When it comes to premium TVs, OLEDs often dominate the conversation due to their exceptional picture quality. However, OLEDs come with hefty price tags, which is why companies have been exploring alternative LED technologies to offer OLED-like performance at a more accessible cost. One such innovation is Mini LED technology, and who better to showcase its potential than Sony?
Sony is a giant in the TV industry, and today, we’ll be diving deep into their flagship model, the Sony Bravia 9. We have the 75-inch variant with us, though the model is also available in an 85-inch form factor. Apart from the size, the feature set remains the same, and everything is top of the line – be it the display quality, the colour tuning, and the software experience. But so is the price tag. The 75-inch Bravia 9 is priced at approximately Rs. 4.2 lakhs, while the 85-inch variant costs around Rs. 5.5 lakhs. This begs the question of whether it’s worth your hard-earned cash or if you should only be demanding an OLED panel at this price? Let’s find out in our in-depth Sony Bravia 9 TV Review.
Table of Contents
Design and Connectivity
Starting with the design, the Bravia 9 follows the premium aesthetics of its predecessors, the Bravia 7 and Bravia 8. The TV boasts ultra-slim bezels, with the bottom chin slightly thicker, all crafted from metal for a premium and sturdy finish.
Thankfully, Sony includes adjustable stands, allowing users to choose between wide or narrow fits and even raise the height by approximately 4 inches to accommodate a soundbar.
Moving on to connectivity, all the ports are hidden behind a removable plastic plate on the backside. There are two USB ports, one of which is USB 3.0, enabling smooth playback from external drives. The TV also offers four HDMI ports, though only two are HDMI 2.1, while the other two are HDMI 2.0. One HDMI 2.1 port supports eARC for soundbars, leaving only one port for 4Ka@120Hz gaming.
That’s a big bummer, as those with multiple modern gaming platforms, such as an Xbox Series X/S and a PS5 or even a gaming PC, might find this limiting. It’s not like the Bravia 9 is cheap, and literally all of its competitors at this price are offering all four HDMI 2.1 ports. That’s something that Sony needs to work on in future iterations of their flagship TV.
Display Quality
The highlight of any TV is its display, and the Bravia 9 does not disappoint. Sony uses Mini LED technology here, which features smaller LEDs than traditional ones. This allows for precise backlighting, resulting in deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and stunning contrast. The overall brightness is exceptional, ensuring great performance even in well-lit rooms. During tests for local dimming and colour uniformity, the TV performed flawlessly.
Movies like Top Gun: Maverick and Oppenheimer looked vibrant, while animated titles like The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse showcased incredible colour accuracy. For a cinematic experience, visually darker films like TENET and The Dark Knight Rises benefited from the TV’s deep blacks, truly enhancing the visuals.
Now, I’m not going to say that Mini-LEDs are better than OLED panels. That said, it’s evident that the gap between Mini LED and OLED has narrowed significantly. Unless you compare them side by side, the difference is barely noticeable.
The magic isn’t just in Mini LEDs but also in Sony’s XR Cognitive Processor, which analyzes content in real-time for natural colours and smoother motion. That’s the main reason why the panel on the Bravia 9 manages to perform better than most other Mini LED TVs out there. Additionally, sports enthusiasts will appreciate the fact that this processor will offer a blur-free experience during fast-moving scenes.
When it comes to gaming, the TV supports VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) for minimal input lag and a seamless experience. PS5 users also get exclusive features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping for enhanced HDR visuals and Auto Genre Picture Mode that switches the TV to Game Mode automatically. The HDR feature is typically useful for titles like Ghost of Tsushima or The Last of Us: Part 2, where the open-world environment looks richer and more life-like.
Sound
Complementing the display is the TV’s 70W sound output, which includes dual tweeters, dual mid-range speakers, dual subwoofers, and yes, dual beam tweeters. With support for Dolby Atmos, DTS surround, and 3D surround upscaling, the audio experience is immersive.
Whether it’s action-packed movies with thundering beats or soft vocals, the sound profile is well-balanced. Even without an external soundbar, the Bravia 9 delivers a premium audio experience. My go-to song for testing an audio product is Hyperreal by Flume, and the separation is exhibited quite well by the Bravia 9. Then there are titles like Transformers: Dark of the Moon, where the wide soundstage delivers a cinematic experience at your home.
It goes without saying that despite all this, for home theatre enthusiasts, investing in a 7.1 surround system is still the way to go. However, most users will be satisfied with the built-in speakers, and can then better utilize the two HDMI 2.1 ports.
Remote and Software
The Eco Remote is another standout feature. Made from recycled plastic, it’s an environmentally friendly addition. It eliminates the need for AA or AAA batteries. Instead, it features a USB-C port for convenient charging and is also backlit, making it convenient for dark rooms.
In terms of buttons, users get a few quick-access buttons for popular apps, such as Netflix, Disney Hotstar+, Amazon Prime Video, Sony LIV, YouTube, and Sony Pictures Core. That last one is Sony’s own streaming service, where you can rent and stream at a higher bit rate. Long story short, the higher the bitrate, the better the picture quality would be. For home theatre enthusiasts, this is a better (and legal) alternative to Plex.
The TV also supports both Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay, as well as PS Remote Play, allowing you to stream games from another PS5 console. Furthermore, the TV runs on Google TV, so apps can also be downloaded directly from the Google Play Store.
While we are on the topic of software, it’s worth noting that Sony offers plenty of adjustments to the picture and audio quality. Unfortunately, all these settings are buried deep within the settings, which isn’t ideal for the end consumer. Sony uses the same software we saw on the other Bravia models, and that’s another aspect that Sony needs to work on.
Verdict
The 75-inch Bravia 9 is priced at approximately Rs. 4.2 lakhs, while the 85-inch variant costs around Rs. 5.5 lakhs. While this is undoubtedly a premium price, it offers stunning visuals, immersive audio, and cutting-edge features that cater to both casual viewers and tech enthusiasts. Mini LED technology, paired with Sony’s advanced processing, provides double the brightness of OLEDs and similar black levels, making it a compelling alternative. If you’re looking for a premium TV that excels in movies, gaming, and everything in between, the Sony Bravia 9 is definitely worth considering.
Of course, the Bravia 9 isn’t the only premium TV on the market. You can consider the LG G4, which when compared to the Sony Bravia 9, excels with its OLED panel. It also offers a comparatively bigger display, going up to 97-inches compared to Sony’s 85-inch. Then again, it’s even more expensive, and you’ll have a hard time finding stock for the bigger models. The Samsung S90 is another flagship TV that offers an OLED panel, coupled with a super-sleek design and responsive hardware. That too, however, fetches a premium price tag. Finally, Sony’s own Bravia 7 is still an excellent buy. However, if you want to experience Mini LED without spending a fortune, you can opt for the Hisense U7K series of Mini LED TVs, which are quite competitively priced.
Editor’s Rating: 8.5 / 10
Pros:
- Premium design with adjustable stands
- Exceptional brightness and picture contrast
- Stunning picture quality
- Powerful 70W of total audio
Cons:
- Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
- Expensive compared to other Mini LED models
- Wall mounting hardware is sold separately
