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Opting for a smaller-sized 4K TV shouldn’t mean you lose out on the quality or features you find on larger-screen models. The Sony XR-42A90K, for example, has a 42-inch OLED screen and packs in sought-after features, such as Dolby Vision HDR support, Dolby Atmos speakers, Google Assistant voice control and more. So, is this the ultimate no-compromise smaller-screen 4K TV or does it fall short of expectation? Find out in our full review.
pros
cons
What's included?
- What is it?
- What’s the picture quality like?
- What’s the sound quality like?
- What’s it like to use?
- How are the smart features?
- Is there anything else I should know?
- How are the accessibility features?
- Is Sony a good TV brand?
- Should I buy it?
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| Picture quality | |
|---|---|
| Sound quality | |
| Ease of use |
- Oct 2022First reviewed by Which?
- May 2022Released
The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.
Picture quality
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Freeview | |
| Freeview HD | |
| Satellite tuner picture | |
| HD TV | |
| 4K ultra HD | |
| 4K HDR | |
| Viewing angle | |
| Motion stability |
How we test picture quality
Picture quality tests include broadcast 1080i high-definition TV, Freeview, Freeview HD, viewing angle and the stability of motion in fast action scenes. We also test for 4K Ultra HD and HDR if the TV can support these pictures.
Logical order of screen reader information overall
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Logical order of screen reader information in the menus | |
| Logical order of screen reader information in the electronic programme guide | |
| Logical order of screen reader information in the smart menus | |
| Logical order of screen reader information during menu navigation |
How we test logical order of screen reader information overall
How logically does the screen reader read the information across the TVs menus and setup process
Overall menu contrast
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Contrast in electronic programme guide | |
| Contrast in menu and settings pages | |
| Contrast in smart menus |
How we test overall menu contrast
How broad is the contrast range in the TV's menu to make content easier to see
Sound quality
How we test sound quality
This includes the results of our technical tests and our independent listening panel's verdict.
Ease of use
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Installations and instructions | |
| Everyday use | |
| EPG (electronic programme guide) |
How we test ease of use
Combined score of all ease of use tests, including installation, everyday use, the electronic programme guide and other features.
PVR (personal video recorder)
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| PVR recording |
How we test pvr (personal video recorder)
We assess the TV PVR's functionality, including how easy it is to record and pause live programmes, as well as use various other features.
Smart TV features
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Smart menu | |
| Smart app store | |
| Multimedia features |
How we test smart tv features
We test the internet-connected smart features of each TV, including how useful the menus are, how easy it is to use the app store and what the web browser is like to use.
Energy use
How we test energy use
Based on the power usage when being viewed and in standby and the presence and effectiveness of power-saving features such as a light sensor or radio screen blanking. Power usage can vary massively depending on the type of TV. OLED TVs tend to use less power than LED TVs since they don't have backlights.
Connections and tuners
How we test connections and tuners
A TV with plenty of connection ports allows you to hook up lots of different devices at once. Likewise, TVs with more digital TV tuners give you more options for watching subscription-free TV.
Overall screen reader accuracy
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Quality of screen reader information during setup | |
| Quality of screen reader information in the electronic programme guide | |
| Quality of screen reader information in the smart menus | |
| Quality of screen reader information in the settings menus |
How we test overall screen reader accuracy
How good is the screen reader for each menu of the TV, including setup, electronic programme guide, settings and smart menus
Detail of contextual programme information given by screen reader
How we test detail of contextual programme information given by screen reader
Does the screen reader give detailed, useful information for each electronic programme guide entry in a logical, efficient order
Ease of using remote control by touch
How we test ease of using remote control by touch
How simple is it to use the remote control using touch alone?
