Sony Inzone M3: analysis in two minutes
Sony's PlayStation brand recently took a big step into the competitive gaming space with its line of Inzone headsets and 27-inch monitors. This includes the Sony Inzone M3, the 1080p sibling to the pricier 9K-capable M4.
All the standard gaming monitor standards within its tier group are there, including HDR capabilities, 1ms pixel response time, and 1000:1 contrast ratio. There's also a respectable number of ports for various display inputs plus various USB connections.
When it comes to gaming performance, PS5 owners currently won't need a 250Hz mode, as most games max out at 144Hz, which in turn requires a VVR-capable game. variable update). Considering that many console gamers in the competitive scene play fighting games like Street Fighter V and Dragon Ball Z Fighters or sports games like FIFA and NBA2K, having such a high refresh rate seems more like empty boasting than absolutely necessary for the best gaming monitor for pc gaming.
For general PS5 use, playing proprietary games like God of War: Ragnarok or The Last of Us: Part I seems made for the Inzone M3. Meanwhile, while performance is on par with other PC gaming monitors, overall image quality isn't the best, and HDR doesn't help much either. For streamers, there's also an automatic KVM switch to use one keyboard and mouse for two devices.
The Inzone M3 stands out with its PlayStation 5-centric features like HDR Auto Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. That's not even taking into account the standout design that stands out reasonably well next to PS5's black and white color scheme.
Owners of Sony's current-gen console who crave competitive gamers or the esports scene while making sure to stay color-coordinated may have a lot to like about the M3. More traditional PC gamers will surely have better options elsewhere.
The Sony Inzone M3 shines with its design. As mentioned above, the black and white angled stand that holds the display looks great alongside a PS5 and various accessories. Due to the stand design it is not as intrusive and sight adjustment is easy.
Some may have a problem with the screen not being able to tilt vertically, but given the focus of the PS5, I can't blame it too much. One thing is for sure though: the Sony Inzone M3 is one of the best PS5 monitors you can buy if you really want to build a complete setup.
While the PS5 obviously requires an HDMI cable, an additional one is available for other consoles like the Xbox Series S or Nintendo Switch and DisplayPort. Beyond that, there's USB-C, USB-B for upstream, three USB-As, and a 3,5mm headphone jack. M3 users will definitely need headphones as the internal speakers have a flat, hollow sound. Too bad Sony couldn't implement Spatial Audio, which is a great feature on the PS5.
Amongst the multitude of accessibility options in games like The Last of Us Part 1 and the upcoming Leonardo project, Sony has been emphasizing accessibility. The same goes for the M3, as it's easy to assemble and connect items to their respective port. Weighing in at around 15 pounds total, the M3 is light before you assemble the neck, base, and screen.
Remember that connecting the base to the neck requires a screwdriver, which can be a problem. More importantly, there is no weight transfer once everything is connected. Once in use, the power button and menu joystick on the rear panel are easily accessible for adjustments. Rotating the screen for eye-level comfort also works well. Using Inzone M3 is as simple as the minimalist design.
PS5 games were the focus of the Sony Inzone M3. Playing games like Resident Evil 4 Remake or the myriad of first-class first-party games like Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part I on the gaming monitor is a joy. Image quality is good, but not good enough to justify the high price, though features like HDR auto tone mapping do a great job of optimizing HDR for the M3. VRR support improves the visual quality of games that support it, such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.
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(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)Then there's the automatic genre image mode that changes colors along with motion settings when switching from gameplay to video content. Once again, this enhances the PS5 experience when playing more competitive games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone. As an added measure, there's a crosshair stick that makes aiming in first-person shooters a better experience. When it comes to motion performance, the M3 does well with smooth display and low input lag. Games on this gaming monitor look fantastic on a PS5 or PC and will take full advantage of the 240Hz refresh rate despite a few issues.
