disappoint. From raindrops and particles trickling onto a giant robot’s body to the unique art style and comic book-like effects on a thousand different Spider-Men, the Mini LED 7 handled everything perfectly. The frame rate was lossless, too, when watching at 60fps. The on-screen movement was buttery smooth, and no unnecessary blurring got in the way of the experience.

Colors

Another thing we liked about the Mini LED 7 is the accuracy of its color reproduction. It reproduces colors faithfully, avoiding oversaturation or desaturation that can lead to color bleeding. Skin tones appear natural, greens are lush, and blues are deep. The TV’s ability to deliver rich, accurate colors elevates the viewing experience, making every scene come to life.

Cinematic sound right at home

The Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED boasts a cinematic audio experience right out of the box. And just by itself, it indeed does. Stereo separation and surround sound are impressive, letting you hear different audio elements. For example, when a character swings by from left to right, the Mini LED 7 projects audio the same way.

If you want to take the cinematic experience to the next level, consider also getting the Bravia Theatre Bar 9.

This sound bar is massive but for a good reason. It has 13 components inside to truly give you an immersive audio experience. Even if we enjoyed the TV speakers on its own, when we used the Theatre Bar paired with the SW5 Subwoofer and RS5 Rear Speakers, we were just blown away. It performs really well in a variety of scenarios like movies and even music. The bass rumbles, the highs pierce the air, and the mids and vocals are clear and crisp. We must note, however, that if you plan to use a sound system like this, you would really need to consider your surroundings as it gets loud (in a good, good way).

One caveat is the minor inconvenience of trying to figure out how to properly connect the audio system to the TV itself. It has a lot of modes to which it can connect such as HDMI, AUX, and even Bluetooth. However, the lack of an in-depth audio interface in the menus makes it somewhat difficult to effortlessly set it up, so make sure you have all the manuals with you before using the system.

User-friendly experience

The Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED is generally easy to use thanks to its simple menu layout and convenient user interface. Almost everything you need is laid out for you, but as with every other Google TV, you may experience little hiccups in responsiveness while navigating through the menus.

We would have also preferred it if the menus were easier to understand, such as the parts with some technical jargon and acronyms that the everyday user won’t automatically get. This could be a challenge for folks unfamiliar with the technical aspects of setting up their home theater.

Our verdict on the Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED

All-in-all, the Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED delivers big time. It blends stunning visuals, powerful sound, and user-friendly features, giving users a home theater dream come true. With a sleek design and impressive performance, it’s easily a standout choice for any home entertainment setup. While minor quirks in the menu system and connectivity options may slightly detract from the overall experience, the Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED remains a top-tier TV that delivers a fantastic viewing experience.