Well! Here we are with the second part of the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick test. I slipped a bit, I didn't expect it to take so long... You can see the video at the top of the article, in case anyone missed it, or On our YouTube channel. As I started the video, I can answer almost all questions in one sentence:
Everything works!
On our Facebook page, under Stick's post, I gathered quite a lot of stuff, and tried to go through it all, which I did with varying degrees of success. Since I don't have access to everything, like Telenor's app, I didn't have a subscription, but I signed up for what I could. So the following streaming apps can be found in the Play Store, downloaded and used:
- HBO GO
- Netflix
- Telenor My TV
- T-mobile TV GO
- Plex
- Twitch
- Facebook Watch
- YouTube
- Code
- VLC
- tr.
The screen mirroring goes smoothly, or the connection and all that, but it's a different question how continuous and uninterrupted it is. Well, unfortunately not at all. The picture sticks and the sound sticks. Either my WiFi, phone, TV, foot size is not right, but even the phone menu is jerky, and games are jerky. So it's there, but it's not right.
UPC Horizon GO is not available in the Play Store, but fortunately the APK files can still be downloaded from mirror sites. Well, it goes up, it's launchable first, but that's it. It would only respond to touch or mouse control, it doesn't respond to remote control. After quitting, its icon does not even appear in the installed applications. Kapufa.
So if you're hoping to use the apps on your phone with the Stick, don't get your hopes up. Many APPs will go up and maybe launch, but they are impossible to use with a remote control. The solution to this is to get and use a BT mouse, or better still get a keyboard with a tapi interface like on laptops and all is solved. There is a browser in the Play store, but it is so terribly incomplete and shoddy that it is almost unusable, especially with a remote control.
The system is slow for me, I mean after the Mi Box S, because with 1 GB of memory it's very difficult to multitask.After 2-3 apps you get so much lag and slowdown that you'd rather throw it far away and then double click for the Box. BUT! Compromise is a good compromise! You exit all apps, either by menu or back button and NOT by Home (hoop) button. Then there's a good chance of making nice use of Android's meager memory.
SMB - With a bitter taste in my mouth, I can say that playing a full 1080p movie over the network for 1 - 1.5 hours is enjoyable, without any jams. But, for some reason, the buffer fills up after that time and starts to stutter. Then you have to "buffer" it a bit, wait half a minute and it can continue, so you can enjoy another half an hour or so of continuous enjoyment.
WiFi - Now that's where the science stops. On Xiaomi's official Global page and everywhere else it says it can handle 2.4 and 5 GHz. In contrast, 5 GHz WiFi has not been seen with it at all! All my devices see and use it at home except the Stick. It's a bit disheartening, even though I've done an update, a couple of FR (Factory resets) and still only see 2.4 GHz. I also wondered if this really isn't in the bututed version and then the Pro, the 4K Stick will bring it? Because for that it really wouldn't hurt, for FHD content the weaker WiFi is plenty enough.
HDMI - The video may have missed the small detail that I think is obvious here, that it can be plugged not only into a TV, but also into any monitor with HDMI input. So you have a small Android monitor.
Micro USB - The only input would be on the stick, but unfortunately it is only for power, I tried to connect it to a PC but nothing, it only got power. Well, there was another interesting question, whether the USB socket on the TV is also good for this task. I report no. The charger for the Stick, as I said in the video, has an output voltage and current of 5 V - 1 A. The USB of the TVs still outputs 5 V, but max 0.5 A, which is very little to run the system. The Stick started up, but there was no BT and the WiFi was roughly stuck, if it could connect.
Summary
Very cool stuff! The few little things that may come up due to the weak hardware will only be noticed by those who have used a better iron before, and those who will be the first to get to know the system will have a fantastic feeling, especially if they have had a "dumb" TV before, and this will make it brutal. The on-line world will open up, a sea of films and series, a media Hanaos, a digital orgasm.
Thank you very much to Xiaomishop.hu webshop for letting us try and test the gadget! A Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is now available from stock for 16.990 Ft, just click here to add it to your cart!
