Introducing the Xiaomi Mi Box

February 26, 2020

We’re going to introduce you to Xiaomi Mi Box, an Android TV that is both accessible and full of promise.

In a very competitive market and not necessarily accessible to all budgets, the Xiaomi Mi Box is a real competitor. Indeed for a call price around 60 € we are left with Android TV 6.0, support for Google Cast, 4K HDR and the Play Store catalog.

Technical characteristics

  • Android TV version 6.0

  • Maximum definition supported UHD / 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) at 60 Hz (supports HDR)

  • 2-core Cortex-A53 2 GHz CPU

  • GPU Mali 450 to 750 Mhz

  • 2 GB DDR3 RAM

  • 8 GB internal memory

  • Micro SDXC No

  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 802.11a / b / g / n / ac Dual-band Wi-Fi 2.4GHz / 5GHz + Bluetooth 4.0

  • 1 x USB Type-A ports (ADB supported)

  • 1 power port

  • HDMI 2.0a

  • 1 3.5 mm SPDIF audio output

  • Dimensions 101mm x 101mm x 19.5mm

  • Weight 176.5 grams

  • Accessories Bluetooth remote control (two AAA batteries, not supplied)

With its processor and hormone GPU, the Mi Box enough to do his job. Enough to make the owners of Raspberry Pi turn jealous.

Design and connectivity

On this point no frills, we end up with a small black box 10 cm side. Sober and elegant, it will blend perfectly above your internet box or even better behind your TV.

On the top we find the logo Xiaomi on overprint and on the back a non-slip coating as well as the serial number of the case.

For the connections also we go to the basics. There is a port dedicated to power, a USB 2.0 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.0a port and a 3.5 mm SPDIF audio output allowing you to easily connect your health home theater for example.

To this we add an HDMI cable, a power supply and a remote control supplied with the box. To this you will need to add two AAA batteries for the remote control.

Small negative point to note, it is the absence of microSD port, with only 8 GB of internal storage and 5 GB usable. We should not hope to store videos directly on Mi Box indeed it is rather dedicated to retransmit streaming rather than serving as a NAS.

Using the Xiaomi Mi Box

The installation of the Mi Box is very fast, an HDMI cable and a power supply and it is finished. We then move on to configuration, where we will in particular enter your WiFi key via the Android remote control application.

The set is very easy and quick to set up, in less than 5 minutes the Mi Box is configured as well as your phone. What happiness.

As we said above this box is made above all to stream content from applications like Youtube, Molotov, Kodi, replay channels, VOD apps.

Basic Netflix and Youtube are preinstalled. but if you want more apps, go to the Play Store where you will find everything you need, Molotov, Kodi, MyCanal, OCS and others.

A good point is the remote control that can trigger voice recognition. We can dictate the name of the film we want to watch and the Mi Box offers the content accordingly. Same thing with his phone and the “Android Remote Control” app.

Quality side nothing to complain about, the tests on Youtube in HD are conclusive. The quality is present, the use is very fluid and refined. There is nothing to say about it, on the contrary it is a very good surprise.

Playing on the Mi Box

Although technically it is possible to install and play certain games on the Mi Box, we quickly find the limits of the beast.

Indeed on small games not very greedy, the Mi Box gets by without difficulty. But from the moment you switch to a much more demanding racing game, the game eventually slows down and becomes unplayable.

Convenient to spend a little time but not worth asking for more. For accessories, Xiaomi also offers a house controller, the Mi Game Controller, sold separately.

Conclusion

It’s a very nice surprise Mi box stands out with very good capacities and a more than reasonable price in the 60 €. Even if we can blame it for the lack of SD slot and RJ45 port, the fact remains that it is very good material for playing HD ehealth streams.

In short, a must have for a television in the bedroom. See you soon for a new Review.

AB SMART HEALTH health home & BUILDING REVIEW