I tested Sony’s $3,600 Bravia 9 II True RGB TV — here's my verdict

RGB backlight technology is clearly here to stay, and it’s laying the groundwork to eventually replace traditional Mini-LED as the de facto standard among the best TVs. While more budget-friendly models like the Hisense UR9 are making the tech accessible, sets like the Sony Bravia 9 II represent the uncompromising high end, commanding a steep $3,599 starting price.

The seeds for this flagship were planted three years ago when I visited Sony’s Tokyo HQ to see early prototypes of its backlight drivers. Sony’s mission then was granular control in service of "artistic intent.” The original Sony Bravia 9 proved how potent that philosophy was, but the Bravia 9 II elevates it further by introducing a refined True RGB system.

The result is a display that feels worth every penny. If OLEDs hadn't made massive brightness leaps of their own recently, I’d call this a full-blown OLED killer. A handful of other TVs might push higher raw peak nits on paper, but the Bravia 9 II pairs OLED-rivaling blacks, rich color performance, and an elite anti-reflective coating with a level of visual finesse that makes it the undisputed champion of RGB TVs.

Sony Bravia 9 II True RGB TV: Price and sizes

The Sony Bravia 9 II is positioned at the apex of Sony's current TV offerings, and its pricing reflects its ultra-flagship status:

• 65-inch Sony Bravia 9 II (K65XR90M2): $3,599.99
• 75-inch Sony Bravia 9 II (K75XR90M2): $4,599.99
• 85-inch Sony Bravia 9 II (K85XR90M2): $6,499.99
• 115-inch Sony Bravia 9 II (K115XR90M2): $30,999 (not yet available)

All sizes feature identical internal performance capabilities, though it's worth noting the gargantuan 115-inch model omits the Mirage stand found on its smaller siblings. And frankly, nobody needs to spend $30,000+ on an LED TV, no matter how good it is.

While launch prices are steep, we have already seen modest discounts hit retailers, and you can expect more enticing sales around Black Friday.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Design, ports and connectivity

In terms of design, the highlight here is the new "Mirage" stand setup. When viewed from the right angle, the TV appears to float effortlessly above your console thanks to a magnetic lenticular cover plate that conceals cables fed cleanly down the center base. Much like the metallic floating bezel on Samsung's latest flagship S95H OLED, Sony's design choices make the TV look distinctive and elevated. On a macro-level, I’m excited to see TV manufacturers introducing memorable flourishes right now.

But if you’re after the slimmest TV, the Bravia 9 II isn’t it. Because it is a backlit Mini-LED system, the chassis is naturally thicker and heavier than paper-thin OLED alternatives (1.75 inches and 58.6 pounds, respectively, for the 65-inch model we reviewed).

The Bravia 9 II also sports an upgraded anti-reflective screen coating. In testing, it proved exceptionally capable at suppressing harsh indoor light sources and window reflections, easily rivaling Samsung's matte anti-glare solutions. Paired with the screen's immense light output (which I’ll detail further below,) this set thrives in sun-drenched rooms.

Where Sony stumbles is in its port selection: For a flagship in 2026, offering only two HDMI 2.1 ports (out of four total) remains a frustrating point of contention for multi-console gamers and AV enthusiasts who need multiple high-bandwidth connections. On the plus side, it does include an ATSC 3.0 tuner for broadcast 4K signals — something rival sets from Samsung and LG skimped out on in 2026.

How we test TVs

We follow a standard testing protocol for every TV we review at Tom’s Guide. Our benchmarks include a series of technical and subject tests designed to rate the set’s performance.

For our technical tests, we use a Jeti spectraval 1501-HiRes spectroradiometer, a Klein K10-A colorimeter, a Murideo 8K-SIX-G Metal pattern generator, and Portrait Displays’s Calman calibration software to take measurements. We also use a Leo Bodnar 4K Input Lag Tester for determining whether it’s one of the best gaming TVs. For a more detailed look at what we do and how we do it, check out our “How we test TVs” page.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Performance

The Bravia 9 II’s picture performance impressed me most with its shadow precision and color vibrancy. Watching the rainy dock chase scene in “The Batman,” the colored lights piercing through the dark night sky looked completely controlled, intentional and hyper-vivid. Dark cityscape details remained intact without blowing out shadow details, while blooming around bright light sources was virtually non-existent.

Color handling is equally outstanding. In “Dune: Part Two,” the vast desert sands and open skies of Arrakis displayed buttery-smooth gradations with zero visible color banding.

I did notice some minor limitations in off-angle viewing, however. While Sony's wide-angle tech marks a huge improvement over the original Bravia 9, sitting far off-axis still introduces slight contrast drop-offs that you simply won't find on an OLED panel.

