Ahead of CES 2026, LG Display has just announced a seemingly revolutionary development within the OLED world, no less than so far as its personal panels are involved. The firm has achieved a striped, true RGB subpixel format in one in all its upcoming screens — particularly, a 27-inch 4K show with a 240 Hz native refresh price, doubled by dual-mode capabilities.
To perceive why that is such a giant deal, we first have to take a look at how subpixel constructions inform the picture high quality that you just see. Every show has pixels, and every of these pixels are made up of tiny pink, inexperienced, and blue (RGB) subpixels. However, LG’s panels additionally add a fourth white subpixel within the equation to spice up brightness.
Even although the inherent luminance of the picture is boosted, the colour quantity is damage as a byproduct of what white subpixel basically bleeding over the opposite colours. This is why Samsung’s QD-OLED panels are touted for his or her superior colour efficiency, since they do not have a white subpixel and as an alternative emit blue mild that passes by quantum dots to filter colours.
Now, getting rid of that white subpixel and reverting back to a true RGB structure does hurt brightness outright, at least in the first-gen implementation, but it could be a worthwhile tradeoff. That’s why LG is quoting just 1,000 nits of peak brightness, with 250 nits full-screen APL, noticeably decreased from the 1,500 nits max their latest Tandem OLED panels can achieve.
That’s one part of the equation; the other is that striped layout, which is just as important. Instead of putting the subpixels in a triangular or rectangular structure — or really any other pattern — LG places the red, green and blue subpixels right next to each other in a straight line, forming a “stripe.” But, again, they’ve always had that white subpixel in the middle, creating a RGWB pattern instead.
What’s up with the variety of OLED sub-pixel arrangements we see today? What benefits does each provide? How can an iPhone reach 2,000 nits of brightness at 460 PPI, but OLED TVs and monitors struggle with 1,000 nits at much lower pixel densities? I have so many questions the more OLEDs I own. from r/OLED_Gaming
Therefore, that is the primary time a excessive refresh OLED panel has had a real RGB stripe subpixel format. This results in lowered fringing and distortion in textual content, because the font engines rendering that count on a extra standard format. LCDs and such have striped subpixel preparations for ages, however OLEDs have suffered both due to the white subpixel or only a otherwise formed format altogether, corresponding to in QD-OLED panels.
To be clear, OLEDs with this sort of a format have existed earlier than, however they’re area of interest and restricted to simply 60Hz, as LG factors out in its personal press launch, so reaching a 240 Hz refresh price is kind of spectacular and properly brings the tech into the fashionable day. Keep in thoughts that LG Display is a separate firm from LG. This is only one gaming monitor, so it would not signify a broader shift away from WOLED from LG as an entire.
Speaking of, TFT Central experiences that this monitor will likely be a part of LG Display’s 4th gen household, utilizing a Tandem WOLED panel. The branding is a bit confusing, as a result of the “W” in that WOLED doesn’t suggest it has a white subpixel; slightly, the multi-stack methodology utilized by LG emits near-white mild that’s transformed by colour filters, which is what types these RGB subpixels finally.
Just to make clear, the opposite “Tandem OLED” designation is reserved for smaller format shows meant for telephones, tablets, laptops and vehicles, and it is much like LG’s RGB OLED the place every subpixel produces its personal mild as an alternative of being filtered by a white base layer. That’s what powers the brand new iPad Pros, nevertheless it’s not meant for TVs or screens.
All in all, combining 4K decision at 27 inches with a 240 Hz refresh price, on a panel with a striped true RGB subpixel format that is powered by LG’s Tandem WOLED tech — nicely, that is one heck of a combo and positively match for a next-gen flagship. We ought to study extra about pricing and availability as CES rolls round. Until then, you’ll be able to try Samsung’s new screens announcement as nicely.
Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our newest information, evaluation, & critiques in your feeds.