TCL has launched the R94 series gaming monitors in the U.S., expanding its gaming portfolio alongside the R84 and G64 series. The announcement aligns with TCL’s new role as the official TV, soundbar, and gaming monitor partner for Call of Duty, timed with the launch of the Black Ops 7 beta.

The 27R94 is the flagship model in the lineup. It features a 27-inch QD-Mini LED panel with 4K UHD resolution (3840×2160), a 165Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness of 1600 nits. TCL has equipped the monitor with 2304 local dimming zones under its LD2300 Precise Dimming system.

The company uses advanced Micro lens and Micro-OD technology to boost dimming precision and control blooming. The monitor also includes TCL’s in-house CSOT HVA panel, which supports a dynamic contrast ratio of 16 million:1.

TCL claims that the 27R94 covers 95% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and reaches ΔE<2 professional color accuracy. The monitor supports 10-bit color (8-bit + FRC) and is Pantone Validated. Users can choose from preset color modes like DCI-P3, sRGB, and Adobe RGB. The monitor also supports a wide 178° viewing angle and offers 163 PPI for sharp image clarity.

For gaming, the monitor supports both FreeSync Premium and G-Sync compatibility. TCL includes features like a 1ms GTG response time, customizable crosshairs, dark field control for better visibility in shadows, a real-time frame rate counter, and a game timer. Built-in stereo speakers and a built-in headphone hanger enhance the overall user experience.

The 27R94 also offers robust connectivity. It includes a 90W USB-C port with data, display, and charging support, two USB-A ports, one USB-B port for KVM control, DisplayPort, and HDMI inputs. The KVM switch allows users to control multiple devices using a single keyboard and mouse.

TCL equips the monitor with a five-way joystick for menu navigation and RGB lighting on the back panel. The company includes a flexible and height-adjustable stand for ergonomic setups. The monitor holds TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification and includes an eye care mode to reduce visual strain during extended use.

TCL has not yet confirmed pricing or retail availability for the R94 series, but the specifications suggest a strong push into the high-end gaming monitor segment.

TCL has unveiled its first lineup of gaming monitors in the US, featuring the new R84 series, alongside the G64 series and R94 series. The announcement coincides with the launch of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta and TCL’s expanded partnership with Activision. The company now serves as the official TV, soundbar, and gaming monitor partner for the franchise.

The R84 Series includes a 32-inch flat 4K model with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 34-inch curved WQHD variant that supports 180Hz. Both monitors feature TCL’s proprietary QD-Mini LED technology, which is designed to deliver precise local dimming, high peak brightness, and vibrant color performance. The 32R84 monitor includes 1400 local dimming zones, 96% DCI-P3 color coverage, and DisplayHDR 1400 certification.

TCL has equipped the R84 monitors with a fast HVA panel that supports a 1ms GtG response time. The display outputs up to 1500 nits peak brightness and offers a 150,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. The monitors support 10-bit color depth and factory-tuned ΔE<2 accuracy. TCL also provides three professional color modes: DCI-P3, sRGB, and Adobe RGB.

The 32R84 model includes a USB-C port with 90W power delivery, built-in stereo speakers, and TÜV Rheinland-certified eye protection features such as flicker-free backlighting and low blue light mode. It also offers KVM switching, real-time frame rate display, dark detail enhancement, and game crosshair overlays. The monitor supports AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility.

TCL has added design elements such as customizable multi-color LED lighting and a two-tone exterior. The monitor stand supports full ergonomic adjustments, including height, tilt, swivel, and pivot.

TCL has not yet announced pricing or retail availability, but confirmed that these models will launch in the US market later this year.

In related news, LG Display claims LCDs need 1.5 million dimming zones to rival OLED quality, while TCL’s printed OLED tech positions it strongly for the AI era.

The economics of OLED TV manufacturing are shifting fast. According to a new report from South Korea’s The Chosun Ilbo, the production cost of large OLED panels, like the 65-inch variety powering premium living room setups, has halved over the past five years. In 2020, LG Display reportedly spent close to $1,000 per panel. That figure is now on track to fall below $500 by the end of 2025.

That is not just a financial footnote. It is a warning shot to RGB Mini LED, the latest LCD-based tech trying to rival OLED on contrast and brightness. It also signals a potentially massive change in how high-end TVs are priced, marketed, and adopted in the next wave of living room upgrades.

OLED’s Price Collapse Isn’t Random

This steep drop is no accident. LG Display, the dominant supplier of large OLED TV panels, is systematically reworking its DDI (display driver IC) architecture to improve output efficiency. While material costs and scale improvements play their role, the bigger shift is that OLED is no longer the exotic, high-cost panel it was when LG introduced its first OLED TVs over a decade ago.

What we are seeing is the tech maturing at scale. Production bottlenecks, yields, and backend integration have reached a point of steady optimization. In short, OLED’s premium tax is eroding.

Cheaper Panels, Cheaper TVs

Lower upstream costs mean downstream brands, whether it is LG Electronics, Sony, or even budget disruptors like TCL, have more room to play with pricing. With OLED panels now at a much more palatable cost base, brands can aggressively push mid-premium and even upper mid-range OLED models without bleeding margin.

This accelerates the trickle-down of OLED tech into living rooms that would have otherwise defaulted to high-end LCD or QLED. We are talking about mainstream 65-inch TVs that look like flagship models from just two or three years ago, but without the eye-watering price.

RGB Mini LED Has Work to Do

On the other side of the fence, RGB Mini LED is still finding its rhythm. While it delivers stunning brightness and refined backlight control, it remains a newer technology with more complex manufacturing and quality control overhead. Component tuning, consistency in dimming zones, and supply chain optimization are still very much in progress.

This does not mean Mini LED is falling behind. It still outperforms OLED in raw brightness and is often a better pick in bright-room environments. But the value calculus is shifting fast. OLED now has momentum, scale, and price on its side.

The Takeaway

For years, OLED held the crown for picture quality, but its price kept it out of reach for most buyers. That is changing quickly. By 2026, OLED may no longer be the premium pick. It may become the default choice. Unless RGB Mini LED can compress its cost curve at a similar pace, OLED’s renaissance could turn into total dominance.

In related news, LG Display CEO Jeong Cheol-dong also said LCD panels need 1.5 million dimming zones to match OLED, highlighting OLED’s superior contrast and precision. He added that LG is cautiously evaluating new OLED lines while investing in Micro LED and other next-gen display technologies.

(Source, Via)