Mibox s review

Find out more about how we test. The TV streaming box industry is heating up.

In the world of streaming devices, Xiaomi has made a name for itself by delivering exceptional quality at competitive prices. Their Xiaomi Mi Box S, released in , was a resounding success, so much so that its demand drove up its price over the years. Now, Xiaomi is back with the second generation of their Mi TV Box S, aiming to not only replicate but surpass the success of its predecessor. One notable improvement is the HDMI port, which has been upgraded from 2. This means you can now enjoy dynamic HDR, 8K resolution, and higher bandwidth 48Gbps for a more immersive viewing experience.

Mibox s review

Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more. There are plenty of options for streaming to a TV, but which offers the best bang for your buck? Amazon, Google, Roku? Given the strength of the competition, it needs the apps, the performance, and the usability if it is going to have that desired impact. The Mi Box S looks like the buzzer you get when waiting for an order at a food court. Given the proliferation of sticks and smaller efforts, the Mi Box S is bigger than expected — and square. Its shape means the Mi Box S is best suited to sitting on a flat surface, or risk ungainly hanging from a TV. Around its rear is space for HDMI 2. The remote keeps buttons down to a minimum with volume, playback, menu, Google Assistant and shortcuts for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. When first powered on it runs an older version of Android 8. Update it and up pops Android 9, but that launched in UK customers expecting the same breadth of apps as other streamers should check their expectations.

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Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more. One of these products is the Xiaomi Mi Box S. The Mi Box S offers a compelling set of features, including 4K support. But in this crowded market, is it really worth buying? We aim to find out in our Xiaomi Mi Box S review.

Android TV boxes haven't gotten much attention over the last two years. I used the first-gen Mi Box for just over a year, and it isn't an exaggeration to say that it was the worst Xiaomi product I used. The Mi Box would constantly freeze, and it got to a point where I had to reboot it every single time before I could stream any content. So when Xiaomi released a newer version of the Mi Box, I was excited. The Mi Box S shares the same hardware as its predecessor, but it runs Oreo out of the box and comes with a voice remote that lets you launch your favorite TV shows and movies by issuing voice commands to Google Assistant. So with three solid months of usage under the belt, here's what I think of Xiaomi's latest Android TV box. The Mi Box S has a pretty basic design: it's just a rectangular box made out of plastic with rounded edges. The reason for its boxy design is a larger heat sink that does a much better job dissipating heat away from the internal hardware. I had a lot of issues with Wi-Fi connectivity on the Mi Box, but that just wasn't the case on the Mi Box S — it had rock-solid connectivity throughout. You do get a new remote with dedicated buttons for Netflix and invoking Google Assistant.

Mibox s review

It even has a full-sized USB port for plugging in external hard drives or game controllers. But in actual use, the Mi Box S is a letdown, with low frame rates for live TV streaming, a feature-limited remote control, some vexing technical issues, and fewer apps than other streamers. The main differences are a slightly smaller enclosure, a new remote with some additional buttons, and the latest Android TV 8. Frame rates occasionally drop while the Mi Box S scrolls through menus, but it loads apps quickly and can handle demanding apps such as PlayStation Vue without major slowdowns. More on that later. The position of these buttons felt awkward, though, with the back button in between the all apps and home buttons. I often pressed the apps button when I meant to go back. Like many other modern streaming devices, the Mi Box S supports 4K HDR video , which allows for a sharper picture and richer colors on supported televisions, but getting this up and running caused some headaches. Not only does it support the same phone-based controls as Chromecast, it also offers a full on-screen menu system and voice controls powered by Google Assistant.

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Sky Q Review. The Xiaomi Mi Box S is a streaming device that allows you to download various apps — Netflix, YouTube, Hulu — and watch your favorite shows and movies. Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. Find out more about how we test. I am not opposed to the new change, but the longevity of my old remote won me over. Xiaomi has taken a significant leap forward in terms of hardware with the new Mi Box S. While the USB 2. Steve Withers 3 weeks ago. Should you buy it? Android 8. Our recommendation? If the price was right, we could see its place in the market. One of these products is the Xiaomi Mi Box S.

My video coverage of the Xiaomi made the introductions on its functionality but also triggered some interesting questions. Do I have to keep a screen connected to the Xiaomi for it to receive and play Chromecast streams? And are those three native apps capable of gapless playback?

Learn more. Its shape means the Mi Box S is best suited to sitting on a flat surface, or risk ungainly hanging from a TV. When it comes to streaming, the Xiaomi box is par for the course. Sign up for the Trusted Reviews Newsletter News, competitions and exclusive offers direct to your inbox. The addition of Miracast personally sweetens the deal for me. This simplicity in design extends to the remote as well. We can consider this a good or a bad thing, depending on your tastes. Why that is the case is a mystery. Xiaomi Mi Box S. On top of a few niggling issues with performance, we had a few problems with the remote too. Tech Radar Gaming. Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience.