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Does every TV advertised as Mini LED actually deliver the benefits of that technology? Controversy surrounding the Samsung M70H and M80H models is once again drawing attention from the industry media. RTINGS tests showed that the devices lack hardware-based local dimming, and their teardowns raised additional doubts about the LEDs used. The matter is serious enough that rival TCL has decided to sue Samsung in the United States.
Mini LED without local dimming? Tests reveal a problem
Mini LED TVs are mainly associated with a large number of small LEDs and local dimming, which allows independent control of the brightness of individual areas of the screen. That makes it possible to achieve deeper blacks and better contrast.
However, the Samsung M70H and M80H do not offer that solution. This is confirmed by RTINGS tests and the manufacturer's documentation, which describes the "Supreme Mini LED Dimming" feature as a software-based technology.
A teardown of the M80H carried out by the AP Tech channel revealed a backlight based on two rows of LEDs, instead of an extensive grid of independently controlled zones. This limits the ability to improve contrast and HDR picture quality.
TCL sues Samsung. Are these just ordinary LED TVs?
The controversy is not entirely new. As early as late August 2026, TCL filed a lawsuit against Samsung in the United States. The company accuses its rival of misleading customers by advertising M-series models as Mini LED TVs.
According to TCL, the diodes used are about 0.5 mm, which calls into question the validity of that designation. Samsung disagrees with the allegations and says it will defend its products.
It is worth emphasizing that the lack of local dimming has been confirmed, while the classification of the diodes themselves remains disputed.
Does the Mini LED label guarantee a better picture?
The issue again drew the attention of industry media, including FlatpanelsHD, which on November 12 reminded readers of the test results and findings regarding the TVs' design.
The controversy shows that the Mini LED label alone does not guarantee high-quality picture. What matters is the presence of hardware local dimming and how effectively the backlight is controlled.
Importantly, the problem concerns specific M70H and M80H models, not all Samsung TVs. More advanced Neo QLED models offer hardware local dimming.
Before buying, it's worth checking a panel's actual capabilities rather than relying solely on the manufacturer's labeling.
Sources: FlatpanelsHD, PRAD, Reuters, RTINGS
