Xiaomi OLED Vision TV Review: A Budget OLED Option That Delivers?
Xiaomi has carved a name for itself in India’s TV market, primarily with affordable LED sets. Now, the company is taking a bold step into the premium arena with its first OLED television, the Xiaomi OLED Vision TV, priced at a compelling Rs. 89,999 for a 55-inch screen. This price is significantly lower than most OLED TVs available in India, making it a tempting proposition for those who want to experience the superior image quality of OLED technology without breaking the bank. But does this budget-conscious OLED TV deliver on its promise? Let’s dive in.
Xiaomi OLED Vision TV (55-inch) Design and Specifications
The Xiaomi OLED Vision TV is a looker. With its razor-thin 4.6mm edges, it exudes a sleek and modern aesthetic, although the center section houses the electronics and ports which make the back of the TV thicker. The slim bezels on all sides further enhance its modern appeal, while the module at the bottom houses the Xiaomi logo, indicator light, power switch, and far-field microphone switch.
The TV can be wall-mounted or stand-mounted, with VESA compatible wall mounts. Xiaomi provides free professional installation and includes the stands in the box, but the wall mount kit is not included – you can request it from Xiaomi during installation.
Port accessibility is particularly convenient, even when wall-mounted. The Ethernet port, Optical Audio-out, RCA sockets, and Antenna socket face downwards, while the three HDMI 2.1 ports, two USB Type-A ports, and 3.5mm audio jack face the left of the screen. One of the HDMI ports supports ARC. The power cord, sadly, is permanently attached and seems a bit too short.
Behind the sleek design lies impressive hardware:
- 55-inch Ultra-HD (3840×2160-pixel) OLED display with self-illuminating pixels for deep blacks and incredible contrast.
- Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ support for a richer HDR experience.
- 60Hz refresh rate, which might be a drawback for hardcore gamers.
- 98.5 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut for vibrant and accurate colours.
- 15,00,000:1 contrast ratio for exceptional detail in dark scenes.
- Reality Flow MEMC engine for motion interpolation.
- 30W speaker system with eight drivers featuring Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support for immersive audio.
- Wi-Fi 6 with dual-band support, Ethernet, and Bluetooth 5 for connectivity and wireless audio.
- 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage for smooth performance and app storage.
- Quad-core ARM Cortex-A73 processor to power the TV’s smart features.
Remote Control and Smart Features
The Xiaomi OLED Vision TV comes with a familiar, basic plastic Bluetooth remote with a few subtle changes. However, the remote lacks included batteries, which is a bit disappointing considering the TV’s price point.
The remote offers decent functionality with additions like quick mute (press volume-down twice quickly), quick wake (turns the TV on in 3-4 seconds from standby), and quick settings (long-press the PatchWall button). You can also switch between PatchWall and the stock Android TV UI with dedicated buttons. Hotkeys for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and other installed apps are also included.
The remote also boasts a microphone for voice commands and a Google Assistant button. But here’s where things get even better – the TV itself has far-field microphones that can be activated to always listen for the “Ok Google” or “Hey Google” wake command. These worked flawlessly, allowing hands-free interaction with Google Assistant, even from across the room.
The always-listening microphones may raise privacy concerns for some, so the TV thankfully provides a switch to disable this feature.
Other smart features include:
- Built-in Chromecast for casting content from compatible devices and services.
- ALLM (Auto Low-Latency Mode) for optimized performance during gaming with consoles.
Software and Interface
The Xiaomi OLED Vision TV runs on Android TV 11 with two user interfaces overlayed: PatchWall 4 and stock Android TV. You can install apps and games from the Google Play store for Android TV, which boasts over 5,000 apps, including popular streaming services, social media platforms, and more.
PatchWall, while lacking major updates since the Mi TV 5X, remains a content-centric UI with excellent content curation, lists, and a pleasing aesthetic. Its IMDb integration, Mi Home app compatibility for smart home device control, and support for a wide range of apps and services make it a strong option for viewers who prioritize content discovery.
