Xiaomi disrupted the smart TV market in India by offering large-screen, high-resolution smart TVs at never-seen-before prices. It has been over five years since the company started selling smart TVs in India, and every television it has sold shipped with Google’s Android TV OS. For the first time, Xiaomi has partnered with Amazon to launch its first 32-inch FireOS-powered smart TV — Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 in India.
With a launch price of Rs 13,999, is the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 the best budget smart TV in the country? I have been testing it for over a week, and here is my full review of the latest affordable smart TV with Fire OS in the Indian market.
Design: As good as any premium smart TV
The new Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 looks as good as any modern smart TV of 2023 with a bezel-less design, and there is nothing to complain about it. With a three-sided bezel-less design, the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 looks and feels modern and a tad more compact than most budget 32-inch smart TVs bearing big bezels on all four sides.
While the bezels aren’t as thin as the ones shown on Xiaomi India’s official product renders, the higher 95.72% screen-to-body ratio makes the television look premium, despite being an affordable offering. I also liked the minimal FireTV branding on the bottom chin.
In terms of connectivity, the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 has got you covered. The I/O on this television consists of two HDMI ports, where users can plug in a gaming console and a DTH set-top box at the same time. Similarly, the device has an antenna port, an RJ45 ethernet jack, AV input, and two USB 2.0 ports. The wide range of input ports allows users to plug in even dated cable network receivers with the smart TV without any issue.
Software experience
I reviewed the ONIDA Fire TV Edition 32 back in 2020, which was also recently updated to the Fire OS 7. I personally feel Amazon’s Fire OS offers a much more optimized smart TV experience when compared to Google Android TV, and the same applies here. Despite just having 1GB RAM, the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 did not feel sluggish while scrolling through the UI, and I was also able to install my favourite OTT apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and Hotstar without any issue.
Most smart TVs based on Android TV OS only offer Chromecast, which requires an internet connection to cast content from a smartphone or tablet. The Redmi Smart Fire TV 32, however, does miss out on Chromecast. It supports Apple’s AirPlay and also offers Miracast support, which allows users to mirror content from their smartphone without requiring an internet connection.
Another important aspect of this whole experience is the smart remote that comes with the television. The minimalistic remote of the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 has dedicated keys to access Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube. Similarly, it has a blue-coloured Alexa button, which makes accessing Alexa quick and easy, and Alexa is definitely a lot better than Google Assistant when it comes to voice recognition.
Picture and audio quality
The Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 comes with a 720p HD ready panel along with a 20W stereo speaker setup with Dolby audio support. As this is an HD panel, it is recommended to have at least 1.2 meters distance between the TV and the user to get the best viewing experience. Since I started testing this smart TV, I have been using it to watch shows on Prime Video and to stream WPL matches on the JioCinema app, and everything worked really well.
On top of that, I really liked the slightly saturated colour tuning of the panel, which makes everything pop. With support for 5GHz Wi-Fi, the smart TV can seamlessly stream HD content on every OTT platform without any issue. Overall, the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 offers a seamless user experience.
While the picture quality of the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 is on par with other 32-inch smart TVs, what really impressed me is the audio quality. The stereo speaker setup with up to 20W audio output not only gets loud but also delivers clear audio with a good amount of bass.
Verdict: A budget smart TV that just works.
The Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 is a no-nonsense product that just works. By offering just the right set of features, Redmi is providing an affordable yet highly practical smart TV, and this is definitely the right upgrade for those who still have one of those CRT (cathode ray tube) televisions at home.
While you can get a 32-inch smart Android TV OS-based television for less than Rs 13,999 in India, the Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 provides a great experience, and the overall software experience will stay relevant for years to come.
