Which browser is better for Xiaomi Mi Box S: full analysis

Android TV owners often face limited functionality of built-in apps, which is especially noticeable when trying to surf the Internet. The regular browser on Xiaomi Mi Box S is absent, and using a smartphone to type text on a TV is not always convenient. There is a natural need to install a full-fledged web browser adapted for remote control.

However, the choice of the right software is not as obvious as it seems at first glance. Most standard browsers for PC or mobile devices simply do not know how to navigate through the D-pad (directal pad) of your remote. In this article, we will discuss which browser is better for the Xiaomi Mi Box S, consider the features of their installation and provide step-by-step instructions for setting up.

You will learn about the specifics of the rendering engines on ARM-In the processors, you can understand why some sites may not display correctly, and you can get a list of proven solutions. UI optimization plays a key role here, turning the media set-top box into a full-fledged terminal for accessing content.

Criteria for choosing a web browser for Android TV

The main problem in choosing software for the TV is the interface. On a smartphone, we are used to touch control, but on the Xiaomi Mi Box S we only have a remote control with buttons. The browser must be able to move the cursor or focus with arrows, have understandable zoom and support multimedia playback.

The second important aspect is hardware support for codecs: If you plan to watch videos through web interfaces (for example, online cinemas without native applications), the browser must work correctly with HTML5 and H.264/H.265 codec. Weak engines can cause sound and image to be out of sync.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid installing heavy versions of browsers for PCs through emulators.This can lead to overheating of the console and freeze of the system due to a lack of RAM.

Also worth considering is extension support and account sync, and being able to quickly transfer a link from your phone or computer to your TV makes life much easier, and here is a table comparing the main features of popular solutions.

TV Bro: A Native Solution for Large Screens

The undisputed leader in the Android TV browser category is TV Bro. It is an open source project that is developed specifically for TVs and consoles, and its main advantage is a perfectly adapted interface where all the controls are under your fingers (or rather, under the remote buttons).

Unlike mobile, you don't have to search for a virtual keyboard or try to cursor a small link, tab navigation, history and bookmarking is done through horizontal and vertical listings, and the built-in ad blocker works out of the box, which speeds up page loading and saves traffic.

Users often note the high speed of the engine and support for modern web standards. The browser is able to download files, has an incognito mode and supports multiple tabs. For Xiaomi Mi Box S, this is perhaps the most stable option.

But there are nuances: the interface may seem spartan to those accustomed to Chrome visuals, and synchronizing passwords with desktop browsers is implemented through import/export, not through a cloud account in real time.

Firefox TV: Balance of Functionality and Design

Mozilla also has not bypassed the Android TV platform by releasing a remote-controlled version of Firefox, a great choice for those who already use Firefox on their computer and want to sync their browsing and tab history.

The interface is more modern and tile. The home page contains large icons of frequently visited sites that are convenient to choose from the remote, and supports voice search, which is a killer feature for TVs where typing is inconvenient.

The browser is good at heavy sites and video content, and it displays fonts and graphics correctly without requiring additional scaling. It’s worth noting that Firefox TV can consume more RAM than TV Bro, which older versions of consoles can be noticeable.

To install the full version, you sometimes need to download APK-file from the official Mozilla repository, as Google Play TVs may only display the basic version or not be in the list of available.

Puffin TV and Cloud Technology

Puffin TV Browser occupies a unique niche by using cloud servers to render pages, which means that heavy scripts and Flash content (which still occurs on some resources) are processed on the server side, and your Xiaomi Mi Box S comes ready-made picture.

This provides phenomenal page load speeds even when the Internet is weak, but it has a downside: the free version is limited in terms of time or traffic, and it requires a subscription to work properly.

Puffin is done through touchpad or virtual mouse emulation, and this may be unusual: you have to switch between navigation modes. For simple tasks, this is redundant, but for complex web applications that require precise cursor positioning, this is the only solution.

⚠️ Note: When using cloud browsers, all your traffic passes through the developer’s servers. Do not enter sensitive data (bank cards, passwords) in the free versions of such browsers.

Whether you need access to specific sites that don’t run standard engines, or require Flash emulation, Puffin remains the no-choice, albeit paid, choice.

Google Chrome's problem with Android TV

Many people ask, "Why don't you just download Chrome?" The answer lies in Google's policy: there is no official version of Google Chrome for Android TV. In the Play Market store on your TV, you'll find only "Chrome Cast," which is used to stream tabs from other devices, but not for self-browsing.

Attempts to establish APK-A mobile or desktop Chrome file on Xiaomi Mi Box S is a poor result. The interface just doesn't scale, and the lack of navigation support from the remote makes it impossible to use. The mouse cursor is missing, and switching focus between page elements doesn't work.

The only way to use Chrome on your TV is through Cast, where you open a website on your smartphone or laptop and send a tab to your TV screen, which is convenient for watching videos, but not for full-time surfing.

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Use the “Miracast” feature or the built-in Chromecast in the Chrome app on your phone to display any open tabs on the big screen without installing browsers on the console.

Thus, if you need a browser to manage from the remote, the idea of using Chrome will have to be abandoned in favor of specialized alternatives.

Instructions for installing browsers on Xiaomi Mi Box S

Since many TV browsers may not be available in regional versions of Google Play or are difficult to find, the most reliable way to install is through the Internet. APK-To do that, we'll need a file manager and a distribution source.

First, you have to prepare the console. Go to the security settings and allow the installation of applications from unknown sources. Without this step, the system will block the launch of the installer.

The process is as follows: download APK-file of the desired browser (for example, from the verified APKMirror resource) to the computer or directly to the console through the built-in bootloader.

Path to Settings: Settings → Security and Restrictions → Unknown Sources → Allow for File Commander

Once you have confirmed the installation, the icon will appear in the general application list, and it is recommended to move it to the top of the list for quick access, and if you use Google Assistant voice search, you can try to start the browser with a voice command after installation.

Management setting and problem solving

Even with an adapted browser, there can be situations where the cursor "runs away" or some elements do not respond to clicks. In such cases, using mouse mode helps. On the Xiaomi Mi Box S remote, you can often activate mouse emulation with a combination of buttons or through the Quick Settings menu.

If the page is not displayed correctly (for example, it goes off the screen), try to change the zoom in the browser settings. Look for the option "User Agent". Switching to "Desktop" mode will make the site think that you are logged in from the computer, and it will rebuild the layout.

⚠️ Attention: In desktop mode UA fonts may become too small to read from the sofa. Use the page zoom function (Zoom) by clamping the corresponding remote buttons.

To type, use Google's voice input, which is built into most TV browsers. Press and hold the microphone button on the remote and say the site address or search query, which is much faster than typing letters one at a time.

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Optimal bundle for Xiaomi Mi Box S: TV Bro for everyday surfing + Chrome broadcast mode for complex sites and personal account.

In some cases, it may be necessary to clear the browser cache if pages stop loading or video starts to slow down.This is a standard maintenance procedure for any Android device that frees up RAM.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)