Xiaomi TVs on Android TV or Google TV offer ample opportunities for surfing the Internet, but the standard browser often leaves much to be desired. Users face slow loading pages, lack of support for modern web standards or inconvenient management from the remote. Choosing an alternative browser can dramatically improve the experience from watching videos to working with web applications.
In this article, we will analyze the top 5 browsers for Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV, Redmi TV, Mi Box), given their performance on weak and powerful models, remote control support, compatibility with extensions and unique features. Particular attention will be paid to browsers that are optimized for large screens and work without “glitch” on PatchWall, the Xiaomi brand shell. You will also learn how to install the browser correctly to bypass the limitations of Google Play and what settings will help speed up the work.
Why Xiaomi’s standard browser isn’t suitable for comfortable surfing
Most Xiaomi TVs have Android WebView or a modified version from Google preinstalled, and this browser has several critical flaws:
- 🐢 Low rendering speed: Pages load 2-3 times longer than on smartphones with similar hardware, especially on models with an Amlogic processor S905 (For example, Mi Box S).
- 🎮 Uncomfortable control: no support for gestures from the remote, and the virtual keyboard takes up half the screen.
- 🔒 Limited functionality: no support for extensions, ad blockers, or sync with your Google account.
- 📱 Not adapted to TV: Many sites are displayed in the mobile version, not in the desktop, which spoils the experience on the big screen.
Tests on the Mi TV Q2 55" showed that the standard browser consumes up to 40% CPU When you open heavy pages (for example, YouTube in the web version), while optimized alternatives reduce the load by 15-20%. 1080p60, The TV's iron is still there.
TOP-5 browsers for Xiaomi TV: comparison by key parameters
We tested more than 10 browsers on Xiaomi Mi TV P1, Redmi Smart TV X and Mi Box 4K. The top ones included those that showed stable operation, high speed and minimal bugs when managing from the remote.
| browser | Speed (Ballast) | Remote support | Desktop version | Blocking ads | Size (MB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiwi Browser | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (98/100) | ✅ (gestures, voice) | ✅ (motor-car) | ✅ (built-in) | 120 |
| Firefox for TV | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (85/100) | ✅ (limitedly) | ❌ (mobile-only) | ✅ (uBlock Origin) | 85 |
| TV Bro | ⭐⭐⭐ (70/100) | ✅ (optimized) | ✅ (hand-picking) | ❌ | 45 |
| Puffin TV | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (88/100) | ✅ (gameplay) | ✅ (cloud rendering) | ✅ (built-in) | 30 |
| JioPages | ⭐⭐ (60/100) | ✅ (basic) | ❌ | ✅ (quilt) | 25 |
The leader of the tests was Kiwi Browser – it showed better performance on weak chipsets (for example, Amlogic T962 in the Redmi TV A Series) and supports installing extensions from the Chrome Web Store. However, for older models (for example, Mi Box 3), it is better to choose Puffin TV because of cloud rendering, which reduces the load on the processor.
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For Xiaomi 2020-2022 TVs (Mi TV 4S/5X) Kiwi Browser is optimal, and for 2018-2019 models (Mi Box S) – Puffin TV.
How to install a browser on Xiaomi TV: step-by-step instructions
Installing alternative browsers on Xiaomi TVs is complicated by the fact that many of them are missing from the official Google Play for Android TV. Here are working ways to get around this limitation:
- Through APK-File (recommended): Download APK browser (for example, Kiwi Browser) USB-APKMirror drive, connect the flash drive to the TV and open the File Manager. → USB-- The storage device. APK Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Security.
- Send Files to TV: Install the Send Files to TV app on your smartphone and TV, then send the APK directly over the local network.
- Through ADB (For advanced: Connect to the TV on ADB and execute the command: adb install kiwi-browser.apk
Enable USB debugging in Settings → About TV → Assembly number (click 7 times)
Download APK from a verified source (check the SHA-1) hash
Disable antivirus on your TV (can block installation)
Restart the TV after installation-->
Important: On TVs with Google TV (such as Mi TV Q2), some browsers may not appear in the app menu. To fix this, go to Settings → Apps → Special Access → Display on top of other apps and turn on browser resolution.
⚠️ Attention: Installation APK from unverified sources can cause the TV to be blocked due to viruses (SHA-256) on the VirusTotal website before installation.
