Mini LED vs. QLED

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

When choosing a new TV, it's important to understand how Mini LED — also known as Samsung Neo QLED — and Samsung QLED differ. Both offer impressive brightness and colour performance, but they use different backlight technologies. QLED uses Quantum Dot technology to provide vibrant colours. Neo QLED, an advanced version of QLED, enhances brightness and contrast even further by using Mini LEDs for more precise light control. In this guide, we'll compare Neo QLED and QLED TVs to help you find the right display for your viewing needs.

What is Mini LED?

Mini LED is an advanced backlighting technology that uses tiny LEDs, smaller than standard ones, for more precise backlight control through local dimming — a technique where backlight zones are controlled independently. This helps achieve better contrast and enhanced picture quality, especially noticeable with HDR content.

In particular, Samsung Neo QLED premium lineup builds on the advantages of QLED TVs, taking them up a notch by using Quantum Mini LEDs.
This allows more LEDs to be placed within a smaller area to enable precise screen control for superior brightness and deeper black expression, bringing out the details in both the darkest and brightest scenes.
Additionally, with Quantum Dot technology, Samsung Neo QLED TVs offer better colour expression for lifelike visuals.

What is QLED?

A QLED TV uses Quantum Dots that set it apart from standard LED TVs.

So, what is a Quantum Dot? Quantum Dots are ultra-fine semiconductor materials of nanoscale size. These tiny dots produce different colours of light depending on the particle size — larger particles emit red while smaller particles emit blue. They radiate precise coloured light because the particle sizes adjust at quantum-level velocities, resulting in accurate and efficient light emissions.
The result? A tremendous boost in brightness and colour.

And you don't need to worry about harmful substances, as the Quantum Dots in Samsung QLED contain no cadmium.

Mini LED vs. QLED

Mini LED vs. QLED:
Picture Quality



Picture quality affects how clear, vibrant or detailed an image is. It also determines how well the TV can display colours, contrast and motion.

Both Samsung's Neo QLED and QLED lineups feature Quantum Dot technology, ensuring bright and clear colour expression.
Additionally, Mini LED offers precise backlight control for brighter, richer HDR and contrast, making Mini LED technology more advantageous.

Mini LED vs. QLED:
Brightness & Colour



Brightness ensures the visibility of content in various brightness levels and enhances overall colour expression. It's therefore an important factor that can significantly affect your overall viewing experience.

Quantum Dot technology, in both Samsung Neo QLED and QLED TVs, provides a richer range of colour across all brightness levels for bright, realistic hues. But with Mini LED's precise backlight control, HDR and contrast are brighter and richer, making Mini LED technology superior to QLED.

Mini LED vs. QLED: Black Expression

Black expression is crucial as it conveys depth and enhances contrast, allowing you to see small details in dark scenes.

Being LED-based, QLED provides deep blacks with fine contrast.

Mini LED, on the other hand, uses smaller LED backlights than standard LEDs and combines them with Quantum Matrix Technology. As a result, Mini LED in Samsung Neo QLED TVs can more precisely control its backlight, delivering even deeper blacks and more detail-rich visuals.

Mini LED vs. QLED: Contrast

Contrast affects the vibrancy and quality of an image by making darker areas appear darker and brighter areas appear brighter.

QLED offers a wide range of contrast, allowing you to enjoy deep, rich colours and details in both bright and dark scenes.

On the other hand, Mini LED — found in Samsung Neo QLED TVs — provides a more sophisticated backlight control and a wider range of brightness than QLED, delivering enhanced HDR expression and accurate contrast.

Mini LED vs. QLED: Watching Movies

Both Samsung Neo QLED and QLED TVs are optimised for watching movie content, offering crisp picture quality and rich colour expression. But Neo QLED's higher brightness and higher contrast make it particularly well-suited for HDR content.

