Sony is taking its first steps into the PC gaming peripherals market with their new range of Inzone gaming monitors and headsets. It has already launched the Inzone headsets in the Middle East and finally announced the availability of the Sony Inzone M9 gaming monitor.
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The monitor is designed with PC and PlayStation 5 gamers in mind and features all the bells and whistles you would expect from a high-end gaming monitor, including a 27″ 4K/144Hz IPS panel, 1ms GtG response time, and Auto KVM switch. It also includes Full Array Local Dimming, which should help the monitor produce deeper blacks than traditional IPS panels with limited local dimming zones.
In terms of input ports, the Inzone M9 has two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C (DisplayPort Alternate Mode, Upstream), three USB-A ports, a USB-B upstream hub, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio.
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Pricing and availability
The Sony Inzone M9 is priced at AED 3,999 and is now available from the Sony World UAE website. It will also be available at Sony Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates stores and from other retailers from May 22, 2023.
Inzone M9 Specifications
| Screen Size: | 27″ |
| Panel Type: | IPS |
| Display Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Refresh Rate: | DisplayPort: 24-144Hz; HDMI: 24-120Hz |
| Response Time: | 1ms GtG |
| Backlight Technology: | Full Array Local Dimming |
| VESA DisplayHDR: | DisplayHDR 600 |
| HDR Format Support: | HDR10, HLG |
| Brightness: | 400 cd/m2 |
| Peak Brightness: | 600 cd/m2 |
| Dynamic Contrast Ratio: | 80,000:1 |
| Color Gamut: | 95% DCI-P3 |
| Auto HDR Tone Mapping: | Yes |
| Auto Genre Picture Mode: | Yes |
| View Angle (H/V): | 178 degrees |
| Height Adjustment Range: | 70mm |
| Tilt Range: | 0-20 degrees |
| VESA Hole Pitch (WxH): | 100x100mm |
| Connectivity: | DisplayPort x1 (Ver. 1.4), HDMI x2 (Ver. 2.1), USB Type-C x1 (DP Alt Mode, Upstream), USB Type-B x1 (Upstream), USB Type-A x3 (Downstream), Headphone Output x1 (3.5 mm Jack |
Design
The Sony Inzone M9 features a similar design to the PlayStation 5, with a polished white and black colour scheme. It has a unique tripod-like stand that offers height and tilt adjustment while minimizing footprint to optimize desk space. The stand also provides cable management for a clean desktop setup.
The back of the monitor features a customizable RGB LED to add a bit of pizazz to the user’s setup. The lights do not change according to the contents on the screen, but they can be changed to display one solid colour based on preference.
Users can change the monitor’s settings using the joystick found at the back of the monitor and from the dedicated Inzone Hub PC software that allows users to change any setting right from their Windows desktop.
The Inzone M9 has two HDMI 2.1 ports to support next-gen consoles, including the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch. For PC users, a DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB-C port can power laptops and provide charging. There are also three USB-A ports that connect via the USB-B hub and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack for audio purposes. The monitor has two 2W speakers, as well.
Features and performance
The Sony Inzone M9 features a 27″ 4K/144Hz IPS panel capable of 95% DCI-P3 colour coverage and a Full Array Dimming that should ideally provide deeper blacks than traditional IPS monitors. Unlike other IPS monitors with limited dimming zones, the Inzone H9 can brighten and dim the entire screen, producing deeper blacks for accurate shadows and details in games and movies.
The monitor also supports Nvidia G-Sync and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), eliminating screen tearing and stuttering on PC and console games.
The Inzone M9 is DisplayHDR 600 certified, meaning it can reach 600 nits of peak brightness in HDR mode for a richer multimedia experience. The monitor is capable of reaching 400 nits of brightness in SDR mode. It also has 1ms GtG response time, ensuring a blur and ghosting-free gaming experience.
As this is a Sony product, there is built-in support for the PlayStation 5. The monitor provides Auto HDR Tone Mapping for the console, automatically recognizing the monitor and applying optimized HDR settings. The monitor automatically switches to Cinema Mode when watching movies on the PlayStation 5 and to Game Mode when playing games.
Alternatives to Sony Inzone M9 – How does it stack up against competitors?
The LG Ultragear 27GR95QE is an excellent choice for gaming and movies, thanks to its OLED panel can produce deep blacks and well-balanced colours. Compared to the Inzone M9, it has a 2K resolution display but has a higher refresh rate at 240Hz. Its peak SDR brightness is also much lower at 200 cd/m2, but trounces the Inzone M9 with its HDR performance of 700 nits brightness. It is also slightly more expensive than the Inzone M9, but the slight premium for an OLED display could be worth it.
The Samsung Odyssey G7 is another excellent choice and has many features of the Inzone M9. The 27″ and 32″ versions offer 2K/144Hz panel, HDR600 certification, 1ms response time, Nvidia G-Sync, and more. However, it suffers from a connectivity standpoint, offering 2x DisplayPort and only 1x HDMI port. It also doesn’t have Inzone M9’s full array dimming zones and native support for the PS5. On the other hand, the G7 is also a lot cheaper.
Asus is known to make some solid displays under its ROG brand, and the XG27UQ is one of the popular offerings from the company. It features a 27″ 4K/144Hz display, HDR400 certification, Adaptive V-Sync and G-Sync support, HDMI 2.1 ports for current-gen consoles, and more. Compared to the Inzone M9, it is certainly slightly cheaper but has inferior HDR support and an edge-lit panel that may not produce as deep blacks as the Sony monitor.
Sony Inzone M9 Reviews
Hardware Unboxed praised the Sony Inzone M9 for its HDR performance, especially when coupled with the Full Array Dimming Zone, which they think works better than most edge-lit displays with HDR support. They also praised the overall performance of the display and said that while it doesn’t compete with high-end televisions with better features, the Inzone M9 is worth the slight premium Sony is asking for.
The Tech Chap also praised the Inzone M9’s full suite of dimming zones and HDR performance. However, they did take issue with the unique-looking stand, which, while it looks sleek and pretty, limits adjustments to some degree. They also pointed out the quality of the speakers, calling it tinny and “rubbish”.
Sony Inzone M9 FAQs
Is the Sony Inzone M9 only compatible with PS5?
The Inzone M9 is compatible with all current and next-gen consoles, including Xbox and Nintendo Switch. However, it features built-in support for Auto Tone Mapping and optimized HDR settings for PS5.
How many devices can I connect with the Inzone M9?
You can connect up to four devices. It has a DisplayPort for PC, two HDMI 2.1 ports for consoles, and a USB-C port for laptops and other devices.
Is the HDR good on the Inzone M9?
The Inzone M9 is DisplayHDR 600 certified, which should provide decent HDR performance. Ideally, a display would need 1000 nits of peak brightness to extract the best HDR image.
Mufaddal Fakhruddin
Mufaddal Fakhruddin has been writing about games and technology for the past 15 years. He has lost count as to how many reviews he has written over the years, but he is sure headphone reviews make up at least 70% of that.
