LG OLED vs Samsung RGB: I tested the two brands' latest flagship TVs side-by-side using reference 4K Blu-ray scenes — here's which one came out on top

A Flagship Showdown

The battle for TV supremacy is heating up as RGB LED technology challenges OLED's long-standing dominance. TechRadar recently put two flagship models head-to-head: the Samsung R95H, a Micro RGB TV, and the LG G6, a Tandem OLED TV. Using reference scenes from 4K Blu-rays, the review aimed to see how the emerging RGB technology stacks up against a top-tier OLED.

The LG G6 has been lauded as one of the best OLED TVs tested so far in 2026, while the Samsung R95H represents Samsung's flagship foray into Micro RGB. Both are priced at $2,999 for the 65-inch model (the R95H costs £3,099 in the UK versus £2,999 for the G6, and AU$4,999 in Australia).

Brightness: A Surprising Twist

Traditionally, mini-LED TVs have held the brightness crown, easily exceeding 3,000 nits, while OLEDs struggled to break 2,000. That has changed. TechRadar's measurements showed the LG G6 initially hitting 2,471 nits peak HDR brightness in March 2026, and after firmware updates in July 2026, it reached 3,004 nits in Filmmaker Mode. The Samsung R95H measured 1,977 nits peak HDR in Filmmaker Mode, and 1,960 nits in a brighter movie mode.

However, in full-screen HDR brightness, the tables turned: the R95H hit 612 nits, while the G6 managed 451 nits, both in Filmmaker Mode. In practical viewing, the G6 delivered punchier highlights, such as the headlamps of the Mach 5 and the blue sky in Speed Racer, and whites had more impact in snow footage from the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark.

Color and Contrast: Different Strengths

Both TVs impressed in color reproduction. In Speed Racer and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the G6 offered more depth and boldness, while the R95H was more accurate and natural. However, the G6 sometimes leaned too heavily into red, oversaturating colors like Mario's hat.

In The Batman, both TVs showcased excellent contrast and shadow detail, with the G6 exhibiting richer dark tones and the R95H's highlights having more impact. The R95H's skin tones in darker scenes were more true-to-life. In Alien: Romulus, both handled deep blacks well, and off-center, the G6 maintained its performance, while the R95H showed backlight blooming.

The Matte Screen Advantage

The R95H's matte screen proved best at eliminating mirror-like reflections, a significant advantage in bright rooms. The G6's anti-reflective screen was also effective, maintaining strong black tones while reducing reflections. This is a key consideration for buyers with bright living spaces.

The Verdict from TechRadar

TechRadar concluded that the LG G6 OLED is the better TV of the two, but noted that RGB technology is getting close. The G6's self-dimming pixels offer superior contrast and off-axis viewing, while the R95H's RGB mini-LEDs bring full-screen brightness and a glare-free screen. The G6's peak HDR brightness, despite a lower full-screen measurement, delivered punchier highlights in practice.

Understanding the Technologies

As Tom's Guide explains, RGB LED TVs are specialized Mini-LEDs that use red, green, and blue LEDs for brighter, purer color. They come in various marketable names like Samsung Micro RGB, LG Micro RGB evo, Hisense RGB Mini-LED, and Sony True RGB. These TVs are on par with quantum dot-enhanced Mini-LEDs in brightness and contrast control, but they face a disadvantage: color crosstalk, where light-colored objects can take on the shade of nearby colors—like white lines on a soccer pitch appearing green. They're also still costly, with the most affordable options classed as premium.

Tandem OLED, on the other hand, is a high-end OLED technology by LG Display, developed to compete with QD-OLED's brightness and color volume. It replaces a yellow layer with red and green layers, allowing for a longer-lasting, more efficient panel. Tandem OLEDs achieve higher brightness and color volume than standard WOLEDs, mostly in specular highlights. The LG G6 is a flagship example, while the Samsung S95H represents top-tier QD-OLED.

According to Tom's Guide's testing, RGB LED TVs are on average more colorful and brighter in full-screen scenarios, but they share weaknesses like haloing, light bloom, and subpar off-axis viewing. OLEDs benefit from self-lit pixels, avoiding these issues and offering wide viewing angles. Their recommendation: choose RGB LED for brightness and color, Tandem OLED for contrast control and depth. Tandem OLED is best suited for dim rooms but holds up fine during the day if not opposite a window.

Perspectives

• TechRadar (Reviewer): The LG G6 OLED is the better TV, offering punchier highlights and superior contrast, though the R95H proves how effective Micro RGB can be, especially with its matte screen and full-screen brightness.
• Tom's Guide (Technology Guide): The choice depends on priorities: RGB LED for brightness and color, Tandem OLED for contrast control and depth. Tandem OLED suits dim rooms, while RGB LED handles bright environments better.

A Note on Photos

TechRadar noted that the red tint visible in photos of the R95H is a camera artifact due to the matte screen, not visible to the naked eye.