Choosing between a mini-LED and an OLED TV used to be easy – if you selected mini-LED, you clearly wished brightness and if you selected OLED, you clearly wished deeper black ranges. However, over time the dialog has modified, with each TV applied sciences now attempting to cowl all of the bases.
OLED and mini-LED tech generally characteristic among the many finest TVs and each have developed dramatically over time. We’re now seeing the most effective OLED TVs hit round 2,000 nits peak brightness whereas a number of years in the past, the considered an OLED TV reaching over 1,000 nits was unimaginable. Even mid-range OLEDs such because the LG C4 are actually passing the 1,000 nits threshold.
The brightness enhancements are due to the introduction of various applied sciences equivalent to micro lens array (MLA) and QD-OLED, the latter an OLED panel enhanced with a quantum dot layer.
Mini-LED has additionally seen huge enhancements, with TVs from corporations equivalent to TCL and Hisense including extra native dimming zones for improved distinction and black ranges whereas additionally delivering extraordinary brightness – up to a whopping 6,500 nits in some situations. Even inexpensive fashions are actually able to excessive brightness, with the the TCL QM851G and TCL C855 hitting 3,583 nits and 2,920 nits peak brightness respectively after we tested them.
One of the most effective mini-LED TVs of 2024 is the Sony Bravia 9. This set takes mini-LED to a fully new degree, with its new XR Backlight Master Drive with High Peak Luminance tech delivering such excessive ranges of distinction and black element that it ought to fear OLED TVs.
To check out simply how shut the efficiency of OLED and mini-LED TVs has come, I evaluated Samsung’s QN90D flagship mini-LED side by side with a mid-range OLED, the Panasonic MZ1500. For my assessments, each TVs have been set to their Filmmaker Mode image preset.
Excelling in the suitable areas
I began my viewing with The Batman, a darkish film (it’s mastered at 400 nits as an alternative of the standard 1,000 nits) that I use as a check for distinction and black ranges. During the opening crime scene investigation, the Panasonic OLED clearly demonstrated deeper black ranges and higher shadow element than the Samsung mini-LED. However, I was stunned to discover that the Samsung additionally had suitably deep black ranges and glorious distinction, sustaining a stability between mild sources equivalent to lamps and the gloomy, dim environment. Interestingly sufficient, the Samsung was additionally much less prone to black crush, sustaining the element in Batman’s go well with and Jim Gordon’s clothes in darker scenes.
I considered this scene in each shiny lighting and pitch-black circumstances in our check room. Due to its greater full-screen brightness and anti-reflection display, the Samsung fared higher within the brightly lit circumstances. But in darkish circumstances, the Panasonic got here out on high because the Samsung suffered from mini-LED’s kryptonite: backlight blooming. This confirmed up as halo results round brighter objects (though it wasn’t as unhealthy as on some finances mini-LED fashions) and was way more obvious in darker circumstances.
I subsequent considered a brighter film, La La Land, which options many daring colours all through. During the opening quantity (Another Day of Sun), all of the dancers put on vivid, colourful clothes and the Panasonic and Samsung displayed these otherwise. The Panasonic’s colours appeared deeper and extra correct. The Samsung’s colours appeared brighter and extra vibrant, nevertheless, which higher suited the tone of the film. During the nighttime sequences, which closely favor a blue, pink and purple shade palette, the Panasonic once more confirmed extra shade depth, however the Samsung had a brighter, extra dynamic look.
None of those outcomes notably stunned me, though the Samsung put up stiffer competitors than anticipated, particularly when it got here to distinction. But, there have been some areas the place issues acquired a little extra attention-grabbing.
The combat is on
The Samsung QN90D’s predecessor, the Samsung QN90C, featured amongst our greatest TVs for sport thanks to its excessive full-screen brightness and glorious movement dealing with. The QN90D follows in its footsteps, demonstrating very good movement dealing with even with out the help of any movement settings changes. OLED TVs normally have glorious movement dealing with, however on this case even the Panasonic couldn’t beat the Samsung.
Sound was one other space the place I discovered shocking variations between the 2 units. Panasonic TVs are sometimes among the many finest TVs for sound, with the Panasonic MZ2000 OLED that includes an exterior speaker on the backside of the display for extra direct and highly effective built-in audio. The MZ1500 I used for my comparability check options a comparable speaker, so you’d naturally assume it could have superior sound, however this wasn’t completely the case.
I tested the Panasonic and Samsung’s built-in audio utilizing the Batmobile chase from The Batman. Although the Panasonic had the meatier, puncher sound thanks to its front-facing speaker, I truly discovered myself extra drawn to the Samsung’s sound, which is enhanced by an Object Tracking Sound (OTS) characteristic. With this, each crash, screeching tyre, explosion and rumbling engine noise was precisely positioned across the display, giving a higher sense of immersion and connection between image and sound, and the Samsung’s bass carried loads of heft as effectively.
Final ideas
Although these TVs did to an extent carry out in the best way I anticipated – the Panasonic OLED exhibiting higher black ranges and distinction and the Samsung mini-LED brighter, and extra vibrant pictures – it was the subtleties and small issues that stunned me. The Samsung was no slouch when it got here to distinction and black ranges. But the true shock got here with sound, with the Samsung greater than holding its personal in opposition to the Panasonic.
While total the Panasonic OLED had the stronger image in my check, the Samsung mini-LED did make me query whether or not I was extra of a fan of it over the Panasonic. A few years in the past, there would have been little doubt in my thoughts that I most well-liked OLED, which matches to present how far mini-LED tech has come.
