Xiaomi and its partners produce almost everything for China. Only the most popular devices come to us, but the company has worthy little-known gadgets in its arsenal. Take, for example, the Mi TV Box line of media players. These little boxes are the best among their counterparts. For just $90, the lucky buyer of the Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3 Enchanced gets all the possible features (even a branded joystick) and access to one of the most thoughtful ecosystems on the market.

Specifications

CPU	6-core 64-bit MT8693 (2 × Cortex-A72 + 4 × Cortex-A53)
GPU	Power VR GX6250
RAM	2 GB LPDDR3
Storage device	8 GB eMMC 5.0
Interfaces	Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.1+EDR
Connectors	1 × HDMI 2.0, 2 × USB 2.0, power interface
Output Resolution	4K (3,840 × 2,160)
Available codecs	HD MPEG 1 / 2 / 4, H.264, H.265, Xvid / DivX 4 / 5 / 6
Playable video formats	3GP, AVI, FLV, M2TS, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPEG, TS
Playable audio formats	AAC, APE, FLAC, MP3, OGG
Playable photo formats	BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG
Dimensions	100 × 100 × 25 mm
Weight	190 g

Appearance

Most Xiaomi devices can be compared to Apple technology in their design. Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3 Enhanced is no exception.

The delivery set, as always, is very simple: only the essentials. The recycled cardboard packaging contains a small set-top box, a branded remote control, a power supply and an HDMI cable. The cable is short - most likely you will have to buy a longer one. But the remote control is beyond praise. Firstly, it works via Bluetooth. And secondly, it has a gyroscope and an accelerometer, with the help of which the usual control device turns into a rather convenient joystick.

Interestingly, Xiaomi has chosen white for most of its multimedia players. Analogues are predominantly made in black.

The stylish white box will fit well into any interior. It's a pity that you can't attach it to the wall - in some cases it would be useful. We'll have to come up with something additional. And this is a serious task for everyone who has a TV mounted to the wall, because after purchasing the Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3 Enchanced, most other TV companions can be thrown away. This means you won’t need any stands for the equipment.

The lack of wall mounting is perhaps the only drawback. The device looks stylish, has an indicator with a pleasant matte light and generally evokes an extremely pleasant feeling.

Connection is easy: plug the power into the outlet and the HDMI cable into the TV. Everything is ready to go.

Performance

Hidden inside Mi Box 3 Enhanced is a special single-chip platform for media boxes from MediaTek MT8693. Powerful, with high heat dissipation. So hot that the developers had to equip the console with active cooling - a cooler.

The chip includes two Cortex-A72 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz, four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.6 GHz, and a PowerVR GX6250 GPU. Productivity with this combination is very high.

This non-standard solution gives 61,000 points in AnTuTu and can compete even with a mid-range smartphone. Of course, the real performance of such devices is not measured by clock speed and number of cores, but by the availability of hardware support for decoding the necessary audio and video formats. See for yourself: not every flagship smartphone can cope with this test.

Plays 4K video H.265 / HEVC Main 10 (color depth - 10 bits) at 60 fps, H.264 / AVC High Profile (color depth - 8 bits) at 30 fps. There is support for Dolby (DTS) and 5.1-channel audio.

The volume of LPDDR3 RAM is 2 GB, the flash drive is 8 GB. Peripheral ports USB 2.0 and HDMI 2.0 with 4K support allow you to connect flash drives up to 128 GB in NTFS and 2.5-inch drives without additional power.

Wireless interfaces allow you to connect to any type of device without restrictions, including a variety of manipulators (joysticks, mice, keyboards) and access points (including NAS systems and routers with external storage). There is support for AirPlay.

Software shell

Xiaomi Mi TV 3 Enchanced runs MIUI 7 based on Android 5.1. With full functionality, you can install a browser or an office suite.

Streaming video playback is within the limits of hardware support, but depends on the type of browser selected. It can slow down or, conversely, work very well. For specific formats, you can install separate codecs.

However, no one is stopping you from using branded applications from online cinemas, YouTube and other similar resources. It's Android! There is everything your heart desires here. You can install Google Play if needed.

