A New Contender Emerges: Samsung's R95H RGB LED TV tested with record-breaking color coverage, but falls short on brightness and struggles with light bloom compared to OLED rivals.
Samsung R95H RGB LED TV: Record Color, Lower Brightness
A preproduction Samsung R95H RGB LED television underwent testing at Samsung's quality assurance lab, achieving the widest color range ever measured on a television. However, its peak brightness measurements were notably lower than those of a preproduction Samsung S95H OLED TV tested under identical conditions.
Testing Methodology
The evaluation was conducted using a Klein K-10A colorimeter, a Murideo SIX-G signal generator, and Portrait Displays' Calman software. The R95H was tested in Filmmaker Mode with an HDR10 signal.
Color Performance
The R95H set a new benchmark, measuring 87.7% coverage of the BT.2020 color space (CIE 1931) and 91.4% coverage (CIE 1976). This was officially reported as the widest color range ever measured on a television.
Its color gamut surpassed several high-end competitors, including:
- Hisense 116UX (RGB LED)
- TCL X11L (Mini-LED)
- LG G6 (OLED)
- Preproduction Samsung S95H (OLED)
Key Observation: Blue, magenta, and red values on the R95H extended beyond the BT.2020 color space boundaries, while green and cyan did not reach as far. Samsung claims the R95H can cover the full BT.2020 color space, but test measurements did not confirm this.
Despite its wider color gamut, side-by-side viewing tests revealed that the S95H OLED appeared more vibrant and lifelike. This was attributed to the S95H's higher measured brightness and per-pixel light control.
Brightness Measurements
The R95H recorded peak brightness of:
- 1,634 nits (18% white field)
- 1,603 nits (10% white field)
In comparison, the preproduction Samsung S95H OLED TV achieved:
- 1,715 nits (18% white field)
- 2,604 nits (10% white field)
The tester described the R95H's brightness as lower than expected for a high-end LED television. Two possible explanations were suggested:
- The test unit was a preproduction model, and its firmware may not represent final specifications.
- An automatic brightness limiter may have been active without detection.
For further context, the Hisense 116UX (another RGB LED TV) previously recorded 4,012 nits (18% white field) and 5,889 nits (10% white field).
Light Bloom and Viewing Angles
During viewing tests, the R95H exhibited light bloom—a visible haze along the edges of brightly colored objects against black backgrounds. This effect was minimal when viewed straight-on but became more pronounced from an angle, where colors also appeared less vibrant.
- Similar behavior was noted in previous tests of the Hisense 116UX.
- The Samsung S95H OLED did not show light bloom in the same tests, highlighting a key advantage of OLED’s pixel-level light control.
Technology Background
RGB LED televisions use an LCD panel with a mini-LED backlight system composed of clusters of red, green, and blue LEDs. This differs from conventional mini-LED TVs, which use only blue or white LEDs. The individual clusters can adjust their hues independently.
- Samsung calls this implementation Micro RGB.
- Hisense uses the term RGB-MiniLED.
OLED televisions, by contrast, provide per-pixel brightness control, which eliminates light bloom and ensures consistent viewing angles.
Product Information
The Samsung R95H is available in 65-inch and 85-inch sizes, with starting prices of $3,199.99 and $6,499.99, respectively—pricing comparable to flagship OLED televisions. It is Samsung’s first RGB LED TV for wider market adoption, following the 2024 release of the 115-inch R95F model (priced at approximately $30,000).
Future Testing
The tester confirmed that further testing of retail-ready RGB LED television units is planned in the coming months.
The 2026 Market: New RGB LED Options
The 2026 television market sees the introduction of RGB LED backlight technology as a new display category, with multiple manufacturers announcing models.
Hisense UR9 RGB LED Television
Hisense has released the UR9, a 2026 model year RGB LED display.
Available sizes and pricing (original):
- 65 inches: $3,500
- 75 inches: $5,000
- 85 inches: $6,000
- 100 inches: $9,000
Key Specifications:
- HDR Formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG (Dolby Vision 2 planned via firmware update)
- Operating System: Google TV
- Gaming: 4K/180Hz native refresh rate, VRR up to 330Hz, ALLM, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
- Chassis Thickness: 1.8 inches (65-inch model)
Market Position: At its original price, the 65-inch UR9 competed directly with flagship OLED models from LG and Samsung (approximately $3,400). A reviewer noted the TV handled screen reflections effectively and did not observe color crosstalk, a potential issue previously raised by LG Display.
Reviewer’s Conclusion: While RGB LED technology is an advancement over traditional mini-LED, OLED currently delivers better overall picture quality due to pixel-level control over contrast and viewing angles.
TCL 2026 Television Lineup
TCL has announced a range of models using both Super Quantum Dot (SQD-MiniLED) and RGB-Mini LED technologies.
QM8L Series (SQD-MiniLED)- Local Dimming Zones: Up to 4,000
- Peak Brightness: 6,000 nits
- Color Coverage: TCL states 100% of BT.2020 color space
- Pricing: 65-inch: $2,500 | 75-inch: $3,000 | 85-inch: $4,000 | 98-inch: $6,000
- Local Dimming Zones: Over 3,800
- Peak Brightness: 6,000 nits
- Pricing (Preorder): 85-inch: $8,000 | 98-inch: $10,000 | 115-inch: $30,000
Common Features: All new TCL series feature audio by Bang & Olufsen and Google TV with Gemini support.
TCL X11L SQD-MiniLED Flagship
TCL also introduced the X11L, a flagship announced at CES 2026.
- Peak Brightness: Up to 10,000 nits
- Local Dimming Zones: Over 20,000
- Color Coverage: TCL states 100% of BT.2020
- Pricing: 75-inch: $7,000 | 85-inch: $8,000 | 98-inch: $10,000
Technology Context: TCL states SQD-MiniLED uses blue LEDs with reformulated quantum dots. According to TCL, this allows for thinner designs than RGB MiniLED, eliminates color crosstalk, and enables higher brightness since all LED chips are illuminated simultaneously.
Hisense UR9 Price Reduction
Following Samsung's pricing announcement for the R95H, Hisense reduced the price of its UR9 series by $1,500 to $2,000. The adjusted prices are:
- 65-inch: $1,999
- 75-inch: $2,999
- 85-inch: $3,999
Market Context
Multiple manufacturers—including Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL—have announced RGB LED television models for the 2026 product year. The technology is positioned between traditional mini-LED and OLED in terms of performance characteristics. As performance disparities narrow across television technologies, industry observers suggest manufacturers are approaching greater parity.