Sony Z9F / ZF9 (2018) Series

High precision direct LED backlight is the business ; X1 Ultimate image processor works wonders ; Android Oreo TV OS looks much improved

Limited black level performance ; Not the brightest HDR performer in its class

Bright, colorful HDR pictures ; Excellent video processing ; More affordable than expected ; Wide viewing angle support

Backlight clouding issues ; Contrast not the best ; Vocal playback issues ; Requires careful set up

Sony's Z9F LCD is a dizzying mix of delight and disappointment. On one hand, Sony’s new X1 Ultimate processor is terrific, delivering numerous subtle but cumulatively outstanding improvements to TV picture quality. On the other, though, the Z9F...

Bright picture with strong contrast. Wide color gamut. Android TV with hands-free Google Assistant.

Yellows are very warm out of the box. Clunky, dated remote. Some light bloom.

Bottom Line: Sony's Master Series Z9F LCD TV has a remarkably bright picture and the convenience of hands-free Google Assistant voice control, for a premium price.

Great local dimming feature. Extraordinarily bright in SDR and HDR. Excellent low input lag.

Disappointing contrast ratio.

The Sony Z9F is a great TV for most uses. It's especially well-suited for playing video games, and it's a good choice for use as a PC monitor. Movies look great, but dark room performance isn't as great due to the contrast ratio. The TV is extremely...

In mid-2016, Sony launched a new flagship LCD design, the XBR-Z9D. The series incorporated Backlight Master Drive, a local dimming technology that was a big step forward in realizing the peak brightness potential of high dynamic range (HDR). The Z9D...