Visibility of icons on remote
How we test visibility of icons on remote
How easy is it to see the markings and icons on the remote
| General | |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 42-inches |
| Year released | 2022 |
| Range | Sony A90K |
| Height | 62cm |
| Width | 93cm |
| Depth | 22cm |
| Weight | 32kg |
| Full paper manual | |
| Electronic manual built into the TV | |
| Electronic manual available online | |
| Wi-fi setup via smartphone app | |
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Display type | OLED |
| Screen resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Resolution type | 4K |
| HDR | Yes |
| HDR10 | |
| HLG | |
| HDR10+ | |
| Dolby Vision | |
| Dolby Vision IQ | |
| Contrast | 90 |
| Colour | 55 |
| Brightness | 50 |
| Sharpness | 57 |
| Backlight setting | 36 |
| Screen refresh rate | 100 |
| Luminance of peak white (candela per square metre) | |
| Luminance of black (candela per square metre) | |
| Percentage luminance drop at 35 degree horizontal angle from the centre of the screen with 100% white output | |
| Percentage Luminance drop at 35 degree horizontal angle from the centre of the screen with 50% white output | |
| Black level at 35 degree horizontal angle from the centre of the screen | |
| Percentage luminance drop at 20 degree vertical angle from the centre of the screen with 100% white output | |
| Percentage luminance drop at 20 degree vertical angle from the centre of the screen with 50% white output | |
| Black level at 20 degree vertical angle from the centre of the screen | |
| Colour temperature when sat directly in front of the screen (measured in degrees Kelvin) | |
| Colour deviation at 35 degree horizontal angle from the centre of the screen (measured in Kelvin) | |
| Colour deviation at 20 degree vertical angle from the centre of the screen (measured in Kelvin) | |
| Max light output HDR (high dynamic range) while displaying small white square taking up 10% of the screen (measured in Nits) | |
| Max light output HDR (high dynamic range) while displaying small white square taking up 60% of the screen (measured in Nits) | |
| Max light output HDR (high dynamic range) while displaying a live scene and white square taking up 10% of the screen (measured in Nits) | |
| Max light output HDR (high dynamic range) while displaying a live scene and white square taking up 60% of the screen (measured in Nits) | |
| Profile | Standard |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Freeview HD | Yes |
| Freeview Play | No |
| Satellite tuner | Yes |
| Satellite HD tuner | Yes |
| Freesat HD | Yes |
| Number of remote controls | 2 |
| Remote control model name | |
| 2nd remote control model name | |
| Smart remote | Yes |
| Turn on time | 8.1 secs |
| Smart TV operating system | |
| Smart TV | Yes |
| Delete pre-installed apps | |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes |
| All 4 | Yes |
| My 5 | Yes |
| Netflix | Yes |
| Amazon Video | Yes |
| ITV Hub | Yes |
| Freesync | |
| Specific picture mode for gaming | |
| Microphone in remote | |
| Integrated voice assistant | |
| Google Assistant integrated | |
| Amazon Alexa integrated | |
| Other supported voice assistants | |
| Google home app control | |
| Amazon Alexa app control | |
| Text input via voice remote | |
| PVR | Yes |
| Twin tuner PVR | Yes |
| Watching recordings while another recording is in progress | |
| Digital recordings possible via Freeview and satellite tuners | |
| Timer programming via electronic programme guide | |
| Timer programming and adjusting defined time | |
| Can you rewind the current broadcast | |
| Web browser | Yes |
| Screen reader | |
| Screen reader activation shortcut on the remote | No |
| Screen reader activation shortcut via voice command | No |
| Screen reader volume adjustment | Yes |
| Screen reader speed adjustment | Yes |
| Subtitle and audio description information spoken on the electronic programme guide overview | No |
| Subtitle and audio description information spoken on the electronic programme guide more info panel | No |
| Subtitle and audio description information spoken on the electronic programme guide show banner | Yes |
| Navigation tips for navigating menus | No |
| Full screen magnification | No |
| Docked screen magnification | No |
| Partial screen magnification | No |
| Text enlargement in the menus and settings | No |
| Text enlargement in the electronic programme guide | Yes |
| Light text on a dark background option | Yes |
| Dark text on a light background option | No |
| Greyscale | No |
| Inverted colour scheme option | No |
| Subtitles and audio description information displayed on electronic programme guide overview page | No |
| Subtitles and audio description information displayed on electronic programme guide more info panel | No |
| Subtitles and audio description information displayed on electronic programme guide programme banner | Yes |
| Turn on audio description in general settings | Yes |
| Turn on subtitles in general settings | Yes |
| Change location of subtitles panel | No |
| Change location of sign language window | No |
| Change size of sign language window | No |
| Tactile markings on remote | No |
| Accessible remote manual usable with a screen reader | Yes |
| Icons and images are displayed correctly in the manual | No |
| Shortcut to accessibility settings on the remote | Yes |
| Shortcut to control subtitles on the remote | Yes |
| Voice control for accessibility features | No |
| Connections | |
|---|---|
| WiFi | Yes |
| Wi-fi built-in | Yes |
| HDMI ports | 4 |
| Highest stated HDMI version | |
| HDMI ARC | Yes |
| HDMI eARC | |
| USB ports | 2 |
| Highest stated USB verion | |
| Digital audio optical output | Yes |
| Headphone output | No |
| Independent Volume Control | 0 |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Digital audio output | Yes |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Switched on (watts) | 57W |
| Standby | 0.2W |
| Annual running cost | £20.75 |
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TESTING IN NUMBERS
294
Televisions38
Best Buys11
Don't BuysHow this product's score compares with other televisions we've tested
37%Lowest score
60%Average score
%This product
79%Highest score
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