Xiaomi’s new Mi Box S is an Android TV box and runs a Google-made Android TV OS instead of a modified rip-off of Android for smartphones seen in most smart TV boxes.
It features a number of improvements over the predecessor, featuring some new-age features such as 4K 60 fps output, and a new, more modern remote.
Read on for more details.
Mi Box S looks just like the China-exclusive Mi Box 4 but comes in black instead of white. The box runs Android 8.1, the original Android TV version, with no proprietary skin on top. Xiaomi opted to use Android TV, and not a custom version of the OS.
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The remote has also been changed. The power button is now at the top, with a Google Assistant microphone trigger right below it. Interestingly, the remote has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Live TV, and a new app drawer button.
Another good thing is that it supports 4K video output and playback at 60 FPS. There’s also built-in Chromecast, so you won’t need a separate module, that can help you cast your smartphone or computer’s screen on to your TV.
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It gets full Google Assistant support, so you can simply ask your TV box to find movies for you, or other stuff online. It can also control other smart home devices like air-conditioning and lighting.
The specs are mostly unchanged. Mi Box S has a Cortex-A53 quad-core CPU, 2 GB RAM, paired with 8 GB internal storage. There’s a single USB 2.0 port to play your music or link other devices. The TV box also has an HDMI 2.0 port, audio output/input ports, and another power socket.
For supported Android games, you can even plug in a controller to play those games on your TV. All in all, it is a good piece of tech to have in your home and is a good upgrade over most, tv boxes that come with some local subscriptions, like PTCL’s Smart TV or Nayatel’s TV box bundle.
If you already own an older Mi Box, then you won’t notice any major changes if you decide to upgrade to a Mi Box S, they both work fine.
It is cheaper than the original though, priced at just $59.99 (~Rs. 7,400). Shipping will start on November 6, at the end of this year.