Mi LED TV 4A Pro 49: When content is king

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Xiaomi has unveiled an updated range of Mi TVs for the Indian market, which is now relying on Google’s Android TV platform. The 49- inch Mi TV 4A Pro sells for ` 29,999 and we put it up on our wall to check out whether it’s as good as it seems.

Excluding their flagship 55- inch model, all the models in the Mi LED TV lineup bear a very regular and identical look. The 4A Pro, therefore, has slim yet noticeable bezels all around and is substantially thicker. Xiaomi’s brilliant smart Bluetoothenabled remote controller from the previous Mi TV 4 models makes a return, with an update to the original design. It now boasts of 12 buttons, with the new the voice button for summoning the Google Assistant. The remote feels well built as before and still is presently one of the few controllers with a solid and very easy- to- use layout. For connectivity, you get two USB 2.0 ports, three HDMI ports with one supporting ARC, an Audio/ Video analog port, a coaxial S/ PDIF out and an Ethernet RJ45 port. On the wireless side, Xiaomi offers Bluetooth and 2.4GHz Wi- Fi connectivity as standard. And since Android TV is running the show, you also get Chromecast built- in.

Xiaomi is one of the few manufacturers in the budget TV segment to offer an HDR- enabled panel. The IPS LCD panel with LED backlighting measuring 49- inches offers a reasonably good viewing experience with a decent dynamic range and brightness levels. The panel comfortably plays anything up to Full HD resolution. The pictures carry lots of sharpness and a fast 6.5ms response time means there was no noticeable motion blur. Viewing angles are extremely wide while the anti- glare coating reduces reflections up to a wider extent.

With Google’s TV OS taking care of the daily errands, Xiaomi finally

Xiaomi is the only OEM to offer HDR panels on budget smart televisions.

● The 4A Pro runs on Android TV Oreo 8.1, with the Pie update in works.

● The remote controller gets a voice command button for Google Assistant.

manages to bring the official PlayStore app, which results in giving users an unbridled access to several exclusive apps designed for Android TVs . The PatchWall OS now stays as a sort of launcher. The unlimited scroll of content on Patchwall is simply overwhelming with free and paid content all over your screen. Simply lift the remote and scroll or even simpler, just ask Google’s Assistant for what you want to watch and you will have it on your screen in a matter of seconds. The TV also comes with an optional USB- to- IR cable that can connect to your existing set- top- box or media player. Out- of- the- box, the Mi TV 4A Pro was running on Android TV 8.1 Oreo and Xiaomi has promised an update to Android Pie in the upcoming months.

A pair of 10W speakers manages to put on a good show if you are catching up on weekend shows or movies — the vocals are clear while the mids are clearly distinguishable, but no bass.

To sum it up, if you are looking for a large panel smart TV that works as intended and doesn’t burn a hole in your wallet at the same time, keeps you content happy and is the simplest of all TVs in terms of usage, then the Mi LED TV 4A Pro 49 is a great option to consider and gets an absolute recommendation from us.