In Brief: Sony Inzone M10S
With its latest Inzone monitor, Sony pushes fluidity to new heights using a 27-inch OLED panel capable of reaching 480Hz. The Inzone M10S is aimed squarely at competitive gamers, yet it also offers excellent versatility for single-player titles, thanks to its high brightness and vibrant colours.
Pros
- Sleek, stylish design
- Highly practical stand and base
- Ultra-smooth 480Hz OLED panel
- Impressive HDR performance
Cons
- Inconsistent brightness, depending on conditions
- No USB-C port
- Only a one-year burn-in warranty
- Very expensive
Design
Sony once again delivers an appealing design with the Inzone M10S. It features a slim OLED display paired with a discreet rear compartment for the connectivity and cooling systems. The screen’s borders are slightly thicker than on some other recent models—particularly at the top and bottom—yet Sony has opted not to place a logo on the front, giving it a clean, understated look.
Connectivity
The Inzone M10S offers modern connectivity options, including:
- 1 × DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR10, up to 40 Gbit/s)
- 2 × HDMI 2.1 ports
- Multiple USB ports (upstream and downstream)
- Headphone jack
Both DisplayPort and HDMI can handle the monitor’s 480Hz refresh rate. This also means the M10S is compatible with current-gen consoles. One notable omission is the lack of a USB-C port, which some users might find disappointing—especially given the monitor’s high price point.
Stand and Mount
A defining feature of certain Inzone monitors is their round-based stand, which takes up minimal desk space. This circular base on the M10S is no exception, offering easy screen rotation—though it does not support pivoting to portrait mode. There is, however, a cable-management slot and a VESA 100×100 mounting option for attaching the panel to an external arm.
Image Quality
Sony once again relies on a W-OLED panel from LG Display for this Inzone model, featuring Micro Lens Array (MLA+) technology introduced by LG in 2023. As such, one can expect higher brightness peaks compared to more conventional OLED screens.
The M10S is a 27-inch, 1440p display, a combination that many gamers find ideal—striking a balance between visual clarity and the performance demands of competitive play. We tested the panel’s quality using a Calibrite Display Pro Plus HL probe with Calman Ultimate software to measure colour accuracy and brightness.
Blacks, Contrast, and Brightness
Being an OLED, the M10S delivers the same deep blacks and near-infinite contrast inherent to the technology. This is particularly evident in HDR scenarios, where dark areas retain much more detail compared to a typical LCD (unless it’s using Mini LED).
Peak brightness on a small 1% window can reach around 1122 cd/m²—slightly below Sony’s claimed 1300 cd/m², but still highly impressive. The panel does seem to have an aggressive Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL): introducing any other bright element typically lowers that figure to around 850 cd/m². Meanwhile, fullscreen brightness can drop significantly to roughly 267 cd/m², reflecting a common OLED trade-off.
Colour Temperature and Accuracy
Colour temperature can vary noticeably by mode:
- In SDR (Game profile), the screen is rather cool at around 7500K.
- In HDR, it shifts to roughly 6133K, which is slightly warmer than the 6500K standard.
- In sRGB mode, it measures around 6213K, landing closer to a neutral point.
When it comes to colour space coverage, Sony’s claim of 98% DCI-P3 holds true, ideal for HDR content designed for that range. Coverage for Rec. 2020 stands at around 66%, comparable to other gaming-focused OLED panels.
SDR Accuracy
Under the default Game profile in SDR, the Delta E average is about 4.91—well above the threshold of 3, beyond which the human eye can begin noticing deviations. However, switching to the sRGB mode yields a more respectable average of 1.76, which can be fine-tuned by adjusting brightness for a Delta E of around 1.26. This should satisfy casual content creators.
HDR Accuracy
In HDR, the Game mode delivers a very good Delta E of 1.7, while DisplayHDR mode reaches 2.25, slightly less precise on blues and greens. The M10S’s luminance curve (EOTF) isn’t perfectly matched in either HDR mode, meaning brightness in darker tones can be a bit off. However, these are minor concerns for most gamers.
Gaming Performance
While OLED gaming monitors are steadily edging towards the 500Hz mark, this 480Hz display is a noticeable jump from 360Hz offerings. Not only does the Inzone M10S reach 480Hz via both HDMI and DisplayPort, it’s also paired with the near-instant response times typical of OLED panels.
This specification screams competitive gaming. Yet thanks to the rich HDR capability, single-player AAA titles also look spectacular, featuring bright highlights, deep blacks, and highly vibrant colours. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong, or the latest Ratchet & Clank stand out, although some gamers may prefer even larger screens for a more cinematic experience.
480Hz in Practice
At 480Hz, movement clarity is exceptional, especially in fast-paced shooters like Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, Valorant, or Marvel Rivals. If your gaming rig can consistently push high frame rates, you’ll appreciate the responsive feel and improved aiming precision. Nonetheless, the jump from 360Hz to 480Hz may provide diminishing returns for many players. The on-paper 1.5ms input lag is excellent, but not radically different from a 360Hz counterpart in day-to-day use.
Software Features
The M10S provides a comprehensive on-screen display (OSD) with plenty of customisation options. It’s straightforward to navigate, displaying active settings in a top bar. One notable option is a “24.5-inch mode,” which effectively crops the image for ultra-competitive setups. That said, enabling it deactivates variable refresh rates (G-Sync, FreeSync), a limitation that doesn’t occur on some rival models.
Being an OLED, the screen includes features designed to mitigate burn-in (Pixel Refresh, Pixel Shift, and Panel Refresh). Sony only provides a one-year burn-in warranty here, which is notably shorter than the three-year cover offered by brands such as LG, Dell, or MSI.
Price and Availability
The Sony Inzone M10S has a recommended retail price of €1,349. This is significantly more expensive than older 360Hz displays—reflecting the new OLED panel tech and increased refresh rate. Sony’s premium pricing strategy also contributes to the higher cost.
It’s not uncommon for OLED gaming monitors to start expensive and then drop in price within six months. Nonetheless, 480Hz adds another layer of exclusivity, and Sony’s brand positioning often keeps its prices at the higher end.
Conclusion: 8/10
On paper, the Sony Inzone M10S appears nearly ideal: merging OLED’s near-instant response times with a 480Hz refresh rate makes it a dream specification for demanding players. Add to that its lofty HDR brightness, stylish design, and modern ports, and it’s poised to handle just about any genre.
In practice, while the fluidity does indeed impress, it’s not a radical leap from the 360Hz monitors that already wowed us earlier this year—though professional or highly competitive gamers might notice the difference. The real sticking point is the price: over €1,300 for a 27-inch display is difficult to justify, even with a 480Hz feature. Plus, it’s disappointing that Sony offers only a one-year burn-in warranty.
These limitations keep it from scoring a perfect 9/10 right now, but if you have the budget—and truly need the extra performance—the Inzone M10S is a formidable gaming monitor.
