Sony Bravia 9 QD-Mini LED TV Review

For years, the battle for home cinema supremacy has been a two-horse race, but Sony’s latest flagship is poised to disrupt the entire field. The Bravia 9 arrives not just as an iteration, but as a bold statement, promising OLED-like black levels with a level of brightness that was previously unimaginable. It’s a television engineered to be the new benchmark for what a non-OLED display can achieve.

The heart of the Bravia 9 is its state-of-the-art QD-Mini LED panel, powered by the refined XR Backlight Master Drive. Sony has thrown its full engineering might at conquering the traditional limitations of LCD technology, and the results are stunning. This TV gets incredibly, almost blindingly bright, pushing HDR highlights in a way that creates breathtaking realism. Specular details, like the glint of sunlight on water or the flash of an explosion, pop with an intensity that few displays can match. More importantly, this brightness is controlled with surgical precision. Sony has implemented thousands of dimming zones—a significant increase over previous models—and the processing that governs them is second to none, dramatically reducing the blooming or halo effects that can plague lesser Mini LED sets. While it can’t quite match the perfect, per-pixel black of an OLED in a pitch-black room, it comes remarkably close, and in any room with ambient light, its superior brightness gives it a clear advantage in dynamic range.

From a design perspective, the Bravia 9 embodies Sony’s minimalist “One Slate” philosophy. The bezels are razor-thin, and the build quality is unmistakably premium, with a textured rear panel that hides a thoughtful cable management system. The included four-way stand is a masterclass in versatility, allowing you to position the TV in a standard or narrow stance, or raise it to accommodate a soundbar underneath. The only real point of contention for enthusiasts will be the port selection. While you get 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM support for gaming, only two of the four HDMI ports support the full HDMI 2.1 feature set, with one of those also being the eARC port. For users with multiple next-gen consoles and a high-end sound system, this could feel restrictive.

On the software and audio fronts, the Bravia 9 continues to deliver. Google TV remains a polished and comprehensive smart platform, offering snappy performance and access to every streaming app imaginable. Sony’s exclusive Bravia Core streaming service also provides some of the highest-bitrate 4K content available, which truly lets the panel shine. Audio is handled by Acoustic Multi-Audio+, which uses frame tweeters and new upward-firing beam tweeters to create a soundstage that feels larger and more immersive than what you’d expect from built-in speakers. It won’t replace a dedicated sound system, but it’s one of the best integrated audio solutions on the market.

Ultimately, the Sony Bravia 9 is a flagship television with a flagship price, aimed squarely at cinephiles and home theater purists who demand the best possible HDR experience, especially in non-ideal lighting conditions. It challenges high-end OLEDs by offering a compelling alternative that doesn’t compromise on brightness. If you want a TV that delivers jaw-dropping highlights, exceptional contrast, and brilliant colors without the risk of burn-in, and you’re willing to pay for that privilege, the Bravia 9 is arguably the new television to beat.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon