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TV box xiaomi mi box 3. Xiaomi Mi TV Box is a TV box and media player. Xiaomi TV boxes - devices that give complete comfort of use

  • Advantages Not buggy, neither during use, nor after waking up. Fast and nimble.
    Great bluetooth remote. Can be glued to the tape on the back of the TV. I bought it and forgot it.
    In the absence of other sources:
    - no black TV welcome screen "no signal, no cable connected".
    - digging in Smart apps which is wildly annoying
    - waiting when the TV finally connects to Wi-fi
    - we'll think about something else, turn the wheel
    When you turn on the TV, it immediately welcomes the IPTV autostart with the appropriate settings.
    The brand attachment gives the feeling of "not being abandoned", on android 8.0 there is no longer a feeling of dampness.
    Voice search in Russian is an indispensable thing for a quick search on YouTube
    Technically perfect for 2018 and years to come. Who needs more, there is NVIDIA SHIELD TV 2.5 times more expensive.
    The ability to connect other Bluetooth devices including a gyroscope remote control.
    Friends with Panasonic Viera Link. Understands the Panasonic remote control (2013) in mutual setting.
    Allows you to forget about HMS, DNLA, DNS spoofing, and other gadgets of content viewing
    You can install a third-party application store, for example AptoideTV 5.0.2 (or higher) with an extended set of applications, in most cases, bypassing the installation of third-party applications from a USB flash drive.
    4K 60fps videos on YouTube are excellent, without lags, but with a noticeable overload, noticeable, for example, on voice search. The resolution is higher, the prefix is ​​not able to display. I also do not recommend disabling HDR> SDR if your TV does not support HDR. The picture will be faded.
    A good pill "for greed"
  • disadvantages He who seeks shortcomings will find them. All disadvantages can be solved.
    The shape of the "saucer" base without clear points of support makes it difficult to mount on a vertical surface.
    The flash drive heats up from heat exchange - even when not in use. Plus use as a radiator.
    Not suitable for out-of-the-box amateurs like any other media player. This is a tool - you will have to grind the software yourself.
    I do not recommend it to people who, before buying, do not exactly understand what they want or how to implement it, and even more so do not want to delve into it.
    The standard launcher is a perfectionist's nightmare.
    It will not replace a multicooker, does not write comments on YouTube, does not heat the room very much and does not do what it is not intended for.
  • A comment Security: Zyxel Keenetic Extra II, 5Hz (802.11r), 100 Mbps (speedtest 92)
    Was bought for three main purposes:
    - moving away from RT to IPTV from Eden
    - quick search and launch of cartoons for children on YouTube
    - XSMART (FHD, 3D, 4K, 60fps, 120fps)
    Having gone the way from 13 years on Smart Panasonic Viera it turned out:
    - TV hardware in terms of Smart becomes obsolete faster than TV, none of the developers will optimize them for your TV.
    - to use SMART functions at present is tantamount to perversions to squeeze the capabilities of a smartphone from a push-button phone
    - lack of flexibility in installing third-party applications if you do not have the "correct" Samsung
    After the purchase, I expected that the device would immediately update forcibly to 8.0, but the device "out of the box" did it only a week later.
    One significant problem was observed at 6.0:
    - YouTube on it tries to hang in the background and does not change it in standard ways, which is accompanied after 3-4 calls to it by going "out" with freezing and forced shutdown.
    About 8.0:
    - the problem of falling off Wi-Fi, solved by the DHCP setting: Lease time 84600 sec.
    - dulling voice search from the remote control when YouTube is running is treated by disabling the permission to use the YouTube microphone.
    - I watched the dump of the remote control only when the children begin to hammer on all the buttons, a conflict with the connected smartphone is possible.
    - non-interruption when HDMI-CEC is on is possible when the TV is forcibly turned off with the power button and simple, it is also incorrect to work with a number of TVs.

    In 8.0, there is full support for control from the remote control of the set-top box to turn on / off the set-top box and the HDMI-CEC TV together
    If the lack of LAN is a significant drawback for anyone, the problem can be easily solved by purchasing a USB-LAN-4USB hub. The question of the price is about a thousand, but for myself I did not see any advantages.
    Theoretically, I studied the issue of using Skype on the device - you can launch, call, see, hear the interlocutor, install a Web-camera, but Skype will not see this camera. As a variant of using TrueConf.

    The device copes with all three goals perfectly, there are no blunders (freeze lags).
    - for 120fps HW decoder works correctly
    - in other cases, HW + works correctly

    The video was not launched due to inexpediency:
    - from other sources (drives)
    - test, demo videos, not common formats for Geeks
    Rooting and pairing with a smartphone was not performed!

    After 3 weeks of use, I can identify a number of applications for this device that immediately make life easier:
    Perfect Player is the best IPTV software. The advantage of having a built-in player that allows you to instantly switch channels
    MX Player is a player for watching video content.
    ATV launcher is a shell. Best for Perfectionists. But only the full version.
    TV Bro - a working browser with voice search
    XSMART - video content service
    ES Explorer - nowhere without it.
    AptoideTV - an alternative to PlayMarket

In today's review we are looking at the Xiaomi Mi Box 3s, a TV box based on Android OS. The device serves to expand the capabilities of a regular TV: it allows you to connect to streaming services Netflix, iVi and Google Play Movies, can work with YouTube and install applications from the Google Play store, and plays music and video files.

The Xiaomi Mi Box 3s has the following characteristics:

  • OS - Android TV 6.
  • The central processing unit is a quad-core Amlogic S905X-H with a clock frequency of 2 GHz.
  • Graphics Processing - ARM MALI-450
  • Device memory - 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB of built-in flash memory.
  • Network Connections - Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac, Dual-band Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz, Bluetooth 4.0.
  • Dimensions and weight of the device - 100x100x20 mm, 175 grams.

Supported compression formats H.264 (AVC / MVC), H.265 HEVC, VP9 Profile-2 in resolution from 1080p to 4K and frame rates from 30 to 60. Also, the manufacturer claims support for HDR 10 and HLG HDR.

Package and filling

The set-top box comes with a Bluetooth remote control, an HDMI cable for connecting to a TV, monitor or projector, a power supply, instructions and a warranty card. Mi Box 3s is sealed in a bright orange box.

The box has been updated and is now finished in a bright orange color.

In appearance, the device stands out with smoothed corners and a matte black color. Dust and handprints are clearly visible on the material. The base is rubberized for greater stability, it is difficult to drop the set-top box even when connecting cables and large flash drives. The overall design is minimalist, no frills.

The front panel of the device is almost empty, there is only a receiver for the IR signal from the remote control and a status indicator. There are four connectors on the back: power, HDMI, USB 3.0, and 3.5mm audio jack.

The remote control is small: 15 centimeters long and weighs about 60 grams. Thanks to the shape and connection of the edges, it is comfortable and does not slip in the hand, it runs on two AAA batteries. On the remote you can find a circular joystick, volume control, function buttons "OK", "Home", "Back", "Voice input".


 The Mi tv box remote control is not cluttered with unnecessary buttons

About the hardware of the console itself, we can say that it is enough to use the main functionality. During the tests, no microlags or freezes were detected, Xiaomi Mi Box works like a clock. According to the Antutu benchmark, the filling of the device roughly corresponds to Xiaomi Redmi 3, so we do not recommend overloading the console with heavy applications. Most games will work, but on minimal settings.

Using the Xiaomi Mi Box TV Box

At the first start, you need to connect the remote control to the set-top box by turning on the device and bringing it closer to 20 centimeters. Once connected, the device is configured using a remote control or smartphone. You will be prompted to select a working language, drive in a password for the Wi-Fi connection and connect to your Google account. The main screen includes:

  • search from the same Google, with the ability to use the remote control as a microphone for voice input;
  • Google recommendations based on previously viewed content;
  • non-removable Netflix and Redbull TV tabs;
  • system settings at the bottom of the screen.

The functionality of applications is the same as on a smartphone, except in a more simplified form for a remote control. Among the shortcomings, we can note the lack of native support for a number of games and applications on Google Play and the inability to minimize the application by launching it later from the same place. Xiaomi Mi Box does not save the state of the program when you exit to the main screen, so when you start Youtube you will again find yourself on the start page, and not on the last launched video.


 Android TV interface

By default, the Android box Xiaomi Mi Box 3s does not have its own video player, so you will have to install it separately. Works great with all file formats, support for MKV, AVI, WMV, MOV, RM, RMVB is declared. There are also no complaints about the operation of the network, it perfectly catches both in the jam-packed 2.4 GHz, and in the more free 5 GHz.

In general, Mi Box, like the vast majority of such consoles, can be used as:

  • a media player with the ability to stream video from a PC or smartphone;
  • a device for surfing the Internet, showing presentations and video calls;
  • extension for the Smart TV function on any regular TV;
  • IPTV set-top box with a subscription to any content provider you are interested in.

If desired, the Mi Box can be flashed for use in other systems or for additional functions.

Features of Android TV and Mi Box 3 marked S

For those who use the Android prefix for the first time, it is important to understand that the system is different from what can be seen on smartphones. The interface is primarily made for the remote control and voice, and half of the applications from the Play Market will not work due to incompatibility. There is also a plus: in the store you can find special applications for Android TV, which are not available from a regular phone.

The interface cannot be changed by user means, unlike the smartphone OS Android. Also, you will have medium-serious problems when trying to get Root access to the system, you cannot do this using standard methods (although, of course, there are loopholes).

Xiaomi Mi Box 3S differs from the version without the letter S with the following upgrades:

  • redesigned graphical interface (GUI), now uses the system based on artificial intelligence Patchwall;
  • the updated model of the Amlogic S905X-H processor is used with hardware decoding of sound, which seriously increases the speed of processing sound files and reduces the load on the system;
  • upgraded flash memory from eMMC 5.0 to eMMC 5.1, and therefore increased the maximum read speed from 400 to 600 MB / s;
  • a touch-sensitive joystick has been added to the remote control.

In general, in online stores you can find a whole zoo of android prefixes from Xiaomi.

Xiaomi Mi Box International Version - the original device, developed in conjunction with Google, can be found by the words "international version" or "international version". Doesn't differ from 3S in almost nothing

Mi Box mini is a small set-top box based on Android 4.4.2 in Chinese and without support for Google services. A weak processor with 4 cores and a frequency of 1.3 GHz, 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of ROM, connects only via HDMI 1.4.

Xiaomi Mi Box 3c is also a model for the Chinese market with reduced memory (1 GB RAM, 4 GB ROM) and an old version of the processor. Chinese software and services, do not confuse.

Xiaomi Mi Box 3 Enhanced Edition is a top model with a bundle of 2- and 4-core Cortex processor, an improved GPU and a large number of sensors in the remote control (gyroscope, accelerometer) to bind gestures to the console control. Also known as Xiaomi Mi Box Pro in Europe.

For most systems, there are both official and unofficial Russian and European firmware. Xiaomi Mi Box 3s is officially localized in the CIS and fully supports the Russian language.

Video review

You can buy Mi Box 3s in AliExpress for $ 55.

Would you like to buy yourself such a set-top box? Write the answer in the comments.

There are a lot of TV boxes with Android inside, among them there is a whole line Mi Box from Xiaomi... With one of its representatives, the company enters the Western market, choosing Google as a partner and changing the proprietary system to Android TV. It is the interest in this platform that was the main reason for writing this review.

Design, connectors and packaging features.

Technically and externally, the international version does not differ from the Chinese one. This is the same exact black box made of black rough plastic with an embossed Mi logo on top. There are no other superfluous elements on the console, but it looks quite nice due to the bends of the case.

There is an activity indicator on the front, thankfully not very bright and not annoying at all. There are only four connectors on the back: power, full-format USB 2.0, HDMI 2.0 and a dual port (SPDIF + mini-jack) for connecting a separate audio system. There is no Ethernet in the set-top box, which for some may seem a serious disadvantage. The USB port is designed to connect external media, and its bandwidth is enough to play a 4K movie from a USB flash drive. Wired controllers, mice and keyboards are also stuck there, which Mi Box recognizes without problems.

The set-top box comes with a compact Bluetooth-remote made of the same rough plastic with an extremely ascetic set of elements that is sufficient for controlling. In addition to the power button, there is a cross made in the form of a circle with a confirmation key in the middle. Just below the navigation elements (back to the home screen, calling the voice assistant) and the paired volume control. On the upper end of the remote control there is a microphone hole, through which you have to communicate with Google Assistant... There is no QWERTY-keyboard or digital block here, the stake is placed on voice commands and simplicity of the system interface.

