Our verdict
Sony's Bravia 9 II shows that a TV does not need an OLED screen to look impressive. Its RGB backlight has separate red, green and blue LEDs (Sony calls it RGB Backlight Master Drive Pro), which Sony says widens the range of colour and brightness. In daylight the screen keeps colours and highlights vivid without making faces look unnatural. Sony's picture processing is especially useful with ordinary TV, where lower-quality video needs careful cleaning rather than extra sharpening. The catch is cost and connections. At £3,499 for the 65-inch model, it is hard to justify against other excellent sets, and only two HDMI ports support the newest gaming features. Dark scenes also cannot match OLED's perfect black.
Buy it if
- You watch in a very bright room
- You value natural processing of TV and films
- You want strong built-in sound before adding speakers
Skip it if
- You connect more than two high-end gaming devices
- Perfect black in a dark room matters most
- You want the strongest performance per pound
How it would fit your home
A bright living room
Brightness, colour and an anti-glare screen make it easy to watch in daylight.
Ordinary TV and streaming
Sony's processing improves lower-quality broadcasts without over-sharpening.
Before paying
Confirm the exact 65-inch model and final basket price. A different size is a different value decision.
The details, in plain English
Brightness and colour
Sony's Bravia 9 II uses an RGB backlight: separate red, green and blue LEDs behind the screen, with Sony's RGB Triluminos Max and Luminance Booster Pro. Sony says this expands colour and brightness. In daylight, the screen keeps colour and highlights vivid without making people look unnatural. Blacks cannot match OLED, where each pixel switches fully off, so dark rooms favour OLED.
Processing and sound
Sony's picture processing is especially useful with ordinary TV, where lower-quality material needs careful cleaning rather than extra sharpness. For sound, Sony lists Voice Zoom 3 for clearer dialogue, 3D Surround Upscaling to widen stereo, and up-firing beam tweeters that bounce sound off the ceiling on all sizes except 115-inch. What Hi-Fi? found the built-in sound clear and well placed.
Formats and software
The TV runs Google TV and supports Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced for film picture, plus Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for sound. Sony also offers calibrated modes such as Studio Calibrated for a picture closer to what film makers intended. Sony's press release does not state the number of dimming zones, refresh rate or HDMI ports, so check those on the retailer page.
Gaming connections
Only two HDMI ports support the newest gaming features. That matters because one is often used by a soundbar or receiver, leaving one for a console. If you own a PS5 and an Xbox Series X and want both at full speed, or add a gaming PC, look at TVs with four such ports.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- RGB LED backlight: outstanding brightness and rich colour in daylight
- Excellent handling of ordinary broadcasts and streamed video
- Anti-glare 'Immersive Black Screen Pro' screen, which Sony says cuts reflections
- Voice Zoom 3 and up-firing speakers: clear, well-placed built-in sound
- Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced support
What to watch out for
- Only two HDMI ports support the newest gaming features
- Dark scenes cannot match OLED's perfect black
- The 65-inch price is higher than several excellent OLED alternatives
- If a soundbar takes one of the two full-speed ports, you have one left for a console
We compare the 65-inch Bravia 9 II with TVs serving the same buyer, keeping the size visible. Its value score includes the exact £3,499 price and not a cheaper variant.
Make the Sony Bravia 9 II 65-inch easier to live with
Add-ons that answer a drawback we named above. Check compatibility with your exact model before buying.
Solves: if a soundbar takes one of the two full-speed ports, you have one left for a console
Cable Matters 4-Port 8K HDMI Switch, product ID 103101 Not yet reviewed by us
Shares a remaining suitable HDMI input between consoles or boxes, reducing cable swapping when the TV has too few suitable sockets.
Check first: Connect soundbar eARC directly to the TV.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Sony Bravia 9 II 65-inch (this one) | A superb bright-room TV with first-class processing, held back by only two full-speed gaming inputs and a very high price | £3,499RRP · 65-inch television, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Read the review |
 Sony Bravia 8 II (65-inch) | A film-first OLED for people who value natural picture processing and clear built-in sound, provided you do not need more than two full-spec gaming ports. | £2,999RRP · 65 inches, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Sony Bravia 8 | A well-matched 65-inch TV for film fans who want strong contrast and screen-based sound, if the OLED premium and bright rooms do not put you off. | £2,699RRP · 65-inch model, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Sony Bravia 7 II | A strong 65-inch choice for film fans who watch in bright rooms and value Sony's processing, provided you are happy with two full-speed HDMI 2.1 ports and budget for a soundbar. | £2,299RRP · 65-inch model, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
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Where our findings come from
This is a research-based review, not a claim that UKTechExpert physically tested the product. We checked Sony UK's release and pricing information, then cross-checked strengths and weaknesses against What Hi-Fi?'s review of the exact model. Measurements are credited to whoever made them.