A set-top box arrives with a completely Chinese OS, but specialized resources will suggest a quick way to Russify it.

After this, it turns out that almost any TV series, films and TV shows in any required language are already available in the stock firmware. You don’t even need to download anything - just a stable Wi-Fi connection and an Internet channel of suitable speed.

Among the pleasant bonuses is the ability to configure playback of content from your home Wi-Fi network. Not necessarily from a router or NAS - even from smartphones, computers or any device connected via a USB port. FAT, NTFS and Linux formats are supported.

If the file is not readable, you can go to the application store and find a suitable one. In fact, this player can replace a home computer, since Android has everything a modern user needs. The games work, and how!

conclusions

The Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3 Enchanced turns any TV into a smart one. You only need an HDMI port. Connected, set up the network, set the Russian language - ready.

The functionality is very wide. Only the most expensive Smart TVs have this, and the Mi TV Box 3 Enchanced costs only $90.

The only direct competition for the set-top box is the new line of similar Xiaomi devices on Android TV: Mi 3C for $63 and Mi 3S for $80. But that's a completely different story.

I watch most films while sitting in a chair or on the sofa in front of a large TV. Therefore, my constant search for the ideal solution that would allow me to sit with the remote control in my hand and watch what I want recently ended successfully with the advent of Xiaomi Mi Box - an Android TV set-top box.

Android TV set-top box Xiaomi Mi Box - Reviews

I found out about Mi Box quite by accident. I did not follow the announcement of this equipment and was not interested in new Xiaomi products. I recently came across a review of this device and decided to compare how the existing platforms used as media players in my home (including Apple TV) are inferior or superior to this Android TV device.

From concept to implementation the road was short. On the Chinese website Aliexpress chose a supplier who sends goods to my country, not very slow Chinese mail, and bought a set-top box, paying just under 70 $ (4,300 rubles) for a Xiaomi Mi Box. Thus, after a couple of weeks, I was already holding an aesthetic device in my hands.

The packaging made a good impression - it reminded me of a box of equipment from brands like Amazon or Link, which had nicely arranged elements inside.

The device has a durable and aesthetic body and a remote control that works with radio waves - we do not need to point it directly at the device, we can use it behind obstacles. The remote control has one unusual feature - a built-in microphone. What can we do with it?

1. We can search media files: if you use it on the home screen, the search is carried out across all applications that support search. In this way we can search for a music album in Google Music, Spotify and YouTube, for example.
2. We can use our voice to launch applications and commands. Pressing the microphone button and saying “Netflix” actually works—no need to look for icons on the home screen to turn it on.
3. In a specific application, the microphone can replace the keyboard, specifying what you want to find. For example, in the same Netflix, we say the desired title of the film, the name of the actor or the name of the genre that interests us.

The device is minimalist and has only one front LED operating status indicator, and on the back there is an HDMI port integrated into a standard SPDIF optical connector, one USB port and a power connector. Yes, the lack of Ethernet makes it convenient to have an efficient Wi-Fi network, especially when watching high-definition content, especially since the Xiaomi Mi Box supports up to 4K resolution.

Installing and setting up Mi Box

Setting up the device is well thought out and very simple. If you have an Android device (such as a phone), you can do everything with the click of a button. If we don’t have such a device at hand, you can “connect” Mi Box to our Google account.

A Google account is the key - the Xiaomi Mi Box is one of the standard Android TV devices and must therefore account for every step. This has its advantages, such as the fact that Netflix data is stored in your Google account. This saves time on entering a password using the keyboard or remote control.

Many applications that require an account (such as YouTube or Vimeo) can be easily configured, allowing us to enter a short URL or a code displayed on the TV screen.

Meeting Android TV

This was my first encounter with Android TV. Unlike many other "set-top boxes" with regular Android that I have previously had to deal with, the Xiaomi Mi Box interface can be conveniently controlled using a simple remote control. All elements interact with the user and are adapted to each other.

For Android TV there is a special version of the Google Play store containing applications for this platform, where you will find everything you need for this type of device. All applications are well suited for remote control. There is also the option to add apps using a USB flash drive if the ability to install apps outside the store is enabled.

