Is this television the genuine "OLED Killer"?

      I’m not a fan of the term "OLED Killer." It’s been overused and has turned into just clickbait. Recently, I only used it to refer to a TV to spark some discussion.

      However, I believe I may have encountered a genuine potential OLED killer thanks to Sony.

      During a recent visit to Sony’s headquarters in Tokyo, I was presented with a display prototype that was like nothing I had seen before. It turns out that Sony has been developing RGB mini-LED technology for three years. After seeing it, I can confidently say that if an OLED killer ever emerges — at least in the high-end TV segment — this could be it. It's revolutionary.

      What is mini-LED?

      If you’re not sure how RGB mini-LED technology functions or why these TVs are so impressive, or if you are thinking, "But didn’t Hisense already announce this?" then let’s take a closer look at why this matters.

      Mini-LED TVs enhance traditional LED TVs by significantly reducing the size of the LED backlight. LED and mini-LED TVs have always utilized LCD panels, but the substantial improvements we’ve observed in LCD TVs pertain to backlight technology — including processing, dimming zones, and brightness — which led us to start calling them “LED TVs.” Now with the introduction of mini-LED, we refer to them as “mini-LED TVs.”

      By shrinking the LED backlights, manufacturers can fit more of them into a smaller space and divide the backlight grid into more numerous, smaller zones. Typically, this results in enhancements such as increased brightness, improved black levels, better contrast — all the features we appreciate in a television — and heightened efficiency. This technology reduces many of the distracting issues associated with standard LED TVs, like blooming, halo effects, and noticeable backlight transitions, which can disrupt our viewing experiences.

      An interesting aspect of mini-LED is that it didn’t require significant cost changes to begin production. Only the backlight and processing components were modified, allowing TVs to be produced using existing manufacturing techniques. This led to a rapid decrease in costs for mini-LEDs, making premium picture quality more accessible.

      There are many advantages to mini-LED, but similar to conventional LED technology, it has a persistent drawback: the color of the mini-LED light.

      The white light dilemma

      LCD TVs operate by passing white light through a color filter. The purer the white light, the more effectively the color filter can perform to produce a stunning image. However, generating pure white light from an LED is challenging, so manufacturers often use blue LEDs or mini-LEDs to illuminate red and green quantum dots — a combination that allows the creation of that pleasing, pure white light. These TVs are termed “QLED TVs,” where the "Q" stands for "quantum dots," and they function effectively.

      Yet, a white backlight leads to adverse effects: it can leak through the LCD panel, resulting in milky or gray blacks and halos around bright objects on dark backgrounds. This makes it difficult to reveal shadow details in otherwise entirely black scenes. Additionally, overworking the color filter makes it challenging to achieve an expanded color gamut and color brightness. Our eyes thrive on colors, particularly vibrant brightness.

      RGB mini-LED solves these issues by removing the dependence on blue LEDs and the white light created with quantum dots. When the backlight generates separate red, green, and blue colors, several key advantages arise. Instances of backlight bleeding, blooming, and halos are minimized and become harder to detect. While watching, viewers focus more on the image rather than the backlight enhancing it. There’s also less strain on the LCD panel’s color filter; the less effort it has to exert, the more brightness can be transmitted.

      The RGB future is here

      This is where Sony’s RGB mini-LED technology comes into play. With today’s announcement, we know that mass production of these RGB mini-LED displays will commence this year. We can likely expect RGB mini-LED TVs from Sony by 2026. When that happens, I believe it will signal a turning point for OLED TVs.

      Many enthusiasts are curious about what a Bravia 10 might look like. I could be mistaken, but I think it could be an RGB mini-LED TV — and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

      Why am I using the “OLED killer” term now? Why am I emphasizing Sony’s RGB mini-LED while not discussing the RGB mini-LED that Hisense has already announced, which is expected to hit the market this year?

      First, let’s address the “OLED Killer” concept. The only TV technology that could rival OLED must excel in black levels, white brightness, color brightness, and color purity/color gamut — ideally matching or perceptibly aligning with OLED standards. It must also offer excellent off-angle viewing, an area where OLED excels.

      However, it’s not just about image quality. The true OLED killer will achieve this