Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has announced a new Android TV box with 4K and gaming capabilities. Watch out Apple TV.
It was easy to miss in Google’s jam-packed opening address at Google I/O, but Android TV is still very much a thing. Indeed, Google has some powerful new allies in its assault on the living room.
One of those is Xiaomi, which has just unveiled the Mi Box – a new Android TV box that’s capable of 4K output at 60fps. That’s already one in the eye for the current Apple TV, though in truth it’s been behind its rivals (such as the latest Amazon Fire TV) on that front since launch.
The Xiaomi Mi Box packs a 2.0GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, and 8GB of flash storage. Add in an optional Xbox One-like gaming controller, and the Mi Box should make for a decent casual console in a pinch.
It also comes with a Bluetooth remote that supports voice input, and Google Cast support will make casting content from your smartphone a doddle.
Related: Amazon Fire TV 4K vs Apple TV
This isn’t actually the first TV box Xiaomi has made, but it is the first 4K-ready model, and crucially it’ll be the first to ship in the US.
Details on pricing, release date, and wider availability are unknown. But if Xiaomi can price its box keenly (as it has a reputation for doing), we could have a very interesting set-top-box contender on our hands.
Next, check out our Sky Q hands-on video:
Would you consider Xiaomi’s new set-top-box if it was available in your territory? Let us know in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
