Tag: Television

RGB backlit TVs are coming, and you’re going to hear a lot about them in the next few years. They’re the next big development in LCD TVs, and they take the technology used in the best mini-LED TVs to a new level. The crucial development of RGB backlit TVs is that the backlight behind the pixels can now show a wide range of colors, instead of a single color, which means you’ll see a wider color gamut when watching, and it should produce better brightness – or the same brightness with less energy use. RGB backlit TVs have been unveiled by Samsung, Hisense and TCL, with the first TVs set to arrive in the second half of 2025. I’ve seen these first sets in the flesh, and the technology really looks set to rival the best TVs, so here’s how it works, and what to expect from it. What is RGB backlighting? Hisense’s depiction of how an RGB backlight translates into the image you see. (Image credit: Future) Let’s start with how current mini-LED backlit TVs work. There’s a grid of tiny LEDs behind the pixels, and these generate the light that will reach your eyes. These LEDs are all blue (another color could be used, but blue is normal), and they pass through a color-filtering layer of pixels, which then convert this blue light to other colors. Filtering color absorbs some energy, however, meaning that this process reduces the brightness of the light significantly as it changes. This is why quantum dots are used in so many TVs – they can filter colors in a very wide gamut, without absorbing too much energy. In RGB backlit TVs, the LEDs behind the pixels aren’t just blue. Each one has red, green and blue elements, which can combine so that the backlight itself is already creating the colors of what’s on-screen even before it reaches the color-filtering pixels. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Because the backlight is already projecting the right colors, the color-filtering layer can be less aggressive, which means less light will be absorbed as it passes though. TCL told me that the set it showed off with the technology doesn’t include quantum dots at all. Here’s a video with a depiction of how RGB backlighting looks, and how that translates to the final image. @techradar ♬ original sound – TechRadar What are the benefits of RGB backlighting? The Hisense 116UX at CES 2025. (Image credit: Future) With less aggressive color filtering needed in the pixels, less light is absorbed as it passes through, meaning that you get better efficiency from the backlight. There are two ways that this can benefit us: it can mean higher levels of brightness, making TVs more easily able to overcome reflections in bright rooms; or it can allow us to maintain current levels of brightness, but using less power to do it. The other advantage is the boldness of the colors, and the breadth of colors the TV is able to show. Colors are more vivid, especially in difficult red tones, without becoming overblown or unnatural. A wider color gamut means that when watching HDR video, the TV is able to show even closer to the full color quality of what was captured and mastered in the studio. What TVs are coming? (Image credit: Future) Right now, we know that Samsung, Hisense and TCL have plans in motion to launch RGB backlit TVs. Hisense and Samsung say that they intend to launch sets in the second half of 2025, while TCL says that its TVs will likely arrive in 2026. Hisense appeared to be the furthest along in its launch plans at CES 2025, showing off actual units of what it plans to launch on the show floor. The TV will be called the Hisense 116UX, and we were very impressed by what we saw of it. There’s no pricing or exact release date yet, but there were multiple models on display. We don’t know if it will come in any smaller sizes too, but I’m betting that it won’t – this is a first-gen product for showing off, and Hisense has a history of putting its most elite tech into its largest TV only at first. Take the Hisense 110UXN, for example. TCL showed a set with its RGB backlighting tech, but wasn’t able to share any major further information, other than that it will likely launch next year. It was smaller than 110 inches, though, so may well be worth waiting for. Samsung showed me its own RGB backlit prototype, which is potentially a little different to the others. For a start, the TV I saw was 8K, unlike Hisense’s – although Samsung said that it plans to launch a 4K version in 2025. Samsung it calling its technology ‘RGB Micro LED’, and the LEDs are reportedly much smaller than mini-LEDs (which would enable Samsung to offer amazing brightness and very precise contrast), but I’ve approached Samsung for more information about where this tech sits between mini-LEDs and true micro-LED TVs, and I’ll update if we get more clarity. Samsung’s TV was, notably, 98 inches – but the company says smaller sets may be possible this year. We’ll have to wait and see. @techradar ♬ original sound – TechRadar How much will it cost? I was told by Samsung that it doesn’t expect the cost of its RGB Micro LED backlight to be much higher than its mini-LED tech (which it calls Neo QLED) even early on, which bodes really well for RGB backlights becoming mainstream very quickly, in the same way that mini-LED tech has already filtered down into extremely affordable TVs just a few years after first appearing. However, the first TVs will inevitably be expensive, especially because it seems like they’ll be very large. This is first-gen tech, so the first versions will be aimed at enthusiasts to avoid too much risk of going straight into mass production. So it’s 2026 and 2027 TVs that you need to keep your eye on, and from what I’m hearing, RGB backlighting could be become normal fairly fast – especially with lots of different companies competing over it. Final thoughts RGB backlighting was the break-out TV tech of CES 2025, and though the first sets that use it will be niche and very large, it’s very clearly the next big development in TV tech. The makers of the best OLED TVs are still struggling to bring the price down, and true micro-LED TVs are suffering from a similar problem to OLED in that they have some high fixed costs that don’t have an obvious path to being fixed for years. Mini-LED continues to improve and drop in price, however, and this jump in color depth and efficiency will only keep mini-LED as the best bang-for-your-buck option if it does cost the same as (or close to) current versions. You might also like

At CES 2025, Samsung unveiled its next flagship OLED TV, the Samsung S95F. While the fanciest feature may be the highly impressive OLED Glare Free 2.0 reflection-reduction coating, there were two other elements that Samsung shouted about: a new 83-inch size option (along with the 55-inch, 65-inch and 77-inch sizes already available); and the promise of dazzling brightness at up to 4,000 nits. Given that in our testing of the best OLED TVs, we have yet to measure one that makes it past 2,000 nits of brightness, I had to know more about this, and I spoke to Samsung about exactly what to expect. One reason I wasn’t sure about it was that the new 83-inch model doesn’t use the same Samsung QD-OLED screen technology as the other sizes; instead, it uses a W-OLED panel, made by LG Display. Samsung didn’t confirm this, but given the brightness claims, it must be the latest-generation ‘four-stack’ OLED panel from LG. Samsung says that every size of S95F will have the same level of performance, including the promise of hitting 4,000 nits of peak HDR brightness. However, Samsung specified that this claim is definitely an extreme one – something the panel is capable of doing in real life, but it’s unlikely to happen much. The company told me this can be hit in a 3% HDR window for a few seconds, and will presumably require a particular image mode to achieve. The more useful real-world measurement, and no less impressive in that context, is that Samsung says all models will be able to hit 2,000 nits of peak HDR brightness in a 10% window, and this can be sustained. (Image credit: Future) That is still higher than we’ve measured from any OLED TV to date, and really brings OLED TVs into line with the best mini-LED TVs for peak brightness (at least, the mainstream ones – not the likes of the Hisense 110UX and its claims of up to 10,000 nits). Fullscreen brightness for this year’s OLED TVs seems to be improved as well – there’s talk of the S95F jumping to just under 400 nits, from about 320 nits for the S95D. The LG G5 flagship OLED promises a 40% jump in fullscreen brightness, which would put it at about 350 nits. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. However, those figures are still much lower than higher-end mini-LED TVs, which can hit 500-600 nits of fullscreen brightness, which is why we rate them as the best TVs for sport, where brightness across the whole screen is important, in order to make everything bright and vibrant at once, and to beat reflections (although that’s what Samsung’s Glare Free coating is supposed to help with). Time to drop the old concerns? In the past, when Samsung has mixed QD-OLED and W-OLED panels at different screen sizes, it’s given us a big headache. Take the Samsung S90C OLED TV, which we rated at the best TV overall for a long time… at least, at most sizes. Just like the Samsung S95F, that set came in 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch and 83-inch sizes – and the three smaller sizes were made with a Samsung QD-OLED screen, while the 83-inch size was an LG W-OLED panel. The problem was that, at the time, the mid-range QD-OLED screens were far brighter than LG’s mid-range W-OLED screens, so we basically just had to say that we didn’t recommend the 83-inch size, because we felt that the 83-inch LG C3 was better value given that it used the same panel. So in the past, every time I heard that Samsung was using different panel types at different sizes for one of its OLEDs, I got an instant migraine. We knew the performance of these panels, and we knew they couldn’t be equivalent. But Samsung says that’s not the case in the S95F. I was told very confidently that the promise of 4,000 nits of extreme peak brightness and 2,000 nits of sustained peak brightness will apply to the 83-inch W-OLED size as well as the QD-OLED size. Obviously, we’re aiming to measure and confirm this ourselves – I can only hope we’re about to get our hands on it sooner rather than later, because the S95F is absolutely one of the most exciting TVs of 2025. You might also like

Hisense 110UXN review: Two minute review The Hisense 110UXN is the company’s flagship mini-LED TV and has a cinema-sized 110-inch screen. Hisense’s mini-LED TVs often sit among the best TVs, but the 110-inch is both amazing and frustrating. A quick note – the model I tested is referred to as the Hisense 110UXN in the UK, and although it is essentially the same TV as the Hisense 110UX in the US, the latter’s panel is said to have exceeded 10,000 nits brightness, whereas the UXN is capped at 10,000 nits. As a result, I will refer to it as the UXN, but it is the same TV as the 110UX in all but brightness. Priced at $14,999 / £19,999 (roughly AU$24,300), the Hisense 110UXN, while cheap for a TV this size and with this level of technology, is still a premium-priced set that will outstretch most people’s budgets. Picture quality on the 110-inch UXN is generally very good. It has dynamic, bold color, black levels matching the best OLED TVs, balanced contrast and lifelike detail. Brighter content looks amazing, but backlight blooming issues keep its picture from true greatness. The 110-inch UXN’s sound is immersive, punchy and detailed. Pushed to higher volumes, it never distorts, demonstrating tight control. Dolby Atmos effects are limited in their presentation, however, often seeming lost in the mix, and bass sometimes feels limited. While most will be happy with the 110-inch UXN’s sound for everyday viewing, those looking for sound quality to match the picture may want to invest in one of the best soundbars. The 110-inch UXN’s excellent gaming features including 4K 144Hz, VRR (with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM, rank it up there with the best gaming TVs. Performance-wise, the UXN is responsive, smooth, and a joy to play on. Gaming on a screen this big is a fun experience! It does only feature two HDMI 2.1 ports – something those with multiple consoles should keep in mind. The 110-inch UXN sits at the top end of the TV market and is priced at a premium. For a screen this big, you may want to instead consider one of the best 4K projectors, many of which can be found for substantially less while delivering an equally large picture. Hisense 110UXN review: Price & release date (Image credit: Future) Release date: November 2024 110-inch price: $15,000 / £20,000 / around AU$24,300 The Hisense 110UXN is Hisense’s flagship mini-LED TV for 2024 (smaller sizes were released at the end of 2023). It sits above the rest of the company’s ULED range, including the Hisense U8N, Hisense U7N and Hisense U6N. Released in November 2024 in the US and December 2024 in the UK, the 110-inch UXN is a premium-priced TV, with initial launch prices of $20,000 and £20,000 in the US and UK, respectively. The 110-inch UXN has since fallen to $15,000 in the US. Hisense 110UX review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Screen type QLED with Mini-LED Refresh rate 120Hz (up to 144Hz) HDR support Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG Audio support Dolby Atmos, DTS Smart TV Google TV (US/Aus), VIDAA (UK) HDMI ports 4 (2x HDMI 2.1) Built-in tuner ATSC 3.0 tuner Hisense 110UXN review: Benchmark results Hisense 100UXN review: Features (Image credit: Future) Mini-LED panel with 40,000 local dimming zones Dolby Vision and HDR10+ HDR support Hi-View Engine X Processor The Hisense 110-inch UXN uses a mini-LED panel with up to 40,000 local dimming zones. It features the company’s flagship Hi-View Engine X processor, which uses a 16-bit neural AI chipset to provide AI picture and sound options. Hisense claims the 110-inch UXN can hit 10,000 nits peak brightness (more on how I got on with that later), making it one of the brightest TVs available. It supports both the Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ HDR formats, as well as IMAX Enhanced. For sound, the 110-inch UXN has a 4.2.2-channel speaker array, including both up-firing and side speakers, and supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound formats. It also has Hisense’s Hi-Concerto feature, which enables the TV’s built-in speakers to work with compatible Hisense soundbars and wireless speakers. Gaming is well covered on the 110-inch UXN, with 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro included), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming all accounted for. It’s said to support 240Hz at 1080p HD resolution, but I was unable to test this. It does only come with two HDMI 2.1 ports, as is currently the case for all non-LG and Samsung TVs. The 110-inch UXN is a formidable TV, weighing 85kg (187 pounds) but has a surprisingly slim design for a TV of this size and a premium metal-finished frame. Hisense’s smart TV platform depends on your region. The US and Australia get Google TV. For the UK, HIsense uses its own VIDAA smart TV platform, which has ample settings to customize picture and sound and provides access to all major streaming apps such as Netflix and UK-based streaming ones such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. It also supports Freely in the UK, which allows for live broadcast TV to be streamed over Wi-Fi. Features score: 4.5 / 5 Hisense 110UXN review: Picture quality The Hisense 110UXN has bold, bright and vivid colors that make pictures jump off the screen. (Image credit: Future) Superb detail and contrast Bold, bright images Picture requires some setup Hisense claims that the 110-inch UXN can hit 10,000 nits of peak brightness and while I wasn’t quite able to confirm this, I did measure 9,600 nits on a 5% white HDR window pattern in Standard Mode. Crucially, however, this was achieved using the AI Brightness Burst adjustment in Picture Settings, which intermittently increases brightness. Measured on the 10% HDR white window pattern we use for testing, the 110-inch UXN clocked in at 3,050 nits and 2,665 nits in Standard and Filmmaker modes, respectively. Fullscreen brightness measured using a 100% HDR white window pattern hit 941 nits in Standard – one of the highest fullscreen brightness results I’ve ever measured – and 628 nits in Filmmaker Mode. Moving onto viewing, an HD stream of Fight Club on Disney Plus showed decent contrast and shadow detail, but textures were soft – unsurprising given the size of the screen. Generally, picture quality for SDR pictures was acceptable, but the TV’s upscaling didn’t do much to enhance the picture quality. Watching 4K HDR programs on streaming services and Blu-ray, I had to tweak the picture settings a fair amount to get a picture I was happy with. If you’re going to purchase this TV, be prepared to invest time into getting the picture right. I found that turning off settings such as Ultra Resolution helped. For my HDR viewing, I generally stuck to Filmmaker Mode and Dolby Vision Dark for Dolby Vision movies. Those looking for a brighter picture can opt for Dolby Vision IQ, but note that you can’t alter the motion smoothing which is set to on by default in that mode. Colors on the 100-inch UXN are vibrant, bright and accurate. Watching a 4K Dolby Vision stream of Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Disney Plus, the reds throughout the throne room fight scene had plenty of punch. Similarly, watching a 4K Blu-ray of La La Land, colors were dynamic and boosted by the TV’s high HDR brightness, which gave Mia’s yellow dress a vibrant glow against the dark backdrop in the ‘A Lovely Night’ scene. The Hisense 110UXN delivers impressive contrast and detail, as shown here during a street shot in The Batman. (Image credit: Future) Measuring the 110-inch UXN’s HDR color gamut coverage, it yielded 97.9% for UHDA-P3 and 84% for BT.2020, both of which are phenomenal results. It also achieved a 1.7 average (below 3 is good) for SDR color accuracy, another impressive result. The 110-inch UXN’s black levels were deep and it displayed great shadow detail throughout testing. In the opening section of The Batman, details in clothing and objects were maintained in the dimly lit scenes. Contrast was also very good, with a solid balance between the darker backgrounds and lamp lights and torches. The Batman is a challenging movie due to its low-light mastering (400 nits), and I could see backlight blooming around brighter objects and people during my viewing. Setting the local dimming to Medium or Low (High was the default) in picture settings helped to lessen the issue, though some blooming was still present throughout most content with darker scenes that I watched. Picture detail was realistic and refined throughout my viewing. In Top Gun: Maverick, every facial mark and hair was visible in close-up shots in the cockpit. The same was true for the clothing in The Batman and La La Land, where fabric and textures looked authentic and accurate. Motion was generally well handled by the 110-inch UXN. When watching sports including soccer and rugby, it displayed camera pans and fast-moving images with a good level of solidity, though it did benefit from the motion smoothing provided by the Standard preset. And when watching Top Gun: Maverick, the 110-inch UXN handled the chaotic flight sequences well with motion settings turned off. Picture quality score: 4 / 5 Hisense 110UXN review: Sound quality Side-mounted speakers on the 110UXN greatly help with spatial audio (Image credit: Future) 4.2.2-channel speaker array Expansive, accurate sound Bass sounds contained at times The 110-inch UXN has a 4.2.2 channel, 102W built-in speaker array and supports Dolby Atmos and DTS. Two up-firing speakers sit at the top of the frame, and there are two side-firing speakers and two subwoofers on the rear. I found the best sound mode for most viewing was Theater. Watching The Batman, screeching tyres and swerving traffic were accurately placed on screen during the Penguin-Batmobile car chase. In La La Land, the jazzy score was tightly controlled and had an excellent balance between the brash trumpets, warm bass tones and beating drums. I did find that Dolby Atmos effects, while present, weren’t very pronounced. In The Batman, the rain throughout the movie was audible but the effect wasn’t as powerful as what I’ve heard on some of the best OLED TVs. Bass was decent throughout, but it didn’t have the power I was expecting from two built-in subwoofers. Overall, most people won’t feel the need to attach a soundbar to the 110-inch UXN. But, if you’re looking for sound to match the picture, you may want to invest in one. Sound quality score: 4 / 5 Hisense 110UXN review: Design Despite its imposing size and weight, the Hisense 110UXN is surprisingly slim (Image credit: Future) Trim design and profile despite size Weighty Basic feet for a premium TV The 110-inch UXN weighs a whopping 85kg (187 lbs) and comes with two carry handles on the rear for transportation. This is a hefty TV that will require multiple people for installation. Despite its size, the 110-inch UXN is slimmer than you’d expect, and its trim bezel means most of the 110-inch screen is used to display pictures. It uses two support feet, which is typical for a TV this size. Hisense’s remote is USB-C rechargeable and takes cues from Samsung’s SolarCell TV remote with a solar panel on the rear in place of traditional batteries. While it is a bit bottom-heavy, the