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Sony INZONE M9 Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v2.0
Review updated Aug 09, 2024 at 10:20 am
Latest change: Retest Aug 12, 2024 at 01:01 pm
Sony INZONE M9 Picture
7.4
PC Gaming
8.4
Console Gaming
8.2
Office
7.4
Editing
8.2
Brightness
7.7
Response Time
6.5
HDR Picture
6.8
SDR Picture
7.4
Color Accuracy
This monitor was replaced by the Sony INZONE M9 II

The Sony INZONE M9 is a 27-inch, 4k gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate. It's part of Sony's INZONE lineup that features other products like the Sony INZONE H9 Wireless and is a higher-end monitor than the Sony INZONE M3. It has typical gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, VRR support to reduce screen tearing, and full-array local dimming. Sony also advertises it as being 'Perfect for PS5' as it has features with the console that other monitors don't have, like Auto HDR Tone Mapping, and it has design similarities with the PS5, so it gives your setup a uniform look.

Our Verdict

7.4 PC Gaming

The Sony INZONE M9 is decent for PC gaming. Although its 144Hz refresh rate isn't high for competitive PC gaming, it's still fine for casual gamers, and it has VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It also has low input lag for a responsive feel, and motion looks sharp, but there's more blur at lower refresh rates. Even though it has a low native contrast ratio, blacks still look deep with the local dimming feature enabled, but small highlights are muted in HDR.

Pros
  • 144Hz refresh rate and VRR support.
  • Low input lag.
  • Fast response time at high refresh rates.
  • Full-array local dimming improves contrast.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • More blur at lower refresh rates.
  • Blooming around bright objects.
8.4 Console Gaming

The Sony INZONE M9 is impressive for console gaming. It has features with the PS5 that other monitors don't have, like Auto HDR Tone Mapping, and it also takes full advantage of the Xbox Series X|S. It has a high 4k resolution for detailed images, and it has a full-array local dimming feature that helps it display deep blacks, but there's blooming around bright objects. In terms of gaming, it has low input lag for a responsive feel, and motion looks sharp at most refresh rates, except there's more blur at lower refresh rates.

Pros
  • Low input lag.
  • Fast response time at high refresh rates.
  • HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for consoles.
  • Full-array local dimming improves contrast.
  • Made for PS5 features.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • More blur at lower refresh rates.
  • Blooming around bright objects.
8.2 Office

The Sony INZONE M9 is great for the office. The large, high-resolution screen makes it easy to multitask, as you can easily work with multiple windows open, resulting in fantastic text clarity. It has good visibility in bright rooms thanks to its high brightness and good reflection handling, so glare isn't an issue. Sadly, it has limited ergonomics, so it's difficult to adjust it to an ideal viewing position, and although it has USB-C power, it's limited to 15W of power delivery. It even has a KVM switch, but it only works after a firmware update.

Pros
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
  • Good reflection handling.
  • Fantastic text clarity.
  • KVM switch works after firmware update.
Cons
  • Limited ergonomics.
7.4 Editing

The Sony INZONE M9 is decent for media creators. The large, high-resolution screen makes it easy to see more of your workflow at once. Unfortunately, it has oversaturated colors before calibration, so you need to calibrate it for the best accuracy, but it displays a wide range of colors once you do. It has an okay local dimming feature that helps improve the contrast ratio, but it has blooming around bright objects, which isn't ideal for editing content in dark rooms. It also has limited ergonomics, which is disappointing for sharing your screen with others.

Pros
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
  • Full-array local dimming improves contrast.
  • Good reflection handling.
  • Fantastic text clarity.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Limited ergonomics.
  • Colors are oversaturated before calibration.
8.2 Brightness

The Sony INZONE M9 has great brightness. It's bright enough to fight glare and also delivers an impactful HDR experience, but small highlights are muted in HDR.

Pros
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
  • Large highlights get bright in HDR.
Cons
  • Small highlights are dim with local dimming.
7.7 Response Time

The Sony INZONE M9 has a good response time. For the most part, motion looks sharp, but there's more inverse ghosting and blur at lower refresh rates.

Pros
  • Fast response time at high refresh rates.
Cons
  • More blur at lower refresh rates.
6.5 HDR Picture

The Sony INZONE M9 has okay HDR picture quality. Although it has a low native contrast ratio, it has a full-array local dimming feature to improve the picture quality in dark scenes. That said, it has blooming around bright objects, and it doesn't display very bright colors well.

Pros
  • Full-array local dimming improves contrast.
Cons
  • Blooming around bright objects.
6.8 SDR Picture

The Sony INZONE M9 has okay SDR picture quality. It displays a wide range of colors, but it has a low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray without its local dimming feature.

Pros
  • Displays wide range of SDR colors.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
7.4 Color Accuracy

The Sony INZONE M9 has decent color accuracy. Since it lacks an sRGB mode and has oversaturated colors before calibration, you need to calibrate it for the best accuracy.

Pros
Cons
  • Colors are oversaturated before calibration.
  • 7.4 PC Gaming
  • 8.4 Console Gaming
  • 8.2 Office
  • 7.4 Editing

Performance Usages

  • 8.2 Brightness
  • 7.7 Response Time
  • 6.5 HDR Picture
  • 6.8 SDR Picture
  • 7.4 Color Accuracy
  1. Updated Aug 12, 2024: Confirmed that its KVM switch works after a firmware update.
  2. Updated Aug 09, 2024: Updated text throughout the review according to Test Bench 2.0, mainly in the Verdict and Motion sections.
  3. Updated Aug 07, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0. This includes new tests for VRR Motion Performance, Refresh Rate Compliance, Cumulative Absolute Deviation (CAD), and VRR Flicker. You can read the full changelog here.
  4. Updated May 29, 2023: Added that the INNOCN 27M2V is another option if you care about SDR Brightness and want something brighter.
  5. Updated Mar 10, 2023: Updated the monitor to firmware M009, and noticed that aren't any flicker issues with the PS5, as explained in the Variable Refresh Rate section.
  6. Updated Jan 26, 2023: Clarified any differences between this monitor and the Sony INZONE M3 in the Variants section.
  7. Updated Jan 24, 2023: Corrected the Thickness measurement in the Stand section to be consistent with the Sony INZONE M3 review. Fixed a mistake in the Variants section to say the Sony INZONE M3 doesn't support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
  8. Updated Jan 04, 2023: Added the new Sony INZONE M3 to the Differences Between Sizes And Variants section.
  9. Updated Dec 16, 2022: Compared the Local Dimming on this monitor to that of the Cooler Master Tempest GP27U.
  10. Updated Oct 12, 2022: A user reported an issue with persistent flicker when playing certain games on the PS5. We've updated the Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) section with more details.
  11. Updated Sep 12, 2022: Review published.
  12. Updated Sep 07, 2022: Early access published.
  13. Updated Aug 30, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  14. Updated Aug 22, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  15. Updated Aug 08, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 27-inch Sony INZONE M9, which is the only size available, and the results are only valid for this monitor. As a part of Sony's INZONE monitor lineup, it sits above the Sony INZONE M3, and you can see the differences between them below.

Model Size Panel Type Resolution Max Refresh Rate HDMI 2.1
M9 27" IPS 4k 144Hz Yes
M3 27" IPS 1080p 240Hz No

Our unit was manufactured in June 2022, and you can see the label for our unit here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The Sony INZONE M9 is a 4k, 27-inch gaming monitor that's mainly designed for use with gaming consoles, specifically the PS5. It has features with the PS5 that other monitors don't have, like Auto HDR Tone Mapping, and its design even shares similarities with the console. Although there are other 4k gaming monitors that work well with consoles, this one is really meant to complement the PlayStation. If that isn't as important for you, you can go for other monitors with better motion handling or picture quality, like the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx.

Check out our recommendations for the best 4k 144Hz monitors, the best monitors for PS5/PS5 Pro, and the best 4k gaming monitors.

LG 27GP950-B

The LG 27GP950-B and the Sony INZONE M9 are both 4k, 27-inch gaming monitors. The LG has much better accuracy out of the box, and colors aren't oversaturated, so it's a better choice for anyone looking for an accurate image. The LG also has better ergonomics, so it's easier to place it in an ideal viewing position. The LG also has slightly faster response times, especially if you're gaming at lower refresh rates, including 120Hz or 60Hz gaming from a console.

Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx

The Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and the Sony INZONE M9 are both 4k gaming monitors, with a few differences. The Acer has Mini LED backlighting with a better local dimming feature than the Sony, meaning it's better for HDR or any other use in dark rooms. The Acer also has much better ergonomics, making it easier to place in an ideal position. Lastly, the Acer has a slightly higher refresh rate and better motion handling, but the Sony is better for gaming at low refresh rates because it has lower input lag.

Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 is much better than the Sony INZONE M9. The Samsung has a much more versatile stand, so it's easier to place it in an ideal viewing position without having to buy a separate VESA mount. The Samsung model also has much better contrast and a better Mini LED local dimming feature, delivering brighter highlights in HDR and less blooming around bright objects.

Gigabyte M27U

The Sony INZONE M9 and the Gigabyte M27U are both 27-inch, 4k gaming monitors. However, there are a few differences between them, as the Sony has a better local dimming feature and gets brighter in HDR for an improved HDR experience. The Sony also has features made for the PS5, like Auto HDR Tone Mapping. On the other hand, the Gigabyte has an overclock feature to reach a higher 160Hz refresh rate, and it has some extra productivity features like a KVM switch.

Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 is better than the Sony INZONE M9. The Samsung has a much more versatile stand, so it's easier to place it in an ideal viewing position or turn the screen to share it with someone else. The Samsung also has much better contrast, delivering deeper blacks in a dark room and less blooming around bright objects thanks to its Mini LED backlight.

Samsung Odyssey G7/G70B S32BG70

The Sony INZONE M9 and the Samsung Odyssey G7/G70B S32BG70 are both good gaming monitors with many of the same features. The Samsung monitor delivers better motion handling, especially with lower-frame-rate games, but the Sony has lower input lag with 60 fps sources. The Samsung also has much better ergonomics, making it easier to adjust to an ideal viewing position. On the other hand, the Sony looks better in HDR thanks to its higher peak brightness, but both monitors have low contrast.

Sony INZONE M3

Although the Sony INZONE M3 and the Sony INZONE M9 are part of the same lineup, they're very different monitors. The M9 is designed with console gaming in mind because it has a 4k resolution with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, allowing you to take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. On the other hand, the M3 is better for PC gamers because it has a higher 240Hz refresh rate, and with a 1080p resolution, it's easier for your graphics card to reach its max refresh rate.

Cooler Master Tempest GP27U

The Cooler Master Tempest GP27U is better overall than the Sony INZONE M9. Although they each have full-array local dimming features, the Cooler Master uses Mini LED backlights to produce deeper blacks with less blooming, and it also gets much brighter in HDR for brighter highlights. The Cooler Master also has better motion handling and better ergonomics that make it easier to adjust.

ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR

The Sony INZONE M9 is better for gaming than the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR. The Sony supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which lets it take full advantage of gaming consoles or HDMI 2.1 graphics cards, and the ASUS doesn't support this. The picture quality on the Sony is also better thanks to its superior local dimming and HDR brightness, meaning that highlights stand out more. The Sony also has better motion handling, especially at lower refresh rates.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved

The Sony INZONE M9 Monitor has a unique design and a gamer aesthetic. The front of the monitor has a simple design, and the back shares many similar design elements with the PS5 and the other Sony INZONE products, like the Sony INZONE H7 Wireless. The stand has three legs that support the monitor like a tripod.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is decent. It's mostly plastic, and some of it feels pretty cheap and not very premium. The stand doesn't work as well as it should for a monitor at this price point; it wobbles quite a bit and takes a while to recover from wobble.

5.6
Design
Ergonomics
Min Height To Top Of Panel
15.8" (40.2 cm)
Height Adjustment
2.8" (7.0 cm)
Tilt Range
-20° to 0°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
No
Swivel Range
No swivel
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

The ergonomics are disappointing. It's hard to adjust the screen for others, and even its height adjustment is limited. The back of the monitor is pretty plain, with an RGB light strip near the top of the display and a hook on the back of the stand for basic cable management.

