Mini-LED is the new kid in town as far as monitor models go. A mini-LED monitor is as good as it gets in the LCD segment, being able to trade blows with the premium OLED monitor in certain segments. For that matter, it’s an expensive piece of fresh tech.
Expect mini-LED monitors to set you back thousands of dollars and for now, they usually only come in high resolutions because they’re expensive to may, like OLED monitors. And while their blacks might now be as good as an OLED monitor’s, a mini-LED monitor can make up for it in brightness and contrast.
Besides, a mini-LED monitor is perfect for people who are scared of or don’t want to deal with the OLED’s burn-in tendencies (permanent ghostly imprints left by static images).
RELATED: Best OLED Monitors in 2022
ViewSonic Elite XG321UG
PROS
- 4K at 144Hz
- Gorgeous image quality
- IPS, superb viewing angle
- HDR1400 makes colors even more vibrant
- Full G-Sync support
- Accurate color range
CONS
- Needs to overclock to reach 144Hz
- Expensive
- Early adopter tech with quality control issues
Specs:
- Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution: 4K / UHD
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Main Panel Type: IPS
- Sync Tech: G-Sync
Viewsonic has been in the game for a long time and they have a pedigree that you can rely on. They’re primarily a monitor manufacturer and thus focus their resources on that piece of tech. This is one of their best offerings thus far, an IPS mini-LED monitor that ticks all the boxes.
It’s expensive, yes, but if you go significantly cheaper, you might start seeing VA mini-LED panels which have worse viewing angles and are not ideal on a flat monitor. Right now, however, this is one of the most popular options on the market and you can’t go wrong with it (luck-based quality control issues notwithstanding).
ViewSonic Elite XG321UG
Samsung Odyssey Ark 55" 4K HDR 165 Hz Curved Gaming Monitor
PROS
- Huge size
- Beautiful image quality
- Higher refresh rate compared to competition (through overclocking)
- Samsung's Quantum mini-LED tech
CONS
- Heavy
- Expensive
- HDR is a bit disappointing
- Early adopter tech with quality control issues
Specs:
- Size: 55 Inches
- Resolution: 4K / UHD
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- Main Panel Type: VA – curved
- Sync Tech: FreeSync Premium, G-Sync Compatible
There aren’t many curved mini-LED monitors around and luckily for those curved fans, Samsung has this masterpiece for them. It’s a huge gaming monitor with an impressive curvature to boot, making good use of the VA mini-LED panel it comes with. That curvature will eliminate viewing angle issues.
It has a higher refresh rate compared to some IPS mini-LED panels though not by much so you might get an edge for e-sports. Moreover, it comes powered by Samsung’s own Quantum mini-LED tech that it has mastered for so long from making its own phones.
Samsung Odyssey Ark 55" 4K HDR 165 Hz Curved Gaming Monitor
ASUS ProArt Display 32” 4K HDR Professional Monitor (PA32UCG-K)
PROS
- 1600 Nits of brightness
- Gorgeous image quality and accuracy
- Color accuracy is right at the top
- Thunderbolt port
- 4K at 120Hz
- Calman Ready color calibration
- Minimalist construction
- IPS, superb viewing angle
CONS
- Expensive with an exclamation mark
- Early adopter tech with quality control issues
Specs:
- Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution: 4K / UHD
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- Main Panel Type: IPS
- Sync Tech: FreeSync Premium Pro, G-Sync Compatible
Turns out professional digital artists and designers need better contrast, brightness, and image quality than fancy gaming specs. For such matters, the Asus ProArt mini-LED Professional Monitor is better-suited.
Well, better-suited is an understatement, it’s quite literally one of the best monitors a professional can have. It has 1600 Nits of brightness and which it can pair with HDR and 120Hz. Apparently, that’s a first in the world, which is why this monitor is charging an arm, leg, and 1.5 kidneys. Worth it though.
ASUS ProArt Display 32” 4K HDR Professional Monitor (PA32UCG-K)
Asus ROG Swift 32" Gaming Monitor (PG32UQX)
PROS
- Lots of nifty features
- RGB is actually stylish
- Mini display is handy
- 4K at 144Hz
- Beautiful image quality
- Built-in webcam
- Good color accuracy
CONS
- Expensive
- Noisy when overclocked to achieve 144Hz
- Early adopter tech with quality control issues
Specs:
- Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution: 4K / UHD
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Main Panel Type: IPS
- Sync Tech: G-Sync
Of course, there’s also an entry for gamers made of pure energy fueled by Mountain Dew and Doritos. Asus’ own ROG offering in the mini-LED market competes well with the Viewsonic entry above and is even more affordable now that it’s on sale.
This monitor also comes with a built-in webcam, a mini display on the front bar that can show system info, RGB lighting, and all the bells and whistles you’d expect in an IPS mini-LED monitor.
Asus ROG Swift 32" Gaming Monitor (PG32UQX)
KTC 27 Inch Mini LED Monitor (H27T20)
PROS
- Less costly compared to others
- 165Hz refresh rate
- Minimalist design and small bezels
- Reasonably-priced
CONS
- Bloom issues
- Early adopter tech with quality control issues
Specs:
- Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 1440p / QHD
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- Main Panel Type: HVA
- Sync Tech: FreeSync Premium, G-Sync Compatible
Didn’t think we’d leave you budget-oriented enthusiasts behind huh? Sadly, this is what counts as “budget” in this segment. Mini-LED is still an early adopter tech after all and it’s still an expensive hardware.
However, if you’re not big into 4K gaming or have a weaker GPU, then this might be the only option for you. 1440p is nothing to scoff at and it even has a good refresh rate. There are fewer mini-LED zones here (around half of the 4K ones) but it’s the image quality that counts.
KTC 27 Inch Mini LED Monitor (H27T20)
Mini-LED Might Be On Its Way To Becoming More Affordable
At the moment, you see all these premium and early adopter options but thanks to entries like the KTC H27T20, the market is about to become more open to mid-range and budget-oriented consumers.
That doesn’t mean you might regret buying the more expensive ones, of course. They still offer the best image quality and with a lot less cut corners. Besides, 4K monitors with triple-digit refresh rates are expensive, anyway.
Regardless, it’s good to keep tabs on the mini-LED monitor scene just to see what it has to offer against OLED.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is mini-LED an LED monitor?
No, the LED designation is just for backlighting. It's still an LCD monitor and as such, has all the problems that LCD monitors have such as aggressive backlighting that can bleed in dark rooms and bloom issues. -
Why are mini-LED monitors so expensive?
Because they're relatively new tech and the image quality, contrast, and brightness they have can rival that of the more expensive OLED monitors.