remote has a nice, burnished steel look and a premium feel. Design score: 4 / 5 Hisense 110UXN review: Smart TV & menus VIDAA (Hisense’s smart TV platform in the UK) is responsive on the 110UXN and has plenty of settings to customize the picture (Image credit: Future) Google TV in the US and Australia, VIDAA in the UK A good number of settings for picture customization Slightly laggy navigation The 100-inch UXN’s smart TV platform varies depending on your region. In the US and Australia, you get Google TV and if you’re in the UK, you get Hisense’s own VIDAA. I tested this in the UK so will be discussing VIDAA, but If you want to know about Google TV, check out our Hisense U8N review. VIDAA has access to all the best streaming apps like Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video, and major UK streaming apps such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4. It also supports Freely, a service that enables you to watch broadcast TV live over Wi-Fi without the need for any cable or satellite dish. There are a good number of picture settings, something I found necessary to apply. VIDAA ran more smoothly than on budget sets I’ve tested such as the Hisense U6N and Hisense U7N thanks to the 100-inch UXN’s stronger processor. VIDAA is not the most visually appealing smart TV platform, however, with menus that look a little bland and dated. Smart TV & menus: 4 / 5 Hisense 110UXN review: Gaming The Hisense 110UXN boasts an impressive list of gaming features and superb graphics (Image credit: Future) 16.1ms input lag time Big-screen gaming is fun A good number of gaming features The 110-inch UXN only has two HDMI 2.1 ports but supports 4K 144Hz gaming, with VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming all featured as well. There is no dedicated Game picture preset(other than Dolby Vision Game), with the TV’s Game Mode overlaying the existing picture presets. It also features a Game Menu where settings can be adjusted on-the-fly. I found that Standard picture mode with Game Mode turned on suited gaming best. The 110-inch UXN’s input lag time measured 16.1ms at 4K 60Hz. (Gamers typically look for under 15ms.) However, I generally found the 110-inch UXN to be responsive and fun to play on. With Battlefield V on Xbox Series X, it handled chaotic gunfights and packed battle sections well. I did find when using the Game Mode menu that frame rates generally varied from 98Hz-120Hz, but this didn’t deter from my experience. The 110-inch UXN displays graphics in a dynamic, bright and colorful manner. Playing a desert mission in Battlefield V, the vast waves of sand and bright blue skies all looked punchy and accurate. Gaming score: 4.5 / 5 Hisense 110UXN review: Value The Hisense 110UXN comes with Hisense’s premium remote, which has a USB-C port and solar cell on the bottom rear, both for charging (Image credit: Future) Very pricey Significantly more expensive than ultra short throw projectors Cheaper than large micro-LED and OLED TVs At $15,000 / £20,000 (roughly AU$24,300), the 110-inch UXN is a super-premium mini-LED TV that will outstretch most people’s budgets. This is roughly the same price as one of the best projectors, the JVC DLA-NZ800, which retails for $14,999 / £14,999 (roughly AU$24,300). It’s also pricier than the best ultra short throw projectors such as the Samsung The Premiere 9, which costs $5,999 / £5,999 (roughly AU$9,750). Although the 110-inch UXN is cheaper than 97-inch OLED models and larger micro-LED screens and offers uniquely high brightness levels and very good picture and sound quality, it still goes a step too far price-wise compared to other premium sets. Value score: 3 / 5 Should you buy the Hisense 110UXN? The Hisense 110UXN comes at a premium price that most won’t be able to afford (Image credit: Future) Swipe to scroll horizontally Hisense 110UXN Attributes Notes Rating Features Super-bright mini-LED panel with Hi-View X processor 4.5/5 Picture quality Bright, colorful and detailed picture with decent contrast, but requires setup and backlight blooming is present 4/5 Sound quality Punchy, accurate sound with good directionality but can feel contained with sometimes lacklustre bass 4/5 Design Sturdy build quality with trimmer than expected design, but weighty 4/5 Smart TV and menus VIDAA is responsive with plenty of settings, but looks a little dated and can stutter at times 4/5 Gaming Great array of gaming features including 144Hz and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, but only two HDMI 2.1 ports 4.5/5 Value Pricey TV that will outstretch almost most budgets, but does provide a unique experience 3/5 Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… Also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell – Column 0 Hisense 110UXN Hisense U8N (65-inch) Samsung QN90D Price $14,999 / £19,999 / around AU$24,300 $1,499.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,699.99 $1,899 / £1,999 / AU$3,995  Screen type Mini-LED Mini-LED Mini-LED Refresh rate 120Hz (up to 144Hz) 120Hz (up to 144HZ) 120Hz (up to 144Hz) HDR support Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10/HLG/HDR10+ Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG HDR10+/HDR10/HLG Smart TV Google TV (US/Aus), VIDAA (UK) Google TV (US/Aus), VIDAA (UK) Tizen HDMI ports 4 (2x HDMI 2.1) 4 (2 x HDMI 2.1) 4 x HDMI 2.1 How I tested the Hisense 110UXN (Image credit: Future) Tested in light controlled cinema room Tested SDR and HDR sources for picture quality Measurements taken using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software I tested the Hisense 110UXN in a light-controlled cinema room at the headquarters of AWE, a Hisense TV distributor. I spent the first portion of my time with the UXN doing casual viewing to establish the most accurate picture mode, which in this case was Filmmaker Mode. For my critical viewing, I used several reference scenes from both SDR (broadcast TV and streaming) and HDR sources (4K Blu-ray and streaming). I tested the UXN’s picture for color, contrast, black level, detail, HDR performance and motion. I also used these same sources to test the UXN’s audio performance. To play 4K Blu-rays, I used the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player. I also tested the UXN’s gaming performance and features using an Xbox Series X. After this, I moved on to objective testing, which involved taking measurements with Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software, two colorimeters and a test pattern generator. I used both SDR and HDR white window test patterns ranging from 1-100% in size to measure the UXN’s brightness, focusing on 10% for peak brightness and 100% for full-screen brightness. I then measured the UXN’s color and grayscale accuracy, looking for an average measurement below 3. I also measured the UXN’s HDR coverage of the UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces to see how accurately the UXN can display colors with ultra-high definition (UHD) sources. Finally, I measured the UXN’s input lag using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI input lag tester, with under 15ms representing an ideal result for gaming. For a more detailed explanation of how we test TVs at TechRadar, check out the link.

