OLED, QD-OLED, Mini LED or RGB Mini LED: which TV technology should you buy before Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday falls on 27 November, but UK deals have already started. Here is how the four main TV technologies compare, which models reviewers recommend, and what some of them cost.
By OwnYourStack Admin · Published
Choosing a TV used to mean picking a size and a brand. In 2026 the bigger decision is the panel technology: OLED, QD-OLED, Mini LED or the newer RGB Mini LED. Each has real strengths, and with Black Friday on Friday 27 November (Cyber Monday is 30 November) and many retailers discounting through the whole of November, now is a good time to decide.
The four technologies in plain English
- OLED: every pixel makes its own light, so blacks are perfect and contrast is superb. Best in dim or dark rooms. Peak brightness is lower than the best LCD sets.
- QD-OLED: Samsung's variant, which adds quantum dots to boost colour and brightness. Premium pricing, with excellent picture quality.
- Mini LED (QLED): an LCD with a backlight split into many small dimming zones. Very bright and good value, so ideal for bright living rooms, but blacks and blooming around bright objects trail OLED.
- RGB Mini LED: uses separately controlled red, green and blue backlight LEDs rather than a white backlight with colour filters. That brings greater colour volume, brightness and finer dimming control, though it is still LCD technology and does not match OLED's pixel-level precision. Sony's Bravia 9 II, with 1,530 dimming zones, is What Hi-Fi?'s top pick in this category.
At a glance
| Technology | Strengths | Weaknesses | Best for | Example models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OLED | Perfect black, contrast, wide viewing angles, motion | Lower peak brightness, reflections in bright rooms | Films and gaming in a dim room | LG C6, LG G6, Sony Bravia 8 II |
| QD-OLED | OLED contrast plus brighter, richer colour | Highest prices; no Dolby Vision on Samsung | The best picture if budget allows | Samsung S99H, S95F |
| Mini LED | Bright, affordable, large sizes | Blooming, blacks less deep | Bright living rooms, tight budgets | TCL 65C7K, TCL P8L, Hisense U8 |
| RGB Mini LED | Colour volume, brightness, fine dimming | Expensive; still LCD | Bright rooms where you want premium colour | Sony Bravia 9 II, Bravia 7 II |
What reviewers recommend
What Hi-Fi?'s 2026 best-TV list picks Samsung's S99H QD-OLED as best overall, praising its bright highlights, contrast and gaming features (but noting weaker audio and no Dolby Vision). The LG C6 is the mid-range champion, brighter and richer than the C5 with improved sound. The TCL P8L is the budget Mini LED choice, and the LG OLED42C6 and OLED48C6 are the picks for smaller rooms and for use as a gaming monitor.
What do they cost in the UK?
These 65-inch prices were listed by What Hi-Fi? in its deals roundup, last updated 22 June 2026. They will have moved since, so treat them as a guide to relative positioning, not today's price.
| Model (65-inch) | Type | Price listed in June 2026 | Lowest ever then |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG OLED65C5 (2025) | OLED | £1,299 | £1,231 |
| LG OLED65C6 (2026) | OLED | £2,099 | £2,079 |
| LG OLED65G5 (2025) | OLED | £1,999 | £1,799 |
| Sony Bravia 8 II | OLED | £2,099 | £1,979 |
| Samsung QE65S95F (2025) | QD-OLED | £1,879 | £1,799 |
| TCL 65C7K (2025) | Mini LED | £799 | £719 |
| TCL 65Q6C (2025) | Mini LED | £529 | £529 |
| Hisense 65U8Q (2025) | QLED | £1,087 | £1,087 |
Buying advice for Black Friday
- Last year's flagship is often the best value. The 2025 LG C5 and Samsung S95F cost far less than the 2026 replacements, and the generational picture gain is modest.
- Do not wait for 27 November. Some retailers start in October and run sales all month, so good stock can go early.
- Check the price history. A “was £2,700” label means little; look at the lowest-ever price on a tracker.
- Match the panel to the room. Dark room: OLED. Sunny room: Mini LED or RGB Mini LED.
- Gamers: look for four HDMI 2.1 inputs and 120 Hz (or higher) support. The LG C-series is a favourite.
- Budget for sound. TV speakers are usually weak, so a soundbar is often the next purchase. We will cover soundbars and home cinema in the next comparison.
Our verdict
For most people with a reasonably dim room, a discounted OLED such as an LG C5 or C6 is the safest premium buy. If your room is bright, a TCL Mini LED gives enormous value, and RGB Mini LED is the one to watch if you want premium colour with high brightness. We will update this comparison as Black Friday prices land.
