Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 2026 is it worth buying? Lets take a look.

Xiaomi has been consistently changing its image in the TV market for several seasons, focusing on Mini-LED technology. The brand's strategy remains unchanged: to offer parameters reserved for flagships at a significantly lower price. The latest S Mini LED series for the 2026 model year, now available for sale, is a direct continuation of the line that gained popularity in previous years due to its high brightness and dense dimming grid. In the new generation, the manufacturer claims even higher backlight performance and better black control. However, with such aggressive pricing and tightening specifications, compromises are inevitable. The question is: If so, where has the savings been found this time?

Specifications of the Xiaomi S Mini-LED 2026. Brightness, backlighting, and colors

As the name suggests, the heart of the new series from Xiaomi is the Mini-LED backlighting. However, it is worth remembering that in this technology, the number of local dimming zones is key, which in the S Mini-LED 2026 model varies depending on the chosen diagonal. Naturally, larger screens received a proportionally denser grid of diodes, but their distribution in each variant seems thoughtful enough that it should not negatively affect black quality compared to other sizes. A technical curiosity is the fact that Xiaomi boasts this year of a redesigned Mini-LED diode module. The new lens shape is designed to disperse light more precisely, which theoretically should reduce the blooming effect around bright objects on a dark background. You can find the exact number of zones for individual sizes in the table below

Peak Brightness: Is Xiaomi Telling the Truth?

The manufacturer claims a brightness level of 1200 nits for this model. Looking at last year's trends and marketing data for models like Xiaomi S Mini-LED 2025 or Xiaomi S Pro Mini-LED 2026, it must be acknowledged that the Chinese company's claims have typically aligned with the actual capabilities of the hardware. This is evident from all our tests. If Xiaomi maintains this reliability in the 2026 line, we will have a very bright television that can easily handle HDR effects and viewing content in a sunlit living room. However, it's worth remembering that this brightness is not constant and will likely only apply to full-screen bright scenes.

Colors. QLED Technology in Question

Promotional brochures couldn't miss bold slogans about "vivid and saturated colors." Xiaomi states here that the color coverage of the DCI-P3 is at 94%. This result sounds very credible, especially since the promotional materials mention the term "QLED", suggesting the use of a quantum dot layer. However, we believe it's worth maintaining a certain distance from this terminology. There is a high probability that instead of classic quantum dots, Xiaomi used a cheaper, yet equally effective phosphor-based filter (PFS). This happened a year or two ago. Although for the end user, the difference in color saturation may be difficult to catch with the naked eye, technically these are two different approaches. The final verification of these claims will be conducted in our full laboratory test, which will be available on the site soon.

Refresh Rate and Gaming. Watch Out for Screen Size!

In the case of the Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 2026 series, the issue of image smoothness is complex and depends on which diagonal you choose. This is where the biggest "catch" of this offer lies, which is worth knowing before making a purchase.

55-75 inches: Native 60 Hz and DLG technology

Analyzing the table below, it is easy to notice that Xiaomi has adopted quite a specific strategy this year. Models in the most popular sizes, namely 55, 65, and 75 inches, have been equipped with matrices featuring a native refresh rate of 60 Hz. This is a significant downgrade compared to the S Mini LED 2025 model. For sports fans, this is crucial information and, unfortunately, not very optimistic. With native 60 Hz, motion smoothing systems have very limited maneuverability, which may be noticeable during fast camera movements in games. Although the manufacturer has implemented DLG (Dual Line Gate) technology, which allows the matrix to be “tricked” into achieving 120 Hz, it can only be done by reducing the resolution to Full HD or 1440p. From the perspective of a console gamer (PS5 / Xbox Series X), however, the situation is not as bad. Most demanding games in “Performance” mode (120 FPS) are still rendered in lower resolutions, so the DLG mode in the smaller models will still be useful.

85-98 inches: True 144 Hz and HDMI 2.1

However, if you are aiming for native 4K at 120 frames, your gaze must shift toward the 85 and 98 inch models. There, Xiaomi does not mess around because we get true 144 Hz panels and full-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports that will handle the 4K/144Hz signal without any trouble with the resolution.

Google TV System and Format Support. Where Did Dolby Vision Go?

The S Mini LED series TVs for 2026 consistently rely on the Google TV operating system. This is good news for users – we gain access to a vast library of applications, a familiar interface, and support for the voice assistant (now enhanced by the Gemini model). In terms of sound, the manufacturer claims support for Dolby Atmos, which, with 30W speakers, provides a solid audio foundation.

However, the real challenges begin when we look deeper into the technical specifications. It turns out that depending on the chosen size, we will find completely different components under the hood.

Processor: Two Different Worlds

In the 55, 65, and 75-inch variants, Xiaomi opted for a fairly basic setup based on the processor: Cortex-A55 along with GPU Mali-G52 (2EE) MC1 and 2 GB of RAM. This configuration will ensure stable system operation, but it may struggle with more demanding tasks. This is quite different in the 85 and 98-inch models. There we find a more powerful processor with Cortex-A73 cores and an increased amount of RAM (3 GB). This difference in computing power is not insignificant, as the larger models must support HDMI 2.1 connections. However, this also means that the interface will not only operate faster on the television but will likely also handle image processing better.

No Dolby Vision in smaller models

While smaller sizes support HDR10 and HDR10+, they have been deprived of support for the Dolby Vision standard. This format appears only in models with diagonals of 85 and 98 inches.

Considering these fluctuations in specifications: from native refresh rates, to processor performance, to supported HDR formats – in our opinion, it would be fairer if these TVs were separate products. Undoubtedly, it is an interesting product and, above all, very inexpensive for the offered specification. However, it is worth being aware that what seems to be the same screen can vary greatly depending on the chosen size.