The Mi QLED TV 4K 55 has a lot of features for a QLED TV that’s cheap. It’s the best TV that Xiaomi has ever offered for sale in India. But should you buy it?
Xiaomi is the only company that has a thorough understanding of the Indian market for affordable smart TVs. Since the first Mi TV was released in 2018, the company knows what Indian customers like: a big screen, good sound, a lot of features, and, most importantly, a price that everyone can afford. With the introduction of its first QLED television, the company is attempting to break into the LCD TV market. Although the Mi QLED TV 4K 55 is still a mystery to many, it is without a doubt the best television that the company has ever sold in India.
The Mi QLED TV 4K 55, which retails for Rs 54,999, is one of the most affordable QLED televisions currently available in India. The rest of the package provides a well-rounded smart TV experience, and Xiaomi is utilizing QLED technology to provide a premium viewing experience. People who are obsessed with interior design will like the new design, and the performance is among the best in its class.
Then, should you spend a lot of money on Xiaomi’s first QLED TV for India? I switched to a brand-new Mi QLED TV 4K 55 for a few weeks because I have been using a Mi TV for some time. The experience has mostly been good.
Design:
Design Because a television is a flat, rectangular canvas, you can only do so much with its design. Before rollable televisions become commonplace, I don’t see any brands moving in any other direction with TV designs than eliminating the bulky bezels. This QLED TV is mostly functional thanks to Xiaomi’s use of the Horizon Edition design from its Mi TV 4A models. With its borderless design and classy chrome-finished bottom bezel, the Mi QLED TV 4K 55 looks great.
Despite having a matte silver finish, the metal frame conveys a sense of high-end design. Although the top and sides appear without bezels, there is still some black bezel present. When closed, the television appears to be one huge piece of glass attached to the wall with wires dangling from it. The Mi QLED TV 4K 55 blended well with my typically unkempt room, despite my room not adhering to class-A standards of interior decor (as the photos show).
When the TV is mounted on a wall, accessing the ports is more difficult. The three HDMI ports, which all use the 2.1 format, are the most straightforward to identify without looking. On either flank of these HDMI ports, there are also two USB-A ports. Xiaomi conveniently placed the ports where they were likely to be used the most by users. Although the placement of the Ethernet port and the AV ports is slightly inconvenient, I anticipate that the majority of Indian households will not make extensive use of them.
If you want to mount the TV on a wall, I would recommend that Xiaomi staff handle all of the wiring and connections because of the TV’s enormous size. The Xiaomi box does not include wall mount brackets, but it does include free table stands (cough…OnePlus learn…cough…). The Mi QLED TV 4K 55 costs Rs 450 to install on the wall in Noida, not including the wall brackets.
From previous Mi TV models, the remote controller itself has not changed much. The same minimalist controller with fewer buttons and all rubber components is provided. There are two separate keys for Prime Video and Netflix, the latter of which was extremely helpful to me. Although Xiaomi has integrated a shortcut to accomplish the same thing, the mute button still evades the controller. All that is required is a long press on the volume decrease key. The TV cuts out. As a long-term Mi TV user, I know it sounds stupid, but this is a blessing.
Display:
The Mi QLED TV 4K 55 features a massive 55-inch QLED screen, as the name suggests. For those of our readers who are unfamiliar with QLED technology, the following is a brief explanation. Quantum dots, which are basically transmissive particles that emit colors when struck by the typical LED backlighting, are the Q in QLED. On a big-screen television, you’ll be able to enjoy greater gains in color vibrancy and enhanced dynamic range.
For TV nerds, here are some suggestions: The Mi QLED TV 4K 55 features a VA panel and can play HDR 10, HDR 10+, and Dolby Vision files. Additionally, the TV supports a variety of color space formats, including DCI-P3, BT 2020, BT709, and others. Overall, as a user, I discovered that I have numerous options for selecting the TV experience I want.
How is the experience of watching it? I used the Mi QLED TV 4K 55 with the motion smoothing setting set to “Standard” for the majority of my time with it. This QLED model’s vibrant colors made it appear more lifelike than my previous Mi TV 4X Pro 55. I found myself spending more time in front of the television than ever before because the QLED technology brings out the best in the same routine content. Having motion smoothing at the expense of sharpness is something I personally prefer, but the Mi QLED TV 4K 55 made reasonable compromises.
Sincerely, the best way to enjoy this television is through Prime Video and other platforms that support Dolby Vision content. Videos from my iPhone 12 were displayed exactly as they appeared on the iPhone. Jack Ryan by Tom Clancy had a lot of color and strong contrasts, making it feel lively. The experience was always satisfactory, even when viewing HDR10 and HDR 10+ content. Even for nerds, older shows like The Big Bang Theory and The Office look good.
When I connected my Xbox Series X to the Mi QLED TV 4K 55, the experience was significantly enhanced. Dolby Vision content and 4K HDR 10+ are both supported by the Series X. Apple TV+’s Dolby Vision-capable content all looked great when I watched it. Due to the 4K resolution, games like Forza Horizon 4, Dirt 5, and Assasins Creed Valhalla had stunning visuals and extremely detailed environments. The HDMI 2.1 ensures that there will be no lag, and it definitely felt smoother than my older TV. Sadly, the refresh rate remains at 60 Hz, and I long for the days when affordable televisions could support 120 Hz. Keep in mind that this refresh rate issue only applies to modern consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X).
