Xiaomi would in all probability need you to purchase its televisions first, however in case you assume your present TV nonetheless has some life left in it — the display, at the very least — then the corporate has options on that entrance as properly. Xiaomi has a small however wise vary of streaming units, which plug into the HDMI port of your tv and add enhanced good connectivity and capabilities. The newest on this vary is the Xiaomi TV Stick 4Kwhich is probably the most compact and succesful system of its variety from the corporate up to now.

Priced at Rs. 4,999 in India, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K comes with Extremely-HD streaming capabilities, together with assist for prime dynamic vary (HDR) content material as much as the Dolby Imaginative and prescient format, and Dolby Atmos audio. It is also significantly smaller than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4Kpermitting you to plug it straight into your TV’s HDMI port the place it would keep conveniently out of sight. Is that this the perfect value-for-money streaming system you should buy proper now? Discover out on this assessment.

The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K runs on Android TV 11, with the brand new Google TV-like UI as seen right here

Xiaomi TV Stick 4K design and specs

like the unique Mi TV Stickand fortuitously not like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4Kthe Xiaomi TV Stick 4K is small and light-weight sufficient to maintain itself anchored to the again of your tv when plugged into the HDMI port. You do, in fact, want to attach it to an influence supply, and most often connecting it to your tv’s USB-A port needs to be adequate.

If it is proving to be tough, an influence adapter is included within the field, and you may join it on to an influence socket for a extra dependable energy provide. Additionally included within the field is an HDMI extender accent and distant to manage the streaming system. The ‘stick’ itself is kind of nondescript with only a single brand on the outer facet of its black floor, however that is completely effective given that you simply probably will not ever see it in regular operation.

With regards to specs, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K largely matches as much as what most Android TV-powered streaming units provide. Because the identify suggests, the system helps streaming at as much as Extremely-HD (3840×2160-pixel) decision, with assist for prime dynamic vary content material at as much as the Dolby Imaginative and prescient format, in addition to Dolby Atmos and DTS HD audio assist.

The streaming system has 2GB of RAM and 8GB of inside storage, and is powered by a quad-core processor, with Bluetooth 5 and dual-band Wi-Fi for connectivity. The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K runs on Android TV 11, with each the inventory Android TV person interface in addition to Xiaomi’s PatchWall UI on high.

Xiaomi TV Stick 4K distant and options

Xiaomi’s basic distant — standard on its vary of televisions — is bundled with the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K as properly. With the corporate including the PatchWall UI to the streaming system, the distant has a button to shortly leap to PatchWallalong with the opposite buttons for primary capabilities akin to energy, navigation, quantity adjustment, and invoking Google Assistant.

There are additionally hotkeys for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and the app drawer. The distant makes use of Bluetooth for connectivity with the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K, which additionally allows the sending of voice knowledge for Google Assistant utilizing the built-in microphone. As all the time, the distant is powered by two AAA batteries.

The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K has 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage

Aside from what’s already been talked about, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K helps Google Chromecast with as much as Extremely-HD casting, and Google Assistant can be utilized to seek for content material in addition to search solutions to easy queries and management IoT units that could be linked to your account. The characteristic set is not too detailed, however the standalone performance of the system is sufficient by itself.

Both Android TV or PatchWall can be utilized on the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K relying in your desire, and you may very simply swap between them as properly. The previous is a little more app-focused, whereas the latter works on content material curation and suggestions that spotlight content material and direct you to the suitable streaming platforms primarily based in your selections.

Xiaomi TV Stick 4K efficiency

The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K is, for all intents and functions, a Xiaomi tv minus the display. What makes it notably spectacular is the dimensions of all the bundle; it is a good bit smaller than standard Extremely-HD streaming units from the Hearth TV vary, and its type issue is arguably extra handy than that of the Chromecast with Google TV,

These similarities replicate within the working system and the best way all the pieces capabilities, with the {hardware} successfully in a position to deal with Android TV 11 and PatchWall with out a lot hassle. I did not expertise any efficiency points with the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K throughout my time with it, and the system functioned reliably as a supply system by fetching content material in the absolute best decision and codecs in accordance with my TV arrange.

Xiaomi’s PatchWall UI may be accessed on the TV Stick 4K by urgent the PatchWall button on the distant

Not like a few of the extra succesful (and because of this, extra sophisticated) streaming units, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K is not a troublesome system to make use of. I did not need to tweak too many settings, and the system normally labored with the correct decision and codecs notably when linked to only a TV with out another units akin to soundbars or audio system within the setup.

The distant often took a fraction of a second too lengthy to reply, however this did not annoy me an excessive amount of. Whilst you can set up video games from the Google Play retailer and play on the TV, it is not the best system for this type of use case, and is essentially geared round streaming audio and video from standard companies.

Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos assist is useful when you’ve got a suitable TV or audio system, and subscriptions to companies which work with the codecs akin to Netflix and Apple TV+It is value noting right here that there’s sadly no assist for HDR10+ on the Xiaomi TV Stick, so this streaming system is greatest paired with a TV that helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient. On an HDR10+ tv, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K was solely in a position to stream on the HDR10 format with Extremely-HD content material.

Whereas most streaming units operate easily on steady Wi-Fi connections, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K labored moderately properly even when linked to a comparatively much less steady cell hotspot. That stated, 5G connectivity usually ensured speeds had been quick sufficient to deal with buffer-free Extremely-HD streaming. Nonetheless, it is a worthwhile choice for these counting on cell Web connections at dwelling.

Verdict

As with a lot of Xiaomi’s merchandise, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K succeeds due to its pricing. At Rs. 4,999, it is significantly extra reasonably priced than competing merchandise such because the Chromecast with Google TV and Amazon Fire TV stick 4K Maxwhereas providing a largely dependable and uncomplicated Extremely-HD and HDR streaming expertise.

Though the shortage of assist for HDR10+ content material could be an issue for some relying on the TV you intend to make use of it with, there’s little or no else to complain about with the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K. The handy measurement and type issue additionally helps make this a straightforward advice for anybody trying to purchase a purposeful and dependable Extremely-HD streaming system, assuming your use case is primarily watching content material.

Value: Rs. 4,999

Execs:

• Handy measurement and type issue
• Extremely-HD streaming, Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Atmos assist
• Dependable and uncomplicated performance
• Superb worth for cash

Cons:

• HDR10+ format not supported

Scores:

Design and specs: 8
Options: 8
Worth for cash: 9
Total: 8

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