Warning: not every Mini LED TV is as you expect! We checked 156 models on Alza and uncovered a critical issue

On Alza, in October 2026 we counted 156 new TVs labeled Mini LED. For 47 of them, local dimming is not mentioned at all, and the number of zones is given by only 53 of them, even though the missing info doesn’t yet mean the TV doesn’t support dimming, because e-shops often just neglect to include it. The word Mini LED itself, however, says almost nothing about picture quality.

Mini LED only means that the backlight diodes are smaller. Black levels, contrast, and HDR are affected much more by where the diodes are placed and whether they can be dimmed by zones. The Czech YouTuber Jan Veselý showed this well—he lined up three TVs labeled “Mini LED” side by side. From his test, plus measurements from RTINGS and FlatpanelsHD, we put together an overview of types, number of zones, and specific models that are worth it.

We update the article regularly. Last time: October 2026.

What Mini LED is and what it isn’t

A Mini LED TV is still LCD. The image is created by a liquid crystal panel, and behind it the backlight shines. Mini LED only changes the diodes in this backlight: they are smaller and there are more of them. The size 100 to 200 micrometers is commonly stated, but there is no binding standard. According to RTINGS, TCL was the first to use “Mini LED” in marketing, starting in 2019.

A standard LED TV has dozens to hundreds of diodes in the backlight; Mini LED has thousands. With more small diodes, you can control the light more precisely. But that only works when the TV really controls them in groups. If everything lights up at once, you don’t gain anything from small diodes.

Don’t mix up Mini LED with Micro LED. Micro LED has no LCD or backlight—each subpixel is its own self-illuminating diode. Such TVs cost tens of thousands of euros, for example the 163-inch Hisense at CES 2025. Also watch out for Samsung Micro RGB: despite the name, it’s still an LCD with a colored backlight.

Local dimming matters more than the size of the diodes

Local dimming divides the backlight into zones. Each zone lights up only as strongly as the image above it needs. When part of the scene is black, the diodes underneath it turn off and the black stays black.

The best method is called FALD (from English full array local dimming). The diodes are distributed across the entire panel, and each zone is controlled separately. FALD didn’t invent Mini LED—it was already used in older TVs with larger diodes, but smaller diodes made it possible to have far more zones. Not every TV with the “Mini LED” label has FALD, so when choosing, first check whether it has it, and then compare the number of zones and the quality of their control. Without FALD, Mini LED is just a sticker on the box.

Three types of Mini LED: FALD, without zones, and Edge

Mini LED FALD

The diodes are behind the panel in independent zones. In a test with a white dot on a black background, only the zones under the dot light up—the rest of the screen stays black. Veselý TVs were also compared in a scene from the series Stranger Things (1. episode, 6. episode). When looking from the front, there was only a minimal glow around the monster; from the side, the glow was more visible.

Mini LED without local dimming

The diodes are also behind the panel, but they light up like one big zone. The TV can dim the entire backlight at once, not part of it. In the dark, that’s why the whole screen is gray and around every bright object you see a veil. Manufacturers sometimes label this type as direct LED.

RTINGS verified that Samsung M70H and M80H from 2026 have no local dimming at all, even though they’re sold as Mini LED. The same thing was found with LG Gallery LX7. In September 2026, TCL sued Samsung in the US over the M-series for misleading advertising, writes FlatpanelsHD. Samsung insists its products are described correctly.

Mini LED Edge

LEDs are only along the edge of the panel, usually at the bottom. Such a TV has dimming, but the zones form only vertical stripes across the full height of the screen. So for the TV to light up a small dot in the middle, it has to light up the entire column under it. In a movie, you then see bright streaks that run from the bottom edge.

Such TVs typically have 6 to 16 zones. LG QNED86A from 2025 has six, according to choose.tv measurements. In a video, the presenter points out that many people rate edge dimming as worse than having no dimming at all. RTINGS also warns for edge backlighting about a higher risk of malfunctions, because heat builds up in one place.

How many zones are enough

With FALD, the number of zones and the algorithm that controls them matter. If a bright object is smaller than one zone, the entire zone has to light up. Around subtitles or stars in the night sky, you’ll then see a bright glow. People call it halo or blooming.

