Consumer Review: I put two Mini-LED TVs to the test
Journalist Glenn Kelly puts two Mini-LED TVs to the test to see which one is worth investing in.*
Whether you are an eager football fan awaiting the imminent commencement of the World Cup, or a sucker for the latest series of Love Island, a top-performing telly is now a must. If you want the latest features without the top-end prices, this article is a must-read.
Welcome to the ultimate mid-range matchup, where premium display tech meets everyday value. In one corner, we have the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series Mini-LED, a smart-home powerhouse that turns your living room into an ambient art gallery and seamlessly integrates hands-free Alexa right into the hardware.
In the other corner stands the Hisense U7N Mini-LED, a heavy-hitting favourite renowned for its blazing 1,500-nit peak brightness and AI-driven processing that punches way above its price class.
Both of these 65-inch contenders leverage advanced Mini-LED backlighting to deliver deeper blacks and vibrant, high-contrast colours that standard LEDs can only dream of. They also come armed with ultra-smooth 144Hz refresh rates, making them a dream for next-gen gamers.
Is Amazon's superior smart eco-system enough to win the crown, or will Hisense's raw picture performance take the title?
Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED
Amazon, €1,000
Often known as the manufacturer of budget TV sets, that all changed when Amazon released this premium Mini-LED product that was set to do battle with models much higher in price.
As Amazon’s flagship display, this model transitions the brand from budget-tier compromise to a legitimate mid-range contender, combining a massive brightness injection with premium gaming and smart features.
Design
The Fire TV is a relatively forgetful unit when you take it out of the box, but it does have nice, clean lines, and the bezels aren’t too thick. As with most TVs with rear integrated subwoofers, there is a fair heft to the unit, so if you are wall mounting, you might want to have a helping hand.
For table setups, it rests securely on two V-shaped metallic feet. These are easily attached but are quite wide apart, so make sure you do your measurements before buying.
The remote control is a familiar accessory, as it is simply a longer version of a Firestick remote, something that most homes will have now. It would have been nice to see a backlit remote for evening use, but Amazon will likely point to the compatibility with Alexa, which allows voice commands.
Overall, the TV has a sturdy, well-made appearance.
Picture Quality
The headline upgrade here is the Mini-LED backlighting array paired with Quantum Dot colour technology. Armed with 512 independent local dimming zones on the 65-inch model, the TV handles high-contrast scenes with surprising poise.
Where older Omni models were notoriously dim, this iteration punches through with a striking 1,623 nits of peak HDR brightness in its "Movie Bright" preset. When watching HDR10+ or Dolby Vision content, specular highlights—like neon signs, explosions, or sunlight glinting off water—have an intense, realistic pop.
Selecting Filmmaker Mode drops the peak brightness slightly to around 970 nits, reducing over-saturation, delivers natural skin tones, and preserves excellent shadow detail in dark, moody scenes. However, for brighter scenes in movies, it can dull them a little too much.
The local dimming engine ensures that blacks look deep and uniform rather than muddy grey. That said, the TV isn't entirely immune to the classic Mini-LED pitfall: slight light blooming (a faint halo effect) is visible when bright white text or objects sit directly against a pitch-black background.
In a coup for gamers, the Omni Mini-LED is a bona fide gaming monitor in disguise. It upgrades the old 60Hz limit to a native 120Hz panel that can overclock to 144Hz when connected to a compatible gaming PC, which is pleasing for this price point.
It features two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, alongside support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to eliminate screen tearing.
Smart Features
Understandably, Fire OS is the beating heart of this TV. The interface is heavily tailored toward Amazon Prime content and will be familiar to Firestick users, though it supports every major app from Netflix to Apple TV, alongside built-in Apple AirPlay 2.
The standout feature remains hands-free voice control. Thanks to the far-field microphone array, you can command your entire smart home, search for movies, or check the weather by speaking directly to the room—no remote required. Perfect for anyone already kitted out within the home with Amazon gizmos.
The software runs smoothly and fast, something that not every other manufacturer can claim to have mastered.
Hisense U71NQ Mini-LED
Available at all good retailers from €899
The Hisense U71NQ proves that you don't need to empty your bank account for an elite home viewing experience. Serving as a highly competitive mid-range option, this 65-inch television balances aggressive pricing with high-end picture specifications and top-tier gaming features.
Design
Visually, the U71NQ looks clean and modern. It makes use of a three-sided bezel-less design framed by a thin metallic band, maintaining a sleek profile when viewed from the front. Instead of wide, sprawling feet that require a massive media console, Hisense uses a centered, dark-grey metal pedestal stand.
This setup significantly reduces the TV's overall footprint, making it incredibly easy to place on narrower furniture.
Around the back, the TV features a dedicated enclosure for its integrated subwoofer. The only minor design flaw is the placement of some rear-facing ports (like Ethernet and optical output); if you choose to mount the TV completely flush against a wall, accessing these inputs can be a tight squeeze.
However, overall, the TV is as well-made as we have come to expect from the Hisense brand over recent years.
Picture Quality
The U71NQ relies on Hisense's advanced Mini-LED Pro backlighting, split into 384 independent local dimming zones for the 65-inch model. Driven by the quad-core Hi-View Engine Pro, the panel handles real-time scene optimisation with fantastic results.
In terms of brightness, this TV is built to dominate well-lit spaces. It punches out up to 1,500 nits of peak brightness, completely brushing off room glare. Thanks to Quantum Dot technology, colourful content—such as animated features or sports broadcasts—appears exceptionally vibrant and saturated without looking cartoonish.
While daytime viewing is flawless, very high-contrast dark scenes reveal the limitations of its zone count. Watching a bright object move across a pitch-black background can occasionally cause slight backlight blooming or make subtle shadow details look slightly muddy, but to the untrained eye, the effect is marginal. Overall quality is excellent at this price point.
Like the Amazon Fire TV, this model features a native 144Hz Game Mode Pro configuration that integrates Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Input lag is remarkably low, clocking in at under 10 milliseconds.
However, also like the Fire, with only two "fast" HDMI sockets, you may be limited if using one of these for a soundbar.
Smart Features
While North American versions of the U7N utilise Google TV, the European U71NQ runs on Hisense’s proprietary VIDAA Smart OS. The interface is impressively fast and is much improved from my previous experience with Hisense software. App support is robust, instantly offering local catch-up services like Freely alongside global powerhouses like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video.
Another cool feature is that the remote control is solar powered, cutting down the need to race around the house for batteries when they are running low!
The Verdict
Having tested these units for a number of weeks, I don’t believe that you will be disappointed with any of them.
The Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED will appeal to smart home enthusiasts, offering flawless hands-free Alexa integration and slightly more local dimming zones that handle shadow detail beautifully in darker rooms.
However, the Hisense U71NQ wins on raw cinematic impact and practicality. Its centred pedestal stand makes placement effortless, while its better-performing brightness easily cuts through glare in bright living spaces.
Both are elite 144Hz gaming displays, but the Hisense offers slightly punchier daytime performance, and for me, offers the better overall performance at a slightly lower price to take the narrowest of wins.
*Glenn Kelly was sent both of the television sets for the purpose of review.
