Best mini-LED laptops in 2024

Mini-LED laptops aren't just for playing video games; they can also be a boon for creators, developers, editors, and other professionals who need deep contrast and accurate color provided by many local dimming zones. Mini-LED screens aren't quite as good as OLED when it comes to color and contrast, but mini-LED tech does allow for more brightness as well as lower response times and higher refresh rates.

These laptops don't come cheap, especially because they're usually paired up with cutting-edge performance technology for gaming or professional work. If you're ready to make the upgrade, I've collected the best of the best mini-LED laptops that you can buy right now.

Our favorite mini-LED laptops in 2024

Apple's latest MacBook Pro, released late 2023 with new M3 processors, is an outstanding device for creators and editors who need a lot of power, long battery life, premium build quality, and a gorgeous display. Apple offers 14- and 16-inch display options, but the separate models can be configured with similar hardware.

The smaller 14.2-inch option has a 3042x1964 resolution that works out to 254 pixels per inch (PPI). The larger 16.2-inch screen has a 3456x2234 resolution, working out to the same 254 PPI. Both screens use Liquid Retina XDR tech to offer a contrast ratio up to 1,000,000:1, with brightness of up to 1,600 nits when viewing HDR content. They're capable of hitting a 120Hz refresh rate, and they cover the sRGB and P3 color gamuts. Apple doesn't explicitly say that its display is mini-LED in most documentation, but it indeed uses the tech and has thousands of local dimming zones.

The late-2023 MacBook Pro models received Apple's new M3 CPU options, with plain M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips available. The M3 chips really focused on improving GPU performance. In our MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max review, XDA Senior Editor Ben Sin remarked, "It supports hardware-accelerated ray-tracing and mesh-shading, technology used to improve graphical performance. There's also dynamic caching, which allocates system memory to the GPU in real-time based on demand." Of course, efficiency is also outstanding.

The keyboard and touchpad are as good as ever, and the design really hasn't changed compared to the M2 models. If you already have a recent MacBook Pro, these M3 models probably aren't worth the asking price. But if you're coming in fresh, they're an easy recommendation for any professionals and creators who need tons of power and long battery life. Have a look at our choices for best MacBook Pro accessories if you'd like to complete the setup.

HP recently expanded its Omen lineup of gaming laptops with the Transcend branch, going beyond the usual Omen customization options for power users who only want the best. The real star of the show is the 16-inch mini-LED display with 240Hz refresh rate, anti-glare finish, 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction, and up to 1,180 nits brightness with HDR 1000 support. HP does not specify how many local dimming zones it's using, but the bottom line is that it's going to make your games look better than they ever have on standard IPS monitors. In my HP Omen Transcend 16 review, I noted that it "can be considered a good value when it comes to the best mini-LED laptops available today."

In the usual HP fashion, there are plenty of configuration options available, though you are limited if you stick with the mini-LED display. You'll get a 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU with Nvidia RTX 4070 laptop GPU with the mini-LED screen, with your choice of up to 2TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage space and up to 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM. This laptop is going to absolutely crush even the more demanding modern AAA titles.

Bonus features include a 1080p webcam with an IR sensor and privacy shutter, while the dual speakers have DTS:X Ultra tuning. You can choose per-key or four-zone RGB lighting for the keyboard, and the laptop has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. Ports include two Thunderbolt 4 connections, HDMI 2.1, RJ45 Ethernet, 3.5mm audio, and two USB-A ports. You could always connect to a high-end Thunderbolt dock, but the native port selection should get the job done for most people.

Razer only knows one speed, and its refreshed Blade 16 is a perfect example. It uses a dual-mode mini-LED display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and two native resolutions to accommodate any game. It can run at a UHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate for ultimate gaming, or it can bump down to an FHD+ resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate for competitive gaming. The mini-LED feature comes with 1,000 local dimming zones for outstanding contrast and color, making it suitable also for some editing and design work.

The specific mini-LED model I'm highlighting here has a 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13950HX CPU with 24 cores, as well as an Nvidia RTX 4090 laptop GPU. This combination will tear through any games you enjoy, and it has plenty of DDR5 RAM (32GB) to keep up. A 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is onboard for plenty of speedy storage space. It's considered one of the best gaming laptops for a good reason, and it will absolutely have enough power to handle a more intensive workload. It's an expensive laptop, so being able to use it for other tasks is always appreciated.

The keyboard has customizable per-key RGB lighting in the usual Razer fashion, there are four quality speakers with two smart amps and THX Spatial Audio for times when a headset isn't required, and an FHD webcam with IR support and a privacy shutter is available for streaming or video conferencing. Ports include Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, three USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and a UHS-II SD card reader. It's all wrapped up in a sleek CNC aluminum chassis with a black finish. Be sure to check out the best Razer Blade 16 accessories if you decide to go with this model.

The Blade 16 should be a great pick for any gamers who want no compromises. It runs on the hot side, but it brings desktop-class gaming performance in a slim and stylish notebook.

If you're a fan of AMD and would like to stick with the new Ryzen 7000-series mobile CPUs, the 2023 version of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 should be a hit. Models with an RTX 4090 mobile GPU (using product number GA402XY) come paired up with a 14-inch mini-LED "Nebula" display with QHD+ resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, 600 nits of brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction, and 512 local dimming zones. That's not as many zones as some other options in this collection, but this is still going to make your games look incredible. This specific model seems to currently only be available at Best Buy with a starting price of around $3,300. There are similar models at other retailers, but the mini-LED screen seems to be tied into the RTX 4090 configuration.

