Sony is restructuring its TV portfolio in the upper performance range and is introducing a flagship model for model year 2026 that is no longer based on OLED. The previous A95L used a modified QD OLED panel from Samsung Display and achieved a strong market position thanks to its high picture precision, accurate color reproduction and full format support. However, due to the high panel costs and the limited formats available, Sony already indicated at the beginning of 2025 that a technological change of course might be necessary. This step is now materializing with the transition to a mini-LED architecture in the Bravia 9 II, for which Sony recently secured the True RGB label.
The Bravia 9 II is to be released in 75, 85 and 98 inch sizes and will use a backlight based on very densely placed mini LEDs. Internal documents and industry reports speak of up to 15,000 individually controllable zones, which should achieve the most even brightness distribution possible and at the same time reduce the disadvantages of conventional LCD systems. In addition, a peak brightness of around 4,000 nits is expected. These values are significantly higher than those achieved by previous mini-LED generations and illustrate Sony’s aim of extending its brightness advantage over OLEDs. An optimized anti-glare coating is planned for brightly lit living environments to reduce reflections and increase readability.
At the same time, the QD OLED product line will continue to exist. The Bravia 8 III will continue to rely on self-illuminating pixels and will again be available in 77 inch. Larger QD OLED formats do not currently exist, as Samsung Display and other manufacturers do not yet produce panels above this size. Sony is thus pursuing a two-pronged strategy in which some of the model series continue to rely on OLED, while the new flagship uses a mini-LED architecture. This approach differs from LG and Samsung, which continue to focus their top models on OLED and only offer mini-LED in the extended premium segment.
The use of extremely high numbers of zones requires precise thermal and electrical control. The more zones are active in a device, the higher the load on the cooling system, which can lead to higher energy requirements in practical operation. At the same time, the aim is to further minimize blooming effects and bring the contrast performance as close as possible to that of an OLED panel. It is not yet possible to verify whether this objective will be achieved before publication. However, industry sources emphasize that Sony has significantly improved the mini-LED algorithm and local dimming compared to previous devices.
In the market environment, the question of whether very high peak brightness and zone density can improve the subjective picture quality to such an extent that users hardly notice the difference to OLED will be particularly relevant. OLED continues to benefit from pixel-precise control without a zone structure, while Mini-LED is heavily dependent on the quality of the control electronics. For the Bravia 9 II, Sony is expected to further expand its existing Xr signal processing to effectively exploit Mini LED technology.
Conclusion
Sony is combining a greatly expanded mini-LED architecture with new brand positioning, thus technically shifting the flagship segment towards high brightness and large screen diagonals. Only practical evaluation will show whether this strategy can fully compensate for the established advantages of self-luminous OLED systems.
| Source | Key statement | Link |
|---|---|---|
| mobiFlip | Report on Sony’s switch from OLED to mini-LED in the Bravia 9 II including details on sizes, dimming zones and brightness | https://www.mobiflip.de/shortnews/sony-neues-tv-flaggschiff-kommt-ohne-oled/ |
| FlatpanelsHD | Analysis of Sony’s Mini LED strategy and classification of the expected True RGB technology | https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1733300000 |
| HDTVTest | Technical assessment of Sony’s possible Mini LED implementation and expected contrast values | https://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/sony-bravia-9-ii-analysis |
| AVForums | Industry notes on panel sizes, market positioning and Sony’s twin-track technology planning | https://www.avforums.com/threads/sony-bravia-9-ii-mini-led-discussion. |
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