Technologies

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

Sony’s lower-end model in its distinctive-looking InZone monitor line delivers a solid, if not standout, performance.

A cheaper, faster sibling of Sony’s $900 InZone M9 4K HDR gaming monitor, the 27-inch InZone M3 incorporates a solid 240Hz 1080p screen for its $530 (£699) price tag. In addition to its unique design, the M3’s most notable novelty is PS5 support for Auto HDR, which maps SDR games to HDR, and Auto Genre picture mode, which switches profiles from game-optimized and low-latency to movie-optimized when you launch them. It also supports HDMI 2.1 which seems like overkill for a 1,920 x 1,080 (FHD), barely HDR screen, but future proofing is always welcome — provided it doesn’t add a lot of cost.

Otherwise, the screen is comparable to models like the BenQ Mobiuz EX270M, Acer Nitro XV272, Acer Predator XB273 and a handful of others. They’re older models but slightly cheaper and lack the HDMI 2.1 and the PS5 automation. The M3 is discounted through early April to just below $500, which brings it more into line with the competition. (The M9 is also discounted over the same period, for $100 off its standard $900 price.)

Sony InZone M3 (SDMF27M30)

$498 at Amazon

$498 at Walmart

$500 at Best Buy

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Like

HDMI 2.1 with VRR support for PlayStation
Good sRGB accuracy

Don’t Like

Looks good but the connection locations and cable management aren’t
Awkward stand that doesn’t swivel

It has an identical design to the M9, which means it’s equally annoying. Striking, since it uses similar materials to the PS5 but with a more angular aesthetic common to PC gaming displays, but awkward. The metal rear legs of the stand don’t look substantial, though they are.

Sony InZone M3 (SDMF27M30)

Price	$530
Size (diagonal)	27 in. (69 cm)
Panel and backlight	IPS with LED edgelight
Flat or curved	Flat
Resolution and pixel density	1,920 x 1,080 81.6ppi
Aspect ratio	16:9
Maximum gamut	99% sRGB
Brightness (nits, peak/typical)	400/400
HDR	DisplayHDR 400
Adaptive sync	G-Sync
Max vertical refresh rate	240Hz (DisplayPort and HDMI)
Gray/gray 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	Yes, 100 x 100 mm
Panel warranty	1 year
Release date	January 2023

There’s a tiny plastic hook that can hang off one of the thin legs through which you’re supposed to feed your cables. It’s not large enough to accommodate a few thick ones though and really feels flimsy. And while setup is straightforward, it’s unnecessarily inelegant. You need a screwdriver and the included loose screws to attach the legs — at the very least make them captive — and it’s hard to insert the connections because they’re in a recess that requires some contortion to get them into, especially if you have stiff, thick cables.

That slanted leg is striking looking, but not very practical.

Lori Grunin/CNET

That unusual slanted foot also makes it notably difficult to get to the DisplayPort connection and prevents the screen from being able to tilt forward. Most stands let you tilt about 5 degrees toward you, which can come in handy if you’re trying to avert glare. The design also precludes swiveling, which is annoying in a multimonitor configuration and doesn’t allow for putting things on your desk beneath the screen, such as shoving your keyboard there.

It really begs to be mounted on an arm, but at that point it looks pretty much the same as every other monitor out there.

The connectors are in one of those traditional, hard-to-reach recesses in the back of the screen.

Lori Grunin/CNET

In addition to the dual HDMI 2.1 connections, it also supports USB-C for display. It’s got stereo two-watt speakers, which sound about as good as you’d expect; that is, if you expect them to sound tinny and low volume and only good for simple system sounds.

I thought Sony would have fixed the small irritation in the onscreen display, where it defaults to one of the least-needed menu entries — DDC on/off, and a level down — which makes navigating through the menus tedious if you have to do it a lot. Thankfully, everything in the OSD is accessible via Sony’s pretty well designed InZone Hub software.

Like the M9, the M3 has a built-in KVM switch, which means the USB ports depend upon the active input. That’s a perk if you’re connecting to two different systems or a PC and a console, and easy to set up in the software. The input scanning looking for an active connection seems to take a little longer than normal, though, and I got some unexpected resets (where it decides to recheck its connection) — such as between benchmark tests — that I’ve only seen with the Sonys.

Performance

The monitor performs well, with solid behavior at 240Hz and what seems like is the claimed 1ms gray-to-gray pixel refresh, and delivers excellent sRGB color accuracy in its Standard and Game 2 profiles but not in its default Game 1. (How we test monitors.)

Color measurements

	Gamut (% of P3)	White point	Gamma	Brightness (nits)	Accuracy (DE2K average/max)
Default (Game 1)	82 (111% sRGB)	7800K	2.3	245/360 (peak)	3.83/8.3
sRGB (Standard)	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 screen)	n/a

It nominally supports high dynamic range — it’s DisplayHDR 400 certified — but that just means it has a little extra brightness headroom and can do the math needed to display HDR content or map SDR to HDR. It doesn’t make that much of a visual difference, partly because the black isn’t dark enough. The best contrast it could hit was about 2500:1, which is good in general but not great for HDR. On the bright side, I didn’t see any light bleed around the edge as is common with edgelit backlights.

