Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks and Roku’s popular streaming devices continue to hold a strong position in the market, enabling numerous households to stream movies, live sports, and TV shows. However, a new player has entered the scene in the UK, offering a competitive option. Xiaomi, a Chinese tech brand, has introduced its latest TV Stick HD (2nd Gen), providing an affordable solution to enhance any TV viewing experience.
The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) presents a familiar appearance at first sight, resembling the compact design of Amazon’s Fire TV and Roku Sticks. It features a built-in HDMI connector for easy installation directly into a TV without the hassle of additional cables.
Similar to its major competitors, the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) includes a dedicated remote control with quick access buttons for popular streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube. This allows users to swiftly access their preferred content without navigating through complex menus.
Priced at £39.99, the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) competes directly with its counterparts in terms of cost. However, its distinctive feature lies in its operating system. Unlike Amazon’s Fire OS or Roku’s software, Xiaomi’s latest streaming device operates on Google TV, granting users access to Google’s intuitive interface, integrated Google Assistant, and a vast array of apps via the Google Play Store.
Equipped with a dedicated voice button on the remote, viewers can effortlessly search for movies, shows, and apps using voice commands. The device offers over 10,000 downloadable apps, including games, and numerous free channels for entertainment without additional subscription costs.
Furthermore, Android users can benefit from the built-in Google Cast feature, enabling wireless streaming of videos, photos, and other content from their smartphones or tablets directly to the TV.
Internally, Xiaomi has furnished the streaming stick with a high-speed processor, dual-band Wi-Fi for seamless playback, and support for HDR10+, Dolby Audio, and DTS to deliver enhanced picture and sound quality.
The main drawback of the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is its resolution limitation. Unlike many competing streaming devices, it only supports HD playback and does not offer 4K Ultra HD content streaming.
For individuals seeking an affordable Google TV-powered streaming solution, the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is now available in the UK for £39.99.