Redmi Smart Fire TV 32inch Review: Ticks The Right Boxes
© Powered by India Today Redmi 32-inch Smart Fire TV – Tick the right boxesAlthough 55-inch and 65-inch TVs are very popular these days, 32-inch TVs are still the most popular in India. Precisely for this reason, Redmi decided to present the first product in collaboration with Amazon Fire TV in the 32-inch format. Xiaomi has been in the Indian TV market since 2018 and has come a long way since then. The company prides itself on manufacturing its TVs in India and promises to offer "innovation for all".
The company recently launched the Redmi Smart Fire TV with a 32-inch screen. As the name suggests, it integrates with Amazon's Fire TV and has Alexa as its main AI voice assistant.
I have been using the TV for about two weeks now and it has been a pleasant experience so far. The device meets all expectations for a TV in this price segment. The Redmi Smart Fire TV is priced at Rs 13,999.
So, should you buy the Redmi Smart Fire 32-inch TV? Let's find out in this in-depth review.
Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 Inch Installation and Design
When the Redmi Smart Fire TV arrived at my door in a box, I was very excited to use it. So, wasting no time, I took the TV out of the box and started installing it myself. The slim and lightweight design made it easy for me to transport the TV and place it on my desk wherever I wanted to place it. The TV comes with a stand that can be easily attached with a simple set of screwdrivers. I keep the TV in my personal bedroom because I love coming home at the end of a busy day. However, if you want your TV to be wall mounted, you'll need to spend a few more dollars on mounting.
That said, I completed the installation in about 15 minutes and was online shortly thereafter.
The design of the Redmi Smart Fire TV is minimalist and no fluff. The TV has a bezel-less display with Redmi written in the lower middle and Fire TV written on the right side. A small light under the Redmi logo indicates whether the TV is on or off. The back has two HDMI ports, two USB ports, a 3.5mm jack, an Ethernet cable port and the usual AV connections. The two HDMI ports allowed me to connect headphones and a game console to the TV, and the 3.5mm jack allowed me to connect headphones without a problem. Therefore, the design of the Redmi Smart Fire TV is quite simple. It offers what you need, is compact and lightweight and offers more field of view thanks to the narrow bezels. For a TV under Rs 14,000, the Redmi Smart Fire TV certainly looks great and is perfect for those looking for a compact TV without burning a hole in their pockets.
32 inch Redmi Smart Fire TV screen and audio
The TV features an LED display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 and a 60 Hz refresh rate. The display was quite impressive considering the price, with very sharp colors when streaming OTT content. As a sitcom buff, I watched everything on TV from Modern Family on Disney+ Hotstar to Two and A Half Men on Netflix. The streaming experience was absolutely flawless and I have no complaints when it comes to performance. To test the TV's HDR content capabilities, I also streamed HDR videos to YouTube and was not disappointed.
Besides watching shows and movies, I connected the TV to my console and enjoyed playing the latest game titles like Hogwarts Legacy and Resident Evil 4. Maximum speed or gaming performance, because it's just not designed for that. With that in mind, you can still enjoy single player games like the ones mentioned above as the colors look quite vivid and the graphics are pretty good too. I loved spending hours exploring the open world of Hogwarts Legacy from the comfort of my room.
As for the sound part, the TV offers two 10 W speakers that result in good performance. The different sound modes that can be accessed through the settings have a big impact on the sound quality. The most noticeable difference for me was between standard mode and music mode. The moment I turned on the music mode, the sound improved. Basically, standard movie or TV sound modes focus on giving the user a surround sound experience by filling the room and focusing on background sound effects, etc. However, the music mode focuses more on stereo sound, so it seems louder and cleaner.
In my opinion, the music sound mode was a sure winner and I kept the TV sound that way most of the time. However, when I used Amazon Music and played rock songs, the TV's sound quality suffered a bit. But given the affordability of the device, it is allowed. You can also always connect a sound bar to amplify the sound.
Performance of Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 inch
Fire TV OS is the USP of the television and it does not disappoint. By the time I turned on the TV, it ran pretty fast and all apps opened within seconds. The feeling of scrolling through different apps with that "click" sound was quite nice and everything seemed top notch. However, after using the TV for over a week, I noticed that it sometimes fell asleep. Nothing too alarming as the lag quickly disappeared and I continued to watch my favorite content. This happened mostly when I left the TV on for a long time.
Continuing to talk about the operating system, users can create different profiles that customize the viewing experience. I created different profiles for each member of my family, which turned out to be a huge success since I didn't have to struggle to find the latest show or movie I watched.
I took a trip down memory lane and even played a few games that were on TV and spent a few minutes playing Hill Climb 2 and Ludo King. I've never tried playing games with a remote, but this was surprisingly fun.
Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 Inch Remote
Talking about the remote that you get with the Redmi Smart Fire TV, it is an upgraded remote with a mute button and a dedicated button to call Alexa. The buttons are quite responsive and I haven't had any issues with them during my time with the device. The dedicated Alexa button worked like a charm because all you have to do is press it and Alexa is at your fingertips.
You can ask Alexa to play movies, lower the volume, switch to a specific app, and more. If you have seniors in your home who have trouble finding the buttons on the remote, just tell them to remember Alexa and teach them to give the AI assistant some basic commands. I made this when my maternal grandmother came to visit and it was a success. It's true that Alexa can ignore some commands or take time to understand them, it usually works perfectly.
In addition, you get quick launch buttons for Netflix, Amazon Prime and Amazon Music. The remote also has a slim, sturdy design and is also not susceptible to smudges.
Redmi Smart Fire TV 32-inch review: should you buy?
On the last question, should you buy the Redmi Smart Fire TV? Well, if you are on a budget and want a simple TV that meets your basic needs, then yes, you can go for Redmi's latest offering. However, if you're planning to buy a TV for gaming and other purposes, I'd suggest looking at higher-spec options. However, this will also increase the cost, so make your decision accordingly.
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