Xiaomi has included a power supply unit and an HDMI cable with the console, but this is not enough for a carefree use of the device - the kit lacks two AAA batteries ("little fingers"), so you will have to take care of their purchase separately.

Filling

In this version, it is built on the basis of the Amlogic S905X platform, equipped with four Cortex ‑ A53 cores with a frequency of up to 2 GHz and a five-core Mali ‑ 450MP accelerator. It is strange to expect super-high performance from such a solution, it is a multimedia chip with support for hardware decoding of 4K ‑ video, including the increasingly popular H.265 and even VP9 Profile ‑ 2. It works with all popular video containers and audio formats, including Lossless. There is also support for DTS (digital multichannel sound), which is natural for a multimedia device.

The Xiaomi prefix also received 2 GB of DDR3 RAM and 8 GB of storage, of which slightly more than 5 are available to the user. Those who like to download movies in 4K from torrents will have to get an additional external USB-drive or get used to the frequent reconnection of "flash drives".

The modem integrated into the set-top box supports Wi-Fi a / b / g / n / ac, it can work in both 2.4 ‑ GHz and 5 ‑ GHz bands. The bandwidth is more than enough for a seamless 4K streaming experience. Through Bluetooth, in addition to the complete remote control, controllers, mice and keyboards are connected to the Mi Box.

System

The main feature of the international version of Xiaomi Mi Box is Android TV inside, which has replaced the company's own shell. At the time of writing the review, an assembly based on Android 6.0 was installed in the set-top box. There is no information about the update to Nougat yet, its appearance depends on the release of drivers by Amlogic.

Shell control and most applications are controlled with the above remote, but compatible game controllers can also be used. The search engine abandoned icons on the television platform, moving to familiar to users SmartTV picture tiles.

Russification is almost complete, although there are items in English in the settings, and for some reason the called keyboard is only in English. There is a suspicion that the problem is inherent in a specific device, and not in the system as a whole. Something was broken in Xiaomi.

The initial setup of the Mi Box requires the user to connect to a Wi-Fi network and a Google account, which is typical for the platform. The easiest way is to run it through your Android smartphone, it will require just a couple of clicks, you don't even have to enter your home network password manually. By the way, this process will prompt and install the Android TV remote control app. There is also a manual initial setting, which I even had to use once, since the smartphone did not want to see the set-top box. It is also simple and well explained right on the TV screen.

The entire Android TV interface is divided into several zones. At the top is the multimedia content selected especially for you by Google in all installed applications, be it YouTube, Google Music or other programs and services. You can take away this opportunity from any program, for which you have to climb into the menu.

To be honest, I didn’t like the “smart” mechanism of Google, for some reason he is sure that if I live in Russia, then I am interested in funny videos in my native language. But the system has data about my subscriptions and watched videos on YouTube. Over time, Mi Box adjusted the content in the “recommended” block to suit me, but the starting algorithm is frankly bad.

The recommended area is influenced by collections from all smartphones and tablets connected to the set-top box, on which the same applications are installed, and especially the content that was launched on it. So the sudden appearance there of a selection of the best songs of the group "Combination" is not worth it. This is all about Google applications, but third-party programs sometimes behave strangely. For example, even after authorization, Twitch shows videos in this area from the general world Top, and not letplays of those to whom I subscribed.

In the same zone, tiles of background active applications are also displayed, for example, the cover of a track played in Play Music with a name. Unfortunately, so far there are very few programs working with this area.


The second section from the top, titled “ Mi Box Recommends"Is practically useless for a Russian-speaking owner. It contains only unremovable Netflix and RedBull tiles that are sent to the Play Store to install applications. Next is the section with games, which appears if at least one is installed, and the last one is an application. This is where the Play Store is located.

There are two icons at the very bottom of the shell. The first opens the system settings, again made in the form of tiles, albeit smaller in size, and the second is responsible for connecting to a Wi-Fi network.

Overall home screen experience Android TV positive, but the flaw on the part of Google is felt. The search engine should have made more stringent requirements for interaction with the shell, at least for large services that launch their clients on the platform.

