Xiaomi TVs: 7 key differences that will help you make the right choice

Xiaomi has become one of the leaders of the smart TV market over the past 5 years, offering devices with excellent price/quality ratio. TV, Redmi TV, Xiaomi Smart TV โ€” technology (OLED, QLED, Mini LED) It's often confusing. How can you not overpay for unnecessary features? Which model is good for games and which is good for movies? And why can TVs with the same diagonal be twice as expensive?

In this article, we will discuss 7 key differences between Xiaomi TVs that directly affect picture quality, sound, speed and compatibility with other devices. TV Q2 Better than Redmi Smart. TV X: Why Dolby Vision is More Important HDR10, And then you end up with a comparison table and answers to a lot of questions.

If youโ€™re looking for a TV thatโ€™s purely for on-air TV, most of Xiaomiโ€™s features will be redundant, with devices focused on streaming services (Netflix, YouTube, Kinionik), gaming and integration into the Mi Home ecosystem. If you want a simple button box, look at other brandsโ€™ budget models.

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1. Screen technology: OLED vs LED vs Mini LED โ€” What is best for your eyes and wallet?

The main difference that determines 90% of the cost of a TV is the type of matrix. Xiaomi uses three technologies:

OLED (For example, in Mi. TV Master OLED) โ€” Each pixel is illuminated independently, which gives:

  • ๐Ÿ–ค Absolute black (pixels just turn off)
  • ๐ŸŽจ Wide viewing angle (178)ยฐ distortionless)
  • โšก Instant Response Time (1 ms) โ€“ Ideal for dynamic gaming

But there are downsides: OLED-screens are subject to burnout of static elements (channel logos, interface), and the brightness is lower than that of the Mini LED (maximum 800-1000 nits against 1500+ thread).

Mini LED (Mi TV Q2, Mi TV 6 OLED) โ€” it's an upgrade LED-backlighting with thousands of miniature LEDs that are divided into backlight zones:

  • โ˜€๏ธ Brightness up to 2000 nits - visible in sunlight
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Best color reproduction amongst LED (98% coverage DCIP3)
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Cheaper. OLED 30-50% with comparable quality

The main drawback is โ€œbloomingโ€ (glow around bright objects on a dark background), but in top Xiaomi models it is minimal thanks to the Local Dimming algorithm.

Standard. LED (budget Redmi TV) โ€” It's the simplest technology with uniform lighting. There's no zone control, so black looks gray, and contrast is 3-5 times lower. But the price starts from 15,000 rubles for a 50-inch screen.

โš ๏ธ Note: If you are watching TV in a dark room, OLED It's preferable, it doesn't strain your eyes. For brightly lit rooms (living room with windows), take a Mini. LED glare-coated.

๐Ÿ“Š What type of screen your current TV has?
OLED
QLED/Mini LED
Standard. LED
Plasma-like
I don't know.

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2. Series Xiaomi: Mi TV vs Redmi TV vs Smart TV โ€” what's the difference?

Xiaomi divides TVs into three main lines, which differ not only in price, but also in โ€œstuffingโ€:

Mi TV (Premium segment โ€“ flagship models with the best screens and sound:

  • ๐Ÿ“บ Support for Dolby Vision and Atmos
  • ๐ŸŽฎ HDMI 2.1 play-in 4K/120 Hz (e.g. Mi Mi) TV Q2 75")
  • ๐Ÿค– MediaTek 9650 or Amlogic processor T982 (lagless)
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Built-in subwoofers (in models from 65 inches)

Price: from 45 000 rubles for a 55-inch model.

Redmi TV (Budget segment) โ€“ simplified versions without โ€œbells and whistles":

  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Only HDR10 (No Dolby Vision)
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Processor Amlogic T950 MediaTek 9611 (can slow down when multitasking)
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ HDMI 2.0 (maximum 4K/60 Hz)
  • ๐Ÿ”‡ Sound. 2ร—10 Watt without subwoofer

Price: from 18 000 rubles for a 43-inch model, ideal for a cottage or kitchen.

Xiaomi Smart TV (The middle segment is the gold standard for price/quality:

  • ๐ŸŽฌ Dolby Vision and HDR10+
  • ๐ŸŽฎ HDMI 2.1 on top-end models (e.g. Smart) TV X Pro)
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Sound. 2ร—15 Watt-supported DTS-HD
  • ๐Ÿค– MediaTek 9638 processor (enough for streaming)

Price: 25 000-50,000 rubles, the best choice for most users.

