Redmi Smart TV X55 Review: A Premium Shift for Xiaomi’s Televisions?
Xiaomi’s foray into the Indian television market back in 2018 with the Mi TV range has been a success story. However, as the company continues to evolve and refine its branding strategies, a new chapter has begun. While the Mi TV range is being positioned towards a more premium audience, Xiaomi’s value-driven offerings are now represented by the Redmi sub-brand, which was spun off in 2019. This shift is evident in the launch of the Redmi Smart TV X55, a 55-inch Ultra-HD HDR LED TV that aims to capture the hearts (and living rooms) of budget-conscious consumers. Priced at Rs. 38,999, the Redmi Smart TV X55 boasts an impressive set of features and promises the same affordability and competence that Xiaomi’s televisions have become known for. But in a fiercely competitive market, does the X55 truly stand out?
Design and Specifications: A Familiar Face with a Red Accent
The Redmi Smart TV X Series represents a much-needed update to Xiaomi’s mainstream television offerings. This range directly targets the popular and competitive affordable big-screen TV segment, going head-to-head with brands like AmazonBasics, Hisense, and Vu. While most competitors offer a 43-inch Ultra-HD option, Xiaomi has opted for a 50-inch (X50), 55-inch (X55), and 65-inch (X65) size range. The series starts at Rs. 32,999 for the 50-inch model, and at Rs. 38,999, the 55-inch Redmi Smart TV X55 doesn’t appear overpriced, especially considering recent price corrections in the market for televisions with similar features and specifications.
The Redmi Smart TV X55 is an Ultra-HD LED TV with a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels and support for the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats. It boasts a 30W rated sound output and supports Dolby Audio for its built-in speakers, while Dolby Atmos is supported for pass-through when connected to a compatible soundbar or speaker system.
Visually, the TV doesn’t strive for extravagance. The Redmi Smart TV X55 maintains a simple, discreet appearance, typical of affordable televisions in this size category. The body is constructed from black plastic with slim black borders around the screen and a small Redmi logo at the bottom, above the indicator light. Behind the indicator light, a power button allows you to turn the TV on, but further control requires the remote.
The back of the TV features a larger Redmi logo, though it’s less noticeable once the TV is set up. Powering the TV is a Mediatek 64-bit quad-core processor, coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage for apps and app data. The Redmi Smart TV runs on Android TV 10, offering both the stock Android TV launcher and Xiaomi’s familiar PatchWall 3.6 user interface.
The ports and sockets on the Redmi Smart TV X55 are strategically positioned near the left side of the screen, with some facing to the left and others facing downwards. All three HDMI ports, both USB ports, and the 3.5mm audio output face to the left, while the Antenna, AV input sockets, Optical audio output, and Ethernet port face downwards. All three HDMI ports are version 2.1, with the second port also supporting eARC. For audio connectivity, there’s Bluetooth.
Table mounting stands are included in the box, but these are fixed near the TV’s corners, necessitating a wide table or entertainment unit. A wall-mount kit is not provided in the sales package, but the TV supports standard VESA wall mounts. Xiaomi technicians can supply a compatible kit for installation if needed.
Remote Control and Features: Familiarity and Convenience
Despite the introduction of the Redmi brand, using the Redmi Smart TV X55 feels remarkably familiar, especially in terms of the remote and features. The TV largely mirrors the experience of the recently launched Mi QLED TV 4K, sporting the same remote with a simple swap of the Mi logo for a Redmi logo at the bottom.
A frustrating oversight persists – batteries for the remote are still not included in the box. However, some software features linked to the remote remain, allowing you to invoke quick settings even within content by long-pressing the PatchWall button, and quickly mute the TV by double-pressing the volume down button. The familiar, minimalistic remote, often praised for its simplicity, may alienate users who prefer the feature-rich, button-laden remotes common among competitors. It’s worth noting that the remote provided with my review unit unexpectedly stopped functioning after initial setup. Fortunately, the Mi TV Stick remote could be paired with the Redmi TV, serving as a functional replacement despite visual differences in the button icons.
Other standout features of the Redmi Smart TV X55 include Google Assistant access through the remote, a valuable tool for quickly finding content on the TV and accessing information or controlling IoT products. Google Chromecast and Miracast offer additional convenience, enabling users to select and control content directly from their smartphones.
Software and Interface: A Dual-Launcher Experience
Android TV is widely regarded as one of the best platforms for smart televisions, and Xiaomi continues to embrace this familiar experience with the Redmi range. As with the Mi QLED TV 4K, the Redmi Smart TV X55 runs on Android TV 10, providing users with both the stock Android TV launcher and the PatchWall user interface. The ability to easily switch between the two interfaces by pressing the appropriate button on the remote grants users flexibility and control.
Experienced Mi TV users will immediately recognize the software experience. All major apps and services are available, with the Android TV interface prioritizing apps while PatchWall focuses on curated content and personalized recommendations based on categories, new releases, and more. Xiaomi acknowledges the widespread popularity of PatchWall as a default launcher, and both user interfaces offer compelling benefits. While I personally prefer the stock launcher’s simplified approach, PatchWall’s visually rich and vibrant design is undeniably enticing.
