XIAOMI A PRO 2025 vs Samsung Q6F (IPS)

In the HDR category, the Xiaomi A Pro performs poorly overall. Under ideal conditions, it achieves a brightness level of around 250 nits, which is underwhelming. However, many competing models offer similar or even lower brightness levels. Such limited brightness is insufficient to fully showcase the potential of HDR content. In practical terms, the image lacks the depth and intensity expected from high-quality HDR. Instead, the visuals resemble standard dynamic range (SDR), with scenes that should display striking brightness and contrast appearing flat and uninspiring. That said, for its price, the television offers solid DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage at 92%, made possible by its quantum dot (QLED) technology. This ensures vibrant and saturated colours, making it an appealing choice for gamers and movie enthusiasts seeking richer hues and improved colour reproduction compared to standard models.

Unfortunately, the Samsung Q6F is a very dark model. Its peak brightness in HDR does not exceed 250 nits, which is definitely too low to even speak of any "high dynamic range" effect, or HDR. In practice, it's better to stick to content in SDR format, which simply looks more predictable on this TV. Another problem is the global dimming technique – in scenes with a lot of black, the TV drastically dims the entire panel to artificially improve the black levels. This causes the image to become even darker, and brightness can drop below 100 nits. The only consolation is the QLED technology, but even here it's average. The applied quantum dot layer is not top-notch, as the coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut does not exceed 90%. As a result, colors in HDR content may just seem under-saturated.

The Xiaomi A Pro 2025 performs best in movie mode for colour reproduction straight out of the box, though it is not without its flaws. An analysis of the white balance shows negative green values, causing distortions in white tones. At full white, there are noticeable deviations, and the high-contrast image leads to poor tonal transitions in red, negatively impacting the overall colour quality. Before calibration, the image often displays a pink hue in its scenery.

The gamma contrast graph falls below the 2.4 mark, indicating an overemphasis on darker tones and a lack of prominence in lighter areas. Additionally, the EOTF curve shows a sharp rise early on, which can result in lost detail in bright scenes and an oversaturated appearance. These issues suggest that further calibration is needed to balance the colour reproduction and enhance the overall image.

Factory colour settings on the Xiaomi A Pro 2025 are average, and while this is common in televisions of its class, users seeking accurate colour representation may need to adjust the settings. After proper calibration, the TV delivers a more natural and vibrant palette, aligning better with cinematic standards. For those prioritising precise colour reproduction, professional calibration will significantly improve image quality.

We tested the television in Filmmaker mode, which showed us two completely different faces of this model. Looking at SDR content, we were honestly shocked at how good this TV looks straight out of the box. It was really hard to nitpick anything here. Despite a slight “haze” in the white balance or somewhat brightened details in the blacks (which directly results from the IPS panel's design), color errors hovered around the “2” level. This is surprisingly good, even outstanding, considering the price of this device.

On the other hand, what the Q6F displayed in terms of colors after switching to HDR mode was a very unpleasant surprise. The errors in color reproduction and palette were so huge that our charts literally ran out of scale. Of course, since Samsung even in such an inexpensive model offers very advanced calibration possibilities, we decided to approach the subject professionally and check what could be done about it during calibration.

After calibration, the Xiaomi A Pro 2025 TV shows significant improvement. The white balance is the most noticeable change, with previous errors corrected in HD and 4K content. Most deviations are now minimal, falling within an acceptable range, resulting in a more balanced and natural colour representation that enhances viewing comfort.

In terms of gamma, the drop has been largely addressed, leading to a more consistent rendering of tones across various scenes. However, the EOTF curve still hasn't seen substantial improvement, as there is limited control over dynamic tone mapping. This limitation means that some details may still be lost in bright scenes, affecting the perception of certain materials.

Despite these minor issues, the overall picture quality is improved after calibration. The enhanced white balance and reduced gamma issues provide a more realistic and enjoyable viewing experience. While further adjustments could enhance the image even more, the TV now showcases its potential, meeting the expectations of many users.

