Xiaomi Smart TV X50 Review: Great 4K experience, stellar audio
Xiaomi has just launched its Xiaomi Smart TV X50 as an affordable 4K TV series. But is it worth buying over all the other options in the market?
I've always had two TVs in my home. The more expensive TV is in my parents' room so that they can watch non-HD soap operas on an OLED TV, while the budget HD ready TV has been handed down to me for my PlayStation 4 gaming sessions! Unfair world! Hence, I have been in the market for a new TV for a couple of months now and although I was still bound by budget constraints, features such as 4K UHD resolution, Android OS and good speakers were non-negotiable for me. So, after scouring the market for a good TV, Xiaomi's new Smart TV X50 has really caught my eye for its impressive spec-sheet under Rs. 35000.
I spent two weeks with the Xiaomi Smart TV X50. So, has Xiaomi done enough to make this TV stand apart from its competitors in the mid-range segment? Let's find out.
Xiaomi Smart TV X50: Design
Similar to other TVs in its segment, the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 has a bezel-less design, except for a noticeable chin at the bottom. The TV comes in a glossy black finish and although it looks nice and premium, it is a dust and fingerprint magnet. So, as it is the case with most of us Indians, you'd be better off keeping the plastic wrap on the chin as long as possible. There's a white LED light at the bottom just below the Xiaomi logo. When you compare it, the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 looks strikingly similar to the Xiaomi Smart TV 5A.
For connectivity, Xiaomi Smart TV X50 features a plethora of ports at its side, which includes 3 HDMI 2.1 compatible ports (1 e-ARC compatible), 2 USB 2.0 ports, AV input, Optical port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. As it is the case with most TVs, reaching those ports would be a difficult task if you wish to wall-mount it. Thankfully, I had it placed on a table so it wasn't an issue for me.
Xiaomi Smart TV X50: Display
I had the 50-inch variant of the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 for review and it was a pleasurable watching experience throughout the two weeks. The TV features an Ultra HD 4K display meaning watching 4K compatible content on it is a great experience. The TV offers bright but not-oversaturated colours with excellent viewing angles.
On paper, the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 has all the bells and whistles similar to the other TVs in this segment with support for Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HLG. It also features Xiaomi's proprietary Vivid Picture Engine and has 94% DCI-P3 wide colour gamut support which produces 1.07 billion colours. The TV also supports Dolby Vision through HDMI passthrough, but that only works if you have Atmos enabled content. Watching shows like See on Apple TV+ is a delight due to the Dolby Vision support.
Xiaomi has provided the MEMC Reality Flow engine which prevents stutter or frame-skipping when watching sports or even gaming. The Xiaomi Smart TV X50 offers one of the best gaming experiences in its segment. I plugged in my PlayStation 4 and tried a couple of games ranging from FIFA 22 to Horizon Forbidden West and there was no visible screen-tearing or frame-skipping. However, as is the case with most LED backlit TVs, the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 struggles when displaying deep blacks.
Xiaomi Smart TV X50: Audio
Most TVs in the mid-range segment offer decent but not great audio quality, with the exception of a handful of TVs such as the Hisense Tornado TV with the JBL speakers. However, Xiaomi has provided 30W speakers in the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 which makes it one of the best-sounding TVs in its segment, far better than the 20W speakers present in my own Hisense TV. You get strong highs and mids with just enough bass that it does not sound inadequate.
The TV supports Dolby Audio, DTS-HD and DTS Virtual:X, which when turned on, offer surround sound options. The DTS bass enhancement and dialogue clarity options provide even better listening experience with crystal clear audio although you would be better off keeping the DTS surround virtualizer turned off as it makes the audio echo.
Xiaomi Smart TV X50: Software and performance
Performance is one Achilles heel of the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 where it struggles perhaps due to the insufficient 8GB onboard storage. Most TVs offer at least 16GB storage in its size and with app sizes getting larger and larger, it is baffling why Xiaomi decided 8GB storage was good enough for a TV in this price range. The stock android launcher struggles when shuffling through apps quickly and even stutters sometimes when playing 4K HDR content on YouTube, although all these issues could be fixed with a future software update.
Where the Smart TV X50 really shines is Xiaomi's PatchWall, which is still the best android launcher I have ever used in a mid-range smart TV. PatchWall provides all your watched and newly curated content at your fingertips and makes it a hassle-free experience to switch TV input modes, which would have been a headache with Xiaomi's smart remote, which has minimal buttons. Xiaomi has provided in-built Chromecast and Miracast which work as well as expected. The Xiaomi TV+ app also gives you access to all F2A channels.
Xiaomi Smart TV X50: Verdict
At its price point of Rs. 31,999 for the 50-inch and Rs. 37,999 for the 55-inch variant, the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 has a lot of good things going for it. The TV comes in a premium bezel-less design and offers great visuals with support for all the popular picture formats these days. You get excellent audio with its 30W speakers and I doubt whether you would need a soundbar.
The Xiaomi Smart TV X50 could have done a bit better with 16GB storage onboard due to which it could struggle in the future with many apps installed. Xiaomi's PatchWall is great, as it has always been and is still the best Android launcher for mid-range TVs.
If you have an older HD TV, then the Xiaomi Smart TV X50 is one of the best options in its price range to consider, offering great visuals and excellent sound quality despite some performance issues. But considering all things, the Xiaomi Smart TV X 50-inch is a great option at this price.
- Premium design
- Stellar audio quality
- Refined PatchWall launcher
- Insufficient onboard storage
- Sluggish performance
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Display50-inch 4K Ultra HD
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Audio30W speakers
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OSPatchWall 4.1 based on Android 10
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HDMI ports3x
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