I saw Sony's True RGB up close — and the downfall of OLED TVs might come sooner than expected

This year's crop might be some of the best OLED TVs yet, but I’ve seen something from Sony that makes me think the days of OLED’s reign as the best TV technology could be truly numbered.

True RGB is the previously-rumored and now-confirmed name for Sony’s RGB Mini-LED backlight. It started back in early 2024 with Sony’s very first 22-bit Mini LED prototype that eventually made its way to the Bravia 9. Then in 2025, we saw a proof-of-concept RGB Mini-LED backlight. It was promising, even then, but it wasn't ready for mainstream TV buyers yet.

That changed last month when I finally got a proper, up-close look at Sony's imminent True RGB tech that I can not only talk about, but finally show you.

What is True RGB?

At a basic level, True RGB is Sony’s version of RGB Mini-LED. Each LED isn’t just one light source. It’s three separate red, green, and blue diodes that are individually controlled.

The result is simple in concept but hard to pull off. To execute more accurate colors at higher brightness level and better off-angle viewing, the backlight needs a brain that actually understands the complexity of the image it’s supporting and resources at its disposal.

Controlling three diodes per pixel is no joke. Most TVs are designed to handle one or two per pixel, maybe three with compromises. If your processing can’t keep up with a complicated scene, the TV may opt to play it safe and default back to traditional white color output (thus, rely wholly on color filters the way a traditional, less-expensive Mini-LED TV does.)

In fact, I’ve seen demos of several competitor RGB backlights that do exactly that. Sony says this is due to shortcomings in processing, especially when it comes to effectively managing “cross-talk” also known as color blooming.

The benefits of True RGB

Sony’s RGB demo felt different than any other one I’ve seen. The True RGB system essentially maps each diode to the content in real time. Strip away the LCD layer, and I could still make out the shapes and base colors of the scene. In an actual TV, this translated to accurate color reproduction, vibrant-but-realistic highlights and very minimal blooming.

It’s the kind of control that, until now, only OLED has been known for.

Although it's better at color reproduction than its predecessors, True RGB retains every bit of brightness. The system constantly adjusts each diode for efficiency, using heat mapping and advanced control algorithms to manage strain on the backlight.

In the spot tests I saw, the display hit higher peak brightness levels (approaching 4,000 nits) than competitor RGB Mini-LEDs, and it did so while using less energy.

Then there’s the fantastic off-angle viewing. True RGB retains color volume better than traditional LED when viewing a picture off-center. Again, it looked very OLED-rivaling to me.

What True RGB means for OLED

Although it matches some of OLED’s best qualities, True RGB isn’t about killing OLED, according to Sony. The company claims its true purpose is to address areas where OLED struggles, such as brightness and size scalability. We'd all love 97-inch or larger OLED TVs in our homes, but few of us can afford the luxury — and that's where True RGB could really shine.

The technology isn't quite at production level yet, but True RGB is headed to a consumer TV, and when it does, it won’t just be another incremental update that we've seen in years past.

I’ve been following this tech since it was just a promising prototype. Now that it has a name, and I’ve seen it in action, it’s clear that Sony wants True RGB to offer a compelling solution for folks who want top-tier brightness, immaculate color reproduction and larger screen sizes.

OLED will still be the best panel type on 2026 TVs, but come 2027 and beyond, it's very possible that Sony's new technology is the one that holds the crown.

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