What's Xiaomi? TV Box is better to buy in 2026: comparison of all models and tips for choosing

Choice TV-Xiaomi consoles in 2026 became more difficult: the range has expanded, there are models with support AV1, Dolby Vision and even game chips. But how not to get confused in the characteristics and not overpay for unnecessary features? TV Box is right for you โ€“ to watch movies in the 4K, streaming Netflix in high quality or running retro game emulators.

We have analyzed all current models (including the Mi Box S). 2nd Gen, Mi TV Stick 4K and the flagship Mi Box 4S Pro, compared them on key metrics: performance, format support, interfaces, and even firmware nuances, and focused on real user reviews, because on paper, all consoles look perfect, and in operation, there are pitfalls. TV Stick can slow down when connected to cheap USB-Hub, or why in the Mi Box 4S Pro built-in fan, although competitors do without it.

Spoiler: If you need the most balanced option in price/quality to view 4K-content from YouTube and IPTV, The answer is not the newest model, but for gamers, we found a console that pulls the strings. GTA San Andreas via PPSSPP At maximum settings. Read more!

Key criteria for choosing Xiaomi TV Box

Before comparing specific models, decide what you want the console to do, and the minimum requirements depend on this:

  • ๐Ÿ“บ Watching movies/series: Support is needed 4K HDR, Dolby Vision/Atmos (for Netflix/Disney+), codecs AV1 (for YouTube and HEVC.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Games/Emulators: Priority โ€“ Processor (Better) Cortez-A73 or newer), 3+ GB RAM, support for gamepads over Bluetooth.
  • ๐Ÿ“ก IPTV/Gigabit Ethernet (or at least Wi-Fi) is important 6), USB-port.
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Budget up to 3,000 โ‚ฝ: You will have to accept the lack of Dolby Vision and a weak processor, but for Full, you will have to accept the lack of a Dolby Vision. HD enough.

Pay attention to the type of connection: if the TV is not free HDMI-Check out the models with the Mi. TV Stick (connects directly to the connector) Also check if your TV supports HDMI-CEC โ€” This will allow you to control the console from the TV remote.

โš ๏ธ Attention: Xiaomi models TV Box for the Chinese market (with suffix) CN) They often have limited firmware without Google Play. They can be flashed to a global version, but this voids the warranty and requires skills to work with the company. ADB.

Another important thing is the firmware updates. Xiaomi supports consoles for 2-3 years, after which new versions of Android stop coming out. If you want long-term relevance, take Android models. TV 12+ (Like the Mi Box. 4S Pro).

๐Ÿ“Š Why you choose Xiaomi for TV Box?
Viewing movies and TV series
Games and emulators
IPTV torrent
Replacement of Smart Functions with Old TV
Another option

Comparison of all current Xiaomi models TV Box in 2026

The table below shows the key characteristics of all consoles officially available in Russia and in the global market. 1st Gen and Chinese versions without Google Play.

ModelProcessorRAM/ROM4K HDRDolby Vision/AtmosWi-FiEthernetPrice (2026)
Mi TV Stick 4KAmlogic S905Y4 (4x A35)2/8 GBโœ… (up to 60 Hz)โŒ/โŒWi-Fi 5 (2.4/5 GHz)โŒ2,990 โ‚ฝ
Mi Box S 2nd GenAmlogic S905X2 (4x A53)2/8 GBโœ… (Dolby Vision)โœ…/โœ…Wi-Fi 5โŒ3,990 โ‚ฝ
Mi Box 4SAmlogic S905X3 (4x A55)2/16 GBโœ… (Dolby Vision)โœ…/โœ…Wi-Fi 6โœ… (100 Mbps)5,490 โ‚ฝ
Mi Box 4S ProAmlogic S905X4 (4x A73)4/32GBโœ… (Dolby Vision, AV1)โœ…/โœ…Wi-Fi 6โœ… (1 Gbps)7,990 โ‚ฝ

The table shows that the Mi Box 4S Pro is the only model with AV1 (important for YouTube 4K), Gigabit Ethernet and 4GB of RAM. But do you need those features, AV1 There are few services available, and for IPTV A 100-megabit port is enough. Let's look at each model in more detail.

๐Ÿ’ก

90% of users will be able to use the Mi Box S 2nd Gen โ€“ it supports Dolby Vision, has enough performance for Android TV It's cheaper than a flagship.

A detailed overview of each model

Mi TV Stick 4K โ€” Compactness vs. productivity

This box in the format of "flash drive" connects directly to HDMI-It's a port of the TV, which is convenient for traveling or small rooms. S905Y4) Only 2 GB of RAM makes it unsuitable for gaming or heavy applications.

