Sony Bravia 9 Review

Sony’s Bravia 9 is Here to Dethrone OLED

For years, the TV world has been a two-horse race: the perfect blacks and infinite contrast of OLED versus the sheer, searing brightness of LED. Each technology demanded a compromise. With the new Bravia 9, Sony isn’t just entering the race; it’s trying to end it. Touting what it calls the “brightest 4K TV ever,” Sony has engineered a Mini LED television that doesn’t just get bright—it gets smart. This isn’t merely an iterative update; it’s a full-throated challenge to the status quo, aiming to deliver OLED-level contrast with brightness that can conquer any room.

Performance: A Masterclass in Light Control

The heart of the Bravia 9 is Sony’s all-new XR Backlight Master Drive, powered by a 22-bit Mini LED driver. While the bit-depth might sound like marketing speak, its real-world impact is staggering. This technology allows Sony to control thousands of individual dimming zones with a precision that was previously unthinkable for an LED TV. The result is a spectacular reduction in “blooming” or the halo effect that plagues lesser backlit displays. In dark scenes with bright highlights—think starfields or subtitles—the Bravia 9 maintains impressively deep blacks right up to the edge of the bright object.

Does it achieve perfect, OLED-level blacks? Not quite. In a pitch-black room with a torture-test scene, a discerning eye might spot a faint hint of backlight bleed. But in any normal viewing condition, it comes astonishingly close. Where it unequivocally demolishes the competition is in peak brightness. HDR content is breathtaking, with specular highlights that possess a tangible, lifelike intensity. Colors pop with incredible vibrancy without feeling oversaturated, a testament to Sony’s legendary XR Processor, which continues to excel at creating a natural, nuanced image. Motion handling is, as expected from Sony, flawless, making it a superb choice for sports and action films.

The audio experience is similarly impressive. Using Acoustic Multi-Audio+, the TV’s frame itself vibrates to produce sound, effectively turning the entire screen into a speaker. This makes dialogue feel anchored to the actors on screen, creating a more immersive soundscape than the down-firing speakers found on most TVs. While it won’t replace a dedicated sound system, it’s one of the best integrated audio solutions on the market.

Design and Features: Minimalist and Intelligent

Sony has refined its “One Slate” design philosophy, presenting the Bravia 9 as a minimalist slab of glass and metal with razor-thin bezels. It’s an elegant, premium look that blends into any modern living space. The build quality is exceptional, feeling every bit as expensive as it is. A standout feature is the versatile four-way stand, which can be adjusted to a high position to accommodate a soundbar, a low position for a sleeker look, or with inward-facing feet for narrower media consoles.

Running on the mature Google TV platform, the smart experience is fluid and comprehensive, offering access to every major streaming app. A new addition is Prime Video Calibrated Mode, which joins the existing Netflix mode to automatically optimize picture settings for Amazon’s content library. For gamers, the Bravia 9 is “Perfect for PlayStation 5,” supporting 4K/120Hz, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). However, it’s a letdown that, like previous models, only two of the four HDMI ports support the full HDMI 2.1 feature set.

The Verdict: The Bright Room Champion

The Sony Bravia 9 is a technological triumph. It successfully closes the gap on OLED for black-level performance while setting a new benchmark for brightness and HDR impact. This is not the TV for everyone; its premium price tag firmly places it in the enthusiast category. If your home theater is a light-controlled cave, a flagship OLED like Sony’s own A95L might still hold a slight edge in absolute contrast.

However, for the vast majority of users with living rooms exposed to ambient light, the Bravia 9 is arguably the best television you can buy. It delivers a jaw-dropping picture that doesn’t wash out when the sun is shining and offers an unparalleled HDR experience. It’s the ultimate choice for cinephiles and tech enthusiasts who want the best of both worlds and are willing to pay for it.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon