A new Fire TV Stick rival arrives in the UK, but this one runs Google TV instead
Cheap, cheerful and full of your favourite apps, Xiaomi's streaming dongle is finally available
Quick Summary
Xiaomi has brought its TV Stick HD to the UK, pricing it at £39.99 on the official webstore.
It looks similar to a Fire TV Stick but runs the full Google TV experience.
When it comes to streaming dongles, there are plenty of Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices that come in a convenient, compact stick form but few that run Google TV.
That's where Xiaomi comes in, as it's just released its latest streaming device in the UK and several other regions around the world. The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is an entry-level streamer that provides the full Google TV experience, but with Fire TV Stick-like design and price.
Essentially replacing the Mi TV Stick, which ran on Android, this second generation device is HD only. That means it's locked to a maximum of 1080p 60Hz streaming and 5.1 surround with Dolby Audio, DTS:X and DTS HD support. There's no 4K or Dolby Atmos, although you do get HDR 10+.
It should provide a super smooth user experience thanks to running on a quad-core Cortex-A55 processor and 1GB of RAM. There's 8GB of storage on board too, so you can download plenty of apps.
Xiaomi TV Stick HD connectivity specs
Dual-band Wi-Fi is supported for a more stable connection, as well as Bluetooth 5.0. You can link your phone to it, for example, as Google TV supports casting.
The only other connections are the built-in HDMI which plugs straight into the back of your TV, and a Micro USB port for power. You also get a HDMI extension cable that enables connection even if the fit at the back of your TV is too tight for the entire dongle.
The included remote has a button to activate Google Assistant voice control, plus dedicated one-touch buttons for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube. There's a custom button you can assign yourself, too.
As it comes with Google TV installed, all the streaming apps should be supported, as well as hundreds of extra services and games through the Play Store.
Priced at £39.99 from Xiaomi's own website, the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is available now. However, if you would rather have 4K video and Dolby Atmos support, there's also a Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) version available on Amazon right now.
That's priced at £51 at present, with a discount.
