The arrival of mini-LED tech in TVs has been one of the most important television events since 2021. This type of backlighting for LCD displays utilises smaller LEDs to cram in more light in less space, producing razor-thin telev sets with brilliant HDR. Though TCL had developed the technology prior to 2021, it really took off after Samsung distributed it throughout the world in some of the best television models of the year, and it is now available from Sony, LG, Philips and Hisense.
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The only issue is that it is not inexpensive. More sophisticated manufacturing is required for Samsung's 2021 LED televisions, which means higher premium costs. Samsung's 2022 TV lineup (e.g., the Samsung QN90A) significantly decreased in price over the past year, and it was nice to see that Samsung's 2022 line was often less costly than its previous year's counterparts. That was in stark contrast to the hike in prices of LG OLED televisions, including the LG C2.
We're really hoping for mini-LEDs to become more common in mid-level TVs—and while that won't happen overnight, there are good signs for further price reductions coming from the manufacturers. In addition to the general on-going price reductions on making LCD screens, a report in Digitimes says that there's some tough competition brewing between different screen manufacturers—and tough competition usually means a price cut as different manufacturers try to undercut each other.
According to Digitimes, two factors are contributing to big price reductions in the Chinese television market in particular, but both are having an impact globally: fewer people are purchasing televisions, so companies are lowering prices in an effort to attract customers; and because fewer televisions are being sold, therefore more panels are being produced than are required, resulting in a bargain per panel.
There are two kinds of mini-LED televisions, so expect to buy them for less.
When comparing the two types of mini-LED sets, the superior quality one is typically (and unsurprisingly) more expensive. This year, we anticipate to see a LOT of mini-LED sets from brands like TCL, which will be significantly cheaper than Samsung's models.
According to Digitimes, PoB and CoB mini-LED TVs will be sold at different price points, with PoB models costing less and CoB models costing more. The difference in technology is not significant to understand (multiple LED units are attached directly to a circuit board on CoB mini-LED units; a single LED unit is packaged separately and attached to the circuit board on PoB mini-LED units).
Blocking out excess light is a major advantage of using a CoB mini-LED screen over a PoB screen. That's why the Samsung QN900B, which uses OLED technology, provides impressive contrast and black levels. You're more likely to see 'blooming' on a less expensive model when dark areas are located next to light areas.
Despite Samsung and Sony's CoB technology, which should produce better picture quality than we've seen from LED TVs in the past at midrange prices, PoB technology should still give us better picture quality than we've had from LED TVs in the past, so we're excited to see whether mini-LED sets can take control of our list of the best TVs under $1000 in 2022.