The Sony Bravia 9 II is the most anticipated new TV in years, and it delivers on nearly every front. As the flagship of Sony's 2026 RGB LED lineup, this television represents a significant leap forward in backlight technology. Instead of the traditional blue LED backlight with quantum dots, the Bravia 9 II uses individual red, green, and blue LEDs in clusters, allowing for direct control over the color spectrum. This results in a wider color gamut and more precise color reproduction than any previous LED TV from Sony.
In our testing, the Bravia 9 II achieved an impressive peak brightness of 3,800 nits for specular highlights and 885 nits for a full-field white screen. These numbers make it one of the brightest TVs available, easily surpassing its predecessor, the Bravia 7 II, which maxed out at 2,200 nits. The high brightness, combined with excellent color accuracy out of the box, makes the 9 II ideal for bright rooms with lots of ambient light. The anti-reflective screen is particularly noteworthy: it reduces reflections to a dim glow that virtually disappears when content is playing, even with direct sunlight streaming through windows.
However, as with all LED TVs, blooming remains an issue, especially off-axis. While the 9 II's increased dimming zones (more than the Bravia 7 II) help control blooming from straight on, severe off-angle viewing reveals noticeable light bleeding around bright objects and subtitles. This is likely exacerbated by the anti-reflective coating, which scatters light in a way that can create halos at extreme angles. As a result, the TV is best suited for viewers who sit directly in front of it, rather than for large groups spread across a wide seating area.
The Bravia 9 II also shares many features with the Bravia 7 II, including the same processor, the same elegant lenticular stand, and the same frustrating limitation of only two HDMI 2.1 ports. For a flagship TV priced at $3,600 for the 65-inch model, the lack of four HDMI 2.1 ports is a notable omission, especially for gamers who want to connect multiple next-generation consoles or a high-end PC. The TV does support 4K/120Hz, ALLM, and VRR, so gaming performance is solid, but the port limitation may require an HDMI switch for some setups.
In terms of image quality, the Bravia 9 II excels in Professional mode, with near-perfect gamma and EOTF tracking out of the box. Skin tones look natural, colors like sky blue and foliage are vibrant but not oversaturated, and shadow detail is excellent. The only slight issue is that reds appear oversaturated in SDR mode, but this can be adjusted in the user menu. For HDR content, the TV delivers stunning highlights and deep blacks that rival OLED in many scenes, thanks to the fine dimming control.
The Bravia 9 II runs Google TV, which is fast and responsive, with a clean interface. It includes an ATSC 3.0 tuner for next-gen over-the-air broadcasts, and the remote is now USB-C rechargeable, a welcome upgrade. The TV is available in 65, 75, 85, and 115-inch sizes, with the smallest starting at $3,600. That makes it $1,000 more than the Bravia 7 II (65-inch) and $600 more than Sony's own Bravia 8 II OLED. For many buyers, the OLED will still offer superior contrast and black levels, making it the better choice for dark-room viewing.
Despite its off-axis blooming and high price, the Sony Bravia 9 II is a remarkable achievement. It sets a new standard for RGB LED technology, particularly in bright rooms where its anti-reflective screen and high brightness shine. If you have a dedicated home theater room or prioritize contrast above all else, an OLED TV remains the better investment. But if you need a TV that can handle a sunlit living room without compromising on color or detail, the Bravia 9 II is the best option on the market today.
The television's processing algorithms are key to its performance. Sony has long been known for industry-leading upscaling and motion handling, and the Bravia 9 II continues that tradition. Even lower-resolution content from streaming services or cable TV looks crisp and detailed, thanks to the processor's ability to fill in missing information without introducing artifacts. The TV also handles motion smoothly, with minimal blur in fast-paced sports or action movies, though some may notice slight judder in 24p content without the motion smoothing feature enabled.
One area where the Bravia 9 II falls short is in its off-axis color performance. While the anti-reflective screen is excellent at diffusing ambient light, it also causes color shifting when viewed from extreme angles. At around 70 degrees off-center, colors lose saturation and black levels rise significantly, reducing overall contrast. This is a common issue with LED TVs, but it's more pronounced on the 9 II than on some competitors, likely due to the lens-like properties of the anti-reflective coating. For most home setups, however, viewers are unlikely to sit that far off-axis, so this may not be a dealbreaker.
In terms of build quality, the Bravia 9 II feels premium, with a sturdy metal frame and the distinctive lenticular stand that allows for easy cable management. The TV is relatively slim for an LED model, though it's not as thin as OLED panels. The included remote is a nice upgrade from previous Sony remotes, with a comfortable grip and dedicated buttons for streaming services. The USB-C charging port means you no longer need to replace batteries, which is both convenient and environmentally friendly.
The Bravia 9 II supports all major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. Dolby Vision content looks exceptional, with dynamic metadata that allows the TV to adjust brightness and color on a scene-by-scene basis. We watched several Dolby Vision titles, including Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Mad Max: Fury Road, and both looked spectacular, with vibrant colors and punchy highlights. The TV also handles standard HDR10 well, though it lacks HDR10+ support, which is a minor omission given its prevalence on some streaming platforms and physical media.
Audio performance is decent for a TV, with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X pass-through via eARC. The built-in speakers produce clear dialogue and reasonable bass, but they lack the depth and immersion of a dedicated soundbar or home theater system. Most buyers will want to pair the Bravia 9 II with a separate audio setup to get the most out of its stunning picture quality. The TV's acoustic surface audio technology, which uses the screen itself as a speaker, is not present on this model, but the standard speaker array is sufficient for casual viewing.
Overall, the Sony Bravia 9 II is a remarkable TV that pushes RGB LED technology to new heights. Its combination of extreme brightness, excellent color accuracy, and best-in-class anti-reflective screen makes it the undisputed king of bright-room TVs. However, its high price, off-axis blooming, and port limitations mean it's not for everyone. For those who can afford it and have a room where reflections are a constant battle, the Bravia 9 II is an incredible investment. But for most people, an OLED TV like Sony's own Bravia 8 II or a more affordable mini-LED option will offer a better balance of performance and value.
Source: The Verge News