Mini LED vs. OLED

Mini LED vs. OLED:
What's the difference and which TV is right for you?

In this article, we will examine the differences between Mini LED and OLED technologies, which are both featured in Samsung's TV lineup. If you're looking for a TV with excellent brightness and HDR performance, Mini LED TVs — Samsung Neo QLED — are a great place to start. If you're searching for OLED TVs with the ability to truly deliver deep blacks and optimised contrast, Samsung OLED lineup features self-emitting pixels that highlight details in dark scenes. By the end of this guide, you'll have a better understanding of their distinct advantages, so you can find the right type of TV for your needs.

What is Mini LED?

Mini LED is a type of backlight technology that uses smaller LED lights compared to the ones used in standard LED — hence the name Mini LED.

It delivers higher peak brightness, deeper black expression and better image control.

In particular, Samsung Neo QLED premium lineup features Quantum Matrix Technology with Quantum Mini LEDs. This allows more LEDs to be placed within a smaller area, enabling precise screen control for boosted brightness with accurate light management, so you can enjoy finer details in both the darkest and brightest scenes. In addition, the Quantum Dot Technology found in Neo QLED TVs offers superior colour expression for a dynamic viewing experience.

What is OLED?

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) is a display technology where each pixel is individually lit, allowing for deep black levels and well-balanced contrast. OLED excels at providing vibrant colours and rich blacks, making it an excellent choice for those who prioritise deep contrast and colour accuracy.
Used in Samsung OLED TVs, OLED is a premium display technology due to its ability to produce dark blacks and high contrast ratios.

Mini LED vs. OLED

Mini LED vs. OLED: Picture Quality

Picture quality is a key factor that drastically affects your overall viewing experience in terms of how realistic and immersive the content appears, down to the finest details. Additionally, it determines the TV's ability to showcase accurate colour, contrast and motion.

Compared to traditional LED, Mini LED optimises picture quality in Samsung Neo QLED TVs by enhancing brightness with rich colour rendition, delivering better HDR quality.

Meanwhile, OLED achieves outstanding image quality through its ability to produce excellent deep black levels and balanced whites, creating a striking combination of depth and clarity on Samsung OLED TVs.

Mini LED vs. OLED: Brightness & Colour

Brightness is essential for visibility and overall viewing experience, especially in terms of colour expression.

Mini LED enhances brightness by illuminating specific zones as needed, creating a natural and balanced viewing experience in both bright and dark environments. Samsung Neo QLEDs feature QLED technology and Quantum Dot-based colour expression, delivering a richer range of colour across all brightness levels for bright, realistic hues.

Meanwhile, OLED technology is capable of accurate colour reproduction and has evolved with advancements like OLED HDR, delivering powerful brightness and deeper contrast fully enabled by every pixel. This makes Samsung OLEDs ideal for deep, contrasting visuals, controlling pixels one by one.

Mini LED vs. OLED: Black Expression

Black expression is crucial for displaying depth and enhancing contrast, significantly impacting visual quality.

Mini LED technology — found in Samsung Neo QLED TVs — improves black expression through precise light control with local dimming technology, where independent backlight zones help to minimise light leakage and enhance contrast. This results in more detail in the darkest and brightest scenes, especially noticeable in HDR content.

In contrast, OLED achieves dark blacks thanks to self-emissive dimming pixels, which produce deep blacks and clean whites. This makes Samsung OLED TVs ideal for immersive experiences like watching movies in low-light settings.

Mini LED vs. OLED: Contrast

Contrast is important for image vibrancy and overall quality, as it amplifies the difference between dark and bright areas.

Mini LED can produce a wide range of brightness, resulting in both better HDR expression and detailed, accurate contrast, as seen in Samsung Neo QLED TVs.

OLED delivers impressive depth and lifelike contrast by independently controlling each pixel, resulting in dark blacks and bright whites for a stunning visual experience on Samsung OLED TVs.

Mini LED vs. OLED: Watching Movies

When it comes to watching movies, Mini LED and OLED both deliver a vivid and enjoyable experience, but each stands out differently depending on the type of environment.

Mini LED's high brightness and vivid colour expression — key features of Samsung Neo QLED TVs — make it ideal for watching HDR content.

OLED excels in producing deep blacks, making Samsung OLED TVs more immersive and suitable for high-contrast content.

Mini LED vs. OLED: Gaming

In terms of gaming, both Mini LED and OLED offer excellent gaming experiences. Both Samsung Neo QLED and Samsung OLED feature ultra-fast response times, allowing for super-smooth gameplay and reduced lag for a seamless gaming experience.

Regardless of your choice, both Samsung Neo QLED and Samsung OLED TVs offer gaming-specific functions — AI Auto Game mode, FreeSync Premium, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) — with ALLM and VRR designed to reduce motion blur and improve response times, giving you the ultimate TV gaming experience.

Learn more about Samsung Gaming TVs

Mini LED vs. OLED: Which TV should you choose?

Mini LED, such as Samsung Neo QLED TVs, and Samsung OLED TVs each offer unique benefits, catering to different viewing preferences. Mini LED is known for brightness and HDR performance, making it ideal for HDR content. OLED excels in producing deep blacks, resulting in vivid contrast and a cinematic viewing experience. Your choice will depend on your personal entertainment needs. Whichever you choose, you can expect an unparalleled viewing experience.

Mini LED (Samsung Neo QLED) is ideal if you want…

• High brightness and superior HDR expression

• Vivid colour expression across the colour spectrum at all brightness levels

• Lifelike visuals in various lighting conditions

• A super big TV (85 inches or larger)

Samsung Neo QLED TV with Mini LED Technology with a blue abstract picture on a screen Samsung Neo QLED TV with Mini LED Technology with a blue abstract picture on a screen

Samsung OLED is ideal if you want…

• Dark blacks and bright whites

• An extensive range of contrast and accurate colours

• A deeply immersive experience

• A TV optimised for dark-room viewing

Samsung OLED TV with a blue and yellow abstract picture on a screen Samsung OLED TV with a blue and yellow abstract picture on a screen

Mini LED vs. OLED: FAQs

  • 1. What is the difference between Mini LED and OLED?

    The difference is that Mini LED, as used in Samsung Neo QLED TVs, is known for its brightness and ability to enhance HDR with small LED backlighting, whereas OLED, as used in Samsung OLED TVs, is known for creating deep blacks and stark contrast by lighting each pixel individually.

  • Mini LED, with its precise backlight control, enhances contrast while offering high brightness for great HDR performance, as seen in Samsung Neo QLED TVs.

    OLED, used in Samsung OLED TVs, can turn each pixel on and off individually, providing deep contrast with dark black expression.

  • Both Mini LED and OLED work well in bright environments. Samsung Neo QLED TVs offers high brightness and strong HDR performance, making it well-suited for bright environments. Samsung OLED TVs, on the other hand, use Brightness Booster for a bright display that delivers outstanding contrast and colour accuracy.

  • In terms of gaming, both Mini LED and OLED offer excellent experiences. Both Samsung Neo QLED and Samsung OLED feature ultra-fast response times, reducing lag for super-smooth gameplay.

    Whichever you choose, Samsung Neo QLED and Samsung OLED TVs include gaming-focused features, such as AI Auto Game mode, FreeSync Premium, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). These features help reduce motion blur and enhance response times for a smooth, seamless experience.

  • Both are good for watching movies. Mini LED, such as Samsung Neo QLED TVs, provides high brightness and vivid colour expression, making it ideal for HDR content. Samsung OLED TVs are a great choice for watching content with dark colours, thanks to its ability to showcase high contrast.

  • Yes, Samsung Neo QLED uses Mini LED technology, featuring precise backlighting that enables optimized brightness and contrast. It also incorporates Quantum Dot technology for vibrant colours and sharp details.

  • Since TVs are typically watched for extended periods, eye comfort is crucial. Both Samsung Neo QLED and Samsung OLED models help reduce eye fatigue by adjusting the brightness levels through EyeComfort Mode.

  • Yes, TVs with Mini LED technology, such as Samsung Neo QLED, are energy efficient. In fact, both Samsung Neo QLED and Samsung OLED use AI Energy Mode to enhance energy efficiency by detecting surrounding light levels and analyzing usage behaviors to adjust the brightness, reducing overall energy consumption.

  • The choice depends on your preferences. If you're looking for enhanced brightness and contrast for vivid picture quality, a Mini LED, like Samsung Neo QLED TVs, is a great choice. If you prefer rich contrast and deep blacks, Samsung OLED would be a viable option.

Discover the differences between Mini LED and QLED

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