LG’s New RGB LED TV Loses Out to OLED

Overview

LG has long been synonymous with OLED technology, consistently leading Samsung and Sony as the top manufacturer of self-lit panels. However, the 2026 television landscape is dominated by RGB LED displays, a shift that has pushed LG to release its own entry into the market.

The result is the LG Micro RGB evo MRGB95B, a $3,600 75-inch TV that aims to compete with new models from rivals like Samsung and Sony. While the panel delivers impressive brightness and vibrant color reproduction, it suffers from significant issues that make it a less compelling purchase than its OLED counterparts or cheaper RGB LED competitors.

LG’s RGB LED TV benefits from the brightness and color capability the technology provides, but it has issues I couldn’t overlook that its less expensive competitors don’t.

Technology and Specifications

RGB LED technology differs fundamentally from traditional LCDs by using individual red, green, and blue LEDs for backlighting. Unlike white or blue LED backlights that rely on color filters or quantum dots to create images, RGB LEDs generate color at the source. This allows for higher color brightness and a wider gamut, as the color filter does not need to work as hard to dial in the final image.

The MRGB95B represents LG’s "Micro RGB" iteration, a term also used by Samsung. While marketing materials suggest these panels are smaller than standard Mini RGB LED options, the exact dimensions remain unconfirmed by both manufacturers.

Key specifications include:

• Display Type: RGB LED
• HDR Formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (notably lacking Dolby Vision 2 and HDR10+)
• HDMI Inputs: 4x HDMI 2.1 (one with eARC)
• Smart Platform: webOS 26
• Sizes Available: 75, 86, and 100 inches

The TV ships with LG’s redesigned Magic Remote, which features a traditional shape rather than the curved wand of previous years. It is not backlit, a departure from some modern accessories. Additionally, LG faces ongoing scrutiny regarding privacy; after a Gamers Nexus video highlighted security vulnerabilities and potential continuous audio recording, LG denied the claims. Users can avoid these issues by disconnecting the TV from the internet, though this requires an external streaming device for apps like Netflix or Disney+.

Picture Quality: Brightness vs. Accuracy

The MRGB95B excels in high-brightness scenarios. In HDR Filmmaker mode, peak brightness reached an astonishing 4,011 nits. This allows the TV to deliver an impactful, punchy image even in sunlit living rooms. Scenes from high-contrast films like The Meg pop with vivid highlights.

However, the panel struggles at the other end of the spectrum. Near-black shadow detail is often lost, making it difficult to discern details in dark corners of scenes, such as those found in Blade Runner 2049. Furthermore, the TV exhibits noticeable blooming—halos of light around bright objects against dark backgrounds. This is particularly distracting during scenes with subtitles or small bright elements in dark environments.

Color Performance

While the RGB LED backlight enables the TV to cover 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and nearly 90 percent of the larger BT.2020 area, out-of-the-box accuracy is lacking. Even in Filmmaker mode, which is typically calibrated for industry-standard accuracy, the image leans noticeably toward light blue.

This tint causes white clouds to appear slightly blue and renders skin tones cooler than they should be. After several days of use, the reviewer adjusted to the blue cast, but such inaccuracies are unacceptable for a premium $3,600 television in 2026.

Reflectivity and Viewing Angles

The glossy coating on the MRGB95B is one of the most reflective surfaces encountered in recent TV reviews. In moderately lit rooms, ceiling lights or lamps create distracting rainbow reflections on the screen. These reflections are less noticeable in bright scenes, such as the desert landscapes of Dune, but become incredibly apparent in dark settings, such as the corridors of House Harkonnen.

Viewing angles also remain a weak point for LED technology. Colors wash out significantly when viewed from the side, meaning only viewers seated directly in front of the TV will experience the full vibrancy of the image.

Software and Usability

The MRGB95B runs on webOS 26, a platform known for speed but criticized for being less intuitive than competing systems like Google TV, Apple TV, or Roku. Navigation feels slightly clunky, and the remote’s lack of backlighting adds to the frustration in low-light environments.

Streaming performance is solid, with support for all major apps. However, given the recent privacy concerns surrounding LG’s TV software, users who prioritize security may prefer connecting an external device like an Apple TV 4K to bypass the built-in operating system entirely.

Market Competition and Value Proposition

The primary argument for buying an RGB LED TV is brightness and color volume. However, the MRGB95B faces stiff competition from rivals who offer similar or superior performance at lower prices. Samsung, Sony, and other manufacturers have also released RGB LED models in 2026, many of which handle black levels and reflection management better than LG’s offering.

At $3,600, the LG MRGB95B is a premium proposition, but it is not a premium performer in every category. The combination of a reflective screen, color inaccuracies, and blooming issues undermines the advantages provided by the Micro RGB backlight.

For consumers willing to spend this amount, OLEDs from LG itself still offer superior contrast and viewing angles. For those committed to LED technology, competitors provide better value with more refined calibration and fewer distracting flaws. The MRGB95B is a technically impressive engine in some respects, but it is held back by cosmetic and calibration choices that prevent it from leading the class.