Entertainment
Xiaomi Mi TV P1: Home cinema for the budget-conscious
A 4K HDR Android TV you can definitely afford
I don’t want to sound like I’m an ultimate cheapskate, but I guess I kind of belong in that category as I always try and see things on-sale or those lower than their Suggested Retail Pricing.
Way back in May 2021, I was looking for an Android TV within my PhP 20,000 to 25,000 (US$ 400 – US$ 500) budget. Xiaomi’s Mi TV was one of them — the Mi LED TV 4S to be exact. But upon knowing that units bought from China with a global ROM still doesn’t support Netflix, I decided to find another (and might even be a better) alternative.
Several months later, Xiaomi announced the Mi TV P1 series — and finally a follow-up to the Mi TV 4A series almost three years ago.
Even though it’s been a while ever since I purchased that other Android TV with my hard-earned money, I still accepted this review unit to test and know the feats and defeats of the Mi TV P1 as a new Android TV in this vast TV market.
A design so tacky and lacks variety
Just a static long light indicator when it’s powered on
The problem with TV nowadays is that, most of them look similar with their plasticky build. If you’re looking for a premium-looking TV on a tight budget, sorry to break it to you, but the Mi TV P1 is entirely made out of plastic. From its side bezels, chin, and even the legs/stand, they’re all in the same material and a coating that’s oh-so-glossy.
It’s almost as glossy as the protective film it came with
The panel is glossy too. You shouldn’t place this directly parallel to your window or it might bother you when watching content that are less bright or dark.
Chaehyun is the definition of a human being with an angelic voice #김채현_데뷔하자
Even the large window covered with curtains at the left side of our living room wasn’t safe from such distraction.
Not the most unique stand design ever
Not gonna lie, it looked and felt cheap. There’s literally no excuse for it being a “budget” TV. Compared to the Android TV I own at the same price point, it’s still able to have a metallic bottom bezel and aluminum stands without reducing most of the features that the Mi TV P1 possesses.
Attaching these was truly a horrifying experience
Speaking of stand, it took me around ten minutes thinking how to attach both legs. The screw holes were kind of confusing and misleading as well as the form of each leg. Instructions in the user manual about attaching both TV leg stands was vague so I have to research further online. It’s honestly one of my worst experiences of attaching screws to a product.
Sufficient ports and connections
The Mi TV P1 has a Composite In (AV), two USB-A ports, and three HDMI ports — one with eARC support. The 32-inch version has lesser though. Other ports you might be curious to know are Ethernet Port, CI Slot, Optical Digital Audio Out, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
For wireless connectivity, the Mi TV P1 has a reliable Wi-Fi connection as it not only supports the 2.4GHz band, but the faster 5GHz band as well. That’s something my other TV doesn’t have.
There’s even the faster and latency-less Bluetooth 5.0 support. And with the bundled 360 Bluetooth remote, I can still turn off the TV even when I’m sitting and eating from the kitchen area or when I need to go to the bathroom without ever pointing at the TV itself.
Not sure if it’s just my muscle memory but the remote of the Xiaomi Mi TV P1 confuses me — and might be the same to some future users.
If you’re a heavy Android user, the default back key of smartphones is placed at the left side rather than the middle. Xiaomi could’ve just switched the button placements. They could’ve even done the same to the “O” (home) button by placing it in the middle instead.
Some button controls would’ve made more sense too if “CC”, “EPG”, “INFO”, and that “dot” weren’t placed there. And if you’re right-handed like I am, pressing the power button requires some reach as it’s placed on the upper left part instead of right.
The power of Android TV
ICYMI, the Xiaomi Mi TV P1 runs Android TV. On paper, it runs a MediaTek 9611 chipset paired with 2GB of memory and 16GB of internal storage. Those are actually enough for running and storing TV-limited Android apps that can be downloaded through the Google Play Store.
While YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video were already installed upon first use, there are also other streaming apps you can download such as iQiyi, WeTV, Viu, Crunchyroll, HBO Go, TED, and more.
As you were already spoiled in the earlier section, the Mi TV P1 supports Google Assistant. This reduces the hassle and sore of typing each letter through the remote’s D-pad when searching content across all apps.
Google Assistant indicator
On the bottom part of that odd bar below the Mi TV P1’s chin, there’s a switch to turn on (or off) the far-field microphones of the TV.
Google Assistant prompt
This enables you to use Google Assistant even when you’re roaming another area in your house. So yeah, no to pointing your mouth to the remote. People with a loud speaking voice will benefit this feature the most.
More power with Chromecast
Too lazy to type? Or you just don’t want to bother your family members when you activate Google Assistant? Well, your other option is to share content from your phone to the TV — and that’s thanks to its built-in Chromecast feature.
Whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android, you shouldn’t worry at all as Chromecast supports both systems.
Other than sharing content from YouTube, you can also share and stream music on a bigger screen as long as Spotify is downloaded on both devices.
Spotify being sus by cutting both Heejin and Olivia Hye out of the screen 🙄
Purely immersive
Nowadays, most Netflix titles and YouTube content come with an ultra-wide 21:9 ratio (or even in a 2.39:1 anamorphic ratio). In layman’s term, those are simply the black bars you see when watching videos in your fullscreen smartphones or standard monitors. But thanks to its slim bezels, watching on the Xiaomi Mi TV P1 felt immersive — especially if you’re watching just several meters away from the TV.
Hong Banjang just being charismatic over Yoon Chigwa #HeadOverHeels
Watching series such as Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha honestly felt more immersive as if I’m sitting along with the characters.
Isa’s visuals pops even more with this vibrant TV
Even STAYC’s Stereotype music video, despite its black bars, still made me enjoy its stunning visuals and cinematography (as well as vocals, musical arrangement, and choreography).
Speaking of pure, the “Fate” performance from Girls Planet 999 made me cry with its pureness in beauty paired with superiority in choreography
What more if it’s a 16:9 content? Whether it’s in 4K UHD or just Full HD 1080p resolution, your eyes will still enjoy every frame of what you’re watching especially if its displayed in a large screen a la cinema.
My feels for Tzuyu are definitely not over when watching and listening to #TheFeels
A 4K 16:9 content is more pleasing to look at especially with its sharp and crisp details. TWICE’s The Feels is a testament to that.
If you’re curious about sound quality. It’s double 10W speakers are loud with enough bass and clarity. But don’t expect cinema-grade audio experience even with Dolby Audio and DTS-HD support. But if you’re really into that cinema-grade experience. you still need to get at least a soundbar or invest on a better surround sound system (in which I think budget-conscious users care less about).
Excellent display for a budget TV
aespa’s Karina is a living goddess. Periodt. Periodism.
Apart from having an almost edge-to-edge 4K display, the Mi TV P1 also boasts HDR10+ support for displaying picture-perfect content with an even wider range of colors in the spectrum.
This isn’t for everyone but just in case someone wants to know, you can choose between various Color Spaces ranging from Standard and Native, to Adobe RGB, DCI-P3, BenQ’s BT.2020, and ITU-R’s BT.709 color gamut.
If you go and specifically search for 4K HDR content on YouTube, the Xiaomi Mi TV P1 will be able to handle and display that content to you with no frills. That’s something other TVs, monitors, and even smartphones can’t display at all.
To make the display even better, it also has Dolby Vision apart from HDR10+. For this particular instance: Squid Game, which is Netflix’s hottest series right now, shows the Dolby Vision indicator right next to its parental rating info.
Not only does it show better color accuracy and output with HDR10+, this Dolby Vision feature is also able to display better dynamic range with the right amount of contrast, highlights, and shadows.
Loco might just be Yuna’s era
One noticeable aspect of this TV is the inclusion of Motion Smoothing feature out of the box that my other Android TV doesn’t have. It’s honestly a feast for the eyes but probably not everyone’s cup of tea. By default, it’s set to Standard but can be turned off.
Pretty decent for gaming, too
While the Mi TV P1 has only a 60Hz panel, playing on it still felt true-to-life. With the 55-incher that I have, details are still clear and sharp even if my PS4 Slim only supports a maximum display resolution of 1080p. With one port that supports HDMI 2.1 / eARC, people who spent their fortune on a PlayStation 5 (PS5) and are considering a less-expensive smart TV, I’m sure bumping it over 1080p will work.