โš ๏ธ In 2023, Xiaomi began to produce TVs under the brand POCO (for example, POCO Smart TV). These are redmis. TV With minimal firmware changes. Don't overpay for the logo!

๐Ÿ’ก

If you need a TV for PS5 Xbox Series X, only take models with HDMI 2.1 (Mi series) TV Q2 smart TV X Pro).

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3. Firmware and interface: Android TV vs PatchWall vs Google TV

All Xiaomi TVs are based on Android TV, But with different shells, it's critical to usability:

PatchWall (Mi TV / Redmi TV) โ€” Xiaomi's branded shell with:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Integration with the Mi Home ecosystem (smart lamp management, robot vacuum cleaners)
  • ๐ŸŽฌ Home screen content recommendations (analyzes your preferences)
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Possibility to establish APK-manually
  • ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Localized Services: Film Search, IVI, Okko

Cons: Sometimes slows down due to background processes, and advertising on the home screen is turned off only through Settings โ†’ About the programme โ†’ Disable personalized advertising.

Google TV (New models 2023-2026 โ€“ replacement of Android TV interfaced:

  • ๐Ÿ” Smart search for all streaming services
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Personalized tape "For you"
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Built-in Google Stadia (cloud gaming)
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Less advertising than PatchWall

Disadvantage: There is no deep integration with Mi Home (for example, you can not control smart devices directly from the remote).

Android TV (Old models) โ€” a stripped-down version without PatchWall. There's no content recommendations, and the interface looks outdated. TV 2020-2021.

โš ๏ธ Note: If you buy a TV for older relatives, choose a model with PatchWall - there are large icons and easy access to terrestrial TV. TV seem complicated.

How to turn off ads in PatchWall?
Go to Settings. โ†’ About the programme โ†’ Disable personalized ads. If you don't have a clause, update your firmware to the latest version.

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4. Connectors and connections: HDMI 2.1, eARC and USB 3.0

The number and version of the connectors depends on whether you can connect. PS5, Sound bar or external hard drive, and in the table below, you can compare the key models:

ModelHDMI 2.1eARCUSB 3.0OpticalWi-Fi 6
Mi TV Q2 75"โœ… 2 portsโœ…โœ… 1st portโœ…โœ…
Redmi Smart TV X55โŒโŒโŒโœ…โŒ
Xiaomi Smart TV X Proโœ… 1st portโœ…โœ… 1st portโœ…โœ…
Mi TV A2 43"โŒโŒโŒโŒโŒ

What does that mean in practice?

  • ๐ŸŽฎ HDMI 2.1 play-in 4K/120 Hz (for example, Call of Duty: Warzone on the PS5). Without it, maximum frequency โ€” 60 Hz.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š eARC allows you to transmit Dolby Atmos sound to the soundbar without loss (important for home theater).
  • ๐Ÿ’พ USB 3.0 speeds up reading movies from an external drive (up to 5 Gbps vs. 480 Mbps) USB 2.0).

โš ๏ธ Note: If you connect the TV to the AV-Receiver, make sure the receiver supports HDMI 2.1. Otherwise. 4K/120 Hz will not work even if the TV supports this standard.

Clarify the version HDMI|Check for eARC for soundbar|Estimate the number USB-port|Make sure you support Wi-Fi 6 (if needed) 4K-streaming)

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5.Sound: Dolby Atmos, subwoofers and power

In budget TVs, sound is often a weak spot, and Xiaomi offers different solutions depending on the series:

Budget models (Redmi) TV):

    To improve the sound, you will have to buy a soundbar or speakers.

    Mid-size segment (Xiaomi Smart) TV):

    • ๐ŸŽฌ Dolby Atmos (virtual, without real volume effects)

    The sound is loud enough for a room of 20-25 m2, but for a cinema it is still weak.

    Flagships (Mi) TV Q2, Mi TV Master):

      Here the sound is comparable to the soundbar for 15 000-20 000 rubles.

      โš ๏ธ Note: Virtual Dolby Atmos (like Xiaomi Smart) TV) It creates a front-only dimension effect, and you need an external speaker or an eARC soundbar for a real environment.

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      To check the sound quality before buying, play a trailer for a movie on the Dolby Atmos TV in the store (for example, "Dune" on Netflix).

