Sony InZone M9 Monitor Reviews: Is It 100% Legit?

All in all, the Sony Inzone M9 is an excellent gaming monitor. However, while it does offer a big improvement in HDR over edge-lit monitors with fewer dimming zones, you’re still not getting the true HDR viewing experience provided by OLED displays and mini LED monitors with hundreds or thousands of dimming zones.

Since OLED and mini LED monitors have started becoming more affordable and available, we recommend saving up and waiting for the upcoming models in case you’re interested in the true HDR experience.

If you want a 27″ 4K 144Hz gaming monitor with decent HDR image quality right now, the Inzone M9 is definitely the best option for under $1,000.

The $899 Sony Inzone M9 is a fantastic premium gaming monitor, with an attractive, practical design and all of the bells and whistles necessary to take full advantage of your PS5, Xbox Series X/S or PC. Its 27-inch 4K screen makes it easy to get immersed in all types of games and movies, and competitive players will get a lot of use out of its fluid 144Hz refresh rate and robust customization settings.

If all you want is a nice 4K screen, the $329 Asus VG289Q1A is one of the best budget gaming monitors we’ve tested, and less than half the price — though you’ll have to settle for a much slower 60Hz refresh rate. The $799 LG 27GN950-B is a popular option that offers similar specs for cheaper, though it lacks HDMI 2.1 for optimal next-gen console support. If you’re willing to invest in a great 4K monitor that will showcase your games at their absolute best — and especially if you’re a competitive gamer — the Inzone M9 is well worth it.

Given Sony’s TV expertise, it’s no surprise the InZone M9 gets so much right. Local dimming gives it HDR abilities that are well beyond any of the edge-dimming alternatives, and the styling will certainly appeal to PS5 owners.

HDR performance rapidly improves once your budget stretches further into the realm of QD-OLED monitors and desk-friendly OLED TVs, but for the money, there’s little else that comes close.

Crucially, it doesn’t skimp on PC-focused features. The high resolution, high refresh rate panel has rapid response times, punchy colors, and ample brightness. Overall ergonomics could be a little better, and the speakers aren’t much cop at all, but the user-friendly interface is refreshing. You don’t need to own a console before adding it to your shortlist.

As for motion, the Inzone M9 does a fantastic job of making gameplay look fluid. Thanks to support for VRR, FreeSync, and G-Sync compatibility, you won’t see tearing on this display while playing on either console or any gaming PC. Outside of gameplay, I tested the monitor against the Blur Busters UFO Test and it impressively showed no ghosting at all even on the top row at 120Hz.

The Sony Inzone M9 is an incredibly impressive gaming monitor. At $899, it’s very competitive with other HDMI 2.1-ready 4K gaming monitors with the benefit of having a much better backlighting system to boot. Beyond that, the Sony Inzone M9 is proof that more displays should feature full-array local dimming and more lighting zones.

The Sony Inzone M9 is a fantastic choice for multi-platform gamers who want a capable and unique 4K 144Hz monitor. It’s the perfect choice for those who own a high-end PC and a PS5 since the monitor’s features can take advantage of both. Its also leading the pack when it comes to HDR 600-level performance thanks to its 96-zone local dimming backlight.

However, it isn’t perfect like all of the 4K 144Hz gaming monitors on the market. We think that it looks good, but its attempt at creating a unique design hampered its ergonomics which are essential for daily use. It’s an excellent buy provided that paying $800 to $1000 won’t be problematic for your budget.

All in all, the Inzone M9 is a hell of a gaming monitor, especially for Sony’s first foray into PC gaming. I’m just as surprised as you are that the M9 easily competes with some of the best 4K monitors out there right now. It’s loaded with a ton of gaming features and most importantly costs less than $1,000. It’s an easy recommendation, especially for anyone who owns a pretty beefy PC and a console or two and is looking to make the most out of each.

The Sony Inzone M9 will be available for sale later this summer. Sony also plans to release a 27-inch 1080p 240Hz version of this monitor called the M3 later this year for $529, though that monitor wasn’t available for review just yet.