Xiaomi Mi Box S – What is it and how it works in 2026

Xiaomi Mi Box S – Compact Android TV-It's a set-top box that, in a few years, has become one of the most popular solutions for converting a regular TV into a smart one. But what exactly is behind that name? Why do millions of users choose it over competing devices from Nvidia Shield, Apple. TV or even cheaper analogues?

This console is not just a YouTube box, it combines the power of Android. TV (Official Android version for TVs, support 4K HDR With Dolby Vision, integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem, and flexibility to customize for everything from watching movies to playing games, this article will show you what the Mi Box S is, who it will suit, and who better consider alternatives.

Spoiler: If you have a TV older than 2015 without a Smart TV Or with outdated firmware, this console can be your lifesaver, and if you already use the Mi Box S, you'll learn how to unlock its full potential, from hidden features to performance optimization.

What is Xiaomi Mi Box S: a brief overview of the device

Xiaomi Mi Box S (model index) MDZ-22-AB) — It's an Android-based media console. TV The 9.0 (with the option to upgrade to new versions), released in 2019, replaces the previous Mi Box 3 and is the company’s response to the growing demand for affordable but functional streaming devices.

Externally, the console looks like a black square with rounded corners (size). 95 × 95 × 16 And it's a minimalist design, and on the front, there's only an LED light, all the connectors are on the back, and it comes with a voice-controlled remote control (Google Assistant button) and basic navigation buttons.

The main features of the device:

• 🎬 Support 4K Ultra HD (3840 × 2160) s HDR10 Dolby Vision – the picture looks brighter and more detailed than on Full HD.
• 🎮 Processor Amlogic S905X2 (4 cores Cortex-A53) + graphical Mali-G31 — enough for most games from Google Play and smooth video playback.
• 🔊 Built-in Dolby Audio decoders and DTS 2.0 – The sound is transmitted without distortion, even through the HDMI.
• 🌐 Dual Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) + 5 GHz) and Bluetooth 4.2 – stable network and peripheral connectivity (mouse, keyboard, gamepads).

The Mi Box S is not just the Chinese equivalent of Apple. TV". It is a budget-friendly but balanced solution for those who want to get Android. TV It's very low-cost, and it supports all the key services: Netflix, YouTube, Disney.+, Twitch and thousands of apps from Google Play.

Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Mi Box S: disassemble the “stuffing”

To understand what a console can do, let's take a look at the hardware and the software, and that's to help you see if it's going to work for you, whether it's watching movies in the video game. 4K, play-and-work with a smart home.

On paper, the specs are modest, but for a console of this level, they are more than enough. For example, 2 GB of RAM is enough to simultaneously work YouTube, Kodi and background music playback. S905X2 It can even handle heavy video codecs (for example, video codecs, HEVC H.265 into 4K).

However, there are limitations:

• ⚠️ 8GB of memory fills up quickly if you install a lot of games or caching video. USB-drive (up to 128 GB) or cloud services.
• ⚠️ Bluetooth 4.2 (not 5.0) can delay when connecting gamepads or headphones!
• ⚠️ No support. AV1 — A new video compression codec that some streaming services use.

Xiaomi has released several major updates for the Mi Box S, but after the release of Android TV 11 in 2021, new OS versions stopped arriving, which means that some modern applications may run unstable or require manual installation (APK).

💡

If the console started to "slow down", try resetting the app cache in the Settings menu → Annexes → [Select an application] → Clean the cache. This often solves the problem without completely resetting.

Why Xiaomi Mi Box S is needed: 5 main use cases

Many people buy the Mi Box S just to be smart. TV", But the device is capable of much more than that.-5 the tasks that it handles best.

1. Turning an old TV into a smart TV

If your TV is released before 2016, it probably doesn’t have a smart TV. TV, Or it runs on outdated firmware (like WebOS 2.0 or Tizen 2015:

• 📺 Modern Android interface TV content-based.
• 🎵 Support for all popular streaming services (including Netflix) 4K).
• 🎮 Possibility of installing games and emulators (for example, PPSSPP for PSP).

2. Family entertainment center

With Google Assistant and a family Google account, the console allows you to:

• 👨👩👧👦 Create separate profiles for children with parental control.
• 🔍 Search for content by voice (e.g., "Enable minion cartoons").
• 📱 Control your TV from your smartphone through the Android app TV Remote Control.

3.A smart home on the big screen

The Mi Box S is perfectly integrated with Xiaomi’s ecosystem.

• 🏠 Controlling Yeelight smart lamps, Aqara outlets or Mi Robot Vacuum robot vacuum cleaner directly from the TV.
• 📹 Watch the video from the Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera on the big screen.
• 🔊 Voice control of devices via Google Assistant (e.g., “Switch off the lights in the living room").

4.A game console for 50$

Yes, you can play the Mi Box S! Of course, it won't replace the PlayStation 5, but for casual games or retro console emulators, it's enough:

• 🎮 Connecting gamepads over Bluetooth (e.g. Xbox Controller or Xbox Controller) 8BitDo).
• 🕹️ Emulators NES, SNES, PS1 via RetroArch.
• 🎲 Games from Google Play (e.g. Asphalt 9, Minecraft).

5. Media server for local content

If you have a collection of movies or music on your hard drive, Mi Box S can be a media server.

• 💾 Connecting an external storage device through USB 2.0 (up to 128 GB).
• 🎬 Video reproduction in MKV, MP4, AVI via Kodi or VLC.
• 🔄 Streaming content from a PC over a local network (for example, via Plex or Plex) DLNA).

💡

The main advantage of the Mi Box S is the Smart TV — You can set up any flexibility. APK, change the launchers (for example, to ATV Launcher) and even flash custom firmware (for example, CoreELEC for Kodi).

Xiaomi Mi Box S vs competitors: comparison with other consoles

There are dozens of Android consoles on the market, but the main competitors in the Mi Box S are only three: Nvidia Shield TV, Apple TV 4K And the budget "Chinese" kind of X96 Max+. Let’s compare them by key parameters.

Who's good for a Mi Box S?

• 💰 Those looking for a balance of price and quality (best ratio to the best price). $100).
• 📺 Owners of TVs without Smart TV or with outdated firmware.
• 🏠 Xiaomi ecosystem users (smart home, Mi Account).

Who better to choose another?

• 🎮 Gamers - Nvidia Shield TV More powerful and supports GeForce NOW.
• 🍎 For Apple fans - Apple TV 4K better optimized for iPhone/iPad.
• 🔧 Those who like to “love” are cheap, like X96 Max+ You can sew under CoreELEC, but they are less stable.

If you want a console that's "just for movies and YouTube," the Mi Box S is the best choice, but if you're planning on playing heavy games or using it as a media server for your own use. 4K-High bit rate content, it is worth looking at Nvidia Shield TV Pro.

How to set up Xiaomi Mi Box S after purchase: Step-by-step instructions

The first time you turn on the console can raise questions, especially if you have not used Android before. TV. Follow this checklist to avoid typical mistakes.

Now let's take each step in more detail.

1. Connection to TV and network

Use it. HDMI-cable from the set (if not, any will fit HDMI Connect the set-top box to the TV and:

• 🔌 Turn on power (use the original adapter) 5V/2A!).
• 📺 On the TV, select the source of the signal (Source or Input button on the remote).
• 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi (better to 5GHz network if router supports).

⚠️ Note: If the TV is not supported HDMI-CEC, You'll have to use two remotes, for the TV and for the console. CEC, Go to Settings. → Display and sound → HDMI-CEC.

2. Choice of language and region

When you first turn on, the system will suggest you to choose a language.

• 🌍 If you choose Russia, some apps (e.g. Disney)+) may not be available.
• 🇺🇸 The best option is USA, so you can access all the services, and later you can change the interface language to Russian in the settings.

3. Log in to a Google account

Without a Google account, you will not be able to install apps from the Play Market.

1. Create it on your phone or PC at accounts.google.com.
2. Enter the data on the console (use the virtual keyboard or Google Remote app on your smartphone).

4. Firmware update

This is a critical step! Outdated firmware can cause lags and compatibility issues.

1. Go to Settings → About the console → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If you have an update, install it (the console will reboot).

⚠️ Note: If after the update the console began to "brake", make a reset to the factory settings (Settings) → The device → Resetting. This often solves productivity problems.

5. Installation of necessary applications

Minimum set for comfortable use:

• 🎬 Netflix, YouTube, Kinopoisk HD — film-producer.
• 🎵 Spotify or Yandex Music – for music.
• 🎮 Steam Link or Moonlight – for streaming games from PC.
• 📁 Kodi or VLC — local content.

To install the application:

1. Open the Play Market (the icon on the main screen).
2. Find the right app through search.
3. Click Set and wait for the download.