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      6.Smart Features: Voice Assistant, Mi Home and AI

      Xiaomi TVs are integrated into the smart home ecosystem, and here's what they do:

      Voice control:

      • ๐ŸŽค Built-in microphone in the remote (in PatchWall models)

      Minus: for Alice to work, you need to separately connect the Yandex Station column.

      Smart home management:

      • ๐Ÿ’ก Control of Yeelight and Mi lamps LED remote
      • ๐Ÿค– Control of the robot vacuum cleaner Mi Robot Vacuum
      • ๐Ÿ  Xiaomi Home Security cameras on the screen

      The TV and devices must be on the same Mi Home network.

      Artificial intelligence:

      • ๐ŸŽฌ Automatic optimization of the picture for the genre of content (cinema, sports, games)
      • ๐Ÿ‘ค Facial recognition for personal recommendations (in Mi) TV Master)

      โš ๏ธ Note: Smart home features only work with Xiaomi devices or MiOT compatible. To manage the appliances of other brands (for example, Philips Hue) you will need Google Home or Home Assistant.

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      7.Gaming: Delayed input, FREE SYNC cloud-based

      If you are planning to play on TV, pay attention to four key parameters:

      Delayed input (Input Lag):

      • ๐ŸŽฎ In Mi TV Q2 Smart TV X Pro: 8-12 ms (excellent for shooters)
      • ๐ŸŽฎ At Redmi. TV: 20-30 ms (noticeable delay in dynamic games)

      To activate the game mode, go to Settings โ†’ Picture โ†’ Game mode.

      Synchronization technologies:

      • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ FREE SYNC Premium (in Mi) TV Q2) โ€” Removes image breaks when connected to PC or Xbox
      • ๐ŸŽฎ ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode โ€“ automatically switches to game mode when starting the console

      Cloud gaming:

      • โ˜๏ธ Built-in Google Stadia (in Google models) TV)
      • ๐ŸŽฎ Support for Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce NOW browser

      For a comfortable game, you need Internet speed from 50 Mbit / s (for 1080p) or 100 Mbit/s (for 4K).

      โš ๏ธ Note: If you connect to Nintendo Switch, turn off FREE SYNC In the settings of the TV โ€“ it can cause artifacts in games from Nintendo.

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      For games on PS5 Xbox Series X|S Choose TVs with TVs HDMI 2.1, FREE SYNC and delayed input <15 miss.

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      FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi TVs

      ๐Ÿ” How to distinguish the original Xiaomi TV fake?
      1. Check the serial number on the site mi.com/global/verify. 2. The original remote has the Mi logo with a metal insert. 3. Settings should have firmware with the PatchWall version or Google TV (Fakes have often stripped down Android 9). 4. The box has a holographic sticker with QR-code.
      ๐Ÿ“บ Can I install third-party firmware (for example, LineageOS) on Xiaomi? TV?
      Technically, yes, but: ๐Ÿ”ง You will need to unlock the loader (risk of โ€œbricking") ๐Ÿ“ฑ Most alternative firmware doesnโ€™t support Dolby Vision and Netflix 4K ๐Ÿ”„ Updates will have to be installed manually Better to use the original firmware with the ad turned off.
      ๐ŸŽฎ Why Xiaomi? TV No sound when connected through HDMI?
      The problem most often is the signal source settings: โ†’ Sound. โ†’ HDMI โ†’ Choose "PCM" or "Auto" settings. โ†’ HDMI โ†’ Turn on "HDMI ARC" (If it doesn't work, try another cable (High Speed is needed). HDMI for 4K).
      ๐Ÿ”ง How to Reset Xiaomi TV prefabrication?
      Method 1 (via menu): Settings โ†’ About the programme โ†’ Data resetting โ†’ Reset all settings Method 2 (hardware reset): Turn off the TV from the socket. Press the Menu button on the case (not on the remote!). Connect the power by holding the 10-15 second button. โš ๏ธ After resetting, you will have to reconfigure Wi-Fi and accounts.
      ๐Ÿ“ก How to improve Wi-Fi signal on Xiaomi TV?
      1. Connect the TV over cable (if possible) - even Wi-Fi 6 is inferior to a wired connection for the 4K-Streaming. 2. Switch to 5GHz in router settings (less interference). 3. If the TV is far from the router, use the Mesh system (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Mesh Router). 4. In the TV settings, turn off Traffic Savings (Settings) โ†’ Network โ†’ Additionally).