Feed aggregator

Commentary: A rewatch is making me realize just how stacked this series was with great performances.

Questions have been asked about battery life on the thinnest iPhone ever, and Tim Cook has an answer.

Los Blancos head to the Basque Country looking to make it four wins from four.

Two teams looking for their first wins of the season clash at St. James' Park.

Sony Bravia Projector 7 : One minute review

The Sony Bravia Projector 7 (VPL-XW5100ES) joins Sony’s projector lineup following the Bravia Projector 9 and Bravia Projector 8. It’s the cheapest of the three but still comes in at a staggering $9,999 / £6,999 / AU$13,999. Compared to popular consumer projectors like the $2,999 Hisense C2 Ultra, that is a huge leap. But the Bravia Projector 7 is specialty hardware designed for die-hard cinema fans with plans for a robust home theater, and in that context, it’s fairly priced.

Like other higher-end examples of the best projectors, the Bravia Projector 7 is somewhat simple – it’s just a projector. There’s no Google TV or other streaming platform built in, and there’s no sound system or even audio output ports. The few ports the Bravia Projector 7 does have are a pair of 4K 120Hz-capable HDMI 2.1 inputs plus a smattering of ports used for custom installation.

Though it’s just a projector, it’s a truly excellent one. It has flexible optics with a wide zoom range as well as vertical and horizontal lens shift, making it easy to align the projection. The picture you’ll get on your screen is also stunning: bright, colorful, and with the deepest black levels I can recall seeing from a projector.

While I’d love to see a wider color gamut and support for more HDR formats, these never felt like more than minor shortcomings during my time with the Bravia Projector 7, which never failed to impress. If you’re considering a projector for a dedicated, high-end home theater, it should be on your list.

Sony Bravia Projector 7 review: Price & release date

The Bravia Projector 7 features manual focus and zoom adjustments on its lens (Image credit: Future)

• Release date: June 2025
• Price: $9,999 / £6,999 / AU$13,999

The Bravia Projector 7 launch trailed behind the Projector 8 and 9, and though its price also trails behind those models, it is decidedly a luxury home theater product. The Bravia Projector 7 comes in at $9,999 / £6,999 / AU$13,999.

Sony Bravia Projector 7 review: Specs

Screen sizes supported:

90-130 inches

Brightness (specified):

2,200 Lumens

HDR support:

HDR10, HLG

Optical technology:

Laser SXRD (Silicon Crystal Reflective Display)

Smart TV:

N/A

Connections:

2x HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, USB-A, RS-232C, D-Sub 9-pin, 3.5mm (12V trigger)

Dimensions (H x W x D):

18.3 x 18.59 x 7.88 inches

Weight:

15.4 pounds (7kg)

Dials on the projector's top provide 71% vertical and 25% horizontal lens shift adjustments (Image credit: Future)Sony Bravia Projector 7 review: Design & features

The projector's connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz and ALLM support (Image credit: Future)

• Large footprint
• No audio capabilities or smart TV
• Flexible optics

The Bravia Projector 7 is a sizable home theater projector on the scale of the Epson LS12000 and BenQ W5800. This isn’t one of those compact lifestyle projectors, and it’s even larger than some of the ultra short throw projectors I’ve tested. The upside to this size is that the Bravia Projector 7 runs quietly, and it can still fit onto a (sizable) mantle or shelf at the back of a room, but it is better suited to ceiling mounting.

Thankfully, the Bravia Projector 7 is flexible about placement. The lens has a 1.6x zoom range, letting it shift from a modest throw ratio of 1.38 to a longer 2.21. It also has vertical and horizontal lens shift, offering 71% shifting vertically and 25% horizontally in either direction. You manually adjust focus and zoom using rings around the lens, and lens shift with a set of dials hidden under a small panel on the projector’s top.

In addition to these optical adjustments, the Bravia Projector 7 supports digital keystone, though for a projector of this caliber, it’s worth just ensuring proper alignment.

On one side, the Bravia Projector 7 includes several controls in case you misplace the remote control. There is also a series of ports, though most of these are for professional features, like networking and special triggers. Two HDMI 2.1 ports will accept a 4K 120Hz input, but these are for video input only. Neither offers eARC to pass on an audio signal. And with no other form of audio output, the projector doesn’t play well with streaming sticks or even some home theater PCs if they lack a quality audio output of their own.

The Bravia Projector 7 includes a large remote control with a fully backlit keypad. It includes buttons to access preset picture profiles, along with sharpness, brightness, and contrast. A large directional control is also built into the remote and includes a toggle to let the projector display a test pattern to help line up and focus the picture.

