– The year 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal one for television technology, specifically for RGB Mini LED displays. However, a confusing landscape of marketing terms threatens to obscure what is actually on offer to consumers.
RGB Mini LED represents the next step in the evolution of Mini LED technology. Traditional Mini LED TVs utilize blue LEDs with color filters to produce red, green, and blue light. RGB Mini LED, as the name suggests, employs LEDs that are red, green, and blue, offering the potential for purer colors and increased brightness, ultimately leading to improved contrast.
Whether RGB Mini LED will definitively surpass OLED technology remains to be seen. Initial launches in 2026 will be crucial in determining its performance, particularly in the mid-range television market where OLED currently holds a strong position. However, the core promise of the technology – brighter, more vibrant images – is compelling.
What’s in a Name?
The excitement surrounding RGB Mini LED is somewhat dampened by the inconsistent branding strategies employed by television manufacturers. While the technology itself is noteworthy, some companies are opting for names that may mislead consumers. This isn’t a new phenomenon. the industry has a history of using marketing terms that don’t always accurately reflect the underlying technology.
The situation echoes past controversies, such as Samsung’s initial use of the “QLED” moniker in . At the time, “QLED” had already been associated with a future display technology involving self-emissive Quantum Dots – a potential competitor to OLED. Samsung, however, applied the term to backlit TVs with a Quantum Dot layer, potentially creating the impression of a more advanced technology than was actually the case.
The subsequent use of “Neo QLED” to denote Samsung’s Mini LED TVs was, in contrast, seen as a logical evolution of the branding. Adding a modifier to indicate a technological advancement felt less deceptive.
RGB Mini LED and Micro LED are Not the Same Thing
Currently, two brands – LG and Samsung – are marketing their RGB Mini LED TVs using the term “Micro,” rather than “Mini.” What we have is particularly problematic because “Micro LED” already refers to a distinct, and significantly more advanced, display technology.
Genuine Micro LED TVs, currently available but prohibitively expensive, utilize self-emissive pixels, similar to OLED. Samsung, LG, and Hisense all currently manufacture Micro LED televisions. This technology is widely considered the eventual successor to OLED, offering the benefits of self-emissive displays – excellent contrast, brightness, and color – without the risk of burn-in or degradation.
However, LG’s MRGB95, dubbed a “Micro RGB Evo TV,” and Samsung’s R95H “Micro RGB TV” are not true Micro LED displays. They are backlit TVs that utilize very small RGB LEDs. LG’s justification for using “Micro” stems from the smaller size of the LEDs compared to traditional Mini LED models.
This practice risks blurring the lines between these backlit RGB LED TVs and genuine Micro LED TVs, potentially misleading consumers. Hisense, notably, is choosing to stick with the “RGB Mini LED” designation, recognizing the potential for confusion.
The core benefit of RGB Mini LED lies in its potential for improved picture quality through purer colors and increased brightness. However, the marketing around the technology is creating unnecessary complexity and the risk of consumer confusion. As these TVs begin to launch in , clear and accurate communication from manufacturers will be essential to ensure consumers understand what they are actually purchasing.
