Choosing a modern 55-inch TV often comes down to balancing price and image quality. The budget and mid-market segment has been dominated for several years by models from Chinese giant Xiaomi, which offer impressive specs for affordable money. However, a potential buyer is often baffled by the presence of many modifications, such as series. 4A and 4S, which appear almost identical in appearance.
At first glance, the Mi TV 4A 55 and Mi TV 4S 55 both have the same design, similar dimensions, and even similar remote controls. The difference lies in hardware, matrix quality, and software capabilities that only become noticeable when you study specifications in detail or when you use them actively. Understanding these nuances is critical, because overpaying for an older model can be unjustified, or, conversely, saving on a younger version will deprive you of key functions.
In this article, we will conduct a deep technical analysis to uncover the true differences between these two popular models, and we will look not only at the dry numbers from the specifications, but also at how they affect the real-world user experience, from color rendering quality to interface speed.
Design and ergonomics of housings
Visually, both TVs are classic rectangular panels with thin bezels. Xiaomi engineers used a single design concept for the entire 2018-2019 lineup, making them virtually indistinguishable from a few meters away. The cases are made of durable plastic, painted matte black or dark gray, which is resistant to fingerprints.
However, on closer inspection, the design features are still different: the 4S model often features better leg materials and has a slightly more refined rear profile. The weight of the devices also varies: the 4S version is typically 1-1.5 kg heavier due to a more massive acoustic system and improved heat sink.
- π Dimensions: Both models are about 123 cm wide, but the installation depth may differ due to the shape of the legs.
- π Port Location: In the Model 4S The connectors are often side-shifted for convenience of connection, whereas in 4A They can look downward.
- π¨ Quality of assembly: Body seams in the series 4S usually treated more carefully, with no visible gaps.
β οΈ Note: Despite the appearance of similarities, mounts for wall mounting (VESA) There may be different standards for the distance between the holes.Before buying a bracket, be sure to measure the distance between the holes on the back of your particular model.
The ergonomics of the controls are also worth noting: the remotes can be of different generations: in newer batches of 4S, a Bluetooth remote with voice control is often found, while the 4A can be equipped with a classic IR remote, which affects usability, since the Bluetooth remote does not require direct vision with the receiver.
Technical characteristics of the matrix and image
The most important thing for any TV is the quality of the picture. Both models have resolution. 3840Γ2160 (4K UHD), But the technology behind the image formation is very different. TV 4A lay-in LED-refresh-frequency 60 Hz and baseline illumination.
In turn, the Mi TV 4S is positioned as a model with an extended dynamic range. It uses HDR10 technology, which allows you to display a wider range of brightness and color. This means that in dark scenes you will see more detail in the shadows, and bright areas will not look scorched white spots.
β οΈ Note: To fully reproduce content in HDR10 The signal source (set-top box, console or Smart app) is not enough. TV) It must also support this standard and the content must be coded accordingly.
Color gamut is another critical parameter. The 4S is often equipped with DCI-P3 panels, which cover about 90-95% of the colors visible to the human eye. This makes the picture more saturated and natural, especially when watching modern movies and TV shows. The 4A is limited to the sRGB standard, which is quite enough for television, but inferior in cinematography.
The viewing angles of both models remain average, which is typical for the model. VA-The contrast drops when you look from the side and the colors may fade, but thanks to the anti-reflective coating, which is better implemented in the series. 4S, Watching TV in daylight is more comfortable.
Performance of the processor and operating system
The heart of any Smart TV is a processor. The Mi TV 4A typically has an Amlogic chipset with four Cortex-A53 cores, a proven solution that ensures stable interface and video playback, but micro-latency can occur when you run heavy applications or multitask.
The Mi TV 4S is often equipped with a more powerful processor, such as MediaTek, which also has four cores, but operates at higher frequencies and has a more powerful Mali graphics accelerator. This directly affects the speed of menu response and the ability to decode complex video formats without jerking.
Both models run Android TV (global) or PatchWall (India and China) and have access to the Google Play Store, where you can install thousands of apps, but the speed of downloading these apps depends on the amount of RAM you have.
