Sony BRAVIA 3 K65S30 Review: design, performance & more.

In the ever-evolving world of consumer electronics, finding a high-performance television that doesn’t leave your wallet drained can be a challenge. But fear not! Sony’s BRAVIA 3 K65S30 stands as a testament to quality and value, offering an immersive visual experience without sacrificing affordability. This mid-range smart TV delivers reference-grade color accuracy, powerful upscaling capabilities, and the convenience of Google TV at an exceptional price point.

Design & Build

The BRAVIA 3 K65S30 sports a sleek, modern design with a near-edge-to-edge flush bezel that measures under 10mm thick, making it a true showcase for the display itself. Its matte anti-glare screen finish helps diffuse ambient reflections, while still maintaining vivid colors even in brighter rooms. Weighing approximately 47.2 lbs without the stand and 47.8 lbs with it, this TV feels solid yet lightweight enough for one person to handle during installation or repositioning.

The two-pronged tabletop stand provides stable support while offering basic cable management through rear channels. With a depth of 13.25″ and a base width of 57.25″, it offers ample space for connecting cables and other accessories, making cable management a breeze. For those who prefer a wall-mounted setup, VESA 300 x 300mm mounting holes are provided for easy installation.

Picture Performance

With Sony’s Triluminos Pro™ engine, the BRAVIA 3 K65S30 is capable of reproducing over a billion hues with remarkable accuracy in standard dynamic range (SDR) testing. Skin tones appear natural and vibrant without oversaturation, while saturated primary colors maintain their integrity across different luminance levels. However, the lack of local dimming results in lifted black levels that can appear gray in dark scenes, slightly detracting from its cinematic depth. In a true home-theater environment, this “gray floor” remains noticeable even when overall brightness is dialed down.

Peak HDR brightness tops out around 350 nits—adequate for moderate HDR highlights but significantly below the punchier 600–1,000 nit levels found in higher-tier Sony models and some competitors. While Auto HDR Tone Mapping attempts to optimize each scene’s metadata, preserving detail in both highlights and shadows, it cannot fully overcome the panel’s brightness and contrast constraints.

Sony’s 4K X-Reality PRO upscaling engine excels at elevating lower-resolution sources such as 1080p broadcasts and DVD rips to near-4K clarity, minimizing compression artifacts and jagged edges. For panning shots, MotionFlow XR and optional black-frame insertion reduce judder and enhance perceived motion smoothness, though the 60 Hz native refresh rate means some 24p judder will persist. Fast-paced sports and action movies benefit from the combination of wide viewing angles and judder reduction, keeping the picture coherent for group viewing in living rooms.

Audio Performance

Sony equips the BRAVIA 3 with X-Balanced speaker drivers in a 2.0 configuration, resulting in clear midrange and intelligible dialogue without resorting to a subwoofer. However, the onboard bass response is shallow, and dynamic range remains limited at higher volumes. While the set supports Dolby Atmos passthrough via HDMI eARC, on-board processing down-mixes Atmos tracks to stereo, lacking true height effects. For movie nights or gaming with immersive sound, pairing the TV with a dedicated soundbar or 2.1-channel system is highly recommended.

Smart Features

Running Google TV, this smart television aggregates content from streaming apps and live TV into a unified home screen complete with personalized recommendations based on your watch history. Google Assistant is built in, allowing for voice-activated searches, on-screen answers, and control of compatible smart-home devices. Chromecast Built-in and AirPlay 2 support facilitate seamless casting of photos, videos, and audio from Android and iOS devices. App launch times are snappy, and over-the-air firmware updates ensure the platform evolves with new features and security patches.

Gaming Capabilities

While not geared toward hardcore gamers, the BRAVIA 3 includes Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and PlayStation-optimized features such as Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode for PS5 titles. In Game Mode, input lag drops to about 12 ms at 4K @ 60 Hz—adequate for console gaming on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X but inconsequential for competitive PC play. The absence of HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, and 4K @ 120 Hz support means next-generation gaming enhancements like VRR and 120 fps modes are unavailable.

Connectivity

The Sony BRAVIA 3 K65S30 is well-equipped with four HDMI 2.0 ports (all supporting 4K @ 60 Hz; HDMI 2 also offers eARC), two USB 2.0 ports for media playback and firmware updates, Ethernet (100 Mbps RJ-45) and Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) for reliable wired or wireless streaming, optical audio out, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack for legacy audio setups.

Value & Pricing

At an MSRP of $799.99 (often discounted into the $699–$749 range), the BRAVIA 3 K65S30 undercuts many premium rivals while retaining Sony’s signature image-processing strengths. Compared to similarly priced Hisense, TCL, and Samsung 65″ LED models, it offers superior SDR color accuracy and upscaling at a modest premium. When on sale, its price-to-performance ratio becomes even more compelling for buyers seeking Sony’s pedigree without a flagship price tag.

Comparisons

• Hisense U6/U6N: Offers local dimming for deeper blacks and VRR support, making it a stronger choice for gamers and home-theater purists.
• TCL QM7: Provides HDMI 2.1 and 120 Hz gaming at a comparable street price, though color accuracy lags behind Sony’s reference-grade SDR performance.
• Sony BRAVIA 7 QLED: A mid-range Sony alternative with Mini-LED local dimming and HDMI 2.1, but on sale may cost $200–$300 more than the K65S30.

Conclusion

The Sony BRAVIA 3 K65S30 is a fantastic value for those seeking a 65″ 4K HDR TV that emphasizes color accuracy, upscaling prowess, and Google TV convenience. Its lifted blacks and modest brightness limit its appeal for dedicated home theaters and competitive gamers, yet for everyday streaming, sports viewing with friends, and casual console play, it delivers a compelling package for under $750. If you’re loyal to the Sony brand or simply value best-in-class SDR fidelity combined with Google TV convenience, the BRAVIA 3 K65S30 is a smart choice in the mid-range landscape—just be prepared to pair it with a soundbar and manage expectations around HDR and gaming features.