Xiaomi Mi Box S: what processor is inside and what it is capable of

When choosing a modern set-top box to view content in high resolution, users often pay attention to the brand, but forget to look under the hood. It is the hardware that determines how smooth the interface will work, how fast heavy applications open, and whether the device can decode video in 4K without jerking. The central element of this system is the CPU, which takes the lion’s share of computing operations.

In the case of the popular second-generation Xiaomi Mi Box S (MDZ-22-AB), the answer to the heart of the device is clear, but requires detailed consideration. The manufacturer did not reinvent the wheel and chose a time-tested solution from Amlogic that has proven to be a balance between energy efficiency and power. Understanding the architecture of this chip will help you correctly assess the potential of the gadget before buying.

Many people mistakenly believe that the number of cores directly affects the speed of the menu, but in reality, the architecture and clock speed are more important. In this article, we will examine the specifications of the Amlogic S905X4, find out why this particular chip was chosen by Xiaomi engineers, and compare it with analogues from other manufacturers.

Technical characteristics of the processor Amlogic S905X4

The Xiaomi Mi Box S 2nd Gen is based on the quad-core Amlogic S905X4 chipset, a modern platform built on the ARMv8 architecture that delivers high performance at low power consumption, each of the four cores running at frequencies up to 2.0 GHz, which is the standard for mid-range devices in 2026-2026.

An important feature of this processor is the built-in graphics accelerator ARM Mali-G31 MP2, which is responsible for rendering the interface of the Android TV operating system and processing the video stream. Support for modern graphics APIs allows you to smoothly animate transitions between screens and run light casual games, which was not available for older models based on the S905X.

It is worth noting that the processor does not work in a vacuum, and its efficiency depends on RAM, which in this model is 2 GB of DDR4 standard. CPU + GPU bundle is optimized for working with next-generation codecs, which we will talk about in the next section.

• 🚀 Architecture: 4 cores Cortex-A55 2.0 GHz
• 🎮 Graphics: Mali-G31 MP2 OpenGL-enabled ES 3.2 and Vulkan 1.1
• ⚡ Process: 12 nm to reduce energy consumption
• 📺 Maximum resolution of withdrawal: 4K Ultra HD 60 frames per second

Video codec support and image quality

The main argument in favor of choosing the Xiaomi Mi Box S is the support of advanced standards of video compression. S905X4 equipped with specialized decoding units that take over the processing of the video stream, unloading the main CPU-It's critical to watching content from services like Netflix, YouTube or Disney.+ high-resolution.

The device officially supports the standard H.265 (HEVC), reproduce 4K-video with a bitrate of up to 60 Mbit / s. Moreover, unlike the previous generation of consoles, there is added support for the format AV1. It is the latest codec that is becoming the standard for streaming platforms, providing better picture quality with less traffic.

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Use it. HDMI-2.0 or 2.1 cables to connect the set-top box to the TV. 4K HDR 60 Hz signal, even if the console processor can do it.

It also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which dynamically analyzes each frame of the video and adjusts brightness and contrast in real time. If your TV supports these formats, the difference in color reproduction will be noticeable to the naked eye: black will become deeper, and light areas will not be “knocked out” in white.

But there are limitations to consider. Despite the powerful video unit, the processor does not support 120Hz image output, limited to 60 frames per second. For most movies and TV shows, this is more than enough, but owners of high-hertz gaming monitors can notice a difference in the smoothness of the cursor or interface.

Performance in games and applications

While the Xiaomi Mi Box S is marketed primarily as a multimedia hub, many users are interested in its gaming potential, with the Mali-G31 graphics chip far superior to its predecessor, the Mali-450, which was installed in the first generation of consoles, opening up the possibility of launching more demanding projects from the Google Play Store.

In practice, this means that you can comfortably play strategy, card games, quizzes and old console emulators all the way up to the PSP and Nintendo 64. Heavy three-dimensional shooters or modern racing will work at low frame rates or may not start at all due to the limitations of RAM, which is shared between the system and applications.

The speed of the Android TV interface is also directly dependent on processor optimization, with modern process technology that allows console menus to respond to remote commands almost instantly, and delays can only occur when a heavy application is loaded and the system is updated in the background, which is the norm for this architecture.

For enthusiasts planning to use the console as a platform for retro games, it is important to know about the support for OpenGL ES 3.2. This allows emulators like RetroArch to work more stable, although some complex shader filters can cause slowdowns. The S905X4 processor does not have a built-in Dolby Atmos decoder for audio, it only supports transmission (passthrough), so the TV or receiver is responsible for processing the sound.

• 🎮 Emulator support: PSP, N64, Dreamcast (partially)
• 📱 Compatible with gamepads: Bluetooth and USB
• ⚠️ Limit: 2GB of RAM could be a bottleneck for heavy gaming
• 🔥 Heating: During a long game, heating of the body is possible, but trottling is rare

Comparison with competitors and predecessors

To understand the Xiaomi Mi Box S’s market position, you need to compare its processor to its peers. The main competitor is often called the Chromecast with Google TV, which is also built on the Amlogic platform, but in a different version (S905X3 or S905X4 in new versions), the difference is in software optimization and cooling system.

The predecessor, the first version of the Xiaomi Mi Box, was based on the S905X chip. The performance difference between generations is huge: the new processor is about 30-40% faster in synthetic tests and consumes less power. The transition to a 12-nanometer process technology has made the device smaller and quieter, as there is no need for bulky heat removal systems.

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Xiaomi Mi Box S (2nd Gen) wins over most budget counterparts due to the support of the AV1 codec and the fresher Android TV, which guarantees the relevance of the device for the next 3-4 years.

Compared to more expensive models, for example, based on Rockchip processors RK3588, Xiaomi is losing out in clean power and support. 8K. However, for streaming tasks 4K-Video is not necessary to overpay for it makes no economic sense. Xiaomi chose the “golden mean”, offering the user exactly the functionality that is needed in 95% of use cases.

It’s also important to consider software support. Amlogic processors have excellent documentation and support from the development community, which means that even after the end of official support for Xiaomi, enthusiasts will be able to port new versions of Android or alternative firmware to the device, extending the life of the gadget.

The effect of the processor on heating and power consumption

One of the common problems with set-top boxes is overheating, leading to trottling (forced processor frequency reduction) and freezes. Xiaomi engineers took this experience into account by choosing the energy-efficient S905X4 chip. In normal video viewing mode, the device consumes minimal amount of energy, while remaining barely warm to the touch.

This is different when peak loads are in place, such as when you install updates or launch heavy applications. The temperature may rise, but the protection system successfully prevents critical overheating. Passive cooling in the form of an internal metal screen is doing its job, although in very hot rooms (above 30 ° C) there may be rare micro-freeze interfaces.

The power consumption of the device in standby mode is less than 1 watt, making it one of the leaders in energy efficiency in the class. the processor can quickly go to sleep mode when idle, which is especially important for users who do not disconnect the TV from the network, but transfer it to standby.

⚠️ Note: Despite effective cooling, it is not recommended to place the Xiaomi Mi Box S directly on a working TV unless there is ventilation behind it. The accumulated heat from the TV matrix can further heat the console, reducing the performance of the processor.

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