Samsung has officially introduced its first television featuring the company’s new Micro RGB backlight technology, offering improved colour accuracy and contrast. First revealed at CES 2025, the 115-inch model has been introduced in South Korea at a price of approximately US$32,362, with plans for a US release to follow, along with a global rollout that will include additional size options.
New backlight technology for improved visuals
Micro RGB is being presented as a step forward from Mini LED backlights, which typically use an array of small white or blue LEDs behind an LCD panel. Instead, Micro RGB employs an ultra-fine grid of individually controlled red, green, and blue LEDs, each measuring less than 100µm.
According to Samsung, the technology is driven by its Micro RGB AI engine, which “analyses each frame in real time and automatically optimises colour output for a more lifelike and immersive picture.” By adjusting the intensity of each LED with precision, the TV achieves more accurate colours, deeper contrast, and can enhance muted scenes to make them more vivid.
While offering better picture quality, the Micro RGB approach is also less expensive to manufacture than MicroLED displays. For comparison, Samsung’s 110-inch MicroLED TV currently sells in the US for about US$150,000, making the new 115-inch Micro RGB model significantly more affordable.
Features designed for gaming and home entertainment
The new 4K television is equipped with a 144Hz variable refresh rate, making it well-suited for gaming. It also includes AI upscaling, HDR10+ support, and a 70-watt 4.2.2-channel audio system with Dolby Atmos compatibility.
Connectivity options feature four HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB-A ports, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The TV can also serve as a Matter controller, allowing for seamless integration with smart home devices. For Philips Hue users, the screen can synchronise ambient lighting to match the on-screen content.
These capabilities position the Micro RGB TV not only as a premium viewing device but also as a versatile entertainment hub for modern households.
Growing competition in RGB backlight technology
Samsung is not alone in developing RGB-based backlight systems. Sony recently showcased its General RGB LED Backlight Technology, which utilises backlight zones comprising red, green, and blue LEDs. At CES 2025, Hisense unveiled its 116-inch TriChroma LED TV, incorporating RGB Local Dimming Technology to control RGB LED zones individually.
Hisense claims its model can reproduce 97 per cent of the BT.2020 colour space. Still, Samsung says its Micro RGB technology achieves a full 100 per cent, potentially making it one of the most colour-accurate consumer televisions currently available.
With the competition heating up, Samsung’s launch could set a new benchmark in high-end television display technology, offering consumers a more accessible route to cutting-edge performance without the high costs associated with MicroLED panels.