We start watching on Mi Box

Unfortunately, there are discrepancies with the pictures of the Xiaomi Mi Box and what I saw on the TV screen, since many applications are not supported.

Despite this, before installing several programs, you will have something to watch. In addition to applications that provide content (eg YouTube, Netflix, etc.) we have applications used to watch TV. Whether it's Internet TV or traditional TV channels, some of these programs have an interesting feature. If Android TV detects that an app provides TV programming, it integrates it into the TV Channels app, allowing you to watch channels from a variety of sources in one cable-TV-like interface.

This includes moving between channels by pressing up and down, and displaying EPG programs. Unfortunately, not all programs are available - for example, the live channels available in IPLA do not integrate with the TV Channels program.

Media transfer

Android TV supports Chromecast. With this feature, it's very easy to start watching a movie from HBO on your phone or computer with the Chrome browser open, with one click on the Chromecast icon and selecting Mi Box as the device (despite the lack of an official dedicated application).

I even tested AirPlay payment support using additionally installed apps. Thanks to this, I can send, for example, music from iTunes to the device - and from there to the amplifier via the audio output. One note here: you need to select devices connected via the HDMI interface in the TV menu, otherwise, when you turn off the TV, the music on the speakers stops playing.

Something for the players

You can also play with Xiaomi Mi Box. The store has games, from fairly simple ones that we can control with a remote control, to more demanding ones - for these it is better to connect a USB or Bluetooth controller. To a large extent, the Mi Box processor copes well with games, but for games the console and PC serve me well.

Characteristics of Xiaomi Mi Box

The device has a 2GHz quad-core Amlogic Cortex-A53 processor, a Mali 450 750GHz GPU, and support for movies up to 60fps in 4K resolution. RAM 2 GB, built-in flash memory for programs and data 8 GB. The version of Android TV built into the system is 6.0, it is not yet known about the possibility of updating.

Network connections supported are dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a/B/G/N/ac from 2.4 to 5 GHz. Bluetooth 4.0 is used to connect external devices (remote control, keyboard, speakers and keyboard). You can also connect a keyboard or headphones via the USB port.

Is it worth buying Mi Box?

The Xiaomi Mi Box very quickly became part of my multimedia set-up, I’m already thinking about buying the next one for another room. This device combined functionality that replaced the Apple TV and Android TV set-top box, with the ability to play games and control the remote control using your voice (there were problems).

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Aesthetically, the Mi Box is satisfying and doesn't stand out from other devices in the living room. Gone are the days when we connected the Xbox One just to run Netflix or YouTube - now we use it as default with Xiaomi's Mi Box.

Recently, Xiaomi Mi Box 3 has been very popular, which is due to the widespread use of smart TVs. They allow you to watch not only your favorite television programs, but also discover a whole world of virtual entertainment - games, Internet browsing, watching your favorite films online. Xiaomi Mi Box 3 review will introduce you to the capabilities of the Android set-top box, which provides a regular TV with Smart TV functions.

The device is delivered in an unremarkable package, inside which you can find only all the essentials: the TV set-top box itself, the remote control, its strap, batteries, an HDMI cable, a network adapter and documentation.

Design

We start our Xiaomi Mi Box 3 review with its appearance and immediately note that the console looks very impressive. It pleasantly surprises with its compact size and smooth shapes. This once again shows that it was not for nothing that Xiaomi designers were awarded several awards for the design of TV set-top boxes.

At the bottom there is a rubberized round clamp, thanks to which the device practically does not slip on the surface.

The Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3 review informs you that on sale you can only find a black version made of semi-matte plastic. The solution is not the most practical - fingerprints are very visible. The Mi series logo was placed closer to the front side of the case.

Regarding the build quality, everything is perfect - the case is strong and reliable, has no gaps and does not creak if you press hard on it.

Mi Box 3 pro review showed that an infrared port and an LED indicator were placed on the front side.

Space for other functional elements is allocated at the back - an HDMI port, a USB port, a connector for connecting a network adapter and a 3.5 mm audio input.

