Xiaomi Media Players And TV Boxes: Mi Box International Version Based On Android TV For TV, Review Of Other TV Boxes And Their Setup

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 13:15

In recent years, media players have become increasingly popular. One of the most famous companies that makes quality devices is Xiaomi. Smart products of the brand are distinguished by extensive functionality, as well as reasonable cost.

What is it and why is it needed?

A distinctive characteristic of Xiaomi media players is that they run the Android operating system, which has a positive effect on their functionality. The main task of such a device is to play multimedia files both from the Internet and from external media. It should be noted that Xiaomi devices are capable of working with both modern TVs and older models. The use of such a device will allow you to turn an ordinary screen into a smart TV with endless possibilities.

The use of Xiaomi media players is primarily characterized by convenience

• Easier and faster to add to your collection of multimedia files. It can be music, movies, or even ordinary photographs.
• Cataloging and searching for various multimedia works becomes easier and faster. It is much easier to keep everything on the device's internal memory or removable drive than to store many movies on different drives. In addition, using the Xiaomi media player allows you to organize the information in the way that suits you.
• More reliable storage than disks. Don't worry about your files getting damaged or missing.
• More comfortable use when compared with viewing files on a PC. Watching a movie on a big screen is much more enjoyable than on a computer monitor.

Model overview

Xiaomi offers a large selection of media player models that differ in their appearance, technical characteristics and cost.

Mi Box 4C

The media player is one of the company's more affordable set-top boxes. It is capable of playing multimedia files in 4K resolution . The device boasts artificial intelligence designed to greatly simplify the process of using the gadget. Distinctive features of the media player are its flat and square body, as well as small dimensions. All interfaces and connectors are located on the rear side, which greatly simplifies operation. A 4-core processor is responsible for the performance of the console, the clock frequency of which is 1500 MHz.

Built-in memory of 8 GB, which is barely enough to install applications, so multimedia files will have to be stored on external media . Among the main advantages of the model are support for 4K, the ability to read many formats, the presence of a built-in radio and other useful functions, as well as a convenient remote control.

The only drawback is that the firmware is mainly focused on the Middle Kingdom market, but on Russian forums you can find many localized options.

Mi Box International Version

This model is one of the most popular and demanded on the market. Among the distinctive characteristics of the device, one can note its unique appearance, as well as excellent technical data . The case is matte, so fingerprints are hardly visible on it. The player boasts rubberized rings that greatly reduce slippage. During the development process, the company's engineers paid close attention to the remote control, which is a small bar with a joystick. You need to get used to it, but then it will be impossible to imagine using the remote control without such a joystick.

The remote grips perfectly in the hand, and pressing the buttons is easy . Due to the fact that the remote control works on the basis of Bluetooth technology, there is no need to point it towards the player. A 4-core processor with a clock speed of 2 GHz is responsible for the performance of the media player. The built-in RAM for 2 GB is enough for the stable operation of the gadget. Oddly enough, there is no wired connection here. There is only a wireless network connection. A special feature of the player is that it runs on the Android TV operating system.

Due to the fact that this model is international, it has full access to all Google services.

Mi Box 4

The Mi Box 4 is another popular console from the Chinese brand that was introduced in 2018. Among the distinctive characteristics of the device are the ability to play video in 4K format and the presence of a voice control system . It should be noted that today there is no version of this set-top box for the international market, so the menu and built-in services work only in the Middle Kingdom.

Mi Box 4 is powered by Amlogic S905L processor, has 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory . The standard equipment of the device includes the set-top box itself, an ergonomic remote control, a power supply, and an HDMI cable. All accessories, as well as the attachment itself, are made in a white color scheme. The device boasts a proprietary remote control that includes a voice recognition system. This allows you to search for specific words, launch applications, view the weather, and much more. To activate voice control, it will be enough to press the microphone button on the remote control.

Mi Box 3S

The model is one of the most popular, it was introduced in 2016. Able to extend the lifespan of your TV by providing it with unique features and allowing you to watch movies in high definition . In its appearance, the device is almost no different from other manufacturer's products, and all the differences are concentrated inside. For the performance of the Mi Box 3S, the Cortex A53 processor with 4 cores is responsible, which is capable of delivering a clock speed of 2 GHz. Onboard there is 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory, which is quite enough for the stable operation of the device.

The peculiarity of Mi Box 3S is that the set-top box is capable of playing almost any video format, which makes it an excellent solution for home use . It should be noted that this model is intended for the Chinese market, so there are no full-fledged Google services or voice search. You can get rid of the problem by installing a global firmware, which can be found on the Internet.

If necessary, you can install the Android TV Remote Control application on your smartphone, which duplicates the capabilities of the remote control and is designed to provide maximum convenience.

Mi Box 3C

This is the budget variant of the flagship set-top box. This model is distinguished by excellent technical characteristics and attractive cost . In terms of its appearance, the model hardly differs from its older brother, however, the internal filling is different for them. The device runs a regular version of the Android operating system. The Amlogic S905X-H processor is responsible for the performance of the media player from the Chinese company.

It cannot be said that the model received powerful hardware, but it is quite enough to guarantee the operation of the console . If you use the device as a media player, then there will be no problems and freezes. However, when loading heavy games, crashes appear immediately. A distinctive feature of the device is the voice control function, which allows you to enter commands and thus search. There is no native player installed here, so you will have to look for some other options in the store. Thanks to this, the Mi Box 3C is capable of handling almost any format, which makes it stand out from its competitors.

Mi Box 3 Enhanced Edition

Mi Box 3 Enhanced Edition is one of the most sophisticated models of the Chinese brand, which boasts its unique technical characteristics, as well as thoughtful ergonomics. The developers paid attention to the performance of the device, which is responsible for the 6-core MT8693 processor. In addition, there is a separate Power VR GX6250 graphics accelerator. The device is capable of playing any known format. The Mi Box 3 Enhanced Edition package is simple and includes the set-top box itself, a remote control and an HDMI cable . The cable is short, so you'll have to buy another one.

But the remote control turned out to be quite stylish and functional. It works on the basis of Bluetooth technology, so you don't need to point it at the set-top box . In addition, there is a built-in gyroscope, with which you can turn the remote control into a joystick. The media player and all accessories are made in a white color scheme. The device does not slow down both when playing videos from a media collection, and when playing streaming video. For some formats, you will have to install additional codecs, which can be found in the store. It is possible to install a digital TV application, a new browser with many settings, or a game.

Which one to choose?

In order for the Xiaomi media player to fully fulfill the tasks assigned to it, special attention must be paid to the selection process. First of all, you need to pay attention to RAM and storage . RAM is responsible for processing information by the processor, therefore it directly affects the speed of the entire system. Almost all Xiaomi media players can boast of 2 GB of RAM or more. This is quite enough to guarantee comfortable work with various applications and watch videos in high quality.

If you plan to store various multimedia files in the device's memory, then it is worth choosing models that have a large amount of memory . A media player with 64 GB or more on board is considered optimal for normal use. If you need to get a larger value, you can use a memory card or connect an external hard drive.

It should be noted that in modern realities, the internal drive is used only for installing applications, since movies in good quality weigh too much and can only fit on external drives.

The main task of the Xiaomi media player is to play videos. The most popular and demanded resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is quite enough for most TVs . It makes no sense to buy a set-top box capable of delivering images in 4K resolution if the TV does not support this quality. Regardless of the resolution of the set-top box, the picture will always be in the maximum resolution of the TV.

It is worth paying some attention to interfaces as well. In order for the Xiaomi set-top box to be able to fully perform its tasks, it must be connected to the network . All models of the company are able to do this both on the basis of a wireless connection and through the Ethernet port. The latter method is more reliable and can guarantee maximum speed, while wireless technologies are comfortable. In the process of choosing the optimal Xiaomi media player, you need to make sure that it is able to read all the formats that the user will need. In addition, it is best to give preference to models running on a fresh operating system, as this has a direct impact on performance.

User manual

It is very important to study the rules for using the set-top box. If it is not properly connected, there may be operational problems. Before starting to use it, be sure to check the operability of all ports, since sometimes it happens that one of them fails . The first start-up is usually long and takes a lot of time, because the operating network needs to configure everything. The user will only need to select a region, as well as enter the data of the wireless network, if it will be used.

Before starting to play files, make sure that all the necessary codecs and players are installed . You can download them from the app store. To do this, it will be enough to log in there or create an account if it is absent. To control from the phone, you can install the proprietary Xiaomi application, which will allow you to switch channels, launch multimedia files or turn off the set-top box remotely. Thus, the Xiaomi TV box can improve the multimedia functions of monitors.

In the selection process, you need to pay attention to the technical characteristics of the device and make sure that they are suitable for the user's needs.