In the UK, a new player has entered the streaming device market to challenge the dominance of Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks and Roku’s popular offerings. Xiaomi, a Chinese tech brand, has introduced its latest product, the TV Stick HD (2nd Gen), providing an affordable option for enhancing any television viewing experience.
The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) features a compact design similar to its well-established competitors, Amazon’s Fire TV and Roku Sticks. With a built-in HDMI connector, the device easily connects to a TV without the hassle of extra cables or complex setup.
Like its counterparts, the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) comes with a dedicated remote control featuring shortcut buttons for leading streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube. This simplifies access to favorite content without navigating through multiple menus.
Priced at £39.99, the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) competes directly with its rivals. However, the standout feature lies in its operating system. Instead of using Amazon’s Fire OS or Roku’s software, this device runs on Google TV, granting users access to Google’s intelligent interface, integrated Google Assistant, and a vast array of apps from the Google Play Store.
The remote control includes a voice button for convenient voice searches for movies, shows, and apps. Users can choose from over 10,000 available apps, including games, and access numerous free channels, reducing the need for multiple paid subscriptions.
Android users can leverage the built-in Google Cast feature to wirelessly stream content from their smartphones or tablets to the TV. The device boasts a fast processor, dual-band Wi-Fi for seamless playback, and support for HDR10+, Dolby Audio, and DTS for enhanced picture and sound quality.
While the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) excels in many aspects, it is limited in resolution capabilities, supporting only HD playback and lacking 4K Ultra HD streaming capabilities.
For consumers seeking an affordable streaming device powered by Google TV, the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is now available in the UK for £39.99.