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Sony Inzone M9 II: Two-minute evaluate
As somebody who makes use of a single monitor for each PC and PlayStation 5, the Sony Inzone M9 II actually feels prefer it was made to fulfill my particular wants.
A follow-up to the favored Sony Inzone M9, the II eschews the white PlayStation look and ponderous tripod stand design. Though I did just like the distinctive look of the unique M9, the stand of the II is undeniably extra sensible, with a extra beneficiant tilt adjustment vary and full 360-degree pivot that makes discovering the right angle a breeze.
The refreshed aesthetic does assist emphasize that it is a monitor meant to be used with a PC, too, and ensures that it not appears misplaced in your desk.
Regardless of coming in just a little cheaper than its predecessor at $799.99 / £899, the II additionally packs some small, however however appreciated, spec upgrades. This consists of barely higher brightness (which now peaks at 750 nits reasonably than 600) and a boosted 160Hz refresh charge.
Because the PS5 can solely output at a most of 120Hz, this latter change was clearly made with PC gamers in thoughts, and helps this mannequin maintain its personal towards a number of the best gaming monitors aimed on the PC viewers proper now.
This quicker refresh charge, paired with the 1ms GtG response time, and to not point out built-in 24.5-inch mode, might additionally make the Sony Inzone M9 II a fantastic decide for individuals who get pleasure from high-intensity PC esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant.
Because of a wealth of console-specific options, it’s additionally one of many best monitors for PS5 and PS5 Pro – full cease. It’s obtained full variable refresh rate (VRR) help, plus Auto HDR Tone Mapping to mechanically calibrate brightness in your PS5 throughout setup. There’s even an Auto Style Image Mode that detects the title that you just’re enjoying and dynamically adjusts the image to match the likes of FPS titles or RPGs.
The built-in audio system lack bass and could be a little tinny at greater volumes, however they’re surprisingly first rate total. Which means console gamers used to the commonly superior sound methods of a gaming TV received’t need to run out to select up an additional pair straight away.
It’s straightforward to lament the usage of an IPS LCD panel, particularly when OLED choices can be found from opponents at across the similar worth, however I don’t have any sensible complaints in regards to the 27-inch 4K show right here.
It’s brilliant and responsive, with correct colours and HDR10. All the pieces from Assassin’s Creed Shadows to Forza Horizon 5 and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered seems completely gorgeous, cementing the Sony Inzone M9 II as an outstanding all-rounder.
Sony Inzone M9 II: Value and availability
- Retails for $799.99 / £899
- Barely worse worth within the UK
- Anticipate occasional gross sales
The Sony Izone M9 II retails for $799.99 / £899. This pricing implies that it’s barely worse worth within the UK, which is just a little disappointing and will weigh in your determination in case you’re shopping for in that market.
Though early Inzone merchandise had been marked by their eye-wateringly unhealthy worth costs (I’m taking a look at you, Sony Inzone M3), the Sony Inzone M9 II is definitely fairly priced given its spec.
It is available in a bit costlier than related choices just like the Gigabyte M32UC, although it advantages from a considerably extra premium total design that makes the added value worthwhile in my ebook.
In the event you’re after a 4K display on a decent price range, alternate options just like the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q might show tempting as they arrive in at lower than half the worth of the Sony Inzone M9 II. Simply keep in mind that there are noticeable compromises, together with considerably greater response occasions and noticeably decrease refresh charges.
The Sony Inzone M9 II is kind of good worth, then. I like to recommend it at full worth, however, judging by the low cost patterns of different Inzone merchandise, I’d anticipate occasional gross sales to return alongside and make it an excellent higher proposition.
The monitor is available through the Sony web site, along with the same old retailers like Amazon, Finest Purchase, and Walmart within the US and Amazon, Argos, and Very within the UK.
Sony Inzone M9 II: Specs
|
Value |
$799.99 / £899 |
|
Panel measurement |
27-inch |
|
Panel kind |
IPS LCD |
|
Decision |
3840 x 2160 |
|
Brightness |
750 nits |
|
HDR |
HDR10, DisplayHDR 600 |
|
Pixel response |
1ms |
|
Refresh charge |
160Hz |
Sony Inzone M9 II: Design and options
- Straightforward meeting course of
- Low profile base
- Loads of adjustment choices
I’ve by no means had a nasty expertise placing collectively a Sony Inzone monitor and the Sony Inzone M9 II isn’t any exception.
It’s effectively packaged, with the monitor, stand, and its base secured individually in loads of polystyrene foam. To assemble, you merely screw the underside of the bottom onto the underside of the stand and clip all of it into the again of the monitor. It took me about fifteen seconds total and didn’t require the instruction guide.
As I’ve already talked about, the Sony Izone M9 II has a radically totally different design in comparison with the unique M9. It’s black as an alternative of white and has a completely redesigned stand. Somewhat than a tripod, the Sony Inzone M9 II is held up by a single thick column on a round base. It’s fairly just like the design of the stand on the Sony Inzone M10S, which was launched on the similar time, in spite of everything, although a bit chunkier on the entire.
With a radius of just below 3.5in / 9cm, the bottom continues to be reasonably compact for a monitor of this measurement, which makes it straightforward to suit on a desk – even when you’ve got restricted area. The stand may also pivot, providing a clean 360 levels of rotation. That is surprisingly helpful, making certain you can rapidly rotate the monitor to point out one thing to a buddy or just alter it barely to raised fit your present place.
The monitor could be tilted downwards by 5 levels or upwards by 25, so that you received’t have any bother discovering the suitable viewing angle both. The peak will also be adjusted by 5.1in / 13cm, which is greater than sufficient leeway to lift or decrease it to a wholesome peak in most setups.
On the again right-hand facet of the monitor is the facility button, alongside a well-sized thumbstick for accessing the on-board settings menu.
The menu right here is effectively organized and straightforward to navigate, however I’d nonetheless suggest putting in the appropriate Inzone Hub PC app, which presents a barely extra in-depth stage of tuning.
There’s additionally a small white energy indicator LED constructed into the facet of the show. It’s fully invisible from the entrance, which is an effective factor because it stops it from turning into distracting within the nook of your eye, although can nonetheless be disabled within the software program in case you favor.
You can find all of the anticipated ports on the backside of the monitor. There’s a DisplayPort 2.1 connector, 2 HDMI connectors, a USB Sort-B enter (for enabling the USB hub performance), and two corresponding USB Sort-A outputs.
A Sort-C port will surely be a bonus, however given what number of peripherals nonetheless use USB Sort-A, its absence will not be that massive of a deal. There’s additionally a 3rd USB Sort-A port that’s clearly labelled as getting used for software program updates through a USB stick solely. Lastly, you get a 3.5mm headphone jack for hooking up any appropriate audio units.
When it comes to options, you get just about every part that you’d anticipate from a premium gaming monitor. It helps Full Array Native Dimming for enhanced distinction, along with assembly the VESA Licensed DisplayHDR 600 customary.
On PC, you profit from a speedy 160Hz refresh charge through a DisplayPort connection, along with Nvidia G-Sync help. On PS5, you may have VRR and Auto HDR Tone Mapping. The monitor additionally mechanically detects when a PS5 is detected, enabling a pre-tuned PS5 profile.
That is all on high of the same old array of show modes (I’d suggest turning off Auto Image Mode and sticking to the DisplayHDR profile for essentially the most life-like look in most conditions), plus optionally available settings for on-screen body charge counter, crosshair, and timer.
Sony Inzone M9 II: Efficiency
- Good for PC, excellent for PS5
- A brilliant, clean image suited to a spread of genres
- A great all-rounder
Out of the field, the monitor was in its Energy Saving mode, which sadly seems reasonably dim and makes for a lacklustre first impression.
Nonetheless, whenever you flip that off and allow HDR, the ensuing image is incredible. Regardless of not being an OLED panel, colors are brilliant and blacks are surprisingly deep. 4K video is totally gorgeous, whereas basic net looking and workplace work profit from the 160Hz smoothness and extremely detailed picture.
