The Redmi Smart Fire TV 32: A Surprising Shift in Xiaomi’s TV Strategy
Xiaomi and Redmi have traditionally been known for their Android-based televisions, all featuring the signature PatchWall user interface. This has worked well for them, offering a consistent experience across the product line. However, the recently launched Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 throws a curveball into this familiar equation by embracing Fire TV OS, Amazon’s smart TV and streaming platform. This move brings Alexa integration, deeper Prime Video integration, and a whole new experience to the table. Is this the best 32-inch smart TV you can buy? Let’s dive into the review and see if this unexpected pairing delivers a winning formula.
Design and Specifications: Safe But Familiar
The Redmi Smart Fire TV 32, available only in a 32-inch size, leans into the popular choice for Indian smart TV buyers, offering a compact size and an extremely affordable price point. This, however, also means an HD resolution of 1366×768 pixels and a standard 60Hz refresh rate, a common configuration for 32-inch televisions.
While the software takes center stage, the exterior design sticks to a safe and familiar look, barely distinguishable from other Redmi televisions. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it’s a straightforward design with narrow borders and a thickness that won’t distract from the viewing experience. The compact size makes the TV remarkably light, clocking in at just 3.9kg.
The package includes table stands, which are easy to install. However, I encountered difficulty using standard VESA mounts; luckily, Xiaomi offers free installation, so you can get their recommended wall-mount kit through their official service (though, do confirm the cost of the kit itself).
In terms of connectivity, the ports are located on the left side, with the power cable fixed on the right. The Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 boasts two HDMI ports (one with ARC support), two USB 2.0 ports, AV-in sockets, an Ethernet port, a 3.5mm headphone/speaker jack, and an antenna socket. Wireless connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.
Sound output comes from a 20W two-speaker system positioned at the bottom and firing downwards. The TV supports Dolby Audio, DTS Virtual:X, and DTS-HD audio formats. A quad-core Cortex A35 processor and a Mali G31 MP2 GPU power the smart TV interface, aided by 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage for apps and data.
Remote and Features: A Minimalist Improvement
Xiaomi’s minimalist remote is a familiar fixture in its product lineup, but it’s designed for Android TV. The Redmi Smart Fire TV 32, however, boasts a new remote tailored to Fire TV OS, with a few welcome tweaks.
The most obvious changes are the Redmi and Fire TV branding at the bottom and the blue Alexa logo on the voice control button. We also see dedicated playback buttons separated from the navigation pad (which previously doubled as playback controls), and, impressively, a dedicated mute button. While still minimalistic, the remote feels more organized and better suited to the new operating system.
Hotkeys for Netflix, Prime Video, and Amazon Music are included, alongside the app drawer. The remote runs on two AAA batteries (included) and uses Bluetooth to connect to the TV and send voice commands to Alexa.
Alexa, just like on any Fire TV Edition television or Amazon streaming device, can be used to fetch content, control IoT devices, and get answers to queries. While it’s not hands-free, you can press the Alexa button on the remote and speak into the microphone to trigger voice commands.
The Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 also supports Miracast and AirPlay for casting and mirroring content from compatible devices. AirPlay, especially from an iPhone, felt extremely smooth, giving the TV a notable advantage over its budget counterparts.
Software and Interface: Embracing the Fire
After years of relying on Android TV and PatchWall, the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 makes a significant shift in its software strategy by adopting Fire TV OS. This move reflects Xiaomi’s deepening partnership with Amazon.
The Fire TV OS experience is consistent across all Fire-powered devices, and the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 feels like any television with a Fire TV Stick or Cube attached. Unlike Xiaomi’s Android TV televisions, which have PatchWall as a launcher on top of Android TV, Fire TV OS is the sole interface on this model.
Fire TV OS and its apps run particularly well on the TV’s limited hardware, offering a smoother and faster experience than similarly-specced Android TV models, despite the limited RAM (1GB) and internal storage (8GB).
Boot times, app loading, and general navigation feel snappy, although there were occasional instances where things took longer than expected. Fire TV now boasts a library of over 12,000 apps to download, encompassing all major streaming services.
The "Live TV" integration is a useful feature that gathers free and premium live-streamed content from supported apps like news channels and branded content. You can integrate this with a set-top box or antenna-based device to create a guide and scheduler within the Fire TV interface. This is particularly beneficial for viewers who haven’t fully transitioned to streaming and still rely on traditional content sources.
The overall Fire TV OS experience, which I’ve explored in depth in previous reviews, remains largely unchanged on the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32. The TV runs the latest version, Fire OS 7, consistent with the current-generation Fire TV Stick and Cube. This includes the content, apps, UI, settings, and other less apparent software aspects.
The OS and UI prioritize content, with a definite focus on Prime Video, but you’ll also find recommendations from other services. You can easily access apps from other services, including major players like Netflix, Apple TV, and YouTube, which run smoothly on the TV. Alexa can also fetch content from multiple services, including Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar, through voice commands.
Performance: A Budget-Friendly Experience
The 32-inch screen size is popular in India due to its compact size and affordability.
It’s also a good fit for the majority of available content, which often sits between standard-definition and full-HD resolution and relies heavily on traditional broadcast sources.
The Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 proves effective in catering to the budget-conscious smart TV buyer while offering an acceptable blend of features. I used it solely as a smart TV, and the "Live TV" functionality and the prevalence of streaming content at up to full-HD resolution made it feel adequately equipped.
For optimal viewing, the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 is best enjoyed at shorter distances, but it can be surprisingly enjoyable for certain content at longer distances. For example, watching sitcoms like Modern Family and Arrested Development on Disney+ Hotstar was an ideal experience, as the content style aligns well with the TV’s size and capabilities.
The picture quality is sharp enough at reasonable distances, but it undeniably reflects its entry-level DNA. The experience is similar to what you’d expect from any similarly priced TV. This doesn’t mean it’s bad; bright and focused content like sitcoms and music videos look good, although a slight fuzziness can appear at times. Colors, while not particularly vibrant, and blacks, while not exceptionally deep, are handled adequately.
With sports content, especially Formula 1 races on the F1 TV app, the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 delivers a decent experience, with the occasional inconsistency in motion rendering. HD movies were handled similarly, offering a reasonably competent viewing experience for the size.
The apps on the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32, naturally, cap the resolution at HD, even for movies and shows offered at higher resolutions, to ensure optimal data usage. The TV provides a fairly consistent viewing experience with most content, but dull, dimly-lit scenes, like the action sequences on the planet Mandalore in The Mandalorian season 3, can feel a bit underwhelming.
Sound quality on the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 feels loud for its size, but tuning shortcomings exist. The sound often feels gruff and unrefined; however, this doesn’t significantly affect dialogue or music audibility. You’re unlikely to encounter major sound issues, and the sheer loudness and uniform volume increments compensate for the shortcomings to some degree.
Verdict: A Worthwhile Option for Budget Buyers
In the realm of budget 32-inch televisions, the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 performs as expected, delivering straightforward picture quality that caters well to common content types. What sets this TV apart is its software package; the Fire TV ecosystem provides a significant differentiation, especially if you’re already accustomed to Alexa and have a compatible Echo speaker at home.
Fire TV software, arguably, is better optimized than Android TV for budget hardware, making the overall performance on the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 respectable. This is a worthwhile option if you’re searching for a small, affordable television with smart features. As long as your expectations are realistic, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