• Design & features score: 4/5

Sony Bravia Projector 7 review: Picture quality Image 1 of 3

The Bravia Projector 7's picture is characterized by crisp 4K detail and deep blacks (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

• Bright and sharp picture
• Deep blacks
• Support for 4K 120Hz

Inside, the Bravia Projector 7 is built around a laser diode light source and features a native 4K SXRD optical system. While it’s still not quite on the level of triple-laser projectors for color gamut coverage, the picture is still simply stunning. As much as I’d love to see that extra bit of color, the quality is otherwise the best I've ever seen.

Blacks on the Bravia Projector 7 are simply exceptional. I can’t recall another projector I’ve seen that so thoroughly sank into darkness when displaying shadows. Letterbox bars presented by the Bravia Projector 7 looked so dim as to be indistinguishable from the surrounding walls, which were only illuminated by the light bouncing around the room from the projector itself during my evaluation. The Bravia Projector 7 has such good black levels that you will really want to invest in some light-absorbing materials or dark paint to reduce reflected room light’s impact on the picture.

The projector also gets bright enough for various uses in the daytime, even with daylight coming in through multiple windows. Cartoons, bright video games, and even web-browsing were all possible. You won’t want to watch darker content in this environment, though. But given this is a projector intended for a specialized viewing setup, I don’t think a few blackout curtains would be a tall order.

Basic adjustments and menu nav controls are located on the side (Image credit: Future)

The Projector 7 uses Sony’s XR Processor for projector, and the resulting image is fantastically crisp, with the optics making even fine text appear clear from edge to edge. And that includes objects in motion. Panning shots looked fluid, avoiding stuttering and judder but also artifacts such as the soap opera effect that plagues many systems trying to smooth motion. The Bravia Projector 7 was also happy to game at 4K 120Hz, with smooth visuals and only faint ghosting, and its ALLM feature ensured any input lag was negligible.

Even though the HDR support doesn’t go beyond HDR10, the Projector 7’s XR Dynamic Tone Mapping provides features to enhance the look of HDR content, including three selectable tone mapping modes. An XR Deep Black feature also contributes by ensuring blacks look deep and highlights get maximum brightness punch. For example, when the earth ships decelerate as they approach Pandora in Avatar: The Way of Water, the picture looked simply stunning with the deep black of space contrasted with brilliant flames.

• Picture quality score: 4.5/5

Sony Bravia Projector 7 review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• High price tag
• Price is still competitive for category
• Performance equivalent to competition

The Bravia Projector 7 is expensive, and you are only getting a display for the money with no speakers (or a way to output audio to speakers), and no smart platform for streaming. That may be a tough pill to swallow for some, but the Bravia Projector 7 isn’t meant for someone who wants anything less than a masterful home theater setup. And the display that you’re getting is a truly exceptional one.

There’s no getting past this being a big investment, both for the projector and for all the other elements you’ll need to make the most of the Sony Bravia Projector 7. And there are plenty of projectors that won’t look half bad next to the Bravia Projector 7 while being way less expensive.

So while it’s tough to say the Bravia Projector 7 is a great value, that still can’t undercut its greatness. And the truth is, the Bravia Projector 7 is still a bargain next to some, like the Epson QL7000, and it’s a comparably priced and worthy rival to the JVC DLA-NZ700.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Sony Bravia Projector 7?

(Image credit: Future)Sony Bravia Projector 7

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design and features

Fairly huge, but it's smartly designed, and the adjustable optics allow for positioning flexibility

4/5

Picture quality

The picture quality is absolutely brilliant, and I haven’t seen such a deep black from a projector before. Its ability to run at 4K 120Hz for gaming also adds to the experience

4.5/5

Value

It’s not cheap, but the picture is great and the price is comparable to some of the other dedicated home theater projector options out there

3.5/5

Buy it if...

You want a truly gorgeous picture
The Bravia Projector 7 can provide a sharp, clean image with powerful contrast, great color, and impressive motion handling. View Deal

You have the rest of your home theater sorted
This projector requires more elements to make a complete home theater. If you’ve already got the sound, the seating, the light mitigation, and video sources in place, this is a great drop-in solution, especially with its flexible optics.View Deal

You know you’re going big with the picture
The value of a projector really soars as you move to bigger and bigger pictures. And the Bravia Projector 7 is happy to go even bigger than 100 inches while still maintaining a brilliant image.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You just want to plunk it down in your living room
Tapping this projector’s full capabilities takes some effort. Just about any stray light or reflective surface in the room is going to degrade picture quality, and then you won’t be getting all of what you’ve paid for.View Deal

You like a simple setup
The Bravia Projector 7 is meant for complete home theater setups with an A/V receiver routing video and audio signals, and cables and wires running all over the room. If that doesn’t sound appealing, you would probably be better suited by a different projector.View Deal