- π RAM: 4A usually 1 GB or 2 GB is installed RAM, while 4S Often gets 2GB or even 3GB, which is critical for multitasking.
- πΎ ROM: Built-in memory in 4S often more (16GB vs 8GB), allowing you to install more games and apps.
- β‘ Start: Time from on-line to desktop in 4S reduced due to optimization of system loading.
Itβs worth noting that over time, the operating system gets cache and updates, which can slow down the device, and having more memory in the older model gives it a margin of safety for a longer life without losing performance.
Sound quality and acoustic systems
Sound in thin TVs is often a compromise solution, but Xiaomi engineers have tried to minimize this effect. The 4A has a basic stereo system with a capacity of 2x10 W. The sound is clean, medium frequencies are enough to watch news and regular TV shows, but the bass is clearly lacking.
The Mi TV 4S series has improved acoustics with a total power of up to 20 watts and support for DTS-HD decoding technology. This allows you to create a more volumetric sound field. The speakers are arranged in such a way that they direct the sound forward, not down, which improves the perceived volume.
Do you need a subwoofer for these models?
For those who want to get the most out of the audio system, it is important to have the appropriate ports. Both TVs are equipped with optical output and support for ARC (Audio Return Channel) via HDMI, which allows you to connect an external sound bar or home theater and control their volume from the main remote.
Switching and wireless interfaces
A set of ports is something that you encounter on a daily basis, and in both 4A and 4S, there's a standard set: two or three HDMI ports, USB ports, antenna input and headphone output, but the HDMI version may be different.
In a more expensive model 4S port HDMI They are often standard 2.0 with support. HDCP 2.2. which is necessary for the transfer 4K-Copy protection content (e.g. Netflix in the 4K). In the model 4A There may be a restriction on one port. HDMI 2.0, while the rest will be versions 1.4 that support 4K Only at 30 frames per second.
| Interface. | Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 55 | Xiaomi Mi TV 4S 55 |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI (number) | 2 pcs (1x2.0, 1x1.4) | 3 pcs (2x2.0, 1x1.4) |
| USB | 1 pc (USB 2.0) | 2 pieces (1x3.0, 1x2.0) |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz (often) | 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 / 4.2 | 4.2 / 5.0 |
| Optical output | There is. | There is. |
Special attention should be paid to wireless modules. Support for dual-band Wi-Fi (5 GHz) in the model 4S It is a huge advantage for streaming heavy 4K-The frequency of 2.4 GHz, which is often the only one in the world. 4A, In apartment buildings, it is very noisy, which leads to buffering of video.
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Use an Ethernet (LAN) cable to connect your TV to your router if you plan to watch movies at high bitrate, which will provide stability higher than even the fastest Wi-Fi.
Port availability USB 3.0 in the model 4S Allows you to connect external hard drives and play heavy files from them without delay. USB 2.0 in the model 4A It may not be able to handle the data stream when playing 4K-High bitrate video, causing the image to twitch.
Final comparison and selection recommendations
To sum up, the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S 55 is an evolutionary development of the 4A. The price difference between the two is often due to the availability of HDR, better processor, dual-band Wi-Fi and improved acoustics. For the average viewer who watches on-air TV and YouTube, the difference may not be so obvious.
But for cinephile and gamers, the choice is clear: HDR support and higher frame rate make the 4S much more appealing to consoles and modern movie viewers. If budget allows, overpaying for the 4S version is completely justified in terms of the device's timeline.
βοΈ Criteria for choosing a television
On the other hand, if you buy a TV for a kitchen, cottage or hotel room where the picture quality requirements are minimal, the 4A is a great and economical solution.
β οΈ Note: Pay attention to the delivery region when buying, Global Version has Google Assistant built-in and full Play Market access (CN Version) require complex configuration to work with Western services and may not have Russian in the menu.
Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities, if you want maximum detail and speed of the Smart. TV, choose 4S. If the main thing is a large screen at a minimum price, then 4A vαΊ«n The King of the Budget Segment.
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Xiaomi Mi TV 4S 55 beats 4A in all technical aspects: HDR, sound, 5GHz Wi-Fi and processor. overpayment makes sense for long-term use.