What you need to know
- Xiaomi is finally launching a true successor to its HD TV device after almost five years, and it will probably launch globally soon.
- Performance improves with a 38% faster CPU and updated GPU, making daily streaming smoother.
- It’s still capped at 1080p, but adds HDR10+, Dolby Audio, and DTS:X to improve overall display and sound quality.
After almost five years, Xiaomi is finally launching a true follow-up to its entry-level HD streaming device. The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) has just been listed on the company’s global website, so it is likely to launch globally soon.
On paper, it offers the upgrades you’d expect: faster performance, improved video support, and the same affordable approach that made the original popular for breathing life back into older TVs.
Android Central’s opinion
I can’t help but be frustrated by the use of a micro-USB port in 2024. It seems as if Xiaomi found some old cables and decided to use them here. Switching to Google TV is a big improvement in terms of usability, but giving us only 1GB of RAM seems unfair when modern apps require much more.
Xiaomi says The new device offers a 38% increase in CPU performance over the first generation My TV Stickthanks to updated Cortex-A55 cores and a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU. It also supports AV1 decoding, a modern codec that makes streaming more efficient and is now necessary for any Google TV Device certified after March 2021. This means that the device is fully certified for Netflix, Google TV, and all popular apps.
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Video output maxes out at 1080p at 60Hz, which is expected from an HD-focused device. But Xiaomi added support for HDR10+ for better contrast, plus Dolby Audio and DTS:X for richer sound.
The remote has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Google Assistant, and has dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity.
The elephant in the room.
But there are still some drawbacks, mainly with RAM and USB. The device still comes with only 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage, just like the previous version. That’s not saying much to the Google TV interface, which has become more demanding since the original ran Android 9.
You’ll probably notice slower multitasking and longer app loading times, especially when switching between streaming services. Xiaomi also kept the microUSB port for power instead of moving to USB-C, which is surprising for a device launching in 2026.
Android Central’s opinion
Sure, this device is attractive in some ways. It’s the kind of product you buy when you just want your old TV to look new. It’s simple, affordable and gets the job done. Still, launching a new streaming device in 2026 that only supports 1080p seems outdated, especially when 4K is common. It will work for many people, but unless the price is very low, I would probably spend a little more on something that won’t become obsolete as quickly.
In terms of design, it is compact with curved edges and measures 107.4 by 30 by 14 millimeters. Plugs directly into an HDMI port or you can use the included extender. The form factor works well.
The main question now is the price. Xiaomi has not yet shared the official price, but the first-generation HD model sells for around 44 euros (around $51) and the second-generation 4K device was launched at 59.99 euros (around $69). This new model is likely to be priced between €45 and €55 when it arrives in Western Europe, the UK and other global markets soon.
If you want to upgrade an older 1080p TV and need a simple Google TV experience with good app support, this device should be the solution.
Xiaomi improved the processor and added better codec support, which are good steps. However, the same memory and old charging port mean this is not a clear upgrade. It’s a more capable device, but not necessarily a better investment.
