OLED has been on the very high of the TV marketplace for a number of years now and is arguably the most well-liked of panel applied sciences. Thanks to its self-emissive pixel design, it generates probably the most correct blacks and distinction out there, together with vibrant colours and wonderful element.
One space the place OLED used to wrestle, nevertheless, was its brightness. The best OLED TVs used to cap out at roughly 1,00zero nits peak brightness just a few years in the past, making them tough to view in brighter viewing circumstances. This is the place mini-LED got here in. Even extra inexpensive, mid-range mini-LED TVs had been able to hitting greater peak brightness, making them the best choice for brighter rooms.
So, can RGB LED actually de-throne OLED? Let’s take a deeper look.
The RGB mini-LED story so far
The only RGB mini-LED currently available is the Hisense 116-inch UX. I really obtained the possibility to check it in 2025 and I used to be impressed by its hanging, vibrant colours, staggering brightness and impeccable element. Textures got an actual 3D-effect whereas nonetheless wanting pure. With a few of my testing discs, it additionally confirmed strong blacks and distinction.
However, I seen a clouding impact in some actually darkish scenes in films akin to The Batman and Alien: Romulus that jogged my memory of low cost mini-LED TVs I’d examined earlier than. And in some situations, blacks took on a grey tone, particularly when considered from an angle. It wasn’t fairly the OLED killer I assumed it could be but it surely was undoubtedly a step in the precise route.
Cut to 2026 and RGB mini-LED has been seemingly embraced by most main TV manufacturers. Referred to as Micro RGB by LG and Samsung and RGB mini-LED by Hisense and TCL, all these brands have plans to release sets in 2026. The excellent news is that it’s not going to be reserved for super-sized screens both, as Hisense is set to introduce models starting from 55-inch with its UR9 and UR8 series. Samsung can be set to launch Micro RGB sets starting from 55-inch as nicely.
So, RGB mini-LED/Micro RGB has undoubtedly captured the eye of a number of the largest TV producers, even those that make OLEDs. But what do these RGB TVs must do to de-throne OLED?
What RGB needs to do
As you may have noted above in my summary of the Hisense 116UX, while I was impressed by its overall picture, its clouding effect in dark scenes and its blacks with a gray hue held it back from toppling OLED. This is where the battle is hardest fought: contrast and screen uniformity.
As OLED uses self-emissive pixels, it can generate ‘true’ blacks. This is where its biggest strength lies, as LED TVs can only rely on their backlight’s dimming capabilities. While mini-LED does improve this over standard LED, it will always be a limitation compared to OLED. Screen uniformity, the ability to display a single color such as black evenly over a whole screen, can be a real issue for LED TVs. If RGB mini-LED really can improve its local dimming and blacks to a rate where it stands toe-to-toe with OLED, then RGB mini-LED has a shot at rivalling, if not beating it.
Mini-LED already has brightness won. I talked about OLED’s general brightness above, but how do RGB mini-LED and OLED compare? We measured the 116UX RGB at 6,014 nits peak HDR brightness (in Vivid mode), that means there’s scope for the smaller screens to hit large numbers too. Even if the newer technology of OLED realistically hits nearer to 3,00 nits peak HDR brightness, RGB mini-LED has nonetheless received.
The 116UX additionally clocked over 1,00zero nits fullscreen brightness, which OLED received’t hit anytime quickly. The highest we’ve measured is 390 nits on the Samsung S95F. Standard mini-LED hits over 600 nits fullscreen brightness now. So what is going to the smaller RGB units hit?
RGB mini-LED may create stronger perceived distinction if it actually can get the blacks proper, because it already has the brightness a part of the distinction nailed. From what I’ve seen and examined of RGB mini-LED to date, its colours and textures are already wealthy sufficient to rival OLED. Contrast and blacks are the lacking piece of the puzzle.
What about the price?
Pricing is another area where things will be interesting. The LG G5, LG’s flagship 2025 OLED, cost $2,499 / £2,399 / AU$4,199 for the 55-inch model. We don’t have any confirmed pricing for the 55-inch RGB mini-LED/Micro RGB TVs from Hisense or Samsung set to launch in 2026 yet, but if it can get close to OLED numbers, it’ll be a big win.
I suspect that RGB mini-LED, as it’s a new panel technology, will be pricier to begin with. OLED was a real premium on its debut and prices have now seemed to hit a steady pace, only really rising or falling with inflation each year. If RGB TVs can drop their prices fast however and sort its screen uniformity and contrast, OLED may need to take notice.
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