Game mode measurements

	White point	Gamma	Brightness	Contrast (static)
FPS	7850K	2.1	304 nits	861
Game 2	6300K	2.2	267 nits	1185

I’m not a huge fan of 27-inch 1080p screens for nongaming use because of their low-pixel density, only about 82 pixels per inch, because even my aging eyes object to the visible pixel grid. But it’s okay for gaming because there are rarely any single-pixel-wide lines. If you want something for long workdays as well as gaming, and you don’t need the 240Hz or HDMI 2.1 (you can still use it with a console), do your eyes and wallet a favor and get a 2,560 x 1,440 (1440p) 165Hz model.

It’s a pretty good monitor, but the InZone M3’s screen doesn’t distinguish it from the small pack of 240Hz 1080p options and its stand doesn’t help make a case for it. Overall, it’s a solid choice, especially if you can find it for a more competitive price.

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Technologies

Live-Action ‘Call of Duty’ Movie Reportedly Being Co-Written by Taylor Sheridan

The Yellowstone co-creator will reportedly team up with Peter Berg on the Paramount film.

Yellowstone, Landman and, now, Call of Duty. Taylor Sheridan, co-creator of the aforementioned hit shows, will co-write Paramount and Activision’s upcoming live-action video game adaptation, according to a report from Variety on Thursday.

Peter Berg will also co-write and direct the movie, which was announced last month. Berg previously directed films including 2018’s Mile 22, 2012’s Battleship and 2013’s Lone Survivor, while Sheridan’s movie credits include 2016’s Hell or High Water and 2017’s Wind River. Berg, Sheridan and David Glasser will produce the Call of Duty film.

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Call of Duty is a first-person shooter military video game series that debuted in 2003. CNET senior writer David Lumb calls it «arguably the biggest shooter franchise in gaming, with millions of players picking up every year’s new entry to the series.»

Lumb said the franchise is known for its bombastic single-player campaigns, which feature globe-spanning plots that rival those of the Mission Impossible films. «A Call of Duty movie has a lot of material to draw from,» Lumb said.

He also noted that Berg’s direction of Lone Survivor would fit the grim military heroism of Call of Duty, while Taylor Sheridan’s spate of neo-Western films and shows could lend a frontier adventurism to the film.

«Their collective works seemingly harmonize with the jingoistic pro-military tune of Activision’s shooter franchise — which is probably a good thing for Call of Duty fans,» Lumb concluded.

A release announcing Paramount and Activision’s film deal teased that it’ll be «designed to thrill its massive global fan base by delivering on the hallmarks of what fans love about the iconic series, while boldly expanding the franchise to entirely new audiences.» It didn’t include cast or plot information.

The update follows recent news that Sheridan is leaving Paramount for NBCUniversal. Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Animal Crossing Update Adds Lego Furniture, With a Switch 2 Version Arriving the Same Day

Fans of Animal Crossing will have a reason to go back to their island.

Animal Crossing fans just received a big surprise, and it’s not just a new content update. A Switch 2 version is on its way.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons will receive its first big update in three years, according to a post from Nintendo on Thursday. The update, labeled 3.0, will roll out on Jan. 15, the same day the Switch 2 version of the game will be available for purchase.

Released for the original Switch back in 2020, New Horizons was the first Animal Crossing game to come to a Nintendo console since 2008’s Animal Crossing: City Folk for the Nintendo Wii.

Nintendo regularly updated New Horizons for two years after its release, but stopped at update 2.0.6 released in November 2022. Two updates were added earlier in the year to prepare the game for playability on the Switch 2.

Animal Crossing 3.0 Update

In the 3.0 update coming on Jan. 15, a new hotel is opening. Players can help bring in guests to stay at the hotel by decorating guest rooms and dressing up mannequins to sell resort clothing.

For those who haven’t touched New Horizons in years, a Reset Service will be available. Players can have their island cleaned up, and items can be stored away or trashed for those who want a clean slate.

Players with a Nintendo Switch Online membership will have access to up to three islands, where they can explore and do as they please. These new areas are available on Slumber Island. It’s up to the player to decide how the island will look, what items or plants are on it and even which characters will be found on the island. Players can also invite friends to build it together.

New Horizons will feature special collaborations and Nintendo retro gear. Lego items will be available in the update for players to decorate their homes with or clothing to dress up their villagers with. Retro Nintendo consoles, such as the NES and Game Boy, can also be used as decorative items.

If the player has a Switch Online subscription, some classic titles such as Ice Climbers and Dr. Mario can be played via these in-game devices. There are also special items based on The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon series when players tap their amiibo from those games onto the Switch while playing.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Switch 2

Switch 2 owners can get in on the digital life game with Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Not only will this new version come with updated graphics, including 4K resolution in TV mode, but it will also add special features that can only be done on the newest console.

One of the features is mouse controls for the Joy-Con 2. Players will be able to use the controller as a mouse to decorate indoors, create custom designs and write handwritten messages for the bulletin board.

Residents in the game can now be found by saying their name into the Switch 2’s built-in microphone while using the megaphone in the game. Multiplayer has also improved dramatically, with 12-player sessions available for those playing on the new edition, and CameraPlay is supported to allow players to see one another.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch 2 will be available for purchase on Jan. 15 for $65. Owners of the original Switch version of New Horizons can upgrade to the Switch 2 version for $5.