Sony unveils Bravia 9 II and 7 II: its first 'True RGB' mini-LED TVs, likely the last before TCL merger

Sony has officially taken the wraps off its first 'True RGB' televisions, the Bravia 9 II and Bravia 7 II, marking a significant technological shift for the Japanese giant's home entertainment division. The launch, detailed across multiple outlets on 27 May 2026, comes as Bloomberg reports these are likely Sony's last premium sets before its storied TV business merges with TCL Electronics Holdings Ltd. next year.

A new kind of backlight

Unlike conventional mini-LED TVs that use white or blue LEDs, Sony's True RGB technology employs independently controlled red, green and blue diodes in each backlight unit. This approach, which Xataka traces back to Sony's 2004 Qualia 005 and its 2016 Backlight Master Drive, promises purer colours, reduced blooming and greater brightness. The Bravia 9 II, the flagship, is capable of reaching 3,990 nits in Professional Mode, while the Bravia 7 II was measured at 2,078 nits in pre-production testing.

The Bravia 9 II produces the most advanced expression of True RGB, owing to the highest level of backlight control and the most accurate colours in rooms with high brightness levels.

The line-up and pricing

Sony is positioning the range in three tiers: True RGB mini-LED, OLED and standard LED. The Bravia 9 II comes in 65, 75, 85 and 115-inch sizes, starting at $3,600 and rising to $31,000 for the largest model. The Bravia 7 II is available from 50 inches up to 98 inches, starting at $1,600. The 50-inch option makes it the first RGB TV from any brand at that size, putting it in direct competition with smaller premium OLEDs.

OLED siblings and naming confusion

Alongside the RGB sets, Sony's 2026 range includes the OLED Bravia 8 and QD-OLED Bravia 8 II, both in 55 and 65 inches, with a 77-inch Bravia 8 available in the US. TechRadar notes the line-up has become confusing: both the Bravia 8 and Bravia 8 II are sold concurrently, there is no Bravia 5 II, and the Bravia 2 II's name is a tongue-twister.

Picture quality and real-world impressions

Gizmodo's hands-on described the Bravia 9 II's colour as extraordinarily vivid, at times almost unnaturally so, though accuracy depends heavily on settings. TechRadar saw the Bravia 9 II compared against Sony's reference studio monitor and its QD-OLED, noting the RGB set held a bare edge over the 2024 Bravia 9 QLED. The new 'Immersive Black Screen Pro' anti-glare treatment and X-Wide Angle Pro technology aim to preserve deep blacks and wide viewing angles even in bright rooms.

There's a small voice in the back of my head squeaking with indignation, telling me that turmeric is not nearly as yellow as what I see in front of me.

Audio and final bow

Both TVs feature Voice Zoom 3 for AI-enhanced dialogue and support Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced. The Bravia 9 II adds up-firing beam tweeters. Sony also introduced the wireless BRAVIA Theatre Trio home cinema system, developed with Sony Pictures Entertainment. With the TCL merger looming, these sets represent the culmination of over two decades of backlight development and potentially the last chapter of Sony as a standalone TV maker.