Sony TRUE RGB TVs Explained: Inside the New Bravia 7 II and Bravia 9 II
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Sony just announced their new TV lineup for the rest of 2026, and they are dropping some of the coolest looking tech since their QD OLED TVs a few years ago.
TRUE RGB mini LED TVs with the Bravia 7 II and the Bravia 9 II take mini LED technology to the next level, with thousands of individually dimmable Red, Green, and Blue LED chips.
These TVs are brighter, more colorful, and sport a substantially wider viewing angle than your standard LED TVs.
Let's go over Sony's lineup and dive a bit deeper into the TRUE RGB technology to find out which Sony TV is right for you.
Sony's 2026 Lineup Overview
Some TVs are still remaining current from years past, like the Bravia 8 and Bravia 8 II. These are still their current generation premium OLED displays — the A90K for smaller sizes, and the A95L and A80L for larger sizes.
These are still the go-to option for people looking for those perfect inky black levels and enhanced contrast ratios.
Bravia 3 II
The Bravia 3 II has some awesome upgrades this generation.
Screen sizes range from 50" to 100", with a native 120Hz refresh rate on all models and all four HDMI inputs supporting HDMI 2.1 across the board.
One thing to note is that the 55" and 65" versions of the Bravia 3 II have a matte finish on the screen, which helps a lot with cutting down glare and reflection. The rest of the Bravia 3 II lineup has a glossy finish.
This is a budget-friendly TV that is great for gamers or secondary rooms, like a kids' playroom or guest bedroom.
Summary:
- Available in 50" to 100" screen sizes
- Native 120Hz refresh rate on all models
- All four HDMI inputs support HDMI 2.1
- Matte finish on 55" and 65" models to reduce glare
- Budget-friendly option for gamers and secondary rooms
How LED TV Technology Works
Before diving into what makes the Bravia 7 II and 9 II so special, it helps to understand how different TV display technologies work at a basic level.
LED stands for light emitting diode. LED TVs use these LED chips to produce light that gets filtered through a liquid crystal display, or LCD, turning one or two shades of blue and green light into the full spectrum of visible light — typically using red, green, and blue crystals in each pixel. On a 4K TV, that's a little over 8.3 million pixels.
You can think of an LED TV like a sandwich with lots of layers. The LED chips produce light, the LCD layer colors the light, and the screen and polarizer disperses the light into your eyes while rejecting ambient light from the room around you.
The difficulty with this technique is that the overall color volume — how intense each color is — is lacking on a lot of basic LED TVs.
There have been a number of attempts to solve this, notably including the use of quantum dots and additional backlight LED chips. These were both attempts at converting light from one color to another, and it was never truly perfect.
OLED TVs already solve this differently, with each pixel being an individual light that can emit red, green, or blue light directly — but they are limited in terms of overall brightness. The best OLED TVs reach a little over 1,600 nits of brightness in a 10% window, while Sony's Bravia 9 Gen 1 could hit 4,000 nits in a 10% window.
Well, the answer has arrived: TRUE RGB backlights.
TRUE RGB Technology Explained
The Bravia 7 II and 9 II both feature thousands of individually controllable red, green, and blue LED chips.
Sony reports this is able to achieve 2x the color volume of the Bravia 9 Gen 1, and 4x the color volume of the Bravia 8 II — which is simply incredible.
Each of the RGB LEDs is fully controllable and dimmable, giving the display next-level control over both the color and intensity of light.
LCD displays lag a little bit when shifting from a bright color to black, which can lead to afterglow or haloing around bright images against a dark background. By individually controlling each of the LEDs and increasing the density and number of them in the backlight portion of the TV, Sony is able to deliver incredibly quick and accurate changes in the display.
An added benefit of the TRUE RGB technology is increased viewing angles. Typically, this is an area where OLED TVs outperform LED TVs. The problem is noticeable when you sit off-axis from the display — at around 45 degrees, colors start to shift into a less saturated state. But with TRUE RGB technology, all shades of color are being produced from the start, so people watching off-axis still enjoy a rich and full range of colors.