One of the biggest TV developments at CES 2025 was a new fourth-generation ‘four-stack’ OLED panel developed by LG Display, an independent wing of LG that provides the raw display panels for LG Electronics and other TV makers. LG Display wasn’t exhibiting, but its panel could be found in a new LG G5 OLED TV shown in an off-site preview at the show and in the new Panasonic Z95B OLED, which also uses it. The specs for LG’s fourth-generation OLED panel are impressive, with a peak brightness of 4,000 nits – 33% brighter than the third-generation ‘MLA’ panel used in the LG G4 OLED and other TVs. LG Display is also claiming 2,100 nits color brightness, which is a 40% improvement. It’s unlikely TVs like the LG G5 and Panasonic Z95B will actually yield such high brightness levels in typical use – we measured peak brightness of the LG G4, one of the best OLED TVs and a model specified for 3,000 nits in theoretical use, at just under 1,500 nits in real-world tests. But the prospect of OLED TVs with higher brightness, which LG Display considers “a key picture quality factor because it enables more vivid images that are akin to natural human vision,” is enticing, and it will allow the technology to more effectively compete with the best mini-LED TVs. Let’s dig into details of LG’s fourth-generation panel to see how it differs from previous OLEDs. Primary RGB Tandem structure World’s 1st Primary RGB Tandem Tech, Unmatched Picture Quality!! | 4th Generation OLED – YouTube Watch On LG Display calls its fourth-generation panel Primary RGB Tandem structure, which references the individual red, green, and blue OLED layers used to produce light. Previous panels were a three-stack design using two blue layers, with red, green, and yellow elements combined in a third layer. In the third-generation panel, this was augmented with a micro lens array (MLA) layer that uses microscopic lens elements to boost light output from the panel. In the new design, red and green layers are sandwiched between two blue layers. This four-stack structure serves to increase overall light output, and is effective enough that an MLA layer is no longer needed or used. The separation of red, green, and blue elements also enhances color purity and is responsible for the fourth-generation panel’s color brightness increase. Higher brightness is typically associated with higher power consumption, but LG Display claims that its new panel design has “around 20% greater energy efficiency than the previous generation (in the case of a 65-inch panel).” According to the company, this was achieved through enhancements to the panel’s power supply system, and it’s expected to compensate for the higher power consumption needs brought about by AI features for picture processing and other automated tasks. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. The third-generation LG Display panel used in OLED TVs such as the LG G4 did a very good job maintaining solid black levels even in well-lit rooms, something I confirmed in a comparison between the G4 and the Samsung S95D. For the fourth generation panel, LG Display has added “ultra-low reflection technology,” which is a screen coating that “offsets both light reflected from the display’s surface and light absorbed and reflected inside the panel.” According to the company, ultra-low reflection technology blocks 99% of screen reflections while maintaining “perfect blacks” even when viewing in daylight conditions. Furthermore, LG Display says its new panel can maintain 100% color accuracy in such conditions, making it “the only display to overcome the viewing environment limitations of conventional displays.” The new LG G5 OLED TV looking bright at CES 2025 (Image credit: Future) OLED without limits Having spent many years in the trenches testing TVs, I can confirm that the best TVs get brighter every year. Up until recently, OLED models lagged well behind mini-LED ones when it came to both peak and fullscreen brightness, but tech developments such as MLA and Samsung Display’s QD-OLED, which combines an OLED panel with a quantum dot layer, have allowed OLED TVs to play catch-up. The new LG G5 and Panasonic Z95B are high-end models and they will sell for a premium price. But to judge from what we saw at CES 2025, these new flagship OLED TVs will deliver more than satisfactory brightness, enabling a full array of highlight detail in 4K movies and TV shows with high dynamic range, and also providing sufficiently bright and high-contrast pictures when viewing in rooms with a high level of ambient lighting. In past years, that level of flexibility was exclusive to the best mini-LED TVs, but it now looks like OLED TVs have finally leveled the playing field. And with mini-LED backlighting tech making steady year-on-year improvements, in the best cases yielding OLED-like black level and shadow detail performance, it couldn’t come at a better time for OLED. You might also like…

The ultra-thin “wallpaper TV” is coming back Zero Connect wireless technology as seen in the LG M5 The latest-gen OLED tech is included Way back in 2017, LG made a TV that was truly breathtaking – only to stop making it in 2020. But a new official image shows that it’s coming back, and it’s even better than before. The new TV is the LG W5, and it’s the successor to the TV officially called the LG W7 Signature Series but known to everybody as the Wallpaper TV. The W7 (pictured below) got its nickname because it was so thin you stuck it to the wall like wallpaper, albeit with magnets instead of wallpaper paste; all the electronics were in a separate soundbar. It wasn’t cheap – the biggest model was $19,996 (about £16,000 or AU$26,500) – but it was stunning. As we said in our LG Signature OLED W7 review, it was “thinner than we even thought possible”. And now it’s back, and it’s even smarter thanks to LG’s wireless tech. (Image credit: LG) What we know about the LG W5 OLED TV LG isn’t confirming or denying anything, but the new TV was entered for and won a CES Innovation Award this month – and as FlatpanelsHD spotted, there’s a whole page on the CES website about the W5. It says: “The 4K 77-inch W5 is the culmination of many years of LG technical knowhow. Less than ½” thick, it blends into your wall without visible AV wires. This is achieved without compromise, as the TV offers LG’s best OLED picture quality, featuring a brighter more colorful OLED display capable of gaming (up to 144Hz with VRR). It includes LG’s most advanced α11 AI Processor inside a Zero Connect Box that wireless sends your AV connections to the TV, eliminating clutter and freeing TV placement. The W5 is the perfect TV, offering the best of what is possible in a TV.” The big improvement over the previous model is that the new TV uses the same Zero Connect wireless box as the LG M5, making it even more like part of your home décor as well as making it very flexible: as we’ve previously said, the wireless box is suitable for gaming as well as home entertainment, and is more flexible than previous versions, because it can now be hidden in a cupboard without spoiling the wireless communication. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. It’s hard to say why LG didn’t show the TV off at CES fully – perhaps there was a problem with its initial units, or perhaps the whole launch needs to be delayed. But I’m happy to see such an iconic design return, because this seems like the ideal use of LG’s wireless tech. No doubt it’ll be devastatingly expensive compared to the best OLED TVs – but it’ll probably be super-desirable anyway. You might also like

