Overview
The Xiaomi TV Box S 2nd Gen is a compact, no-fuss streaming device that gives aging televisions a meaningful second life without requiring a significant investment. Released in late 2023 as a follow-up to its predecessor, it runs on Google TV and supports 4K HDR output with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which is genuinely impressive at this price tier. The remote includes voice control, and the full Google Play app catalog means you are not stuck with a limited selection of services. For anyone sitting on an older flat-screen, this streaming box is one of the more sensible upgrades available right now.
Features & Benefits
Picture quality is where this Google TV dongle holds its own surprisingly well. With support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+, colors and contrast look noticeably richer on compatible displays, and the audio side is not an afterthought either — Dolby Audio and DTS-HD make a real difference when paired with a decent soundbar or AV receiver. The Google TV interface pulls your watchlists from Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and other apps into one place, so you spend less time hunting and more time watching. Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 keep connections solid, and there is an Ethernet port for anyone who prefers a wired setup.
Best For
This streaming box makes the most sense for a fairly specific kind of buyer. If you own a decent 4K TV that lacks smart features — or has a built-in platform you would rather replace — the Xiaomi TV Box slots in cleanly and takes over with a far better interface. It is also a smart pick for guest rooms or secondary setups where spending on a full smart TV does not make sense. Travelers appreciate how small and light it is; the whole unit fits easily in a bag. Existing Google ecosystem users will feel at home immediately, and Xiaomi smart home users will find the ecosystem consistency a genuine convenience.
User Feedback
Buyer reactions to the Xiaomi TV Box are broadly positive, with the Google TV interface drawing consistent praise — people frequently mention how much better it feels compared to the clunky built-in platforms on older televisions. The voice remote is another highlight, with users finding it responsive and well-built for the price. On the downside, the 8GB internal storage is a real constraint; install a handful of apps and you will start managing space fairly quickly. A smaller number of buyers have noted occasional Wi-Fi drops on the 2.4GHz band. Neither issue is a dealbreaker, but both are worth knowing about before you commit.
Pros
- Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support delivers genuinely richer picture quality on compatible 4K displays.
- Google TV interface unifies content from all your streaming apps into one clean, browsable home screen.
- Voice remote with Google Assistant makes searching for content fast and mostly hands-free.
- Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 provide reliable wireless performance on a 5GHz network.
- Compact enough to toss in a travel bag and use in any hotel room with an HDMI port.
- Full Google Play Store access means virtually every major streaming service is available.
- Ethernet port gives wired-connection users a stable fallback that many rivals at this price skip.
- Dolby Audio and DTS-HD pass-through adds real value when paired with a soundbar or AV receiver.
- Setup takes only a few minutes for anyone with an existing Google account.
- Strong overall value perception among buyers who use it as a smart TV platform replacement.
Cons
- 8GB internal storage fills up fast — install five or six apps and you are already juggling space.
- 2GB RAM causes occasional slowdowns when switching between multiple apps in quick succession.
- No microSD or USB storage expansion means the storage ceiling is permanent, not manageable.
- Wi-Fi connectivity can be inconsistent on the 2.4GHz band in congested network environments.
- The home screen surfaces promoted content prominently, which some users find cluttered and distracting.
- Plastic build feels utilitarian rather than premium, particularly noticeable when handling the unit up close.
- The power adapter adds bulk for travelers who are already managing multiple cables and accessories.
- Remote lacks a backlight, which makes it harder to use comfortably in a completely dark room.
- Smart home integration is Google-only, offering little utility for Apple HomeKit or Alexa users.
- App performance varies, with some niche or region-specific titles not fully optimized for the platform.
Ratings
The Xiaomi TV Box S 2nd Gen has been scored by our AI system after analyzing thousands of verified buyer reviews from global markets, with spam, bot-generated, and incentivized feedback actively filtered out. Ratings reflect a balanced view of where this streaming box genuinely excels and where real-world buyers have run into friction. Both the strengths and the frustrations you see below are grounded in what actual users reported after extended daily use.
Value for Money
Streaming Performance
Picture Quality
Google TV Interface
Remote Control
Wi-Fi Connectivity
App Availability
Audio Quality
Storage Capacity
Setup & Ease of Use
Build Quality & Design
Bluetooth Performance
Portability
Smart Home Integration
Suitable for:
The Xiaomi TV Box S 2nd Gen is a strong fit for anyone who owns a capable 4K television but is stuck with a sluggish or outdated smart TV platform. If your TV's built-in interface is slow, lacks certain apps, or simply feels like a chore to navigate, this streaming box replaces all of that with a clean, well-organized Google TV experience that genuinely changes how you interact with your content. It is also a practical choice for secondary rooms — a bedroom, a guest room, or a home office monitor — where buying a full smart TV is overkill. Travelers and renters will appreciate how compact and portable it is; the whole unit fits easily into a laptop bag and works in any hotel room with an HDMI port. Google ecosystem users in particular will feel right at home, with Assistant voice commands, Chromecast, and Google Home integration all working out of the box without any additional configuration.
Not suitable for:
Buyers who need a lot of local app storage or who plan to install a wide library of games and applications will likely find this streaming box frustrating over time — 8GB of ROM with system overhead leaves precious little room to breathe, and there is no expandable storage option to work around it. The Xiaomi TV Box S 2nd Gen is also not the right pick for anyone expecting a premium or near-premium streaming experience; the 2GB of RAM can produce noticeable slowdowns when multitasking, and it is not positioned to compete with higher-end devices on raw performance. Users living in densely populated buildings with congested 2.4GHz wireless networks may encounter connectivity inconsistencies, and without a wired Ethernet alternative those users could face ongoing frustration. Anyone outside the Google ecosystem — particularly those invested in Apple or Amazon platforms — will find the experience less cohesive, since the entire interface and assistant layer is built around Google services.
Specifications
- Resolution: Supports 4K Ultra HD output at up to 3840 x 2160 pixels for sharp, high-detail picture quality on compatible displays.
- HDR Support: Compatible with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR10, covering the three most widely used HDR formats across streaming platforms.
- Audio Formats: Decodes Dolby Audio and DTS-HD, enabling richer, more dynamic sound when connected to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver.
- RAM: Equipped with 2GB of RAM, sufficient for standard streaming tasks but limited when running multiple apps simultaneously.
- Storage: Includes 8GB of internal ROM; usable space after system overhead is approximately 5–6GB, which fills quickly with multiple apps installed.
- Operating System: Runs Google TV, a content-aggregation smart TV platform built on Android TV with a unified recommendation-based home screen.
- Processor: Powered by an Amlogic S905Y4 quad-core ARM Cortex-A35 processor designed for efficient 4K media playback and streaming workloads.
- Wi-Fi: Supports dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi across both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for flexible wireless connectivity options.
- Bluetooth: Features Bluetooth 5.2, enabling stable, low-latency pairing with wireless headphones, game controllers, and other peripherals.
- Connectivity Ports: Includes one HDMI 2.1 output, one USB 2.0 port, and one 100Mbps Ethernet port for wired network connections.
- Remote Control: Ships with a Bluetooth voice remote featuring dedicated Google Assistant, Google TV, and streaming shortcut buttons.
- Dimensions: Measures 3.75 x 3.75 x 0.66 inches, making it one of the more compact set-top box form factors in its category.
- Weight: Weighs 13 ounces including the unit and standard accessories, light enough for easy portability and travel use.
- Power Input: Powered via a dedicated DC power adapter; does not draw power from HDMI or USB bus connections on the television.
- Color: Available in Black only, with a matte plastic finish that blends discreetly into most entertainment center setups.
- Model Number: Official model identifier is TFQF-179, with ASIN B0CHWRX597 on Amazon for reference when cross-checking listings.
- Release Date: First made available on September 12, 2023, positioning it as a late-2023 successor to the original Xiaomi TV Box S.
- Voice Assistant: Google Assistant is built into the remote, allowing hands-free search, smart home control, and content discovery by voice.
- App Ecosystem: Provides access to the full Google Play Store, including all major streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and Prime Video.
- Chromecast: Supports Chromecast built-in, allowing users to cast content directly from Android or iOS devices to the connected display.
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