Xiaomi TV Stick 4K Review: Streaming Stick with 4K HDR and AV1 codec

We’re already after testing the new 2021 Global Version of Xiaomi TV Stick 4K, so today, we would like to show you the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K review. As you know Xiaomi streaming stick 4K is powered by the well-known Amlogic S905Y4 SoC. The S905Y4 chipset is currently the most popular and can be found in recently launched streaming players. Among others, in Realme Google TV Stick, T-Mobile TVision HUB with Google TV, and also in the new MECOOL KD3 Google TV Stick.

After the long presence of the Mi TV Stick (1080p version) on the market, a new version of Xiaomi’s streaming Stick in 4K version was unveiled at the end of 2021. However, the Xiaomi 4K TV Stick went on sale globally at the end of January 2022.

On the Internet you will find many reviews of the Xiaomi streaming Stick 4K, but we also decided to add our five cents. Surely you are still wondering whether it is worth buying a new Xiaomi TV Stick 4K? Is it worth replacing the 1080p Mi TV Stick with the 4K version? you will find the answer to these few questions in our review Xiaomi TV Stick 4K.

Availability and price

You can find the new Xiaomi 4K streaming stick on Aliexpress for around $54 ($53.75) and up. You can also find 4K TV Stick in global Xiaomi stationary stores as well as local online distributors.

Xiaomi TV Stick 4K Review: Product details

Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (MDZ-27-AA / MiTV-AYFR0) Specification

• SoC- Amlogic S905Y4 Quad Core 4x ARM-A35 @ 2GHz (64bit) with 850Mhz GPU Mali-G31 MP2
• System Memory – 2GB RAM LPDDR4
• Storage – 8GB eMMC
• Video Output – HDMI 2.1 up to 4K@60Hz
• Video Codecs – 4K AV1, VP9, H.265, H.264, VC-1, MPEG1/2/4, real 8/9/10
• Audio – Via HDMI, Dolby Atmos and DTS support
• Features – HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision, DTS HD, and Dolby Atmos technologies
• Connectivity – Dual-band 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
• Power Supply – 5V via Micro USB port (no OTG)
• Dimensions – 107 x 30 x 15 mm
• Weight – 43g

The box included:

• Xiaomi TV Stick 4K
• Bluetooth Voice Remote Control
• Micro USB cable
• USB Power plug
• User Manual
• HDMI extended lead 

Xiaomi TV Stick 4K First impressions, settings, overview of features

Xiaomi TV Stick version 4K is bigger with its predecessor – Mi TV Stick. Instead of the name Mi we see a large Xiaomi inscription. However, it looks very similar. The device only has a micro USB (OTG) for power supply. On the front, there is a LED that lights up when the device is turned on. To connect the device, all you need is an HDMI port on the TV. You can power the device directly from the USB TV. Besides, if you can’t plug the stick into the HDMI port, you can use the included HDMI extended lead.

The device comes with a Bluetooth voice remote controller (looks almost identical to the previous model). Has aesthetic and minimalist style that supports voice commands via Google Assistant and, at first glance, two dedicated buttons, for Netflix and Prime Video streaming services. Pictures below.

Xiaomi TV Stick 4K vs Xiaomi Mi TV Stick

At first glance, there are not many differences, but they are fundamental. It is obvious that the improved variant has more options, but what exactly? First of all, the new streaming stick supports 4K resolution (2160p). Accordingly, there is a more efficient chip on board. This is a Cortex-A35 quad-core chip with Mali-G31 MP2 graphics (Amlogic S905Y4 SoC). Along with the new chipset, Xiaomi TV Stick 4K supports the latest 4K AV1 decoding plus the existing VP9, ​​H.265, H.264, MPEG-2, MPEG-1 codecs. It also supports Dolby Vision offering better image quality. It’s good that the operating memory has also been doubled, the new Xiaomi’s stick has 2GB of RAM.

Unfortunately, nothing has been changed in the area of ​​data space. The mass memory has 8GB. What else has been improved? The specification shows the newer Bluetooth 5.0 protocol (it is 4.2 in the predecessor). In turn, the main communication standard is dual-band WiFi 5 – as it was. New TV Stick 4K runs on newer Android TV (Android 11 TV OS). It’s a pity it’s not a Google TV like the Realme 4K Google TV Stick. Voice remote without major changes.

Impressions from the use

When it comes to use, it is very easy and Android TV (device run on Android TV 11 OS) is known from many other streaming devices. WiFi connection works well, is stable, and fast. Wifi: Download – 240.7Mbps Upload – 241Mbps. Chromecast built-in works fine. 

In addition to the Bluetooth remote control with voice feature (which works with no problem), you can also use a gamepad (iPega PG-9076). Xiaomi streaming stick 4K can be used to play games from Google Play store as well as in the cloud (Stadia, GeForce NOW). Unfortunately, 8GB eMMC storage is very limited. There should be at least 16GB of eMMC !. Besides, Xiaomi TV Stick 4K works well with Kodi and Plex. A few screenshots below.

Streaming Services via Xiaomi’s TV Stick 4K

The new streaming dongle from Xiaomi, as the name suggests, supports video content in 4K resolution. It supports all popular streaming up to 4K @ 60fps with HDR10, HDR10 +, HLG, and most importantly Dolby Vision. Popular Streaming services in 4K UHD (2160p) resolution:

• Youtube 4K
• Google Play Movies 4K
• Netflix 4K
• HBO Max 4K
• Disney+ 4K
• Apple TV+ 4K
• Prime Video 4K

When it comes to streaming audio, the device supports DTS HD, DTS 5.1 / 7.1, and Dolby Atmos.