Pros:

  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Compactness โ€“ does not take up space, you can take with you.
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ The cheapest model with support 4K@60fps.
  • ๐ŸŽ› Voice-controlled remote control (works through Google Assistant).

Cons:

  • ๐Ÿข Brakes when running several applications simultaneously.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š No Dolby. Vision/Atmos โ€” The sound and image are worse than the competition.
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Wi-Fi 5 can "suppress" when streaming 4K.

โš ๏ธ Note: When connecting through USB-Hub (for power) use only the original Xiaomi adapter. Cheap hubs can cause consoles to overheat.

How to speed up Mi TV Stick 4K?
Turn off animation in the developer settings (Settings) โ†’ About the prefix โ†’ Assembly number (7 clicks) โ†’ Animation. = 0.5x). Cleaning the cache through the application will also help. SD Maid.

Mi Box S 2nd Gen โ€“ Best Price/Quality Balance

This is the best choice for most users, and it supports Dolby Vision and Atmos, which is critical for watching movies from Netflix or Disney.+. Processor Amlogic. S905X2 cope 4K-content and light games (e.g. emulators) N64 or PS1).

Key advantages:

  • ๐ŸŽฌ Full support HDR10+ Dolby Vision โ€“ the picture is not inferior to the flagships.
  • ๐Ÿ•น Remote with Netflix and Prime Video buttons (simplifies navigation).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Regular firmware updates (last - Android) TV 11).

The main disadvantage is that there's no Ethernet port, and if you have weak Wi-Fi, you'll have to buy more. USB-hub with a network adapter (for example, TP-Link) UE300). There is also no cable in the kit. HDMI โ€” power-only adapter.

๐Ÿ’ก

Enable Dolby Vision on the Mi Box S 2nd Gen, go to Settings. โ†’ Display and sound โ†’ Regime. HDR โ†’ Dolby Vision and choose Dark or Bright depending on the room lighting.

Mi Box 4S and 4S Pro โ€“ for demanding users

Mi Box 4S It's different from the Mi Box S. 2nd Gen is a more modern processor (Amlogic) S905X3), Wi-Fi 6 and an Ethernet port (albeit 100 megabit) make it the best choice for the Internet. IPTV But the performance difference with the Mi Box S. 2nd Gen is minimal โ€“ donโ€™t overpay unless you need wired internet.

Mi Box 4S Pro - the flagship model with 4 GB RAM and support AV1. It is the only one in the lineup that can play YouTube in the video. 4K@60fps It also has active cooling (fan) which prevents trottling under prolonged loads (e.g. in games).

Who's good for? 4S Pro?

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Gamers who want to run emulators PS2 or GameCube.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฝ Filmmakers who care AV1 (future streaming standard).
  • ๐Ÿ’ป Users who connect external hard drives (there are) USB 3.0).

โš ๏ธ Attention: Fan in Mi Box 4S The Pro can make noise at high loads. If the console is next to the bed, it can interfere at night. The solution is to put it on a soft substrate (for example, a silicone stand).

What's Xiaomi? TV Box is better for specific tasks?

The choice depends on your use case, and we have prepared recommendations for different categories of users:

  • ๐Ÿ† Best for movies and TV series: Mi Box S 2nd Gen (Dolby Vision + Best price for the car or Mi Box 4S Pro (if necessary) AV1).
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Best for gaming: Mi Box 4S Pro (4 GB of RAM) + A powerful processor is enough for easy games and Mi Box S. 2nd Gen.
  • ๐ŸŒ Best for travel: Mi TV Stick 4K (Compact, but be prepared for the brakes.
  • ๐Ÿ“ก Best for you. IPTV/torrents: Mi Box 4S (Ethernet + Wi-Fi 6). For the Gigabit Internet, only 4S Pro.
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Best Budget: Mi TV Stick 4K, But if you can pay $1000. โ‚ฝ, Take the Mi Box S 2nd Gen.

If you plan to use a smart home console (managing lamps, cameras through Google Home), then all models will work the same way - the difference is only in response speed. TV Stick 4K.

Check Dolby Vision support on your TV (not all models) Samsung/LG Dolby is working with Xiaomi)

Make sure that the TV has a free HDMI-port (or buy a splitter)

If you need Ethernet, choose a model with a port or prepare it. USB-hub

Check out the latest updates (on the 4PDA Reddit or Reddit โ€“ sometimes updates break the app-->

Which is better: Xiaomi TV Box or Competitors (Nvidia Shield, Apple) TV, Fire Stick)?

Xiaomi offers the best price/quality ratio, but competitors have their advantages:

CharacteristicsXiaomi TV BoxNvidia ShieldApple TV 4KFire TV Stick 4K
Price (2026)3 000โ€“8 000 โ‚ฝ15 000โ€“20 000 โ‚ฝ12 000โ€“18 000 โ‚ฝ4 000โ€“6 000 โ‚ฝ
ProductivityMediumTall (Tegra) X1+)Tall (A15)Low.
Dolby Vision/Atmosโœ… (except for Stick 4K)โœ…โœ…โŒ/โœ…
AV1โœ… (only 4S Pro)โœ…โŒโŒ
EcosystemAndroid TVAndroid TVtvOSFire OS

When should I choose a competitor?

  • Nvidia Shield โ€“ if you need games (GeForce Now, emulators) or AI-Upscaling (turns Full) HD pseudo-4K").
  • Apple TV 4K โ€” If you have an Apple ecosystem (iCloud, AirPlay) or need the smoothest interface.
  • Fire TV Stick 4K โ€” If you are actively using Amazon Prime Video (there is better optimization).

In all other cases, Xiaomi TV Box wins in price and functionality. 4S Pro is 2-3 times cheaper than Nvidia Shield, while supporting the same formats and has a similar set of ports.

Where to buy and what to pay attention to?

Official Xiaomi Supplies TV Boxes in Russia are carried out through Mi Store, Svyaznoy, M. Video and Wildberries:

  • ๐Ÿ›’ Mi Store: original firmware, 12-month warranty, but the price is higher than that of resellers.
  • ๐ŸŒ AliExpress: cheaper by 20-30%, but the risk of running into the Chinese version (without Google Play.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ B/w market (Avito, Yula): you can find the Mi Box S 1st Gen for 1,500-2,000 โ‚ฝ, It is outdated (no Dolby Vision, weak Wi-Fi).

What to look for when buying:

  1. The packaging should be whole, with a hologram of Xiaomi.
  2. The power adapter is required (Mi) TV Stick is built into the cable).
  3. Check the firmware version: go to Settings โ†’ The current version of the 2026 year TV 11/12.

โš ๏ธ AliExpress often sells fakes under the guise of Mi Box 4S Differences: there is no Xiaomi logo on the case, there is no Dolby Vision item in the menu, and in Settings โ†’ The console is specified by an unknown manufacturer (for example, Nexbox instead of Xiaomi).

If you buy from hand, ask the seller to take a screenshot of the Settings menu. โ†’ Network - there should be displayed MAC-Check it on the MacVendorLookup website - the original devices are made by Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi TV Box

๐Ÿ”น Can I use the Chinese version of Xiaomi? TV Box to global firmware?
Yes, but it requires unlocking the bootloader through ADB and custom recavator installations (e.g, TWRP). The process is described in the forum 4PDA, But: Warranty burns. There's a risk of bricking the device (if you interrupt the firmware, HDMI-CEC) It's easier for beginners to buy a global version.
๐Ÿ”น Why on the Mi Box S 2nd Gen slows down YouTube in the 4K?
The problem is codec. VP9, It is not optimized for the Amlogic processor. S905X2. Solutions: Select Quality in YouTube Settings 1440p instead 2160p. Use an alternative client, such as SmartTubeNext (requires manual installation). Update your firmware to the latest version (in the new revisions, the bug is partially fixed).
๐Ÿ”น How to connect the gamepad to Xiaomi TV Box?
Any Bluetooth gamepad (e.g. Xbox Controller or DualShock) 4) Connected through: Settings โ†’ Input devices โ†’ Add an accessory โ†’ Bluetooth for wired gamepads is needed USB-OTG-Adapter. We recommend emulators: PPSSPP (PSP) โ€” It works smoothly on all models except the Mi. TV Stick 4K. Dolphin (GameCube/Wii) โ€” Only on the Mi Box 4S Pro (and then with lags). RetroArch is a universal emulator for 8/16-bit-consoles.
๐Ÿ”น Can I use Xiaomi? TV Box without internet?
Yes, but the functionality will be severely limited. Without the Internet, you can: Watch video from an external drive (via the drive). FX File Explorer or File Explorer VLC). Play offline games (e.g. Minecraft or emulators) use the console as a media player for a local network (if connected via Ethernet). However, most streaming services (Netflix, YouTube) and the Google Play app store require a connection to the network.
๐Ÿ”น How to Reset Xiaomi TV Box to factory settings?
There are two ways: via the menu: Settings โ†’ The device โ†’ Reset โ†’ Delete all data The console will restart and return to the original settings. Through Recovery (if the console does not turn on): Turn off the power. Press the button. OK On the remote (or on the case if you have one). Connect the power by holding the button. 10โ€“15 In the Recovery menu, select Wipe. data/factory After the reset, you will have to reconfigure Wi-Fi and log into your Google account.