Samsung Could Cut QLED TV Production by 80% as Mini LED Grows

Samsung could make a major change to its TV lineup this year, according to South Korean outlet ETNews. The company is reportedly cutting production of its quantum dot (QD) LCD TVs by about 80%. Output might even fall from around 10 million units in 2025 to just 2 to 3 million in 2026.

The cut applies to Samsung's QD-based LCD TVs, including its standard QLED models. Samsung has already removed quantum dot film from some entry-level TVs. These models now use Mini LED backlighting instead.

Mini LED uses thousands of small LEDs behind the LCD panel. This gives TVs better control over brightness and contrast than traditional LED backlighting.

Samsung has been moving toward Mini LED for several years. The latest production cut would be another step in that shift.

Samsung's higher-end Neo QLED TVs are not facing the same cut right away. These models already combine Mini LED backlighting with quantum dot technology.

However, that could change in the coming years. Reports suggest Samsung could reduce Neo QLED production further in 2027. The company could then end production as early as 2028.

For now, Samsung continues to sell Neo QLED TVs in 2026.

One reason for the change could be growing price pressure from Chinese brands such as Hisense and TCL. These companies sell cheaper QD TVs while using less quantum dot material. Some models may use very little of it while keeping the QD branding. And this, of course, is a problem for Samsung, as the biggest company in this field.

That makes it harder for Samsung to justify the extra cost of full quantum dot production on cheaper TVs.

Samsung is also working on other display technologies for its premium models. These include Micro RGB and OLED. The company is therefore not simply replacing QLED with Mini LED across its entire lineup.

Samsung has not officially confirmed the reported production figures, but If the reports are accurate, Samsung's TV lineup could look quite different over the next few years.