Hands-on with Sony's $3,500 Bravia TV: True RGB display impresses

Sony's Bravia lineup has long been synonymous with high-quality TVs, and the latest refresh continues that tradition. The new Bravia 9 II uses Sony's version of the multi-colored display technology, branded as True RGB, to produce a picture that has the potential to outshine OLED in terms of color accuracy and contrast. However, like all new technology, the Bravia 9 II comes with a hefty price for early adopters.

The new Bravia 9 II uses Sony's Micro RGB display technology for color accuracy, brightness, and contrast that could topple OLED's reign. While the previous Bravia 9 delivered a truly stunning picture, it was held back by the OLED panel's brightness limitations. The new Micro RGB panel has no such issues, offering an almost blindingly bright image in comparison.

The TV still gets a touch of oversaturation with warmer colors like bright reds, yellows, and oranges, but that's easily remedied by either switching to any of the seven picture modes or manually adjusting settings. The speakers themselves sound very nice, even at very high volume, delivering clean dialogue and fairly balanced music. They also work with Sony's Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which uses tiny actuators behind the display to turn the entire screen into a speaker.

The Bravia 9 II was put through a series of tests, including Calman verification for color accuracy, contrast, and brightness, maximum refresh-rate limits, and a battery of real-world scenarios. The TV handled various test videos and games with ease, including Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight and Ghost of Tsushima. The Sony Bravia 9 II is a worthy successor to the flagship line, offering one of the most impressive pictures you can buy outside of an OLED TV.

The Micro RGB panel delivers a brighter picture than the previous Bravia 9, without washing out details or oversaturating colors. However, all of this comes at a very steep price for early adopters. The Bravia 9 II starts at $3,500 for the 65-inch model, compared to $1,800 for the 65-inch Bravia 8 II and XR8B OLED TVs.

The price only ratchets up from there, with the 85-inch version selling for $6,500. And if you've got your eye on the 115-inch model that's slated for release later this year, be prepared to take out a small loan of $31,000. Why this matters: The Sony Bravia 9 II's True RGB display technology has the potential to disrupt the high-end TV market, offering improved color accuracy and contrast over OLED.

However, its steep price tag may limit its appeal to early adopters and enthusiasts. As the technology becomes more widespread and prices drop, it could have a broader impact on the industry, pushing other manufacturers to adopt similar technologies. For now, consumers will have to weigh the benefits of the Bravia 9 II's impressive picture against its hefty price tag.