Android TV OS and excellent out-of-the-box image quality(accuracy/upscalling/motion/uniformity/gradient etc.) for most models (usually X85/X90 and above) when set to 'custom' picture mode with only backlight brightness adjustments needed to suit room lighting. There is usually no low frequency PWM flickering as well.
Edit: If not needing Android TV OS, Samsung and LG have some models with excellent image quality too. Just need to avoid lower end models and check reviews with measurements.
Edit2: To prevent misinterpretation, I'm just answering the question on why I chose Sony. I am not directly comparing Sony with Samsung/LG, explaining why people should choose Sony or implying that Sony is superior to them.

Regarding reliability, I had a Sony TV last 10 years without issues but also one that developed display fault in less than 5 years.

Out-of-the-box image accuracy of X90J subject to minor variance between individual units:


I have home theatre system so did not test the built-in speakers of X90J. The built-in speakers have Dolby Atmos and auto calibration feature where you can use the remote's microphone to measure the sound at your listening position and the TV will calibrate the audio according to your TV placement and room conditions. There are also tweeters at the upper side of the TV besides the usual bottom speakers.

Attached below are the built-in speaker review from rtings:


This post has been edited by AV_2018: Oct 8 2021, 06:14 PM

Of course there are Samsung and LG models that have great out-of-the-box image too and a few Sony models have disappointing accuracy. But most Sony models usually have great accuracy. Looking at rtings table, notice that at the bottom of the pre-calibration rankings, there is rarely a Sony TV. According to rtings measurements, Sony TVs tend to follow the HDR EOTF curve more closely as well.

Unit variance is not that much which can be estimated by comparing different reviewers but depends on accuracy of their meters too.

Anyway, see what rtings has to say about the pros and cons of each TV:
https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/sony#compared
https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/samsung#compared
https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/lg#compared

Sony is the only one among these 3 which they mention "Great color accuracy" and no "Uniformity issues".

This post has been edited by AV_2018: Oct 8 2021, 01:03 PM

I see. I can only depend on rtings measurements and quotes since I am not a calibrator. Panasonic was not using Android TV before and rtings rarely reviews them so I didn't consider Panasonic. The reason I choose Sony is not accuracy alone but Android TV + image quality (accuracy/uniformity/upscalling/motion etc.) as mentioned in my original post (edited that post to clarify). If there is an Android TV from other brand with equivalent image quality without the need to tweak many settings then I'll consider that too. About CMS... I don't intend to spend money on calibrating TVs so I pick ones that have good accuracy without the need to be calibrated with a meter. If phones and PC monitors can be factory calibrated accurately, an expensive TV should also be accurate out-of-the-box without further calibration.

Newer Sony TVs actually have 10 points white-balance control as well but doesn't matter since I'm not manually calibrating.

This post has been edited by AV_2018: Oct 8 2021, 02:39 PM

For older AVR that doesn't support eARC or Dolby Digital Plus via ARC, disable eARC and set Dolby Digital Plus to Dolby Digital in the TV audio output settings. These settings work for old AVR via TOSLINK. I use TOSLINK as I find it more reliable than ARC which relies on CEC that sometimes gets disconnected due to some connected STBs.

I notice in newer Sony Android TVs, Netflix constantly outputs Dolby Digital 5.1 even when no 5.1 content is playing. It's mentioned in this link. This might cause Netflix app to act differently in certain configurations.

Generally for TOSLINK, any cable will do. As long as not too cheap until it is loose, easily broken or have signal loss. The one in that link looks okay.

Ya optical doesn't support DD+. Need set Dolby Digital Plus setting to Dolby Digital for using optical.
If using HDMI CEC for controlling receiver from TV, it should still work when using optical as long as CEC is not disabled.

These days many brands not using self-manufactured LCD panels anymore. Cannot last as long as last time. My Sony also panel issue. Got free panel replacement with 5-year warranty. Service centre guy says TV these days must extend warranty which I agree.

Looks similar to mine and a few others here. It was panel failure. I got mine replaced for free under 5-year warranty and it is now good as new. The tech came and brought the TV to service centre then return it in a few days.

The panel is made by TCL CSOT according to https://www.displayspecifications.com/en/model/e36b25a0

I am glad that Sony still updates the TV to Android 12 and recent security patch after 4 years.

Many TV brands use TCL CSOT LCD panel nowadays. Many companies stopped making LCD panels already. But ya, TCL LCD or LG OLED panel plus Sony's image processing can make very good picture quality. Seems many TV's LCD panels fail in 4 years these days though.