My Experience and Opinion on the Xiaomi TV Box for Running Android on Television.

I recently acquired the Xiaomi TV Box, which is well known for most people. It is a device that runs on Android completely and can be connected to your TV via HDMI output, allowing you to watch online movies and much more. I bought it because my mother watches a lot of YouTube videos on her tablet, but her eyesight doesn’t allow for it. So, I thought of buying this device for her to easily play and browse YouTube. Ease of use is crucial here because her interaction with technology is limited. So, I purchased this device for 850 Egyptian pounds, which is equivalent to 40 US dollars. I will review my experience with it and whether it met my expectations or not.

Initially, there are two versions of the device: a local version specific to China and an international version. You should buy the international version if available and avoid the local version as it will be in Chinese language only. This is exactly what happened to me, but since I couldn’t get the international version of the device, I decided to try the Chinese version anyway.

Overall, the device is good but the Chinese language support is poor, and the device only supports Chinese. Despite trying several methods, I was unable to fully change the language. Moreover, your location or country cannot be changed as it defaults to China and its cities. There is another method through an external software update, but I won’t do that because I don’t like the idea of buying a device and then modifying it just to satisfy with the basics. I want to maximize the benefits.

Generally, you can connect a flash drive to the device and install applications externally or internally. Needless to say, the Chinese version does not include or accept Google Play or Google apps or YouTube because they are blocked in China. However, the international version has all the features with English and Arabic language support and accepts Google Play, adding a Google account, and other functionalities.

You can also browse YouTube through the device’s remote control, which is specifically what I wanted. However, the Chinese version does not allow this unless through complicated methods, requiring the installation of another keyboard in Arabic. You can watch and browse media through a flash drive and other things. Everything you can do on Android is available through this device. You can connect a wireless or wired mouse and keyboard to the device and use them through it.

I will definitely return the device and try to get the international version. If I cannot, I will search for alternatives. In summary, the device is excellent, but it’s not the Chinese version, it’s the international version called Xiaomi Mi Box with all its versions, and its price is good and affordable for everyone. Stay tuned for the next article that will complement this one after returning this device and buying another one.