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Best Mini LED TV: super-bright next-gen TVs recommended by our experts

Next-gen Mini LED TVs of all budgets and sizes

by · whathifi

Mini LED TVs are hugely popular right now, and with good reason. The best examples have much better contrast than standard LED TVs, they come in loads of different sizes, and they're available for prices ranging from super-premium to really quite affordable.

However, there's a huge amount of variability in terms of quality where Mini LED is concerned – much more so than with OLED – so you can't simply go out and buy any Mini LED TV and expect a great performance. We've tested as many bad Mini LED TVs as we have good ones – and you really don't want to end up with a bad one.

That's what this page is here for. Our team of expert reviewers has tested every major Mini LED TV launched so far and has decades of experience in testing TVs in general. We review each model in our dedicated test rooms, using existing benchmark models as a direct comparison, so you can trust our advice. You can click here to read more about how we test TVs, or you can simply scroll down to find the best Mini LED for your needs.

The Quick List

Best overall
TCL C845K
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Best Mini LED TV overall

It takes a little bit of effort to get it looking its best, but the C845K's combination of performance, features and price is hard to resist.

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Best 8K
Samsung QN900D
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Best 8K Mini LED TV

Forget native 8K content: the QN900D uses exceptional upscaling to make everything you already watch look better than ever.

Read more

Best huge
TCL 85C805K
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Best huge Mini LED TV

If you're looking for an extremely large TV with a surprisingly not-too-big price tag, the 85-inch C805K is the Mini LED TV for you.

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Best for gaming
Samsung QN95D
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Best Mini LED TV for gaming

The QN95D has some frustrating picture quirks, but these mostly relate to movie performance. For gaming, it's bright, punchy and feature-packed stunner.

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Best Sony
Sony Bravia 9
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Best Sony Mini LED TV

While it has some teething issues, at its best, Sony's next-gen Mini LED flagship is a sight to behold. It sounds good for a TV, too.

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Written by

Written by
Tom Parsons
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I'm What Hi-Fi?'s TV and AV Editor, and I've been testing TVs and home cinema products (as well as hi-fi kit and headphones) for approaching two decades. Mini LED is a relatively new technology, but it has in fact been around since about 2019 and properly started gaining traction in 2021 when Samsung launched its first 'Neo QLED' TVs. I and the rest of the review team have been there from the start and we've seen the category grow from niche and premium to mainstream and (in several cases) much more affordable. Experience tells me that you shouldn't be cowed by big figures for dimming zones or peak brightness – the specs rarely tell the full story and I've reviewed multiple Mini LED TVs that look awesome on paper but severely disappoint in testing.

Best Mini LED TV overall

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TCL C845K

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The best Mini LED TV for most people is also an absolute bargain
Our expert review:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Specifications

Screen size: 65 inches (also available in 55in, 75in and 85in)
Type: QLED
Backlight: Mini LED
Resolution: 4K
HDR formats: HLG, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Operating system: Google TV
HMDI inputs: x4 (2 x 48Gbps HDMI 2.1)
Gaming features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision game mode
Input lag: 15.3ms
ARC/eARC: eARC
Optical output?: Yes
Dimensions (hwd, without stand): 83 x 145 x 8.5cm

Reasons to buy

➕ Stunningly bright, contrast-rich and colourful
➕ Comprehensive gaming features
➕ Incredible value

Reasons to avoid

➖ Picture needs careful set up
➖ Minor clouding with some HDR images
➖ Occasional subwoofer buzzing

Regardless of the tech that powers its panel, TCL’s C845K is an absolute bargain, but if you specifically want a Mini LED TV, this is the one to get.

It’s hard not to be dazzled by the brightness of this TV, which we reviewed at 65 inches but is also available in 55-, 75- and 85-inch versions, with pictures that really do jump out at you – even some OLED TVs that cost significantly more look dull in comparison. It takes a bit of setting up to get the best out of it but once you get it just right, colours are rich-looking and vibrant, with excellent black levels as well, particularly for a TV at this price. 

It’s not a completely flawless performance though. You get a bit of clouding in some very high-contrast images, but it’s not serious enough to meaningfully detract from this TV’s positives. 

While its audio performance isn’t quite as impressive as the picture, the TCL’s slightly chunky frame means the built-in 40-watt sound system is able to deliver much deeper bass and greater volume than with most TVs, although we’d still recommend pairing it with one of the best soundbars.

The feature set of the C845K also goes beyond what you’d expect on this budget. It has 576 distinct dimming zones, which partly explains the impressive picture performance, plus half of its four HDMI ports support 4K/120Hz, or even 144Hz if your PC has got a capable enough graphics card. There’s VRR and ALLM here as well, plus a dedicated gaming menu for getting it set up just how you like it. 

The version of Google TV that it runs is missing a few key catch-up apps, but if you’re not planning to plug in a separate box to deal with that anyway, TCL will rectify the problem by sending you a free Roku streaming stick.

With this combination of performance, features and price, the TCL C845K is easily the best Mini LED available right now (except if you’re in the US, where unfortunately it’s not available to buy).

Read the full TCL 65C845K review

Best 8K Mini LED TV

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Samsung QN900D

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Samsung's stunning 8K Mini LED is an upscaling champion
Our expert review:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Specifications

Screen size: 75 inches (also available in 65in and 85in)
Type: QLED
Backlight: Mini LED
Resolution: 8K
HDR formats: HLG, HDR10, HDR10+
Operating system: Tizen
HDMI inputs: x 4 (4 x 48Gbps HDMI 2.1)
Gaming features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM
Input lag: 11ms (60Hz)
ARC/eARC: eARC
Optical output: Yes
Dimensions (hwd, without stand): 94 x 165 x 1.3cm

Reasons to buy

➕ Groundbreaking 8K upscaling
➕ Exceptionally bright and colourful
➕ Stunning futuristic design

Reasons to avoid

➖ Average sound quality
➖ No real 8K content
➖ Backlight-dimming distractions in some presets

You might wonder what the point of buying an 8K TV is if there’s nothing to watch on it, but there is sound logic behind our recommendation of Samsung’s QN900D: it’s an absolutely brilliant upscaler. 

It doesn’t come cheap, but when you see what the QN900D can do with a 4K picture you’ll start making a mental list of what you can sell in order to afford one. The TV’s Neo Quantum 8K AI Gen 3 processor uses artificial intelligence to fill in the missing pixels, making textured areas in particular look more detailed and three-dimensional without a hint of artificiality. It really is like witnessing a particularly impressive magic trick.

Of course, that performance is only possible thanks to its Mini LED panel, which uses Quantum Dots and nearly 2000 local dimming zones to produce outstanding colour volume and almost OLED-like blacks. It’s brilliantly bright, too. There can be some inconsistencies when it comes to backlight performance that can be rectified by fiddling with the dimming settings, but that has a knock-on effect in other areas, so it’s not quite a magic bullet.

From a sonic perspective the QN900D is less successful. Despite having 90W of power and eight reasonably sized speakers built into the frame the audio lacks impact and projection, with little in the way of bass. We do like Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound, which positions effects and voices effectively, but overall it’s not a performance that matches the picture.

To say the Samsung QN900D isn’t for everyone is putting it mildly, but if you can afford it, and you’re not bothered that what you’ll be watching won’t be native 8K (at least for the foreseeable future) it’s still a hugely impressive TV on multiple levels.

Read the full Samsung QN900D review

Best huge Mini LED TV

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TCL 85C805K

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Huge but affordable, this whopper from TCL is a home theatre bargain
Our expert review:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Specifications

Screen size: 85 inches (also available in 50in, 55in, 65in, 75in and 98in)
Type: QLED
Backlight: Mini LED
Resolution: 4K
HDR formats: HLG, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Operating system: Google TV
HDMI inputs: x 4 (2 x 48Gbps HDMI 2.1)
Gaming features: 4K.120Hz, VRR, ALLM
Input lag: 13.4ms (60Hz)
ARC/eARC: eARC
Optical output?: Yes
Dimensions (hwd, without stand): 109 x 189 x 4.5cm

Reasons to buy

➕ Ridiculously good value
➕ Good contrast and brightness
➕ Excellent HDR and gaming support

Reasons to avoid

➖ Colours lack a little finesse
➖ Pictures can look a little soft
➖ Some missing UK catch-up services

If you’re in the market for the biggest Mini LED TV out there, it’s difficult to miss the 85-inch TCL 85C805K (unless you’re in the US, where sadly it’s unavailable).

There’s more to this gigantic QLED than just its sheer size though. Once you’ve found somewhere spacious enough to set it up, it won’t take long for the 85C805K to make an impression. Like its brother above, which is also available as an 85-incher, the brightness that this TV pumps out is quite something. 

