Samsung's high-end TV boasts a novel display technology that poses a threat to OLED dominance, but be prepared to shell out the dollars for it
Samsung Unveils Groundbreaking Micro RGB Mini-LED TV
Samsung has entered the fray of cutting-edge television technology with its new Micro RGB Mini-LED TV. This ultra-premium offering, launching globally soon, promises a significant leap in colour accuracy, contrast, and immersive viewing compared to current OLED and traditional backlit TVs.
The heart of this innovation is the Micro RGB LED panel technology, which shrinks down the red, green, and blue Mini LEDs for more granular backlight control. Each LED measures less than 100 micrometres, about the thickness of a human hair, enabling highly precise colour zones.
This new panel technology is complemented by Samsung's Glare Free technology and Vision AI suite. The suite includes AI-backed picture and sound modes, Generative Wallpaper, and AI Auto Game Mode, offering an enhanced viewing experience.
The TV is also equipped with a new AI-enhanced processor, called the Micro RGB AI engine. This processor unlocks the Micro RGB Colour Booster Pro feature, which adds vibrancy to dull colours, and optimises picture and sound for a more lifelike and immersive viewing experience.
Samsung's first Micro RGB TV is a 115-inch screen size model, marking a bold entry into the large format TV market. After the global rollout, more sizes of the TV are expected to become available.
The TV uses a new panel technology called Micro RGB LED, which, in addition to its granular backlight control, boasts a Micro RGB Precision Colour system. This system claims 100% coverage of the BT.2020 color space for maximum color accuracy.
When comparing this new panel technology with currently available options, it's still unclear where the Micro RGB Mini-LED TV sits. However, it offers significant advantages over current OLED and traditional backlit TVs.
| Technology | Color Accuracy | Contrast | Immersive Viewing | |--------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | Micro RGB Mini-LED | Highly precise colour zones allow for very high color volume and potentially surpasses OLED in vibrant color reproduction, especially at high brightness. | Improved contrast via thousands of local dimming zones, allowing very deep blacks for an LCD-based display, although not infinite like OLED. | Very bright (can exceed 1500 nits), very impactful HDR with strong highlights enhances immersive experience, especially in bright scenes. Large sizes also support immersion. | | OLED | Exceptional color accuracy due to self-emissive pixels. Each pixel can emit precise color without filters, delivering excellent color consistency and deep black levels with no light bleed. | Infinite contrast because pixels can be turned completely off, producing perfect black and no halo effects around bright objects. | Superb contrast and very fast response times lead to fluid motion and vivid HDR with natural visuals, though peak brightness is typically 1000-1300 nits and limited by Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL). Best for dark room viewing. | | Traditional Backlit TVs (Regular LED/LCD) | Use white LEDs with color filters, limiting color volume and accuracy compared to RGB Mini-LED and OLED. Color precision is less refined due to reliance on filters. | Lower native contrast (due to backlight bleed) especially compared to OLED and Mini-LED; fewer or larger dimming zones mean less precise local dimming and blacks that appear grayish. | Brightness can be high but often at the cost of contrast and color accuracy. Overall less immersive, especially for HDR content. |
Micro RGB Mini-LED TVs combine the high brightness and vivid HDR impact of advanced Mini-LED backlights with improved color accuracy by using RGB LEDs instead of white LEDs with filters, enabling more precise color control and higher color volume than traditional Mini-LED TVs.
Although OLED still leads in infinite contrast and rapid pixel response for perfect blacks and motion clarity, Micro RGB Mini-LED narrows the gap significantly in contrast and often exceeds OLED's brightness, offering an immersive experience especially in bright or well-lit environments.
Compared to traditional backlit LED TVs, RGB Mini-LED improves dramatically on color accuracy, contrast, and HDR impact by leveraging thousands of dimming zones and direct RGB LED color control, resulting in superior image quality.
Besides Samsung, Sony, Hisense, and TCL also have their own models in development using this next-generation backlighting system. The new Samsung TV uses Tizen OS and is priced at 44.9 million Korean Won, which translates to approximately £24,000 / £32,000 / AU$50,000. Samsung also promises seven years of software updates for the new TV.
The TV is currently only available in South Korea, but a US launch is expected soon, marking the global rollout of this groundbreaking technology.
- The global rollout of Samsung's Micro RGB Mini-LED TV will be accompanied by a preview event, offering consumers a first-hand look at the technology's capabilities.
- The 115-inch Samsung Micro RGB Mini-LED TV is priced reasonably for an ultra-premium offering, making it an attractive deal for technology enthusiasts.
- The upcoming preview event will also showcase smart-home devices that are compatible with the Micro RGB Mini-LED TV, enhancing the viewing experience with the convenience of voice control.
- The TV's AI-enhanced processor, the Micro RGB AI engine, will support streaming services, especially for 4K content, providing an outstanding viewing experience for your favorite shows and movies.
- The Gadget Show Live is planning a review session for the Micro RGB Mini-LED TV, providing insights into its performance and feature set for those considering a purchase.
- Brands like Sony, Hisense, and TCL are also developing Micro RGB Mini-LED TV models, diversifying the offerings in this groundbreaking technology market.
- Technology journalists and enthusiasts anticipate the news of the US launch for the Micro RGB Mini-LED TV, as it brings the revolutionary hi-fi viewing experience closer to mainstream audiences.
