When choosing a modern TV, many users pay attention to the brand, screen size and the presence of a Smart TV, but often overlook the most important component - the type of matrix used. It is the technology of the panel that determines the quality of the picture, viewing angles, depth of black and response speed in games. Xiaomi lines, which cover budget, medium and premium segments, apply different solutions, and understanding their differences is critical for the right choice.
Xiaomi, which produces the equipment under its own brand and sub-brand Redmi, does not produce panels on its own, but purchases them from leading global suppliers such as BOE, CSOT (TCL) and AU Optronics. This means that even within the same model lineup, different types of screens can occur, which often causes confusion among buyers. In this article, we will discuss in detail what technologies are used in Xiaomi TV, how to distinguish them and which one is suitable for your tasks.
It is worth noting that the marketing names of the series often do not directly indicate the type of matrix, so you need to rely on the specifications of a particular model. Understanding the difference between LCD, LED and OLED technologies will allow you not to overpay for unnecessary features or, conversely, not to be disappointed in the quality of the image after buying.
The main types of matrices in the line of Xiaomi TV
Xiaomi TVs today have three main types of panels, each with its own unique image-building features: Budget and mid-budget models are most often equipped with LED-backlit LCD panels, which in turn are divided into IPS and VA types. In the top segment, the manufacturer offers more advanced OLED solutions.
LCD technology uses liquid crystals that don't glow by themselves, but only let or block light from the backlight. It's the quality of that backlight and the type of crystal that determines the final picture. Redmi and Xiaomi A series models are the most common solutions that provide decent quality at a reasonable price.
More expensive models, such as the Master series or the flagship TV Q1, can use panels with improved contrast and local dimming. Understanding what technology is at the heart of your future TV will help avoid common purchase mistakes.
IPS Technology: Wide Angles and Color Stability
IPS (In-Plane Switching) matrices are among the most common mid-range Xiaomi TVs, and their main advantage is their excellent viewing angles: the picture does not fade or change shade, even when viewed from the side, making them ideal for large living rooms where viewers can be placed not strictly in the center.
But IPS has its drawbacks, which are worth knowing about in advance, most notably its low contrast and shallow black color, which often looks dark gray, especially in darkened rooms, due to the way crystals work, which cannot completely block the light from the backlight.
However, to watch TV in daylight or in a brightly lit room IPS-Matrixes in Xiaomi Mi TVs TV P1 or Redmi TV X performs well. They provide natural color reproduction and image stability, which is important for sports broadcasts and news.
- 📺 Excellent viewing angles up to 178 degrees without distorting colors.
- 🎨 Natural color reproduction suitable for working with graphics.
- ⚡ Good response speed, which reduces the effect of plumes in dynamic scenes.
- 👁️ Less eye fatigue during long-term viewing due to the stability of the backlight.
⚠️ If you are planning to watch movies in total darkness, IPS-matrix can disappoint the effect of "glowing black" and lights on the edges of the screen.
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You can check the type of matrix in the store by approaching the exhibition sample from the side at a 45-degree angle: if the colors remain saturated, most likely, it is IPS.
Advantages and Disadvantages of VA Matrixes
Vertical alignment, or VA (Vertical Alignment, is a technology that is often found in Xiaomi home theater-oriented TVs. IPS, crystal VA-The panels are perpendicular to the screen surface when turned off, allowing them to block much more light.
The main trump card of VA is a high rate of static contrast, which can reach 3000:1 and even 5000:1, versus 1000:1 for IPS. This means that the black on the screen will be really deep and rich, not gray. However, this technology has the flip side: viewing angles are much worse here.
Looking from the side of VA-The image may pale and the colors lose their saturation, so it is best to install such TVs so that all viewers are approximately on the same line with the center of the screen. TV A Pro is often equipped with such panels.
- 🌑 Deep black color and high contrast of the image.
- 🎬 Perfect for watching movies in a darkened room.
- 💰 Often used in models with the best value for money.
- 🛡️ Less likely to be affected by the “glow” effect compared to IPS.
It is important to consider that the response rate of VA-matrixes can be lower than that of IPS, which in rare cases can lead to the appearance of plumes in very fast scenes or games, although modern Xiaomi models successfully combat this software methods.
Why is VA better for HDR?
OLED and Mini-LED: Xiaomi flagship solutions
In the premium segment, Xiaomi uses advanced technologies such as: OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode and Mini-LED. OLED-In the panels, each pixel is a self-contained light source and can be turned on or off individually, providing infinite contrast and perfect black.
The Xiaomi Master Series TVs are equipped with OLED-matrixes, which are considered the benchmark for image quality. The lack of backlighting allows you to make the screens incredibly thin, and the response time of the pixel is fractions of a millisecond, which excludes any plumes.
Mini-LED technology represents an evolution LCD-And these are panels that use thousands of tiny LEDs to illuminate, and this allows you to create hundreds of local dimming zones, bringing the image quality closer to the level of light. OLED, but without the risk of pixel burnout and with higher brightness.
| Characteristics | IPS | VA | OLED |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contrast | Low (1000:1) | High (3000:1+) | Infinite |
| Viewing angles | Great. | Average. | Great. |
| Brightness | Tall. | Medium/High | Medium (burnout risk) |
| Price. | Affordable | Medium | Tall. |
⚠️ Attention: OLED-panels are at risk of burning out static elements (channel logos, game interface) with very long use at maximum brightness.
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The choice between OLED and LED depends on the scenario: for cinema in the dark – OLED, for bright living room and sports – LED (IPS/VA).
How to determine the type of matrix before buying
Because Xiaomi, like many other manufacturers, can use different parts for the same model, you don't have to rely on the name of the series. There are several ways to know which panel is installed in a particular instance of the TV.
The first and most reliable way is to look at reviews on specialized technical portals that take instrumental measurements, and the second way is to take a visual test in the store, turn on the black screen (you can find the corresponding video on YouTube) and look at it from an angle.
Also worth looking at is the article of the model. Sometimes different modifications of the same TV have different endings in the code, which can indicate different regions of supply and, accordingly, different manufacturers of matrixes. In the menu of the TV itself, you can sometimes find information about the panel, but most often it is hidden in the engineering menu.
☑️ Checking the TV in the store
Customize the image depending on the type of screen
After buying a TV, Xiaomi is recommended to conduct an initial image tweaking to unlock the potential of a particular matrix. IPS-panels often need to reduce backlight (backlight brightness) and add local dimming, if such a function is available in the menu.
For VA-matrixes, on the contrary, you can increase the level of backlighting, as they better hold black, but you should be careful with the sharpness settings so that artifacts do not appear. From the Settings menu → Image, you can choose a ready profile, for example, "Cinema" or "Standard", which already contains basic optimizations.
If you use a TV to play on a new generation of consoles, be sure to activate Game Mode.This disables the extra post-processing of the image and reduces the input lag, which is critical for a comfortable game, regardless of the type of matrix.
Path to settings: Settings → Image → Image Mode → GameRemember that factory settings are often focused on display in a bright store, so for home use they almost always need to be adjusted. Reducing the color temperature to "Warm" or "Standard" will make the picture more natural and less tiring for the eyes.