Xiaomi Mi Box VS Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Which one is better?

Main Image
  • Like
  • Comment
  • Share

Many of the affordable smart TVs are actually quite dumb. Many often lack support for one or more of the popular OTT apps or don’t support 4K, or at times even HD, streaming across them. In fact, Xiaomi’s own TVs couldn’t run Netflix and Amazon prime for a very long time.

Xiaomi’s Mi Box will make regular TVs smart and smart TVs smarter, just as the Fire TV stick (review) does. So, which one of the two is better? Let’s compare the Fire TV stick and Mi Box in detail in order to help you decide.

Mi Box 4K vs Fire TV stick 4K: Specs comparison

ProductMi Box 4k Fire TV Stick 4k
Streaming resolution 4K, HDR 104K, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
AudioDolby Audio, DTS 2.0 Dolby Atmos
Ports and connectivityHDMI out, USB, Digital audio outWi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 LEHDMI out, power input, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 LE
Smart AssistantGoogle AssistantAlexa
Processor2Ghz1.7GHz
Storage8GB8GB
Built-in CastYesOnly for YouTube
PriceRs 3,499Rs 5,999

Mi Box vs FireTV stick 4K: Design

The Mi Box is a box and would require additional space in front of your TV alongside your set-top box and an additional cable to manage. The Fire TV stick is something you connect directly behind your TV and then forget about completely. 

If you have a wall-mounted TV and space constraints, this is something you’d want to ponder over. Both the Amazon Fire TV stick and Mi Box require a power input. The Fire TV stick can accept power from the TVs USB port, and the Mi Box 4K comes with a proprietary charger.

Both Xiaomi Mi Box 4K and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4k come with separate remote controls.

Also Check: Google Chromecast 3 Review

Mi Box vs Fire TV Stick 4K: Hardware and Software 

The Mi Box 4K has a higher clocked processor, but by Xiaomi’s own admission the Fire TV Stick 4K manages better benchmark scores. Since both of these are capable of handling 4K HDR, the hardware differences shouldn’t matter much when it comes to deciding between the two.

The Fire TV stick 4K additionally has Dolby Vision support – which should make a difference if you have a high-end TV that supports Dolby Vision.

The smart home ecosystem that you are committed to or plan on committing to should also be a deciding factor. Mi Box 4K is affiliated to Google’s ecosystem and runs the Android TV interface, while the Fire TV stick has Alexa and seamlessly connects to Amazon’s Echo devices.

Mi Box has a few useful extras. It has Chromecast Ultra built-in and you will be able to cast from supported apps directly to your TV. Fire TV stick 4K supports casting videos from YouTube and also supports screen mirroring.

If your TV already has Chromecast built-in (if you bought one in the last year or so, chances are it does) you can enjoy casting from random apps seamlessly even when the selected input is Fire TV stick.

Also Check: Best Sound Theater Systems To Buy In India

Mi Box vs Fire TV stick 4K: Audio, Ports, and connectivity

Xiaomi Mi Box 4K supports Dolby Audio and DTS 2.0 audio and has digital audio out to directly connect with home theater systems. The Amazon Fire TV stick 4K supports Dolby atmos.

Mi Box also has an extra USB port that you can use to directly connect USB pen drives. This should prove quite useful because USB ports on TVs are often difficult to access, especially when TVs are wall-mounted.

Fire TV stick 4K has the latest Bluetooth 5.0 while the Mi Box has Bluetooth 4.2 LE.

Mi Box vs Fire TV stick 4K: App support

All popular apps in India – Disney+hotstar, Netflix, Prime Videos, YouTube – are supported on both Mi Box and Fire TV Stick 4K. While we are yet to test Mi Box, we are assuming that Fire TV has a few extra global apps since it’s available many more markets and has been around so much longer.

For instance, Apple TV is available only on Fire TV stick in India. We’d also like to check support for music streaming apps like Spotify, Ganna, etc on Mi Box 4.

Mi Box 4K vs Amazon Fire TV stick: verdict

What shall unequivocally work in Xiaomi’s favor is the aggressive price of Mi Box 4k. At Rs. 3,499, the Mi Box is even cheaper than Amazon’s regular Fire Stick (1080p) that costs 3,999.

There are some differences in features between the two streaming devices, but you should also factor in what you need, what your TV already has, and which assistant you prefer – Google Assistant or Alexa Alexa – before deciding between the two.

Points in favor of Xiaomi Mi Box 4K

  • Significantly cheaper
  • USB port to directly connect flash drives; Digital audio out
  • Built-in Chromecast Ultra for directly casting from apps on your phone

Points in favor of Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

  • Compact design, simpler cable management
  • More global apps supported (Apple TV, HBO, etc.)
  • Supports Dolby Atmos audio
Deepak SinghDeepak Singh
Deepak has more than 8 years of experience in covering technology for several eminent publications in India. He currently leads an enthusiastic team of young writers at Smartprix and tries to uphold the highest quality standards.

Related Articles

ImagePoco X6 Neo 5G Review: Slinky All-rounder for Everyday Use

Xiaomi’s sub-brand Poco recently introduced a new addition to the X6 Series with the launch of the Poco X6 Neo 5G in India, priced at under Rs. 20,000. Poco claims that the X6 Neo is the thinnest and most stylish device in its category, packed with a range of features. Boasting specifications such as a …

ImageMi TV Stick India Launch Date Set for 5th August

Xiaomi is all set for an action-packed first week of August 2020. That’s right, the Chinese giant plans to launch its Redmi 9 series in India on August 4 and on the very next day it will be launching the Mi TV Stick in the country. The Mi TV India official Twitter handle posted a …

ImageMi TV Stick with up to 1080p Resolution and Android TV 9.0 Goes Official

Xiaomi has finally launched its streaming dongle called Mi TV Stick at the Ecosystem Product Launch event. This will add smarts to your dumb TV. As the title reads, this tops at 1080p resolution and features Android TV v.9.0. Here are the complete details — Mi TV Stick Features Mi TV Stick is a small …

ImageAmazon announces new Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire Stick 4K and Fire TV Soundbar

Amazon has unveiled a lineup of upgrades to its popular Fire TV line-up with new Fire streaming sticks and the addition of a new FireTV Soundbar. The Amazon 2023 devices lineup includes the FireTV Stick 4K Max, Fire Stick 4K, and Fire TV Soundbar. The new Fire TV products will be powered by Amazon’s new …

ImageApple 4K TV vs Amazon Fire TV Cube: Know which one is a better deal

Apple TV 4K has officially debuted in the global market, and t also supports HDR10+. Other amazing stuff that comes packed with the Apple TV 4K is the Apple TV+ access, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade. Considering that, it is no wonder that the device is going to compete with Amazon’s Fire TV Cube. One …

Discuss

Be the first to leave a comment.