Operating system and components

TV Stick in 4K version has the same chipset and OS as MECOOL KD2 or MECOOL KM7. Xiaomi’s streaming stick 4K runs on Android TV 11.0, Kernel version 5.4.86, and supports OTA updates. As we mentioned, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K is equipped with a new Amlogic S905Y4 Quad-core ARM Cortex-A35 CPU processor up to 2.0GHz and GPU Mali-G31MP2, CPU speed between 100MHz and 2.0GHz. As you know this chipset supports 4K AV1 decoding (AV1 MP-10@L5.1 up to 4Kx2K@60fps).

Why is it worth getting a streaming player that uses AV1 decoding?

Most of the currently popular streaming services use the latest AV1 decoding. AV1 is a high-performance, royalty-free video codec that provides 20% improved compression efficiency over HEVC/VP9 and manages to save up to 30% in bandwidth for the same image quality.

Besides device supports Google Widevine L1/Playready and CENC ClearKey. The device does not have root access. Some screenshots.

Performance tests and benchmarks

Video test

In addition to online streaming, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K can also be used as a media player for local playback or via NAS via Kodi 19.4 / Plex. Playback by Kodi 19.4 runs almost smoothly and is stable. AV1 samples work better with MX Player. A device without problem seems to play movies with the resolution of 480p,720p, and 1080p (24fps, 30fps, 60fps) and also 4K (60fps) with various formats and codecs videos such as AV1 codec, H.265/ HEVC, VP9, H.264, MPEG2, MPEG4, RMVB, and audio – DTS and AC3. DTS HD / DTS/ Dolby 5.1 passthrough worked fine via HDMI.

Video Playback via Kodi 19.4

Typical 1080p	Result
MPEG2 / MP2 2.0 – 6.6Mbps	OK
MPEG4 / MP3 2.0 – 7.6Mbps	OK
H264 / AAC 2.0 – 7.2Mbps	Not smooth
VC1 / WMA3 2.0 – 25Mbps	OK
VP8 / VORBIS 2.0 – 7.8Mbs	OK
Jellyfish 1080p HEVC 10bit – 90Mbps	OK
4K Video
Sintel – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 24fps	OK
BBB Sunflower -H264 – 30fps	OK
BBB Sunflower -H264 – 60fps	OK
Honey Bees – 96fps	OK
Skyfall – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 10Mbps	OK
Puppies Bath – h264/AAC 2.0	OK
Cinemartin H265/HEVC	OK
Tears of steel – 60fps	OK
HD Club Chimei – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 60Mbps	OK
Jellyfish 4k uhd HEVC 10bit – 140Mbps	OK
Jellyfish 4k uhd HEVC 10bit – 200/250/300/400Mbps	Not smooth
LG Demo – Istanbul 3840×2160 MP4/H264 8bit – 116Mbps	OK
Sony 4K – Camp HDR MP4/HEVC 10bit – 75.8Mbps	OK
Demo Samsung 2014 – USA Road Trip TS/HEVC 10bit – 51.4Mbps	OK
Samsung UHD DUBAI TS/HEVC 10bit – 51Mbps	OK
H.265/VP9 Video
Tears of steel – H265-HVEC / AAC 2.0 – 15Mbps	OK
Youtube – VP9 / 1080p	No
VP9 / 4k – Eye of the Storm 4K Ultra HD.webmv	OK
VP9 / 4k – 10 Incredible 4K (Ultra HD) Videos.webmv	OK
VP9 / 4k – Australia – Land Down Under in 4K.webmv	OK
AV1/ 4k – Summer Nature.webm	Not smooth
AV1 / 4k – Holi Festival.webm	Not smooth

Benchmarks

For testing, we use Benchmark v9.3.0, GeekBench 4, 3D Mark. Internal memory benchmarks (via A1SD Bench app): Read 81.98MB/s – Write 29.94MB/s. RAM copy speed was 3401.19MB/s. Below are benchmarks screenshots.

Xiaomi TV Stick 4K Conclusions

Despite the fact that we had to wait a long time for the Xiaomi TV Stick in the 4K version, our patience paid off. Xiaomi has prepared a really good streaming stick supporting Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and above all AV1 decoding. Despite the fact that the performance is not impressive, the streaming payer is fast and stable. We highly recommend buying the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K.

However, it is worth considering that storage is poor. 8GB eMMC for some users may not be sufficient. If you do not care about the size and format of the HDMI stick, it is worth considering the Android TV streaming player in the set-top box format with at least 16GB eMMC storage. For example, MECOOL KM2 or another also certified by Netflix, Prime Vdeo and Google.

Another question is, if you have a Xiaomi Mi TV Stick, is it worth buying a Xiaomi TV Stick 4K? If you don’t need or have a 4K TV, the choice is obvious. However, if you have an older 4K smart TV that does not work on Android TV, or has problems with supporting the latest streaming services, it is worth buying a Xiaomi TV Stick with 4K.

As for the price, it could always be cheaper. Currently, it is cheaper to purchase Realme 4K Google TV Stick with almost identical specs or Chromecast with Google TV software. We hope that our Xiaomi TV Stick 4K review will help you make your decision.