Setting up the browser for maximum performance
Even the fastest browser will slow down if you don’t optimize it for the hardware of your TV, and here are the key settings for Kiwi Browser and Firefox for TV:
- ⚡ Turn off animations: In Kiwi Browser go to Settings → Availability → Remove animations. It'll speed up tab-to-tab transitions by 30-40%.
- 🗑️ Clean the cache automatically: In Firefox, set settings → Confidentiality → Clear history when closing (select "Cash" and "Cookies").
- 🖥️ Include the desktop version of the sites: TV Bro, go to the menu. → Settings → User Agent → Desktop.This is especially important for watching videos on YouTube or Twitch.
- 🛡️ Set up ad blocking: In Kiwi Browser, install the uBlock Origin extension via Settings → Extensions. For Puffin. TV Use the built-in blocker in Settings → Confidentiality.
For TVs with 2 GB of RAM (e.g. Redmi Smart TV X50), it is recommended to limit the number of tabs open simultaneously to 3-4. Otherwise, the browser will start to “suppress” when switching. It is also worth turning off autoplay video in site settings (Settings → Site Settings → Media in Kiwi Browser).
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If the browser is slowing down when scrolling pages, turn on the "Saving traffic" mode in the settings. This will turn off the loading of heavy elements (for example, GIF-animations) before activating them.
Solving Common Browser Problems on Xiaomi TV
Even after installing the optimal browser, users are faced with typical errors.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Browser does not open video in 4K | DRM Limitation (Widevine L1 is not available) | Install Puffin TV or update certificates in Settings → Security → Widevine |
| The remote does not work in the input fields | Conflict with the virtual keyboard | Connect Bluetooth keyboard or use Gboard TV |
| The browser flies when opening tabs | Lack of memory (<2 GB of RAM) | Limit tabs to 2-3 or install TV Bro (lightweight) |
| No websites with HTTPS are used. | Outdated root certificates | Update Android System WebView to Google Play |
If the browser doesn’t start at all after installation, check compatibility with the Android TV version on your device. For example, Kiwi Browser requires Android 7.0+, and Firefox for TV requires Android 5.0+. You can find out the OS version in Settings → About TV → Android version.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with MediaTek processor (e.g. Mi) TV 4A) Some browsers may not support hardware video acceleration, in which case the video will play with artifacts. TV cloud-rendered.
Browsers for specific tasks: video, games, anonymity
If you need a browser not for normal surfing, but for specific purposes, here are the best options:
- 🎬 To view videos (YouTube, Twitch, IPTV): Puffin TV — the only browser with support VP9 and AV1 codecs, which is critical for reproduction 4K HDR on Mi TV Q1. Kiwi Browser with Enhancer for YouTube Extension.
- 🎮 For cloud gaming (GeForce) NOW, Xbox Cloud): Puffin TV Or Chrome with the #enable-gpu-rasterization flag. Important: on the Mi Box S, games will be laid because of the weaker ones. GPU (Mali-450).
- 🕵️ For anonymity (Tor, VPN): Firefox for TV Tor Browser extension (installed through about:config) and Kiwi Browser + Orbot (requires manual proxy settings).
- 📊 To work with web applications (Google Docs, Notion): Kiwi Browser in Desktop mode (Settings) → User Agent → Desktop. for easy text input, connect Bluetooth keyboard.
For IPTV, it’s better to use specialized applications (like TiviMate), but if you want a browser, choose TV Bro – it supports streaming video in M3U8 format without buffering.
How to enable the developer mode for fine-tuning the browser?
Alternative ways to surf: when the browser is not needed
If you only need individual browser features (like watching YouTube or reading news), consider specialized apps:
- 📺 For YouTube: the official YouTube app or Smart YouTube app TV (no advertising, no support 4K).
- 📰 For news: Google News or Yandex.News (optimized for the TV).
- 💬 For social networks: TVTwitter or TVFacebook (adapted for the remote control).
- 🎵 For music: Spotify TV Yandex Music (Integration with PatchWall).
For IPTV, you'd better use TiviMate or Perfect Player -- they support M3U and EPG playlists, which browsers don't. If you only need mail, install Gmail for TV or BlueMail.
The advantage of specialized applications is that they consume less resources and are better adapted to control from the remote. For example, Smart YouTube TV runs 2 times faster than YouTube in the browser, and supports background play.