How Mini-LED is expected to revolutionize Television Technology?

While this concept will certainly drive the advent of new television sets in the near future, it is more than appropriate to discuss this technology in detail and even the recent set of innovations that enterprising OEMs are bringing into the technological space. 

How Mini-LED is expected to revolutionize Television Technology? Picture 1

Before we move any further into this exploratory discussion, you must know that tech giants like LG, TCL, and Samsung are already working on the new televisions with mini LED technology at the helm. Moreover, the concept of mini LED is such that we can expect the same in MacBooks, and even the smaller iPad screens. 

The Essence

Mini LED technology aims at reinventing display-backlighting for larger and smaller screens alike, thereby facilitating improvements when blacks and contrast levels are concerned. 

The Problem

In case you want to understand the technology in detail, it is necessary to first separate the TV display from the existing lighting. Hypothetically, once you get rid of the panel you would notice that the picture is made of pixels, projected by the LCD whereas the same is illuminated for the viewer via the LED, which is angled from the rear and even the side panels.

However, the catch here is that LED bulbs have a luminance of their own, which isn't as intelligent as expected. Therefore, basic TV sets with a handful of LEDs aren't great at showcasing the contrast levels, which in turn restricts the visual brilliance. 

For instance, if you are viewing a scene that requires the television to project the left portion of the screen as bright and the right side as completely dark, LED fails to achieve the same due to the lack of projection intelligence. Besides, even if you use a high-end TV that is intelligent and capable of dimming the LEDs as per requirements, the light spillage doesn't lead to complete darkening, which restricts true blacks.  

How Mini-LED is expected to revolutionize Television Technology? Picture 2

For individuals who would be interested in learning more about the light spillage, it is termed Blooming in the more technical sense. The accidental spreading of light is often taken care of in high-end Smart TVs owing to the inclusion of additional light zones. Nevertheless, the quality is still an issue even in high-end LED televisions.

The Plight of Non-Smart TVs

Low-end television sets that are barely HD ready are massively affected by blooming. While the LCD projects lesser pixels in general, the lack of LEDs fails to illuminate or darken the right areas at the right time. This problem takes a bigger form while using streaming devices like Roku and Amazon Firestick to view IPTV, Netflix, or other forms of curated content. While troubleshooting Firestick remote helps with reception, it doesn't do anything then contrast levels are concerned.

Instead, you are forced to use the Alexa-powered, Firestick remote to tone down the settings and view the same in a mediocre output. This limitation also hurts your investment in streaming devices. Not just that, while you can always keep persisting with a traditional TV with LCD or LED screen with a middling viewing experience, erratic remote functioning often forces you to make new purchases.

Apparently, if the remote starts malfunctioning it becomes frustrating to control the visual quality of standard non-smart television, which further validates the inclusion of mini-LED technology. This means even if you choose to purchase a mini-LED TV with non-Smart capabilities, a problematic remote isn't going to sabotage your visual experiences. Rather, the standard settings would be more than adequate to identify the blacks and contrast levels, to perfection. 

Mini LED Technology as the Savior

The concept of Mini LED is all about restricting the size of the Light Emitting Diodes and using thousands of additional, smaller LEDs to create light zones. Smaller entities offer additional control and eventually help improve the blacks and contrast levels. 

Can OLED Help?

Firstly, OLED technology is still superior as the pixels illuminate themselves and offer better control over the contrast levels. However, OLED TVs come at a premium, which might not be the most consumer-friendly thing in the post-pandemic scenario. Mini LED TVs, if and when launched, is expected to be more affordable and compatible with streaming devices, provided some affordable versions aren't infused with Smart properties. 

Mini-LEDs and LG's new QNED Lineup of Televisions

While LG's new concept deserves a separate discussion, it is more than appropriate to bring it up in the wake of this enlightening take on mini-LEDs. The QNED lineup is all about using close to 30,000, tiny light-emitting diodes for illuminating the pixels. The 30,000 mini LEDs are further segregated into 2500 light dimming zones, helping the TVs achieve contrast levels in the ratio of 1,000,000:1. As a matter of fact, ratios like these previously made sense for the OLED panels. 

The mini LED technology allows QNED televisions to control each of the 2500 dimming zones, thereby offering better control over the true blacks and contrast levels. 

Micro vs Mini: LEDs with a Difference

The concept of Micro-LED resembles OLED and resonates with the self-illuminated pixels. As Samsung doesn't adhere to the organic element in the OLED TVs, the micro-LED terminology makes sense and is entirely distant when compared to the more relevant concept of mini-LEDs. 

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Latest Developments

As per the latest set of insights, Apple is already planning to launch the mini-LED version of the new iPad Pro in 2021 whereas we might see a design and technology refresh even with the MacBook Air, in 2022. When it comes to the televisions, the initial rendezvous with actual prototypes are expected in the next few days with LG expected to launch 10 televisions featuring the mini-LED technology, at the CES 2021.

The current crop of gadgets to be launched by LG is expected to cater to 4K and 8K panels and Samsung's mini-LED TVs at the CES 2021 are expected to follow the same suit. However, Samsung plans to showcase the technology as the 'next-gen' mini-LEDs. 

Regardless of the options and purported launches, mini LED TVs are expected to change the consumer perspective towards televisions both Smart and standard ones. 

Marvin Fry

Update 30 November 2020