TCL has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Central District of California accusing Samsung of falsely advertising budget LCD-LED TVs as Mini LED sets. The complaint targets Samsung's M-series TVs, including the M70H, M80H, and M90H models, which TCL claims are merely re-labelled versions of Samsung's entry-level Crystal UHD line. TCL argues these models lack key Mini LED technology, specifically full array local dimming (FALD), which uses dozens to thousands of small LEDs grouped into individually controllable zones to boost contrast and deliver quality HDR on LCD-LED displays.
According to TCL, Samsung's M-series TVs use 'Supreme Mini LED Dimming,' which is software-based rather than hardware-based FALD. A footnote on the product pages clarifies this distinction, stating the technology is 'Software-based (not full-array hardware-based).' In contrast, Samsung's Neo QLED TVs use the same 'Supreme Mini LED Dimming' branding but do not include this footnote, suggesting they may use true FALD technology.
The lawsuit highlights a broader industry issue: the lack of agreed-upon standards for what constitutes 'Mini LED.' This ambiguity allows manufacturers to define the technology for themselves, creating confusion for consumers. Samsung declined to comment on specific claims but stated it intends to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.
Experts note that software-based dimming, common in older TVs like TCL's P6-series and LG's UH8500-series, cannot match the effectiveness of hardware-based FALD solutions, particularly in scenes prone to blooming artifacts. The dispute underscores the need for clearer industry standards as Mini LED technology becomes more mainstream.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing