TCL sues Samsung, alleging false advertising of 'Mini LED' TVs

TCL has sued Samsung in the US, accusing its rival of falsely marketing its 2026 M-series TVs as miniLED models.
Update: It has been brought to our attention that M70H and M80H are not edge-lit but rather direct-lit. They have no local dimming, which is the main concern.
China's TCL said that Samsung "took a cheap, non-Mini LED model from a recycled product line and peddled it to the public as a 'supreme' Mini LED model at an attractive price point", adding that they "contain none of the technological advancements associated with Mini LED technology", according to a report by Reuters.

Samsung said in a statement that it will defend itself and stands "fully behind the quality and accuracy of our product descriptions".

TCL seeks to block Samsung's "Mini LED" technology and unspecified monetary damages, writes Reuters.


miniLED without dimming zones
The accusations center on Samsung's new M-series. These are LCD TVs with direct-lit miniLED without dimming zones as opposed to miniLED with zone dimming, which miniLED usually refers to. Dimming zones are what deliver the uplift in contrast, brightness and overall picture quality

Samsung started selling edge-lit miniLED LCD TVs last year with the launch of The Frame Pro, and has now expanded its practice to direct-lit miniLED without local dimming with the launch of the 2026 M80H and M70H budget models.

TCL, on the other hand, only uses the term miniLED for LCD TVs with miniLED zone dimming. Samsung refers to these as "Neo QLED TVs". Both Hisense and TCL overtook Samsung in the miniLED market segment in 2024, according to market data from Counterpoint Research.


First LED, then QLED, now miniLED
Once close partners in the QLED Alliance, Samsung and TCL have in recent years not only been competing fiercely but also fighting in court over TV technology.

Samsung previously accused TCL of falsely selling LCD TVs as "QLED", claiming that they did not use enough quantum dot material to qualify.

While the new lawsuit differs in technical detail, it revolves around the same basic themes. When can an LCD TV be sold under more exotic banners? Samsung has previously been sued for selling LCD TVs as "LED TVs".

As noted previously, "miniLED TVs" are technically LCD TVs with a miniLED backlight. "RGB LED" TVs can also be either edge-lit or direct-lit without dimming zones or backlit with dimming zones, as these are also fundamentally LCD TVs.

 Also read: Guide: What is RGB LED and which TVs have it?

TCL's lawsuit comes ahead of this week's annual IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, Germany.

- Source: Reuters