When choosing a modern TV, buyers often pay attention not only to the diagonal and operating system, but also to the quality of the picture, which directly depends on the installed matrix. Xiaomi has long established itself as one of the leaders of the smart home market, offering devices with excellent value for money. However, few people think that Xiaomi does not own factories for the production of LCD panels and LCD panels. OLED-displays, relying on powerful production chains of partners.
The question of who exactly makes the screens for Xiaomi TVs has no one universal answer, as the company uses a strategy of diversification of suppliers. Depending on the series, price segment and year of release of the model, the TV can be a panel from one of the worldโs largest manufacturers. Understanding whose matrix is installed in the device helps predict its real color reproduction capabilities, viewing angles and durability.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the main display vendors for Xiaomi, conduct a comparative analysis of technologies and give recommendations for choice. You will learn how the panels of different factories differ and whether it is worth overpaying for a particular matrix brand or whether the software processing of images in Xiaomi processors eliminates these differences.
Strategy OEM-Xiaomi partnership
Xiaomi follows the electronic giantโs classic model, focusing on design, MIUI for TV software and marketing, and outsources hardware production to respond flexibly to changing demand and keep prices competitive.
The main suppliers of matrixes for Xiaomi TVs are CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology), BOE (Beijing Oriental Electronics) and HKC (Huike Corporation). Also in some models, especially in the premium segment or older series, you can find panels from LG Display or Samsung Display, although in recent years the share of Chinese manufacturers in the assembly of Xiaomi has increased significantly, the choice of supplier often depends on the current market prices for โglassโ and the availability of specific sizes.
โ ๏ธ Note: The matrix model in the same TV model may vary depending on the batch and the region of supply. TV Xiaomi in different stores, you can get devices with screens from different factories.
This flexibility allows Xiaomi to keep up with production even when one of the suppliers is running out of components, which means for the end user that the specifications stated in the specification may have small variations in real-world tests when compared to two TVs of the same model, released six months apart.
CSOT: the main supplier for the mass market
The most common in Xiaomi TVs, especially in the popular Mi TV series P1, A Pro and Redmi, you can find matrices produced by CSOT. This giant is a subsidiary of TCL Corporation and specializes in the production of panels of all types, from budget VA to advanced IPS. It is the cooperation with CSOT that allows Xiaomi to produce TVs with diagonals of 43, 50, 55 and 65 inches at extremely aggressive prices.
Panels. CSOT, The ones used in Xiaomi are often based on technology. VA (Vertical Alignment, which provides high contrast and deep black, which is critical for watching movies at night. IPS-In top-end models like the Mi. TV Master Series, more advanced technologies are used, including Mini-LED, where CSOT He is also a key partner.
- ๐น High contrast and rich black due to the structure VA.
- ๐น Excellent compatibility with Xiaomi image enhancement algorithms.
- ๐น Affordable cost, which reduces the final price of the TV.
- ๐น Wide selection of diagonals for different price niches.
CSOT is also actively implementing its own developments in the field of quantum dots and local dimming, which allows mid- and high-end models to achieve brightness rates comparable to higher-end competitors. Xiaomi processors work effectively with the drivers of these panels, ensuring a smooth picture.
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When buying a TV with a VA-matrix (often CSOT), try not to look at the screen from the sharp angle from the side - the picture can noticeably turn pale.
BOE and HKC: New Generation Technology
BOE Technology, the second most important partner, has been ramping up capacity and product quality in recent years, and BOE matrices are often found on Xiaomiโs high refresh rate (120 Hz or higher) and gaming models, because BOE is betting on speed and color accuracy.
Company HKC It is also an important link in the supply chain, especially for Redmi's budget and mid-range lines, which are characterized by good brightness margin and reliability. HKC deliver OLED-panels or panels with improved color scheme for specific models targeted at designers and photographers.
Technological diversity allows Xiaomi to combine different types of screens, for example, in one lineup can be models with a different screen. IPS-screen-screen BOE For those who appreciate the wide viewing angles, and VA-screen-screen HKC It's important for the user to pay attention to the specific characteristics of the model, not just the brand of the TV.
โ ๏ธ WARNING: If you are critically interested in wide viewing angles (for example, the TV will stand on the side of the sofa), look for models with a high-quality viewing angle. IPS-matrices that are more often supplied BOE, But remember that the contrast is lower.
Technology development 8K and OLED It is also not without participation. BOE. Xiaomi is gradually implementing these standards in its flagship devices, and it is the Chinese panel manufacturers that provide the bulk of the supply for such experiments, allowing you to bring to market. 8K-TVs at a price affordable to the mass consumer
The role of LG Display and Samsung in the Xiaomi lineup
While the share of Chinese manufacturers is growing, completely discount the Korean giants LG Display and Samsung are not allowed.In premium Xiaomi series like Mi TV Master OLED or some version of the Mi QLED, The panels were used specifically from LG Display. It guaranteed the reference black quality and the infinite contrast that was inherent in it. OLED-technology.
Samsung Display, in turn, supplied matrixes for some of the QLED-Xiaomi models, which required extremely high brightness and saturated colors due to quantum dots, but due to the high cost of such panels and Xiaomiโs policy of optimizing costs, meet new models with Samsung screens or other devices. LG It's getting harder.
However, having a panel from LG or Samsung in the spec is often a top-quality marker.If you're considering buying a used Xiaomi TV or a model from years past, having a panel supplier logo can be a deciding factor.
Why Xiaomi is abandoning Samsung and LG panels?
For the average user, the difference between the top panel BOE budget panel LG It can be invisible without professional equipment. OLED technology LG It is still dominant, and if Xiaomi releases a new one, it will be OLED-The flagship, most likely, it will be built again on the basis of their matrices.
Comparison of matrix technologies in Xiaomi TVs
To better understand what you are buying, you need to understand the main types of arrays that Xiaomi installs in its devices. The type of matrix depends on 80% of the image quality, while the processor only adjusts the signal.
| Characteristics | VA (CSOT/HKC) | IPS (BOE/LG) | OLED (LG/BOE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contrast | Tall (deep black) | Medium (grey black) | Infinite (perfect black) |
| Viewing angles | Limited (up to 160ยฐ) | Excellent (up to 178ยฐ) | Perfect (up to 180ยฐ) |
| Brightness | Medium/High | Tall. | Depends on the model (risk of burnout) |
| Response time | Average. | Low. | Instantly. |
As you can see from the table, choosing a matrix is always a compromise. If you watch TV mostly in the evening in a dark room, CSOT's VA arrays will be preferred because of the lack of "lights" around the edges. If the TV is planned for a living room with bright daylight and viewing by the whole family from different angles, then BOE's IPS will be the best choice.
Xiaomi is adept at balancing these technologies. Budget 4K models are most common VA, which distinguishes them from competitors who often put dull IPS in this segment. In gaming models, response speed is prioritized, so IPS and new OLEDs rule there.
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For movies in the dark, choose VA-matrixes (CSOT), for sports and games in bright light โ IPS (BOE/LG), and for maximum quality without compromise โ OLED.
How to identify a matrix manufacturer before buying
Since Xiaomi does not specify the manufacturer of the matrix in the advertising brochures, customers have to be smart. The most reliable way is to use specialized applications for Android TV, such as Panel ID or Device Info HW. However, it is not always possible to run them in the electronics store on a showcase sample.
An alternative method is to study reviews on specialized technical resources and forums (for example, 4PDA Enthusiasts often open new models immediately after the start of sales and publish photos of the matrix markings. Also worth paying attention to the model code: sometimes a change in supplier is accompanied by a change in the model_suffix_ model-name.
- ๐ธ Check release date: in different years, the same model could be assembled with different screens.
- ๐ธ Look for reviews with tests for โcloudingโ (for example, for the first time). IPS It's a common problem, for VA โ less characteristic.
- ๐ธ Note the country of assembly: TVs assembled in Russia (calibrators) can be equipped with panels other than the Chinese versions.
โ ๏ธ Warning: Don't blindly trust in-store salespeople. Sales managers often don't have accurate technical information about the insides of the device and can name any matrix brand.
If you buy a TV online, you have the advantage of ordering a device, software testing it during the return period, and if the matrix is not what you expected (for example, a dim IPS instead of a contrast VA), returning the product is the safest way to guarantee the desired result.
โ๏ธ Checking the TV when receiving
The impact of the matrix on durability and repair
The life of the TV depends on the quality of the panel installed. CSOT and BOE, They have strict quality control, but statistics show differences, VA-panels are less susceptible to burnout of static elements than OLED, but more sensitive to physical shocks.
In the event of a breakdown, replacing the array is often economically inefficient, accounting for up to 80 percent of the cost of a new TV, so knowing the manufacturer can suggest potential risks. Some manufacturers' early-production panels may have had problems with backlight degradation or stripes appearing after a certain number of hours of production.
Xiaomi has tried to minimize these risks by requiring suppliers to comply with standards. However, the โlotteryโ nature of the components remains, and buying an extended warranty may be justified precisely because of the risk of failure of the expensive matrix, regardless of who produced it.