Help an OLD with new tv selection

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Mark Fairchild
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5:46p, 10/6/26
AG
Howdy, I have had this tv recommended to me by a family member: Sony, BRAVIA 8 II 65" Class QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV with Gemini (2025). Here is what I need help with:
1. What is QD?
2. What is an OLED?
3.What is 4K HDR
4. What has Google got to do with this TV?
5. What is Gemini
6. Can I use my Roku with this TV
7. Does it work with Dish, also, is YouTube TV worth it to drop dish?

Basically HELP!!! Thank You!
Gig'em, Ole Army Class of '70
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Morbo the Annihilator
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In reply to Mark Fairchild • 7:00p, 10/6/26
AG
Mark Fairchild said:
Howdy, I have had this tv recommended to me by a family member: Sony, BRAVIA 8 II 65" Class QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV with Gemini (2025). Here is what I need help with:
1. What is QD?
2. What is an OLED?
3.What is 4K HDR
4. What has Google got to do with this TV?
5. What is Gemini
6. Can I use my Roku with this TV
7. Does it work with Dish, also, is YouTube TV worth it to drop dish?

Basically HELP!!! Thank You!

Howdy!

1. QD is Quantum Dot. Think of it as a feature that works with OLED to boost colors.

2. OLED is Organic Light Emitting Diode. it has millions of pixels that are self lit and controlled individually. It's in my opinion the top of the line in picture quality. Infinite contrast, perfect blacks, wide angles, and very fast response time. The best for sports.

3. 4K HDR is 3,840 2,160 pixels, around 4 times as many as an older 1080p displey. HDR is High Dynamic Range. Brighter where the picture is brighter, deeper darks and shadows, and better gradients between the two. Most things are HDR now.

5. Google builds the operating system, so the home screen, the interface and the app store. Yes, they're probably checking on what you watch. Gemini is Google's "AI" voice assistant.

6. Get a 4K Roku and you're all set.

7. It'll work with any input. If something is "worth" it is purely subjective. We rotate streaming services based upon what we want to watch. When we're done we cancel. Since we don't watch 90% of what's on a satellite subscription or total streaming solution we don't use them. YMMV

Bottom line is QD-OLED gives you the deepest blacks plus richer, brighter color; 4K HDR is the resolution and contrast spec. That's a good TV. YOu may look into one that is 75" depending on the room you're putting it in.

Hope this helps sir.

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FatZilla
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7:59p, 10/6/26
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Dont use your TV's "built in" apps for anything, they are trash compared to a dedicated streaming device. Use a roku/furestick/apple tv plugged into the instead. As for cable, I prefer DirecTV Stream on an Osprey standalone box (C71KW-400). Works just like cable with a dedicated remote. Tier 2 and up you get the Astros channels.

Example Osprey box
https://ebay.io/m/Mqv65Q
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GreasenUSA
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In reply to FatZilla • 10:50p, 10/6/26
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FatZilla said:
Dont use your TV's "built in" apps for anything, they are trash compared to a dedicated streaming device. Use a roku/furestick/apple tv plugged into the instead. As for cable, I prefer DirecTV Stream on an Osprey standalone box (C71KW-400). Works just like cable with a dedicated remote. Tier 2 and up you get the Astros channels.

Example Osprey box
https://ebay.io/m/Mqv65Q

While I generally agree (I own 3 Nvidia Shields), my living room Sony with Android TV on it from 2019 is still very snappy with all of its built in apps. Sony used to make a higher quality tv. Hopefully this modern model is the same.
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AustinAg2K
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In reply to FatZilla • 6:38a, 10/7/26
FatZilla said:
Dont use your TV's "built in" apps for anything, they are trash compared to a dedicated streaming device. Use a roku/furestick/apple tv plugged into the instead.


A lot of TVs have built in Roku or Google TV. There's little reason to get a dedicated device is that's the OS. If you've got a Samsung, though, then yes get a streaming device.
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FatZilla
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In reply to AustinAg2K • 6:52a, 10/7/26
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AustinAg2K said:
FatZilla said:
Dont use your TV's "built in" apps for anything, they are trash compared to a dedicated streaming device. Use a roku/furestick/apple tv plugged into the instead.


A lot of TVs have built in Roku or Google TV. There's little reason to get a dedicated device is that's the OS. If you've got a Samsung, though, then yes get a streaming device.


Thats not how that works. You are still using the TV's os which is substantially different even on something branded a roku or fire tv and playing second fiddle to run apps on a non dedicated device. Weaker cpu, lower and slower ram, worse wifi, an os not solely built for navigation around streaming, remote is generally terrible for navigation compared to dedicated etc. The list goes on. Buy a dedicated streaming device. The OP is buying a top of the line QD-OLED, you want a device that can push it 4k at its best bitrate and quality with the best sound options.

Do. Not. Use. Built. In. TV. Apps.
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htxag09
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8:22a, 10/7/26
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A lot of this is user driven.

For the OP, is that a great TV? Yes. Do you need a TV that's around $2k when they have alternatives that are 25% of the price? That's 100% user dependent. Not saying the TV isn't worth it, just questioning if it it's worth it for each user.

For the streaming device argument....same. The TV I use the most, yeah, I use an Apple TV. For the TV in our playroom that is 90% Disney Plus or Cocomelon.....the TV built in OS is more than sufficient.
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Mark Fairchild
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8:37a, 10/7/26
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Howdy, THANKS and Wow! Y'all have a Great day knowing you have Really helped an OLD!
Gig'em, Ole Army Class of '70
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boy09
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9:07a, 10/7/26
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That is a VERY good TV. But you could save a significant chunk of change and get something like an LG C6
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Tailgate88
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In reply to AustinAg2K • 9:36a, 10/7/26
AG
AustinAg2K said:
FatZilla said:
Dont use your TV's "built in" apps for anything, they are trash compared to a dedicated streaming device. Use a roku/furestick/apple tv plugged into the instead.


A lot of TVs have built in Roku or Google TV. There's little reason to get a dedicated device is that's the OS. If you've got a Samsung, though, then yes get a streaming device.

I have a ten year old Samsung, still works great, but had gotten very slow on the apps. I had a FireTV on the bedroom TV that worked great, so I picked up another 4KHD FireTV on Black Friday last year for not very much money ($35? Something like that). It works GREAT on my Samsung, and bonus - when going out of town, just throw the FireTV in your backpack, plug it in at your AirBNB and watch all your streaming services. Not that I spend much time watching TV on vacation - it's usually to catch an Aggie game!

Anyway, agree with getting a Roku or FireTV and not using built-in apps, and if you have an old TV, give this a try. Prime Days are happening right now they probably have a good deal on one.
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MsDoubleD81
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In reply to boy09 • 2:52p, 10/11/26
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My 55" LG OLED went out after 2 years and 2 weeks. Guy came and said panel needs to be replaced but Google says it's the main circuit board. I refuse to buy another LG.

It will be my main TV. I stream (YouTubeTV, Netflix, Prime) watch a lot of sports, no gaming and have lots of windows in my living room. Can I tag on to OPs post? I'm an old too. Best Buy was pushing Sony Bravia and Costco was pushing TCL for half the price.
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Mark Fairchild
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In reply to MsDoubleD81 • 9:19a, 10/13/26
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MsDoubleD81: Howdy, you may certainly tag along, OLDS must stick together!
Gig'em, Ole Army Class of '70
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