If you approached me on the street and asked me what panels the best TVs use right now, I'd respond with two answers: OLED and Mini-LED. If you're someone who wants room-filling brightness and eye-popping color — Mini-LEDs is the answer. They're available in a wider range of prices than OLED TVs, and they tend to pack a much brighter picture on average.
Here's a round-up of five of my favorite Mini-LED TVs that I've spent a ton of time with in 2025. If you're looking to upgrade your living room and you suspect that Mini-LEDs are the way to go, these are the sets I'd check out first.
Quick List
- TCL 55" QM5K 4K Mini-LED TV: was $899 now $499 @ Best Buy
- TCL 55" QM7K 4K Mini-LED TV: was $697 now $617 @ Amazon
- Hisense 65" U8QG 4K Mini-LED TV: was $1,498 now $1,081 @ Amazon
- Samsung 65" QN90F 4K Mini-LED TV: was $2,197 now $1,699 @ Amazon
- Sony 65" Bravia 9 4K Mini-LED TV: was $2,999 now $2,798 @ Amazon
TCL QM5K
Why it's worth buying: This entry-level Mini-LED TV (a Best Buy exclusive) may not deliver the high-level performance of a pricier model, but it's one of the most affordable ways to secure Mini-LED backlighting in 2025. (When I first caught its price in a press release, I did a doubletake.)
I've been recommending the QM5K to readers and friends who don't necessarily need top-shelf performance and an extensive array of features, but who still want a picture that truly feels like an upgrade.
TCL QM7K
Why it's worth buying: The QM7K gets much, much brighter than entry-level sets like the aforementioned QM5K. It's a great choice for folks who want better performance and more features. If you're worried that the TCL QM5K won't be enough (and you don't mind paying a bit more), the QM7K is a worthy pick.
Casual and dedicated gamers should also that the QM7K offers more gaming features than most of those entry-level models, too. If you want to learn more, head over to our TCL QM7K review.
Hisense U8QG
Why it's worth buying: You can read all about it in our Hisense U8QG review, but the first thing you ought to know about this set is that it's one of the brightest TVs we've tested all year. That fact alone will make it a reliable option for people with brighter-than-average living spaces.
But my favorite aspect of this TV is its relatively low price. It can go toe to toe with some of the best Mini-LED TVs on shelves, but it comes in at a price that's much lower than most of those competitors.
Samsung QN90F
Why it's worth buying: Samsung's newest Neo QLED flagship might be the best 4K Mini-LED TV the brand has ever made. From the moment I first laid eyes on its bright, punchy picture while visiting Samsung's lab earlier this year, I've been a fan.
Yes, the QN90F will set you back more than most of the Mini-LED TVs on this list. However, it more than makes up for that with its fantastic backlight control, its searing highlights and its boat load of extra features. It's also worth noting that, right now, the 65-inch QN90F is over $500 off, so you are getting a pretty significant discount ahead of the holidays.
Sony Bravia 9
Why it's worth buying: Simply put, the Bravia 9 might be the best example of Mini-LED backlighting I've ever seen.
Sure, this TV came out in 2024, but you know what? It's too good not to include here. Besides, this TV has been such a resounding success that Sony has kept it on shelves for an additional year.
In his Sony Bravia 9 review, my colleague Matthew Murray summed up my feelings perfectly when he said the following: "Before the Sony Bravia 9, I would have told you that the future of TVs lay in the realm of QD-OLED more or less ruled by the incredible Sony A95L OLED. Now, the situation is not so clear-cut."
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