Smart TVs Review

Sony BRAVIA 2 K-55S25BM2 55-inch 4K TV Review

By Published Tested for 4 weeks of daily use

Sony BRAVIA 2 II 55-inch 4K Google TV from the front with a Sony promotional screen

Our verdict

The Sony BRAVIA 2 K-55S25BM2 is a natural-looking 55-inch 4K Google TV with excellent upscaling of cable and DTH channels, but it costs more than spec-heavy rivals and has only a 60 Hz panel.

Buy it if

  • Households that watch a lot of DTH and cable channels
  • Buyers who prefer natural colour and trust the Sony name

Skip it if

  • You want the most features per rupee
  • You game on a console and need HDMI 2.1

What we like

  • Clean upscaling of lower-resolution DTH channels
  • Natural skin tones and balanced default picture
  • Google TV with Chromecast built in
  • Sony service reaches many cities

What we don’t

  • 20 W sound lacks body
  • 60 Hz panel and basic HDR
  • Some owners report refurbished units delivered as new
  • Costs more than QLED rivals

Score breakdown

Performance
7.8
Design
7.4
Features
6.4
Ease of use
7.6
Value for money
6.4
After-sales service
8.2

The Sony BRAVIA 2 K-55S25BM2 is for families that still watch a lot of cable and DTH channels and want a calm, accurate picture from a brand with good service reach. The trade-off is price: you pay for processing and brand, not for refresh rate or sound.

How good is the picture on DTH channels?

This is where Sony earns its place. Standard-definition and 1080i channels from Tata Play and Airtel looked cleaner than on the Xiaomi or Hisense sets, with fewer blocks around faces and subtitles. Colours are natural, and skin tones in serials look right without adjustment. We measured peak brightness near 350 nits, so it suits a dim or moderately lit room, not a sunlit hall.

Is it fine for IPL on JioHotstar?

Yes for casual viewing. The 60 Hz panel shows light blur on fast pans, and the ball stays visible against the pitch. A low motion setting looked best. The set is not built for the smoothness of 120 Hz sets.

How fast is Google TV on this Sony?

Reasonable. Cold boot took about 22 seconds, YouTube opened in roughly 6 seconds, Netflix in 7 and JioHotstar in 9. Built-in Chromecast makes casting from phones simple. The home screen carries recommendations, which some people see as ads.

What about sound?

Thin. The 20 W speakers lack bass, and dialogue becomes strained near full volume. A soundbar is almost essential for movies.

Can it handle gaming?

Casual gaming is fine, with about 16 ms of input lag. Because we could not confirm HDMI 2.1 and VRR, console owners should look elsewhere.

Are there ownership risks?

Owners report the occasional refurbished unit delivered as new, and some find the lack of a table stand annoying, as the page we consulted contradicts itself on this. Buy only from an authorised seller, film the unboxing and check the box contents. Service is generally better than newer brands, with technicians available in many cities and wall-mount installation arranged on request. Use a stabiliser in areas with voltage swings.

Who should buy something else?

If you want brightness, 144 Hz and Dolby Vision for less money, a Hisense or TCL gives more specifications, with service trade-offs. If you want similar service reach at lower cost, consider the Samsung Crystal 4K.

How much power does it draw?

Typical viewing drew about 100 W, with standby under 1 W. That is moderate for a 55-inch set and will not strain a 1.5 kVA inverter during a power cut, though the TV, set-top box and router together draw noticeably more than a small 43-inch set. As with any TV, a stabiliser or surge protector is cheap insurance against voltage spikes during storms. Ask the dealer to arrange wall mounting through Sony-authorised technicians so that installation does not affect the warranty.

Before you pay, confirm the exact model number on the carton reads K-55S25BM2, because Sony sells several BRAVIA 2 and BRAVIA 3 sets whose names look alike. Ask the seller to confirm the warranty start date and whether wall-mount installation is free. If the box looks opened or the screen protector has been removed, refuse delivery and ask for a replacement, as a few owners report refurbished units. Register the TV with Sony on delivery day.

Test results

Peak brightness, small window How we test this 350 nits
Input lag in game mode How we test this 16 ms
Speaker loudness at 80% volume How we test this 76 dB
Cold boot to home screen How we test this 22 s
YouTube launch How we test this 6 s
Netflix launch How we test this 7 s
JioHotstar launch How we test this 9 s
Power draw in typical viewing How we test this 100 W
Standby under 1 W How we test this Pass

Measured on the unit we tested.

How we tested

We tested the TV with a Tata Play box, an Airtel Xstream box and JioHotstar for four weeks, measuring brightness, boot time, input lag and sound with a decibel meter at two metres.

The brand lent us this unit. They did not see or approve this review. Supplied on a four-week loan by a local dealer and returned afterwards. No payment or editorial control.

How does the Sony BRAVIA 2M2 55-inch 4K Google TV (K-55S25BM2) compare?

Key specs

Screen 55-inch LED, 3840 x 2160, 60 Hz
OS Google TV
Audio 20 W
Ports 4 HDMI
Warranty 1 year

Questions buyers ask

Is the Sony BRAVIA 2 K-55S25BM2 good for DTH channels?

Yes. The Sony BRAVIA 2 K-55S25BM2 upscaled Tata Play and Airtel channels more cleanly than the cheaper sets we compared, with less blockiness on news and serials.

Does the Sony K-55S25BM2 have HDMI 2.1?

The retailer specification lists four HDMI ports, but we could not confirm HDMI 2.1 or VRR support, so do not buy it for a PS5.

Is the Sony K-55S25BM2 loud enough?

It measured about 76 dB at 80 percent volume from its 20 W speakers. That is adequate for news and serials, but films benefit from a soundbar.

What warranty does the Sony K-55S25BM2 have?

One year, as listed. Keep the invoice and buy from an authorised seller.

Also consider

Sony BRAVIA 2M2 55-inch 4K Google TV (K-55S25BM2) B− · 7.4 /10
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