The stock Android TV interface has received a welcome update to a Google TV-like UI, focusing on content recommendations and curation. However, the lack of Netflix integration in the recommendations is still a notable omission. You can still use Google Assistant or search to access Netflix and other services, or launch apps directly.
Overall, the software experience on the Xiaomi OLED Vision TV is smooth and reliable. Both PatchWall and the stock Android TV UI offer user-friendly approaches, with PatchWall catering to those who prefer a content-focused experience and stock Android TV appealing to those who prefer app-centric browsing.
Performance: The OLED Advantage
When considering a 55-inch TV under Rs. 1,00,000, many would gravitate towards a quantum-dot LED television from brands like Sony, Samsung, or OnePlus. However, the Xiaomi OLED Vision TV presents an enticing alternative, offering potentially superior screen technology at the same price point.
While this TV doesn’t match the performance of ultra-premium OLED TVs like the LG CX range, it still delivers the core benefits of OLED technology, especially in terms of deep blacks and excellent contrast.
Watching various content, from Ultra-HD Dolby Vision to standard definition, the Xiaomi OLED Vision TV demonstrated the impressive capabilities of OLED:
- Brilliant blacks: The true pitch blacks achieved through OLED’s self-illuminating pixels resulted in exceptional contrast, especially in dark scenes. This accentuated the vividness of colours, making the viewing experience even more impactful.
- Vibrant colours: The Doloby Vision HDR experience truly shines on this TV, with colors bursting forth with greater depth and vibrancy, particularly evident in animated content like Love, Death & Robots.
- Sharp visuals: Even without HDR, Ultra-HD content looked incredibly crisp and detailed, showcasing the benefits of the high-resolution screen.
- Impressive handling of lower resolution content: While lower resolution content displayed a natural softness, the OLED technology still managed to maintain good colour reproduction and black levels, making the viewing experience enjoyable.
However, some drawbacks emerged during testing:
- Motion interpolation issues: During fast-motion scenes, especially in dimly lit areas, I observed noticeable motion interpolation artifacts and stutters. This hindered the fluidity of the viewing experience, particularly with TV shows.
- Limited refresh rate: The 60Hz refresh rate is unlikely to be ideal for gamers, especially those who want to take full advantage of the latest consoles and their high frame rate capabilities.
Sound Quality
The Xiaomi OLED Vision TV’s 30W speaker system delivers acceptable audio quality for most viewers. The sound signature prioritizes clear vocals, which is beneficial for dialogue-heavy content like sitcoms and sports broadcasts, ensuring that commentary and conversations are easily heard.
While the audio lacks punch, it gets sufficiently loud without distortion. Dolby Atmos support adds a sense of spaciousness and improves the soundstage for compatible content, enhancing the immersive experience.
However, for those who seek a truly cinematic sound experience, investing in a separate soundbar, like the Sony HT-A7000 or similar, would significantly enhance the overall enjoyment of the TV.
Verdict: An OLED Value Proposition
The Xiaomi OLED Vision TV shatters the perception that OLED TVs are prohibitively expensive. By offering a 55-inch OLED television for under Rs. 1,00,000, Xiaomi has made this technology more accessible to a wider audience.
This TV offers excellent black levels, stunning colours, and sharp visuals, delivering a compelling picture quality experience. The software is reliable, and the smart features are well-implemented. The value proposition is undeniable for this price point.
However, the motion handling issues and limited refresh rate might be deterrents for certain viewers. This TV is best suited for those who prioritize the benefits of OLED technology, primarily deep blacks and contrast, and who enjoy high-resolution HDR content.
Overall, the Xiaomi OLED Vision TV is a convincing entry in the OLED scene, offering a compelling mix of picture quality, smart features, and affordability that makes it a strong contender in the sub-Rs. 1,00,000 TV market.