One thing to keep in mind if you’re a sucker for ultra-smooth and seamless gameplay, the Mi TV P1 doesn’t do its Motion Smoothing magic — at least on the PS4 itself. It doesn’t even work on the console’s UI.
Not a biggie but some might consider that as a buying point. There are also two more limitations that I’ll talk more at the latter part of this review.
Overall, gaming on the Mi TV P1 is pretty decent for casual and gamers on a limited budget. You get to enjoy its big screen size — which still depends on the model you’ll buy and your distance from the TV.
Another thing, I tested playing games for hours starting with Watch Dogs: Legion, then Gran Turismo, Crash Team Racing, and even several Tekken 7 but my eyes haven’t strained at all.
The best part is that, I’ve successfully finished all those games thanks to the Mi TV P1’s display superiority.
Some good things have bad sides, too
Aside from rants about its design and remote control, there are other things I’ve encountered during my time with this smart Android TV.
1st: PatchWall isn’t ready for the country yet
While PatchWall was already introduced to Mi TV users in India, Indonesia, and other parts of the globe, it’s unfortunately not ready in the Philippines just yet.
For those who aren’t familiar, PatchWall is Xiaomi’s special launcher that has a better UI over the stock Android TV experience. But it not being ready for the Philippine market further proves my point that the “Mi” button on the remote control is pretty useless as that one opens up PatchWall.
2nd: HDR isn’t supported for all devices
As ironic as it gets, this 4K HDR TV has some HDR limitations.
It may not be a huge deal to most but for myself who got accustomed with my own Android TV being able to display HDR even when a PlayStation 4 is hooked up, it’s such a disappointment that the Mi TV P1 doesn’t offer that HDR compatibility to my gaming console. I even tried hooking up the HDMI cable to each HDMI port but to no avail.
3rd: Display settings cannot be accessed on other HDMI devices as well
As I was trying to shoot more photos of the TV while using the PS4, I was surprised that pressing the “Settings” button doesn’t reveal the Device Preferences sidebar. Not only can I not adjust the brightness and backlight level, I also can’t pick a certain picture mode that might suit the game better. What a total waste.
Is the Xiaomi Mi TV P1 your GadgetMatch?
If you’re all in for the Mi TV P1’s excellence in image quality and immersiveness without ever minding its lackluster aesthetic and limitations in HDR support and PatchWall, the Mi TV P1 is a TV I can recommend. This product goes well for those who just recently moved to a new home and wants a TV that’s just right for their budget.
The good stuff of this Android TV still weigh more than the compromises mentioned. If you can’t wait to have your new TV in this upcoming holiday season, the Xiaomi Mi TV P1 is still a wise buy. Other than this 55-inch model which is priced at PhP 24,990, there are also 32, 43, and 50-inch variants available that retail for PhP 10,990 / PhP 18,990 / PhP 22,990 respectively.
Entertainment
X-Men ’97 returns to Disney+ for second season
Emmy-nominated series to continue mutant team’s story
Marvel Animation’s Emmy-nominated X-Men ’97 is returning to Disney+ for a second season, starting July 1.
Along with this announcement, a trailer and poster have been made available. The first season of the animated series was one of the most-watched Disney+ originals, and a hit with fans and critics alike.
Season 2 continues with the heroic mutant team of X-Men, divided and thrown across different eras in time as they struggle to navigate their return home.
Meanwhile, back in the 1990s, suspicious foes and new strains of mutant intolerance are on the rise in the wake of the protagonists’ absence.
The second season will be comprised of nine episodes. The voice cast includes:
- Ross Marquand as Professor X
- Matthew Waterson as Magneto
- Ray Chase as Cyclops
- Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey
- Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm
- Cal Dodd as Wolverine
- Lenore Zann as Rogue
- George Buza as Beast
The series is executive produced by Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt, Julia Lewald, Eric Lewald, Larry Houston, and Beau DeMayo.
Jake Castorena serves as the supervising producer. Episodes were written by JB Ballard, Beau DeMayo, Bailey Moore, Antony Sellitti, Brian Ford Sullivan, and Mariah Wilson.
The episodic directors are Emmett Yonemura and Chase Conley.
It’s been a while since a Star Wars movie made me walk out of a cinema feeling genuinely pumped. Not necessarily emotional nor mind-blown. And not even scrambling to re-evaluate the entire franchise. Just… pumped.
The Mandalorian and Grogu feels like a proper Star Wars blockbuster again. The kind built for crowded cinemas, loud reactions, and collective gasps during action sequences. More importantly, it feels approachable in a way the franchise hasn’t always managed to be lately.
As someone whose interest in Star Wars slowly waned after The Rise of Skywalker, this movie felt oddly refreshing.
I watched the film alongside occasional GadgetMatch contributor Dawn, whose relationship with Star Wars sits somewhere adjacent to mine. Familiar with the Skywalker Saga and select spin-offs, but not necessarily deep into every corner of the lore either. Not because it reinvented the wheel. Quite the opposite, actually. It understood exactly what kind of movie it wanted to be.
I came into the film fairly blind. No rewatches, just a little prep work, and no “required viewing” marathons beforehand. And somehow, none of that really mattered.
Even without context from multiple seasons of Disney+ shows, Din Djarin and Grogu’s bond clicks almost immediately. You don’t need a detailed explanation for why these two care deeply about each other. The movie trusts viewers enough to simply accept their connection and move forward.
Grogu also remains ABSOLUTELY THE CUTEST. No further notes.
Well, maybe one more note.
That little guy carries an absurd amount of emotional weight throughout the movie. Whether he’s unintentionally causing chaos, silently reacting to situations, or simply existing onscreen, he consistently draws laughs and reactions from the audience.
There’s one sequence in particular where Grogu takes care of Din that managed to get a few giggles. It’s a small moment, but one that perfectly captures why this duo works. They don’t feel manufactured. They just feel natural.
Safe storytelling done right
One thing we kept coming back to after the screening was how easy the movie was to watch. Not “easy” in a dismissive way. More accessible and comfortable.
It’s the kind of blockbuster that lets you settle into the experience without requiring homework beforehand.
One observation that stood out during our post-movie discussion was describing the film as a “palate cleanser spin-off.” Despite growing up with the Skywalker Saga and several Star Wars spin-offs herself, she appreciated how welcoming the film felt.
“It’s interesting enough to lure you back into the lore and fall back into love with the franchise,” she said.
That really captures the movie’s biggest strength.
The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn’t spend its runtime obsessing over lore density or trying to prove how important it is within the larger Star Wars timeline. Instead, it focuses on delivering a straightforward adventure with familiar emotional beats.
Sometimes, that traditional recipe is enough.
There are definitely moments where the story feels predictable. We found ourselves correctly guessing certain developments well before they happened. But surprisingly, that never hurt the experience.
If anything, the predictability made the movie feel oddly comforting.
The film knows when to slow down for tender scenes, when to ramp things up with explosive action, and when to simply let viewers breathe inside its world. There’s also very little visual fatigue throughout the runtime. The pacing stays clean and the movie rarely overstays its welcome.
One of my favorite sequences involved Rotta the Hutt in a gladiator-like setting that weirdly reminded me of Thor: Ragnarok. It was chaotic, funny, and surprisingly entertaining.
Also, I need it on record that I identified with Rotta look-wise.
That comparison was apparently questionable according to my companion for the screening.
A low-friction way back into Star Wars
More than anything else, The Mandalorian and Grogu reminded me why people fell in love with Star Wars in the first place.
Not through endless callbacks or franchise homework. But through companionship, adventure, and a healthy helping of heart.
Underneath all the sci-fi spectacle and action sequences is a story about choosing to care for people even when it might not be the smartest thing to do in the moment. Din and Grogu’s relationship may often get described online as father-and-son, but honestly, they felt more like disproportionately-sized bros constantly looking out for each other.
And somehow, that dynamic works incredibly well.
By the end of the movie, we arrived at almost the same conclusion. We wanted more.
Not necessarily because this was the greatest Star Wars story ever told. It isn’t trying to be. But it successfully reignited interest in a franchise that can sometimes feel daunting from the outside looking in.
