To RGB or not to RGB, that is the quandary TCL finds itself in with its 2026 line-up.
TCL is the self-anointed Mini LED king. It’s made it its mission in life to sell more Mini LEDs than the competition and by all accounts, it has achieved that goal.
You would presume then, that it would like to sell all types of Mini LED but at its NXT Roadshow event in Paris, it sent out a rather confusing message, one that suggests that it’s not particularly fussed about RGB TVs.
RGB gets no respect
I’ve only seen a few RGB TVs so I’m not going to pray at the altar and say they’re the next coming of the TV Gods. But they may represent an inflection point, a new level of Mini LED performance that’s available at both premium and more affordable price points from the get-go.
It could, effectively, replace your standard Mini LED and I wonder if TCL is ever so slightly perturbed by this.
You’ve got Hisense who seem ecstatic about the potential of RGB. Sony are cautious like someone who has a big secret but doesn’t want to tell anyone just yet. Samsung sees RGB as its next mountain to conquer.
Philips and LG come across laissez-faire about RGB, believing that OLED is still the picture king. TCL doesn’t even like OLED – they’re all about Mini LED and out of all the TV manufacturers their stance is one I can’t comprehend. They seem disinterested to the point of being underwhelmed.
The press release for the 2026 models raves about Super QD Mini-LEDs. But RGB TVs? They get two sentences with no mention of the model numbers.
The chasm between the excitement of SQD Mini-LED versus RGB Mini-LED could not be larger.
There’s an implication that TCL doesn’t believe the technology is quite there yet, something to be refined for its day in the limelight in a couple years’ time once the technology has matured. But if that’s the case, it makes very little sense to me.
While others will be making strides in improving RGB TV tech, TCL will be focusing on its SQD TVs. But will SQD be a long-term concern? I’m not sure there’s a long shelf life with these models.
TCL will be the only company that makes them – they are, in effect, a branding exercise in the same way that Samsung’s Neo QLEDs were Mini LED with a fancy name.
The whole TV market is moving towards RGB in some way, which seems to be the future, at least for the next few years, and TCL seem non-plussed about it.
Perhaps this speaks to TCL’s confidence, a reflection of its current standing in the market where it can throw a disdainful look at RGB. This endorsement of SQD is a strength not a weakness, a sign that TCL goes its own way and won’t be made to follow the same path as others.
But if RGB takes off it might find itself having to play catch-up.
It’s a risk, I think, that TCL is not exerting more of a influence on RGB Mini LED. If RGB does take off, TCL will be stuck between supporting its flagship SQD TVs while trying to boost its RGB models. Producing two models could mean they cannibalize each other’s sales.
Or RGB could struggle to take off and TCL would be right, as long as SQD makes an impact. Somehow, I don’t think that will happen.
2026 will mark the true test of TCL’s standing in the market. It’s not playing catch-up as much in the UK anymore, it’s tussling with the experienced players in the same ring. But not grappling with RGB TV tech could see them susceptible to an unexpected knockdown.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
