Samsung and LG preview new Micro RGB TVs. OK, however what are Micro RGB TVs?

Two TV giants, Samsung and LG, cannot cease speaking about their fancy new Micro RGB TVs. However are these TVs actually higher than OLEDs, and must you splurge now or watch for the costs to go down? We examine.

What have Samsung and LG introduced?

In mid-December, Samsung and LG front-ran CES 2026 by saying their new Micro RGB TV units.

Specifically, Samsung mentioned that in 2026 it will increase its Micro RGB TV lineup with 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, 100- and 115-inch fashions (the corporate beforehand launched a large, 115-inch TV in 2025).

LG, however, mentioned it will unveil its first-ever flagship RGB TV at CES 2026. Referred to as the Micro RGB evo, it boasts the smallest particular person RGB LEDs ever seen in an LG TV. The corporate mentioned the TV can be obtainable in 75-, 86-, and 100-inch sizes.

OK, however what are Micro RGB TVs?

These are nonetheless LCD TVs, however improved.

Bear in mind when the primary LED TVs confirmed up? These have been shows that used LEDs (mild emitting diodes) for backlighting an LCD (liquid-crystal show) panel. The subsequent step within the evolution of LED TVs was mini-LED TVs, which used smaller LED modules to supply backlight to an LCD display. Smaller is best right here, as a result of the mini-LEDs drain much less power and supply extra exact illumination, which interprets into higher image in your TV.

This leads us to Micro LED TVs, which introduce even smaller LEDs. Once more, this implies much less power drain, and higher image high quality (extra on that in a second). However most significantly, these aren’t LCDs, as there isn’t any LCD panel being backlit with LEDs. As an alternative, the LEDs themselves create their very own mild on the pixel stage.

After which we’ve got Micro RGB TVs, that are much less a reputation for the know-how and extra a advertising time period that Samsung and LG use to explain a TV with tiny LEDs that, as a substitute of emitting solely white or blue mild (like these on mini-LED TVs), use LEDs that may emit crimson, inexperienced, or blue mild. Regardless of that, that is nonetheless an LCD TV. Consider it as a hybrid answer: The LEDs produce each the backlighting and the colours, however the picture is created on an LCD panel.

Samsung has created this nifty evolution of LED TV panels in a single image.
Credit score: Samsung

All the above compete with OLED (natural mild emitting diode) TVs, which work otherwise (and are actually just like Micro LED TVs). As an alternative of utilizing LEDs to light up the LCD panel, OLED TVs use pixels that may create their very own mild and shade. The perfect OLEDs have superior image high quality to most LCD/LED TVs, with deeper blacks and nearly infinite distinction, however OLED TVs are pricy to fabricate and have a tendency to degrade over time.

Are these Micro RGB TVs any good?

That is the place issues get difficult.

Ideally, a Micro LED TV will supply extremely exact colours, excessive distinction, and deep blacks — principally the stuff you count on from an OLED TV.

However what Samsung and LG have introduced are Micro RGB TVs, and whereas the identify is confusingly just like Micro LED, it is not the identical factor. (By the best way, you should buy a real Samsung Micro LED TV proper now, however it would value you $150,000).

The problem, after all, is that this isn’t nearly making a TV that is higher than OLED. As an alternative, corporations corresponding to Samsung and LG wish to make TVs with image akin to OLED TVs, however at a extra inexpensive value, and with out the drawbacks.

That will not occur instantly. Samsung’s first Micro RGB TV, the 115-inch monster that launched this yr, prices $30,000. Smaller fashions can be cheaper, however we do not know the precise costs but.

Lastly, these Micro RGB TVs are very new. Few individuals had an opportunity to evaluate them, and we simply do not understand how they evaluate to OLEDs or the very best LED TVs on the market.

No detailed specs but

There’s a few issues we are able to glean from Samsung and LG’s bulletins. For instance, Samsung says its new Micro RGB TVs will supply “ultra-precise mild management and improved shade accuracy.” The corporate additionally mentioned that these TVs will include a next-gen AI chipset which is able to allow “extra exact frame-by-frame readability and realism.”

LG, however, mentioned its Micro RGB TVs makes use of “OLED precision to manage every of the RGB LED backlights,” and, after all, there is a next-gen AI enhancing upscaling in addition to general image high quality. Each corporations say their TVs will supply extremely exact shade replica.

All that mentioned, we do not have the precise specs for the upcoming TVs, and we can’t actually understand how good they’re till we see them in particular person. That can occur at subsequent yr’s CES, which takes place in Las Vegas from Jan 6. to 9, so keep tuned for extra particulars.