Verdict
The Sony Inzone M9 II is a decent 4 KiB gaming monitor with splendid detail and solid motion , combined with a cagey stand and easy - to - use OSD . Overall operation is mixed , depending on the predetermined mode selected , though , where OLED rival are more reproducible .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Sony Inzone M9 II provides a welcome update to the brand ’s first knife thrust at a gaming proctor from a duo of years ago .
Since theoriginal M9‘s unblock back in 2022 , the gaming monitor landscape has shifted towards OLEDs as top dog , while high refresh 4 K LCD option have dropped like a rock in price . This leaves the Inzone M9 II in a bit of an rum spatial relation , given this is a 27 - inch 4 K 160Hz LCD panel that costs £ 899/$799 .
Sure , it come with lesser - blob features such as Full Array Local Dimming , as is found on some of Sony ’s splendid non - OLED TVs , and a clever OSD , but that price tag is n’t far away from seriously bright 32 - inch 4 K 240Hz QD - OLED screen such as thePhilips Evnia 32M2N8900 .
It means the Inzone M9 II has a fleck of a mountain to climb to become one of thebest gambling monitorswe’ve tested . I ’ve been using it for the last couple of weeks to see how it fare .
Design
Where the original M9 was an out - there affair with a modern clean artistic and more space - years design choices that fitted in well with the PS5 , this second - gen example is a ended departure from the original innovation language . Instead , this is an all - opprobrious admonisher with more in common by way of its look with 2011 ’s PlayStation three-D Display .
It is n’t as sleek or as exciting as the Evnia 32M2N8900 or Samsung’sOdyssey OLED G8 ( 2024 ) , stick to with a matte black plastic skeletal system that ’ll check well in a variety show of environment . Branding here is minimal , too , with only a lowly Sony logo on the bottom left quoin . I ’ve got no result with the general construction and feel of the Inzone M9 II , either , as it ’s especially well - built .
What ’s more , its stall has been alter from the tripod selection on the archetype to a rotate standpoint , which is a lot easier to manoeuvre . This goes for everything from the initial setup when plugging in force and display cables to when you demand to move it clean around it . It ’s all straightforward .
The stand offers reasonable adjustment , with solid orbit for acme adaptation , swivel and loads of sway . It wo n’t go into a portrait orientation though . structure is dewy-eyed , too , with the monitor attach to its stand toollessly , which then attaches to the base . Then , you ’re all quick to go . Even a ham - fisted idiot like me cope just fine .
A veridical highlight of the Inzone M9 II is the fantastic port selection , bring home the bacon keen pick for both exhibit and connecting other equipment . It ’s part into three components , with the left side coming with a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack , a pair of USB - A ports on a hub and a USB - B for powering the hub . The midway discussion section house the pair of HDMI 2.1 and DP 2.1 ports , which is specially modern , while the remaining section has the barrel labourer for business leader and another USB - A.
The back of the Inzone M9 II do with a singular means of controlling its all-encompassing OSD with a control stick housed on the right rear corner as you look at the monitor . This is also a power button , and there is a small superpower LED close by , too .
Image Quality
Considering the Inzone M9 II ’s status as a more ‘ stock ’ 4 K IPS LCD covert , I had quite a gamy bar for it give the price tag and what we ’ve seen happen to monitor technical school in the last couple of years . At £ 899/$799 , it had better be good .
Initial out - of - the - box results where the board defaults to its FPS preset and 80 % smartness was far from telling , with a 0.41 opprobrious degree and 8300 K colour temperature that resulted in weaker picture quality . Moving over to the ‘ Standard ’ preset yield much good calibre with a 0.24 black level and a perfect 6500 K color temperature , alongside a peak brightness of 358.1 nit .
When not using the FPS preset , I was impressed with the Inzone M9 II ’s deeper black and its bang - on colour temperature . The 980:1 direct contrast ratio is quite meagre , intend the panel lacks some dynamic range and pop against its OLED brethren .
As with the more affordableAOC Gaming Q27G3XMN / BKthough , Sony ’s selection really come active when its local dimming is enabled , leave in a boost vibrancy of 435 nits in SDR , without sacrifice much in the way of its black point and colour temperature . It also head to an increased dividing line of 1220:1 , lead effigy to have a act more in the manner of dynamic range .
With the local dimming enable and in unravel through some Counter Strike 2 , the Inzone M9 II do up some smashing point with its 4 kB result and marvellous movement manipulation with its 160Hz refresh rate . color accuracy is also solid , with consummate 100 % coverage of the mainstreamsRGBgamut , while the 92%DCI - P3and 84%Adobe RGBresults mean you could conceivably utilise the Inzone M9 II for more specialist workloads .
Software and Features
Where the Inzone M9 II really clamber is with its convenient on - screenland display ( OSD ) , which is operated by the joystick on the rear of the chassis . It ’s a shining and clear OSD that ’s easy to voyage and provides access to ready to hand features with everything from more introductory luminosity and dividing line controls to some cleverer advanced feature such as the level of local dimming , on - screen crosshairs and more .
One of the most interesting lineament here is the panel ’s 24.5 - in musical mode , which reduces the display image in size to match that of a 24.5 - inch monitor . This is designed for those private-enterprise actor who pick out to posture particularly close to the screen . It ’s certainly a different experience to using the Inzone M9 II across its common 27 - column inch size , and comes with the caveat of disable both variable refresh rate and local dimming , which is a spot of a shame .
The Inzone M9 II follow live when connected to a PS5 , coming with a utilitarian feature of automatically switching between its on - board profiles based on the character of capacity on screenland , be it a game or film .
I ’m less enthusiastic about the pair of 2W speakers packed inside the monitor , though . They ’re quite weak and thin in their sound , miss much in the way of bass voice . You ’ll want to mate the Inzone M9 II with either a able set of separates , a soundbar , or use a gaming headset for your audio .
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Should you buy it?
Sony ’s Inzone M9 II excels with its canny stand that ’s easy to habituate , and a brilliant larboard pick . Not many monitors offer this good a user experience .
As firm as the Inzone M9 II is , QD - OLED options with in the main better ikon quality are n’t too far up the price ladder , and are better overall options . If you want the pinnacle of a forward-looking gaming monitor , the Sony Inzone M9 II is n’t it .
Final Thoughts
If the Sony Inzone M9 II had been released a year or two ago , it would have perhaps been an easier recommendation , given the lack of OLED panels on the market place at the meter . In isolation , it ’s a good overall LCD gambling monitor with great point and motion manipulation , combine with decent black levels and colour accuracy that find responsive to use in everything from Counter Strike to Cyberpunk .
The rotating stand is seriously apt , making it easy to move the Inzone M9 II , while also assist it to be unsubdivided to work up . The port survival of the fittest here is also fantastic , with a lovely portmanteau of display and expansion options .
The real kicker for the Inzone M9 II though is its cost shred . The likes of thePhilips Evnia 32M2N8900andSamsung Odyssey G8 ( 2024)can get promising , offer up deeper Black and good active chain , while also fare with a more stylish spirit and feel , and are n’t too far up the road in damage of their list price . That ’s not to say the Inzone M9 II is a disappointing panel , because it is n’t . It ’s just the competition make it a second of a harder sell . For more choice , check over out our list of thebest gambling monitorswe’ve tested .
Trusted Score
How we test
We apply every proctor we test for at least a hebdomad . During that metre , we ’ll check it for ease of utilisation and put it through its pace by using it for both workaday tasks and more specialist , colour - sensitive employment .
We also check its colours and image quality with a colorimeter to try out its coverage and the presentation ’s timbre .
FAQs
The Sony Inzone M9 II boast a 4 kibibyte , or 3840×2160 , resolution across a 27 - inch cover size .
Test Data
Full Specs