Xiaomi Mi Box 3 remote control

The remote control weighs 65 grams and has a very compact size, especially considering that its design contains two AAA batteries. The lower left corner of the front side of the remote control is occupied by the power button for the console, and a circular joystick divided into 4 buttons is installed almost in the center. In the center is the “OK” key.

Under the joystick there is a row consisting of three buttons - “Back”, “Home” and “Voice input”. Just below we see a swing designed to adjust the volume. The Xiaomi Mi Box 3 TV set-top box review showed that the microphone is built into the upper edge of the remote control, and only a hole was left at the bottom for attaching the strap.

Technical specifications of Xiaomi Mi Box 3

The model runs on an AMlogic S905 chip with 4 cores up to 2 GHz, built using a 28 Nm process technology. In addition to it, there is a Mali 450 graphics accelerator. The set-top box is designed for use exclusively with TV, so there is plenty of performance reserve. All functions and interface work quickly and without a hint of brakes. In Antutu we managed to score 61,000 points, which is not much by modern standards, but quite enough for a TV.

There is not much RAM - only 2 GB. Built-in - 8 GB, but you need to remember that part of the volume is eaten up by the system, so no more than 5 GB is left for installing applications.

Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3 pro review showed that when connecting for the first time, you need to check for new firmware updates. After this, you can begin to study the basic functions of the console. If you want to play games, you shouldn’t expect much. The console can only handle not too demanding games, and even then not with above-average graphics.

Functionality of Xiaomi Mi Box 3

A review of the international version of Xiaomi Mi Box 3 informs you that when you connect for the first time, synchronization with the remote control is performed. Then you can perform the initial setup manually or using your smartphone.

Mi Box 3 enhanced edition review showed that the main interface screen is a window in which there is a Google search, quick inclusion of applications specified by the user and recommended by the client based on previous requests. To move elements, you need to select them, and then press “Ok” on the remote control. At the bottom of the home screen, you can access your system settings and Wi-Fi connection.

Our Xiaomi Mi Box 3 enhanced edition review showed that all settings are conveniently divided into sections: device, settings, remote control, owner information. You can install Google Play and compatible content on the console, so the choice is not so great. The rest can be stored on a flash drive and run directly from it.

When working with the set-top box, remember that it does not support minimizing applications. When you exit to the home screen and return to a previously opened application, it loads first. Xiaomi Mi Box 3 s review showed that the set-top box supports almost all codecs and formats, but it is recommended to install an additional player. The system does not have a pre-installed player. You can even run videos in 4K and 60 frames per second.

Conclusion

Xiaomi Mi Box 3 is a universal TV set-top box that is ideal for playing multimedia content. It can completely replace a computer or laptop when watching your favorite films, while it has a compact body. Among the disadvantages, it should be noted that Root access is required to disable forced recommendations. The set-top box is an ideal solution if the TV does not have smart functions, but you want to get them.

Where can I buy?

You can buy a TV set-top box at the best possible prices using the following links:

Your rating for the smartphone:

Recently, “smart” TVs have become extremely popular, which provide the opportunity not only to watch television channels, but also to completely immerse yourself in multimedia content - games, surfing the Internet and watching movies online. Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3 is an Android set-top box that can give a regular TV all the functions of a Smart TV.

• TV set-top box;
• remote control;
• remote control strap;
• batteries;
• HDMI cable;
• power unit;
• warranty card and instructions.

Design

The Xiaomi TV set-top box looks stylish, attracting attention with its compact size and smooth shape. It’s not for nothing that Xiaomi designers received several awards for the design of the console.

At the bottom of the Xiaomi Mi Box 3 there is a rubberized round clamp, which is used to reduce sliding on the surface.

Mi TV Box 3 weight – 176 g, dimensions – 101x101x20 mm.

The device is available in black and made of semi-matte plastic. Unfortunately, traces of fingerprints or dust are still visible on such a surface. The Mi logo is engraved closer to the front of the case.

As usual, we have no complaints about the quality of materials and build quality. The box of the console is durable, without any backlashes, creaks, cracks or burrs.

