Products at a Glance
How we picked
In order to create this guide and help you find the best mini-LED laptop around, we took a deep dive into all the top models the market has to offer. We took into account factors such as technical specification, looks, weight, and other interesting features that we felt made these laptops stand out from their competition. We are constantly on the lookout for new contenders for the best mini-LED laptops and update this guide frequently. Make sure you check back in soon to find out the latest picks.
Product Reviews
- M2 CPU can handle nearly any application
- Screen supports a stunning 3456 x 2234 resolution
- Cool Apple design
- Excellent battery life - up to 19 hours
- Can be considered pricey
We feel that the MacBook Pro is the best mini-LED laptop that you can find. Its combination of looks and performance set it apart from its competitors, and it is simply one of the best 16-inch laptops on the market today.
This model uses the 12-Core M2 processor, designed to handle multiple tasks. This CPU can tackle almost anything you throw at it, but it is also very power-efficient and the battery can last up to 19 hours. Along with its 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD storage, this model strikes a great balance between power and portability.
The M2 Pro chip has a 19-core integrated GPU to handle the MacBook Pro’s visuals. The laptop is well-suited for video editing, graphics designing, and music production. You can enjoy some light gaming on the MacBook Pro, but its lack of a standalone graphics card holds it back in this regard.
The display on this laptop is a 16.2-inch liquid retina XDR screen, capable of resolutions up to 3456 x 2234. The high contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 is possible thanks to the mini-LED technology, meaning that you will enjoy superb clarity. The screen also has a refresh rate of 120Hz and a peak brightness of 1000 Nits, further enhancing the screen’s quality.
The MacBook carries the iconic slim and chic Apple design, and even though it packs some serious power, the chassis is only 0.66 inches thick and the laptop weighs just 4.7 pounds. The port selection is robust and includes an advanced HDMI port that supports an 8K external display. Anyone who needs this laptop for video conferencing will also appreciate the built-in 1080p webcam. As it stands, the only downside of the Apple MacBook Pro is its premium pricing.
- Powerhouse RTX 4070 GPU
- High-end Core i9-13950HX processor
- UHD+ 120 Hz and FHD+ 240 Hz native resolutions
- Battery only lasts 8 hours
When it comes to the best Windows mini-LED laptop, our pick is the Razer Blade 16. It combines its great specification with a very high-quality screen, making for a highly impressive package.
The processor is the Intel Core i9-13950HX, which is a very high-end CPU. With its 24 cores and 32 threads, it’s well-equipped to multitask and manage any application you throw at it. The processor also has a maximum turbo frequency of 5.5 GHz, for when it needs a boost.
The Razer Blade 16 comes with a dedicated GPU in the RTX 4070. With its 8GB VRAM and 140W TDP, it’s capable of playing the most demanding games, and video editing in 4K is a walk in the park.
The screen is one of the high points of this laptop. Not only does it have the mini-LED feature, but it also has a dual mode which switches resolution and refresh rates. In a nutshell, you can opt for the full HD resolution at 240Hz best suited for gaming, or 4K resolution at 120Hz for other uses. These factors mean that not only is this model a great mini-LED laptop, but it is also one of the best Razer laptops overall.
The laptop is cooled by Razer’s vapor chamber cooling system, which further sets this laptop apart from its rivals. You can also enjoy the customizable RGB lighting and luminous Razer logo if you are using the laptop in the dark. Because of its high spec and power-hungry components, battery life lasts up to around 8 hours.
- Excellent bang for your buck
- Weighs just over 4 lbs
- High resolution, 165Hz screen
- Older generation GPU
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus rounds out our guide as the best value mini-LED laptop. This model’s price point means it is accessible to most people wanting a powerful portable computer with a mini-LED screen, while not compromising on performance by much.
ASUS opted for an AMD processor in the shape of the Ryzen 9 6900HS for the Zephyrus, with 8 cores and 16 threads. The processor has a base speed of 3.3 GHz while it can boost up to 4.9 GHz for more taxing applications (such as gaming). This model comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage, which should be sufficient for most people.
