Every year, a multitude of new televisions are introduced at CES. This year, however, the leading TV manufacturers appear to have similar inventive concepts. Essentially, all brands are debuting an RGB TV, and CES 2026 is poised to be the battleground for Samsung, LG, Hisense, and others to vie for supremacy.
Typically, each brand presents a diverse array of new TVs: In 2025, LG concentrated on enhancing its OLED offerings, TCL highlighted mini-LED technology, and Samsung rolled out a Neo QLED iteration of The Frame. While new OLEDs and QLEDs will still emerge in 2026, the saturated RGB TV category stands out as the most significant advancement.
The Year of RGB TVs and the OLED x mini-LED Partnership
Throughout much of the 2020s, new TVs showcased at CES have primarily featured OLED or mini-LED technologies. This year, however, TV innovation at CES transcends these categories, creating a pathway for RGB TVs.
Most QLED or mini-LED TV backlighting systems emit white or blue light, which remains unseen by viewers. A layer of quantum dot crystals reflects this light into the colors displayed on the screen. Conversely, RGB TVs function differently by utilizing thousands of tiny red, green, and blue LEDs. These authentic red, green, and blue light sources encompass the entire color gamut, improving color fidelity.
Each red, green, and blue LED is individually managed like OLED pixels, providing greater accuracy than densely grouped mini-LED dimming zones. Micro RGB TVs sidestep the lackluster contrast and subpar black levels found in non-OLED televisions while achieving superior peak brightness compared to OLED models.
The predominant trend is RGB technology itself — “Micro RGB” is the promotional term employed by Samsung and LG. Hisense refers to it as “RGB mini-LED,” while Sony is reportedly adopting “True RGB.” Other prominent brands are anticipated to showcase their RGB iterations at CES 2026. Regardless of the terminology, RGB signifies “the most vibrant TV you’ve ever encountered.”
Large TVs Are Getting Even Larger, While Smaller TVs Continue to Improve
Companies are expected to present flagship TVs ranging from 85 to 100 inches (or larger) in 2026, contrasting with the scarcity of 100-inch models in past years. Samsung’s CES presentation features a new 98-inch variant of The Frame, and LG’s 2026 Micro RGB series will be available in 75, 86, and 100-inch sizes.
It is surprising that a 75-inch TV will be the smallest offering, considering that 65 inches has long been a standard measurement. Mashable currently endorses 65-inch TVs as the optimal size for most users, but will that soon be perceived as “small”?
Compact TVs are also advancing. Samsung is expanding its premium Micro RGB capabilities to a 55-inch variant in 2026, with other brands likely to follow suit. Hisense has introduced the S5 DécoTV, a 32-inch QLED TV priced lower than the smallest The Frame TV.
A Samsung TV leak suggests an influx of more affordable OLED options, including a 55-inch S85H model priced around $1,000, which is less than the 42-inch model of Samsung’s S90F OLED. This trend reflects the gradual affordability of high-end TV technologies. 2026 might be the year OLED TVs become more accessible, with Samsung probably not the only brand providing budget-friendly OLED alternatives.
New Art TVs Compete with the Frame Pro
Samsung appears to be stepping back from The Frame at CES 2026 after unveiling the Frame Pro last year. LG is launching its debut art TV, the LG Gallery TV, featuring a glare-reducing finish and an ambient light sensor. It incorporates LG’s MiniLED technology and full-array local dimming, presenting a considerable edge over The Frame Pro’s edge-lit mini-LED setup. Access to the full artwork collection necessitates a $5/month LG Gallery+ subscription, aligning with Samsung Art Store’s pricing.
Another contender for the Frame Pro could be the TCL Nxtvision A400 Pro, an art TV with local dimming zones, already released in China and potentially set to be announced for the U.S. at CES. Will Hisense also unveil a new CanvasTV?