Applications

The basic Google applications, including YouTube, Play Music, Play Movies and Play Games, are installed straight out of the box in the Xiaomi Mi Box for the international market. Their interface has been redesigned for TVs, which is primarily expressed in moving the list of sections to the left and some repainting. Most of the third-party programs for Android TV have the same design, generally easy to control from the remote control.

However, some discomfort is sometimes felt due to the need to make many clicks on the “back” element to move from one section to another, which is especially noticeable in Play Music. This problem of interaction with the interface can be solved by highlighting a separate button on the remote control to call the side menu, but for now it is as it is.

There are very few applications for Android TV in the Play Store now, and some of the existing ones are not rewritten for TVs. However, a certain basic set is still available in the store, the eminent MX Player, the popular Plex media server, gaming Twitch, customers of domestic and foreign streaming services, and even a couple of Russian channels are available. Of the mobile operators, only Beeline has been concerned about launching its own application for viewing channels on the platform.

Notably, there are no Chrome or other web browsers for Android TV. Google probably doesn't believe in watching pages on TV.

Games

Surprisingly, the selection of games for Android TV is larger than the usual programs. The store has platformers from Disney, hits from OrangePixel, Despicable Me from Gameloft, several decent games once exclusive to the OUYA console, and even a number of classic Final Fantasy editions. True, for the purchase of many of the titles presented, you will have to pay a tidy sum, sometimes exceeding 300 rubles. There are also races, including Asphalt, but only an old Airborne. But due to the not too rich filling, the Mi Box runs only at medium settings.

Some of the available games can be controlled directly from the remote control, while others require a gamepad to be connected to the Xiaomi Mi Box, as warned in the description. I regret to add that not all games with original touch controls are well ported, in the "Despicable Me" runner, for example, sometimes you have to scroll through the lists of results to start the next race. However, this is due only to Gameloft's disregard for the platform, since other developers have managed to resolve this issue.

By the way, even if an application or a game is not in the store on the console itself, it is often quite officially possible to install them from the Play Store from a computer. Android TV also supports downloading third-party APKs, just like any other Android device. Although not all applications installed in this way will function normally on the Mi Box. For example, the button that starts testing in the AnTuTu benchmark does not work.

Chromecast (Google Cast)

As with all devices with Android TV, the Xiaomi Mi Box has a full-fledged software Google Cast, named there Chromecast... It works in the same way as with a separate "dongle" for TV - press the broadcast icon in a compatible application on your smartphone or tablet and the stream starts broadcasting on the TV. There is also a mode of full mirroring of the display of a mobile device, launched in the Google Home program. Judging by some indirect signs, the Google Cast layer seems to be parallel to Android TV, that is, there are essentially two OSes in the device.

This is also confirmed by the fact that Mi Box uses the same images as a screensaver as in individual Chromecast devices. They can be configured in the same way from Google Home, for example, by telling the prefix to display the user's own pictures from the Google cloud.

Google Assistant and voice input

An important part of Android TV at the current stage of its development has become the built-in Google voice assistant, launched by a button with a microphone on the remote control. He recognizes requests well and gives answers, but he does not know how to conduct a dialogue in Russian, which makes it less interesting. However, you can find out the weather forecast or the growth of Mikhail Boyarsky from the assistant.
To a greater extent, voice input is interesting for searching multimedia content within applications, for example, in Youtube... It ideally replaces the much less comfortable virtual keyboard.

Summary

From a purely technical point of view, the Xiaomi Mi Box is nothing more than another set-top box with support for 4K and a large number of formats that the processor provides. The built-in Android TV left a mixed impression. On the one hand, it does not require additional gestures to set up and even has its own store, but on the other hand, there is not enough compatible content on the Play Store. You can also feel some dampness of the interface and the logic of working with it, yet you don't expect such childhood sores from a Google product.

However, choosing between an expensive TV with a built-in SmartTV shell and a simpler one in conjunction with the Xiaomi Mi Box, I settled on the second option. Despite Google's love of killing projects, I believe in the viability of Android TV, and its capabilities are much higher - which only costs support for Android applications and games.

