Sony Bravia 9 (2024 Lineup) Review

For years, the debate over the ultimate TV technology has been a two-horse race, but Sony is aiming to change the conversation entirely. The new flagship Bravia 9 arrives not just as an update, but as a direct challenge to the supremacy of OLED, armed with a Mini LED backlight so advanced it promises the best of both worlds. This is Sony’s attempt to deliver a definitive home cinema experience, one that bends light and shadow to its will.

Performance: A Masterclass in Light Control

At the heart of the Sony Bravia 9 is the new XR Backlight Master Drive. This isn’t just marketing speak; it’s a tangible leap forward in Mini LED technology. Sony has dramatically increased the number of local dimming zones—over 300% more than in last year’s excellent X95L—and paired them with incredibly precise 22-bit processing. The result is a level of light control that is genuinely astonishing for an LCD-based television.

In practice, this translates to blistering peak brightness that makes HDR content explode off the screen in a way few displays can match. Specular highlights in movies and games have an intensity and realism that can make you squint, yet the system maintains incredibly deep black levels in the same frame. Is blooming—the halo effect around bright objects on a dark background—gone completely? Not quite, but it is so minimal and well-managed that you have to actively search for it in the most extreme torture-test scenes. For 99% of content, the contrast is deep, nuanced, and convincingly close to OLED.

Powered by the venerable XR Processor, color accuracy is superb out of the box, especially in the calibrated modes. Motion handling remains a Sony hallmark, rendering fast-paced sports and action sequences with clarity and without distracting artifacts. This TV is an absolute powerhouse, built for viewers who crave the raw impact of high-dynamic-range visuals.

Design and Features: Thoughtful and Comprehensive

The Bravia 9 adopts Sony’s familiar “One Slate” minimalist aesthetic, with razor-thin bezels that keep your focus locked on the picture. While its Mini LED construction makes it thicker than an OLED panel, the build quality is impeccable, featuring premium materials and a sturdy, textured back panel. A standout feature is the versatile four-way stand, which allows you to place it in a standard or narrow footprint, as well as raise it to accommodate a soundbar underneath. It’s a thoughtful touch that adds real-world flexibility.

Running on the Google TV platform, the smart interface is snappy and provides access to every streaming app you could want. New for this year is a Prime Video Calibrated Mode, which joins the existing Netflix mode to automatically optimize picture settings for Amazon’s content. For gamers, the Bravia 9 is “Perfect for PlayStation 5,” offering two HDMI 2.1 ports with full support for 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM, plus exclusive features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping.

Sony also continues to lead with its integrated audio. The Acoustic Multi-Audio+ system uses frame and beam tweeters in addition to traditional speakers to create a soundstage that feels wider and more accurately tied to the on-screen action. While it won’t replace a dedicated sound system, it’s one of the best built-in TV audio solutions available.

Value and Verdict: The Bright Room Champion

There’s no escaping the fact that the Sony Bravia 9 commands a premium price, placing it in direct competition with flagship OLEDs like Sony’s own A95L and LG’s G4. This makes the value proposition a matter of priority. If your primary viewing is in a light-controlled dark room and you demand the theoretical perfection of per-pixel illumination, an OLED might still hold a slight edge in absolute black levels and off-angle viewing.

However, the Bravia 9 makes an incredibly compelling case for itself. Its sheer brightness advantage makes it the undisputed champion for mixed-use or bright living rooms, where it can overcome ambient light to deliver a dynamic, punchy image that OLEDs can struggle to match. It offers a dazzling HDR experience without any of the long-term burn-in anxiety that still lingers for some OLED buyers.

Ultimately, the Sony Bravia 9 is for the home theater enthusiast who refuses to compromise on HDR impact. It’s for the cinephile who wants movies to look as bright and brilliant as the director intended, and for the gamer seeking a vibrant, responsive display for any time of day. Sony set out to build the best possible TV for the real world, and with the Bravia 9, it has come closer than ever before.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon