Xiaomi S Mini 2025 vs Haier K85F

Direct comparison

K85F / K85FUX

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2024

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Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2025

Complete the survey to find out the result

Overall rating

7.0

5.4

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    6.3

    5.2

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    6.5

    5.2

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    6.4

    4.6

  • Gaming on console

    8.4

    6.4

  • TV as a computer monitor

    8.2

    6.0

  • Watching in bright light

    7.3

    4.1

  • Utility functions

    4.7

    5.5

  • Apps

    9.6

    9.6

  • Sound quality

    6.8

    4.8

Advantages

  • VA panel with MiniLED backlighting – decent contrast and deep blacks

  • High brightness (841 cd/m²) – excellent visibility even in bright rooms

  • Support for multiple HDR formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10+

  • High refresh rate: 240Hz, 144Hz, and 120Hz

  • Low input lag – perfect for gaming

  • Google TV system – versatile and extensive with broad access to apps

  • The remote does not require aiming at the screen

  • Pleasant sound with a light bass

  • Support for audio formats: Dolby Atmos and DTS:X

  • Low input lag, great for gaming

  • Surprisingly good file player from USB

  • High contrast and decent blacks (VA panel)

  • Good text readability in PC monitor mode

  • Presence of features for gamers: ALLM and VRR

  • Access to many apps thanks to GoogleTV

Disadvantages

No like
  • Errors in the TV menu translation

  • Issues with aggressive dimming algorithms – noticeable in dynamic scenes

  • Image scaling and tonal transition enhancement functions are unstable

  • Catastrophic image quality in HDR mode

  • Low quality of workmanship and fit of materials

  • Slow, glitchy, and poorly translated Google TV system

  • Very poor sound quality from built-in speakers

  • Problematic remote (and no batteries included)

  • Poor viewing angles

  • Low brightness and weak anti-reflective coating

  • Low colour gamut coverage

Our verdict

Xiaomi, well-known as a giant in the smartphone market, has decided to compete for the attention of high-end tech enthusiasts by presenting a MiniLED backlit television. The S MiniLED 2025 model looks truly impressive on paper. An enormous number of dimming zones provides excellent contrast, and the brightness, reaching impressive levels, can impress both in high-quality HDR materials and in older SDR. The television performs exceptionally well where motion smoothness is key. The high refresh rate panel and low input lag make it a good choice not only for sports fans but also for gamers. Support for features like ALLM and GameBar further enhances the gaming experience. Google TV on this television works as it should – quickly, smoothly, without unnecessary stutters, which we couldn't say about the model A Pro 2025. Additionally, with such an extensive app library, it will satisfy even the most demanding user. However, not everything looks so good in practice. Despite solid hardware specifications, the television has its quirks. The biggest issue is the algorithms managing the dimming zones, which can be quite irritating when watching movies in the evening. The performance of individual zones is overly noticeable in dynamic scenes, which can effectively distract our attention from the image. Problems also arise in more demanding HDR scenes despite the truly impressive brightness. Small bright elements often lose brightness, which spoils the effect that high-quality imagery should provide. The system is also not without its shortcomings – features that enhance images in lower-quality materials work unevenly, and some options in Google TV are poorly translated or even untranslated. Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 has enormous potential, but in its current form, it seems underutilised. It is clear that Xiaomi wanted to do something really good, but a few significant shortcomings lead to a mixed final outcome. A device with high aspirations that needs better software to truly shine. It is an ideal television for brighter rooms, where high screen brightness plays a key role, and issues with local dimming become less noticeable. It will also perform excellently as a screen for gamers and for those who value the versatility and functionality of the Google TV system.

