Sony has officially launched its massive 98-inch BRAVIA 5 Mini-LED TV in the Indian market, marking its entry into the super large-screen television segment. The new TV, model number K-98XR55A, aims to deliver a cinema-like viewing experience in the comfort of your home with its premium features and immersive display.
Pricing and Availability
The Sony BRAVIA 5 98-inch TV is priced at Rs 6,49,990. It is available for purchase at Sony Centers, Sony Exclusive stores, ShopatSC, leading electronics retailers, and major e-commerce platforms across India. Sony is also offering a three-year warranty, a Rs 25,000 cashback on select credit cards, and an EMI option of Rs 19,995 per month for a limited time as part of the launch promotion.
Key Features and Specifications
The BRAVIA 5 boasts several high-end features designed to provide exceptional picture and sound quality. At the core of the TV is Sony's Cognitive Processor XR, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) combined with cognitive intelligence to analyze content in a way that aligns with human perception, optimizing color, contrast, and clarity. The TV also features the XR Backlight Master Drive, a backlighting technology that precisely controls a large number of Mini LEDs. This enables precise LED dimming and high dynamic range performance, resulting in brighter highlights and deeper blacks.
The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate and incorporates XR Contrast Booster 10 and XR TRILUMINOS Pro for enhanced contrast, peak brightness, and a wide color range. It also supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision. For audio, the TV features a 40W speaker system with Acoustic Multi-Audio for accurate sound positioning and Dolby Atmos for spatial sound. AI-driven Voice Zoom 3 technology analyzes audio in real-time to detect and isolate human voices, automatically adjusting their volume for better clarity.
The BRAVIA 5 runs on Google TV, based on Android, and supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. It also includes Studio Calibrated Modes for Netflix, Prime Video, and Sony Pictures Core, ensuring content is displayed as the creators intended. Sony Pictures Core provides access to a wide range of movies with near-4K Blu-ray quality, including IMAX Enhanced titles.
The TV measures 2199 × 1325 × 488 mm with the stand and weighs 71.4 kg. It comes with a remote, power cord, tabletop stand, setup guides, and supports DVB-T/T2 and DVB-S/S2 tuners. It also offers gaming features like Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).
Impact on the Indian TV Market
Sony's launch of the 98-inch BRAVIA 5 signifies the growing demand for larger, premium televisions in India. The Indian smart TV market is experiencing a shift towards bigger screens, with consumer spending leaning towards 43-inch and 55-inch models. The 55-inch and above TV shipments have grown approximately 12% year-over-year in 2024. Sony's focus on high-end products aligns with the trend of premiumization in the Indian market.
While the overall Indian TV market experienced a decline in shipments in 2024, the premium segment is driving growth. Consumers are increasingly opting for larger screens and advanced features, contributing to the expansion of the premium TV market in India.