Along with the mini-LED display and RTX 4090 mobile GPU, the laptop configuration at Best Buy has a fast AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU with 8 cores and 16 threads, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. If you're shopping at Amazon, there's also a model with a 2TB SSD that has a mini-LED screen. The whole thing only weighs about 3.8 pounds (1.73kg), making it much lighter than the larger gaming options in this collection. If you frequently travel, you won't be lugging around a brick in your backpack.

You get customizable RGB lighting for the keyboard, there are quad speakers for bumping sound, and an FHD webcam with IR support adds additional security. Ports include two USB-C, two USB-A, HDMI 2.1, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a UHS-II microSD card reader for removable storage. There's no Thunderbolt 4 due to the AMD configuration, but you should still be able to handle most connections with the native port selection.

Fans of AMD should love this laptop, and though it's on the pricey side, you'll still save some money compared to other Intel-based gaming laptops in this roundup.

High-end convertible laptops with a mini-LED display and this level of performance hardware are very rare, but Asus has you covered if you enjoy splitting time between a notebook and a (large) tablet. At 16 inches it won't be the most convenient handheld, but setting it up in stand or tent modes can be a great way to enjoy TV and movies when you aren't gaming.

The ROG Flow X16 (GV601VI) has a 16-inch "Nebula" mini-LED display with 2560x1600 (QHD+) resolution, 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction, 240Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, Dolby Vision support, and 1,024 local dimming zones. It's also touch-enabled to go along with the convertible build that lets you rotate the screen around 360 degrees. This is an outstanding display if you're OK with not hitting 4K, and the 240Hz refresh rate can accommodate the performance hardware.

The model that I'm highlighting here has a 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13900H CPU with 14 cores and 20 threads. It's not as fast as Intel's HX-series chips, but the system will better handle cooling. The CPU is joined by 32GB of DDR5-4800MHz RAM, an Nvidia RTX 4070 laptop GPU, and 1TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage. This laptop flies while remaining versatile and relatively lightweight at 4.41 pounds (2kg).

Above the display is an FHD webcam with an IR sensor for added security via facial recognition, its quad speakers support Dolby Atmos for awesome sound, and it has customizable RGB lighting for the keyboard. Port selection is also quite generous, with Thunderbolt 4, three USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), HDMI 2.1, USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), and a 3.5mm audio jack. You should have no issues connecting your favorite accessories with this selection, and you can always connect to a great Thunderbolt 4 dock.

The ROG Flow X16 is a rare convertible laptop that brings high-end gaming performance while keeping the versatility of a display that rotated around completely.

Lenovo's Slim Pro 9i is available in 14- and 16-inch sizes, though here we're focusing on the smaller laptop thanks to its portability. It's a sleek laptop that looks a lot like the Yoga 9i, with rounded edges and an overall premium build quality. The aluminum chassis weighs about 3.7 pounds (1.68kg) and measures just 0.69 inches (17.6mm) thin. It has a comfortable keyboard, huge touchpad, and lots of ports for connecting your favorite Slim Pro 9i accessories. It's also quite powerful despite its size thanks to a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13750H CPU and a Nvidia RTX 4050 Laptop GPU.

The main attraction here, however, is the mini-LED display. In his Lenovo Slim Pro 9i review, Senior Editor Joāo Carrasqueira calls it a "big deal" and that it "offers a great experience" despite not quite hitting 100% AdobeRGB color reproduction. The 14.5-inch touchscreen otherwise hits 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 coverage, with a 3200x2000 resolution, 1,200 nits brightness for HDR content (or about 700 nits for SDR content), 165Hz refresh rate, and VESA DisplayHDR 1,000 support. Lenovo does not specify how many local dimming zones there are available.

Getting the best mini-LED laptop for you

The number of laptops employing a mini-LED display continues to grow, and we've now added the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i after reviewing it favorably. When shopping for a mini-LED laptop, it's important to pay close attention to the device's specs. Many manufacturers are offering the same laptops with and without mini-LED screens, and third-party store listings can be particularly confusing. The Acer Predator Triton 14 is a good example of this; third-party listings do not match manufacturer listings, so it's nearly impossible to tell if the laptop actually has a mini-LED display. Price is a good indicator that the laptop you're looking at has a mini-LED display, as the tech certainly doesn't come cheap compared to standard IPS screens.

While most of the mini-LED laptops currently available have a strong focus on gaming, there are some quality workstations and creator laptops available. Our top pick, the MacBook Pro M3 released late-2023, is an ideal laptop for developers and software engineers thanks to its incredible performance delivered by Apple's M3 CPUs. It will crush just about any workload while also sipping battery for all-day life and beyond. The craftsmanship is exquisite (though the aluminum build is on the heavy side), the keyboard is comfortable, and it has a massive touchpad for easy pointing.

The real jewels are the 14- and 16-inch mini-LED displays with 254 PPI, 3K or 3.5K resolution, up to 1,600 nits brightness, maximum 120Hz refresh rate, and precise color reproduction. Unless you're looking for a true gaming laptop or want to stick with Windows, this should be a top choice for most people.