The debut of the Haier brand in the European television market with the K85F model feels quite rushed, and after thorough testing – almost unfinished. Analyzing this product leads to a fundamental conclusion: its biggest problem is not the quality of the panel used. Considering the price segment, it is simply average, with typical VA technology advantages such as high contrast and equally typical disadvantages like poor viewing angles. What truly disqualifies this model as a home entertainment centre is the glaring lack of engineering and, above all, software refinement. The list of shortcomings is long and starts with the first contact with the device. Shoddy assembly, which could have been avoided at the quality control stage, a terribly optimised and poorly translated Google TV system, or annoying issues with basic functions like pairing the remote – all contribute to an impression of a product that seems to have been launched without due diligence. Catastrophic picture quality in HDR mode, resulting not only from low brightness but also from a complete lack of smart adaptation to the signal, only adds to this disappointing picture. However, it turns out that this model has a surprising second face. Just looking at it not through the lens of a home television, but rather as a large and inexpensive display for special tasks, shifts its shortcomings to the background, bringing unexpected strengths to the forefront: a fantastically functioning media player with USB, excellent font readability from a PC, and access to a vast array of applications. In such a role – as a screen in a conference room, hotel lobby or a simple advertising player – the Haier K85F performs surprisingly well. For a typical user searching for a reliable and simply well-functioning television for the living room in 2025, however, the Haier K85F is a proposition that is extremely hard to recommend with a clear conscience. It is a product full of contradictions, which fails in too many areas in its primary, intended function as designed by the manufacturer.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
1 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
4 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
Other inputs
RCA (Chinch)
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Average
BuildQuality-Budget
Stand type
Legs
Legs
Bezel color
Graphite
Black
Stand
Fixed
Fixed
Accessories
Stand
Stand
Pilot Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Led

Contrast and black detail

6.8/10

5.6/10

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 308 (22 x 14)

Local dimming function: No

Contrast:

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Contrast and black detail

Result

182,000:1

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Contrast and black detail

Result

38,050:1

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Contrast and black detail

Result

18,300:1

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Contrast and black detail

Result

10,150:1

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Contrast and black detail

Result

5,450:1

Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Result

3,550:1

Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Result

5,200:1

Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Result

5,350:1

Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Result

5,400:1

Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Result

3,500:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Contrast and black detail
Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Contrast and black detail
Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Xiaomi S MiniLED is one of the most affordable televisions with MiniLED technology available on the market. The model we tested, sized at 55 inches, is equipped with as many as 308 local dimming zones, which is impressive for such a price. Additionally, it features a VA panel, which inherently offers significantly better contrast than IPS panels. On static test screens, the television performed excellently, achieving an impressive contrast ratio of 182,000:1 in the film Oblivion. Blacks were deep, and details in both bright and dark areas of the image were clearly separated. However, in more demanding scenes where the image is dynamic, the situation begins to complicate.

Where lies the problem? The main cause is the local dimming algorithms. Although on static images, their effects are promising, during movie playback – which reflects the television's natural working conditions – they operate too aggressively. In dynamic scenes, like those from the tested film, one can see how the individual dimming zones "work and flicker," which detracts from the viewer's sense of image coherence. This effect is particularly noticeable in motion, when bright objects move against a dark screen. As a result, although Xiaomi S MiniLED offers fantastic contrast on paper, in practice, the effect is less satisfying. The aggressive operation of the algorithms ruins the perception of dynamic scenes, making the television perform average in this category. This is a good example of how MiniLED technology requires not only a good specification but also adequate optimisation.

Alright, but let's get to the meat of it, that is, how the Haier K85F handles black and contrast. The key information is that the television uses a VA panel, which is crucial for image quality in dark scenes. Thanks to this, the contrast is really solid – our measurements indicated values around 5000:1, which is much better than popular IPS panels.

However, it is important to remember that we're discussing budget equipment. So, we shouldn't expect any advanced technologies like local dimming. The backlighting operates across the entire screen surface at all times. How did it look during viewing? We took the film "Oblivion" with its cosmic landscapes for a test, and we also checked classic black bars in other productions. The effect was quite decent. The black had good depth, but it wasn't perfectly inky – a slight blue glow could be noticed, indicating that the panel's backlighting was still active.

HDR effect quality

4.8/10

3.4/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
HDR10
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 93.0%, Bt.2020: 72.0%
DCI P3: 81.8%, Bt.2020: 61.4%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Brightness measurement

Result

852 nit

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Brightness measurement

Result

140 nit

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Brightness measurement

Result

385 nit

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Brightness measurement

Result

97 nit

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Brightness measurement

Result

1126 nit

Review Haier K85F Brightness measurement

Result

217 nit

Review Haier K85F Brightness measurement

Result

212 nit

Review Haier K85F Brightness measurement

Result

278 nit

Review Haier K85F Brightness measurement

Result

250 nit

Review Haier K85F Brightness measurement

Result

273 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 HDR effect quality
Review Haier K85F HDR effect quality

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 HDR effect quality
Review Haier K85F HDR effect quality

Static HDR10

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 HDR effect quality
Review Haier K85F HDR effect quality

HDR luminance chart:

Haier K85F

HDR luminance

Xiaomi S Mini 2025

HDR luminance

Since Xiaomi S MiniLED boasts an impressive 308 zones of dimming, it's time to see how it performs in HDR tests. Starting with luminance, or the ability to display bright scenes, the television achieved nearly 1000 nits of brightness – a result that can be considered outstanding in this class. But do these numbers translate to real-life experiences in film scenes? In the case of less demanding shots, such as those from the film The Meg, the television indeed delivered excellent results, reaching up to 900 nits. Such values are impressive and can truly convey the strength of HDR effects.

Unfortunately, just like with contrast, there were some issues. When smaller, brighter elements appear on the screen – as in challenging scenes from Sicario 2 – the aggressive action of the dimming zones ruins the entire effect. Brightness in these moments drops to just 100 nits. That is definitely too little to convey the full magic of HDR. Instead of a dynamic and detailed image, the viewer gets a muted, almost flat impression, which takes away all the enjoyment of the viewing experience.

In summary, if we're looking for a television with high brightness for watching movies during the day, the Xiaomi S MiniLED will easily fulfill that task. However, its inability to precisely manage the dimming zones makes watching movies in the evening, especially during demanding HDR scenes, potentially more frustrating than satisfying.

Let’s now move on to one of the hottest topics in the world of televisions, which is the quality of HDR performance. In the case of the Haier K85F model, we unfortunately have to make it clear: if you’re looking for equipment to watch content in a wide dynamic range, you should steer clear of this model. The main issue is its very low peak brightness, which during our tests barely reached 250 nits. To give you a better idea of what that means – this level is fine for watching standard SDR content, but it’s absolutely insufficient to show any real benefits of HDR. The image simply doesn’t have the "power" to generate bright, striking highlights. All of our measurements and tests on specialised test patterns confirmed this. As if that wasn’t enough, the television also struggles with colour reproduction. In this budget build, there are no technologies that broaden the colour gamut, such as quantum dot layers (marketed as "QLED"). As a result, the coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space, which is crucial for HDR content, is only around 80%. In practice, this means that the image will not only be dark but also devoid of the vibrant, saturated colours that the director wanted to show us.

Factory color reproduction

3.9/10

3.8/10

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Factory color reproduction
Review Haier K85F Factory color reproduction

Factory Mode

After calibration

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Factory color reproduction
Review Haier K85F Factory color reproduction

Factory Mode

After calibration

Xiaomi, like many manufacturers, offers a wide range of picture modes. On the S MiniLED, we can find both IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker. Our tests were conducted in Filmmaker mode, which theoretically aims to reference the image, but the reality turned out to be somewhat different.

Let’s start with the SDR material tests. Here the TV had quite a few problems, especially with white balance. The noticeable dominance of red made the image appear too warm, and all colours gained a reddish hue. This was particularly evident in the comparative scene from the film Star Wars. The brightness characteristic (gamma) also left much to be desired – instead of a smooth transition, we had a real "rollercoaster," with visible excessive brightening of the screen.

In 4K materials, the situation looked considerably better. The white balance, though still not perfect, was much more balanced, with a slight dominance of red and blue, but no excessive impact on the overall perception. The EOTF curve (responsible for brightness in HDR) showed some brightening in the brightest parts of the image, which was noticeable in the test scene from the film Pan that we described above. These brightening effects may disturb the precision of the image, but in 4K, the overall effect was far more acceptable than in SDR.

Although Xiaomi S MiniLED can pleasantly surprise in 4K materials, its factory settings in SDR require significant corrections, especially regarding white balance and brightness. It's definitely a TV that would benefit from calibration.

Alright, how does the television handle colours straight out of the box, without any intervention from our side? The Haier K85F offers a whole range of picture modes, such as Dynamic or Eco, but for anyone wanting to watch films according to the creators' intentions, there's essentially only one that matters: Film mode. This is where we focused our tests, and unfortunately, its name has little to do with reality. The picture on factory settings is very far from what we could call cinematic fidelity and requires many adjustments. Let's start with the white balance, which has a clear deficiency of red colour. In practice, this means the entire image has a cool, bluish tint. Even worse is the issue of brightness management, that is, the gamma curves (for SDR) and EOTF (for HDR). Their graph resembles a true rollercoaster, which terribly impacts the viewing experience. This results in unnatural dimming of SDR content, causing details in the shadows to be lost, and in the case of HDR – an excessive brightening that further exacerbates the problem of clipping. Such a combination, which consists of too cool white combined with chaotic brightness and too much blue colour saturation, leads to enormous errors in colour reproduction. Our measurements on a specialist ColourChecker chart showed errors (Delta E) regularly reaching and exceeding values of 8-9. To put it simply: errors above the threshold of 3 are easily noticeable to the naked eye, so such a result means that the colours on the screen are simply heavily distorted.

Color reproduction after calibration

7.7/10

6.2/10

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Color reproduction after calibration
Review Haier K85F Color reproduction after calibration
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Color reproduction after calibration
Review Haier K85F Color reproduction after calibration

Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 is a television that gains a whole new life after calibration. The results are truly impressive and show how much potential this model has.

In SDR mode, the white balance is almost perfectly aligned. The errors are so minimal that in many cases they can be considered negligible. This is confirmed by the Colour Checker palette results, where errors did not exceed 2 ΔE – a truly rare outcome. Gamma also performs very well, although there are slight brightening effects in the darkest elements at the beginning of the graph. However, this is a minor exception that does not significantly affect the viewing experience.

In 4K HDR material, calibration also brought visible improvements, particularly in white balance. The image looks natural and consistent. However, the characteristic of brightness remains an issue. EOTF analysis in film materials shows that the television tends to overly brighten or darken the smallest elements on the screen. This is the effect of limitations in the dimming algorithms that we previously discussed regarding HDR and contrast testing. Unfortunately, this is a technical feature of this model that cannot be completely eliminated.

Despite this minor flaw, calibration has allowed us to extract the maximum capabilities from this television. The image now looks phenomenal, and its quality impresses in every type of material. Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 demonstrates that with the right settings, it can compete with more expensive models.

No good, but can anything be done about this picture? Is professional calibration able to save the situation? The answer is both yes and no. It needs to be said clearly that there are certain things we cannot overcome. The limitations of the construction itself, namely a poor panel and its narrow colour coverage, mean that you can forget about a sensible HDR effect – we won't be pulling the wool over your eyes on that. The biggest beneficiary of our adjustments is undoubtedly the SDR mode, and it is for watching such content, after calibration, that this television starts to make sense. We managed to tame the white balance in our own way. Although the television only offers basic, 2-point adjustment (rather than precise, 20-point), it's not perfect, but we successfully eliminated that unpleasant, cold "chill" in the picture. Above all, though, we noted a huge improvement in brightness management. The gamma curve, which previously resembled a rollercoaster, looks like an almost perfectly straight line after calibration. This is a sign that the television can finally display an image without artificially dimming or brightening it. The conclusion is simple: even with such a cheap television, professional setting correction can achieve a great deal and extract the maximum potential from it.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

8/10

7.6/10

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Haier K85F Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Haier K85F Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Haier K85F Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Haier K85F Smoothness of tonal transitions

The fluidity of tonal transitions in Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 looks very good. Even in the theoretically most challenging scene with red water, the television performs excellently – we did not notice any major issues. Minor imperfections occur in scenes like Kingsman or The Martian, where you can see subtle colour blending. Nevertheless, Xiaomi stands out in this category, offering one of the best qualities of tonal transitions in its price range. This is definitely a strong point of this television.

