Full Breakdown
Sony Launches First True RGB Bravia TVs: Bravia 9 II and Bravia 7 II
5/28/2026, 11:32:28 AM
Launch of True RGB Bravia TVs
On 27 May 2026 Sony unveiled the Bravia 9 II and Bravia 7 II, its first “True RGB” LCD models that use independently driven red, green and blue LEDs for backlighting.
Background & Context
Sony first tried RGB backlighting with the Qualia 005 in 2004, but only released Mini-LED TVs until rivals such as Samsung and TCL launched RGB-LED LCDs in 2023-24. The 2026 launch marks Sony’s entry into the RGB-LED segment while keeping its QD-OLED line.
Technical Specs
The Bravia 9 II is sold in 65-, 75-, 85- and 115-inch sizes for US $3,600-$31,000; the Bravia 7 II spans 50- to 98-inch panels for US $1,600-$9,000. Independent RGB LEDs reach up to 4,122 nits and about 89 % BT.2020 colour coverage. The 9 II has 1,530 dimming zones, three times the 7 II.
Official Statements & Responses
Yoshihiro Ono said the backlight “combines the precision of RGB LEDs with Mini-LED and OLED, giving viewers purer colour, higher brightness, and picture accuracy that holds up in any room.” Michael Bell called it Sony’s largest colour volume to date.
On-the-Ground Reports
Steven Cohen measured 4,122 nits on a 10 % HDR window and 89 % BT.2020 coverage, noting richer contrast and reduced blooming versus the previous Bravia 9 Mini-LED. TechRadar’s pre-production unit recorded 3,990 nits in Professional Mode and 827 nits fullscreen brightness, about double a comparable LG G6 OLED.
Criticism & Opposition
Reviewers noted only two HDMI 2.1 ports, limiting high-end setups, and that the Bravia 7 II lacks the Immersive Black Screen Pro anti-glare coating, making it more reflective in bright rooms.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Peak brightness is reported as 3,990 nits, 4,000 nits or 4,122 nits, and US pricing ranges from $3,600 to $31,000 for the 9 II, showing regional variation. Dimming-zone counts differ between 1,530 in the final model and 3,840 in an early prototype.
Why It Matters
True RGB gives Sony a high-brightness, wide-gamut LCD alternative to OLED for bright-room viewing and for screens up to 115 inches, potentially reshaping the premium TV market.
What’s Next
Pre-orders opened 27 May; the 115-inch Bravia 9 II will ship later this year, and Sony plans firmware updates adding “My Cinema” presets.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our new True RGB represents a breakthrough that combines the precision of individually controlled RGB LEDs with the best aspects of both Mini LED and OLED, giving viewers purer colour, higher brightness, and picture accuracy that holds up in any room.” — Yoshihiro Ono, Head of Home Entertainment, Sony
- “As you'd expect, the most premium features are reserved for the Bravia 9 II, which Sony says produces the "most advanced expression of True RGB," owing to the highest level of backlight control and the most accurate colors in rooms with high brightness levels.” — Sony press release
- “The Immersive Black Screen Pro essentially eliminated reflections.” — Steven Cohen, Business Insider