Roughly for 55 and 65 inches:

• up to 250 zones: entry level, e.g. TCL C6K (180 and 242 zones) or Hisense U7SE (192 and 260 zones). In the dark, you’ll see halo—however, compared to a TV without zones, it’s a big jump.
• 500 to 1,000 zones: mid-range, e.g. Hisense U7S PRO (512 and 960 zones) or TCL Q7C (720 zones at 55 inches).
• 2,000 and more zones: higher tier, e.g. TCL C8L with 2,040 zones at 65 inches. Halo is at least present even with subtitles.

More zones doesn’t automatically mean a better picture. In RTINGS tests, Sony Bravia 9 with 1 512 zones had the most accurate dimming, even though TCL and Hisense TVs had more zones. According to RTINGS, without a good algorithm, dimming looks bad even if the TV has 10 000 zones. That’s why it’s worth checking its review/test before buying a more expensive model.

It also depends on the panel. VA panel has higher native contrast and the halo is less visible on it. IPS (ADS) has better viewing angles, but in a dark room the halo is more noticeable with Mini LED. Hisense, meanwhile, changes the panel by size within the same line: U7SE is VA at 55 inches and ADS at 65 inches.

QD-Mini LED, SQD, QNED, Neo QLED: what the names mean

Each manufacturer has named Mini LED their own way. Most names talk about colors, not dimming.

• QD-Mini LED (TCL): Mini LED backlighting with a layer of quantum dots for a wider color range. It doesn’t say anything about zones.
• SQD-Mini LED (TCL, 2026): quantum dots and a new color filter. Fans like C7L, C8L and X11L have it.
• ULED MiniLED (Hisense): the name of Hisense’s premium TV family. Look in the technical sheet for the type of backlighting and the number of zones.
• Neo QLED (Samsung): Samsung’s Mini LED series from 2021, with zone-by-zone dimming. Cheap Samsung TVs from the M line with the label Mini LED don’t belong in it.
• QNED (LG): LCD with quantum dots or another layer for colors. Some models have Mini LED; others have edge backlighting with only a few zones.

RGB Mini LED: a new generation from the years 2025 and 2026

Standard Mini LED shines with blue diodes and colors are complemented by quantum dots. RGB Mini LED has separate red, green, and blue diodes in the backlighting. That’s why it can cover a wider color range. Samsung states 100% BT.2020 for Micro RGB, and Sony about 90% for True RGB.

In 2026, RGB Mini LED TVs include Hisense (UR8, UR9), TCL (RM7L, RM9L), Samsung (R85H, R95H) and Sony (Bravia 9 II). Xiaomi introduced in China the TV S Pro 2027 with RGB Mini LED and up to 4,860 zones. Even RGB backlighting needs zones and dimming, so the FALD rule applies just the same. According to TrendForce estimates, 1.7 million will be sold in 2026.

How to check Mini LED in the store and at home

1. In the specs, look for local dimming with number of zones (Full Array Local Dimming). If the manufacturer doesn’t list the number of zones, take it as a warning.
2. Watch out for micro dimming and similar names. It’s not full-fledged zone-by-zone local dimming.
3. For very thin cheaper models, be careful. A body that’s only about 3 cm thick can give away LEDs along the edge—not behind the panel.
4. In the store, the lighting can fool you. In a bright showroom, black looks good on almost any TV—you’ll see the difference only in the dark.
5. At home, run the YouTube local dimming test where a white dot or square moves over a black background. With FALD, you’ll see a grid of zones and you can roughly count them. With edge, you’ll see vertical bands; on a TV without zones, you’ll see a grey area.
6. The TestUFO Blooming in the TV browser also helps. But the glow can also be added by your phone’s camera lens, with which you take a photo of the screen.

Don’t trust the description in the e-shop blindly. For example, Alza states for Hisense 55U7SE that local dimming is not available, but the Hisense technical datasheet for this model lists 192 zones. The mistake probably happened because Hisense, on its Slovak website, writes only “DLED” for all models.

Mini LED TVs with FALD that we recommend

We picked TVs from Chinese brands that have FALD and the number of zones verified in the manufacturer’s technical datasheet. We sorted them from the entry-level class to the highest, and for each one you’ll find a link to Heureka where you can compare prices in Slovak stores.

Hisense 55U7SE: The cheapest FALD that actually makes sense

The 2026 model with 55 inches has 192 zones, a VA panel, and according to Hisense a brightness of 1,300 nits. For the entry class, that’s a solid baseline, but in the dark you’ll notice halo around subtitles. The system is VIDAA, not Google TV. Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+ are on it—check less-known apps in advance.

