The Xiaomi Smart TV X Series: A Solid Value Buy for Budget-Conscious Ultra HD Enthusiasts
In India’s competitive smart TV market, Xiaomi has quickly become a leading player, known for offering affordable, feature-rich televisions that are popular among budget-conscious consumers. The Xiaomi Smart TV X Series is a testament to this strategy, providing a compelling value proposition for those seeking a well-rounded Ultra HD viewing experience without breaking the bank. While it may not boast the bells and whistles of its more premium siblings, the X Series cleverly prioritizes key features and performance to deliver a satisfying experience at an attractive price point.
In this detailed review, we will explore the design, features, software, performance, and overall value of the Xiaomi Smart TV X Series (specifically the 50-inch L50M7-A2IN variant). Our analysis will dive deep into the intricacies of the television, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs.
Design and Specifications: Simplicity Meets Functionality
Available in three sizes (43-inch, 50-inch, and 55-inch), the Xiaomi Smart TV X Series offers a choice for various room sizes and budgets. Our review focuses on the 50-inch variant, priced at Rs. 34,999 (though you might find it for as low as Rs. 31,999 during promotional periods).
The X Series adopts a streamlined approach to design, prioritizing functionality over extravagance. While the back of the TV is rather plain and the stands are plastic (unlike the metal stands of the Mi TV 5X), the front presents a clean aesthetic with slim bezels and a high screen-to-body ratio.
As expected at this price point, there’s no hands-free Google Assistant integration and no built-in microphone. However, the port selection remains generous, offering three HDMI 2.1 ports (one with ARC/eARC support), two USB ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Digital Optical (Toslink), Ethernet, AV Input, and Antenna connections. This ensures a smooth setup and supports various connectivity options.
Here’s a quick rundown of the key specifications:
- 50-inch Ultra HD (3840×2160-pixel) LED display
- 60Hz refresh rate
- Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG HDR support
- 30W down-firing speaker system with Dolby Audio, DTS-HD, and DTS Virtual X support
- Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5
- Quad-core processor
- 2GB RAM
- 8GB internal storage (compared to 16GB on the Mi TV 5X)
Remote and Features: Minimalist Design with Practical Tweaks
The Xiaomi Smart TV X Series remote retains its minimalist design, but with a few subtle updates. Featuring hotkeys for Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video along with a dedicated PatchWall button, the remote remains compact and comfortable to use. It’s worth noting that the remote features a new PatchWall logo instead of the “Mi” logo, reflecting the brand’s growing focus on its custom software interface.
Xiaomi has also implemented a few software-based tweaks to make up for the lack of physical buttons. This includes muting the TV with a double-press of the volume down key and accessing the quick settings menu through a long press on the PatchWall button.
Beyond the basics, the X Series comes equipped with features such as auto low-latency mode (ALLM) for gaming, Dolby Atmos passthrough, and Google Assistant integration via the remote. Built-in Chromecast and Miracast support is also included, enabling convenient content casting from compatible devices.
Software and Interface: Familiar Functionality with Minor Quirks
The X Series continues Xiaomi’s well-established dual-UI approach, relying on the Android TV 10 operating system with the option of either PatchWall or stock Android TV.
PatchWall, Xiaomi’s curated UI, continues to evolve, offering a personalized experience with recommendations based on viewing habits and integration with over 30 streaming services. It also provides direct access to the Mi Home app, a useful feature if you own Xiaomi’s smart home products.
For those who prefer the stock Android TV interface, it’s also available and has recently been updated to a more Google TV-inspired aesthetic. On both UIs, you have access to over 7,000 apps from the Google Play Store, allowing you to download additional apps and games as needed.
However, software performance was not without its quirks. We experienced occasional sluggishness when navigating the Android TV interface, and certain apps encountered loading issues. Additionally, subtitle timing on platforms like Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar occasionally lagged by a second or two. These issues were typically resolved with a full reboot, but they do raise some concern about overall software stability.
An interesting addition to the software suite is the Xiaomi TV+ app. This app offers access to linear channels similar to a DTH service, but with content streamed over the internet. This can be a useful resource for those seeking a quick and easy way to browse different channels, but the initial implementation was slightly slow. We observed notable loading times, particularly on our fast internet connection, but hopefully, this will improve over time with updates.
Performance: Solid Output with Upscaling Benefits
While positioned below the Mi TV 5X in terms of pricing, the X Series delivers impressive performance for its price point. The Ultra HD display with Dolby Vision HDR support, coupled with generally good picture quality across various resolutions, makes for an enjoyable viewing experience.
The 50-inch size proves beneficial, particularly for lower-resolution content, as it helps to mask any imperfections at typical living room distances. We watched a wide variety of content, from Ultra HD Dolby Vision material to standard definition videos, and were consistently satisfied with the overall visual experience.
High-quality content naturally exhibited the most impressive results. Dolby Vision content on Apple TV+ and Netflix displayed excellent vibrancy, though brightness gains weren’t as pronounced as on higher-end LED or quantum-dot LED TVs. However, the colours and tones appeared more refined and well-balanced.
Lower-resolution content was handled fairly well by the TV thanks to the upscaling capability. While the X Series doesn’t quite achieve the same level of clarity as higher-end TVs, it effectively masks the limitations of lower-resolution streams, resulting in a more pleasing experience than some budget alternatives.
Black levels on the Xiaomi Smart TV X Series represent a trade-off. As an entry-level LED TV, it unfortunately suffers from a slight grey tinge across the screen, noticeable in dark scenes. This can lead to a less impactful picture, particularly with content that relies heavily on deep blacks.
Audio performance on the X Series is a pleasant surprise. Despite its relatively small frame, the 30W down-firing speaker system delivers impressive volume and a well-balanced sound signature. Dialogue is clear and crisp, and background scores are well-represented. While the audio may not be as immersive or powerful as dedicated soundbars, it is certainly sufficient for casual viewing and more than capable for the price point.
Verdict: A Worthy Value Proposition
The Xiaomi Smart TV X Series is a compelling proposition for budget-conscious buyers seeking an Ultra HD viewing experience. It delivers solid performance, with a capable display, impressive audio, and a feature set designed for everyday use. It may not be a perfect product, particularly when it comes to software quirks and the noticeable grey tinge in dark scenes. However, its strong value proposition and well-rounded capabilities, considering its price point, make it a worthy contender in the highly competitive Indian market.
If you’re looking to upgrade to a larger screen and want to explore the world of Ultra HD and HDR content, the Xiaomi Smart TV X Series provides a fantastic starting point. Its affordable price point, coupled with its strong performance and feature set, makes it a highly recommended option for those seeking a budget-friendly, yet capable Ultra HD television.
