Best Sony Smart TVs in 2026: A Guide to Smart Features
Sony makes some of the best-looking TVs on the market, but how do they stack up as smart TVs? The best Sony smart TVs in 2026 run Google TV, offering one of the richest app ecosystems, excellent voice control, and smooth integration with both Google and Apple devices. If you care as much about what your TV can do as how its picture looks, this guide focuses on the smart side of Sony’s lineup.
We’ll cover Google TV’s strengths and quirks, app availability, casting and connectivity options, voice assistant features, and gaming-specific smart functionality across Sony’s current Bravia models.
Google TV on Sony: What You Get
Every current Sony Bravia TV runs Google TV. Google’s smart TV platform built on top of Android TV. It’s the most feature-rich smart TV operating system available, and Sony’s implementation is one of the best in the industry.
The Home Screen Experience
Google TV’s home screen aggregates content from all your streaming subscriptions into a unified recommendations feed. Instead of jumping between Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube separately, you see a curated grid of shows and movies pulled from everywhere. You can browse by genre, check what’s trending, or pick up where you left off across services.
The “For You” tab learns your preferences over time, getting better at surfacing content you’ll actually want to watch. It’s not perfect, promoted content and ads occasionally clutter the feed, but it’s more useful than the fragmented app-grid approach that some competitors use.
App Ecosystem
Google TV provides access to the Google Play Store, which means Sony TVs have the largest app library of any smart TV platform. All the major streaming services are here: Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV+, YouTube, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, and hundreds more.
Beyond streaming, you’ll find music apps (Spotify, YouTube Music, Tidal), fitness apps, games, and utility apps. The Play Store’s depth is a genuine advantage over Samsung’s Tizen and LG’s webOS, both of which have smaller (though still adequate) app selections.
Chromecast Built-In: smooth Casting
Every Sony smart TV includes Chromecast built-in, making it effortless to cast content from your phone, tablet, or laptop to the big screen. Open any Chromecast-compatible app on your device, tap the Cast icon, and select your Sony TV. The content appears on screen within seconds.
This works with video apps, music services, photo galleries, and even Chrome browser tabs. For Android users especially, the casting experience is smooth and requires no additional hardware. It’s one of the standout reasons the best Sony smart TVs work so well in Google-centric households.
Casting vs. Native Apps
While casting is convenient for quick sharing, using the TV’s native apps generally provides a better experience. Native apps support the TV’s full HDR capabilities, offer smoother playback, and don’t drain your phone’s battery. Use casting for content that doesn’t have a native app, for sharing photos and videos from your camera roll, or when you want to control playback from your device.
Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit Integration
Sony doesn’t limit its smart features to the Google ecosystem. All current Bravia TVs support Apple AirPlay 2, allowing iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to stream content wirelessly. Screen mirroring works smoothly, and you can cast from Apple-specific apps that don’t support Chromecast.
Apple HomeKit support means you can control your Sony TV through the Apple Home app and Siri. Turn the TV on or off, adjust volume, and switch inputs using Siri voice commands or Home automations. If you run a HomeKit smart home, your Sony TV integrates right into your existing setup without additional accessories.
Voice Control: Google Assistant and Beyond
Sony Bravia TVs ship with Google Assistant built in. Press the microphone button on the remote and speak naturally: “Play Stranger Things on Netflix,” “Show me action movies,” “What’s the weather tomorrow,” or “Turn off the lights” (if you have smart home devices connected).
Hands-Free Voice Control
Select Sony models include far-field microphones that enable hands-free voice control. You can say “Hey Google” from across the room without touching the remote. This is genuinely convenient for quick commands, pausing playback, adjusting volume, or checking the time, without hunting for the remote.
Works with Alexa Too
If you prefer Amazon’s ecosystem, Sony Bravia TVs also support Alexa through a downloadable skill. You can control basic TV functions, power, volume, input switching, through Echo devices in your home. It’s not as deeply integrated as Google Assistant, but it covers the essentials.
Gaming Smart Features on Sony TVs
Sony’s smart TVs go beyond passive entertainment with features specifically designed for gamers. Here’s what the best Sony smart TVs offer for gaming in 2026.
Game Menu and Auto Detection
When you connect a PS5 or Xbox Series X, Sony TVs automatically switch to Game Mode for the lowest possible input lag. The Game Menu provides quick access to gaming-specific settings: VRR toggle, motion blur reduction, crosshair overlay, and black equalizer for visibility in dark scenes.
HDMI 2.1 Features
Mid-range and premium Sony TVs support HDMI 2.1 with 4K 120Hz, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). VRR eliminates screen tearing by syncing the TV’s refresh rate with your console’s frame output. ALLM automatically enables Game Mode when gaming content is detected, removing the need to manually switch picture modes.
PS5 Perfect Match
Sony’s Bravia TVs and PlayStation 5 are designed to work together. The Bravia XR TVs feature Auto HDR Tone Mapping, which automatically calibrates HDR settings specifically for PS5 games. The result is optimized brightness and contrast without any manual adjustment, a small but appreciated convenience for PS5 owners.
Smart Home Integration
Beyond Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit, Sony TVs function as a hub within your connected home. You can view compatible security camera feeds on the TV screen, control smart lights and thermostats through the Google Home app, and set up routines that involve your TV (like dimming lights and turning on the TV when you say “movie time”).
Matter Support
Sony’s latest Bravia models support the Matter smart home standard, which provides interoperability across ecosystems. This means your TV can communicate with Matter-compatible devices regardless of whether they’re from Google, Apple, Amazon, or other manufacturers. It’s a forward-looking feature that future-proofs your TV as smart home technology evolves.
Which Sony Smart TV Should You Choose?
If smart features and app ecosystem are your top priorities, any current Sony Bravia TV delivers an excellent experience since they all run the same Google TV platform. The differences come down to picture quality and gaming features at various price points.
The Bravia XR A95L offers the best combination of smart features and picture quality. The X90L provides the best value with all smart features intact. The X85L brings the full Google TV experience to a more accessible price. All three include Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Google Assistant, and HomeKit, so you’re not sacrificing smart functionality by choosing a more affordable model.
The best Sony smart TVs prove that a great smart TV isn’t just about the panel behind the screen. It’s about how easily you can find content, how naturally you can control it, and how well it fits into the connected ecosystem you already use.