Sony unveils next-generation RGB-backlit LCD panel

Sony has announced a groundbreaking new technology for televisions — General RGB LED Backlight — which could redefine image quality standards. The new development, showcased during a private event in Tokyo, combines the advantages of mini-LED and OLED, positioning itself as a new industry benchmark.

At the core of the innovation is a backlight system featuring individual red, green, and blue LEDs arranged at high density. Unlike traditional LED panels, which use blue LEDs with color filters, Sony’s RGB system directs light directly to the pixels, eliminating intermediate layers. This not only doubles peak brightness to 4,000 nits but also delivers 99% DCI-P3 and 90% BT.2020 coverage — record figures for LCD technology.

A key element is the upgraded XR Backlight Master Drive system. While the flagship Bravia 9 features a 22-bit driver, the new model assigns 22 bits to each color channel (RGB), resulting in a total of 66-bit precision. This allows for precise control over both brightness and color volume, which Sony claims is four times higher than current QLED standards.

Advantages of the new technology:

Journalists attending the showcase noted that the Sony prototype virtually eliminated the blooming issues typical of LED TVs, while contrast in dark scenes matched that of OLED. Despite plans for mass production starting in 2025, Sony hinted that the first models might not hit the market until 2026–2027. This gives competitors like Samsung and Hisense, which have already announced their own RGB projects, time to respond.