It's time to address an issue that is often overlooked by many but can be quite irritating to the discerning (and not just discerning) eye. We're talking about the smoothness of tonal transitions, or how seamlessly the screen displays transitions between very similar shades of one colour – for instance, on a clear blue sky. We have to admit that in this category, the Haier K85F, considering its price, performs quite decently. In bright scenes, such as the aforementioned sky or expansive landscapes in the film "The Martian," there are no stark, contrasting bands. Yes, if we scrutinise closely, we can spot minimal imperfections, but generally, the effect is more than satisfactory. However, the situation changes when darker scenes make an appearance on the screen, such as gloomy corridors in games or nighttime landscapes. Here, banding, or the effect of posterization, becomes much more evident. Transitions in shadows and greys are no longer as smooth and can become quite bothersome to a more sensitive eye. It's not a level that would completely disqualify the television, but it is clear that this is an area where costs were saved.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

6.7/10

4/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
OK
OK
Smooth transition function
OK
No

Smooth transition function

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Haier K85F Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Image without overscan on the SD signal

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Haier K85F Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

When it comes to tonal transitions in lower-quality materials, such as YouTube or television, the Xiaomi S MiniLED comes with a feature called “Colour Contour Removal.” In the "low" setting, it works quite well, but its effectiveness can be uneven. Sometimes it appears as if the TV struggles to smooth things out, which creates a bit of dissonance. On the plus side, we didn’t notice any visible side effects, although given the instability of this feature, one might suspect that unexpected issues could arise in certain situations.

Image scaling also comes across as average. There’s slight jaggedness, especially on thin elements like branches, and text can be a bit ragged. It may not be overly bothersome, but a more discerning eye will certainly catch these imperfections. Overall, most users should be satisfied with the scaling and smoothing quality, but the TV may not satisfy those who expect perfection in every frame.

Let’s move on to digital processing and image scaling, specifically how the Haier K85F handles lower resolution signals, such as from regular television. Right off the bat, we encounter an incredibly annoying and completely incomprehensible issue – the overscan is enabled by default. This means the television artificially enlarges the image, cutting off its edges on every source, even 1080p. To see the full frame, you have to dig into the screen settings each time and manually switch the format to "stretch to 16:9." It's a minor detail, but devilishly frustrating. The scaling of content to 4K resolution can be described in one word: acceptable. And that's about it. The image processor doesn't strip detail from the image, nor does it generate jagged edges or other artifacts. It simply does its job, without any bells and whistles. It’s alright, but nothing more. The most significant and noticeable shortcoming in the digital processing section is, however, the absence of a tone transition smoothing feature. This is an algorithm that could significantly reduce the annoying banding effect we mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not foresee such a solution, condemning us to watch the imperfections of the panel and low-quality material in all their glory.

Blur and motion smoothness

7/10

4.5/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
240Hz
60Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
OK
Blur reduction option
OK
No
BFI function 60Hz
No
-
BFI function 120Hz
No
-
Brightness drop with BFI
-%
-%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 is equipped with a 4K@120Hz (1080p@240Hz) refresh rate panel, providing sufficient smoothness for both watching dynamic sports broadcasts and playing the latest games. This level of refresh rate makes the image look fluid, even in the most intense scenes. Additionally, the television offers a "Motion Smoothing" feature that allows users to adjust the way the image is displayed in films. We can choose a more choppy effect, typical for cinematic experiences, or a smoother one, resembling the so-called "theatrical effect". As a result, every user can tailor the settings to their preferences and enjoy smooth images in their favourite content.

The panel in the K85F model operates at a native refresh rate of 60 Hz, which sets certain expectations for image smoothness right from the start. However, we must admit that we were very positively surprised when we found two separate motion control sliders in the settings menu: one labelled "Motion Blur Reduction" and the other "De-Judder." Such generosity in this price segment is an absolute rarity, as manufacturers usually offer at most one shared option. Unfortunately, our enthusiasm faded as quickly as it appeared. It soon became clear why Haier was so "generous" – the slider responsible for reducing motion blur is simply a decoy. Sliding it makes absolutely no visible difference on the screen, so only one of the two options works.

Console compatibility and gaming features

9.8/10

4/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR range
    48 - 144Hz
    48 - 60Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    Yes
    No
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    Yes
    No
  • 1080p@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • 1440p@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • 4K@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • Game bar
    Yes
    No

Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 is a television that has a lot to offer gamers. With two HDMI ports boasting 48 Gbps bandwidth, we can easily connect modern consoles or PCs, utilising their full potential. Additionally, the ALLM feature automatically switches the TV to low latency mode – something we appreciate during fast-paced gaming without annoying lags. No matter what we connect, it runs smoothly, and the TV handles various resolutions exceptionally well. There’s also the GameBar, which may not look as flashy as the "bars" on competing models, but makes up for it in practicality. It’s a straightforward settings panel that allows us to quickly change the most important options or check stats – a perfect solution when time is of the essence.

However, we must admit that navigating the TV itself – or rather, finding gaming features – was quite a challenge for us. We approached the Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 test several times to locate all the necessary options. The hidden menu allowed us to discover the "GameBoost" feature, which enables switching the TV to 240 Hz mode, activating VRR, and allows for enabling the image in HGIG mode.

In summary, the Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 is a TV that definitely deserves praise in the gaming equipment category. Its rich set of features – 240 Hz mode, VRR, HGIG, and "GameBoost" – provides an exceptional gaming experience. Unfortunately, the intuitiveness of the menu itself leaves much to be desired and can pose some challenges for the average user.

Let’s move on to the features for gamers, although we must point out straight away that this is more of a proposal for the "occasional" ones. The manufacturer does boast in the specifications about having HDMI 2.1 ports, which looks impressive on paper, but in reality, it’s largely a marketing ploy. What good is a modern port when the heart of the television is a panel with a refresh rate of 60 Hz? It physically cannot display a signal at 120 frames per second, even at lower resolutions, which takes away HDMI 2.1’s key advantage. What a shame. (That’s why in our tests we note this as HDMI 2.0 ports). Another odd issue is the TV's response to an attempt to calibrate HDR from the console. Changes to brightness settings result in very unnatural image behaviour, which could suggest incorrect implementation of the HGiG standard. To be honest, one shouldn’t worry too much about this, as we have repeatedly mentioned, we simply do not recommend using any HDR content on this screen. However, to counterbalance the negatives, the Haier K85F does have two big and unexpected advantages. The first is the presence of ALLM, or automatic game mode, which switches the TV to low latency mode as soon as it detects a connected console. The second, even bigger surprise, is support for VRR, or variable refresh rate. While it operates within a very modest range of 48-60 Hz, its mere presence is commendable. Thanks to this, the image in games can “tear” less, which realistically improves the gaming experience.

Input lag

9.8/10

10/10

SDR

1080p60
17 ms
13 ms
1080p120
8 ms
2160p60
17 ms
13 ms
2160p120
8 ms

HDR

2160p60
17 ms
13 ms
2160p120
8 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
17 ms
13 ms
2160p120 DV
9 ms

Input lag in Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 is one of its biggest advantages. 8 ms for 120 Hz content and 17 ms for 60 Hz are simply outstanding results that will satisfy even the most demanding gamers. Moreover, the Dolby Vision mode in games deserves praise. Unlike many competing models, Xiaomi maintains a low input lag even in this mode, making it an excellent choice for lovers of high-quality HDR gaming experiences.

We must give credit where it's due – there is one parameter where this television absolutely shines and puts to shame many more expensive models. We're talking about input lag, or signal delay. Our measurements showed a remarkably low result of just 13 ms. This is a huge plus that makes gaming control lightning-fast and incredibly responsive. In this regard, the K85F performs excellently.

Compatibility with PC

8.2/10

6/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Good
Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Good
Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate)
8ms
13ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
BGR
Max refresh rate
240Hz
60Hz
G-Sync
Yes
No
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Compatibility with PC
Review Haier K85F Compatibility with PC

Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 is a good choice if you need a TV for computer work. The fonts are very clear thanks to 4:4:4 chroma support, making it ideal for office work or browsing documents. It also performs excellently in gaming – high refresh rates, G-SYNC, and low input lag ensure smooth gameplay, which will satisfy most gamers.

And what if we tried using this Haier as a computer monitor? Here, what was a big surprise for us was that the television performs exceptionally well. For office work, it’s perfect. All thanks to the fact that it correctly handles the so-called 4:4:4 chroma sampling. To put it simply: every little letter on the screen is sharp, without annoying coloured edges or blurriness. Sure, let’s be frank – this is not equipment for PC gamers. 60 Hz is too low for them. But if you just need a big screen for text work, browsing the internet, coding or displaying presentations, the K85F excels in this role. This is one of its strongest and, let’s face it, most unexpected applications.

