Katarzyna Petru
Xiaomi has released an updated version of its TV Stick 4K dongle – a device that hasn't seen any significant changes since December 2021. The new generation looks similar, but it has a few key improvements under the hood. And while it's not groundbreaking, it could be an interesting option in the lower price range.
Better chip, faster Wi-Fi, more HDRs
The heart of the new TV Stick is a chip with a quad-core Cortex-A55 and Mali-G310 graphics. According to Xiaomi, this should deliver +80% overall performance and +150% for graphics. Sounds good, but we still have only 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage – even though Google TV already requires 16 GB as a minimum. For some reason, Xiaomi chose to ignore this.
On the positive side: there is Dolby Vision and HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, and now also DTS:X. The picture and sound are supposed to be significantly better, and thanks to Wi-Fi 6, streaming should work more smoothly. Bluetooth 5.2 remains unchanged.
Android TV? No, this is already Google TV
The biggest change is the software. Xiaomi has abandoned Android TV and opted for Google TV. Users receive a new, more modern interface and better content recommendations. Additionally, there is a slightly refreshed remote – with a new shortcut to Xiaomi's free live channels.
For now, there is no official release date or price in Europe. However, it is known that the device has already hit the market in China – it can be purchased on AliExpress for 49 dollars (~185 zlotys), which is much cheaper than the suggested 135 USD.
Is it worth it?
If you need something small, cheap, and portable for streaming – it can be a very sensible option. Especially after the withdrawal of Chromecast with Google TV from the market. But if you care about more storage, it's better to reach for something stronger – for example, the Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd gen) with 32 GB of storage or the Thomson Streaming Box Plus 270 with 3 GB of RAM. The top choice in this class remains the Google TV Streamer with 4 GB of RAM.