Mini LED vs. QLED: Gaming

Samsung Neo QLED (Mini LED) and Samsung QLED offer game-specific features and add-ons such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), AI Auto Game Mode and more to ensure you have an excellent gaming experience. Thanks to ALLM and VRR, you can play games smoothly with less motion blur and fast response times.
While both TVs include features designed for gaming, Samsung Neo QLED — as a premium lineup with higher specs and advanced features, such as FreeSync Premium — delivers a superior experience compared to QLED.

Learn more about Samsung Gaming TVs

AI Auto Game Mode is only available on Q7F and higher models.

Mini LED vs. QLED: Eye Comfort

Given that TVs are often watched for extended periods, eye comfort is an important factor to consider when buying TVs. Samsung Neo QLED TVs feature EyeComfort Mode to adjust brightness levels for optimal viewing comfort.

Mini LED vs. QLED: Durability

TVs are often used for many years after purchase, so a durable product ensures that you can enjoy entertainment longer while also having a consistent viewing experience. Fortunately, both Mini LED and QLED displays, used in Samsung Neo QLED TVs and Samsung QLED TVs respectively, are durable and reliable.

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

While both Mini LED (Samsung Neo QLED) and QLED provide unique advantages, Mini LED combines the benefits of QLED with its own superior features.

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

• High brightness with excellent contrast

• Deeper black levels and enhanced HDR performance

• Realistic content in everyday lighting

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

Samsung QLED is ideal if you want…

• Vivid colours and optimised brightness

• An affordable option with great picture quality

• Reliable performance for everyday entertainment

Samsung QLED TV with blue abstract picture on screen Samsung QLED TV with blue abstract picture on screen

Mini LED vs. QLED: FAQs

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

    Both Samsung Neo QLED and QLED TVs use Quantum Dot technology for better colour expression. However, Mini LED's precise backlight control allows for richer contrast and HDR expression, which makes Mini LED technology more advanced than QLED.

  • Samsung Neo QLED (Mini LED) and QLED TVs feature game-specific functions and add-ons such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), AI Auto Game Mode and more, ensuring an excellent gaming experience. However, Samsung Neo QLED TVs still provide a more immersive gaming experience thanks to advanced features such as FreeSync Premium.

    AI Auto Game Mode is only available on Q7F and higher models.

  • QLED’s vibrant colours create a vivid, engaging visual experience. Still, Mini LED’s precise dimming technology enables a truly cinematic experience with superior contrast and depth in dark scenes, as seen in Samsung Neo QLED TVs.

  • Mini LED TVs, such as Samsung Neo QLED TVs, use EyeComfort Mode to adjust brightness levels and help reduce eye strain.

  • Both Samsung's Mini LED (Neo QLED) and Samsung's QLED displays are designed to be highly durable and reliable. They are built to last, ensuring long-term use without compromising performance. Whether you choose Mini LED or QLED, you can trust that both technologies offer robust construction and longevity.

  • Both Mini LED and QLED provide vivid colour expressions in bright environments. However, Mini LED — as used in Samsung Neo QLED TVs — achieves better brightness and vibrant colour expression through local dimming.

  • Mini LED technology in Samsung Neo QLED TVs provides better contrast due to its ability to control backlight zones more precisely. This results in deeper blacks compared to QLED, which uses a standard LED backlight.

  • Yes, Mini LED provides better HDR expression and detail both in bright and dark scenes on Samsung Neo QLED TVs, thanks to more precise backlight control.

  • Yes, Samsung Neo QLED combines Mini LED with Quantum Dot technology to deliver superior brightness, colour accuracy and contrast.

  • The choice between Mini LED or QLED depends on your budget and viewing needs. Mini LED, such as Samsung Neo QLED, is an excellent choice if you want cinematic picture quality with enhanced contrast and vivid visuals. On the other hand, QLED is a great option if you're looking for a more affordable TV that still offers vibrant colour expression and satisfactory image quality.

Discover the differences between Mini LED and OLED

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