Nostalgia: Then & Now · Walter Finch · 30 June 2026

The best TVs of 2026 so far: RGB leads, but OLED still shines

The best TVs of 2026 so far: RGB leads, but OLED still shines

The best TVs of 2026 so far are not a single category winner: Samsung's R95H Micro RGB leads on color, the S95H OLED still rules contrast, TCL's X11L is the brightness champ, Hisense's U6 Pro is the budget pick, and LG's Gallery TV with Frame tops art sets—showing that RGB stole CES without making OLED or mini LED obsolete. Halfway through the year, that split matters more than any one buzzword.

Key Takeaways

How did we get from the QLED vs OLED wars to RGB?

For years, the living-room conversation was a simple split. QLED sets typically ran brighter but could struggle with black levels and blooming. OLED ruled contrast in dark rooms yet looked less punchy when sunlight poured in. As we track in our Nostalgia: Then & Now coverage, incremental yearly refreshes rarely felt revolutionary—until 2026.

This is the year of the RGB TV. RGB backlighting aims to blend QLED brightness with OLED-like precision, and it was easily the biggest TV trend at CES 2026. Brands including Samsung, LG, and Hisense all showed RGB models. Crucially, RGB did not knock OLED and QLED to second and third place. The same manufacturers also shipped new OLED and QLED flagships that remain competitive depending on how you stream, game, or watch sports.

Mashable senior shopping reporter Leah Stodart, who has tracked TV deals and CES launches for years, argues the best sets of 2026 are built different—and worth sorting before the next wave of releases lands.

Which RGB TV is the best pick of 2026 so far?

The Samsung R95H is the best RGB TV of 2026 so far. This is not the 115-inch Samsung RGB set that costs around $30,000. Samsung extended its Micro RGB technology into a more palatable size and price range, with four sizes on offer.

Viewers who have seen the R95H in person often describe the palette as so vivid it almost feels unreal. It covers between 95 and 100 percent of the BT.2020 color spectrum and reproduces more than 2,000 Pantone-validated colors. Samsung uses AI to adjust shades scene by scene and delivers precise contrast with virtually no blooming.

Compared with the cheaper R85H RGB line, the R95H adds a 165Hz native refresh rate and HDR10+ Advanced support, plus the Wireless One Connect Box, glare-free coating, and a No Gap wall mount. Pricing starts at $3,199.99 for 65 inches, $4,499.99 for 75 inches, and $6,499.99 for 85 inches. Need something smaller? Sony's 2026 Bravia 7 II comes in 55 inches, with a 50-inch version expected later in summer.

Is OLED still the king of picture quality in 2026?

For contrast purists, yes. The Samsung S95H is the best OLED TV of 2026 so far. Pixel-by-pixel dimming still delivers elite contrast, with black levels and shadows sharp enough to feel lifelike in a dark home theater.

In brighter rooms, the S95H's peak brightness of up to 2,500 nits outperforms most rival OLEDs. PCMag's Will Greenwald has called it OLED's new benchmark breakthrough. It also ships with anti-glare glass, a floating flush wall mount, a silver bezel, and the first Samsung OLED with the Samsung Art Store.

The S95H spans 55, 65, 77, and 83 inches, starting at $2,499.99 and topping out at $6,499.99. If you prioritize infinite contrast over RGB's wide-gamut fireworks, this is the OLED to beat halfway through the year.

What if you want maximum brightness or a tight budget?

The TCL X11L Google TV is the brightest TV of 2026 so far. Released in January, TCL skipped the RGB route and leaned into SQD—Super Quantum Dot—backlighting that beams at up to 10,000 nits.

That figure is driven by up to 20,000 local dimming zones in the 100-inch model, tightening darkening around bright objects. For HDR-heavy theaters or sun-drenched rooms, the X11L is a heavy-duty choice in 75, 85, and 98 inches, with the 75-inch currently discounted to $3,999.99. Smaller shoppers can look at TCL's QM7L and QM8L SQD tiers.

At the other end, the Hisense U6 Pro Fire TV is the best budget TV of 2026 so far. The 65-inch model offers 240 dimming zones and 1,200 nits peak brightness, with early reviewers praising vibrancy and deep blacks for a non-OLED set. A native 144Hz refresh rate, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium, and two HDMI 2.1 ports make it a strong gaming pick. Sale pricing on Amazon has dipped as low as $529.99.

Which art TV wins the frame game in 2026?

The LG Gallery TV with Frame is the best art TV of 2026 so far. As a matte mini LED set with interchangeable frames, it is LG's most direct answer yet to Samsung's The Frame and The Frame Pro.

Fans of LG's Magic Remote get a true artsy non-OLED option that will not risk burn-in if left on all day. Samsung made only negligible Frame Pro updates in spring. Hisense added a 50-inch CanvasTV, while TCL's A400 Pro has not launched in the United States yet.

LG offers the Gallery TV in 55 inches for $1,299.99 and 65 inches for $1,799.99. For shoppers who want gallery-mode aesthetics without OLED burn-in anxiety, it is the clearest midyear winner.

What should you buy before the next wave lands?

Stodart's Mashable roundup is a pause button before even more 2026 models arrive. These five picks answer the questions shoppers actually ask: best RGB, best OLED, brightest panel, best budget value, and best art TV.

RGB stole the CES spotlight, but the halfway mark proves the TV market is wider than one technology. OLED still owns contrast. Mini LED still wins on brightness per dollar. The best TVs of 2026 so far reward shoppers who match the panel to the room—not the hype cycle alone.

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