// WIRED US/UK — GAMING
Sony Bravia 7 Mark II: Midrange but Priced High (2026)
The age of mini and micro RGB LED televisions is here, and the Sony Bravia 7 Mark II is one of the first models to hit the market, joining the Hisense UR9 and the TCL RM9L.
Because RGB LED technology is so new, the tech might seem confusing. Particularly so with the Bravia Mark II, given that Sony uses the term “True RGB,” claiming more color volume, superior contrast and brightness, and a better picture overall compared with other televisions. Also, Sony itself had RGB TVs way back in 2004 (though it’s hardly comparable to new models). Samsung and LG have introduced similar models that use the name “micro RGB,” which adds to the confusion over what the class of television actually means.
The distinction is really only something an engineer would love. Mini and micro RGB TVs use tiny red, green, and blue LED lights to emit color through an LCD panel. Micro RGB is (in theory) more advanced than mini because the LEDs are smaller, allowing for more pixel-level control. (Sony reps actually dispute that claim, telling WIRED the LEDs are the same size.)
The Sony Bravia 7 Mark II is positioned as a midrange mini RGB LED television only because its price stands in the shadow of the Sony Bravia 9 Mark II. The Bravia 7 Mark II costs $2,300 for the 65-inch model (with a $300 discount running now), while the Bravia 9 II costs $3,600 at the same size.
The Bravia 9 Mark II has more speakers and better sound, deeper blacks, and a few other perks, but the underlying Mini RGB tech is the same as what you’ll get with the Bravia 7. You’ll also still get bells and whistles on the Bravia 7, like Nvidia G-Sync support for smoother gameplay to the Sony Pictures Core app, which is still one of the best ways to watch Imax Enhanced high-resolution movies at home. You’ll also get your pick among the broadest size range of any mini RGB model, starting at 50 inches and running all the way up to a massive 98 inches.
However, what is essentially a word salad of technical terms propping up the Bravia 7 Mark II can’t hide the fact that it didn’t fare as well as competing mini and micro RGB models.
All black with a thin 2.25-inch bezel, the Sony Bravia 7 Mark II looks remarkably similar to the Bravia 5 we reviewed recently (8/10 WIRED Recommends), with one obvious exception: While previous Bravia models used two traditional feet, the Bravia 7 Mark II has what’s called a Mirage Stand. It’s one foot that attaches to the TV and means that, even for a 65-inch model, you don’t need a massive surface beneath it for table-mounting. There’s a transparent plastic piece that sits directly under the television with the intention of making the TV appear as if it’s floating. Sadly, this feature is a bit underwhelming, since the transparent piece looks too foggy and is, thus, completely visible. (It’s a throwback to the original RGB models from two decades ago.)
The assembly process is a bit complicated, since the legs come in different parts that don’t fit together logically. I prefer how some Samsung televisions don’t even use screws for the feet but just snap into place, and—voilà—you’re done. The Bravia 7 Mark II stand involves attaching prongs to the main stand, then attaching that stand to the TV.
Pairing the remote was easy, but logging in was not without friction: The Bravia 7 Mark II uses Google TV as the operating system, but I wasn’t able to use the Google Home app QR code for initial setup. As a workaround, I manually entered my Gmail email and password—a minor annoyance. Once Google TV takes over, the rest of the setup process is as slick as butter. I selected a few apps to install, but mostly just agreed to all the default options and was up and running in about 10 minutes.
I love the remote’s small size and obvious buttons for volume and channels. Shortcuts for apps like Sony Pictures Core, Amazon Prime, and Netflix all make sense in terms of button layout; however, I don’t like that the Home button is on the right side instead of centered like it is