Sony is finally putting its long-teased True RGB technology into actual TVs people can buy, launching two series this week that replace the traditional single-color backlight with independently controlled red, green, and blue LEDs. The result is a display that Sony claims rivals OLED color depth while delivering the brightness Mini LED owners expect.
The 9 II and 7 II are the first Sony TVs to use this backlighting approach instead of standard blue or white LEDs that pass through color filters or quantum dots. Forbes' John Archer reported the full specs after a long-running NDA lifted, revealing that Sony is bringing the technology at two price tiers right out of the gate. The 9 II is the flagship, available in 65-, 75-, 85-, and 115-inch sizes, with Sony's Immersive Black Screen Pro anti-glare system, more local dimming zones, and a redesigned audio array with dual subwoofers and X-Balanced mid-range drivers. The 115-inch model costs $30,999.99. The 65-inch starts at $3,599.99.
The 7 II brings True RGB to a wider audience, starting at 50 inches ($1,599.99) and scaling up to 98 inches ($8,999.99). It skips the flagship's anti-reflective coating and premium metal bezel but retains the core RGB backlight technology, the new XR processor, and RGB Triluminos Max color optimization.
Pre-orders went live in India on May 28, with the 55-inch model priced at Rs 2,21,990 and the 65-inch at Rs 2,74,990.
Sony is not the first to ship an RGB LED TV, TCL and Hisense already have products on the market, but its engineering approach differs substantially. The company demonstrated its 9 II running nearly three times as efficiently as TCL's first such TVs at the same picture settings, according to Archer's report. The sets are also capable of nearly 4,000 nits of brightness. The secret weapon may be Sony's heat-monitoring feedback system, which constantly tracks temperature across different panel zones and compensates for the color shifts that heat causes. Demonstrations showed that heat can significantly alter color tones if uncorrected, and Archer predicts this sensing technology could give Sony its biggest advantage over rival screens.
Both series share the same Cognitive Processor XR, upgraded for True RGB panels, along with Smooth Color Gradation to eliminate banding and X-Wide Angle Pro for off-axis viewing on larger models. The 9 II adds Immersive Black Screen Pro, which combines low-reflection and anti-glare layers with a patent-pending nano structural layer to maintain color neutrality across wider viewing angles. The 7 II launched in India this week introduces a new "Harmonic Presence" design with a slim frame and a center stand using steel and transparent glass on models up to 85 inches. Gaming support includes 4K at 120fps over HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM, and PS5-specific features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping.
HDR covers Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG, and IMAX Enhanced, with Studio Calibrated Modes for Netflix and Prime Video. The 75- and 85-inch 7 II models arrive in late June, with the 98-inch following in July. Sony has also introduced the Bravia Theatre Trio sound system, priced at £2,000, with optional Sub 9 and Rear 9 speakers at £900 each, expected before June 21. The True RGB branding draws from Sony's professional mastering monitor division, with the company focusing on authentic color reproduction rather than chasing marketing specs. It is a fitting milestone: Sony's first effort with this backlight technology dates back 18 years, to the 2008 XR1 model.
