Can the split posture make Xiaomi TV 3 worthy of the title of "next generation"?

Last week, the term "next generation" cast a layer of mystery over Xiaomi's new product launch. Even though it was later revealed that the new product was the Xiaomi TV 3, it still failed to completely dispel everyone's doubts: What kind of TV can be called "next generation"?

On the afternoon of the 19th, Xiaomi's next-generation new product launch conference was held in Beijing, which can be regarded as completely unveiling the mystery of the next-generation Xiaomi TV 3. CEO Lei Jun specifically pointed out at the conference that the next generation refers to the next era, the future era.

So, what Lei Jun means is: Xiaomi TV 3 will usher in the next era of smart TVs?

What kind of "next generation"?

In addition to its ultra-thin body, 60-inch 4K screen and ultra-low price of 4,999 yuan, the biggest highlight of Xiaomi TV 3 is its split design. The TV consists of two independent parts, the main unit and the screen, which are connected by a "MiPort" and the main unit can be sold separately.

All other interfaces are concentrated on the Xiaomi TV host, including 3 HDMI, 2 USB, VGA, network interface, AV, and TV RF, which can meet various needs such as connecting to closed-circuit television, cable TV set-top box, computer, game console, music player, network cable, and USB flash drive.

This means that for the screen, the host also bears the function of power supply and picture signal input, and the sound is directly played through the speakers inside the host. So the question is, if it is separated from the Xiaomi TV host, what is the use of this Xiaomi screen? No sound, no picture.

This question may be an unnecessary concern - because Xiaomi does not provide a plan to buy a TV screen separately. If a user buys a Xiaomi TV host first and then wants to add a screen, can the difference in price be compensated?

In fact, Xiaomi is not the first to come up with the idea of ​​split-type TV. In February this year, Damai Technology launched a split smart TV consisting of three independent units: screen, host and speakers. Changhong, Haier and TCL have all released their own modular TVs.

Implanting the host into the speaker, is this the "next generation" of Xiaomi TV?

What is the meaning of “next generation”?

If Xiaomi regards its split design as the biggest innovation of the next generation, then what different meaning does such a design have for the product and consumers?

From a product perspective, the most direct effect of separating the main unit from the back of the screen is that the main body of the TV can be made thinner. It is reported that the Xiaomi TV 3 uses an all-metal body, with the thinnest part being only 11.6mm and the thickest part being 26% thinner than the previous generation.

The effect of the sound is directly related to its size, which is also the advantage of independent speakers over built-in speakers. Xiaomi TV 3 independent speakers have four 2.5-inch mid-bass speakers and two 20-core dome tweeters built in, with a loudness of up to 102dB, which can cover a space of 500 square meters.

As for whether the host performance will be improved due to the split design, it is difficult to judge directly from the perspective of volume. After all, the space left for the processor inside the speaker is very limited.

Xiaomi TV 3 is equipped with the flagship MStar 6A928 flagship TV processor, which uses the Cortex-A17 core, includes a 4-core CPU and a 4+4-core GPU, with a main frequency of 1.4GHz, overclocking up to 1.7GHz, and 2GB DDR3 three-channel memory. Integrating these configurations into the speaker creates novelty while also bringing challenges to the re-layout of the motherboard.

For consumers, a major convenience of the split design is that they can choose the part that needs to be upgraded. At the press conference, Lei Jun introduced that the service life of a TV screen is about 10 years. According to Moore's Law, the chip replacement cycle is shorter, generally 2-3 years. 70% of the cost of a TV is on the panel. The split design of Xiaomi TV allows users to experience the pleasure of product upgrades at a lower cost. In addition, the Xiaomi TV host is also suitable for TV screens of other brands.

In addition, Lei Jun also emphasized that the design of connecting various wires to the host can enhance the visual effect of the TV placement, especially in the wall-mounted scenario. It will also be more convenient for users to plug and unplug various wires.

Maybe there is something else?

The term "next generation" is most commonly used in game consoles, which made netizens wonder if Xiaomi would release a game console this time. Although there is no sign of a home game console this time, the Xiaomi TV 3 still has an unclear relationship with games.

When talking about the console configuration, Lei Jun proudly said, "With such a high configuration, playing games is also very enjoyable." It is reported that Xiaomi Interactive Entertainment has prepared two exclusive products for Xiaomi TV, Bullet Rush is an FPS shooting online game; War Blade is a fighting online game. Both games are scheduled to be officially launched on Xiaomi TV at the end of the year. Both are global games with the same server, and players from all over the world can compete on the same field.

By introducing exclusive games to TVs, is Xiaomi's move a bit like turning smart TVs into home entertainment centers? It has been more than a year since the ban on game consoles was lifted, but the sales of PS4 and XBox are not impressive. Is it possible that lightweight games directly installed on TVs will open up another blue ocean?

This gameplay is surprisingly similar to the new generation of Apple TV. Xiaomi TV 3 even comes with a Bluetooth voice and motion sensing remote control, priced at 99 yuan. Some industry insiders pointed out that large-screen games are more suitable with a controller. If Xiaomi brought a controller instead of a remote control this time, the "next generation" value might be higher.

In addition, in terms of content, Xiaomi TV 3 has also been fully upgraded, and has incorporated content resources from four licensees. It seems that video games are also one of Xiaomi TV's strategies.

If split type, ultra-thin, 60-inch 4K large screen, and exclusive games are not enough to define a "next-generation" TV, don't forget that Xiaomi has a killer feature that has never changed: high cost performance. At the press conference, Lei Jun directly criticized the price of the same-sized TV of a competitor, which was said to break the bottom line of the industry, and announced the final selling price of 4,999 yuan, and the Xiaomi TV host can be bought alone for 999 yuan.

According to these two prices, the screen cost has exceeded 80%, which is much higher than the industry average of 70%. This also means that the price of Xiaomi TV host is relatively low, which shows that Xiaomi has also invested a lot in promoting the "next generation".

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.