It gets nice and dark when you want it to as well, though, with deep, rich black tones and only a minor hint of greyness to the very gloomiest scenes. At the other end of the scale, colours are vibrant and punchy, if a little less refined than on some of the very best alternatives. It’s not quite as pin-sharp either, and you might notice a smidge of motion blur, but this is still a hugely watchable TV.

If you think the 85C805K looks big, wait until you hear it. The 2.0-channel Onkyo speaker system manages to project well beyond the TV’s already sizeable frame, with dialogue and on-screen effects remaining at the heart of the action. Surprisingly for a set so hefty, perhaps its weakest area of sonic performance is the bass, which can lack a little finesse.

The 85C805K’s feature list is also suitably large, with support for all four main HDR formats, four HDMI inputs (two of which support 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM), and a nice low input lag figure for big-screen gaming. It also runs Google TV, which is as clear and intuitive as always, if missing a couple of key streaming apps (but as above TCL will send you a Roku stick if required).

If you’re looking for a Mini LED TV that doesn’t have a price tag to match its ginormous screen, the 85C805K should be at the top of your list.  

Read the full TCL 85C805K review

Best Mini LED TV for gaming

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Samsung QN95D

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Our expert review:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Specifications

Screen size: 65 inches (also available in 75in and 85in)
Type: QLED
Backlight: Mini LED
Resolution: 4K
HDR formats: HLG, HDR10, HDR10+
Operating system: Tizen
HDMI inputs: x 4 (48Gbps HDMI 2.1)
Gaming features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM
Input lag: 9.8ms (60Hz)
ARC/eARC: eARC
Optical output: Yes
Dimensions (hwd, without stand): 83 x 145 x 2cm

Reasons to buy

➕ Sharp and clear picture quality
➕ Handles dark details well
➕ Excellent gaming specs

Reasons to avoid

➖ Strange blue halo effect at times
➖ Poor bass control
➖ Expensive for a Mini LED TV

If you have multiple current-gen consoles you want to connect to your Mini LED TV you should pay particular attention to its HDMI ports. It’s not just about how many the TV has, but what spec they are – and Samsung’s QN95D has all your gaming needs covered. 

In order to get the best out of your PS5, Xbox Series X or gaming PC, you need HDMI 2.1 sockets that support 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM. Most TVs have two at best, but all four of the QN95D’s HDMIs can handle the necessary bandwidth, so you don’t have to worry about running out if you have an eARC soundbar to connect as well.

Even if you don’t have any consoles to plug in, the QN95D’s Game Hub, plus the ability to connect Bluetooth controllers, means it works as a standalone games console in its own right thanks to the selection of gaming-focused streaming services, including Xbox, Amazon Luna, GeForce Now and more.

Of course, none of that means anything if the performance isn’t up to much, but there’s a lot to like about the QN95D’s picture. It’s crisp, bright, and fairly well-balanced, with naturally vivid colours, well-judged skin tones, and excellent shadow detail.

That’s the good stuff, now for the not so good. In certain scenes, a blue halo effect is visible around particularly bright objects, while there are also some issues with blooming that at their worst can really spoil a sequence.

Sound is also middling at best, with underwhelming bass, poor projection and a lack of dynamism. Dialogue is clear and higher frequencies sound fine, but the absence of low-end nuance means the finer aspects of an actor’s delivery do suffer.

If you’re a hardcore gamer who’s intent on owning a Mini LED TV it’s hard to pick holes in the Samsung’s feature set, but there are elements of its performance that show plenty of room for improvement. 

Read the full Samsung QN95D review

Best Sony Mini LED TV

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Sony Bravia 9

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
At its best the Bravia 9 is a stunner, but a couple of bugs hold it back from greatness
Our expert review:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Specifications

Screen size: 75 inches (also available in 65in and 85in)
Type: QLED
Backlight: Mini LED
Resolution: 4K
HDR formats: HLG, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Operating system: Google TV
HDMI inputs: x 4 (2x 48Gbps HDMI 2.1, 2 x HDMI 2.0)
Gaming features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM
Input lag: 17ms (60Hz)
ARC/eARC: eARC
Optical input: Yes
Dimensions (hwd, without stand): 96 x 167 x 4.8cm

Reasons to buy

➕ Dazzling brightness and highlights
➕ Impressive height effects from built-in speakers
➕ Excellent local dimming on dark backgrounds

Reasons to avoid

➖ Buggy and compromised picture on some content
➖ Sound could be weightier
➖ User interface can be sluggish at times

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 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

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.

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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.