Xiaomi Mi TV Stick vs Fire TV vs Chromecast: Features and Prices

Xiaomi finally presented its Xiaomi Mi TV Stick , a device that had been talked about a lot for what it could mean for a market where Chromecast and Amazon’s Fire TV were practically the undisputed leaders. Therefore, now that it is official and we know everything about it, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about this little stick that connects via HDMI.

My TV Stick, technical characteristics

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick vs Fire TV vs Chromecast

Design is always an interesting section in any technological device, although there are some where if it is more or less striking it does not influence as much. The Mi TV Stick is one of them, when it is placed on the back of the TV, in one of its HDMI ports, the truth is that you will not see it. So what interests you is its functionality and technical characteristics.

Anyway, the product as such is well built. Especially its remote control, which offers a fairly compact design and with the buttons necessary for quick use of each of the possibilities that the different applications -mainly multimedia- offer. Of course, the dedicated buttons of Netflix and Prime Video stand out . But leaving this aside, let’s talk about its technical characteristics.

characteristics Xiaomi Mi TV Stick
Dimensions 92.4 x 30.2 x 15.2 mm
Weight 28 gr
Processor ARM Quad Core Cortex A53
Graphics GPU Mali 450
RAM 1 GB
Storage 8 GB
Operating system Android TV 9
Sound and Video Support DTS and Dolby audio
VP9-10, VC-1, H.265, and H.264 video
Connectivity Wifi ac (compatible with 2.4 and 5 Ghz networks) and Bluetooth 4.2
Connections HDMI to connect to TV
Micro USB for power
Additional features Remote control with dedicated buttons for Netflix and Prime Video
Price 39.99 euros

As you can see in the table above, the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is a device that, despite appearing underpowered, offers plenty of capable hardware for each and every one of the applications for which it is particularly designed. That means that comparatively using this Mi TV Stick will be similar to the usage experience offered by current Xiaomi televisions also based on Android TV. Because that is another of its great advantages, the operating system and all the possibilities it offers.

Android TV and Chromecast support

Android TV is what really gives meaning and potential to this new Xiaomi Mi TV Stick. The Google operating system for televisions offers access to a multitude of applications that today are essential for any user looking for a product with high multimedia capabilities. Through it you can access services such as Netflix, Disney +, HBO, Apple TV +, Amazon Prime Video and many more. And yes, also how could it be otherwise to YouTube.

Of course it is not the only thing, you will also be able to access many other applications such as games, although here it must be said that the 8 GB of storage is somewhat insufficient if you start installing games or an emulator that is available for Android TV, but know that if you want you can do it.

Finally, the two features that will also be interesting for many users are its support for Chromecast and Google Assistant . Thanks to this, you can send content from your mobile phone or computer as long as the system or application has support for said protocol. On the other hand, Google Assistant gives voice control options both from the device and even through other connected home devices that offer support with the Google assistant.

My TV Stick vs Chromecast vs Fire TV

The Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is very attractive from an economic point of view , it only costs 39.99 euros. The problem is that there are already other similar devices that are very well established on the market. To be exact, we are talking about Amazon’s Chromecast and Fire TV. The first is true that it is somewhat more limited, since it depends on the phone or other device that sends you content. At least until that new version appears, which we have also been receiving information for a long time. But the Amazon stick is basically identical, only that its operating system is based on Android and it is not the Android TV that does integrate the Mi TV Stick. So, let’s put the three in context to be clearer about what each one offers, its strengths and weaknesses .

characteristics Xiaomi Mi TV Stick Amazon Fire TV Basic Google Chromecast
Processor Quad-core Cortex A53 Quad core 1.7 Ghz
RAM 1 GB 1 GB 512 MB
Storage 8 GB 8 GB 2 GB
Operating system Android TV 9 Fire TV OS (Android based) Chromecast
Connectivity Wifi ac and BT 4.2 Wifi and BT 4.1 Wifi ac
Audio Support DTS and Dolby Dolby Digital and AAC + Dolby
Video Support Up to 1080p Up to 1080p Up to 1080p
Additional features Option to connect Bluetooth keyboards, mice and controls, Google Assistant and Chromecast support Voice control through Alexa and support Bluetooth accessories
Price 39.99 euros 39.99 euros 39 euros

Currently, it is enough to look at the specifications of the three devices to realize that Google’s Chromecast has lost its appeal compared to its latest rivals. Dependence on the smartphone is not something that you currently like, so the choice should be solely and exclusively between the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick and the Fire TV Basic from Amazon.

These two HDMI sticks are basically the same in terms of hardware and options. Being based on Android many apps will be on both devices, so no problem in that regard. The only thing you will have to consider when choosing is whether you prefer the advantages that having Alexa can bring you or if you prefer Google Assistant. And if you need 4K resolution, then you either go to Fire TV 4K or Mi Box S.

Anyway, keep an eye on that future Chromecast that would gain independence by including Android TV and would give access to Stadia, the video game system via Google streaming. Until it arrives, which one do you keep?