After our calibration, the colors in SDR mode looked even better – the result is quite surprising, as color errors at level "1" are something usually seen in devices costing several thousand dollars. In this regard, the Q6F is really a great screen for everyday television, less demanding series, or movies. Unfortunately, our interference in HDR mode did not bring about a noticeable improvement. The television, due to its poor black levels and low coverage of a wide color gamut, still has significant problems with proper color saturation, especially red. This is an example of a device where HDR mainly exists as a label on the box – for everyday use, we definitely recommend watching content in SDR format.

The Xiaomi A Pro 2025 handles tonal transitions effectively, especially when dealing with lower-quality materials. Thanks to its advanced digital processing, the colour contour removal feature performs surprisingly well. Setting this option to "Medium" provides the best balance, enhancing the smoothness of tonal transitions while avoiding excessive smoothing of other image elements, like film grain.

In the case of a tested frame featuring a model with numerous branches in the background, the TV demonstrated its digital processing strengths. Adding artificial sharpness clarified the model’s details, particularly enhancing the hair's definition. However, around the branches, subtle contours emerged due to digital intervention. While this adds detail to the overall image, excessive sharpness can sometimes cause certain elements to appear unnaturally highlighted.

The Q6F handles upscaling lower resolution content to native 4K very well. The scaling is surprisingly good here, even for such a budget TV from the QLED series. The only downside is when we watch very low-resolution material, like 576p (typical for old DVD players) – then the image may be slightly cropped. This is because the TV does not allow for the Overscan feature to be turned off, which is a common issue with Samsung devices.

The situation is completely different when it comes to digital processing, which is the attempt to smooth the image from unwanted artifacts. Here, the TV completely fails. Although we find a function in the menu called "Noise Reduction", it yields no visible results regardless of the slider setting. The only thing it seems to do is introduce unwanted errors into the image. Despite its presence in the system, we definitely do not recommend using it.

The Xiaomi A Pro 2025 features a motion smoothing option known as "Motion Smoothing," which is designed mainly for film viewing. It allows users to adjust the effect to either a more cinematic, film-like appearance with visible frames or a smoother, theatrical image. This feature will likely satisfy movie lovers. However, gamers and sports enthusiasts might be disappointed. The TV uses a 60 Hz refresh rate panel, typical for this price range, which doesn’t offer exceptional motion handling. Our "Ufo" test revealed some motion blur, so those seeking sharper moving images may find it lacking in this regard.

The 60 Hz panel in the Samsung Q6F is the standard in this price range, which makes it a rather average model for dynamic sports or gaming. However, in the case of movies, the TV performs quite well thanks to the smoothing feature. The "Motion Smoothing" option allows you to adjust the fluidity of motion to your own preferences – from maintaining a cinematic feel to full fluidity.

The Xiaomi A Pro 2025 includes several gamer-friendly features, such as the Game Bar, which sets itself apart from the typical dashboards seen in other brands. This feature allows quick access to game-related settings, making it convenient during intense gaming sessions. The TV also supports Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM), automatically switching to a game-optimised mode to reduce signal delays. However, it lacks HDMI 2.1 support, limiting compatibility with the latest gaming consoles that require higher bandwidth. Additionally, it does not support features like VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) or G-Sync, which are becoming essential for gamers seeking smoother visuals and reduced tearing. While the Xiaomi A Pro 2025 has some useful features, there are better options in this price range offering more advanced gaming solutions.

We won’t beat around the bush – the Q6F is not a television designed with gamers in mind. While it does have features like ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR frame synchronization for consoles, the list of benefits pretty much ends there. Besides these basics, the TV offers nothing more that might satisfy those who spend a lot of time in front of a console. It’s a real shame that such a useful tool as Game Bar is missing here, which in Samsung’s higher models allows for quick control of game parameters. In terms of gaming, this is an absolutely basic model and is only suitable for "casual" gamers.