PatchWall’s curated lists for Dolby Vision and HDR10 content were particularly useful, allowing me to quickly access the highest-quality content available across various streaming platforms and services. It’s important to note that PatchWall does not offer any original content but rather aggregates and curates media from major streaming services. Subscription to those services is required to view the content.
The Redmi Smart TV X55 offers a comprehensive selection of apps and services, with minimal exceptions. Navigation across both interfaces is generally smooth and hassle-free. An interesting addition is the inclusion of the Mi Home app, installable and usable through the PatchWall launcher. This allows users to control their Xiaomi IoT devices directly from the TV, mirroring the functionality of the Mi Home smartphone app. While a niche feature, it’s a welcome addition for owners of Xiaomi IoT products.
Performance: A Solid Foundation with a Few Tweaks
Xiaomi has long been recognized for its effective utilization of affordable LED panels in its TVs, and this expertise is evident in the Redmi Smart TV X55. While the TV delivers reasonable performance for its price point, it falls short of the picture quality achieved by some key competitors, including options from AmazonBasics and Hisense.
Compared to its spiritual predecessor, the Mi TV 4X, the Redmi Smart TV X55 represents a technical and practical improvement, primarily due to its ability to display Dolby Vision content alongside HDR10+, significantly enhancing the viewing experience for supported titles. The Redmi Smart TV X55 performed commendably with Dolby Vision content, delivering a decent viewing experience with standard definition and 720p content. However, for the majority of content, the experience was merely satisfactory.
As always, I began my testing with Dolby Vision content, watching several episodes of the second season of Snowpiercer on Netflix. Colors, particularly skin tones, were pleasing, and the picture was sharp and mostly smooth, free from noticeable artefacts associated with rapid motion. Bright scenes, including the icy outdoor setting in one episode, appeared quite good, engaging, and enjoyable to watch even with the TV brightness set to a moderate level.
Where the Redmi Smart TV X55 falls short is in reproducing black levels. The LED backlighting tends to shine too brightly, resulting in blacks appearing as a dull grey with a somewhat rough texture. The typically dark interiors of the train in Snowpiercer, along with night vision footage in Night On Earth on Netflix, looked rather ordinary and excessively grey, even compared to competitors like the AmazonBasics Fire TV Edition television. While technically, black levels can be improved by reducing the brightness and backlight levels, this wasn’t a viable solution. I found myself constantly switching picture settings between scenes or shows, a cumbersome inconvenience. Sticking to a single calibration setting provided a workable viewing experience for most content but fell short of exceptional, even with high-quality Ultra-HD HDR shows and movies.
For HDR10 and HDR10+, I watched Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm on Amazon Prime Video, along with some of my usual sample video clips. While good HDR content appeared nearly as good as Dolby Vision, I found the colours and definition a bit too punchy with other HDR formats. Dolby Vision, even on an entry-level television like the Redmi Smart TV X55, significantly improves the viewing experience due to its dynamic metadata and ability to adjust colors dynamically for each scene.
Watching full-HD, 720p, and standard definition content on the Redmi Smart TV X55 was a mixed bag. Oddly, SD and 720p content proved easier to watch than full-HD, despite the obvious reduction in sharpness. Artefacts associated with fast motion were visible across resolutions but appeared more intense and distracting with full-HD content, especially in episodes of New Girl on Disney+ Hotstar. Standard definition content like Malcolm In The Middle, while obviously hazy due to upscaling and the TV’s size, remained enjoyable thanks to its smooth and effortless picture.
Xiaomi’s televisions, while not renowned for their sound quality in the affordable TV space, have historically delivered loud and reasonably well-tuned audio. The Redmi Smart TV X55 remains true to this trend, with no complaints regarding the sound output. In fact, the company has made notable improvements in volume moderation. Even at reasonable volumes, dialogue and music remain clear, without the sudden, jarring spikes often found in this price segment.
Verdict: A Solid Choice with Room for Improvement
The introduction of the Redmi brand in the television space might seem like a significant shift, but the Redmi Smart TV X55, at its core, is essentially a carryover from the Mi TV range. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the Redmi Smart TV X55 is a valuable update to a range that had started to appear dated in the face of increasingly impressive competition. At Rs. 38,999, the 55-inch model might seem a bit expensive, but considering the recent price adjustments in the TV market, this price point is actually quite reasonable for the features and specifications offered.
The overall experience is decent, thanks to good software, decent sound, and reasonable UI performance. However, picture quality falls short of some recent launches like the AmazonBasics Fire TV Edition television. If you intend to watch a lot of full-HD content, it’s highly recommended to consider competing options before making a purchase decision.
While it might not be the absolute top contender in the budget-friendly TV landscape, the Redmi Smart TV X55 offers a solid package of features and performance at a reasonable price. Whether it truly represents a premium shift for Xiaomi’s television lineup is a matter of individual preference. However, if you’re looking for an affordable, large-screen TV with good software and decent sound, the Redmi Smart TV X55 is a worthwhile contender to consider.
