If you're on the hunt for a new TV, you've likely come across countless Mini LED TVs. These backlit models are the latest advancement of LCD TVs, and as the name suggests, said backlights are comprised of hundreds, or in many cases thousands, of miniature LEDs.
This technology has been billed as the alternative to OLED for quite some time now; however, there are some key distinctions to be aware of. First and foremost, Mini LED TVs are available at a much wider range of prices, with models reaching from the budget end of the scale, all the way up to the premium end to rival OLED competitors.
November 2025: Expanded FAQ section. September 2025: New entries added for the TCL C7K, TCL C6KS and Sony Bravia 7, based on our latest comparative testing.
I've seen and reviewed more Mini LEDs than I've had hot dinners, and I don't think I'm even exaggerating that much. From testing Samsung and Sony TVs in our dedicated home cinema testing room, to jetting around the globe to see the latest models from TCL and Hisense, I've seen everything from compact 43-inch models to towering 115-inch sets. From experience, I find that manufacturers like to make big claims about dimming zones and brightness figures, and while those are important, they don't always tell the full story. I've seen TVs that feature bonkers on-paper specs that fail to meet expectations, as well as budget models with meagre-looking specs that have won us over entirely.
19th February 2026: The Samsung QN90F replaces the LG QNED93 added as our top gaming TV, and the Sony Bravia 5 and Hisense U7Q Pro make the also consider list. We've also added this update log.
Best Mini LED TV overall
Mini LED has a track record for struggling in the premium end of the market, where OLED generally remains king thanks to its ability to produce perfect blacks.
But Mini LED has carved a strong presence in the mid-range market and the TCL C7K is a great example why, based on our testing.
Costing less than a grand, the TV clearly demonstrates how the tech improves on basic LCD/LED, without needing to stray into OLED pricing territory.
The 65-inch model we reviewed hit a perfect sweet spot in our hallowed performance-per-pound/dollar metric.
The Mini LED panel can go explosively bright, but is ably kept in line by the set’s solid light control powers, which take advantage of the panel’s 1008 independent dimming zones to let it retain contrast and detail in a way last year’s TCL sets couldn’t.
The end result is a fantastic-value Mini LED that will delight most movie fans. Hence our reviewers’ glowing verdict:
“The excellent subtlety of the C7K’s light and colour handling helps it deliver impressive sharpness with native 4K sources, while the latest AiPQ processor also upscales HD sources to the screen’s 4K pixel count very handily, adding sharpness and density without exaggerating noise or creating significant unwanted processing side effects.”
In fact we only have two minor words of caution. First, that it only has two full-speed HDMI 2.1 inputs. So if you’re a gamer with multiple current-generation consoles and a Dolby Atmos soundbars, be prepared for some cable swapping if you want to run them at full speed. Current consoles need an HDMI 2.1 input to run in 4K/120Hz.
Second, the soundbar part is important as, based on our testing, the C7K’s speakers are distinctly middling. Though they’re fine for casual viewing, they lack the coherence and directionality required to do any good movie justice.
Read our full TCL C7K (65C7K) review
Best high-end Mini LED TV
Sony went all-in on Mini LED with its 2024 TV line-up and, at its best, the Bravia 9 is sensational. The problem is that it’s not at its best all of the time.
Sony is targeting movie lovers with the Bravia 9, leaning heavily on its experience in the editing booths of Hollywood, and the influence is clear when you watch a movie such as Top Gun: Maverick or Oppenheimer. Colours are well balanced, blacks are very good by backlit TV standards, and there’s not a hint of judder.
When this TV is behaving it’s a stunner, but a distracting bug that affects the local dimming and some small compromises with every picture mode mean that the performance is just a little too inconsistent to be considered great. Fortunately, these are issues that should be solvable through software updates and we understand that Sony is working on these.
Things are much better when it comes to audio. Unlike Sony’s recent OLEDs, which vibrate the entire screen to generate sound, the Bravia 9’s display is surrounded by speakers, with 70W of power to push them.
The result is a TV that sounds noticeably better than most, with height speakers that improve the sense of space and give the sound a solid sense of direction. The bass still lacks a little weight, though, so while it’s a cut above the norm, it would still benefit from the addition of one of the best soundbars.
From a connectivity perspective you’re only served with two HDMI 2.1 sockets that support 4K/120Hz gaming and VRR, with one doubling as the eARC for your aforementioned soundbar, so keen gamers may want to look elsewhere.
The other two HDMIs max out at 4K/60Hz, but all of them support ALLM. When it comes to wireless connections, you get wi-fi, which includes Apple AirPlay, Apple HomeKit and Google Chromecast, plus Bluetooth 5.3 and LE.
It all adds up to make the Bravia 9 a somewhat frustrating TV. At its full potential, though, it’s brilliant, so if Sony can fix those issues it’ll be one of the best around.
Read the full Sony Bravia 9 review
Best mid-range
The Bravia 7 is another great example why Mini LED is carving such a strong presence in the mid-range market.
The 55-inch model we reviewed doesn’t feature a lot of the headline, cutting-edge tech seen on the much more expensive Bravia 9. And yes, it has less dimming zones, but it still managed to impress our reviewers during testing and features some hardware you won’t find on any non-Sony rival.
The biggest is its Sony XR Backlight Master Drive panel tech which pairs with the Mini LED panel and Quantum Dot colour system to deliver one of the most consistent and balanced performances we’ve enjoyed on a Mini LED this price.
Regardless of which test disc we threw at the Bravia 7, it delivered outstanding levels of colour and contrast and impressively clean and convincing backlight control powers.
As we said in our Bravia 7 review: “While not feeling quite as explosive and ‘next-gen’ as the Bravia 9, the Bravia 7’s images are actually a little more consistent, resulting in as good a mid-range LCD TV as we’re likely to see this year.”
As an added perk, while we’d still recommend pairing it with a soundbar for the best results, its use of Sony’s proprietary Acoustic Multi-Audio sound system – which pumps 40W of power into a four-speaker system comprising two full-range bass reflex drivers and two tweeters – is one of the better sounding inbuilt solutions we’ve heard.
Our only big word of caution is that, like many of the sets we test, it only has two HDMI 2.1 inputs, which will be an issue for gamers with multiple current generation consoles.
Read our full Sony Bravia 7 review
Best cheap
The TCL C6KS isn’t just the main budget recommendation on this list, it’s also the best cheap TV we recommend holistically right now.
Is it perfect? No, during testing we noticed some issues with its motion handling, which over-smoothes some movements, especially when playing movies.
It also is the only set on this list that doesn’t have any HDMI 2.1 inputs, which means gamers will only be able to run games at 4K/60Hz, even if their console or PC can run at higher frame rates.
But, trust us when we say that you won’t find a better-looking set at the C6KS’ price, based on our experience reviewing the 50-inch model.
The use of Mini LED, at all, is a rarity on a set this price, with its direct rival, the 50-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED, missing it.
And during our checks, Mini LED let the C6KS not only go brighter than its rival, but also concurrently offer much better contrast thanks to its surprisingly capable handling of dark scenes.
This led our reviewers to report:
“The 50C6KS’s colours retain better saturations during very dark shots than we would expect to see with a TV at this level, while colour volumes (the combination of saturation and brightness) leave the vast majority of similarly priced TVs looking murky and flat by comparison. That vibrancy does not come at the expense of subtlety, either.”
This all adds up to make it an easy recommendation, despite its flaws.
Read our full TCL C6KS (50C6KS-UK) review
Best Mini LED TV for gaming
Samsung has already made a name for itself in the Mini LED TV world, and it's also synonymous with excellent gaming features, too, so it makes sense to name the five-star QN90F as our top Mini LED TV for gaming.
The Korean tech giant's top-of-the-range Neo QLED for 2025 wowed us, offering a bright yet balanced and refined picture that is equally suited to movie and gaming content.
We commended its superb backlight control and the well-tuned Filmmaker mode and standard picture mode. The former will, of course, deliver the more authentic-looking image, but the latter is still a solid choice for those who crave extra vibrancy and saturation thanks to its ability to deliver bold colours with excellent tonal variation without looking cartoonish.
With support for HDR10, HLG and HDR10+, as well as Dolby Atmos via HDMI eARC, the QN90F is a well-equipped TV for cinephiles; however, its four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 sockets, which support up to 4K/165Hz signals with VRR and ALLM, establish it as an even better choice for gamers.
Pair that with native cloud gaming support from the likes of Xbox, NVIDIA GeForce Now, and Amazon Luna, which allows users to pair a Bluetooth gamepad directly to their TV to play games over the internet, and you don't even have to own a console to enjoy the QN90F's gaming credentials.
Serious gamers will, of course, stick to a PS5, Xbox Series X, or gaming PC, and they will appreciate the comprehensive built-in game bar system, which gives you quick access to crucial information (including frames per second) and settings without having to pause.
With all of that in mind, it becomes obvious as to why the Samsung QN90F is our top pick for gamers.
Read our full Samsung QN90F (QE65QN90F) review
Also consider
TCL C8K: If you want something a little more premium, with a smidgeon more brightness and connectivity than the C7K, but you don’t want to spend Bravia 9 money, then we’d strongly recommend checking out TCL’s flagship C8K OLED.
Sony Bravia 5: Sony's mid-range Mini LED is another five-star option, sitting just below the Bravia 7 on this list. It offers a lot of performance for the money, including excellent backlight control and vibrant but still natural and nuanced colours.
Hisense U7Q Pro: Hisense is a big name in the Mini LED TV game, and the U7Q represents the sweet spot in our mind. It offers impressive black levels, great sound and support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ at a price that undercuts the Sony and Samsung models on this list. We did find a couple of picture inconsistencies during our testing, but we still think that it's worthwhile considering.
TCL 98Q9BK: In the market for a massive Mini LED that doesn't break the bank? TCL's huge 98-inch Q9BK is a relative bargain considering it costs less than some of the considerably smaller TVs on this list. We approved of its brightness, contrast and colours in our review, though the backlight can introduce haziness and the brightness can leave darker scenes looking overbrightened.
Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini LED 55-inch: We found that Amazon's previous Omni QLED TV varied pretty drastically in performance depending on the screen size; for example, the 50-inch model bagged itself five stars, while the 43-inch version only managed to score three stars. Thankfully, both versions of the Mini LED successor to the Omni QLED that we've reviewed appear to be more consistent, with this smaller 55-inch version exhibiting many of the same benefits of its larger 65-inch sibling that features on this list.
How to choose the best Mini LED TV for you
After settling on how much you have to spend and how much space you have to fill, which only you can decide (although we have something to help with the latter here), we would normally advise you on the pros and cons of each panel type, but as you have found your way to the Mini LED page we’ll assume you’ve already made that decision. In short, it tends to deliver the brightest and most vibrant pictures.
A lot of people plug third-party boxes into their TVs to handle all the streaming apps that so many of us now rely on for our entertainment, but if you just plan to use whatever the TV’s operating system provides, make sure it has all the apps you want.
If one of those boxes you plan to plug in is a current-gen games console or gaming PC, it’s also worth checking that the TV in question supports all the latest gaming features, otherwise your games won’t look their very best. What you’re looking for here is 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM, which require higher-bandwidth HDMI sockets. If gaming is your top priority, you’re probably better off perusing our best gaming TVs guide.
It’s an unfortunate fact of life that the majority of TVs you can buy today are much better to look at than they are to listen to. If you plan to add a soundbar or speaker system to your new TV there’s no real need to worry about its audio performance, which is why we always advise people to take that into consideration when budgeting, but if that’s not an option for you it’s vital to take sound into consideration. There’s nothing worse than having a brilliant picture spoiled by a flat, weedy audio experience.
How we test Mini LED TVs
Testing a new Mini LED TV is a time-consuming and involved process that requires long hours in one of our test rooms, thoroughly examining every aspect of a TV’s performance.
That mostly involves feeding it a variety of sources, from 4K Blu-rays and Ultra HD streams to standard-def DVDs, and comparing all aspects of its performance to that of one of our reference models using an HDMI splitter.
As well as fully evaluating picture and sound quality, we will also check that each streaming service is fully supported by the television. All major apps will output both audio and video in certain formats, including the various HDR and audio codecs, so we actively check each one to ensure that it’s performing as advertised.
Every TV arrives with its default factory settings in place, but we never assume that it can’t be improved by some judicious tweaking in the menus. While we don’t go as far as getting a sample professionally calibrated (that shouldn’t be necessary for us or you) we will spend many hours adjusting the settings and changing the picture modes until we’re satisfied we’ve seen the best a TV has to offer.
When it comes to gaming performance, input lag is tested using a Leo Bodnar device, while each individual HDMI socket will be tested to determine which ones (if any) support today’s more advanced gaming features, such as 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM and HGiG.
We also dedicate plenty of time to testing the sound quality of every Mini LED TV. That includes everything from the clarity, tonal balance and detail to spaciousness and dynamics, although it’s almost unheard of for any television to perform well enough from a sonic perspective that we wouldn’t recommend adding one of the best soundbars or, if space and budget allow, a dedicated AV amplifier and speaker package.
All of our TV testing takes place in state-of-the-art testing facilities in the UK, by an expert team that has decades of combined experience in the industry, so you can be sure that our reviews are fair and consistent. When you choose a product from one of our buying guides you can be confident that you’re getting something we would be happy to spend our own money on.
Mini LED TV FAQ
What is the best 55-inch Mini LED TV?
Our review of the TCL C845K covered the 65-inch version, but it’s reasonable to expect its 55-inch equivalent to perform very similarly – and for even less cash. It’s capable of the same level of brightness, albeit with slightly fewer local dimming zones, so it should deliver an equally tempting combination of price and performance.
What is the best 65-inch Mini LED TV?
Yep, it’s the TCL C845K again. While other TVs on this list are also available at 65-inches, none of them strike such a great balance between performance and price. The C845K is brilliantly bright, colourful and capable of displaying excellent contrast, and while its sound isn’t quite as good, it still outperforms many TVs of this size.
Is Mini LED better than OLED?
There are areas where Mini LED is capable of outperforming an OLED, most notably brightness, but with superior contrast, better lighting control and unbeatable viewing angles, we still prefer OLED over Mini LED as a whole – at least for now. Our Mini LED vs OLED explainer goes into more detail.
Is Mini LED better than OLED for bright rooms?
Mini LED TVs tend to be brighter than OLED models, so yes, they are better for brighter rooms as the picture will appear clearer. OLED TVs have got a lot brighter in recent years, but Mini LED models still trump them in this area.
Mini LED vs OLED picture quality comparison UK
Mini LED TVs tend to be brighter than OLED models. But OLED TVs still provide the better overall viewing experience – they have better contrast (the difference between light and dark parts of the picture), blacker blacks, more precise lighting control and wider viewing angles. But it really depends on which specific TVs you're comparing.
Read more: Mini LED vs OLED: which TV screen technology is better?
Mini LED vs OLED gaming performance
If it's pure 'pop' you're after, a Mini LED TV could serve your gaming needs better. Mini LED TVs tend to be brighter than OLEDs, giving the colours more impact. But if you're playing dark, moody games, an OLED's superior contrast ratio will show up greater levels of shadow detail, helping you see what's going on more clearly.
Consult our list of the best gaming TVs
What is the risk of burn-in on OLED vs Mini LED TVs?
Burn-in can happen to OLED TVs, though it's much rarer on newer models than older ones. That's the verdict of our readers, who we consulted on the topic. Despite having tested OLED TVs since they launched – and used them extensively at home for personal use – we've never experienced burn-in on an OLED TV.
Mini LED TVs aren't susceptible to burn-in, as they are backlit rather than using organic compounds. The picture can still degrade over time, just in different ways. But no TV will last forever.
Read more: OLED burn-in: should you be worried about it? And how can you prevent it?
Useful links
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
- Looking for a bargain? Here are the best cheap TVs
- Hardcore gamer? These are the very best gaming TVs
- Need a certain size? We've rounded-up the best 55-inch TVs
- Need something bigger? What about the best 65-inch TVs
- Want a future-proof TV? Here are the best 8K TVs