The IR port and LED indicator are installed on the front side of Mi TV Box 3. Everything else and the main thing is visible on the back side of the device: HDMI port, USB, connector for the power supply and 3.5 mm audio jack.

In terms of design, there is nothing more to say about the console. Let's move on to the control panel.

The dimensions of the rectangular remote control are 150x38x15 mm, weight - 65g, and this includes two AAA batteries. The shape of the body is reminiscent of the iPod Nano, but let's not go into that point.
On the front of the remote control in the upper left corner there is a power button for the Mi TV Box, closer to the center there is a circular joystick divided into 4 buttons, and in the center there is an “Ok” button. Under the joystick there is a row of three buttons - the Back button (left arrow), the Home button (with a circle), the voice input button (with a microphone icon), and even lower - a volume rocker. The microphone is installed on the top edge of the remote control; at the bottom there is only a hole for the strap loop.

Specifications Mi Box 3

The set-top box is powered by an AMlogic S905 processor - a quad-core chip with 2GHz Cortex-A53 cores, produced using a 28 nm process technology. It is paired with the Mali 450 accelerator.

Since the set-top box is designed exclusively for working with TV, the hardware performance is sufficient with a huge margin. The interface and all options work smoothly and quickly. But in AnTuTu the device gets only 25315 points.

Mi TV Box 3 received only 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory. About 5GB available for installing applications.

When connecting for the first time, be sure to check for operating system updates. After this, you can test the functions of the set-top box, since previously there were problems with recognizing USB flash drives and in the operation of some applications.

If you suddenly want to play Android games, then don't expect much. At most you can play something simple, and even then on minimal graphics settings.

Functionality

When you turn it on for the first time, you also need to synchronize the operation of the remote control with the Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3. After that, using a smartphone or manually, you need to configure the operation of the set-top box.

Video - setting up Mi Box 3

The main screen of the set-top box interface is a window with a Google search, quick launch of selected programs, and recommended content depending on your previous requests. After selecting the icon, you can hold down the Ok button and you can move it left/right, or remove it from the screen. The only thing that cannot be deleted and will be on your screen are recommendations from Red Bull TV and Netflix.

At the bottom of the main screen are system settings and Wi-Fi connections. Settings are divided into sections:

• device;
• settings;
• remote control and accessories;
• personal data.

You can install only content that is compatible from Google Play on the console, so the choice will be very limited. Everything else can be installed directly from the flash drive.

There is an important point - the set-top box cannot “minimize” applications. When we exit to the main screen and launch it again, we simply re-open the application.

Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3 is an almost “omnivorous” TV set-top box that recognizes most codecs and formats, but you will still have to install an additional player that is convenient for you. By default, the player is not even installed on the system.

Videos can be played up to 4k resolution at 60 fps. There is also support for DTS, Dolby Digital Plus and HDR. Mi TV Box 3 can also be connected like Google Cast.

Results

pros

• universal, suitable for any multimedia content;
• completely replaces a PC and laptop when watching movies or TV series;
• compact, with high-quality assembly.

• initial setup required;
• To disable forced recommendations, you need root.

Such a set-top box will be necessary only for those TV panels and televisions that do not have smart functions. After purchasing and connecting to TV, you will be able to watch videos from flash drives or online. Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3 is an ideal set-top box for comfortable spending time in front of the TV while watching your favorite movies or TV series without having to download everything in advance.

Xiaomi produces and sells a huge number of gadgets, accessories for them, even household appliances for the home. But Xiaomi is best known as a manufacturer of affordable smartphones. Yes, smartphones are the main direction, but they are far from the only one: computers, TVs, smart home products, accessories for various devices. And today we will talk about just such a device - a set-top box for the Xiaomi Mi TV Box 3.

This “accessory” for your TV will actually give it a second life. Mi Box 3 will turn an ordinary, old TV into a smart piece of hardware, which will have Internet access, access to popular multimedia portals, streaming videos, music and even games! We have prepared for you the most complete review of Xiaomi Mi Box 3, in which we will tell you everything about this device. Stop procrastinating, it's time to move on to the review itself!

