Xiaomi’s new TV stick has arrived

Where the first generation was powered by Android TV 11, it now fully utilises Google TV as its OS, instead of just incorporating the search giant’s assistant on the side. Powering the device is the Quad-core Cortex-A55 chipset, a massive upgrade over the Cortex-A35 we saw last time ’round. It’s joined by an ARM G310 V2 GPU, but unfortunately still holds onto that 2/8GB of RAM and storage from the last generation.

What that means for your eyeballs is that you’ll now be able to enjoy HDR10+ and Dolby Vision content, while your ears will be treated to Dolby Atmos and DTS-X support. It now features Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6, with room for a single HDMI 2.1 port and one micro USB port. The remote has also seen a (slight) redesign, with room for two new buttons (YouTube + “apps”) and the addition of a Xiaomi TV+ button.

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The device is already available on AliExpress for R800 (down from R1,500), not including shipping and export fees — and also includes an EU plug only.

We’ve reached out to Syntech, Xiaomi’s local distributor, in an attempt to confirm whether the TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) will make its way to South Africa, but we hadn’t heard back by the time of publication. Considering the success of all Xiaomi’s streaming tech in South Africa, we expect to see this one turn up sooner rather than later, though the company may hope to ride the TV Box S (3rd Gen) hype for a little while longer.

The post Xiaomi unveils the TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) globally appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

Smart TVs, particularly in the lower end of the price bracket, have a limited shelf life. Operating systems and apps don’t keep up with the pace of technology and suddenly, your connected hardware remains connected but doesn’t do the other things you’d like it to do. The solution? A Xiaomi TV Box S (2^nd Gen) and its superior software support. Why superior? Because the original Xiaomi TV Box S is still getting software updates.

Choose your OS

Of course, you don’t need to be using obsolete tech to want to upgrade your TV to a preferred interface. The Xiaomi TV Box S (2^nd Gen) lets you choose between what you have and what you want. What you want is a slick, organised Google TV-based operating system that lets you customise what you need to and also intelligently predicts what you might want to watch next.

There’s more to choose than just the look and feel of your OS. Xiaomi’s hardware offers users a balanced blend of features and power. The TV Box S (2^nd Gen) supports Dolby Vision and Dolby audio, 4K video playback, and a whole host of Google features. The Nest ecosystem plays nicely, there’s integrated Chromecast support, and there’s full Google TV and app store support.

Stick to what you know

The Xiaomi TV Box S (2^nd Gen) is a fully-featured solution, comprising excellent hardware and a range of functions designed to keep you connected and streaming. But sometimes you don’t want to go big. Just a little nudge is enough. That’s where the Xiaomi TV Stick comes in. Just connect it to your TV’s HDMI port, connect the accompanying USB cable to a supported power source (the power brick will do nicely) and you’ll convert even the simplest of TVs into a powerful streaming machine.

A simple TV remote, with basic navigation options, dedicated buttons for Netflix and Prime Video, and an option to enable voice control make the TV Stick a versatile, portable gadget that travels easily from house to house. It’s one way to get around Netflix’s recent trend of password crackdowns, isn’t it?

The choice is yours

Whether you want a solid entertainment hub with long-term software compatibility, an excellent selection of hardware and software support, IR and voice control, and smart home capability, or just a plug-in, easy to utilise solution, Xiaomi’s range of technology has the device you need to meet your needs.

Whether it’s the Xiaomi TV Box S (2^nd Gen) (R1,199) or the Xiaomi TV Stick (R949), you can grab them from a wide selection of partners, including Takealot, Incredible Connection, HiFi Corporation, Game, or Makro.

The post Your TV is never smarter than when it’s fitted with a Xiaomi TV Box S (2nd Gen) appeared first on Stuff South Africa.