Xiaomi Smart TV X50 Review: Among The Best Android LED Smart TVs On Budget

Expanding the range of smart TVs in India, Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi recently launched the Smart TV X series. Based on the Mi TV 5X (test) , the Smart TV X series comes in 43-inch and 50-inch screen variants. and 55 inches. Like its twin, the 50-inch model (the test unit) is powered by Xiaomi's PatchWall interface integrated with the Android TV 10 platform. It offers a long list of features including support for the commonly used HDR (High Dynamic Range), MEMC (Motion Estimation Motion Compensation), Dolby Audio and DTS:X surround sound systems. At Rs 34,999, the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 is Rs 4,000 less than the Mi TV 5X, although it is similar in features. Is it good or has Xiaomi cut corners? Let's face it.

drawing

The Xiaomi Smart TV X50 is a well-built unit, but it lacks the premium look of the Mi TV 5X despite its slim metal frame and bezel-less front profile. This is because the TV comes with plastic legs, which are unnecessarily large and covered with a glossy finish. The large footprint makes the base inconvenient for desktop installation, especially if there is a small table cover. The glossy finish seems to be an afterthought as it doesn't match the overall finish and quality of the TV.

display and sound

The Xiaomi Smart TV X50 is a technology-rich proposition in the affordable LED Smart TV segment. It has a 4K UHD resolution screen that supports the most commonly used HDR formats including Dolby Vision and HDR. Additionally, there is a MEMC that allows users to view content at the panel's first supported frame rate - 60Hz. MEMC is rare in budget LED smart TVs and is one of the distinguishing features of the Xiaomi Smart TV X50. This technology is useful when watching fast-paced content like sports, but also useful for traditional content like movies, TV series, etc.

In terms of image quality, the screen has good contrast and brightness thanks to the LED panel. In terms of price and performance, the screen is among the best. This works well for standard dynamic range (SDR) content, controlling the content space, but makes it more questionable when it comes to HDR content due to the limited contrast range and low screen brightness. This is common in LED TVs, so it should not be considered a bad thing for Xiaomi Smart TV X50.

On the plus side, the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 LED panel is one of the best in its class.

In terms of sound, there are stereo speakers with a maximum output of 30W supported by Dolby Audio and DTS:X Surround technologies. The speakers don't support Dolby Atmos, but the TV has HDMI (eARC) for pass-through. Therefore, it is not possible to experience Dolby Atmos natively on the TV speakers, but it is possible to transfer the signal to a supporting sound bar or other audio accessories. As for the output, the speakers are loud and clear. The DTS:X Surround enabled speakers create a great surround sound effect, for an immersive audio experience.

User interface and performance

Xiaomi Smart TV X50 comes pre-installed with Android 10 TV operating system with PatchWall UI as secondary interface. The second is because the Android UI is the TV's default UI. Switching to PatchWall is easy thanks to a dedicated button on the tiny Xiaomi remote control. According to PatchWall, the user interface has come a long way and is now clean, intuitive and easy to use. Additionally, there are Google services like Assistant and Chromecast for added convenience.

Powered by a quad-core A55 paired with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 is no powerhouse. However, it provides a good experience. This is surprising given that the Mi TV 5X, with the same CPU and RAM, struggles with performance. However, there is no noticeable lag when it comes to UI and content playback is smooth.

Providing

Compared to the Mi TV 5X, the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 lacks premium space. It also lacks remote microphones for Google Assistant and the built-in storage is half of what you get on the Mi TV 5X. Still, it's a good buy because there's no compromise on the essentials. Xiaomi Smart TV X50 offers a great audiovisual experience. There are also a wide range of connectivity options such as 3 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x USB 2.0, Ethernet, AV-in, optical and headphone jacks. For wireless connectivity, dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 are available.