Thanks to the sleeker design and higher 160Hz refresh rate, its a marked improvement over its predecessor.
Its one of the best gaming monitors for under $1,000.
TheSonyInzone M9 II ($799) is a better version of its predecessor, the originalSony Inzone M9.
The fact it costs less than $1,000 makes this machine even more enticing.
Not only do thebest PS5andbest PC gameslook superb, but they also run buttery smooth on this monitor.
Besides the spec bump, the Inzone M9 II also sports a brand-new design.
Instead of the oldPS5-inspired white-on-black, the new monitor is all-black.
Better yet is the rotating stand that replaces the odd tripod stand of the previous model.
The new design looks awesome for any setup and doesnt take up much space.
While the Inzone M9 II is an almost perfect monitor, it has some drawbacks.
The most notable is that there is no OLED option, which could make you consider theSony Inzone M10Sinstead.
And while I appreciate the built-in speakers, the sound quality isnt exactly ear-pleasing.
Its certainly one of thebest gaming monitorsyou can buy.
Find out more in my full review.
Its an excellent gaming monitor for its price range.
Minimalist design
The original Inzone M9 resembled a PS5 thanks to its all-white body with black accents.
While I liked the previous look, I quite like the new subdued design.
Other design changes are more substantial.
Theres also a VESA mount for custom mounting.
The display swivels 180 degrees, a big improvement over the M9 which didnt swivel at all.
However, theres still no 90-degree flipping for using the monitor vertically.
Theres also no rear cable management built into the back of the panel.
Though this reduces the monitors overall depth, it could make for a messier desk.
Thankfully, the included cable management band around the arm should help in this regard.
Accessing the ports is easy, simply requiring you to swivel the monitor around to reach them.
Though an OLED option wouldve provided better contrasts, the overall image quality is still superb.
The 16:9 aspect ratio is ideal for PS5 games and most PC games.
Youll also find seven picture modes for SDR content and four modes for HDR.
Though some modes appear brighter or more colorful, every mode looks good for its intended viewing experience.
SDR brightness is good, but I enjoyed the eye-scorching glory of the aforementioned HDR modes the most.
Our lab tests back up my anecdotal experience.
The panel averaged 344.6 nits of brightness in SDR in Game Mode and 897 nits in Game Mode HDR.
While theAlienware 27 4K DualandHPOmen 27K get brighter in SDR, Sonys monitor tops them with HDR.
Excellent performance
The M9IIs display sports a 160Hz refresh rate versus the original M9s 144Hz rate.
Adaptive Sync and G-Sync are also supported to reduce tearing by syncing the monitor to GPU frame rates.
All of that means that youll get a smooth and responsive gaming experience.
I also had a great time playing PC games.
Regardless, playing PC games on the Inzone M9 II is as much fun as playing console titles.
Intuitive menu
The Inzone M9 II has a similar system interface as the original model.
As before, the interface has a transparent grey background, white lettering and the Inzone lines purple accenting.
Navigating through the monitors various menus is simple thanks to the responsive OSD joystick.
When connected to a PC, you might control monitor configs through the Inzone PC app.
While I have no problem using the joystick to navigate menus, I prefer using the app.
Unfortunately, this isnt an option available for the PS5.
Theres also a frame rate counter and a display timer to let you know how long youve been playing.
However, it has some minor drawbacks that prevent it from being perfect.
Unfortunately, Sony doesnt offer an OLED model.
Still, I wouldnt mind spending more to get the deep contrasts that OLED offers.
The option to at least select an OLED panel wouldve been appreciated.
Most gaming monitors I review dont feature built-in speakers.
And when they do, said speakers almost never have good sound quality.
Unfortunately, thats exactly the case with the Inzone M9 II.
In all fairness, the M9 II delivers better sound than its predecessor.
Theres a noticeable improvement in bass quality and overall volume.
However, the sound quality wont impress you.
Anyone looking for a relatively affordable 4K gaming monitor should seriously consider the Sony Inzone M9 II.
