OLED vs. Mini-LED: Which TV Should I Buy?

Choosing a new television has become a complex decision, a technological dilemma that requires staying up-to-date and navigating a sea of ​​increasingly complex acronyms like a duck in water. But today we won't do any of that. Today we'll cut through the complexity and get straight to the heart of the two dominant technologies, the two true titans vying for supremacy in the world of imaging: OLED and Mini-LED . Any other acronym or label is simply an add-on.

Let's get to it. For years, OLED TVs have reigned supreme, acclaimed for their perfect blacks and infinite contrast. However, the arrival of Mini-LED has shaken things up, promising performance that, in some respects, challenges the champion. Is it time to dethrone the king? Exploring the advantages and disadvantages of both technologies can help you decide.

Since their introduction to the consumer market, OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) televisions have earned a place of honor in the homes of movie enthusiasts. The key to their success lies in their intrinsic operation. Unlike traditional LED displays, which use a rear light source (backlight) to illuminate more or less numerous groups of pixels at the same time, in an OLED display, each individual pixel is a self-contained light source. That is, each of the millions of pixels turns on and off independently.

This ability to individually control light offers a fundamental advantage: the ability to display perfect black. When a pixel needs to be black, it simply turns off. This results in virtually infinite contrast, as the difference between the brightest and darkest pixels is abysmal. The blacks are truly black, with no trace of the "afterglow" or "halo" that is inevitable with LED displays. When several pixels are turned on and off at once, the "border" between black and any other color blurs; it is not perfect and always has a "transition zone" that impairs sharpness. This is not a defect or a flaw, but simply a characteristic of the technology.

The black perfection of OLED displays, however, is crucial for image quality, especially in dark or high-contrast scenes, where details remain sharp and colors retain their purity.

But beyond contrast, OLED panels offer a number of additional advantages that have helped keep them at the top for so long:

• Perfect viewing angles: Color and contrast remain unchanged, even when viewing the screen from the side. There's no image degradation, an ideal feature for large living rooms where people don't always sit directly in front of the TV.

• Much faster response times: The time it takes for a pixel to change color is almost instantaneous on OLED displays. This eliminates motion blur and makes these displays ideal, for example, for viewing even the fastest scenes clearly or for fully enjoying the most demanding video games, offering a smooth, ghost-free experience.

• Minimal screen thickness: By not needing an 'extra' layer of backlighting, as the screen pixels themselves turn on and off, OLED TVs can be much thinner than LEDs (to the point of allowing 'rollable' screens), giving them a sleek, minimalist look.

However, despite its undeniable virtues, OLED technology isn't perfect. Its main weakness, historically, has been its peak brightness. Although newer models have significantly improved in this regard, OLED displays still can't match the peak brightness of the best LED TVs. This can be a problem in brightly lit rooms, where ambient light can dilute the image. Brightness is also essential for optimally displaying HDR (High Dynamic Range) content, as it allows light effects (such as sunlight reflecting on water) to appear more realistic and striking.

Another concern, although increasingly less common in newer generations of displays, is the risk of pixel burn-in. This occurs when a static image (such as a channel logo or a video game scoreboard) remains on the screen for an extended period of time, leaving a permanent shadow. It's worth noting that manufacturers have implemented numerous technologies to mitigate this risk (which doesn't always occur) on OLED displays, but it remains a factor to consider.

For years, LED technology's response to OLED has been the constant improvement of backlighting. Not surprisingly, terms like "Edge" (which involves placing LED lights on the edges of the screen) and "Full Array" (spreading them across the entire matrix) have accompanied successive generations of LED televisions.

But the most promising and compelling solution has undoubtedly been the latest: Mini-LED technology. Unlike traditional LED TVs, which use a few dozen or hundreds of LEDs to illuminate the entire panel, Mini-LED TVs use tens of thousands of much smaller LEDs, grouped into hundreds or thousands of local dimming zones.

This dense grid of LEDs allows for much more precise light control. In fact, instead of illuminating large areas of the screen, the TV can dim or brighten very specific areas , dramatically improving contrast. And while they still can't deliver the perfect black of OLED (as there's always a minimum of residual light that can 'leak' through the dimming zones), the performance is so good that, in many cases, it's difficult to tell the difference with the naked eye.

• Extreme brightness: Mini-LED's main selling point is its ability to reach astonishing peak brightness levels, much higher than those of any OLED. This makes them ideal for brightly lit rooms and for playing HDR content with a dramatic visual impact, where colors are more vivid and lights are more intense.

• No risk of screen burn-in: Being a technology based on inorganic backlighting, the risk of burn-in is practically non-existent, making them a very attractive option for those who watch a lot of content with static elements or for gamers .

• Competitive pricing: Although high-end models are expensive, Mini-LED technology has allowed manufacturers to offer near-premium performance at more affordable prices than comparable OLED TVs.

However, Mini-LED is not without its own limitations. Despite improvements in local dimming, a slight halo effect (blooming) can still occur around bright objects against a dark background. For example, in a space scene, stars may have a small halo of light around them, as the dimming zone that brightens them also brightens, albeit minimally, the surrounding area. This effect is much less pronounced than on older LED TVs, but is still visible to the most trained eyes. Furthermore, while viewing angles are good, they fall short of OLED perfection, and contrast can be slightly degraded when viewing the screen from the side.

So, OLED or Mini-LED? The answer isn't as simple as choosing an absolute winner, as the best technology depends on its use and environment.

So, if you're a cinema purist, a movie buff who values ​​picture quality in dark environments, perfect blacks, and color accuracy above all else, OLED is still the best choice. Its ability to deliver infinite contrast is an inherent advantage that no backlight-based technology, no matter how advanced, can match. The experience of watching a movie in a darkened theater on an OLED is, indeed, simply unsurpassed.

However, if your living room is brightly lit, if you're a video game enthusiast who spends hours playing with static markers on screen, or if you're simply looking for the greatest possible visual impact in terms of brightness and color, Mini-LED TVs are a formidable and, in some cases, even superior alternative. The spectacular HDR on a high-end Mini-LED display is something to behold. Plus, the peace of mind of not having to worry about screen burn-in is also a plus.

Ultimately, the choice between OLED and Mini-LED has become a battle between perfect black and maximum brightness. The arrival of Mini-LED has forced OLED technology to innovate even further, with models offering ever-increasing brightness, and has created a competitive landscape that undoubtedly benefits consumers. There is no longer a clear winner in every case, but rather two mature and outstanding technologies that deliver top-notch visual experiences. The "why" of the final choice lies in each user's priority. The good news is that whichever you choose, the image quality will be the best you've ever seen.