Mini-LED vs. OLED: which TV tech is right for you?

Been shopping around for a new telly recently? Then you'll probably be all too familiar with those confusing screen tech acronyms. LCD, QLED, ULED — what do they all mean? And which type is the best?

To give you a helping hand (especially if you're after a serious entertainment upgrade), we've compared the two leading TV technologies vying for the crown of best in picture quality: Mini-LED and OLED.

So, whether you love binge-watching boxsets, gaming online, or keeping up with the footie with your mates — we've got all the info you'll need to make a picture-perfect pick for your lounge. No time to standby, let's get straight into it...

a man sitting in a chair playing a video game on a television

What is OLED?

OLED (short for 'Organic Light-Emitting Diode') is a display tech that's been turning heads in the TV world for a few years now. What makes OLED TVs so special is that they're packed with millions of tiny, self-illuminating pixels. But what does that mean in terms of what you see on-screen?

Well, they don't need an LED backlight like most other TVs as they produce colour and light in just one element. And they can achieve true blacks by completely turning off certain pixels. The result is incredible contrast, which means the difference between the light and dark parts of the picture look more dramatic and truer to life.

For more on the magic behind OLED TVs, check out this article: What is an OLED TV?

What is Mini-LED?

Smart TVs with this display tech use thousands of tiny LED bulbs as a backlight, which is way more than what you'd get in traditional LED TVs. The main benefit is that they allow for really precise local dimming, so you'll see enhanced contrast and brightness control across the entire display.

It's not quite the same level of pixel control you'll get with OLED tellys, but Mini-LED TVs do come pretty close. They're sort of like having your very own lighting designer for your TV — creating vivid highlights that really make content leap off the screen.

a man sitting on couch watching a formula one race on tv

Key differences between OLED and Mini-LED TVs

We’ve given you a little summary of each screen tech type. But how do OLED and Mini-LED TVs stack up when it comes to stuff like contrast, brightness, and colour accuracy?

Contrast and black levels

Although Mini-LED is the new kid on the block in the TV tech world, OLED televisions are still considered the best when it comes to contrast and black levels. As they can turn off pixels individually, OLEDs achieve perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratios to really bring films, shows, and console games to life. That’s not to say that Mini-LED TVs aren’t still mighty impressive though!

Brightness

This is where Mini-LED TVs shine (pardon the pun). Thanks to their powerful backlighting systems, they can produce higher peak brightness levels than OLED TVs. So, if your lounge lets in lots of light that can spoil the view of your TV — a Mini-LED model will keep the picture vibrant and crisp even on sunny days.

Hisense’s U7K Mini-LED TV even features clever ‘Total Ambient Adaptive’ tech, which senses the brightness and light temperature of your room and adjusts the picture settings automatically. In other words, it’ll make sure you always get the best view without having to lift a finger.

hisense tv mounted on the wall in a living room with soundbar and subwoofer

Colour accuracy and vividness

Both technologies offer stunning colour performance, but they achieve it in different ways. OLEDs have self-emissive pixels that allow for precise colour control and excellent accuracy. While Mini-LEDs push colour volume to new heights with powerful backlighting — resulting in vivid, punchy hues.

Viewing angles

If you're planning on putting your new TV in a big room with a couch in in the middle, one in the corner, and maybe a seat or two off to the side — OLED is your best bet. These tellys keep a consistent and clear picture even when viewed from extreme angles.

And although Mini-LED TVs are much better than traditional LED models in this department, they can still suffer from some brightness and colour shift when they're not viewed from straight ahead.

a family watching a movie on a large screen television from different viewing angles

Choosing between OLED and Mini-LED to suit your watching habits

Are you planning on using your new TV for marathon gaming sessions? Or are you a film buff looking to bring that cinema experience home? Here’s what we’d recommend based on your viewing habits:

Best for movies and streaming

The perfect blacks and infinite contrast of OLED TVs make them a mega choice for movie nights. They bring out all the detail in dark scenes, especially shadows. Perfect if you love moody dramas or horror flicks!

But if you often watch TV in the daytime in a bright room, or just enjoy HDR content with amazing highlights — Mini-LED could be the ticket to a more dazzling way of watching.

Best for gaming

Are you a serious gamer looking to make the most of your PS5 or Xbox Series X's next-gen features? Well, both TV types have their strengths here. OLEDs have a rapid pixel response to drastically cut down motion blur — giving you crisp and clear images even in fast-paced F1 games. While the higher brightness of Mini-LED TVs can make RPGs with big colourful worlds look spectacular.

a television with a racing video game on it sitting on a tv stand

It's more down to what kind of console games you prefer to play. You'll enjoy more cinematic, realistic-looking graphics on OLED — great for titles like Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, or Hogwarts Legacy. But the punchier visuals on Mini-LED TVs will make games such as Astro Bot and Final Fantasy really pop with their bright and bold settings.

Best for sports

Sports fans should probably lean more towards Mini-LED for its brightness and ability to combat glare in well-lit rooms. Just what you’ll need for those Sunday afternoon matches. However, the better motion handling on OLED TVs can provide a smoother look for fast-moving action. It's a close call.

a group of people sitting on a couch watching a football game

FAQs

Do Mini-LED TVs have a longer lifespan than OLED?

While both Mini-LED and OLED TVs are designed to last for many years, Mini-LED TVs have an edge in longevity. OLED pixels can degrade over time, which can lead to issues like image retention or TV burn-in. Mini-LED, being based on LED technology, doesn't face the same risk. With proper use and care though, both technologies should provide years of stellar performance.

What is ULED?

Yep, there's yet another type of TV screen tech out there — ULED. Short for Ultra LED, this is what Hisense name their 4K TVs featuring colour gamut, local dimming, and motion smoothing enhancements. They're basically LED TVs but with some serious upgrades, and feature Quantum Dot Colour tech that can produce over a billion shades for super lifelike visuals.

Want to learn more about ULED? Check out our article: What is Hisense ULED technology?

Any more questions?

If you need extra help finding the right TV for you and your space, read our TV buying guide. It might save you from aimlessly flicking between browser tabs comparing new TVs! We’ve got loads more TV advice right here on TechTalk too.