Viewing angles

3/10

2.8/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
74%
67%

In terms of viewing angles, Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 is not impressive. This is a typical problem with VA panels, which struggle without additional coatings to widen viewing angles. The image begins to lose quality when watching the TV from the side – colours fade, and contrast significantly drops. However, the advantage of VA panels is their much better contrast compared to IPS panels, which in turn win when it comes to wider viewing angles. This is a classic compromise where one has to choose between better blacks and a more universal image seen from different spots in the room.

At nearly the very end of the evaluation of the panel itself, we left out the viewing angles, which unfortunately are one of its biggest weaknesses. It must be honestly admitted that this is not surprising – it is simply a natural and commonly known feature of VA-type panels. In the unit we tested, interestingly, the brightness of the image did not drop drastically when we moved away from the centre of the screen. However, the real problem lies with the colours, which instantly begin to fade. A slight change in position on the couch is enough for the hues to lose their saturation and become washed out. In this regard, the Haier K85F presents a very average, typical level for this technology.

Daytime performance

7.3/10

4.1/10

Panel finish
Satin
Satin
Reflection suppression
Average
Average
Black levels during daytime
Good
Good
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Daytime performance
Review Haier K85F Daytime performance
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 Daytime performance
Review Haier K85F Daytime performance

Panel brightness

Average luminance SDR

Haier K85F: 276 cd/m2

Xiaomi S Mini 2025: 841 cd/m2

Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 is equipped with a satin finish on the display, which moderately handles glare reduction. On the screen's surface, you can see light reflections, which may be somewhat distracting in bright rooms. However, the key element that saves this television in daytime use is its brightness. With a value of 841 cd/m², the screen performs flawlessly even in very sunlit interiors. This is more than enough to comfortably watch television, movies, or sporting events. Importantly, the television also handles more demanding content, such as winter sports, where the dominant white can pose a significant challenge for other televisions. Here, Xiaomi definitely excels.

And how does the television perform in confrontation with daylight, for example in a brightly lit living room? Unfortunately, we don't have good news here. As we have established, it is a television with relatively low brightness, which becomes a serious drawback when faced with sunlight. The situation is further worsened by the screen coating used. Instead of effectively suppressing reflections, its satin structure tends to unfavourably scatter them. In practice, this means that the reflection of a window or lamp turns into a large, blurred, milky haze that degrades contrast and effectively hinders viewing. The conclusion is therefore clear: if the television is to be placed in a bright room, the K85F model will not be a good choice.

Panel details

Backlight Type
Mini-LED PFS LED
White LED
Software version during testing
UKM3.240326.001.490
UKN2.241219.053
Image processor
MT5896 2,5GB RAM
mt5896

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 TV Panel details
Review Haier K85F TV Panel details

TV features

4.7/10

5.5/10

  • HDMI inputs
    1 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
    4 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
  • Other inputs
    RCA (Chinch)
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    No
    No
  • Recording programming
    No
    No
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    No
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio only mode
    No
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    No
    No

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    No
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    Yes
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 TV features
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 TV features
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 TV features
Review Xiaomi S Mini 2025 TV features
Review Haier K85F TV features
Review Haier K85F TV features
Review Haier K85F TV features
Review Haier K85F TV features
Review Haier K85F TV features
Review Haier K85F TV features

Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 is a television that stands out thanks to the Google TV system. It offers access to the most popular streaming services, music apps, and various useful features that significantly enhance everyday use of the TV. For those who enjoy personalisation, the system also provides plenty of configuration options.

The built-in voice assistant operates smoothly – we can not only control the TV but also ask for the weather forecast or set a reminder for the next day. Unfortunately, we noticed during testing that some functions have trouble translating into Polish, which can be annoying, especially for those less proficient in navigating the settings. Despite this, the overall impression is very good, and minor shortcomings can be improved in updates.

The device handles connectivity well. Wireless connections with Windows computers or Apple devices run smoothly, and thanks to Bluetooth, we can easily connect headphones, keyboards, or other accessories. The remote is simple and convenient – it works from any position, so aiming at the screen is not necessary. However, there are some shortcomings. If someone frequently uses traditional television, they might miss the recording functions from tuners or the PiP (picture in picture) option. This somewhat limits the possibilities, but for those focusing on streaming and modern features, it won’t be a major issue.

Xiaomi compensates for these shortcomings with an excellent operating system. Google TV is one of the most advanced and intuitive systems available on the market, which makes the television perform really well in daily use.

GoogleTV on Haier K85F

The heart of the television is the Google TV system, which in theory should be a huge advantage. Access to thousands of apps and a wealth of features are promises we are familiar with. Unfortunately, in Haier's execution, this is one of the worst implementations of this software we have encountered. The system operates painfully slowly, and the interface notoriously freezes. However, the real nightmare is the incorrect and often downright comical translations of some menu options, making it difficult to figure out what is being referred to at times. To make matters worse, during our testing, we couldn't get the AirPlay feature to work at all.

Classic Features on Haier K85F

Let's move on to the classic functions and ports, because the story here is even more interesting. A plus is definitely the rich array of ports, including four HDMI connections and the increasingly rare mini-jack headphone output. Unfortunately, the television does not offer either USB recording or Picture-in-Picture mode. However, the real ordeal begins with the remote. Our initial attempts to pair it via Bluetooth to activate radio (RF) control and voice functions ended in total failure. After dozens of attempts, we were convinced it was simply a manufacturing defect. And then the surprise: after a long struggle, we discovered that the remote can be paired, but it must be done from the native Google TV settings, completely bypassing Haier's dysfunctional system overlay. This is a perfect example of how terrible software can ruin basic functionality. Oh, and one more thing. In the box... there weren't even batteries for the remote.

Playing files from USB

7.3/10

9.4/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
No
Yes
PNG
Yes
Yes
GIF
Yes
Yes
WebP
No
Yes
TIFF
No
No
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
Yes
12 Mpix
Yes
Yes
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
Yes
Yes
24 Mpix
Yes
Yes
28 Mpix
Yes
Yes
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

The basic file player in Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 performs its task for simple video materials. However, a noticeable drawback is the lack of support for Polish characters, which can be problematic for individuals using subtitles.

Fortunately, the presence of the Google TV system provides a way to easily work around this limitation. It allows for the installation of alternative file playback applications that handle Polish characters and offer significantly more advanced options. As a result, the limitations of the built-in player are not as burdensome as they may seem.

After all our complaints about the unfinished software, the moment came when we were absolutely shocked. It turns out that within this buggy and slow-running system, there is a function that works almost perfectly and puts industry veterans to shame. We are talking about the built-in media player for USB drives. It is a true multimedia powerhouse that played practically every video format we threw at it without the slightest hiccup – from the most popular to the completely niche. Haier, a newcomer to the TV market, has achieved something that many manufacturers with decades of experience have struggled with for years. Who knows, perhaps it was originally intended as a reliable player for conference rooms? Regardless of its origins, the result is outstanding!

Apps

9.6/10

9.6/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link

Sound

6.8/10

4.8/10

  • Maximum volume
    -
    83dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    No
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    No
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    Yes
    No
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    Yes
    No

Xiaomi S MiniLED 2025 sounds really pleasant, and even offers a light bass, reminiscent of the sound known from the lower model, the A Pro 2025. The sound is well balanced, making watching movies or listening to music comfortable, even without additional audio equipment. Interestingly, the television seamlessly supports audio formats like Dolby Atmos and the less common DTS:X. This allows you to connect a home theatre system or soundbar and enjoy spatial sound without any difficulties. A nice addition is also the presence of a standard speaker jack connection.

When it comes to sound, the review will unfortunately be very short. The biggest advantage of the built-in speakers of the K85F is that they simply exist and produce sound. Other than that, the sound is completely flat, lacking any bass and just anemic. Yes, on the TV's box we will find the Dolby Atmos logo, but against the physical capabilities of these drivers, it is a feature that exists only on paper. Therefore, the verdict can only be one: when planning to purchase this TV, a soundbar should immediately be added to the budget.

Sound Quality Test

No sound test video

Acoustic Measurements

No acoustic data

83dBC (Max)

75dBC