Design
Stand
Base Width
17.9" (45.5 cm)
Base Depth
9.6" (24.4 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
9.7" (24.7 cm)
Weight (With Display)
14.3 lbs (6.5 kg)

The height adjustment is at an angle, so the total thickness varies depending on the height of the display. At the lowest point, the total thickness is about 9.7" (24.7 cm), and at the highest setting, it's about 8.3" (21.1 cm), so the distance between the user and the screen varies as you adjust the height.

Design
Display
Size
27"
Housing Width
24.2" (61.4 cm)
Housing Height
14.3" (36.3 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
2.9" (7.3 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
8.6 lbs (3.9 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.3" (0.9 cm)
Design
Controls

The joystick control is located at the back of the monitor. It's easy to use but a bit sensitive, so it can take some getting used to.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
External Brick

  • Power cord
  • Power supply
  • User guides
  • Stickers

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with any cables to connect it with your source.

Picture Quality
6.2
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,046 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
1,198 : 1

The Sony INZONE M9 has a mediocre contrast ratio, so blacks look gray against bright highlights. The local dimming feature is ineffective at improving the contrast with the checkerboard pattern, but it's better with real content.

6.5
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Full-Array

The local dimming feature is just okay. It has 96 zones in an 8x12 array. The zones are still a bit too large to allow for precise dimming in dark scenes, and the algorithm tends to turn on more zones on than needed. There's some noticeable blooming around bright objects, but very little black crush because of this. It isn't very good for subtitles, though, as it tends to light up large areas of the screen. It also keeps up with fast-moving content well, so you don't see a trailing bright edge behind fast-moving, bright objects.

It's an okay implementation of local dimming, but it's limited by the relatively small number of zones, and because it tends to turn on more zones than necessary, the impact is limited. You can see two real scene videos of the local dimming feature in action and from an angle.

If you want a 4k monitor with similar features and a better local dimming feature, look into the Cooler Master Tempest GP27U.

8.3
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
431 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
421 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
432 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
432 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
432 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
432 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
420 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
432 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
432 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
432 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
432 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.002
Minimum Brightness
10 cd/m²

This monitor has great brightness in SDR. It's bright enough to overcome glare in a bright room, and there's no variation in brightness between content. That said, if you want something even brighter, look into the INNOCN 27M2V.

These results are from after calibration in the 'Game 1' Picture Mode with Brightness set to max and Local Dimming set to 'High.'

8.1
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR 600
Real Scene
645 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
483 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
695 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
802 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
838 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
865 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
483 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
694 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
800 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
838 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
864 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.032

The HDR brightness is great. It gets bright enough for an impactful HDR experience, and while large highlights pop, small highlights are dimmed. The PQ EOTF follows the target curve well for the most part, but with a slow roll-off at the peak brightness, it doesn't let highlights get the brightest they can.

These results are from the 'Game 1' Picture Mode with HDR enabled, Local Dimming set to 'High,' and Brightness set to max. The picture modes available depend on the source, as 'Game 1' is the only mode available with a PC, and 'Cinema' is the only mode with a Blu-ray player.

6.8
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
29°
Color Washout From Right
28°
Color Shift From Left
33°
Color Shift From Right
40°
Brightness Loss From Left
33°
Brightness Loss From Right
34°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
31°
Gamma Shift From Right
31°

The horizontal viewing angle is just alright. Although it has an IPS panel, the image washes out from wide angles, but it's still fine if you want to use it for a co-op gaming session with your friend sitting right next to you.

7.2
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
32°
Color Washout From Above
28°
Color Shift From Below
37°
Color Shift From Above
41°
Brightness Loss From Below
34°
Brightness Loss From Above
32°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
43°
Gamma Shift From Above
43°

The vertical viewing angle is decent, but the image washes out if you're looking at it from above or below.

7.9
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.650%
50% DSE
0.138%

The Sony M9 has very good gray uniformity. There's very little dirty screen effect in the center, but the sides of the screen are a bit darker.

6.2
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.891%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
1.761%

This monitor has passable black uniformity. With local dimming disabled, the entire screen is cloudy, and there are a few bright spots throughout the screen where the backlight isn't quite even. With local dimming enabled on 'High,' there's noticeable blooming around bright objects, but the uniformity is better besides that.