💡

If the application is not available in the Play Market (for example, some of the IPTV-Players, download. APK on a smartphone, download it to Google Drive and then install it through the browser on the console.

Hidden features Xiaomi Mi Box S: what does the console, what you did not know

Even experienced users are often unaware of some of the features of the Mi Box S. Here are 7 chips that make it stand out from the competition.

1.The Google Assistant Voice Assistant

The microphone button on the remote is not just a search, but it can be used to:

• 🔍 Movies by Actors (Show films with Leonardo DiCaprio").
• 🌡️ Weather in Moscow ("What is the weather tomorrow in Moscow?").
• 🏠 Manage smart devices ("Switch off the lights in the hallway").
• 🎵 Start Music ("Play Playlist for Training").

2. Developer mode and debugging by ADB

If you can work with ADB, possible:

• 🛠️ Install applications through the command line:
• 📱 Control the console from a PC (for example, for screenshots):

To enable the Developer Mode:

1. Go to Settings → About the console → Android TV version.
2. Click on the line with the version 7 times in a row.
3. Back to Settings → The device → For developers and enable debugging by ADB.

Change of launcher (alternative shells)

Standard Android launcher TV Not everyone likes it. It can be replaced by:

• 📱 ATV Launcher – a minimalist interface with fast access to applications.
• 🎮 Leanback Launcher – Optimized for Gamepads.
• 🖥️ TV Launcher – imitates the Windows interface.

To change the launcher:

1. Install an alternative launcher from the Play Market.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Launcher by default.
3. Select a new launcher and confirm the choice.

4. Connecting external devices

Through USB-Type-A port can be connected:

• 🖱️ Mouse and keyboard (comfortable for text input).
• 💾 Flash drive or hard drive (up to) 128 GB, format FAT32/NTFS).
• 🎮 Gamepad (such as DualShock 4 or Xbox Controller).

⚠️ Warning: When you connect your hard drive, the console may not have enough power. In this case, use an externally powered USB-hub.

5. Streaming games from PC (Steam Link, Moonlight)

If you have a powerful PC, you can play on your TV via the Mi Box S:

• 🎮 Steam Link – streaming games from the Steam library.
• 🌙 Moonlight - streaming through NVIDIA GameStream (I need a video card) NVIDIA).
• 🖥️ Parsec – Remote access to PCs with minimal delays.

To set up:

1. Install Steam or GeForce Experience on PC.
2. Install the appropriate appendix on the console.
3. Connect the gamepad and follow the instructions on the screen.

6. Use as a media server (Kodi) + effluent)

With Kodi, the console becomes a full-fledged media center:

• 🎬 Collection of films in one library with covers and descriptions.
• 🔍 Search by actors, genres, years.
• 🌍 Support for plugins (for example, for IPTV orthorrent TV).

To set up Kodi:

1. Install Kodi from Play Market.
2. Connect the external disc with the movies.
3. Add a folder with movies in the video → Files. → Add a video.

7.Management of Xiaomi's Smart Home

If you have Xiaomi devices (light bulbs, sockets, cameras), the console can become the control center:

• 💡 Installation of Mi Home from Play Market.
• 🔄 Synchronization of Xiaomi account with the console.
• 📺 Control devices via a TV (for example, turning on lights by voice).

This is especially handy if you don’t have a smartphone on hand or want to show guests how a smart home works.

Frequent problems with Xiaomi Mi Box S and how to solve them

Like any device, the Mi Box S is not without bugs. Here are the most common problems and ways to fix them.

1.The console is braking or getting stuck

Causes and solutions:

• 🗑️ Filled with cache → Clear the cache in Settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Outdated firmware → Update the system in Settings → About the prefix → Update.
• 🧹 Garbage applications → Remove unnecessary programs or reset (Settings) → The device → Reset).

2.No sound through HDMI

Check it out.

• 🔌 Cable HDMI (try another).
• 🔊 Sound settings in Settings → Display and sound → Sound. → Digital audio format (select Auto or PCM).
• 📺 TV settings (possibly switched off sound by HDMI).

3. Wi-Fi is not working or the connection is cut off

Decisions:

• 📶 Switch from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz (or vice versa).
• 🔄 Reboot the router and console.
• 📡 Change the Wi-Fi channel in the router settings (for example, from 11 to 6).
• 🔌 Connect the console via Ethernet cable via USB-to-Ethernet adapter.

4. Apps from the Play Market are not installed

Possible causes:

• 🌍 The Wrong Region (Russia, for example, instead of the United States)