The Samsung S95F OLED TV has been officially revealed at CES 2025 as part of Samsung’s 2025 OLED TV lineup, serving as the flagship model. The successor to the Samsung S95D, our TV of the Year in 2024 and one of the best OLED TVs ever released, we’ve got high expectations for the S95F. The Samsung S95D revolutionized the OLED TV world with its OLED Glare Free anti-reflection tech (which mainly comprised the matte screen first featured in the Samsung Frame TV) that effectively eliminated reflections, OLED’s biggest nemesis. Other than this, the S95D also delivered hyper-detailed quality thanks to some clever AI processing, along with superb color, incredible accuracy and stunning contrast. It was also fully equipped for gaming, had a stunning design and even good built-in sound. So, the Samsung S95F has some mighty shoes to fill. Below, we explore all the details we’ve had confirmed about the S95F and the information we’re still waiting for. Samsung S95F OLED TV: Possible prices & release dates (Image credit: Future) We haven’t had any official pricing or release date information for the Samsung S95F yet, but we can take an educated guess on this info based on the S95F’s predecessor, the Samsung S95D. For a release date, we’d assume the S95F will release in March or April 2025. This has been the release date for Samsung’s flagship OLEDs, and all of its TVs for that matter, for the past few years so its likely that Samsung will aim for this for the S95F. As for pricing, we can only estimate what prices will be based on the S95D’s pricing. The S95D’s pricing was as follows at launch in March 2024: Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. 55-inch: $2,599 / £2,499 / AU$3,995 65-inch: $3,399 / £3,399 / AU$4,995 77-inch: $4,599 / £4,599 / AU$7,995 Given the upgraded OLED Glare Free 2.0 screen, other upgrades and taking inflation into account, we can assume the S95F will be priced higher than these prices, but by how much exactly we’ll have to wait until pricing info is released. There’s also a new 83-inch model arriving, a first for the Samsung flagship OLED range. This means we have no previous model to compare to. However, we can look at the LG G4 OLED TV, one of LG’s 2024 OLED TVs and a direct rival to the S95F’s predecessor, the S95D. The 83-inch LG G4 released at a price of $6,499 / £6,999 / AU$9,999, so we can assume that the S95F will be roughly around this price. Once we have official pricing and release date information, we’ll be sure to put it here. Samsung S95F: Features (Image credit: Future) The Samsung S95F will be available in sizes 55, 65, 77 and a new 83-inch size, although the 83-inch model will feature a W-OLED panel rather than the QD-OLED panel featuring in the other three sizes, but Samsung told TechRadar that this will hit the same performance specs as the other sizes. The headline feature of the S95F is OLED Glare Free 2.0, an upgrade on the OLED Glare Free tech first introduced in the Samsung S95F’s predecessor, the Samsung S95D. OLED Glare Free is a type of matte screen that nearly eliminates reflections caused by light sources, reducing them to a haze rather than a mirrored reflection that distracts the eyes. We praised OLED Glare Free on the S95D for its effectiveness, but did find it affected black levels by raising them to being more dark gray, particularly in Filmmaker Mode. Well, we’ve actually seen the S95F in person and its OLED Glare Free 2.0 seemingly fixes this issue (from the brief preview we had), displaying more accurate black levels and better shadow detail than the S95D, even under the harsh CES show lights. The S95F will feature the upgraded NQ4 AI Gen 3 AI processor, which will see its number of neural networks raised from the 20 in the Gen 2 chip, featured in the S95D, to 128. Samsung has also suggested a 30% increase in brightness over the S95D, and said that the S95F can hit 4,000 nits of peak HDR brightness very briefly across 3% of the screen. A more useful real-world stat is that Samsung says the TV should be able to hit 2,000 nits of brightness in a sustained 10% HDR window. The S95F also introduces 165Hz support, the same as the LG G5 OLED. It will support VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and 4K, 144Hz across four HDMI 2.1 ports. Like its predecessor, the S95F has a lot of the gaming features we look for in the best gaming TVs, though there’s no Dolby Vision support. It will also feature a 4.2.2 channel built-in speaker array for sound, totaling 70W of power and with Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) and up-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos support. Samsung S95F: Design The Samsung S95F (pictured) seemingly shows better black levels than the S95D – at least in the preview we saw (Image credit: Future) We loved the Samsung S95D’s design in our review, praising not its only razor-slim depth and bezel-less screen, but also its ‘floating’ design where the stand is almost invisible when viewed straight on. Thankfully, the S95F retains this design, including the ‘floating’ look, so it’s sure to be one of the most physically appealing TVs. We’ve already discussed the OLED Glare Free tech, but the matte screen also adds to the premium design. It will still use a separate One Connect box for all connections, with power and visuals traveling to the TV over a single cable – it will not, however, have the wireless connections box used in The Frame Pro TV. Samsung S95F: what we still need to know (Image credit: Future) While we have learned a good amount about the Samsung S95F, there are still a couple of things we need to know. We need to know what kind of fullscreen brightness we can expect, but we’ll learn this through our own testing when get our hands on the S95F for our review. We’ve already mentioned it, but we still need to know pricing and a release date for the S95F’s varios sized models. Considering its new OLED Glare Free 2.0 tech (and inflation, naturally) the S95F will likely be slightly pricier than the S95D, which launched at a price of $3,399 / £3,399 / AU$4,995 for the 65-inch model we tested. We can’t wait to get our hands on the S95F to test it properly. The S95D was our top TV of 2024, so we have pretty high expectations of the S95F. Here’s hoping it exceeds them! You might also like…

The LG G5 has been officially revealed at CES 2025 as part of LG 2025 OLED TV lineup. As the successor to the LG G4, one of 2024’s best OLED TVs, the G5 has received several upgrades including higher brightness, new gaming features and more. There’s even been a surprising change regarding its panel. We were thoroughly impressed with the LG G5’s predecessor, the LG G4, which earned five out of five stars in our LG G4 review thanks to its spectacular picture quality, full suite of gaming features and impressive built-in sound. It was easily one of the best TVs released last year, so needless to say we have high hopes for the LG G5. Below, we look at everything we’ve had confirmed so far about the LG G5 and everything we still need to know. At the time of writing, we don’t have any confirmation on price or release date, but we’ll still be exploring this. LG G5 OLED TV: possible price and release date The LG G5 OLED TV on display at CES 2025 (Image credit: Future) At the time of writing, we don’t have any information on release dates or pricing for the LG G5 OLED TV. However, based on past trends, we can take an educated guess at what this information will be. When LG confirmed pricing for the LG G4 in February and April 2024 for the US and the UK respectively, we were disappointed at first as nearly every sized model of the G4 had increased compared to its predecessor, the LG G3. Pricing for the LG G4 at release was as follows: OLED55G4: $2,599 / £2,399 / AU$4,199 OLED65G4: $3,399 / £3,299 / AU$5,299 OLED77G4: $4,599 / £4,490 / AU$7,999 OLED83G4: $6,499 / £7,000 / AU$9,999 OLED97G4: $24,999 / £24,999 Our guesstimates on the G4 (before official pricing information was released) was that LG G4 would have a price increase due to inflation – and we were correct. Based on this, we’d assume that there will be a price increase for the LG G5 too. Thankfully, the G4 was only an average of $100 more per size than the G3 at release, so here’s hoping we’ll see the same for the LG G5. As for the G5’s new, smaller 48-inch model, this will be the cheapest of the range, but just how much cheaper than the 55-inch model it will be remains to be seen. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Based on previous years, we’re expecting the LG G5 to launch in March or April this year, as this has generally been when LG has released its TVs for the past several years. Again, we’ve only speculated on release dates and pricing above, so once we have official pricing and release dates, we’ll be sure to update this page. LG G5 OLED TV: Features The LG G5 OLED (picture here at CES 2025) introduces 165Hz refresh rate for PC gaming. (Image credit: Future) We do know that the LG G5 will be available in a wide range of sizes, including 55, 65, 77, 83 and 97-inch sizes as well as a new, smaller 48-inch model – the first time LG has released one of its flagship OLEDs in this size. There have been several upgrades and changes to the LG G5 compared to its predecessor the LG G4. The G5 introduces 4K 165Hz refresh rate support – perfect for PC gaming – as well as still supporting VRR (AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync included) as well as Dolby Vision gaming across four HDMI 2.1 ports, a feature list up there with the best gaming TVs. A quick note – the LG G5 will not support 165Hz and Dolby Vision at the same time. Another big upgrade to the G5 comes to its brightness levels. The G5 will feature Brighter Booster Ultimate, the same featured in the step-up LG M5, which LG says will make the G5’s peak brightness three times higher than the LG B5 (although we have no confirmation on how bright we can expect that to be, as of yet.) One of the most interesting brightness boosts however comes to its fullscreen brightness which, while not the flashiest upgrade, is important. LG says the G5 will have 40% higher fullscreen brightness than the LG G4. We measured the G4’s fullscreen brightness at 257 nits in Filmmaker Mode. Based on LG’s claim, we can expect the G5 to hit 350 nits fullscreen brightness – a significant upgrade that could make the G5 a better fit for brighter rooms. Interestingly however, the LG G5 will manage all of these brightness upgrades without the help of micro-lens-array (MLA) tech in its OLED panel, as LG has decided to abandon that particular brightness boosting tech in its 2025 rollout altogether. Instead, the company has opted for a new ‘four stack’ OLED panel that LG says, along with Brightness Booster Ultimate, will enable the G5 to hit its highest brightness yet. The LG G4 with webOS 24 on screen (Image credit: Future) Rather than introduce a new processor, as it has done in recent years, LG has upgraded the Alpha 11 AI processor featured in the G4 to the Alpha 11 AI Processor Gen 2 in the LG G5. It will come with similar AI features including AI Picture Wizard, which will now have personalized picture profiles for different users as well as Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro, plus AI Sound Wizard which will upscale sound to 11.1.2 channels (as it did in the G4). One of the biggest upgrades in the G5 will be the smart TV platform, which is heavily focused on AI, falling under the banner of ‘LG AI TV’. Some of the new AI features include AI Search, an advanced content search engine, AI Recommendation, which will make tailored recommendations to individual users (and it’ll change users based on your voice, if you make a voice request), and AI Concierge, which will make recommendation based on a user’s viewing history. Another AI feature being introduced is the LG AI Art feature. This is where users can generate artworks using AI, which are made by using credits (which are purchased separately). LG G5 OLED TV: Design The LG G4 (pictured) shipped with a stand in several sizes and region, but this will not be the case in 2025. (Image credit: Future) LG’s G-series OLEDs have been considered first and foremost a TV for wall mounting, which is why LG ships every G-series model with a bespoke, slim-fit wall-mount in the box. Up until the LG G4 in 2024, if you wanted a stand you had to purchase one separately at an extra cost. With the LG G4 however, certain models started shipping with a stand as well as the wall-mount, giving customers multiple design options. Unfortunately, LG has decided for 2025 that none of the LG G5 models will ship with a stand, harking back to the days of the LG G3 in 2023. An optional stand will be available again, for an additional charge. Ready for another change? LG’s Magic Remote. The long-standing supplied