One of the latest emerging technologies in the monitor market is Mini LED displays. This is a type of backlighting behind the LCD panel that includes many small LED lights. Combined with a proper local dimming feature, it helps the monitor display deeper blacks with brighter highlights and less haloing compared to edge-lit backlighting. Displays with more dimming zones allow for finer control around bright objects, resulting in less haloing, but the number of zones doesn't guarantee good performance. Although they don't deliver the same deep blacks as OLEDs, Mini LED monitors tend to cost less, get brighter, and don't risk burn-in, so they're good alternatives to getting an expensive OLED.
While the Mini LED monitor market is still fairly limited, there are different options available. Most have a 4k resolution for detailed images, and there are lower-end 1440p options, too. When looking for a new monitor, consider how you'll use it and how it performs. For example, good picture quality with bright highlights and vivid colors is important for most uses. If you're a gamer, you'll also want a fast response time for sharp motion with quick-moving objects.
We've bought and tested more than 380 monitors, and below are our picks for the best Mini LED monitors available. See our recommendations for the best HDR monitors, the best multimedia monitors, and the best HDR gaming monitors.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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Best Mini LED Monitor
HDR Picture7.8SDR Picture8.2Brightness7.7Color Accuracy8.8PC Gaming8.2Console Gaming8.7Editing8.2Contrast8.5Local Dimming7.0Size32"Panel TypeVAMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160The best Mini LED monitor we've tested so far is the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85. It's a premium 4k, 32-inch monitor that features 1,196 dimming zones. Its local dimming feature helps improve contrast by deepening blacks against bright highlights, but it also causes black crush, resulting in a loss of detail in dark scenes. On the plus side, it has minimal haloing around bright objects when viewed directly from the front, but more haloing when viewed from the sides. Another advantage of getting this Mini LED monitor is how bright it gets. Small highlights pop in HDR, and it fights glare well in bright spaces. It also displays a wide range of vivid colors in HDR for a punchy and vivid viewing experience.
Besides that, it's a great gaming monitor thanks to its 240Hz refresh rate and consistently fast response time for sharp motion, but there's smearing in dark scenes. Plus, it supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of gaming consoles. Its 4k resolution also helps deliver sharp and detailed images for any type of gaming. You should know that this monitor has known issues, including VRR flicker, pixel inversion, and scanlines, but its pros still outweigh its cons.
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Best Mid-Range Mini LED Monitor
HDR Picture6.8SDR Picture7.1Brightness8.7Color Accuracy8.5PC Gaming7.7Console Gaming8.5Editing7.9Contrast6.2Local Dimming6.0Size27"Panel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate320 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 is too expensive for you, the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx is a good mid-range alternative that you can often find for less. It's another 4k option with a ton of dimming zones, but it performs differently from the Samsung. First of all, you can't use its local dimming feature in SDR, so blacks look gray, and it has worse SDR picture quality than the Samsung. Despite having 1,152 dimming zones, it also has more haloing around bright objects when you use local dimming HDR. However, this feature is still effective at improving the picture quality by deepening blacks and making highlights pop. Plus, it gets brighter than the Samsung, making it the better choice to use in well-lit rooms.
It has different gaming features than the Samsung, too. It has a lower native 160Hz refresh rate, so 4k gaming feels less smooth. However, it has a dual-mode feature that boosts the refresh rate to 320Hz with a lower 1080p resolution, giving you the versatility for playing different types of games. It also has a quick response time, and there's less black smearing than on the Samsung.
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Best Budget Mini LED Monitor
HDR Picture8.1SDR Picture7.9Brightness8.9Color Accuracy9.0PC Gaming8.1Console Gaming7.3Editing8.0Contrast8.7Local Dimming8.0Size27"Panel TypeVAMax Refresh Rate180 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440Some Mini LED monitors are becoming accessible at budget-friendly prices, like the AOC Q27G40XMN. The main trade-off of getting this versus the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx is that it has a lower 1440p resolution, so images are less detailed. That said, if you're after pure picture quality, this monitor punches above its weight, as it includes a great local dimming feature, even better than the Acer, thanks to its 1,152 zones. It displays deep blacks with very bright highlights, with little haloing or black crush. Plus, unlike the Acer, you can also use local dimming in SDR.
Its local dimming feature does have some bugs, though, as content looks oversaturated depending on the combination of settings you use with it. If this bothers you, you can also consider the similar AOC Q27G3XMN instead. However, it has fewer zones, as it's limited to 336, and its local dimming feature isn't as good overall because of this. That said, the Q27G40XMN is still a fantastic Mini LED monitor that provides great value.
Notable Mentions
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Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75:
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 is a lower-end model than the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85. It has the same number of dimming zones as the Neo G8 and performs similarly. However, the main difference is that the Neo G7 has a lower refresh rate. It's something to consider if you don't need the high refresh rate and want to save money.
See our review -
MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M:
The MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M competes with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx as it has many of the same features and specs. The MSI is a bit more well-rounded because you can use its local dimming feature in SDR. However, it usually costs more than the Acer.
See our review
Recent Updates
Feb 24, 2026:
We removed the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX from the Notable Mentions because it's hard to find.
Feb 02, 2026:
We moved the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX to the Notable Mentions because it's hard to find, and we renamed the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 to the 'Best Mini LED Monitor.' We added the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx as the 'Best Mid-Range Mini LED Monitor.' In the Notable Mentions, we also removed the Xiaomi G Pro 27i and the Sony INZONE M9 II and added the MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M.
Oct 24, 2025:
We removed the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx because it's hard to find.
Sep 10, 2025:
We added the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX as the 'Best Mini LED Monitor' and renamed the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 to the 'Best Upper Mid-Range Mini LED Monitor' to better reflect the current market. We also replaced the AOC Q27G3XMN with the AOC Q27G40XMN, which has more dimming zones. Lastly, we added the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 to the Notable Mentions.
May 21, 2025:
We replaced the INNOCN 27M2V and the Sony INZONE M9 with the Xiaomi G Pro 27i and the Sony INZONE M9 II in the Notable Mentions to better reflect the current monitor market.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best Mini LED monitors currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you'd prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all our monitors with full-array backlighting. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.