The GPU is the 8GB Nvidia RTX 3060 card, which means that most games will run without issue on this laptop. For non-gamers like architects, graphics designers, and content creators, this graphics card will certainly be up to the task. Keep in mind that this is the previous generation of RTX cards, and most of the best ASUS laptops will use the RTX 4000 series.
The 15.6-inch mini-LED screen supports WQHD resolution, which is a noticeable upgrade from the more common FHD screen. The display has a refresh rate of 165Hz, which makes for extremely smooth visuals.
The Zephyrus has an eclipse grey shell with a customizable AniMe Matrix top cover. The keyboard is also backlit, and the WiFi 6E connectivity is another welcome addition.
How to pick the best mini-LED laptop for you
Mini-LED laptops can be costly, so you want to make sure it’s as hassle-free as possible. What does that mean? Well, first you’ll want to make sure you know exactly what to look for…and what to look out for. Here’s our guide to picking the right mini-LED laptop for you.
Display specification
Mini-LED laptops are preferred for their impressive visuals, so it’s important to consider a laptop’s screen specification as a priority. Support for resolutions up to 4K is preferred and peak brightness of over 500 Nits will produce a very clear picture under different lighting conditions. Refresh rate is another factor that will help improve the screen’s smoothness, especially during games. For people who work with graphic design, make sure the screen covers a wide color gamut over 90% of DCI-P3, at least.
Performance
It is important to take into account the processor and graphics card of your laptop before making a decision and make sure it can meet your needs. You want to look for a newer generation CPU and GPU to handle your intended tasks, futureproof your purchase, and get the best bang for your buck. If you don’t need your laptop for visually-intensive tasks like gaming or video editing, then something like the Apple M2 Pro CPU has integrated graphics that will amply meet your needs. For more heavy-duty work, something like a 13th-generation Intel Core CPU combined with an RTX 4000 series card or newer is preferred.
Battery
How long a laptop’s battery lasts is always a key consideration, and thankfully mini-LEDs are generally energy-efficient. While most laptops in this category will last 7-10 hours on the go with light usage, there are certain models that can last over 15 hours. If mobility and working on the go are very important to you, then make sure that the stated battery life is on the higher end of this scale.
Budget
In general, mini-LED laptops are not the cheapest, as their high-quality screens come at a premium price. They generally come under the mid-range price bracket and are rarely found under $1000. If this is a little on the steep side for you right now, then we’d recommend checking out some of our top picks for the best laptops under $600 for more options. Both guides will have laptops with bright screens, good contrast, and decent color thanks to their IPS panels.
Frequently asked questions
When you’re trying to figure out which is the best mini-LED laptop, it’s natural to have a few questions. That’s why we picked some of the most common queries on mini-LED laptops to answer here, to help you in your search for the ideal model.
Is a Mini LED screen good for a laptop?
It is considered that a mini-LED screen is beneficial for laptops, as it enhances display quality through better brightness and contrast. This is a great help for anyone who prioritizes visual fidelity in a task like graphic design, but also simply for enjoying movies or streaming at high quality.
What is the difference between LCD and mini LED laptops?
In laptops, mini-LED technology is different from LCD as it is made up of multiple small LED lights, instead of a uniform backlight in a traditional LCD.
What is the difference between mini-LED and OLED laptops?
A mini-LED laptop screen could offer certain advantages over an OLED laptop, such as the potential for greater peak brightness and fewer potential burn-in problems. However, OLED produces true blacks and faster response times, which might be important characteristics for you. Therefore, choosing between these two types of screen will depend on factors like price and use case – generally, OLEDs are better for gaming due to superior response time but cost more, while mini-LEDs are cheaper and perfectly well-suited for more casual tasks.
Our Verdict
For us, it’s clear that the Apple MacBook Pro is the best mini-LED laptop on the market today. It offers an incredible combination of high-end, powerful components and a typically slick Apple look. You will be hard-pressed to find a superior mini-LED laptop, even taking into consideration the premium pricing. With the release of their newest M3 chip in late 2023, we are confident that Apple will continue producing great laptops for years to come.