Since recently, the set-top box can be bought in Russia from an official partner who asks for 7,990 rubles for it. The price of Xiaomi Mi Box in Chinese stores is constantly floating around $ 80 (4,750 rubles). Analogues with an identical set of "hardware" (processor, RAM and media) start somewhere at $ 45 (2,670 rubles) - the difference is more than serious. Whether the shell and design of the device itself, which looks good on a large screen, outweighs it, as well as really working voice input, everyone decides for himself.

I needed a set-top box, not an Android computer, so the choice fell on this variant of the Mi Box. The most important factor was full support for Google Cast, the whole family is very used to Chromecast. Those who like to dig deeper and read the forums should pay attention to the alternatives, which will cost less.

Buy Xiaomi Mi Box TV Box is most profitable in the GearBest store, with a discount coupon: TOPCN2 its price will be only $ 66.99.

Xiaomi Mi Box 3 is a compact set-top box that will allow you to watch movies, use the Internet and play games on your TV. The gadget has an Android TV system installed, so it has a lot of features typical of a smartphone. More about them.

Xiaomi package and appearance of the device

Complete with a TV set-top box, the user gets:

  • remote control and strap for it;
  • batteries;
  • HDMI cable
  • Charger;
  • documentation.

The components are standard, everything you need is in stock.

Xiaomi mi box 3 is a compact device with dimensions of 101 × 101x19.5 mm and a weight of 176 g. The design of the gadget is simple and stylish, and smoothed corners add grace. The attachment will fit into any interior and will not take up much space on the table.


The body is made of matte black plastic, the company logo flaunts on the top. The build quality is excellent as usual: no gaps or glue residues. On the front of the set-top box there are an infrared port and an LED indicator, and on the back there are connectors: USB, HDMI, a port for a power supply and a 3.5 mm audio output. The manufacturer has installed a round rubber insert on the bottom panel, which prevents the device from sliding on the table surface.

The design of the remote control is also minimalistic, its dimensions are 150x38x15 mm, and the weight with batteries is 65 g. There are not so many buttons: power buttons, circular joystick, "Back", "Home", "Voice input" and a volume up / down key. There is a microphone on the front panel of the remote control.

Read also:

Review-comparison of set-top boxes Xiaomi Mi Box Android TV

Technical characteristics of TV box Xiaomi mi box 3

Consider the technical characteristics of the gadget. The xiaomi TV box uses a 4-core AMlogic S905 processor paired with a Mali 450 graphics chip. For multimedia functions, performance is sufficient, no freezes. When tested in Antutu, the mini-device scored 36,000 points, this is an average.

The amount of RAM is 2 GB, and the built-in memory is 8 GB, but 3 GB of them are occupied by system programs. Thanks to Smart Boxing, an ordinary TV acquires the functions of a smart TV, but you will hardly be able to play games. Is that in the simplest, and even then - you will have to set the average graphics settings.


"Abilities" of the Xiaomi TV box

When the user starts working with Xiaomi, he needs to connect the remote to the set-top box by performing synchronization. Then on smart phone or manually set up xiaomi mi tv box 3.

There is a Google search engine on the desktop, the phrase can be entered using the microphone of the remote control, it is enough to say "Ok, Google" and the query of interest. This is a distinctive feature of the console. There is a quick launch of programs that a person used before, as well as files recommended for viewing. A long press of the "OK" button will highlight the icon, it can be moved to any convenient place on the main screen.


The menu resembles a regular android: it supports installing applications from the Google Play Market and watching videos on YouTube. Moreover, if an "accident" occurs, and the xiaomi tv box has been rebooted, playback will start from the place where the user left off.

Like other gadgets from Xiaomi, set-top boxes are created with the latest technology. Their stylish minimalist design allows you to place the device in a prominent place. In any interior, they will look advantageous and attract the eyes of everyone who enters your house. The attachment does not take up much space, because its dimensions are so minimal that it fits in the palm of your hand. The device works fine, without interruptions and other shortcomings. Quality materials used in the manufacture of this product will ensure its excellent performance for many years.

The smart TV box broadcasts the picture from the phone to the TV screen, which is ideal for gamers who value comfort while playing and want to enjoy the game on the big screen. The Xiaomi TV box will provide a reliable connection to the device, while guaranteeing a high data transfer rate and a constant signal. You can buy a TV set-top box in our store in Moscow, at an affordable price.

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