Compare the prices of the 55-inch version at Slovak stores on Heureka after clicking on this link.

TCL C6K: Entry into Mini LED with Google TV

The cheapest TCL Mini LED with Google TV has 180 zones at 55 inches and 242 at 65 inches. The model is from 2025. TechRadar and id.nl measured around 700 nits. RTINGS, on the American version QM6K, rates the zone accuracy only as average, and the halo around bright objects is visible. In gaming mode, it handles 144 Hz.

On Heureka, you’ll find both the 55-inch and the 65-inch version, and exactly how much you’ll pay will be shown after you click.

TCL 55Q7C: 720 zones for the price of a mid-range model

Q7C is the C7K model version for selected stores. At 55 inches it has 720 zones, i.e., four times more than the C6K, and TCL lists brightness of 2,600 nits. TechRadar measured 1,790 nits on the 65-inch C7K in Filmmaker mode. From our selection, it offers the most zones for its price.

When we compared prices in October, the 55Q7C on Heureka was even cheaper than the 55-inch C6K, even though it has four times more zones. Find the current price after clicking on this link.

Hisense U7S PRO: 960 zones at 65 inches

The 2026 model line has 512 zones and 2,000 nits at 55 inches, and 960 zones and 3,000 nits at 65 inches. Watch the panel: 55 inches has ADS, while 65 inches has VA according to Hisense. So for a dark living room, we’d go for the larger version. Again, the system is VIDAA.

On Heureka, you’ll find the 65-inch version that we would pick for a dark living room, as well as the 55-inch one.

TCL C8L: When you don’t want to see halo

In the 65-inch version, the C8L has 2,040 zones, and in the 75-inch version 2,584. It launched on the market in 2026. The WHVA panel has wider viewing angles than standard VA. FlatpanelsHD measured 3,764 nits in Filmmaker mode and up to 5,529 nits short-term. RTINGS, for the American QM8L version, writes that the halo is almost not visible.

Compare the prices of the 65-inch and the 75-inch version at Slovak stores on Heureka.

TCL X11L: 11 520 zones for enthusiasts

The TCL flagship has 11,520 zones at 75 inches, 14,400 at 85 inches, and 20,736 at 98 inches. For the 75-inch version, Alza lists a brightness of 9,000 nits. From our selection, it’s the most expensive and it’s worth it only if you want the best that today’s LCD can do.

On Heureka, you’ll find versions with 75 inches, 85 inches, and 98 inches.

If you want a Xiaomi TV, the Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 2026 has, according to the manufacturer, 308 zones at 55 inches and 384 at 65 inches. By number of zones, it belongs to Hisense U7SE and TCL C6K.

Which “Mini LED” TVs to watch out for

• Samsung M70H and M80H: no local dimming; RTINGS verified it.
• LG Gallery LX7: no local dimming, verified by RTINGS.
• LG QNED80B: LG does not mention dimming in the specs at all, and the TV has a 60 Hz panel. The test is missing for now.
• LG QNED85B and QNED86B: LG lists Precision Dimming without specifying the number of zones. The predecessor QNED86A was edge-lit with six zones.
• TCL T8D: according to TCL it has FALD, but the manufacturer does not state the number of zones and Alza writes about 450 nits of brightness. Compared to the C6K, it’s a whole class lower.

Mini LED or OLED?

OLED has no backlight; each pixel lights up on its own. Black is perfect and there’s no halo effect. Mini LED, on the other hand, is brighter: according to RTINGS, even the darkest tested Mini LED is brighter than most OLEDs. So Mini LED is more suitable for a bright living room, while OLED is better for a dark room for movies.

In 2026, OLED is also catching up in brightness; TechRadar measured over 6 3 nits on the LG G000. There’s still the risk of burn-in of static elements, which RTINGS confirmed also on models from the years 2020 to 2023. LCD with Mini LED won’t burn in; over time the backlight can only slowly get weaker.

Video: See the difference for yourself

Jan Veselý puts QD-Mini LED with FALD, Mini LED without zones, and Mini LED Edge next to each other. First, he shows them on a test for local dimming, then on a dark scene from Stranger Things in a dimmed room.

Quick overview of Mini LED types

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