Sony Bravia HX-903 July 2010

The Sony HX903 is the latest 3D TV from Sony to hit the UK's shelves and it’s available in 46- and 52-inch flavours. The TV’s great ancestor, the HX803, was one of the first 3D TVs available to buy in the UK, and we ran it through Which?’s inaugural 3D TV group test. We’ll give the HX903 the same treatment when we get it into our labs, but here’s a quick first look at the set.

Sony HX-903 3D TV video first look

Find out how the HX-903 fared against other 3D TVs in our 3D TV group test

Backlit LED TV

The HX903 is from Sony’s Cinematic range, and has a design based on Sony’s ‘Monolith’ blueprint, which is sleek in its appearance inasmuch as it has a single sheet of glass running to the very edge of all four sides.

One of the key differences between the HX803 and the HX903 is that the HX903 is an LED backlit LCD, while the HX803 is only an LED edge-lit LCD. Backlit panels provide greater control over dimming and illuminating, so there is usually a better contrast between the light and the dark areas of the picture.

Freeview HD

The HX903 has an integrated Freeview HD receiver, which will allow users to get a range of regular Freeview channels plus the new Freeview HD channels from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 – and S4C in Wales.

The HX903 is an IPTV which means that it can simply be plugged into a broadband connection and bring users a host of online video access. The access is different to how you’d see the internet on a PC, as it’s channelled through Sony’s Bravia portal. Sony calls this service Bravia Internet Video and it offers access to YouTube and a number of catch-up TV services, such as the BBC iPlayer.

For reviews of hundreds of TVs, check out our in-depth, lab-based TV report