One immediate effect of the movie was successfully convincing my co-viewer to finally start The Mandalorian Season 1 once schedules calm down a bit. In the meantime, Grogu doomscrolling on Instagram will apparently suffice.
Meanwhile, I’m suddenly considering diving back into Star Wars shows I skipped over the years. I might check out The Acolyte. Maybe Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maybe even tap into gaming with the adventures of Cal Kestis if time and workload permit.
That’s probably the biggest compliment I can give this movie. It made me want to care again.
For longtime fans, The Mandalorian and Grogu delivers good, clean Star Wars fun with heart and hype.
For newcomers, it offers a surprisingly low-friction entry point into a universe that can otherwise feel overwhelming.
That might be exactly what Star Wars needed right now.
Entertainment
This Is the Way to the Theater: What to Know Before ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’
Din Djarin and Grogu Primer
Strap your Beskar tight and warm up the N-1 Starfighter. The galaxy’s favorite father-son duo is finally hitting the big screen! “The Mandalorian and Grogu” will officially trade the small screen for the cinema this coming May 22. The hype is stronger than a Jedi’s grip on a lightsaber. There’s plenty of ground to cover before the opening crawl starts, whether you’re a hardcore dweller of the Outer Rim or just someone who thinks Grogu is the cutest thing since Ewoks.
This isn’t just another mission; it’s a full-on cinematic event directed by Jon Favreau himself. We’ve rounded up five essential things you need to know before you head to the theater to make sure you aren’t more confused than a Stormtrooper in a hallway. From political shifts in the New Republic to some very surprising new faces, here is your ultimate primer for the next chapter of the Star Wars saga.
1. Brush Up on the “Mando-Verse” (Seasons 1–3)
Now is the time to binge if you haven’t seen the Disney+ series. The film is a direct continuation of Din Djarin’s journey from bounty hunter to adoptive father. You’ll want to remember that Season 3 ended with Din officially adopting Grogu and settling into a quiet life on Nevarro—at least until the New Republic came knocking. Think of this movie as “Season 4,” but with a massive theatrical budget and even shinier Beskar.
2. Don’t Skip “The Book of Boba Fett”
It’s the “homework” no one expected, but Episodes 5 and 6 of The Book of Boba Fett are essentially The Mandalorian Season 2.5. This is where Grogu makes the massive choice to leave Luke Skywalker’s training and return to his “Dad-alorian.” You’ll be very confused about why the little green guy is back in the cockpit instead of lifting rocks at a Jedi temple if you skip these episodes. Unfortunately, this is not a Jedi mind trick.
3. Meet the New Boss: Sigourney Weaver
Sci-fi royalty is officially entering the Star Wars universe! Sigourney Weaver joins the cast as Colonel Ward, a leader of the New Republic’s Adelphi Rangers. Since Din Djarin is now working as a “freelance” operative for the New Republic, she’s basically his high-stakes boss. Seeing the woman who faced down Xenomorphs take on the Imperial Remnant is the crossover we didn’t know we needed.
4. There’s a New Hutt in Town
Move over, Jabba! The Bear star Jeremy Allen White is voicing Rotta the Hutt, Jabba’s son (yes, the “Punky Muffin” from The Clone Wars movie). But don’t expect a cute baby slug; Rotta is now a gladiatorial threat who fights in the pits. If the rumors of him twirling twin hand-axes are true, Din and Grogu are going to have their hands full with this “Hutt-onis Creed.”
5. The Return of Fan Favorites
Keep your eyes peeled for Zeb Orrelios! The Lasat hero from Star Wars Rebels (voiced by Steve Blum) is making his big-screen debut after that brief live-action cameo in the series. With Dave Filoni co-writing, the film is packed with deep-cut references for “Filoni-verse” fans. Plus, rumors of a Martin Scorsese cameo as an Ardennian cook might just make this the most legendary Star Wars cast to date.
The Way is clear: catch up on your streaming, grab your popcorn (and maybe some blue milk), and get ready for a cinematic jump to lightspeed. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is about to prove that while the galaxy is big, family is the greatest adventure of all. May the Force be with you!
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