Sony has consistently pushed the boundaries of what a television can be, but its latest flagship feels like a genuine paradigm shift for LCD technology. The Bravia 9 arrives not just as an iteration, but as a bold statement, promising to deliver near-OLED black levels with unprecedented brightness. It’s an ambitious play to reclaim the crown in a market saturated with incredible displays.
The Bravia 9 is Sony’s all-in assault on the peak-brightness throne, and it largely succeeds. At its core is the newly refined XR Backlight Master Drive, which orchestrates thousands of Mini-LEDs with a precision that borders on obsessive. Paired with a new 22-bit driver, the system manages its staggering number of local dimming zones—reportedly the most Sony has ever implemented—to produce a picture with profound depth. In practice, this means brilliant, searing highlights in HDR content can coexist right next to deep, inky blacks with minimal blooming or haloing. While not entirely immune to the effect in the most extreme, high-contrast scenes, it’s a monumental step forward for the technology and comes closer to OLED’s pixel-level control than any LCD-based TV before it.
Sony’s processing prowess remains a key differentiator. The XR Processor renders motion with a clarity that feels effortlessly smooth without introducing the dreaded “soap opera effect.” Colors are another high point; they pop with vibrancy but remain grounded in a natural, cinematic realism that Sony is famous for. This is particularly evident with the new Prime Video Calibrated Mode, which joins the existing Netflix mode to ensure content is viewed exactly as the creators intended. For cinephiles, this commitment to accuracy is a major selling point.
From a design perspective, the Bravia 9 is an exercise in minimalist elegance. The “One Slate” design presents a clean, monolithic slab of glass and metal that feels incredibly premium. The real genius, however, is the versatile four-way stand. It can be set wide, narrow to fit smaller furniture, or raised to accommodate a soundbar, providing a level of practicality often missing in flagship designs. The build quality is impeccable, reinforcing the TV’s top-tier positioning. Audio performance is also surprisingly robust thanks to Acoustic Multi-Audio+, which uses frame and beam tweeters to make sound feel as if it’s emanating directly from the on-screen action, creating a wide and immersive soundstage.
However, the Bravia 9 is not without its compromises. For a flagship television in this price bracket, the inclusion of only two HDMI 2.1 ports is a significant limitation for serious gamers or users with multiple next-gen devices. While the gaming features it supports—4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM—work flawlessly, having to choose between a PS5, an Xbox Series X, and a high-end PC is a frustrating scenario. Furthermore, its price positions it directly against top-tier QD-OLEDs, which still hold a fundamental advantage in per-pixel contrast and viewing angles. The Bravia 9’s value proposition, therefore, hinges on a single question: do you prioritize the sheer, eye-watering brightness for HDR impact and bright-room viewing over the absolute black levels of an OLED? For many, the answer will be a resounding yes. This is a TV for those who want the brightest, most impactful HDR experience possible without sacrificing cinematic color and processing.
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Sony Bravia 9 Mini-LED TV Quick Summary
Key Scores:
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Value:
82% -
Design:
90% -
Performance:
96% -
Quality:
93% -
Popularity:
88%
Top Pros
- ✅ Unprecedented brightness and contrast control rivaling the best displays.
- ✅ Superb color accuracy provides a natural and cinematic picture.
- ✅ Immersive audio system makes sound appear to come from the screen.
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Key Cons
- ❌ The premium price tag is a considerable financial investment.
- ❌ Only two HDMI 2.1 ports limits advanced peripheral connectivity.
- ❌ Off-axis viewing can result in a minor loss of contrast.
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