6.6
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Game 1
sRGB Gamut Area xy
129.2%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
1.35
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,733 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.22
Color dE (Avg.)
3.92
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
100-100-100
Gamma Setting
2.2
Brightness Setting
60
Measured Brightness
252 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

The Sony M9 has okay accuracy before calibration. It doesn't have an sRGB mode, so colors are way too oversaturated, and there are some inaccuracies in most colors. However, the white balance is excellent, and the color temperature is close to the 6500K target with the Color Temperature setting 'Warm.' Even gamma follows that target sRGB curve well, but dark scenes are too dark.

9.6
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Game 1
sRGB Gamut Area xy
100.7%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.88
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,447 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.19
Color dE (Avg.)
0.45
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
100-95-92
Gamma Setting
2.2
Brightness Setting
22
Measured Brightness
101 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

The accuracy after calibration is fantastic. The main advantage of calibrating it is that colors aren't oversaturated anymore, and other inaccuracies are hard to see.

9.5
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
100.0%
sRGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
86.5%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Game 1

The SDR color gamut is fantastic. It displays all of the sRGB color space used by most desktop and web content. It has good coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space, but it can't display the full range of greens in that color space, so it isn't ideal for publishing.

8.4
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
92.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Game 1
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
67.7%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Game 1

The HDR color gamut is great. It has fantastic coverage of the DCI-P3 color space used by the vast majority of current HDR content. Its coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space is limited, though, but there aren't many tone mapping issues with either color space.

7.7
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
67.6%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Game 1
10,000 cd/m² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
32.4%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Game 1

The HDR color volume is good. It displays dark colors well, but it struggles to properly display very vivid colors.

9.0
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
IPS
Subpixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is fantastic. Using Windows ClearType (top photo) results in sharp text, but it isn't necessary to use. The matte screen coating introduces some haziness, but it isn't the worst case of it either.

7.5
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.2%
Indirect Reflections
3.0%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.2%

The Sony INZONE M9 has good reflection handling as the coating significantly reduces the intensity of bright lights. Thanks to its high peak brightness, you won't have any issues using it in a well-lit room.

9.3
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The gradient handling is fantastic. There's some noticeable banding in darker shades, but bright areas of similar color are displayed properly.

Motion
7.4
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
120 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
120 Hz

Oddly, the max refresh rate over HDMI is limited to 120Hz, even if the HDMI ports have enough bandwidth for a 144Hz signal. Even forcing a 144Hz refresh rate doesn't work, so the only way to get the max refresh rate is over DisplayPort.

Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
Compatible (Tested)
G-SYNC
Compatible (NVIDIA Certified)
VRR Maximum
144 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI

NVIDIAVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz144Hz
HDMI<20Hz144Hz

AMDVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz144Hz
HDMIN/AN/A

On top of supporting FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility, it also supports HDMI Forum VRR.

7.6
Motion
VRR Motion Performance
Recommended VRR OD Setting
Fast
Variable Overdrive Advertised
No
Avg. CAD
177
Best CAD
151
Worst CAD
221

Refresh RateCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
143HeatmapChartPhoto
120HeatmapChartPhoto
100HeatmapChartPhoto
80HeatmapChartPhoto
60HeatmapChartPhoto

The motion handling is good across the VRR range. Although there isn't much motion blur, the 'Fast' overdrive setting has inverse ghosting as the refresh rate rate drops. The 'Standard' overdrive is better if you want more consistency across the VRR range, but it has more blur.

7.6
Motion
Refresh Rate Compliance
Compliance @ Max Hz
58%
Compliance @ 120 FPS
62%
Compliance @ 60 FPS
74%

The refresh rate compliance is good. Although its response time isn't fast enough to make full color transitions at its max refresh rate, it's better at lower refresh rates.

7.8
Motion
CAD @ Max Refresh Rate
OD Transition Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Avg. CAD
151
Best 10% CAD
84
Worst 10% CAD
253

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
StandardHeatmapChartPhoto
FastHeatmapChartPhoto
FasterHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at the max refresh rate of 144Hz is very good. Motion looks sharp with the 'Fast' overdrive, as it has less blur than 'Standard' and less inverse ghosting than 'Faster.'

Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
First Response Time
5.1 ms
Total Response Time
6.8 ms
RGB Overshoot
3 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
9.4 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
10.7 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
14 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
StandardHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FasterHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

7.8
Motion
CAD @ 120Hz
OD Transition 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Avg. CAD
156
Best 10% CAD
83
Worst 10% CAD
258

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
StandardHeatmapChartPhoto
FastHeatmapChartPhoto
FasterHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 120Hz is very good. It's similar to its max refresh rate, but there's just a bit more inverse ghosting.

Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
First Response Time
4.9 ms
Total Response Time
8.1 ms
RGB Overshoot
5 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
8.2 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
12.7 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
18 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
StandardHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FasterHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

7.4
Motion
CAD @ 60Hz
OD Transition 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Standard
Avg. CAD
187
Best 10% CAD
102
Worst 10% CAD
286

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
StandardHeatmapChartPhoto
FastHeatmapChartPhoto
FasterHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 60Hz is decent. Unlike at higher refresh rates, the recommended overdrive is 'Standard,' which has motion blur, because 'Fast' has too much inverse ghosting.

Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Standard
First Response Time
8.6 ms
Total Response Time
8.6 ms
RGB Overshoot
0 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
13.3 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
13.3 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
0 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
StandardHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FasterHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

Motion
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
No BFI
Maximum Frequency
N/A
Minimum Frequency
N/A
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Pulse Width Control
No BFI
Pulse Phase Control
No BFI
Pulse Amplitude Control
No BFI
VRR At The Same Time
No BFI

Unfortunately, this monitor doesn't have an optional backlight strobing feature, which is commonly known as black frame insertion.

9.2
Motion
VRR Flicker
Dark Gray Flicker
0.6 RGB
Middle Gray Flicker
1.0 RGB
Light Gray Flicker
0.8 RGB

There isn't any noticeable VRR flicker with changing frame rates, which is fantastic for gaming. However, you need to update the firmware to M009 and newer to make sure you aren't experiencing any issues. On previous firmware, there were some VRR flicker issues, particularly with the PS5. After playing certain games for a few minutes, the monitor sometimes started flickering severely, even if you closed the game and changed sources. This issue occurred frequently with Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales on the PS5. However, this doesn't happen after updating the firmware.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The backlight is completely flicker-free at all backlight levels, which helps reduce eye strain if you're sensitive to it.

Inputs
8.9
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
4.2 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.8 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
8.9 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A

The Sony INZONE M9 has very low input lag, ensuring a responsive gaming or desktop experience at any refresh rate.

8.8
Inputs
Resolution
Native Resolution
3840 x 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
8.3 MP
Pixel Density
163 PPI
10
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes

The Sony M9 Monitor is fully compatible with everything the PS5 supports. It also supports a few features specific to the PS5, including Auto HDR Tone Mapping, which optimizes your HDR experience to match the capabilities of your display.

10
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes

This monitor is nearly fully compatible with the Xbox Series S|X. However, the console doesn't support HDR with 1080p or 1440p signals, so this isn't a limitation of the monitor.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.1)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
40Gbps (FRL 10x4)
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
3.5mm Audio In
No
HDR10
Yes
3.5mm Microphone In
No
Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
3
USB-A Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-B Upstream Port
Yes
USB-C Ports
1
USB-C Upstream
Yes
USB-C Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-C Power Delivery
15W
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
Yes
Thunderbolt
No

It supports USB-C and power delivery, but it doesn't deliver enough power to charge a laptop while you're using it.

Inputs
macOS Compatibility

The Sony INZONE M9 works well with macOS. There are no issues with VRR, and if you're using a MacBook, windows return to their original position when you wake the computer from sleep or if you close and reopen the lid.

Features
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
Yes
RGB Illumination
Presets
Multiple Input Display
No
KVM Switch
Yes

This monitor has a few extra features, including:

  • Crosshair: Adds a virtual crosshair to any game that can't be detected by the game.
  • FPS Counter: Shows the current frame rate from the source.
  • Black Equalizer: Adjusts gamma to make it easier to spot objects/players in dark scenes without adjust bright scenes.

It also has a KVM switch that makes it easy to switch between two sources and use the same keyboard and mouse connected to the monitor. However, you need to update the firmware to get it work.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)

The on-screen display is organized in a logical way and is easy to navigate.