Since this is a translation of an overseas article, there may be mistranslations.
https://www.avpasion.com/rgb-miniled-vs-sqd-miniled-guerra-ces-2026/
RGB MiniLED vs SQD MiniLED: The New War at CES 2026 (and Why TCL and Hisense Are Taking Opposite Paths)
It's still amazing how quickly the TV world is changing. Not long ago, TCL and Hisense were those decent but affordable Chinese brands you chose when you didn't want to spend a fortune on a top-tier TV. Now, at CES 2026, they are literally dictating the pace of the market.
The most interesting thing is that both brands are aiming for the premium LCD throne, but each is taking its own path. TCL has declared its focus on "SQD MiniLED over RGB," while Hisense is pushing a more powerful and improved version of RGB with some surprising elements.
If you're thinking about replacing your TV, this is very interesting information. What exactly are RGB MiniLED and SQD MiniLED, what are the differences, and why are they making such a splash this year? Let's break it down.
RGB MiniLED vs SQD MiniLED: Two Ways to See Color
Let's start with the basics. Traditional MiniLED TVs use blue light as their base. This light passes through multiple layers and filters to create the final image. Often, quantum dot (QD) layers are added to achieve better color reproduction, especially for brighter reds and greens.
This is fine, but if you want purer colors and eye-popping HDR, this system has limitations. This is where two new paths emerge.
-- RGB MiniLED (Hisense): A revolutionary approach that creates color directly from the light source.
-- SQD MiniLED (TCL): Maximizes the existing method to achieve peak performance without complexity.
RGB MiniLED (Hisense): Overwhelming Color, Larger Sizes, and the Addition of Cyan
RGB MiniLED uses separate red, green, and blue LEDs in the backlight. Relying less on filters and conversions means the colors delivered to the panel are much cleaner. This translates to a wider color volume, richer saturation, and intense visual effects in HDR.
However, there are challenges. Mixing different colored lights very close together can lead to color crosstalk, temperature issues, and difficulty achieving uniform brightness, not to mention the higher price tag.
But this year, Hisense has unveiled a significantly improved version. The star of the show, the 116UXS model, boasts a massive 116-inch screen with RGB MiniLED Evo. Notably, it adds a fourth color, cyan (blue-green), to the backlight. This "RGB + alpha" approach allows for finer adjustments to chroma purity. According to the brand, this enables them to achieve over 110% of the BT.2020 color space (actual measurements will be confirmed later).
Furthermore, tens of thousands of local dimming zones and an AI engine called Hi-View AI Engine RGB analyze scenes in real time to focus on delivering the best HDR movie experience. Essentially, this LCD TV aims to directly compete with OLED, and they plan to apply this not only to 116-inch models but also to standard sizes.
SQD MiniLED (TCL): Perfect Control, Simplicity, and Maximum Efficiency
Meanwhile, TCL says "RGB is great, but we're going a different route." That route is called **SQD MiniLED (Super Quantum Dot MiniLED)**. This method combines high-density blue MiniLEDs with extremely pure quantum dots and sophisticated optics, adding a high-precision filter like the UltraColor Filter to extract maximum color without the inherent problems of RGB (like color crosstalk).
The result is the TCL X11L, one of the most talked-about products at CES this year. It features up to 10,000 nits of brightness, over 20,000 local dimming zones, BT.2020 coverage of 100%, and a new AI processor that manages everything from blooming (light bleed) to brightness.
Gaming performance is also excellent. It supports four full-spec HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, ALLM, 4K 144Hz, and Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and is expected to support **Dolby Vision 2** mentioned at CES. TCL's strength lies in its ability to achieve fantastic picture quality without a complex RGB system while reducing costs, allowing it to offer users better prices.
The Real Key: 'Light Control' Not Just Brightness
Whether a TV is RGB or SQD is not everything. The important thing is how to control the light. Both brands have staked their lives on this. TCL aims to provide tremendous brightness without collapsing blacks with 20,000 dimming zones, while Hisense focuses on maintaining color accuracy even when the brightness is at its maximum.
Both sides talk about BT.2020 100~110%, but since most actual content is based on DCI-P3 standards, these figures should be understood as marketing points for the brands and the actual performance needs to be observed through testing.
It Remains To Be Seen Which Is More Valuable.
It's difficult to draw conclusions right now. Both proposals look very good, but until they are actually used in a living room, they are just promises on paper.
What is certain is that Hisense intends to compete with improved RGB MiniLED with added cyan color for color fidelity and saturation, while TCL has opted for a more practical and efficient strategy through SQD MiniLED, focusing on stability, brightness, and reasonable price.
The actual performance seen when playing a real movie, such as blooming, uniformity, black expression, and motion compensation, will need to be confirmed through detailed reviews. For now, both approaches look promising, and the real winner will be determined after the products are actually released.
▶ Original Source: https://www.avpasion.com/rgb-miniled-vs-sqd-miniled-guerra-ces-2026/