remote with most LG TVs is being replaced with LG’s AI Remote. A slimmer, trimmed-down design with an AI and Accessibility button will take center stage, with the numbered buttons removed in favor of these new buttons. The new AI remote will be shipped with LG TVs in the US, Korea and more but won’t be available in certain regions, including the UK, which will have to make do with the old Magic Remote for now. LG G5 OLED TV: everything we still need to know (Image credit: Future) While we’ve had confirmation of the LG G5’s new panel, upgraded processor, new features and sizes, there are still a few things that we need to know. Of course one of the key pieces of information we’re waiting for includes pricing and release dates, but we’re likely to get those in the coming weeks. LG has yet to confirm the G5’s built-in sound. The G4 came with a 4.2 speaker system, totaling 60W of power, as did its predecessor the LG G3. Could it be time for an upgrade in the LG G5, or will LG stick with this tried and tested formula? We found the G4’s sound to be pretty good overall, but still found buying one of the best soundbars the best way to go, as the G4 couldn’t quite match up to the likes of the Panasonic Z95A and Sony Bravia 8 – two of the best TVs for sound. You might also like…

As CES 2025 draws to a close, there are a few key takeaways in the world of TVs including brighter OLEDs, like the LG G5, bigger screens, like Hisense’s mammoth 136-inch and 163-inch micro-LED TVs, as well as the introduction of new technologies like Samsung’s 8K TV with an RGB micro-LED backlight. One market, however, looks like it’ll be just as competitive if not more so than it did in 2025; and that’s mini-LED TVs. Some of the best TVs on the market are mini-LED TVs. Highlights from 2024 included the Samsung QN90D, Hisense U8N and the ground-breaking Sony Bravia 9, but there were so many more models that could count themselves among the best mini-LED TVs. 2025 looks set to be another big year for mini-LED TVs, with some exciting tech innovations introduced at CES. Mini-LED TVs from Samsung, Hisense, TCL and Panasonic have been confirmed – and Sony hasn’t even announced its sets yet! The state of mini-LED in 2025 The Samsung QN90F (pictured here at CES 2025) is likely to be one of the best mini-LED sets of 2025, if it’s anything like its predecessor. (Image credit: Future) Samsung revealed its 2025 mini-LED TV lineup and the most eye-catching news was the introduction of Glare Free tech to the Samsung QN90F and QN990F, its 2025 flagship 4K and 8K models. The reflection beating tech (which is a matte screen) was first introduced in 2024 on the Samsung S95D, one of the best OLED TVs on the planet. We were blown away by the effectiveness of the Glare Free tech on the S95D, so adding it to the QN90F – which we expect to have high brightness levels and great motion processing like its predecessor the QN90D – is likely to make it one of the best TVs for sport. This is one for sports fans to keep an eye on. One of the other major reveals at CES was the introduction of Hisense’s RGB mini-LED backlit TV, the 116-inch UX. Hisense says the new tech will provide bolder, more vibrant colors and 10,000 nits of peak brightness, while also being 10% more energy efficient. We saw the 116UX in person and its as vibrant as promised. This is likely to be a super-premium TV, with the 110-inch UXN with a standard mini-LED backlight retailing for a hefty $15,000 / £20,000 (roughly AU$24,000) so you can expect the 116UX to be even pricier, but its still an exciting new tech. TCL’s new and improved mini-LED backlight (pictured here at CES 2025) could improve picture quality for its TVs across the range. (Image credit: Future) TCL also revealed a new type of mini-LED backlight, which demonstrated more precise backlight control and higher brightness of up to a mind-blowing 50% increase in its 2025 mini-LED TV lineup, without compromising the image’s darker areas. Panasonic introduced the W95B in its 2025 TV lineup, while LG announced two mini-LED sets, the QNED99 and QNED92, into its 2025 QNED TV lineup. While these didn’t quite have the same headline-grabbing innovations as the sets above, they are still set to be packing with excellent gaming features and upgraded processors promising higher brightness once again and better contrast. These are just some of the mini-LED TV models we can expect in 2025. We’re waiting to hear about Sony’s 2025 lineup, which could include the successor to the brilliant Sony Bravia 9. The Bravia 9 is a mini-LED TV with OLED-rivaling contrast and black levels, so could Sony look to one-up it? We’re also still waiting to hear about Hisense’s latest ULED lineup, which follows on from last year’s Hisense U8N, U7N and U6N, and these along with TCL’s other sets are sure to make up the backbone of the mid-range and budget mini-LED sets in 2025. The battle rages on and we’re spoilt for choice Even 8K mini-LED TVs are getting innovations, as the Samsung QN990F (pictured here at CES 2025) has a wireless connection box and matte screen. (Image credit: Future) While these brands will be looking for mini-LED supremacy, we’re the real winners. These brands are looking to make their TVs faster, brighter, more colorful and detailed than ever before – and they’ll be looking to offer the best prices they can to tempt us into choosing a mini-LED over an OLED. Brands are starting to invest in bigger screens through their lineups too, with Hisense’s 116-inch UX, Samsung’s 115-inch QN90F and the TCL 98-inch QM6K just some of the larger mini-LED sets on offer. While these screens will exceed most people’s budgets, does this mean we could see a price drop on smaller sizes? Hisense is most likely to offer this, but we’ll be keeping an eye out on prices as they are revealed over the coming months. Plus, we can all still dream of a cinema sized screen and having the option is always going to get a thumbs-up from me. It’s also great to see so many tech innovations coming through for mini-LED TVs as well. A common problem for mini-LED TVs is backlight blooming (where light surrounds brighter objects on dark backgrounds, creating a halo effect) but if these new innovations can reduce this issue altogether, then that just means better TVs for us. Higher brightness, both peak and fullscreen, is always a theme in new mini-LED TVs. While the numbers are reaching eye-watering heights of 10,000 nits plus, it means more eye-catching pictures and less reflections for those of us with bright rooms. Yet another positive thanks to the spirit of competition. 2025 is shaping up to be the most hotly contested year for mini-LED TVs in years and I can’t wait to find out who’s going to come out on top. Thankfully for us, it looks like we’re going to be spoilt for choice. You might also like