Key Takeaways
- Mini LEDs are still expensive, but they offer advanced technology at a lower cost compared to OLED models.
- Mini LED TVs are now available in more sizes from more companies.
- With high brightness and excellent contrast, Mini LED TVs are ideal for a wide range of content.
Just when you think one type of TV display is poised to dominate the market with the best picture quality, another innovation suddenly appears, blurring the lines as to what will be a clear winner. For years, OLED displays, with their light-emitting pixels and ability to deliver true blacks and sharp contrast, have had a considerable advantage over LED rivals, including bright Quantum LED TVs, despite their higher price tag.
While QLED TVs are getting brighter and brighter, manufacturers have taken a different path to improve contrast and compete with the standard set by OLED, resulting in a recent proliferation of mini-LED TVs, which have a much smaller lighting zone and can deliver contrast closest to competing OLED screens.
Mini LED TVs are becoming more and more popular, with a wide range of models available from top manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, and LG, as well as more affordable brands like Hisense and TCL. There are plenty of reasons why an OLED TV is worth investing in, but here are some reasons why we think a Mini LED TV is worth considering before investing in OLED:
1 I want a big TV
Mini LEDs are better when size matters
If you’re looking for a larger TV that can fit in a larger space, mini LED TVs offer more options and will likely perform better, in part because OLED panels are expensive and prices increase exponentially as the size increases.
OLED TVs can be a little harder to come by, as they cost more to produce and are actually more expensive as their size increases. Depending on the year of manufacture and the seller, you may have issues with stock. Sure, there are some larger options out there — LG makes some that are 80 inches and up, for example — but when it comes to price and availability, you’ll have more luck and find a better deal if you go the Mini LED route.
2 Mini LEDs are cheap
Cost is high, but not too high
OLED TVs can be more expensive than LED TVs of the same size, and even slightly larger LED TVs. This trend applies to all types of LED displays, from Quantum LED to the more advanced Neo QLED TVs promoted by Samsung. Mini LED TVs are some of the best LED TVs available, but OLED models are still very pricey.
Mini LED TVs aren’t cheap either. They’re a significant investment, but not as much as their equivalent-sized OLED counterparts. In terms of value, the case is a bit more complicated, as both technologies look set to last longer and provide a quality entertainment experience for years to come. Mini LED screens are slowly approaching the contrast that OLED screens offer, but they’ll never quite achieve the same purity. So it’s easy to argue that for a little less money, Mini LED screens are well worth it.
3 Watch a variety of content
What everything from House of Dragons to Summer House has in common
There are general differences between the types of content that OLED and QLED TVs are best suited for. While it’s a bit of an oversimplification, OLED TVs tend to better support cinematic content, especially originals produced by the top streaming services, as well as prestige shows and movies. Much of this type of content is shot with cinematic techniques and plays better on OLED TVs, especially those that offer Filmmaker Mode and/or calibration services.
On the other hand, QLED TVs boast better overall viewing rates for sports, reality TV, etc., due to their superior brightness and vibrant colors. Mini LED TVs share something in common: they have excellent contrast and bright images, making them good enough for any type of content. This means that you never have to worry about whether the show you’re watching, from House of Dragon to Summer House, NFL, or Law & Order, will be faithfully and clearly reproduced.
The wide range of features of mini LEDs are well worth it.
Of course, the best TVs in either group will display content impressively, but for those who watch content from a variety of sources, different movie qualities, and even content that simply varies in color and contrast, Mini LED’s wider range of capabilities will serve them well.
4 Watching in a bright room
Mini LED TVs struggle with light
Samsung
The ideal home entertainment setup requires a room with no ambient light (only bias lighting to prevent eye strain). This is because a lot of new content is shot with the assumption, or expectation, that it will be viewed in an actual theater. It’s big, it’s dark, and it’s created using advanced filmmaking techniques and special effects. However, for viewers at home, it’s impossible to recreate that environment, especially if you have large windows and plenty of sunlight all around.
Mini LED TVs have a much higher peak brightness, which makes them a great choice for those who can’t recreate cinema-like brightness at home, and they’re better at combating indoor light and reducing glare (as do OLED TVs, in fact).
5 More Choices
Finding the right features just got easier
It’s easier and cheaper to get into the Mini LED industry than making OLED TVs, and it’s not just the top electronics companies that are making Mini LED TVs. There are more options available when it comes to OLED TVs than there were in the early days, with LG’s lead being followed by Samsung, Sony and others. Mini LED TVs are still in their relative infancy, but they’re available from the top brands as well as more affordable brands like Hisense, TCL and Roku.
After all, mini-LED is currently a big rival to OLED TVs and is likely to continue to push the boundaries of TV innovation.
Having a wide selection not only increases your chances of finding a sale or discount on the TV you want, but it also allows you to consider additional features like operating system, video and audio formats, and refresh rates.
6 I want a TV with a long lifespan
Mini LED TVs last longer
TCL
A new smart TV should last 3-5 years before you notice any issues with brightness, uniformity, or throughput. However, the organic compounds used to make OLED TVs generally have a shorter shelf life than the components that make up Mini LED TVs. This degradation doesn’t necessarily happen immediately, but with normal use, over time you’re more likely to notice issues with an OLED screen sooner than with an LED screen.
Burn-in isn’t an issue with Mini LED TVs because the screen is lit from behind.
There’s also the issue of burn-in on OLED screens. This isn’t as significant or common as it once was, but it’s still something to consider when buying a TV. If you frequently watch the same static programming – that is, one with a logo or banner on the screen regardless of the content – that image can remain on the screen for long periods of time. It takes a while for burn-in to occur, but once it does it can be hard to avoid and you’ll probably need a new TV. Mini LED TVs don’t suffer from burn-in because the screen is backlit.
Finding a TV that suits your viewing habits requires consideration of many factors, but perhaps none more important than the screen and its performance. Mini LED is currently a strong rival to OLED TVs and will continue to push the boundaries of TV innovation.