Gaming on the Bravia 9 II feels fluid, and has natural benefits for PS5 owners. Swinging through New York in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on PS5, motion remained crisp even during fast camera shifts. An input lag of 9.8 milliseconds is a monumental improvement over the Bravia 9’s 17 milliseconds, cracking the sub-10 millisecond threshold that’s pretty much the fastest we’ve seen on any Sony TV in the lab.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Test results

Speaking of our lab testing, the Sony Bravia 9 II delivered premium benchmark results, reflecting a massive generational step forward for Sony's backlighting.

Out of the box, our production unit of the Sony Bravia 9 II reached 3,903 nits of peak HDR brightness in a 10% window (worth noting: a pre-production sample we tested previously managed 3,990 nits).

This represents a gigantic leap over the original Bravia 9's 2,713 nits. By shifting away from standard white LEDs to a True RGB backlight system, Sony proved it can drive immense luminance without blowing out color accuracy or clipping highlights. It comfortably outshines even the brightest flagship OLED we’ve tested (the Samsung S95H at 2,721 nits) while essentially matching its impressive 89.60% Rec. 2020 color gamut coverage.

Hisense’s UR9 remains the raw brightness champion at 4,370 nits and holds a slight lead in Rec. 2020 gamut coverage (93.14% vs 89.23%), but almost no content is mastered to saturate BT.2020 fully.

When comparing the Bravia 9 II’s premium over Sony's step-down Bravia 7 II, the lab numbers tell an interesting story. The Bravia 7 II holds its own with a respectable 2,077 nits and nearly identical color coverage, but the flagship Bravia 9 II nearly doubles its peak HDR output and delivers superior out-of-the-box color accuracy. That would make a significant difference in a sun-drenched room.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Audio

Sony re-architected the internal chassis of the Bravia 9 II to create more internal air volume, pairing its primary subwoofers with side-saddled tweeters and a newly added upward-firing beam tweeter. The result is an expansive soundstage with undeniable punch.

The Bravia 9 II also gets Sony’s Voice Zoom feature, which offers six levels of dialogue adjustment in either direction to adjust vocal clarity. I personally like using it for watching live sports when I want the commentary to pop clearly over roaring stadium crowds.

While I think it sounds great for a standalone TV, I also think a display of this caliber deserves a dedicated surround setup. If you stick within Sony's ecosystem, Acoustic Center Sync allows the TV’s built-in drivers to operate as the center channel when paired with a compatible Sony soundbar or home theater system.

Alongside this TV, Sony introduced the Bravia Theater Trio, a condensed central soundbar with wireless left and right channels. I haven’t tested it myself, but I’m intrigued by how it offers flexible placement options.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Software and interface

The Bravia 9 II runs Google TV, which is one of my personal favorite smart TV platforms for daily use. You can take it or leave it, but Gemini AI integration now allows you to ask questions about movies, request quick briefs on sports scores, or catch up on daily news digests.

Google TV Freeplay comes built-in, offering over 280 ad-supported channels for instant streaming. Users also receive free Sony Pictures Core credits (10 movie downloads plus 2 years of unlimited access to 100 curated Sony Pictures titles). Otherwise, app navigation for your subscribed services is generally fast and responsive, and it plays especially nice with YouTube TV for those like me who use it as their cable alternative.

When idle, the TV’s screensavers setting pulls from Google Photos, curated art galleries, or AI-generated art. Combined with the anti-reflective screen coating, the Bravia 9 II could satisfy that itch for an art TV aesthetic.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Remote

Sony’s remote control is one of the best in the business. It features a comfortable, textured back and motion-sensitive backlighting that automatically illuminates the keys when you pick it up in a dark room and gently fades away once set back down. It’s fully rechargeable via USB-C.

Quick-launch shortcut keys are provided for Google TV Freeplay ("Free TV"), Sony Pictures Core, Crunchyroll, Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and Prime Video. There is also a customizable shortcut button that can be programmed to launch your most-used app or control Google Home smart devices.

I appreciate how it includes a dedicated Quick Settings toolbar button, too. It's a game-changer being able to tweak sleep timers or brightness levels without interrupting what you're watching.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Verdict

I’m convinced the Sony Bravia 9 II is the undisputed champion of RGB TVs. By pairing extreme peak luminance with unprecedented dimming control and top-tier processing, Sony has delivered a display that easily holds its ground against the best OLED TVs on the market. It isn't cheap, and the persistent limit of two HDMI 2.1 ports will annoy power users, but those are minor compromises on an otherwise breathtaking television.

If you want something cheaper (and we wouldn’t blame you for doing so), the step-down Sony Bravia 7 II delivers much of the same True RGB color magic for a significantly lower price tag. Alternatively, if you're still not convinced anything can beat OLED's perfect black levels, the LG C6 remains a phenomenal pick for dark-room viewing.

That said, if you have a bright living space and want the absolute peak of cinematic color and brightness finesse, the RGB LED-powered Bravia 9 II is worth every single penny.