Summary:
- Thousands of individually controllable red, green, and blue LED chips
- 2x the color volume of the Bravia 9 Gen 1
- 4x the color volume of the Bravia 8 II
- Dramatically reduced haloing and afterglow artifacts
- Significantly improved off-axis viewing angles compared to standard LED TVs
Audio Upgrades
So far we've been diving deep into the visual side of the new TVs, but Sony has also enhanced the audio as well.
The Bravia 7 II and 9 II both include a "Voice Zoom" feature, which is great for people having a hard time understanding dialogue during action scenes. It works by turning down the volume of background noise and music while boosting the voices of the characters talking on screen.
This is probably the number one complaint with new TVs, and Sony has an awesome fix for it. Not only is this built into the Sony TV's sound system, but it's maintained with their matching soundbars as well.
Sony also added a highly demanded feature by including native support for wireless rear surround speakers and subwoofers directly through the TV, without the need for a separate soundbar. Really cool to see that.
Summary:
- New "Voice Zoom" feature boosts dialogue clarity during action scenes
- Voice Zoom works seamlessly with matching Sony soundbars
- Native support for wireless rear surround speakers and subwoofers
- No separate soundbar required for a full wireless surround setup
Final Thoughts
Overall, I'm excited to see what Sony has in store for us this year.
The Bravia 3 II will make a great budget option for gamers and people looking for big screens without spending a lot of money.
And for the performance chasers, the Bravia 7 II and 9 II are out of this world. With their TRUE RGB LED backlighting technology, increased viewing angles, and new wireless audio system support, they might just be the perfect TV for any room.
The Bravia 7 II is available in sizes ranging from 50 inches to 98 inches.
The Bravia 9 II is available in 65, 75, 85, and 115 inches.
Sony 2026 TV Lineup FAQ
What is TRUE RGB technology in Sony's new TVs?
TRUE RGB refers to thousands of individually controllable red, green, and blue LED chips in the TV's backlight. Unlike traditional LED TVs that filter white or blue light through crystals, the Bravia 7 II and 9 II produce each color directly from the source, resulting in dramatically improved color volume, contrast, and viewing angles.
How does the Bravia 9 II compare to the Bravia 9 Gen 1?
The Bravia 9 II achieves 2x the color volume of the Bravia 9 Gen 1 thanks to the new TRUE RGB backlight technology, along with improved off-axis viewing angles and enhanced audio features.
Is the Bravia 3 II good for gaming?
Yes. The Bravia 3 II supports a native 120Hz refresh rate on all models and includes four HDMI 2.1 ports across all sizes, making it a solid budget-friendly option for gamers.
What screen sizes does the Bravia 7 II come in?
The Bravia 7 II is available in sizes ranging from 50 inches to 98 inches.
What screen sizes does the Bravia 9 II come in?
The Bravia 9 II is available in 65, 75, 85, and 115 inches.
What is the Voice Zoom feature on the Bravia 7 II and 9 II?
Voice Zoom is an audio feature that reduces background music and sound effects while boosting the volume of on-screen dialogue. It's designed to make speech easier to understand during action-heavy scenes and works both through the TV's built-in speakers and compatible Sony soundbars.
Do the new Sony TVs support wireless surround sound without a soundbar?
Yes. The Bravia 7 II and Bravia 9 II include native support for wireless rear surround speakers and subwoofers directly through the TV, so you can build out a surround sound system without needing a separate soundbar.
How does TRUE RGB improve viewing angles?
Because all colors are produced directly by the LED chips rather than being filtered from white light, off-axis viewers still see a rich and fully saturated image. Traditional LED TVs tend to lose color accuracy and saturation when viewed from an angle.
Are Sony's OLED TVs still available in 2026?
Yes. The Bravia 8 and Bravia 8 II remain in Sony's current lineup as their premium OLED options, including the A90K for smaller sizes and the A95L and A80L for larger sizes. These are still the top choice for viewers who prioritize perfect black levels and contrast.
Which Sony TV is best for a budget buyer in 2026?
The Bravia 3 II is Sony's best budget option this year, offering large screen sizes up to 100 inches, native 120Hz, and full HDMI 2.1 support at an accessible price point. It's especially well-suited for secondary rooms, kids' spaces, and casual gamers.
