Sony Inzone M9 overview: A valiant first attempt

Except the Sony Inzone M9 drops to $700 or much less, it is best to maintain off.

Concerning the Sony Inzone M9

Listed here are the specs of the gaming monitor we examined:

• Worth: $900
• Show dimension: 27 inches
• Decision: 3840 x 2160 pixels
• Refresh charge: 144Hz
• Peak brightness:400 nits (rated), 600 nits peak with HDR enabled (rated); 465 (examined), 580 with HDR enabled (examined)
• HDR help: VESA DisplayHDR 600
• Coloration depth: 10-bit
• Coloration saturation: 99.5% sRGB (examined), 90.4% DCI-P3 (examined), 85.5% AdobeRGB (examined)
• Distinction ratio: 1,000:1 (rated), 80,000:1 (rated dynamic distinction ratio); 935:1 (examined, native dimming disabled), 1064:1 (examined, native dimming enabled), 573:1 (examined, HDR with native dimming disabled), 897:1 (examined, HDR with native dimming enabled)
• Pixel response time (GtG): 1ms
• Ports: 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB Kind-C (DP alt mode, upstream), 1x USB Kind-B (upstream), 3x USB Kind-A
• VRR Help: VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium (over DisplayPort solely), G-Sync suitable
• Different options: VESA mount, built-in KVM, auto HDR tone mapping for PlayStation 5, auto-genre image mode for PS5, 2x 2-watt audio system, 96 native dimming zones, addressable rear RGB strip, controllable

The Sony Inzone M9 is Sony’s first PC gaming monitor, nevertheless it maintains compatibility with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Collection X|S as much as 120Hz at 4K due to its two HDMI 2.1 ports and variable refresh charge help. When linked to a PC through a DisplayPort 1.4 or suitable USB-C cable, it will probably hit 144Hz. (The 27-inch, 1080p Inzone M3 will max out at 240Hz when it’s launched.)

The Inzone M9 has 96 native dimming zones organized in an 8-by-12 grid. The dimming will be turned off or set to both “low” or “excessive.”

What we like

Glorious picture high quality

It ought to be stated proper out of the gate {that a} 27-inch 4K monitor will probably be overkill for many players. Except you’re sitting a foot away from the display, you’ll doubtless be hard-pressed to inform the distinction between the Sony Inzone M9 and a 1440p various. Nonetheless, I did discover the extra readability.

Card artwork in Hearthstone and textual content each on the internet and in Scrivener is supremely clean and anti-aliased by default due to the extra pixel density. In Overwatch 2 and Fortnite, what renders as small blobs on lower-resolution screens turned identifiable as particular enemies. In Elden Ring, the upper decision made textures on armor and the atmosphere actually pop, including noticeable depth and readability that’s typically lacking when taking part in the sport at 1440p.

The display additionally will get brilliant, topping out at 464 nits with native dimming disabled, nicely surpassing Sony’s ranking of 400 nits. With native dimming set to excessive—and it is best to have it turned on always if you wish to get probably the most out of the Inzone M9—it solely hit 361 nits throughout testing. That’s nonetheless respectable, however nothing particular.

Coloration accuracy out of the field wasn’t one of the best, with a median Delta E of 4.43, with oversaturation noticeable to the bare eye. After calibrating, nevertheless, the typical dE dropped to an impressive 0.33, which is greater than correct sufficient for video games and even color-sensitive artistic work.

The Inzone M9 boasts blazing quick pixel response instances on prime of its 144Hz max refresh charge, and I by no means seen any ghosting, smearing, or overshoot both in video games or utilizing the Blur Busters UFO check.

True HDR

One among Sony’s major promoting factors for the Inzone M9 is its wonderful HDR efficiency, and it really doesn’t disappoint. Though solely rated for VESA DisplayHDR 600 (and although I solely measured a peak brightness of 580 nits with it enabled), that is the place the monitor really shines.

Watching HDR video or taking part in HDR-compatible video games is a wealthy, lifelike expertise due to the monitor’s 10-bit coloration capabilities. Though it will probably’t hit the identical 1,000 nit peak brightness that pricier rivals just like the Alienware AW3423DW can, taking part in Horizon Zero Daybreak at 4K with HDR enabled was a sight to behold. Whether or not it was exploring a machine-producing warren illuminated solely by enemies, or trying up at a sundown filtered by means of the forest cover, the expertise was at all times immersive.

Even in video games with lackluster HDR integration, like Elden Ring, the additional depth of the specular highlights and luster on weapons and armor was noticeably richer in comparison with taking part in on a monitor with solely DisplayHDR 400. After all, if you wish to make the most of the Inzone M9’s most 144Hz refresh charge, G-Sync or FreeSync, and HDR capabilities on the identical time, you’ll want a beefy graphics card to again it up.

A Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 or RTX 4080 ought to be sufficient to drive this monitor to its full potential, however even my RTX 3080 stumbled and chugged when making an attempt to play Horizon Zero Daybreak or Spider-Man: Miles Morales at max settings, even with DLSS enabled.

Nonetheless, if you happen to’re contemplating a $900 monitor, that doubtless isn’t a priority.

The “good to have” options

When you don’t care about HDR efficiency, yow will discover 27-inch, 4K gaming monitor just like the Gigabyte M28U or LG 27GP95R-B for $300 to $450 lower than the Inzone M9—however you’d miss out on Sony’s further quality-of-life options.

For one, it went all in on the PlayStation 5 aesthetic, which units the Inzone line other than different generic black-panel screens. The curved white shell, programmable RGB backlighting, and distinctive tripod stand imply that if you happen to select to pair it with a PS5, the Inzone M9 will match it completely (whereas not going overboard like options from Alienware).

It’s completely positioned to sit down in your desk between a gaming PC and PS5 or Xbox Collection X|S, due to the variable refresh charge capabilities when linked to a console over HDMI 2.1, auto HDR tone mapping help for PS5, and Auto Style Image Mode. Sadly, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, which optimizes HDR content material, isn’t supported when linked to an Xbox.

Sony’s Inzone Hub software program means that you can management the monitor’s settings with out having to fiddle with the navigation joystick on the again. There’s an built-in KVM for multi-device switching, and you’ll go information between your monitor and PC by means of USB-C as an alternative of with a clunky USB-B cable if you happen to so select.

The 96 dimming zones aren’t loads, nevertheless it’s greater than the zero provided by different PC gaming screens. There are even audio system inbuilt, although they’re fairly muffled and boring sounding even at 100% quantity. Once more, not vital, however good to have in a pinch.

What we don’t like

The poor distinction and viewing angles

Sadly, the Sony Inzone M9 can’t clear the hurdle that plagues cheaper IPS screens—an atrocious distinction ratio. Like I stated, there’s a motive you’ll wish to hold the full-array native dimming enabled always.

I measured solely a 935:1 distinction ratio with native dimming disabled, and a 1064:1 distinction ratio with native dimming set to excessive. That’s technically above the M9’s 1000:1 ranking, however nonetheless worse than you’d count on from a $900 monitor.

Aspect-by-side with my $250 Gigabyte M27Q (with a distinction ratio I’ve measured at over 1150:1), blacks typically appeared grayish and washed out. Taking part in Management was a noticeably worse expertise since a lot of that sport’s ambiance depends on deep blacks and shadows.

The distinction with HDR enabled was even worse. With native dimming disabled, I measured a depressing 573:1 distinction ratio, and that solely hit 897:1 when native dimming was enabled once more. Nevertheless, though you’ll wish to hold native dimming on, it kills the viewing angles. I discovered myself always readjusting the panel’s place as I moved round my desk.

Setting it up is a trouble

Let’s get this out of the best way; it is a $900 monitor that doesn’t include any cables. I skilled periodic random black screens after I would change between the Inzone M9 and my secondary monitor, which is outwardly a Show Stream Compression downside in Home windows that has plagued different high-refresh-rate 4K screens. Shopping for a good DisplayPort 1.4 cable and disabling G-Sync alleviated most of my points, nevertheless it might have been averted completely if Sony had included cables licensed to the proper speeds within the field.

The Inzone M9 additionally comes with the biggest energy brick I’ve ever seen at 6.75 inches lengthy by 3.25 inches huge and 1.5 inches thick. It dwarfs highly effective gaming laptop computer energy bricks due to the whopping 140 watts the monitor attracts on common, which is greater than practically all however the highest-end lounge TVs. It additionally kicks off a corresponding quantity of warmth.

As soon as booted up, coloration accuracy out of the field was off, and Sony locks you into its very heat “Regular” preset mode by default the place you may’t change something apart from brightness and distinction. Switching to “Sport mode” offers you finer granular management over coloration stability and saturation, which helps, nevertheless it took a full calibration to lock down a profile I discovered acceptable.

The stand can be horrible. The triangular metallic meeting seems to be fascinating and isn’t simply one other pole on a base, nevertheless it takes up far an excessive amount of desk area and may’t sit flush towards the wall. What’s worse is that if you wish to regulate the monitor up or down, it is advisable to slide it ahead or again alongside the observe, that means it additionally will get nearer or additional away from you.

When you’re brief on desk area—and you haven’t any motive to make use of a 27-inch monitor on a really deep desk—then you definately’ll additionally want to regulate your viewing place. Skip it and stick the Inzone M9 on an arm.

The worth

For $900, the Inzone has too many rivals to essentially stand out. It lacks cables and doesn’t have an lively G-Sync Final module like some rivals, opting just for “suitable” standing. It additionally solely has three USB-A ports.

It’s a disgrace that Sony didn’t decide to promote the panel and stand individually like NZXT has for the Canvas 27Q and Canvas 25F. Doing so would save on each supplies and transport prices for shoppers, which might have allowed them to chop the value of the panel. Usually I wouldn’t carry this up, however the stand is so massive and heavy that it looks as if a no brainer.

For $900 you may also count on stellar construct high quality. From the Amazon critiques, it’s seemingly hit-or-miss, with complaints of backlight points and the identical black screening I skilled. Whereas I didn’t discover something too extreme, there have been noticeably dimmer traces on the very left and proper sides of my show that have been much more apparent than what I’m used to with edge-lit IPS panels.

Must you purchase the Sony Inzone M9?

Possibly, if you happen to can nab it on sale

Regardless of the downsides, the Inzone M9 is a stable first try at a gaming monitor from Sony. It’s quick, presents nice picture high quality, and has ample connectivity and further options for consoles. The HDR implementation blows away cheaper options, and Sony commonly drops the value to $800 for gross sales—and refurbished models will be discovered on Amazon for $750 or much less, typically as little as $600.

Nevertheless, I wouldn’t leap on it at that worth, particularly given the options. The Cooler Grasp Tempest GP27U is the elephant within the room; it’s a 27-inch 4K gaming monitor that may hit 160Hz, has HDR1000, and 576 native dimming zones due to its use of mini-LEDs, quantum dots, and significantly better accuracy all for less than $800. The one challenge is the value has been hovering nearer to $1,000 as a result of provide constraints.

When you’re contemplating the Inzone M9 for console causes, it is perhaps higher to control the 42-inch LG C2 OLED TV as an alternative, because it lately dropped to $900 on sale.

Sony’s Inzone M9 occupies an odd place within the PC gaming monitor panorama. There are cheaper options, just like the $450 Gigabyte M28U, nevertheless it outpaces them on options alone. Sadly, it’s simply too costly to advocate, but when the value drops to $700 or much less, it is best to seize it.

The product specialists at Reviewed have all of your procuring wants lined. Comply with Reviewed on Fb, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the newest offers, product critiques, and extra.

Costs have been correct on the time this text was revealed however might change over time.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Hilburg

Electronics Editor

@jhilburg

Jonathan is an Electronics Editor for Reviewed specializing in gaming gear and has expertise with every little thing from controllers to benchmarking the newest GPUs. He was beforehand the Net Editor at The Architect’s Newspaper.

See all of Jonathan Hilburg’s critiques