What it’s essential to know
- Xiaomi is lastly launching a real successor to its HD TV stick after almost 5 years, with a worldwide launch doubtless quickly.
- Efficiency will get a bump with a 38% quicker CPU and up to date GPU, making on a regular basis streaming smoother.
- It nonetheless caps out at 1080p, however provides HDR10+, Dolby Audio, and DTS:X to enhance total viewing and sound high quality.
After nearly 5 years, Xiaomi is lastly releasing a real follow-up to its entry-level HD streaming stick. The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) has simply proven up on the corporate’s world web site, so a worldwide launch is probably going coming quickly.
On paper, it provides the upgrades you’d anticipate: quicker efficiency, improved video assist, and the identical reasonably priced method that made the unique common for bringing previous TVs again to life.
Android Central’s Take
I can’t assist however be annoyed by way of a micro-USB port in 2024. It feels as if Xiaomi discovered some previous cables and determined to make use of them right here. Switching to Google TV is a giant enchancment for usability, however giving us solely 1GB of RAM appears unfair when fashionable apps require a lot extra.
Xiaomi says the brand new stick provides a 38% enhance in CPU efficiency over the first-gen Mi TV Stick, because of upgraded Cortex-A55 cores and a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU. It additionally helps AV1 decoding, a contemporary codec that makes streaming extra environment friendly and is now required for any Google TV machine licensed after March 2021. This implies the stick is totally licensed for Netflix, Google TV, and all the favored apps.
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Video output tops out at 1080p at 60Hz, which is predicted for an HD-focused machine. However Xiaomi added HDR10+ assist for higher distinction, plus Dolby Audio and DTS:X for richer sound.
The distant lands with devoted buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Google Assistant, and also you’ve bought dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity.
The elephant within the room
(Picture credit score: Xiaomi)
However there are nonetheless some drawbacks, primarily with RAM and USB. The stick nonetheless comes with solely 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, similar to the earlier model. That’s not a lot for Google TV’s interface, which has turn out to be extra demanding because the unique ran Android 9.
You’ll most likely discover slower multitasking and longer app loading occasions, particularly when switching between streaming companies. Xiaomi additionally stored the microUSB port for energy as an alternative of shifting to USB-C, which is shocking for a tool launching in 2026.
Android Central’s Take
Certain, this machine is interesting in some methods. It’s the sort of factor you purchase whenever you simply need your previous TV to really feel newer. It’s easy, reasonably priced, and will get the job carried out. Nonetheless, releasing a brand new streaming stick in 2026 that solely helps 1080p feels old-fashioned, particularly when 4K is frequent. It would work for many individuals, however except the value may be very low, I’d most likely spend a bit extra for one thing that received’t really feel outdated so rapidly.
By way of design, it’s compact with curved edges, measuring 107.4 by 30 by 14 millimeters. It plugs instantly into an HDMI port or can use the included extender. The shape issue works properly.
The principle query now’s the value. Xiaomi hasn’t shared official pricing but, however the first-gen HD mannequin sells for about €44 (round $51), and the 4K second-gen stick launched at €59.99 (about $69). This new mannequin will doubtless be priced between €45 and €55 when it arrives in Western Europe, the UK, and different world markets quickly.
If you wish to improve an previous 1080p TV and want a easy Google TV expertise with good app assist, this stick ought to do the trick.
Xiaomi improved the processor and added higher codec assist, that are good steps. Nevertheless, the identical reminiscence and previous charging port imply this isn’t a clear-cut improve. It’s a extra succesful stick, however not essentially a greater funding.
