Micro RGB TVs are everywhere at CES 2026: Here’s why the new display tech matters 

What is Micro RGB? 

Both Samsung and LG are hyping a new display technology known as Micro RGB, which rejiggers the backlighting system in LCD TVs to improve colour accuracy. To be clear, Micro RGB is not a form of Micro LED. Instead, it is best described as a display technology that sits somewhere between Mini-LED screens, which use thousands of backlights, and Micro-LED screens, which have self-emitting pixels. That said, Micro RGB displays still use a backlight, but instead of white light, the backlight can produce red, blue, and green light with tiny RGB LEDs. Samsung claims its proprietary Micro RGB technology uses an entirely new structure with individual red, green, and blue backlights that are smaller in size. While these tiny backlight LEDs can turn off, when they are on, the light they produce still passes through LCD pixels. The big advantage of having an RGB backlight is that it can produce much more vibrant colours than Mini-LED TVs. Samsung also claims that this backlight technology enables the TV to cover 100 percent of the BT.2020 colour space (also known as Rec.2020), which is a wider colour gamut than DCI-P3.

Samsung’s CES 2026 TV lineup includes a massive 130-inch Micro RGB TV. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia)

Samsung launched a 115-inch Micro RGB TV in September for $30,000, far beyond most consumers’ budgets. In 2026, the company brought Micro RGB to smaller sizes ranging from 55 to 130 inches, though pricing details haven’t been announced. I saw Samsung’s massive 130-inch Micro RGB TV in person at CES 2026, and it is a TV that will surely command your attention. The TV delivers projector-sized images with vibrant colours, deep blacks thanks to excellent dimming control, and impressive brightness. The greens and reds are especially vivid, and the RGB backlighting may even outperform OLED in brightness. The TV is majestic in size, and while I didn’t test the sound, it features 14 built-in bass units, so you can imagine how powerful it sounds.

Other than Samsung, LG and Hisense are also introducing Micro RGB TVs. LG, for instance, announced its first Micro RGB “Evo” TV lineup in 75-, 86-, and 100-inch models at the world’s biggest consumer tech show. The company is promising 100 percent BT.2020 colour gamut coverage and said the sets will have over a 1000 local dimming zones for precise colour control. LG said its new TVs will deliver 100 per cent coverage in SDR modes as well, both for Adobe RGB and the challenging P3 standard. Meanwhile, Hisense launched a lineup of “Evo” TVs, which it calls RGB Mini-LED instead of Micro RGB. The company currently offers its Micro RGB TVs in two sizes, ranging from 55 to 100 inches. Hisense promises an even wider colour gamut than Samsung and LG, with up to 110 percent BT.2020 coverage and “colour control achieving 134 bits.”

LG OLED evo W6 is the company’s flagship OLED TV. (Image credit: LG)

Sure, TV makers are always looking to launch massive, high-end TVs with next-generation screen technology, and that trend isn’t stopping anytime soon. However, affordability also matters. Micro RGB display technology has a lot of potential, but it is far from affordable, and whether RGB will truly outperform existing displays including OLED remains questionable.

What is OLED?

OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays use pixels that emit light when electric current passes through them, allowing each pixel to turn on or off independently. This electroluminescence enables perfect blacks and exceptional picture quality. The advantages of OLED include: extremely dark blacks with no blooming around bright objects, the best contrast ratio of any current display type, and brightness that exceeds some LCDs, though generally not as bright as most. LG currently dominates the OLED TV market. 

Micro RGB vs OLED

OLED is said to achieve “infinite” contrast with perfect blacks at the pixel level, eliminating blooming and delivering stunning depth in dark scenes. This translates to excellent colour performance, though brightness is limited, especially in well-lit environments. While Micro RGB cannot match OLED’s perfect blacks, as it relies on tiny dimming zones that can sometimes cause slight blooming, the technology outperforms OLED in peak and sustained brightness. This makes it better suited for bright rooms, outdoor viewing, and HDR content.

Micro RGB is shaping up to be the TV industry’s most buzzed theme at CES 2026. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Its RGB backlighting also enables high colour accuracy, with Samsung claiming 100 per cent coverage of the BT.2020 colour space, compared to around 90 per cent for OLED models. Another key difference between Micro RGB and OLED is lifespan. Micro RGB displays use inorganic LEDs, making them immune to burn-in and capable of maintaining consistent performance over long periods. OLED, on the other hand, relies on organic materials that can degrade over time, leaving it susceptible to burn-in and image retention despite despite advancement in technology. 

Booming market for high-end TVs

Every major TV maker is eyeing the high-end market, and the numbers don’t lie. At the same time, the market is shifting toward larger screen sizes over 55 inches and even up to 100 inches targeted at the ultra-high-end segment. The CES tech show reflects this trend, which is why companies like Samsung are announcing TVs larger than current standard sizes. In fact, the market for super large-screen TVs is expected to double in size in 2026.