Despite their mid-range status in their respective brand lineups, the Sony Bravia 8 and the LG C4 OLED are among the best TVs you can buy right now. Being OLED TVs, they share several advantages over mid-range LED TVs, like perfect black levels and ultra-wide viewing angles. Now that I've lived with an OLED for years, there's no going back.
Depending on where you shop, the Bravia 8 and C4 are roughly in the same price ballpark right now (though the 65-inch Bravia 8 is about $300 more than the 65-inch C4). They also share many of the same features, which only adds to the confusion.
Fortunately, I'm here to help. I've watched, tested, and reviewed many of the most popular TVs this year, so I'm well-equipped to help you choose between the Bravia 8 and the C4.
Sony Bravia 8 vs LG C4: Specs compared
Sony Bravia 8 vs LG C4: Design
The Bravia 8 and C4 are both dressed for the part of "luxury TV," but their approach is quite different. The C4's panel rests atop a center stand that kind of resembles a wedge. It's got an attractive, brushed texture and lifts the C4 high enough so that all but the tallest soundbars won't obstruct the view.
Like all C Series OLEDs in recent years, the C4 is razor-thin except for a chassis that widens out at the middle. Most people will never see the back of the C4, but for what it's worth, I love the finish, which reminds me of marble. It's very classy.
The Bravia 8 isn't quite as posh-looking, opting instead for something more functional. It leverages a pair of sturdy, metal feet instead of a centralized stand, like the C4.
These narrow feet can either straddle the corners of the panel (which is my favorite look), or you can attach them closer to center of the panel. Placing the feet at their center position allows the Bravia 8 to live on narrower media cabinets.
Each configuration has a secondary option that lifts the Bravia 8 up by about 3 inches, which is more than enough for most soundbars.
One advantage that the C4 has over the Bravia 8 is its weight. In recent years, LG has outfitted its C series OLED TVs with lightweight, composite fiber material. As a result, the 65-inch C4 is about 11 pounds lighter than the 65-inch Bravia 8. This makes it easier to setup and reposition the C4 with minimal stress. And, although beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I do prefer the look of the C4's wafer-thin panel, as well as the unique, marbled texture on the back.
Both TVs are designed in such a way minimize wobble, though due to its stand type, the C4's panel isn't quite as locked in as the Bravia 8's. The Bravia 8 also is more flexible, giving users four configurations rather than just one. This puts it over the top for the Bravia 8.
Winner: Sony Bravia 8
Sony Bravia 8 vs LG C4: Performance
Both of these TVs leverage the same type of OLED technology: WOLED. You're not going to find brightness- and color-boosting hardware here, as you would with the step-up LG G4 (which uses LG's Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology to achieve brighter white highlights) or the Sony A95L (which taps quantum dots for enhanced color).
That said, these TVs are much better than some of their predecessors at delivering punchy highlights, especially in HDR. (I suppose it helps when you're rocking perfect black levels). They're also fantastic at showcasing HDR color; each covers about 99% of the UHDA-P3 color gamut.
According to our testing, the C4 gets a touch brighter than the Bravia 8, at least when it comes to HDR specular highlights (like a glint of sunlight reflecting off a sword). The difference is minor — about 1,000 nits versus 800 — but in lieu of splashing out on a brighter OLED, you might prefer the brightest possible option.
The C4 is also slightly better calibrated right out of the box in its most accurate picture mode. Being a Sony TV, you can expect the Bravia 8's Professional picture mode to live up to its maker's sterling reputation, but our tests indicate that LG's Filmmaker mode is better calibrated for a home environment.
So, we've established that the C4 has a slight leg up on the Bravia 8 when it comes to highlight brightness and out-of-the-box accuracy, but what about gaming features? This is where things start to diverge.
You couldn't ask for a better gaming machine than the C4. It's sporting a full suite of HDMI 2.1 inputs, all of them optimized for 4K gaming at either 120Hz or 144Hz, depending on the source. In other words, Any of the current-gen consoles will reach their full potential on the C4.
The C4 also supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), FreeSync, and even G-Sync. You also nab LG's Game Optimizer mode, a dedicated gaming menu full of picture- and gameplay-related enhancements. That's an exhaustive list of features.
The Bravia 8 offers a dedicated gaming menu, too, though it only supports ALLM and VRR. Unfortunately, it's limited to just two HDMI 2.1 inputs, and one of them serves as the Bravia 8's dedicated eARC port. If you own two gaming devices and a soundbar, things could get crowded pretty quickly.
While both of these OLEDs look incredible for many of the same reasons, the C4 is more of a well-rounded pick, thanks in part to its laundry list of gaming features. I don't expect many people would be able to spot a difference in highlight brightness between these two TVs, but it's worth acknowledging that the C4 is a hair brighter than the Bravia 8.
Winner: LG C4
Sony Bravia 8 vs LG C4: Outlook
Overall, the LG C4 is a safer pick for people shopping for an OLED in this price range. Gamers will appreciate that all of its inputs are optimized for gaming, picture purists will appreciate its added brightness (as well as its superior out-of-the-box accuracy) , and folks in the market for a swanky, head-turning TV will most likely dig the C4's look.
Another benefit of LG's C series is the wide variety of size options compared to the Bravia 8 lineup. The C4 comes in an extra-large 83-inch size as well as a pair of smaller-sized options at 42 and 48 inches. If you're interested in replacing your monitor with an LG OLED, the C4 has two sub-55-inch options to choose from.
