Title says it all. I want to buy an Android TV box and, from what I searched, this one is the best out there in its price range.
I'm quite new to this Android TV thing so I was wondering if Xiaomi or Google have anything worth waiting for in the short term (1-2 months maximum) or should I buy the Mi Box S now?
Nvidia Shield is overkill for me and way more expensive than Xiaomi, so I pass.
Thanks.
Update #1: after everything you guys shared I end up deciding to get Google TV.
Chromecast with google tv.
Had 2 mibox 3s but xiaomi really sucks with updating. I swear every firmware update I get more and more problems. Replaced my main TV/mibox 3 and haven't looked back
Honestly the google tv has Android tv 10 os the mii box is still stuck on os 9, so how long the mi box will be supported is a question since google has their own device again I’d say awhile if they had rolled out 10 to the mi box then awhile but still no sign. Plus the mi box and the google tv are nearly the same price!
I have the mi box s and I've tried a few others, and it's great, especially for the price. The fire stick is also pretty good. I don't think there is anything in that price range coming out any time soon.
The Mi Box S has now an aging SoC, so I recommend this list of devices with more recent SoCs instead:
CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH NETFLIX AND PRIME VIDEO FOR THE US ONLY:
- AirTV Mini (More info at airtv.net/products )
- AT&T TV (More info at att.com/tv/device-features )
- Tivo Stream 4K (More info at www.tivo.com/products/stream-4k )
- T-Mobile TVision HUB (More info at t-mobile.com/tvision/services/hub )
- Verizon Stream TV (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at verizon.com/products/verizon-stream-tv-gen-2 )
CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH NETFLIX AND PRIME VIDEO FOR THE US, EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD:
- Chromecast with Google TV (more info at tv.google )
- Dynalink TV Box (More info at dynalink.life )
- JBL Link Bar (More info at jbl.com/refurbished-home-speakers/JBL+LINK+BAR-.html )
- Nokia Streaming Box 8000 (Only for Europe. More info at nokia.com/shop/streaming-devices/nokia-streaming-box-8000
- Nvidia Shield TV (More info at shield.nvidia.com )
- Xiaomi Mi TV Stick (Up to 1080p only. More info at mi.com/global/mi-tv-stick )
CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH PRIME VIDEO ONLY FOR THE US, EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD:
- Formuler GTV (Gigabit ethernet. More info at formuler.tv/gtv )
- Mecool KM6 Classic Edition (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 15% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)
- Mecool KM6 Deluxe Edition (AV1 hardware decoding. Gigabit ethernet. WiFi 6. 4GB of RAM. More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 15% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)
- Mecool KD1 TV Stick (More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 15% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)
For more info about all certified Android TV devices, head over to www.androidtv-guide.com website.
The mi box s is fine for the price especially when it goes on sale. i saw it on sale the other day for $31.99. Try and get it during sales. don't rush
Of the budget bracket, I think the Mi Box S is amongst the best there is.
In that reasonable price range, I don't know of many other boxes that come with Android TV and not some jippoed version of Android slapped into a box.
Importantly, you'll have to have done some research to spy anything else that's coming out sometime in the future
I don't know of anything else or where to look but it's fair to assume that something will come out, perhaps even by Xiaomi themselves
get the new chromecast with google tv its the best value i wish i waited as i bought a mi box s months before the chromecast with google tv came out its faster than mi box s and you always get the latest updates
I had asked mi box s it was very slow and clunky still managed to play all the videos. But it's night and day for user experience. NVIDIA shield gets updated very regularly. It's so quick and responsive. This Nvidia shield from 2015 that still get updates. So of you get one of the new ones I would imagine getting updated for a long time to come. I think that would be a better investment.
If you are just going to use for streaming services like Netflix and Prime video or others, i think MiBoxS get the job done, but if you have, let's say $150 at your disposal and you're in need of power for gaming, go for the Nvidia shield, if not, have you consider the TiVO Stream 4k ($39.90) and Dynalink ($29.99)
I have a Xiaomi Mi Box S and this thing laaags, sometimes it just freezes and I have to unplug it and plug it to get it working again. I think I’ll switch to the Chromecast with Google Tv soon or maybe the Tivo Stream 4k. If you get the Mi Box S, maybe consider not updating it as I read Oreo was much better than Pie
dynalink box is cheaper and on sale, its better than mi box s.
Get something better
Mi box S is fine. It's cheap already or get it on sale. I've setup over a dozen of them for friends/family, basically no issues.
Most of the people reporting issues must be loading them to the hilt with random apps or doing other wierd things tbh.