Xiaomi Mi Box Preview

See the complete review of the Xiaomi Mi Box review

As part of my ongoing search for the do-it-all media player box, I recently picked up a Xiaomi Mi Box Android TV.

The tiny Mi Box runs Android TV, Google’s software answer to the likes of Apple TV and Roku. It’s a specialized version of the Android operating system, and as such it has access to a huge selection of media playing apps and games. Also, the Xiaomi hardware is 4K capable.

Connectivity is limited, but sufficient: The Mi Box connects to the internet via Wi-Fi only; there’s no hard-wire connection. You get a USB 2.0 port, HDMI 2.0a/HDCP 2.2 output, a power jack, a S/PDIF audio output and that’s all, folks!

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So far I’ve found Wi-Fi to be capable (mine is 802.11n, not even AC) of streaming anything from my NAS or from the Internet, even a 4k demo trailer I downloaded. The included remote uses Bluetooth connectivity, although I found that there is an IR port built-in for my Harmony. The Mi Box remote also supports voice search (powered by Google) which works well.

Being an Android TV unit (only the third official Android TV stand-alone box on the market, mind you) streaming apps abound. You can install almost any Android media app, with one glaring exception – Amazon Prime Videos. There are ways around this, but a native app for Amazon Prime members is missing from Android TV. Google Home (formerly Google Cast) is built in to the Mi Box, so it’s ready for you to cast anything from your phone or Chrome-enabled laptop, tablet, etc. (which is one of the workarounds for watching Amazon Prime content).

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So far I’m very pleased with this little box, regardless of the cost; but for $69+tax it’s really hard to pass up. For the price of two Chromecasts, you get a much more well-rounded experience: all the functionality of Chromecast plus a full-fledged standalone 4K media player.

See the complete review of the Xiaomi Mi Box review

Kieran Coghlan

Kieran first got into home theater around the age of 12, when he would take his Dad's "good" speakers, pre-amp and amp from the living room, and hook them up in the TV room to watch movies in hi-fi stereo on the family's Sony Betamax. He also developed a love of music at a young age, and as a classically trained tenor has performed in numerous choirs and stage musicals throughout high school, college and beyond. Kieran's interest in science and technology led to a career as a mechanical engineer spanning the aerospace and telecom industries. After returning from graduate school he now works as a biomedical engineer designing life-saving medical devices. Kieran enjoys researching and explaining science and technology to people, and has a passion for finding the best affordable HT & AV tech. When not working, studying, tinkering, or being a husband and father, Kieran loves to ride bikes (mountain and road) and to row crew boats competitively.