Java: Float.MIN_VALUE vs Float.MIN_NORMAL

Float.MIN_VALUE represents the value 2⁻¹⁴⁹. This is a subnormal value, and it is the overall smallest possible value that a float can represent.

A subnormal value has a 0 before the binary point: 0.significand bits × 2^exp

Float.MIN_NORMAL represents the value 2⁻¹²⁶. This is the smallest possible normal value that a float can represent.

A normal value has a 1 before the binary point: 1.significand bits × 2^exp

For details, see full article here: Normal vs Subnormal Floats