Amazon’s 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED TV is a pleasant surprise, the kind of unexpected delight you find when you’re not necessarily looking for it. The company’s first attempts at making its own televisions wavered between competent and generic, but this high-spec Mini LED model? It’s got something else. And for a mid-range flatscreen to have something else, that’s no small thing.
I’ve had one in for test and have been rather impressed.
Amazon Omni Mini LED TV design and features: Slim meets smart
The design is fashionably slim, a trim frame that doesn’t call attention to itself until you turn it on. Connectivity is solid: four HDMI ports, one with eARC, and a 120Hz input for console gaming, with an even higher 144Hz mode for PC players. Gamers will appreciate the low input lag – I measured latency at a not bad 13.4 ms (1080p/60Hz) – making fast action feel as immediate as it should, at least for casual gaming.
Amazon integration, naturally, is seamless. Alexa is always ready, always listening (if you let it). Built-in microphones mean you can wake up the TV and search for content with your voice, no remote needed. The usual suite of streaming apps is here too (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and so on).
And then there’s the overall smart TV experience. If you’ve ever used a Fire TV Stick, this interface will feel instantly familiar, but here, it comes with an extra trick: Fire TV Ambient Experience.
When the TV is in standby, it doesn’t have to sit there, a blank, lifeless panel. It’s also been designed to display artwork (Amazon provides a selection of over 2,000 pieces), photos, or helpful tidbits of information. It’s a nice touch, the kind of thing that makes the TV feel less like an appliance and more like a part of the room.
Amazon Omni Mini LED TV performance: Good with HDR but you’ll need to tweak
Mini LED backlighting tech brings the kind of deep blacks and dazzling HDR highlights that give images dimension and weight. This is the kind of screen where a starry vista in deep space actually feels like a starry vista in deep space. But – and this is important – you’ll want to change the default picture mode.
Out of the box, it’s set to Standard, a power-saving mode that keeps things too restrained. Switch to Vivid, and suddenly you’re seeing what this set is really capable of. Don’t be shy. Give it a try.
HDR support is generous. Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HLG, and regular HDR10 are all accounted for, which means that whatever high dynamic range content you throw at it, this TV will approach it with confidence.
HDR brightness is good. I measured peak brightness at just over 1000 nits, in Standard Picture mode (with the Backlight on 100). This is enough luminosity to cover streamed HDR content, most of which is mastered at 1000 nits (or less).
Blooming is controlled, and largely unobtrusive.
Such precision is down to the Mini LED backlight which uses multiple little LEDS to provide illumination.
Watching a richly lit sequence in Dolby Vision is an experience – sunlight piercing through a dense forest, neon signs glowing against a rain-slicked street. The kind of details that make you forget, for a moment, that you’re sitting on your couch.
Sound, though, is where things start to get a little less exciting. The built-in 2x12W speakers are… fine. Serviceable. They do the job. But sound should do more than just exist, and this TV doesn’t have the depth or power to really bring a movie to life.
The good news is that Amazon makes it easy to pair with a matching Dolby Atmos soundbar or even Bluetooth headphones for better audio. If you’re serious about sound, you’ll want to take advantage of that.
Amazo Omni Mini LED TV Verdict: A set to shortlist
Mini LED backlighting gives it the kind of deep contrast and HDR punch that elevate its picture beyond expectations, and there’s comprehensive HDR support, while Fire TV integration is smooth and feature-rich (that said, non Amazon Prime subscribers will be better served elsewhere). Audio isn’t its strong suit, but if you’re after a big-screen, feature-packed telly at a very reasonable price, this one definitely warrants a spot on your shortlist.
The Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED ML55F700 4K TV sells for £750 and is available from Amazon here.
Amazon is looking to carve itself a lucrative slice of the booming lifestyle TV market, with the announcement of the Amazon Ember Artline Fire TV series. The Ember Artline marks Amazon’s debut in the fast-growing gallery TV sector. The category is currently led by Samsung’s long-running The Frame series. Like its inspiration, the new model…
BAFTA has launched a new streaming series, BAFTA Playback, sponsored by Samsung, that brings some of Hollywood’s biggest names face-to-face with the moments that defined their craft. The six-part series, available on BAFTA’s YouTube channel, offers viewers a rare opportunity to see celebrated actors revisit scenes from their careers, discussing the creative choices, influences and…
KEF has reimagined one of its most recognisable models for a new generation. The Coda W is an all-in-one active speaker system, inspired by the brand’s original Coda series, which made Hi-Fi audio more accessible when it launched decades ago. Designed to deliver both the tactile satisfaction of vinyl playback and the convenience of wireless…
The Luxe Review 
Amazon’s 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED TV is a pleasant surprise, the kind of unexpected delight you find when you’re not necessarily looking for it. The company’s first attempts at making its own televisions wavered between competent and generic, but this high-spec Mini LED model? It’s got something else. And for a mid-range flatscreen to have something else, that’s no small thing.
