The Xiaomi TV Q2 does a decent job for its price. The 65-inch model that I tested currently goes for S$1,399. This puts it in the same price bracket as other affordable QLED TVs such as the Prism+ Q65 Ultra and the TCL C735. You get a Google TV experience that's mostly responsive, with plenty of apps, while the picture quality is acceptable if you're not too picky.
Quick specs
- 4K resolution with HDR10 and Dolby Vision IQ
- 3x HDMI 2.0 ports
- Comes in 55″ and 65″ (tested) sizes
- Google TV platform with Google Assistant and Chromecast built-in
The Q2 is a QLED TV, which has a quantum dot layer that makes for more vibrant images. Colours do look better than an entry-level LCD TVs, but they are obviously inferior to an OLED TV. Blacks aren't fully dark, and the picture looks greyish. But some people may prefer this since you can get a bit more detail compared with older, or cheaper OLED TVs. There were also some shadows at the corners, and some splotches when viewing an image with a solid-colour background. But this dirty screen effect wasn't too significant. Colours became slightly washed out when watching the TV from the sides. But subtitles didn't show much blooming or haloing. HDR10 and Dolby Vision content, though, didn't have the same visual impact compared with more expensive TVs.
With slim bezels and an aluminium frame, the Q2 certainly looks more premium than expected. The TV speakers are passable in a pinch. They sound quite harsh at higher volumes, but dialogue comes across clearly. There's not much bass. If you can afford a soundbar, even a budget one would be an upgrade. The Q2's feet elevate the TV sufficiently to fit most soundbars, even a chunky one like the Sonos Arc. If you have a modern console (PS5 or Xbox Series X|S), you should know that the Q2 has a 60Hz refresh rate, which means no gaming at 120Hz. And there isn't a Game mode with gaming-centric settings. I also had issues initially when connecting my game consoles. It turns out I had to manually set the HDMI version for each HDMI input in the setting. It's the same grouse I had with the Xiaomi Q1E.
As usual, Xiaomi's PatchWall custom interface isn't supported in Singapore. But Xiaomi TV+, which offers a bunch of free TV channels, is available. What I didn't like about Xiaomi TV+ is the unintuitive placement of its shortcut button on the TV remote. I would accidentally press it by accident while trying to hit the Back button next to it. But Google TV does a solid job of recommending shows and videos from YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video based on my viewing habits. Not to mention that you get the Google Assistant, along with support for Chromecast. The interface itself also feels responsive, though apps do take a few seconds longer to load.
At S$1,399 for the 65-inch model, the Xiaomi TV Q2 is slightly cheaper than its rivals now. But prices do fluctuate quite a bit in this highly competitive segment, so things may change during sales. For the most part, the Q2 should deliver a similar experience as other similarly-priced QLED TVs. In fact, the Q2 feels like a generic Google TV, probably because Xiaomi's presence (besides the Xiaomi TV+ channels) feels muted. Most users likely won't encounter any Xiaomi customisation. Which could be a good thing to some. Get the Xiaomi TV Q2 now from Lazada, and Shopee.
Note: Review unit provided by Xiaomi.
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