For years, OLED TVs have dominated the premium TV market thanks to their perfect display of blacks and exceptional contrast. However, Samsung is developing a new technology called Micro RGB, which promises to solve some of the biggest limitations of OLED panels, with its own advantages, but also with some compromises.
OLED panels do not use backlight; each pixel emits its own light and can be turned off completely, which is why they display perfect blacks and practically “infinite” contrast. Over time, they became brighter, more efficient and more resistant to burn-in, and with advanced layers (such as quantum dot technology) they also offer very expressive colors.
Micro RGB or OLED – which technology is better and for whom it is intended
Micro RGB, on the other hand, should not be confused with microLED TVs as it is not microLED in the true sense. It still uses a backlight, but instead of white light, it uses extremely small RGB LEDs that emit red, green, and blue light. That way it delivers far more vivid colors and potentially covers 100% of the BT.2020 spectrum, but doesn’t have the perfect control per pixel of OLED. Instead, it uses a large number of dimming zones, so slight “blooming” can still occur in demanding scenes.
Where Micro RGB dominates is lighting. It can deliver significantly higher maximum and sustained luminance levels than OLED, making it ideal for brightly lit rooms, HDR content and outdoor displays. Also, it uses inorganic materials, so there is practically no risk of burn-in and it is more durable in the long term.
On the other hand, OLED still remains unassailable when it comes to black color, cinematic experience and contrast. Plus, it’s much more accessible and far more affordable than Micro RGB TVs. Samsung currently has only one Micro RGB model of 115 inches, at a price of about 30,000 dollars, because the production of this technology is complex and expensive.
The conclusion is that both technologies have their place. OLED is the best choice for home cinema, darker rooms and users who prioritize superior contrast. Micro RGB targets a completely different audience, those for whom extreme brightness on the screen, durability, resistance to burn-in and maximally colorful, intense color display are more important, but with a significantly higher price and limited availability. As the technology develops, it is possible that the Micro RGB will become more affordable, but for now it is a premium solution for specific needs, writes Tom’s Guide.