Appearance and equipment

The appearance of the console is very simple - a square with strongly rounded corners, the console becomes thinner towards the side edges. The size of this square is 101x101x20 mm. Such a simple box was able to win several design awards.

There is a round rubber stand at the bottom, thanks to which the Xiaomi Mi Box 3 console stands confidently and does not wobble, even if a large number of cables are connected. The weight of the console is only 176 grams.

The body of the set-top box is made of plastic, therefore, a large number of fingerprints and dust remain on the body - you will need to remove the dust often. There are no questions about the assembly.

The set-top box comes with a very simple remote control, which is made of the same materials as the set-top box. The dimensions of the remote control are 150x38x15 mm, weight with installed batteries is 65 grams.

The control elements include a power button, a four-way round joystick for moving through the menu, and an “OK” button in the center. Below there are three navigation buttons: back, home and a voice control button for the set-top box. Only the international version of Xiaomi Mi Box 3 has the last button. The last are two volume buttons. There is a strap holder at the bottom end of the remote control, and a microphone at the top end.

The set-top box also includes a high-quality HDMI cable, a power supply with a long cable, and brief instructions with a warranty card.

The set-top box has few connectors, but all the necessary set is available: a power connector, one USB, a full HDMI and a 3.5 mm audio output, which is combined with a digital audio output (Mini Toslink).

Console hardware

The set-top box is based on SoC AMLogic S905X-H, which uses 4 Cortex-A53 cores operating at a frequency of 2 GHz and a Mali 450 video chip. The amount of available RAM is 2 GB, and the amount of permanent memory is only 8 GB, and the user has two more times less, only 4 GB. External memory can only be connected via a single USB output. Network interfaces include WiFi ac (2.4/5 GHz) and Bluetooth Low Energy. You won't be able to connect to the Internet via wire.

The characteristics of Xiaomi Mi Box 3 are not impressive. The chipset's performance will not be enough for heavy 3D games, but it is sufficient for playing media content. In Antutu, the chipset scores only 25315 points. Agree, this result is not enough for games, but if you really want to play, you can play on minimal graphics settings. There are not so many games on Android TV, but you can choose. In general, this console was not created for games.

Software

The operating system is Android TV from Google. We can say that this is one of the few set-top boxes that runs on Android TV. The set-top box has absolutely all services from Google: YouTube, Play movies, Play Music. Third-party applications for Xiaomi Mi Box 3 are installed through the Google Play store. Other pre-installed apps include Netflix and Red Bull TV; these apps cannot be removed.

Since the set-top box runs on Android TV with built-in Google services, the initial setup of Mi Box will require a Google account. There are two options for setting up the console:

Automatic when setup is done through the Google app on your phone.

Manual, where you yourself specify the WiFi network, network password, and manually add the set-top box to your Google account through a special website.

The main screen of the console displays tiles with installed applications. At the bottom there are shortcuts for settings and network connection. There are several main categories in the settings:

1) Device

2) Settings

3) Remote control and accessories

4) Personal information

Smart TV set-top box can install applications from the Google Play store, but from there you can only install applications that are optimized for Android TV. The number of such applications is constantly increasing, but there are not so many of them. You can always install regular applications from a flash drive.

The xiaomi mi box 3 TV box supports video up to 4K 60 FPS (H264/H265). Supports 10 bit HDR, Dolby Digital sound. The device can also operate as a Googlecast receiver, just like Chromecast does.

Conclusion

To sum up the review of the set-top box, I would like to say that Xiaomi’s set-top box turned out to be excellent. This gadget will turn your ordinary, “stupid” TV into a full-fledged smart gadget. Mi Box 3 replaces several devices at once: a media player for playing movies from a hard drive or flash drive, and a Chromecast for streaming video from the Internet. But that’s not all, you can connect a gamepad to the console and use it as a game console. In general, this is a full-fledged multimedia center, costing from 4,000 rubles. Do you need such a box? If you have a Smart TV, then probably not, but if you have a regular TV, then definitely!