Sony InZone M3 Review: A Speedy Gaming Monitor for PS5 Plus PC Play

A less expensive, sooner sibling of Sony’s $900 InZone M9 4K HDR gaming monitor, the 27-inch InZone M3 incorporates a strong 240Hz 1080p display screen for its $530 (£699) price ticket. Along with its distinctive design, the M3’s most notable novelty is PS5 help for Auto HDR, which maps SDR video games to HDR, and Auto Style image mode, which switches profiles from game-optimized and low-latency to movie-optimized while you launch them. It additionally helps HDMI 2.1 which looks like overkill for a 1,920 x 1,080 (FHD), barely HDR display screen, however future proofing is at all times welcome — offered it would not add a whole lot of value.

In any other case, the display screen is akin to fashions just like the BenQ Mobiuz EX270M, Acer Nitro XV272,  Acer Predator XB273 and a handful of others. They’re older fashions however barely cheaper and lack the HDMI 2.1 and the PS5 automation. The M3 is discounted by way of early April to only under $500, which brings it extra into line with the competitors. (The M9 can be discounted over the identical interval, for $100 off its normal $900 worth.)

It has an equivalent design to the M9, which suggests it is equally annoying. Placing, because it makes use of comparable supplies to the PS5 however with a extra angular aesthetic widespread to PC gaming shows, however awkward. The metallic rear legs of the stand do not look substantial, although they’re. 

Sony InZone M3 (SDMF27M30)

Worth	$530
Measurement (diagonal)	27 in. (69 cm)
Panel and backlight	IPS with LED edgelight
Flat or curved	Flat
Decision and pixel density	1,920 x 1,080 81.6ppi
Side ratio	16:9
Most gamut	99% sRGB
Brightness (nits, peak/typical)	400/400
HDR	DisplayHDR 400
Adaptive sync	G-Sync
Max vertical refresh charge	240Hz (DisplayPort and HDMI)
Grey/grey response time (milliseconds)	1ms (overdrive)
Connections	2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-C (with DP)
Audio	3.5mm out
VESA mountable	Sure, 100 x 100 mm
Panel guarantee	1 12 months
Launch date	January 2023

There is a tiny plastic hook that may grasp off one of many skinny legs by way of which you are imagined to feed your cables. It isn’t massive sufficient to accommodate just a few thick ones although and actually feels flimsy. And whereas setup is simple, it is unnecessarily inelegant. You want a screwdriver and the included unfastened screws to connect the legs — on the very least make them captive — and it is arduous to insert the connections as a result of they’re in a recess that requires some contortion to get them into, particularly in case you have stiff, thick cables.

That uncommon slanted foot additionally makes it notably tough to get to the DisplayPort connection and prevents the display screen from with the ability to tilt ahead. Most stands allow you to tilt about 5 levels towards you, which may come in useful in the event you’re attempting to avert glare. The design additionally precludes swiveling, which is annoying in a multimonitor configuration and would not permit for placing issues in your desk beneath the display screen, reminiscent of shoving your keyboard there.

It actually begs to be mounted on an arm, however at that time it seems just about the identical as each different monitor on the market.

Along with the twin HDMI 2.1 connections, it additionally helps USB-C for show. It is obtained stereo two-watt audio system, which sound about nearly as good as you’d count on; that’s, in the event you count on them to sound tinny and low quantity and solely good for easy system sounds. 

I assumed Sony would have fastened the small irritation within the onscreen show, the place it defaults to one of many least-needed menu entries — DDC on/off, and a stage down — which makes navigating by way of the menus tedious if you must do it loads. Fortunately, the whole lot within the OSD is accessible through Sony’s fairly effectively designed InZone Hub software program.

Just like the M9, the M3 has a built-in KVM swap, which suggests the USB ports rely upon the energetic enter. That is a perk in the event you’re connecting to 2 completely different techniques or a PC and a console, and simple to arrange within the software program. The enter scanning on the lookout for an energetic connection appears to take just a little longer than regular, although, and I obtained some surprising resets (the place it decides to recheck its connection) — reminiscent of between benchmark checks — that I’ve solely seen with the Sonys.

Efficiency

The monitor performs effectively, with strong conduct at 240Hz and what looks like is the claimed 1ms gray-to-gray pixel refresh, and delivers glorious sRGB shade accuracy in its Customary and Sport 2 profiles however not in its default Sport 1. (How we check screens.)

Shade measurements

	Gamut (% of P3)	White level	Gamma	Brightness (nits)	Accuracy (DE2K common/max)
Default (Sport 1)	82 (111% sRGB)	7800K	2.3	245/360 (peak)	3.83/8.3
sRGB (Customary)	n/a (111% sRGB)	6300K	2.2	265	1.92/5.07
Cinema	82	6300K	2.4	337	n/a
HDR	87	6450K	n/a	473 (10% and full display screen)	n/a

It nominally helps excessive dynamic vary — it is DisplayHDR 400 licensed — however that simply means it has just a little further brightness headroom and might do the mathematics wanted to show HDR content material or map SDR to HDR. It would not make that a lot of a visible distinction, partly as a result of the black is not darkish sufficient. One of the best distinction it may hit was about 2500:1, which is sweet normally however not nice for HDR. On the brilliant facet, I did not see any gentle bleed across the edge as is widespread with edgelit backlights.

Sport mode measurements

	White level	Gamma	Brightness	Distinction (static)
FPS	7850K	2.1	304 nits	861
Sport 2	6300K	2.2	267 nits	1185

I am not an enormous fan of 27-inch 1080p screens for nongaming use due to their low-pixel density, solely about 82 pixels per inch, as a result of even my growing old eyes object to the seen pixel grid. But it surely’s okay for gaming as a result of there are not often any single-pixel-wide traces. In order for you one thing for lengthy workdays in addition to gaming, and you do not want the 240Hz or HDMI 2.1 (you’ll be able to nonetheless use it with a console), do your eyes and pockets a favor and get a 2,560 x 1,440 (1440p) 165Hz mannequin.

It is a fairly good monitor, however the InZone M3’s display screen would not distinguish it from the small pack of 240Hz 1080p choices and its stand would not assist make a case for it. Total, it is a strong alternative, particularly if yow will discover it for a extra aggressive worth.