So, here's a recap of the situation:
* Some people discovered you can load the X90J firmware onto the X900H tv. (J follows H in the alphabet, skipping i, which indicates it's the 2021 model, not 2020) The new firmware, after a good reset, addresses issues. This ISN'T a surprise since many of these TVs share the same firmware file across multiple models.
* The X90J firmware addresses some issues. Brighter HDR.
* New X90J firmware just dropped this week. It updates the PS5 icon on the Input menu and adds ALLM support
* Installing the X90J firmware is a bit of a risk because you don't know if you'd be able to go back to the regular X900H firmware anytime soon. And given some random issues, it will require a full factory reset of your TV just to be safe. Lots of random dropped audio or weirdness happening from not factory resetting.
The 5 remaining issues on the X900H: (It doesn't have smooth gradation. It was never promised.)
Xbox eARC audio dropouts:
Still happening. Pray for the Android OS 11 update.
720p V-sync Broken:
When in 720p, the video feed is broken on the top 5% of the screen. It's nasty.
MAYBE the new alt-firmware update fixes it. But so few test in 720p, I'm not confident.
No ALLM: (Auto-Low Latency Mode) This switches to Game mode automatically on TVs:
Currently not enabled, but the alt-firmware added it last week, even without needing Android 11
No VRR: (Variable Refresh Rate) This updates the TV at a custom refresh rate that matches the console, which prevents V-sync issues, tearing, and is the secret thing I've waited for:
Currently not enabled on ANY Android OS 10 TV. Supposedly waiting for the OS update to Android 11 to enable it. (PS5 lacks it currently, too. I imagine they'll be added on the same day)
And now the big one:
Half-assed 120Hz: When running at 120Hz, the number of vertical lines is halved, blurring the screen. So instead of 2160 horizontal lines when running in 4K, it's 1080p, but 4K vertical lines. The same is supposedly when running at 120Hz in 1080p, and that becomes 540p. Haven't tested the 1080p version.
The big deal with the broken 120Hz is that Sony USA has basically pretended it's not an issue when customer service asks. Other sites in other countries have removed any mention of 120Hz support.
What complicates this is the fact that the new X90J TVs have this issue fixed, but installing that alt-firmware on the current TV doesn't fix it.
That has led to a lot of fears that it won't ever be fixed on the TV because of either BANDWIDTH issues. See, the X90J TVs have the EXACT same SoC (System on a chip) CPU that the X900H TV does. That's why the alt-firmware works on it. BUT the X90J TVs have an additional co-processor. The worry is that the co-processor was added to support the fixed 120Hz. We had no way to be sure of that. Because of that situation, there's been at least one case of a guy managing to pay Sony $300 and they replaced his TV with the current X90J one to fix the issue. Some feared the fact Sony capitulated with him means they admitted they can't fix it and want to avoid a lawsuit.
HOWEVER. There is one special model. The X85J.
While the X85J is a current 2021 model TV, it's just a rebranded X850H TV. It has the same SoC as the X900H, and NO CO-PROCESSOR. RTings has been testing it and just confirmed there's no 120Hz blur anymore on the TV.
Does this TV also suffer from the same blurriness that the X900H does? The X85J has the same X1 processor if I’m not mistaken. Thanks!
www.rtings.com
So it's now just a matter of time. There is nothing on the TV that can't be addressed with firmware updates. There WILL be a firmware update for this TV. The 120Hz IS just a software limitation. So now we just have to wait. There's a promised "Spring 2021" firmware update. So let's see how delayed that becomes.