Mi Box mini review!

by [deleted]

Hey guys, so with all of the posts asking questions about the Mi Box and reporting issues i just wanted to weigh in with my experience. I am coming from a Chromecast and Roku, before that a Fire TV Stick. I mostly used them for YouTube, Netflix, and Plex.

I have had the Mi Box for about a week now and I absolutely love it! It combines the remote feature from other boxes, with the ability to use Google cast. I have it hooked up to a 1080p TV in the living room, and we've been using it for the live channels feature with Plutotv as well as using the free trial for Sling TV. Netflix, YouTube and other apps work just as expected compared to the Chromecast.

The interface and loading times are quick and WiFi has not given me any issues! I had to go through and manually update most of the apps as well as uninstall the ones we don't use and disable the Mi Recommends section.

My only complaint is that the HDMI CSC doesn't turn off the TV but does turn it on. I will note that the Play/Pause controls on my TV remote do control the Mi Box.

TL;DR - I have had no technical issues with it whatsoever, and overall this thing is great and totally worth the asking price. I recommend it for cord cutters like me who are looking for a one box solution for consuming media.

Edit: Formatting, and weird voice typing typos I didn't initially catch.

veap

Sounds very promising. However I have a feeling the problems will arise when one tries to do some more 'advanced' stuff. Such as 24p video playback with HD-audio passthrough.

califreshed

Do u use kodi or xbmc?

gt5679a

Nice write up. My experience with the Mi Box is very similar to yours.

My setup is a Shield on my main TV and the Mi Box on a smaller bedroom set. I've got an HD Homerun Prime for live TV and run Plex Media Server on a desktop machine.

I wanted the Mi Box so I could have everything integrated in one box.

I haven't had any issues with the Mi Box and did the same as you after apps finished updating (removing unused and disabling Mi Recommends).

I'm also using wifi and find it works fine.

There are a lot of complaints about the performance of the Mi Box, but in my experience using it for a secondary set it works great.

ItsDatNYCDude

Sounds like an awesome box. Thanks for sharing.

sporez

I want to love this box, but the Plex interface on AndroidTV is seriously a disappointment. :(

classic__schmosby

My only complaint is that the HDMI CSC doesn't turn off the TV but does turn it on.

Really? Mine doesn't work either way. My Nexus Player can turn my TV on, but not off. I've tried the power button and the home button and neither turn my TV on. Granted, I have an older TV with really early version of the HDMI controls.

That, plus the fact that the theme music in Plex is much louder than the show volume are the reasons I'm returning mine. Granted, I have the NP, so I'm not without an Android TV device. I thought the Mi Box would be a bigger upgrade, but I'm not waiting for the volume issue to be fixed. The last thing I want after a relaxing show is that shows theme blasting twice as loud. (Note: the NP doesn't have that problem with Plex, so I don't know where the problem comes from).

rquinn12

Mi Box is garbage for anyone wanting to play their own 4k videos on it. Might do a decent job with Netflix, but if you have home videos shot in 4k or any 4k H 265 HEVC files, good luck. Just my $0.02. People praising it mention it's great and has 4K and all that, but those reviewers don't have a 4K TV. Specs sound good, but doesn't live up to them. Maybe, hopefully a software update will change things. Not to mention false advertising with the HDR. And I know they said it will come with a later update, but there isn't any disclaimer on the box next to where it says HDR.

TheRealSilverBlade

Netflix and surround sound? Does it work? I have read people having problems with surround sound in Netflix..

ratatoutat

Hey, I'm planning to get this. How good is it for basic gaming? I have Chromecast 1 and it works fine for me since I only watch YouTube/Netflix/HBO. Only reason I would get this is for casual gaming. Also, what else can Android TVs do?

Va_Fungool

you forgot to list that mi box currently does not support 4k 60 on youtube.