I’ve had one in for test and have been rather impressed.
Amazon Omni Mini LED TV design and features: Slim meets smart
The design is fashionably slim, a trim frame that doesn’t call attention to itself until you turn it on. Connectivity is solid: four HDMI ports, one with eARC, and a 120Hz input for console gaming, with an even higher 144Hz mode for PC players. Gamers will appreciate the low input lag – I measured latency at a not bad 13.4 ms (1080p/60Hz) – making fast action feel as immediate as it should, at least for casual gaming.
Amazon integration, naturally, is seamless. Alexa is always ready, always listening (if you let it). Built-in microphones mean you can wake up the TV and search for content with your voice, no remote needed. The usual suite of streaming apps is here too (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and so on).
And then there’s the overall smart TV experience. If you’ve ever used a Fire TV Stick, this interface will feel instantly familiar, but here, it comes with an extra trick: Fire TV Ambient Experience.
When the TV is in standby, it doesn’t have to sit there, a blank, lifeless panel. It’s also been designed to display artwork (Amazon provides a selection of over 2,000 pieces), photos, or helpful tidbits of information. It’s a nice touch, the kind of thing that makes the TV feel less like an appliance and more like a part of the room.
Amazon Omni Mini LED TV performance: Good with HDR but you’ll need to tweak
Mini LED backlighting tech brings the kind of deep blacks and dazzling HDR highlights that give images dimension and weight. This is the kind of screen where a starry vista in deep space actually feels like a starry vista in deep space. But – and this is important – you’ll want to change the default picture mode.
Out of the box, it’s set to Standard, a power-saving mode that keeps things too restrained. Switch to Vivid, and suddenly you’re seeing what this set is really capable of. Don’t be shy. Give it a try.
HDR support is generous. Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HLG, and regular HDR10 are all accounted for, which means that whatever high dynamic range content you throw at it, this TV will approach it with confidence.
HDR brightness is good. I measured peak brightness at just over 1000 nits, in Standard Picture mode (with the Backlight on 100). This is enough luminosity to cover streamed HDR content, most of which is mastered at 1000 nits (or less).
Blooming is controlled, and largely unobtrusive.
Such precision is down to the Mini LED backlight which uses multiple little LEDS to provide illumination.
Watching a richly lit sequence in Dolby Vision is an experience – sunlight piercing through a dense forest, neon signs glowing against a rain-slicked street. The kind of details that make you forget, for a moment, that you’re sitting on your couch.
Sound, though, is where things start to get a little less exciting. The built-in 2x12W speakers are… fine. Serviceable. They do the job. But sound should do more than just exist, and this TV doesn’t have the depth or power to really bring a movie to life.
The good news is that Amazon makes it easy to pair with a matching Dolby Atmos soundbar or even Bluetooth headphones for better audio. If you’re serious about sound, you’ll want to take advantage of that.
Amazo Omni Mini LED TV Verdict: A set to shortlist
Mini LED backlighting gives it the kind of deep contrast and HDR punch that elevate its picture beyond expectations, and there’s comprehensive HDR support, while Fire TV integration is smooth and feature-rich (that said, non Amazon Prime subscribers will be better served elsewhere). Audio isn’t its strong suit, but if you’re after a big-screen, feature-packed telly at a very reasonable price, this one definitely warrants a spot on your shortlist.
The Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED ML55F700 4K TV sells for £750 and is available from Amazon here.
Amazon enters gallery TV arena with design-led Ember Artline Fire TV range
Amazon is looking to carve itself a lucrative slice of the booming lifestyle TV market, with the announcement of the Amazon Ember Artline Fire TV series. The Ember Artline marks Amazon’s debut in the fast-growing gallery TV sector. The category is currently led by Samsung’s long-running The Frame series. Like its inspiration, the new model…
BAFTA and Samsung team for YouTube series showcasing Hollywood’s biggest stars
BAFTA has launched a new streaming series, BAFTA Playback, sponsored by Samsung, that brings some of Hollywood’s biggest names face-to-face with the moments that defined their craft. The six-part series, available on BAFTA’s YouTube channel, offers viewers a rare opportunity to see celebrated actors revisit scenes from their careers, discussing the creative choices, influences and…
Stylish KEF Coda W all-in-one speaker system unites vinyl, streaming and TV audio
KEF has reimagined one of its most recognisable models for a new generation. The Coda W is an all-in-one active speaker system, inspired by the brand’s original Coda series, which made Hi-Fi audio more accessible when it launched decades ago. Designed to deliver both the tactile satisfaction of vinyl playback and the convenience of wireless…
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