The end of OLED? New TV technology is shifting the market

A new generation of TV screens is on the way, and several manufacturers have announced models featuring so-called RGB Mini-LED or Micro-RGB technology.

The approach builds on the evolution of Mini-LED backlighting and combines high brightness, more precise local dimming and impressive color performance.

On paper, these displays even outperform OLED in certain areas.

But does that mean OLED is on its way out? The short answer is no.

Technologies such as RGB Mini-LED from Hisense, RGB Micro-LED from Samsung and RGB LED from Sony use LCD panels enhanced with new forms of backlighting.

What makes them special is that each LED is composed of red, green and blue elements, providing more color-accurate illumination directly behind the image.

This allows the picture to be controlled in far greater detail, especially in dark or high-contrast scenes.

The benefits: contrast, color and energy efficiency

A major improvement lies in the smaller LEDs, which make it possible to integrate thousands of independently controlled zones behind the screen.

This improves contrast and reduces the so-called blooming effect, where bright elements in dark scenes can produce an unnatural glow.

With color-based backlighting, car headlights in a nighttime scene, for example, can appear brighter and more natural because the red light from the backlight better matches the image content.

In addition, RGB LED technology can cover the full BT.2020 color space, something otherwise only achievable with laser-based light sources.

This results in extremely vivid colors, especially noticeable in animated films and games.

Whether that level of intensity is desirable in realistically rendered movies depends on the settings, and most TVs will likely include picture modes that produce more natural color reproduction.

Energy efficiency is another strength.

RGB-based backlighting can reduce power consumption because only the necessary LED components are activated based on the color requirements of each scene.

This makes the technology particularly appealing for very large TVs, where energy usage can otherwise become a challenge.

Limitations and market focus

Despite the technical advantages, the technology will mainly appear in very large TVs—typically 90 inches and above.

This is due to both production costs and the fact that OLED continues to dominate in more common screen sizes.

The end of OLED? Not quite

OLED still delivers superior black levels, viewing angles and precision in smaller formats, which is why it remains widely used in professional environments.

In conclusion, RGB Mini-LED and related technologies represent a significant technical step forward, especially in the XXL TV segment.

But OLED retains its relevance in the screen sizes and usage scenarios that most consumers prefer.