Sony Bravia 9 II True RGB TV First Impressions

InnovationConsumer TechSony Bravia 9 II True RGB TV First ImpressionsByJohn Archer,Senior Contributor.Follow AuthorMay 27, 2026, 12:01pm EDTMay 27, 2026, 12:05pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.The Bravia 9 II hands on in action. Bravia 9 II on the right, original Bravia 9 on the left, and BVM-HX3110 mastering monitor in the middle.Photo: John ArcherWhen Sony first unveiled its new “independent drive RGB LED TV” to a few lucky journalists (including myself) in Tokyo way back in March 2025, it was so early a prototype that it still had hundreds of bare wires sticking out of its back. Even then, though, more than six months before any rival brands (basically Hisense and Samsung) were able to rush their own ultra-expensive, super-sized takes on the technology to market, Sony’s RGB LED screen looked like it had the potential to be something special.For starters, it was clear, despite its unfinished appearance, that Sony had already been working on this set for a long time by today’s rapid TV development standards. This meant that beyond the simple fact that it was the first modern consumer TV I’d seen by March 2025 to use actual separate red, green and blue LEDs to produce color (rather than shining white or blue backlights through red, green and blue filters or Quantum Dot layers), even from its first public appearance Sony’s RGB LED debutante boasted advanced picture enhancement features that other brands that have since boarded the RGB LED train still don’t have. Including, most impressively, a system that constantly monitors the condition of different parts of the screen so that it can compensate for the impact that panel condition factors, especially heat, can have on colour reproduction. The demonstrations then and others since using ever more ‘finished’ Sony RGB LED screens have only continued to reveal strengths of Sony’s unrushed take on the technology vs rival takes, incl...