You doubtless received’t decide up the Sony Inzone M9 II purely for productiveness, although, and gaming doesn’t disappoint. As I used the Sony Inzone M9 II for a number of months, I skilled a particularly big selection of video games on it. Highlights on PC embody Counter-Strike 2, which is delightfully clean at 160Hz, along with a number of Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, the place the detailed fashions in its diorama-like world come by with glorious readability.
Hitman World of Assassination benefited vastly from the crisp 4K and cheerful brightness within the sunny stadium of the fictional Miami World Innovation Race, whereas the moodier aesthetic of the Dartmoor map showcased the monitor’s robust distinction. Once more, this isn’t an OLED panel, but it surely nonetheless delivers colours which can be simply as vivid as a number of the OLED fashions that I’ve tried.
It was an identical story over on PS5, the place I performed by the majority of Murderer’s Creed Shadows, sunk lots of of hours into the newest Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 season and tried out Forza Horizon 5 and Horizon Zero Daybreak Remastered along with many different video games. The VRR help was a gamechanger in Murderer’s Creed Shadows particularly, the place its Balanced preset seems considerably smoother than on displays with out it.
It’s lots clean, however on PS5, you’re nonetheless constrained to a most of 120Hz. In the event you’re shopping for purely to be used with a console, do keep in mind that you just received’t profit from the true refresh charge capabilities of the Sony Inzone M9 II.
In contrast to the costlier Sony Inzone M10S, the Sony Inzone M9 II additionally packs some built-in audio system. Will they blow your thoughts? No, however they’re definitely adequate. At 50% quantity, sound is evident and correct with a good stage of element. It lacks bass, however acceptable audio nonetheless places them within the higher echelons of gaming monitor audio system. They will go impressively loud, which is sweet, however as you start to crank that quantity up, the sound turns into a bit extra tinny.
In case you are viewing the Sony Inzone M9 II as fairly a major funding, you possibly can take consolation in understanding that you just received’t must run out to purchase an costly separate set of audio system to expertise your favourite video games in an pleasant trend straight away.
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| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Sony Inzone M9 II |
Sony Inzone M10S |
Gigabyte M32UC |
|
Value |
$799.99 / £899 |
$1099.99 / £1,199 |
$799 / £681 |
|
Panel measurement |
27-inch |
27-inch |
32-inch |
|
Panel kind |
IPS LCD |
OLED |
LCD |
|
Decision |
3840 x 2160 |
2560 x 1440 |
3840 x 2160 |
|
Brightness |
750 nits |
1300 nit |
350 nit |
|
HDR |
HDR10, DisplayHDR 600 |
HDR True Black 400 |
HDR True Black 400 |
|
Pixel response |
1ms |
0.03ms gray-to-gray |
1 ms |
|
Refresh charge |
160Hz |
480Hz |
144Hz |
How I examined the Sony Inzone M9 II
- Examined for a number of months
- Evaluated with each PC and PS5
- Tried with a great deal of totally different video games
I examined the Sony Inzone M9 II for greater than two months, utilizing it as my major monitor for the whole lot of that point.
I used it extensively with each PC and PS5, along with some mild Xbox Series X gaming. Throughout that point, I used it for hours of net looking, workplace work, and enjoying numerous video games.
On PC, highlights included Counter-Strike 2, Resident Evil 4, Split Fiction, Cities Skylines 2, Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, Persona 3 Reload, Hitman World of Assassination, and Inzoi.
Even some smaller indie video games like Monster Promenade 4: Monster Con regarded nice, with the monitor’s vivid colours actually complementing the expressive artwork type.
On PS5, video games examined included Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Horizon Zero Daybreak Remastered, Days Gone Remastered, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, The Final of Us Half 2 Remastered, Forza Horizon 5, Zenless Zone Zero, and Murderer’s Creed Shadows.
All through my time with the monitor, I in contrast my expertise to my hands-on testing of different gaming displays, together with the extra premium Sony Inzone M10S.
First reviewed Might 2025