You don’t like watching in a dark room
This projector’s extremely deep black levels are probably its greatest aspect, but you won’t appreciate them unless you black out your room almost completely. If you prefer watching with some lights on, look instead for a brighter model designed to work in a range of lighting conditions. View Deal

Also considerComparison: projectors

Sony Bravia Projector 7

Epson Pro Cinema LS12000

Hisense C2 Ultra

JVC DLA-NZ700

Price:

$9,999

$5,000

$2,999

$8.999

Screen sizes supported:

90 to 130 inches

50 to 130 inches

65-300 inches

30 to 150 inches

Brightness (specified):

2,400 lumens

2,500 lumens

3,000 lumens

2,300 lumens

HDR support

HDR10, HLG

HDR10, HDR10+, HLG

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG

HDR10, HDR10+, HLG

Optical technology:

Laser SXRD

Laser 3LCD

RGB Laser DLP

Laser D-ILA

Smart TV:

n/a

n/a

Vidaa OS

n/a

Connections:

2x HDMI 2.1

2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC)

2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC)

2x HDMI 2.0

Epson LS12000

The Epson LS12000 falls into a similar category as the Bravia Projector 7. It’s similarly large, but it’s significantly less expensive. It also supports eARC, potentially simplifying setup for users who won’t opt for an A/V receiver. Its picture is also stunning, though less colorful. It also features similar optical adjustments, helping with setup simplicity.

Read our Epson LS12000 review View Deal

Hisense C2 Ultra

If you’re wondering what you can get for a fraction of the price, the Hisense C2 Ultra is the perfect example. It’s incredibly bright, almost obscenely colorful (even more so than the Bravia), thanks to its triple-laser light source, and quite versatile. It supports a beautiful 4K image, but can also switch over to 1080p/240Hz visuals for gaming. And it has built-in speakers and Google TV for all-in-one capabilities. It may not be as pixel-perfect a projector as the Bravia Projector 7, but it’s a stunning projector nonetheless.

Read our Hisense C2 Ultra reviewView Deal

JVC DLA-NZ700

For $1,000 less, this projector gives you a very similar machine with excellent imagery, deep blacks, potent HDR capabilities, and a competitive color gamut. You’ll miss out on 4K 120Hz capabilities, though, and getting this projector’s 97% DCI-P3 color gamut requires enabling a filter that reduces brightness.

Read our JVC DLA-NZ700 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Sony Bravia Projector 7

• Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
• Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
• I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade

I tested the Sony Bravia Projector 7 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, and in-room lighting,. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.

My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.

I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.

• First reviewed: September 2025
• Read TechRadar's review guarantee

The Bravia Projector 7 is a high-end home theater projector with an astounding picture. The price is high, but it fares well against the competition.

The former Munich Motor Show brings an eclectic collection of concept cars, future EVs and infotainment technology.

If you're not over 65 or have certain risk factors, it might be hard to get one but not necessarily impossible. Here's what to know about the confusing and fast-changing rules for getting the shot.

(Image credit: Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has disbanded a controversial Climate Working Group (CWG), which wrote a report that scientists say was full of errors and misrepresented climate science.

(Image credit: Alex Brandon)

Summer is over, but I have my eye on the new Dyson smart heater to warm my cockles when temperatures start to drop.

The 12 profiles featured in this edited book highlight the positive aspects of the U.S.-China engagement, which began in earnest after diplomatic relations were established in 1979.

Alterego's new wearable reads your brain signals so you can communicate without speaking.

Television's biggest night is nearly here.

Shell says its new EV-Plus Thermal Fluid can help “unlock significant reductions in charging times”. Here's how it works.

Prosecutors claim the family that has long led La Luz del Mundo — or Light of the World — church committed sexual abuse across generations. An accuser compares the church leadership to the mafia.

(Image credit: Damian Dovarganes)

Protests targeting an Israeli-owned team have seized the limelight at Spain's version of the Tour de France. The team under fire issued a statement saying that quitting the race is out of the question.

(Image credit: Miguel Oses)

Waiting for a discount on the OM System OM-3? Good news – it's just hit a record-low price in both the US and UK.

Some GOP officials want to clamp down on perceived expressions of schadenfreude about Charlie Kirk's death. Conservative activists are publicizing social media posts that are "celebrating" his death.

(Image credit: Eric Thayer)

Some colleges, seeking to attract more male students, are adding the sport. Research suggests the gains may be short-lived.

(Image credit: Miles MacClure)

Many teens are using artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT for everything from homework to relationship advice. Experts say parents must lead the way in helping them understand the technology.

(Image credit: Eva Redamonti for NPR)