Why is Xiaomi and TCL Comparison?
The choice of TV in 2026 became more difficult than ever: second-tier brands (like Xiaomi and TCL) are actively pressuring traditional leaders – Samsung and LG. The reason is simple: for the same money you get more features, modern matrices and smart platforms without excessive overpayment for the brand. But how to understand which is better – a Xiaomi TV with its smart home ecosystem or TCL with Mini LED and Dolby Vision technologies?
Both manufacturers specialize in budget and mid-budget models (from 20 to 100 thousand rubles), but their approaches are different. Xiaomi is betting on integration with other gadgets of the brand (smartphones, smart lamps, robot vacuum cleaners) and ease of management through Mi Home. TCL, in turn, cooperates with Roku and Google TV, offering more flexible solutions for streaming. In this article, we will compare them on 7 key parameters – from picture quality to durability – and give recommendations for different scenarios: movies, games, everyday viewing.
⚠️ Note: If you choose a TV set for PS5/Xbox Series X, skip to the section about gaming features - there are critical nuances of the game. HDMI 2.1 and VRR, which manufacturers often fail to recognize in their.
1.Picture quality: Mini LED vs QLED vs OLED
The main criterion for choosing a TV is a matrix. Here TCL traditionally leads thanks to the partnership with CSOT (Chinese panel manufacturer) and the active introduction of Mini LED. For example, the flagship series TCL C845 (2026) is equipped with a matrix with 576 backlight zones, which gives contrast at the level of the Samsung QN90C, but cheaper by 30-40%. Xiaomi in response offers QLED-matrixes in Xiaomi TV Q2 and OLED models in the premium Xiaomi TV Master OLED, but their brightness and color reproduction lose to TCL in direct comparison.
Let's look at the key technologies:
- 🔹 Mini LED (TCL): There are thousands of LEDs behind the screen that allow you to dot the brightness, resulting in deep black and no "blooming" (blurred glow around bright objects), minus the risk of "blood spots" in a long-term static image (for example, the channel logo).
- 🔹 QLED (Xiaomi: Quantum dots improve color reproduction, but the backlight remains edge (edge-lit), which reduces contrast. TV Q2 75" this is offset by high brightness (up to 1200 nits), but the viewing angles are worse than that of the TCL.
- 🔹 OLED (Xiaomi Master: Perfect black and instant response, but pixel burnout risk with static elements (e.g., control panels in games). TCL yet OLED-TV for the mass market.
📊 Comparison of key models by picture (laboratory tests) RTINGS):
| Model | Type of matrix | Brightness (thread) | Contrast | Color coverage (DCI-P3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCL C845 (2026) | Mini LED (VA) | 1500 | 6000:1 | 98% |
| Xiaomi TV Q2 65" | QLED (VA) | 1200 | 4500:1 | 95% |
| Xiaomi TV Master OLED | OLED (WRGB) | 800 | ∞:1 | 99% |
| TCL 6-Series (R655) | Mini LED (VA) | 1300 | 5500:1 | 96% |
Critical: TCL TVs with Mini LEDs often have problems with the uniformity of the backlight in dark scenes ("dirty screen"). Before buying, check the reviews for a particular batch - the defect occurs in 10-15% of cases.
2.Sound: embedded speakers vs external systems
If you don’t plan on connecting a sound bar or a home theater, the built-in speakers become critical. Here Xiaomi is traditionally stronger: even budget models (such as the Xiaomi TV A2 43) are equipped with 2×12.5 W stereo speakers with support for Dolby Audio and DTS-HD. TCL in the same segment (TCL 4-Series) sound worse – monophone speaker at 2×8 W, which “tapes” at high volumes.
In the premium segment, the gap is narrowing:
- 🎵 TCL C845 It has Onkyo 2.1 with subwoofer and Dolby Atmos support.Bases are deep, but the mid-frequency is a little muted.
- 🎵 Xiaomi TV Master OLED It uses Harman Kardon speakers with Virtual Surround technology, and it's volumetric, but without a real subwoofer, the low frequencies lose.
⚠️ Attention: In models TCL Google TV (for example, TCL 5-Series) Often, there are problems with synchronizing sound and video when viewing through embedded applications (Netflix, YouTube), solved by switching to an external source (for example, switching to an external source, HDMI ARC).
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If you care about sound, but the budget is limited, pay attention to Xiaomi TV P1 - there are speakers 2×15 W with support for DTS Virtual:X, which is rare in the price segment up to 50 thousand rubles.
3.Smart Platform: MI TV vs Google TV vs Roku
It all depends on your habits. Xiaomi uses its own MI TV shell (based on Android TV), which is integrated with the brand ecosystem. Pros: quick access to Mi Home, voice assistant Xiao AI (recognizes Chinese and English), support for Apple AirPlay. Cons: tons of preinstalled software (including Chinese services) that can not be removed, and slow security updates.
TCL offers a choice:
- 📺 Google TV (models for Europe/USA: clean interface, support for Google Assistant and Chromecast. minus - no Russian localization in some regions.
- 📺 Roku TV (U.S. models: simple interface with a focus on streaming services, not officially sold in Russia, but can be bought through parallel imports.
- 📺 TCL TV OS (China/Asia model: similar to the MI TV, But with more advertising.
📊 Comparison of platform convenience:
| Criteria | MI TV (Xiaomi) | Google TV (TCL) | Roku TV (TCL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed of operation | Medium (brakes on budget models) | Fast. | Very fast. |
| Number of applications | Many (including Chinese) | Lots (Google Play) | Limited set (but all key ones are) |
| Advertising | Lots (on the menu and on the main screen) | Moderately. | Minimum. |
| Integration with a smart home | Excellent (Mi Home) | Good (Google Home) | Bad. |
How to turn off advertising in MI TV?
4. Gaming capabilities: HDMI 2.1, VRR and input delay
If you’re connecting to PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, pay attention to three things:
- HDMI 2.1 – required for 4K@120Hz and 8K
- VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) eliminates the gaps in the image.
- ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) automatically switches the TV to the game mode.
Flagship comparison:
- 🎮 TCL C845: full-fledged HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbit/s), VRR (40-120 Hz), ALLM, Delayed entry - 10 ms. Perfect for eSports.
- 🎮 Xiaomi TV Q2: HDMI 2.1. on one port only, VRR Yes, but it's not stable (gluts below 48 Hz) and 15 ms latency.
- 🎮 Xiaomi TV Master OLED: HDMI 2.1 on all ports, but not VRR (only AMD FreeSync for PCs: 9ms latency.
⚠️ Attention: In budget models TCL 4-Series Xiaomi A2 port HDMI limited 2.0 (maximum 4K@60 Hz. For new consoles, that's not enough -- the picture will crop or lag.
Port port HDMI 2.1 (check the 48 Gbps bandwidth characteristics")|Support VRR (Look for the menu "Game settings")|Delayed input < 15ms (data from RTINGS.com)|Presence of regime ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode)-->
5. Design and Assembly: Plastic vs Metal
Xiaomi has traditionally relied on minimalist design: thin bezels (2-3 mm), metal legs and matte body covering. flagship models (Master OLED) have a frameless screen with a thickness of only 4.6 mm. TCL, on the contrary, often save on materials: even in the C845, the rear panel is made of glossy plastic that collects fingerprints.
Key differences:
- 🖼️ Xiaomi: Unregulated legs (exceptions — TV Q2), But you can hang the TV on the wall with minimal clearance (thanks to ultra-slim case).
- 🖼️ TCL: The legs are wider (more stable), but take up more space on the stand. 6-Series There is a model with a stand-"pedestal" for the sound panel.
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If you plan to hang the TV on the wall, pay attention to the Xiaomi TV Q2 – there are holes under the VESA mount located closer to the center, which simplifies installation.
Price and price-quality ratio
In the budget segment (up to 40 thousand rubles) Xiaomi offers the best ratio of price and function. For example, Xiaomi TV A2 55" (35 thousand rubles) has a 4K-matrix, Dolby Vision and dynamics 2×12.5 W, while the same TCL 4-Series (38 thousand rubles) comes with monophonic sound and without HDR10+.
In the premium segment (80+ thousand rubles) wins TCL thanks to Mini LED. For example, TCL C845 65" (90 thousand rubles) in the picture is not inferior to Samsung QN85C, which costs 130 thousand rubles.
📊 Price comparison for popular models (Yandex Market data, June 2026):
| Model | Diagonal | Price (thousand rubles) | Best offer for... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi TV A2 | 55" | 35 | Everyday viewing, smart home |
| TCL 4-Series | 50" | 32 | Second TV, kitchen |
| Xiaomi TV Q2 | 65" | 75 | Movies and games (with VRR reservations) |
| TCL C845 | 65" | 90 | Premium Cinema, HDR-content |
| Xiaomi TV Master OLED | 65" | 120 | OLED lovers and Xiaomi ecosystems |
7. Durability and service support
Both brands have weaknesses here. Xiaomi often saves on components: low-cost models (A2, P1) use cheap power supplies that fail in 2-3 years. TCL is rife with matrix problems (see the section on “dirty screen”) and slow firmware updates (especially for models with TCL TV OS).
Service centres:
- 🔧 Xiaomi: wide coverage (available in most cities of Russia), but parts often have to wait 2-4 weeks.
- 🔧 TCL: Fewer service centers, but warranty repairs are performed faster (on average 7-10 days).
⚠️ Attention: In models TCL mini LED (for example, C845) Lighting zones often break down after 1.5-2 years of use, this is not covered by the warranty, as it is considered "natural wear.