These issues boil down to poor image quality when using a PC. General computing use on such an expensive 1080p gaming monitor shouldn't be that much of an issue. You need to change the color settings to even read some text while browsing websites or checking emails. Even working with Adobe Suite led to inefficient color correction. Playing games like Forza Horizon 5 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare lacked the vibrancy and contrast of cheaper 1080p monitors. On a positive note, the M3 does support G-Sync, though the lack of official FreeSync support is odd considering the PS5 is made up of AMD components. There's also an Inzone app to fine-tune the experience through customizing the settings. When it comes to pure PC gaming, there are simply better options.
Sony Inzone M3: price and availability
- How much is it? €499 / €699 (about AU$725)
- When is it available? It is available now.
- Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK
Buying the Sony Inzone M3 is more of a hardcore investment in the PlayStation brand. Aesthetically, it matches Sony's current minimalist design philosophy. During review, the monitor sat nicely next to a PS5 and a PSVR2. The M3 is aimed more at console gamers.
That being said, PC gamers who also have a PS5 have better options, as the €499.99 price is a bit high. For this amount, users can check out the Acer Nitro (Opens in a new tab), AOC C27G2Z (Opens in a new tab), and ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM (Opens in a new tab). These options may lack PS5 features or USB ports, but they're excellent 27-inch HD displays that can hit 250Hz for between $200 and $300.
Sony Inzone M3: Specifications
Swipe to scroll horizontallySony Inzone M3 SpecificationsScreen Size: 27" Aspect Ratio: 16:9Resolution: 1080pBrightness: 400 nitsResponse Time: 1msViewing Angle: 178Contrast Ratio: 1000:1Color Support: 1070 billion Inputs: DisplayPort x1 (View 1.4) / HDMI x2 (Ver 2.1) / USB Type-C x1 (DP Alternate Mode, Upstream) / USB Type-B x1 (Upstream) / USB Type-A x3 (Downstream) / Headphone out x1 (Jack 3, 5mm) Weight: 15 lbs.Should you buy the Sony Inzone M3?
Buy it if...
Don't buy if...
Sony Inzone M3: think too
If my review of the Sony Inzone M3 has you considering other options, here are two other 27-inch monitors to consider.
Slide to scroll horizontally Sony Inzone M3 vs Sony Inzone M3 competition Alienware AW2524H 500HZ Monoprice Dark Matter Price: €499 / €699 (approx AU$725) €829.99 (approx €680 / AU$1,235) €299 (approx €255 / AU € 435) Screen size: 27 inches 24.5 inches 27 inches Aspect Ratio: 16:916:916:9 Resolution: 1920x1080p1920x1080p1920x1080pBrightness: 400 nits400 nits500 cd/m2 Response time: 1ms0.5ms1ms (oversized)Viewing angle :178178°178°Contrast ratio:178178°178° color: 1070 billion99% sRGB100% sRGB Inputs: DisplayPort x1 (Ver. 1.4) / HDMI x2 (Ver. 2.1) / USB Type-C x1 (DP Alt Mode, Upstream ) / USB Type-B x1 (Upstream) / USB Type-A x3 (Downstream) / Headphone Out x1 (3,5mm jack) 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.1, 4x USB Downstream, 1x USB Upstream, 1x Out 3,5mm headphone jack, 1x 3,5mm audio line-out 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x HDMI 1.4 Weight: 15lbs 14,99lbs 10,7lbsHow I tested the Sony Inzone M3
- I spent a week testing the Sony Inzone M3
- PC games played include Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and Forza Horizon 5.
- PS5 games included Ghost of Tsushima, God of War Ragnorock, and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.
- The creative applications used were Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro
During a week of testing on PS5, many games were tested, including Ghost of Tsushima, God of War Ragnorock, and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, among others. As for PC gaming, I played a lot of Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 5, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.
I've also tried other PC-focused apps, including Google Chrome and Adobe Photoshop, which I used to edit the photos used in this review. General computing on this gaming monitor hasn't been the most pleasant experience due to the image...