Hisense[1]‘s RGB mini-LED TVs caused a stir when they were unveiled earlier this year, and while the 116-inch model they introduced isn’t the most accessible size, the company said it intended to bring the panel tech to smaller-sized models in the future. Well, at IFA 2025[2], it’s done just that.
RGB mini-LED TVs deliver richer, deeper colors than normal mini-LED ones by using red, green and blue LEDs (hence RGB) instead of standard blue LEDs in the backlight.
I’ve already tested the 116-inch model[3], the Hisense 116UX, and was blown away by its dazzling colors, consistently strong brightness, razor-sharp textures and upscaling. While backlight control seemed to be an issue, black levels and contrast were still impressive. However, at $29,999 / £29,999, it’s not the most affordable tech.
Hisense recently revealed it is bringing RGB mini-LED to a 100-inch model[4] as well, but despite a growing 98-inch-plus TV market, that’s not the most accessible size, and a $19,999 price tag is still a tough pill to swallow.
At IFA, an 85-inch RGB mini-LED TV was on display in the Hisense area. And the best news? It’s not just a concept, but is planned for a launch next year. While no pricing has been confirmed, the $10,000 difference between the 116 and 100-inch models suggests a promising downward price trend.
Still bright, still bold
The worry when adapting a tech to a smaller size is that picture quality sacrifices have to be made. With RGB mini-LED, a tech that some say will beat the best OLED TVs[5] in years to come, the concern is that its big brightness and bold colors will take a hit to accommodate a smaller screen size.
Seeing the 85-inch RGB TV in action, my concerns were laid to rest. It delivered the same staggering colors as its larger sibling, with a close-up shot of a ring with a blue gemstone looking rich, vibrant and detailed. A shot of a red flower also looked vivid with plenty of color depth.
The 85-inch model also demonstrated seriously deep black levels that rival those of an OLED[6]. Although I found the 116-inch model struggled with screen uniformity, with some clouding visible in darker movies such as The Batman, it still showcased rich blacks, and the 85-inch model did the same. It also exhibited great backlight control with almost no blooming: a shot of a pink tree against a star-filled sky was an excellent demonstration of this.
RGB TV: the future of TV?
RGB TVs are a growing trend in the TV world. LG introduced its Primary Tandem RGB OLED panel in the LG G5[7], and that same panel is also used in the Panasonic Z95B[8], two of the best TVs[9] of the year in 2025.
Hisense isn’t the only brand with RGB mini-LED on its mind, as we saw Sony’s own RGB TV in action[10] and were impressed with its accuracy and backlight control. Samsung has also introduced a $30,000 115-inch micro-RGB TV[11] to the market, and from what we saw, it will take RGB to the next level.
While the tech isn’t very affordable (in mini-LED and micro-LED formats at least), it’s already on the path to becoming more accessible, and the Hisense 85-inch is the first step in that direction. And with Hisense’s RGB mini-LED TVs set to be the first to support Dolby Vision 2[12], RGB mini-LED just became that much more of a contender.
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References
- ^ Hisense (www.techradar.com)
- ^ IFA 2025 (www.techradar.com)
- ^ I’ve already tested the 116-inch model (www.techradar.com)
- ^ RGB mini-LED to a 100-inch model (www.techradar.com)
- ^ best OLED TVs (www.techradar.com)
- ^ OLED (www.techradar.com)
- ^ LG G5 (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Panasonic Z95B (www.techradar.com)
- ^ best TVs (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Sony’s own RGB TV in action (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Samsung has also introduced a $30,000 115-inch micro-RGB TV (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Dolby Vision 2 (www.techradar.com)