Xiaomi’s Mi TV Stick will go head-to-head with budget Roku and Fire TV devices

By Simon Cohen July 15, 2020

Xiaomi has taken the wraps off its anticipated new Android TV device, the Mi TV Stick, a 1080p-resolution media streamer that looks like it will compete directly with the $50 Roku Streaming Stick and the $40 Amazon Fire TV Stick. No U.S. pricing or availability has yet been announced.

#MiTVStick comes with a Chromecast built in.
We’ve even included a bluetooth remote controller! pic.twitter.com/LJwmnN3K63

— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) July 15, 2020

Like the Roku and Fire TV devices, the Mi TV Stick uses an HDMI module that plugs directly into an available port on a TV or a soundbar and comes with a dedicated remote control.

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Xiaomi is no stranger to the Android TV ecosystem. Its Mi Box line of Android TV set-top streamers features some of the few devices to run Google’s smart TV operating system, which also serves as the main user experience on smart TVs from Sony, Hisense, and others. However, the Mi TV Stick lacks premium features like 4K or HDR, meaning that it will sell for significantly less than the Mi Box models, which have traditionally aimed at the higher end of the market.

The Mi TV Stick will support Dolby Digital and DTS audio, and it has two technologies that give it an edge in the streaming space: Google Assistant and Chromecast, neither of which are available on models from Roku or Amazon.

Inside the device are a quad-core Cortex A53 CPU, an ARM Mali-450 GPU, 1 GB of RAM, and 8GB of onboard storage for downloading apps and games.

Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are preloaded and get a dedicated button on the device’s Bluetooth remote, which also features a Google Assistant button for issuing voice commands.

The timing of this new Android TV device is significant, as it comes amid an increase in focus on Google’s media software. TiVo recently released its $50 4K- and HDR-capable Stream 4K device, which runs Android TV, and if months of rumors are accurate, we could soon see Google itself release a similar device.

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Contributing Editor, A/V

Simon Cohen covers a variety of consumer technologies, but has a special interest in audio and video products, like…

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A cheaper 1080p Chromecast with Google TV just makes sense

Chromecast with Google TV remote.

Over the past few days, rumors have begun to swirl that Google intends to launch a new version of its Chromecast with Google TV streaming media dongle. And according to a report from Protocol, which cites "a source with close knowledge of the company’s plans," this new model will be aimed at folks who don't need or want 4K resolution, which would make it a more affordable, 1080p (Full HD) device.

Given that Google's main competitors in the streaming device space -- Amazon and Roku -- both sell inexpensive 1080p models, it makes a lot of sense that Google would want to make a product for these same buyers. As Protocol notes, a cheaper Chromecast with Google TV would also help the company penetrate emerging markets where people simply don't have as much money to spend on gadgets, like India.
Specifications
Google still sells a 1080p version of its original Chromecast dongle for $30, but that device isn't based on the newer Google TV software and doesn't ship with its own remote. Given that this Chromecast is now more than three years old, it would make sense to retire it in favor of a similarly-priced Google TV-powered unit.

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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max packs even more power at just $55

Amazon fire tv remote sitting on couch.

Amazon has taken care of the larger part of the living room with the new Fire TV Omni Series -- the first-ever Amazon-built televisions -- but it hasn’t forgotten about the smaller side. Enter the new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. As the name implies, it’s basically the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K — already the best Amazon Fire TV device for most people — just made even better. Mostly.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and Alexa Voice Remote. Amazon

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Google TV vs. Roku TV: Which is the better streaming OS?

Chromecast with Google TV vs. Roku Streaming Stick+.

If you're shopping for a new TV, there's a very good chance that whatever brand and model you settle on, it's going to be a "smart" one. While some sets will only be capable of delivering a handful of apps and limited compatibility with other web-connected devices, there are several TV smart systems that take full advantage of the bevy of streaming media available today.

When it comes to streaming, app-casting, and overall interface, two names that receive a near-equal amount of fanfare are Google and Roku. For years, Google has provided the building blocks to smart TV brands from Sony to Hisense under its Android TV banner. Presently, the structural framework of the Android TV system is giving way for an all-new Google operating system known as Google TV. You'll find Google's latest OS running on Sony and, most recently, a new range of TCL TVs, as well as first-party Google devices like the Chromecast with Google TV.
Read our primer on Google TV here
On the flip side of the OS coin is our other friend in the streaming landscape, Roku. Over a decade ago, the Roku TV platform was contained to Roku's lineup of streaming devices, allowing those without a smart TV to access hundreds of popular apps like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and more by merely connecting a Roku player -- no subscription required. These days, the Roku TV platform extends from the company's stand-alone gear to a host of smart TVs built on Roku's streaming platform, with plenty of features, apps, and customizations to choose from.