Did I get a bad MiBox?

by woohoo-77

So I live in Canada but was in Iowa for work this week and picked up two MiBox's while I was there. Arrived home and I'm trying to set up the first MiBox and it's not going so well. I already own a nexus player and probably have 6 or so other Android devices kicking around the house. So I'm not an expert but I know my way around Android pretty well.

Anyways, the MiBox boots up fine and I'm able to get through the setup ok as well but once I'm into it if I try to go to the play store then it just becomes unresponsive and I have to reboot the device. The remote doesn't do anything, nor does a usb keyboard.

I was able to get Kodi installed but as soon as I launch it I'm done. Can't move left or right in the settings menu at all.

I factory reset the device but just get the same behavior. I'm really worried that I'll be out my $70 because I'm not headed back to the us any time soon, I also have a second mi box unopened now that I don't know what to do with.

Anyone had similar issues?

NashGuy73

I think I have a bum Mi Box too. For anyone who buys one, I'd recommend running a system software update immediately after the initial remote pairing, then doing a full factory data reset, and then installing and setting up apps. The reset seemed to take care of the worst problems my Mi Box was exhibiting, although I continue to see repeated stutters (like frames being dropped) when streaming video through various apps. So I'm going to return mine to Wal-Mart for a refund.

Based on what I've read here as well as reviews on Walmart.com, it seems that this product may have a higher rate of problems than typical for consumer electronics. Because of that, I would suggest that any potential buyer only get one from Walmart (or Walmart.com) -- don't order online from Xiaomi, eBay, etc. -- and only if there is a Walmart store nearby where it can be returned or exchanged if necessary.

woohoo-77

So I factory reset the device for a third time and everything seems to be working now. Fingers crossed. Not sure why the first or second resets didn't work but they reach seemed to fix one or two small things and it got better with every factory reset.

I'll try the second device later tonight. Just know that you may need to reset this device a few times to work it some if the kinks.

GarageBattle

ive read of people getting bum miboxes before.

eternal_peril

I would try the second one

I have one up here in the great white north and it works fine

igotthisone

I'm not an engineer/programmer so I have no clue how these things work, but if you read through the sub you'll see tonnes of people have problems with these things out of the box that can usually be resolved with a few factory resets and/or updates, neither of which you need the play store to access, luckily. For me, Netflix (preinstalled) didn't work on my first setup + update, so I had to reset the box and start over. After that Netflix worked, but YouTube stutters like crazy and screen casting is hit and miss. I'm too paranoid to update Android less it all be fucked, so I'm leaving it how it is. Let's be honest, we all knew a $60 box wouldn't be perfect. I doubt these things will last more than a year or two. But hopefully by then a better Android TV option will be available.

vba77

Also Canadian. I got it in buffalo and do not have those issues. its very fluid in my use.