Time to ditch the Xiaomi Mi Box?

by dougw03

I have two android TV's in my house - one in my living room (Shield TV 2017) and one in my bedroom (MiBox 3). I've had practically no complaints about the Shield TV since it's well supported and continues to get updated. The MiBox on the other hand seems like a failed experiment by Xiaomi and has no future roadmap. I'm really disappointed with the MB because I got rid of my nexus player so that I could get this box.

I'm about to hit my annual subscription renewal for HDHomeRun DVR software and am contemplating ditching my MiBox for another Shield TV or something else. If I keep my MiBox, I have to keep my HDHomeRun DVR subscription since MiBox doesn't support 7.0 w/Google's DVR support. So my questions for you guys...

Does anyone still think there's a chance we'll get 7.0 on the MiBox?
Are there any upcoming Android TV boxes on the horizon? I feel like the Shield TV is overkill for my bedroom, but there don't seem to be any other low cost options.

Ausernameneeded

I have zero problems with stability and issues with the Mi Box, so quiet happy with it for streaming needs.

That said, I know if I did run into an issue, support for Xiaomi is a joke. I also think they will update to 7, but that's it, no 8.

If there is a new device that meets my need with 8, I'd switch to that when I need to upgrade. If my Mi Box kicked the bucket before, I'd switch to AppleTV... though I'd miss Kodi.

I like FireTV, but I hate the UI. Else I'd go with that as a future replacement.

monkeyismine

I gave up on the MiBox getting updates and replaced it with a Shield. It's been a much better experience. I would have stuck with the MiBox if I thought updates were coming, but I just can't see it. There's been no news at all.

officialdoughboy

It doesn't really make sense to get another box right now. I have a Shield TV, Mi Box and Nexus Player in my house. The Mi Box/Nexus Player are mainly for streaming and not used for 4K. They work fine and do what I expect them to. Shield TV and Mi Box are the only choices right now and I expect we'll see new hardware within the next year.

Reading your situation it sounds like the DVR situation is your biggest issue. So you options are to either pay for the subscription, get another Shield TV, wait for the Mi Box update or roll your own DVR. I had an old Dell box, I don't need transcoding so I installed NextPVR and use Kodi to access it. All my boxes can access recorded content and live TV through Kodi.

My opinion the HDHomeRun subscription is probably the cheapest/easiest option right now.

I do use the Live Channels app mainly for the guide for different apps (like Pluto.) But I never really messed with the DVR functionality on my Shield TV. I have to wonder if you can share DVR recordings between devices.

eddycha

I'm in the same boat. The shield is overkill for me, and the Mi Box though well priced is older hardware, already struggling with updates and stability. I feel like a sub $100 Android TV device with octa-core, 3gb+ of ram, with 4K/HDR and running Oreo, can't be that hard. Just wish it was coming out soon

quisp65

What do we get out of Android 7? I heard it was slower for Android TV. If the extras are very limited and it would slow down everyone's mibox then I can see why Xiaomi hasn't made the jump.

starslayer74

I have a mibox and I'm using HdHomerun Prime DVR with no problems at all. Just not using Googles livechannels interface.

I repurposed an old Windows 7 Laptop as a DVR server, and I am running MCEServer and Kodi to watch live tv/schedule recordings. It was a little complicated to set up but it's working just fine. I paired it with a FLIRC and repurposed an old FiOS remote and I honestly have the exact same experience I had with my FiOS box that I paid for. PLUS I don't have to pay a subscription fee for the DVR service.

Even if you're doing OTA instead of cablecard for your HdHomerun, it should still work similarly...

WhySheHateMe

I was a huge advocate for the Mibox (and Android TV) I ended up selling them to family members who just wanted something to watch Netflix and YouTube on them.

With the cash I got, I ended up purchasing a Roku Streaming Stick+ and a Minix Neo U9-H that Installed LibreElec on as the default OS. With the LE box, I have auto resolution switching and it handles whatever I throw at it with absolutely no issues. 4K HDR content is no problem. Live TV also looks way better on this thing than it did on the Mibox.

Yes, it cost me more money than a Shield for this setup but it absolutely blows whatever I was doing before out of the water.

Plus, the Roku Stick looks amazing with 4K YouTube, Amazon Video and Netflix. I am very impressed with it.

fede01_8

I don't see any problem with the Mibox that needs an update. Works fine as is