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Why Mini-LED May Be the Next OLED
Looking sharp for 2021
By Charlie Sorrel Charlie Sorrel Senior Tech Reporter Charlie Sorrel has been writing about technology, and its effects on society and the planet, for 13 years. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on January 8, 2021 01:00PM EST Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Theater & Entertainment Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Key Takeaways
Mini-LED displays use a grid of tiny backlights that can be switched on or off.They’re cheaper to make than OLED screens, but share some benefits. Samsung and Apple are going big on mini-LED in 2021. Samsung Mini-LEDs are coming to a screen near you, making pictures brighter, more contrasty, and almost as good as OLED, all without jacking up the price of our favorite gadgets. Expect to see lots of Mini-LED screens in 2021, in TVs, laptops, and even iPads. The advantage of this screen tech is that it can give superior images, but without the cost and difficulty of manufacturing large OLED screens. It’s going to be (literally) big. "I believe with smaller pixel elements [mini-LED] improves black levels and overall image quality," tech writer Orestis Bastounis told Lifewire via Twitter. "Black is closer to 'true' black—still not as good as OLED which is a pixel emitting zero light as it’s turned off completely, but closer." What Are Mini-LEDs
A standard screen found in today’s laptops and tablets comprises two parts: a backlight layer, and a layer of colored LCD pixels on top. The backlight shines through the pixels, which add color, and can also become opaque to block the backlight. The problem is that the backlight can still bleed through the pixel layer, causing a halo effect. To counter this, the screen can switch off parts of the backlight, but the backlight sections are relatively large, so they still spill over. OLED screens are way better. Each pixel is its own light. This lets you vary color and intensity per-pixel, and leads to amazing color and contrast. If a pixel on the screen is supposed to be black, it stays black. Samsung Finally, mini-LEDs work like regular LCD screens, but with much smaller backlights, made from tiny LEDs. This lets you dim smaller regions of the screen, getting closer to the quality of an OLED display. Why Not Just Use OLED
If OLED is so good, why not just use it for everything? Because it’s expensive to make, especially at large sizes. OLED is perfect for camera viewfinders, or for phones, because the price/size ratio is acceptable. But making them at even iPad sized is currently too expensive. Mini-LEDs are the next best thing. They look better than LCD, and when it comes to portable devices like iPads and MacBooks, they can save power compared to LED screens. What Products Will Use Mini-LEDs
The main use for mini-LEDs will be in TVs, which really benefit from the extra contrast, and the lack of halos. Imagine that you’re watching a sci-fi movie, with bright spaceships and stars on a deep black background. With mini-LEDs, these ships and stars will be more halo-free. Samsung’s 2021 TV lineup is heavy on the mini-LEDs, although it’s calling some of them 'Neo-QLED.' "Samsung says the LEDs in these TVs are up to 40 times smaller than those in sets with traditional full-array backlighting," writes The Verge’s Chris Welch, "where you get a few dozen 'zones' that light up and dim in accordance with what’s happening on-screen." These TVs also have virtually non-existent bezels. The frame around the screen is so thin that it’s almost not there. Samsung Apple is also going all-in on mini-LEDs. Consistent rumors point to mini-LED iPads this year, most likely in the iPad Pro, which hasn’t seen a major update since 2018. The iPad Pro is still a formidable computer today, but the 2020 iPad Air is almost as good, and better in some ways. A mini-LED screen would help differentiate the pro machine. Mini-LEDs would also help the iPad to match the display quality of the iPhone 12, all models of which now use OLEDs. iOS devices are pretty much all-screen, with supplementary features to support that screen. It makes sense for Apple to take this seriously. MacBook Pros are also expected to get mini-LED displays this year, which would fit nicely, timeline-wise, with a possible total redesign when the 14-inch model gets Apple’s home-grown M1 chip. Mini-LED MacBook Airs on the other hand, aren’t expected until 2022. What we can say for sure is that Mini-LEDs are the future for most high-end displays, at least until somebody works out how to make affordable TV-sized OLED panels. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire OLED vs. LED: Which TV Display is Better? 2021 iPad Pro: News, Price, Release Date, and Specs What Is NEO QLED? ProMotion Display iMac: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors New iPad Pro 2022: Price, Release Date, Specs, and News What Is Mini LED? Neo QLED vs. OLED: What's the Difference? New iPad mini Pro: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors The Foldable iPhone: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors The 8 Best 60-inch TVs of 2022 QLED vs. OLED The 8 Best 40-Inch Smart TVs of 2022 How to Buy a TV in 2022 What Is MicroLED? LCD TV vs LED TV: What You Need To Know iPad Pro (2021, M1) Review: Desktop Performance in a Tablet Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies