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TCL has sued Samsung in the United States, accusing the rival of misleadingly marketing its M-series TVs as Mini LED models. According to TCL, the dispute mainly concerns how the technology used in Samsung’s new M80H and M70H TVs is presented. The Chinese manufacturer argues that the edge-lit Mini LED backlighting used in them does not provide the key function associated with that technology. Samsung rejects the allegations and says it will defend its position in court. The case also highlights how important the way names like LED, QLED and Mini LED are defined in the TV industry today.
TCL questions how Samsung uses the name Mini LED
The heart of the dispute is Samsung’s new M80H and M70H TVs, which use an LCD panel with edge-lit Mini LED backlighting. In typical Mini LED designs the backlight LEDs sit behind the screen and work with local dimming. It’s the local dimming zones that allow independent control of different areas of the backlight. That lets you increase contrast and peak brightness and improve overall picture quality. TCL says calling TVs that lack such a system Mini LED may suggest to consumers capabilities the devices do not actually offer. The company accuses Samsung of repurposing a cheaper model from an earlier product line and presenting it as an advanced Mini LED TV. TCL also claims these sets lack the technological improvements traditionally associated with Mini LED. Among other things, the company is seeking to stop Samsung from using the term "Mini LED" in relation to the disputed technology. The lawsuit also seeks damages, the amount of which has not been disclosed. Samsung rejects the accusations and says it will defend itself in court. The company says it fully stands behind the quality of its products and the accuracy of their descriptions. So the dispute is not just about a specific TV model but also about how manufacturers can use technology names in marketing materials. TCL is taking a stricter approach and uses the term Mini LED only for LCD TVs equipped with local dimming.
Samsung and TCL have argued for years over TV technology names
Samsung itself calls LCD TVs with Mini LED and local dimming Neo QLED, while TCL uses the name Mini LED directly for such designs. However, Samsung began offering LCD TVs with edge‑lit Mini LED last year with the launch of The Frame Pro. In 2026 the solution also made its way into the budget M80H and M70H models. This isn’t the first dispute between the two firms over how to name technologies used in TVs. In the past Samsung accused TCL of improperly using the QLED label for models that, Samsung says, did not contain enough quantum dot material. Samsung has also previously faced lawsuits over calling LCD TVs “LED TV”. In practice, the names used by manufacturers can therefore lead to disagreements about what a given term should actually mean. Mini LED itself is technically a type of backlight used in LCD TVs. A similar issue can affect TVs described as RGB LED, because those can also use either edge lighting or a local‑dimming design. The TCL v Samsung case comes at a time of particularly intense competition among manufacturers in the Mini LED market. According to Counterpoint Research, TCL and Hisense had already overtaken Samsung in market share in that segment in 2024. The lawsuit was filed just before this year’s IFA trade show in Berlin, where manufacturers present new devices and technologies. The further course of the case will now be decided by the legal actions of both companies and the stance of the US court.
TCL has launched legal action in the US against Samsung, challenging the use of the term Mini LED in the new M80H and M70H TVs. The main point of contention is the use of edge-lit backlighting that lacks local dimming zones. Samsung rejects the claims and says information about its products is accurate. The case could influence how manufacturers can describe and advertise backlight technologies in future TVs.
source: flatpanelshd