If you look closely at the pixels, you will eventually realize that unlike more expensive QLED televisions, there are no distinct dimming zones. As a result, if you want deep blacks or extremely high contrasts, turn on the dynamic backlighting option. On a personal level, during my weekend movie nights, I found the TV to be cozy in dim rooms. I never noticed any color shift from wide angles, despite the wide viewing angles.
The Mi QLED TV 4K 55’s overall viewing experience impressed me greatly. Certain flaws will undoubtedly emerge when compared to Samsung and Sony’s high-end QLED televisions. However, when you consider the price, the majority of the criticisms seem pointless.
Sound:
The Xiaomi team said during the product briefing that it has worked hard to make the onboard speakers feel like a soundbar. For this reason, the Mi QLED TV 4K 55 has six speakers, including two tweeters and four speakers with a wider frequency range. While I was using the television, I did not feel the need to consider using an external speaker, so I am unsure of the soundbar experience claims.
I’ve never heard a better audio experience from a Mi TV model. The four full-range speakers do produce some thump in the lower range and powerful mids, both of which contribute to an enjoyable listening experience. The television was able to accurately reproduce the audio of the movies and sitcoms, whether Sheldon Cooper was ranting about his food or Batman was tearing down a mall to catch the Joker.
For the most immersive experience, I usually played at 50% volume, but if you want to be more daring, you can always go higher, waking up neighbors as you race your heart out in Dirt 5, eventually causing the society authorities to knock on your door (I learned this lesson the hard way). There are a number of audio profiles to choose from, but the Standard mode always made me happy. Although the mute function is definitely useful, I still wish Xiaomi had included a button specifically for it.
Experience that works:
Xiaomi has chosen the most recent Android 10 version for Android TV for the Mi QLED TV 4K 55. This ought to be faster and better theoretically. Despite occasional lags, I’ve found the standard Android TV interface to be fairly quick thus far. The TV has 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM built in, which seems adequate for the time being. The majority of apps loaded quickly, comparable to what I’ve seen so far on other Android TVs.
If this is your first time using the Android TV ecosystem, you will be pleased to know that the majority of Google services and apps are well-integrated. Google Assistant is installed, so you can use a simple voice command to quickly browse YouTube content. If you have a Wi-Fi network at your location, you can cast videos and audio directly to the television with Chromecast. You can sideload some of the thousands of TV apps that are available. Be aware that personal files cannot be stored on the 32GB of onboard storage.
Notwithstanding, the PatchWall interface makes the Mi QLED television 4K 55 vivacious. PatchWall, which has been in development for more than two years, is a media center with all the features a smart TV needs. In just a year, the interface has come a long way and makes it easy to use most of the TV features. I was able to access my Xbox and laptop more easily with PatchWall than with the default Android TV interface.
In addition, content from specific OTT platforms, such as Sony LIV and Hotstar, is directly incorporated into the homescreen in the form of tiles. I was able to watch the first episode of “Scam 1992” for free, despite the fact that I do not have a subscription to Sony LIV. In addition, many movies and web series have shortcuts that allow for direct access to the content rather than endless page scrolling. The best part is that the PatchWall homescreen is updated frequently, allowing me to discover more content than ever before.
Personally, I believe that the Mi QLED TV 4K 55’s PatchWall interface is a significant value addition that sets it apart from competitors with slightly higher prices. PatchWall is one of the best, if not the best, custom smart TV interfaces I’ve used in a while, though it’s still not perfect. The performance is smoother on a high-end television like this one, which makes me want to browse more on it.
Obviously, some of you might not like the way PatchWall looks. However, the Mi TV lets you select the experience you want, and if you prefer to manage your smart TV using Android TV, fine. I like that Xiaomi doesn’t force users to use its PatchWall interface. If you were curious, there are also no advertisements (unless you regard the content that PatchWall suggests as advertisements).
Android TV’s Quick Wake feature is a blessing because it makes it feel like a regular TV when it starts up. Although Xiaomi claims that it takes 5 seconds on average to wake up from a slumber, I’ve never had to wait longer. Certainly, you can choose to completely turn off the television by long-pressing the power button on the controller, but it will still take some time to boot up. The TV is always available on standby thanks to the Quick Wake feature, which eliminates the annoying delay Android TVs typically need to start from standby.
Verdict:
The Xiaomi Mi QLED TV 4K 55 is the culmination of all of Xiaomi’s experience and customer feedback into a brilliant package. Smart TVs have been made by Xiaomi for a long time. The Mi QLED TV 4K 55 is a unique option in that price range, starting at Rs 54,999. At less than Rs 60,000, the OnePlus TV Q1 is the only option that is closer to this price for a massive 55-inch television. The QLED display is still unique. However, Xiaomi’s PatchWall interface and most style-conscious design make it a more cost-effective option.
Is it worth spending an additional Rs 20,000 over cheaper 55-inch smart TVs and the standard Mi TV 4X 55? The impressive audio performance and QLED display technology alone are compelling reasons to spend more. The Mi QLED TV 4K 55 is a good choice if you want to get the most out of your next-generation Xbox or PS5 console, watch a lot of high-quality content on Netflix and other OTT platforms, or both. The Mi TV 4X 43-inch 4K TV is a good option if you just want a decent 4K TV to catch up on online content.
