Xiaomi TV Box S 3rd Gen Review: The Budget 4K Streaming King of 2025?

Let’s talk about the ever-evolving world of streaming boxes, a space where Xiaomi has consistently carved out a significant niche, especially with its Mi Box line. For years, they’ve been the go-to for folks wanting a solid Android TV experience without emptying their wallets. Now, the Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen) has landed, and it’s not just a minor refresh; this one feels like a more substantial step forward.

We’re looking at a device that’s taken the familiar S-series design and given it a bit of a polish – a little rounder, a touch more compact, but still unmistakably Xiaomi. Under the hood, though, is where the real story unfolds. They’ve finally bumped the storage up to a much more usable 32GB, a welcome change from the anemic 8GB of its predecessors. Powering it is the newer Amlogic S905X5M chip paired with a Mali G310 V2 GPU, promising a noticeable uplift in performance, especially in graphics-intensive tasks. Add Wi-Fi 6 into the mix and the latest Google TV (built on Android 14 at launch), and you’ve got a spec sheet that punches well above its usual weight class.

This little black box aims to deliver 4K HDR, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, alongside Dolby Atmos and the newly added DTS:X for audio. It’s a feature set you’d often associate with pricier competitors. And speaking of price, that’s always been Xiaomi’s trump card. You can typically snag one of these from places like AliExpress for around the 60-70 mark, sometimes even a bit less during sales, which immediately puts it in a very attractive position.

So, the big question isn’t just what’s new, but does this 3rd generation iteration truly solidify its “best budget TV box” title, especially with competitors upping their game? That’s exactly what we’re diving into today – a full, no-holds-barred look to see if this familiar face still offers unbeatable value. Let’s get to it.

Design & Build Quality

This new Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen) keeps that familiar small, black box look but with a few tweaks. It’s definitely still compact, easy to tuck away, and surprisingly light. Think of a slightly chunky coaster. The design has softened up a bit, with more rounded edges now, kind of like they went back to the vibe of the very first Mi Box 3, moving away from the sharper corners of the last generation.

You’re looking at a matte black plastic shell all around. It’s got this slightly rough, grippy texture to it, so it doesn’t feel super slick or cheap, though it’s clearly plastic. Up top, you’ve got the subtle Xiaomi logo, and on the front, there’s a little LED light to show you it’s on or doing something.

Spin it around to the back, and that’s where all the action is. You’ll find the round port for the power adapter, an HDMI 2.1 port for hooking up to your TV, and a single USB 2.0 port. Yep, still USB 2.0, which some folks will grumble about. What’s missing from older models is the 3.5mm audio jack, so if you wanted to plug in old speakers that way, you’re out of luck without an adapter. There’s no built-in Ethernet port either; it’s all Wi-Fi unless you use that USB port for an adapter.

The bottom has some feet, and it has a base that leaves it slightly inclined, almost like a tiny wedge. It’s really quite a flat and small unit. It doesn’t feel like a premium metal brick or anything, but it seems put together decently enough for what it is. It’s not going to win awards for groundbreaking industrial design, but it’s functional, discreet, and gets the job done without drawing too much attention to itself.

Key Specifications & Features

So diving into what makes this Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen) tick, the insides have gotten a pretty decent upgrade. The brain of this thing is the new Amlogic S905X5M processor. The videos are pretty clear this is a step up, Xiaomi claims a 25% boost in CPU power over the last model. It’s built on a more modern 6-nanometer process too, which usually means it’s more powerful but also more efficient with energy and doesn’t get as hot.

Paired with that processor is a new graphics chip, the Mali G310 V2. This is where a really big jump happened – one source said it’s a whopping 130% more powerful on the GPU side compared to the second-gen box. That’s a serious improvement and should make a difference in how smooth things look, especially with games or demanding visuals.

Now, for the RAM, it’s still sitting at 2GB. This is a point that gets a lot of discussion. Many folks wish it was more, but for a budget box, Xiaomi has stuck with 2GB for a while. We’ll see how it handles things later. The storage, though, is a big win. It’s now 32GB, which is four times more than the old 8GB. This is a huge deal because you’ll have a lot more room for apps and maybe even some downloaded content. After the system takes its share, you’re left with about 26GB of usable space, which is pretty generous.

Performance Deep Dive

Now, how does this Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen) actually perform when you’re using it day-to-day? Starting with just moving around the Google TV interface, I’m pretty happy. It feels smooth, with no real lag or slowdowns when you’re flicking through menus or browsing your apps. But opening apps, especially heavier ones like Netflix, feels quicker and more fluid than on the older models. It seems the new chip and software optimizations are doing their job here, making the general experience quite snappy, comparable even to the more expensive Google TV Streamer.

When it comes to streaming your favorite shows and movies, it sounds like a solid performer. It handles 4K Ultra HD video at up to 60 fps content smoothly across the big platforms – Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney Plus, you name it. The box seems to correctly output in Dolby Vision and HDR10+ when the content and TV support it.

YouTube, for example, can play up to 4K at 60fps with HDR using the AV1 codec, which is great for efficient, high-quality streaming. Netflix certification means you get the full Dolby Vision and Atmos experience, which is a big plus. I even tested a super high bitrate 4K video file (140 Mbits) and said it played smoothly.

The Auto Frame Rate (AFR) feature seems to be a welcome addition, helping to make video playback look smoother by matching the TV’s refresh rate to the content. The AI Super Resolution (AI-SR) for upscaling HD content to 4K is there too.

For sound, it’s got Dolby Atmos like before, but now it also adds DTS:X, which is a newer, more immersive audio format, leaving behind the older DTS-HD.

Now gaming, don’t expect it to be a console killer, but it sounds capable enough. Casual Android TV games should run fine. With the beefier GPU, cloud gaming services like GeForce Now are more viable, and it should handle retro console emulation much better than previous generations. You can connect a gamepad via Bluetooth and get to playing.

That USB 2.0 port, while not the fastest, is pretty versatile. It supports NTFS formatted drives, which is a big deal because it means you can play movie files larger than 4GB without any issues. Have tested it with hefty movie files, and they’ve played back fine. You can also plug in a USB-to-Ethernet adapter if you prefer a wired internet connection, though the speed will be limited by the USB 2.0 standard.

Still, a wired connection can be more stable. If you need more ports, you can connect a USB hub to plug in external storage for local media or even to expand the internal storage (you can format an external drive as internal storage through the settings). And, as mentioned before, since there’s no 3.5mm audio jack, you can use a USB DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) to get an audio output for headphones or older sound systems. One video specifically showed this working perfectly, just plug and play.

Wi-Fi performance with the new Wi-Fi 6 seems pretty good too. Generally haven’t had issues with dropouts or slow speeds, with one showing a speed test that was respectable for their connection, though another noted they’ve seen better Wi-Fi performance on other devices. It handles Bluetooth connections for gamepads and multiple audio devices well. You can connect, say, headphones and a speaker at the same time, but you have to choose which one plays the audio – it won’t output to both simultaneously.

Software and User Experience

Looking at the software side of things, the Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen) runs Google TV, which is essentially Android TV 14 with Google’s user-friendly layer on top. It’s the latest version you can get on these kinds of devices, same as what the newer Google TV Streamer uses.

The Google TV interface itself is pretty visual. You’ve got a “For You” tab right at the front that shows you recommendations from your apps, your favorite apps, and a bunch of content suggestions. There are also dedicated tabs for movies and series, and a library that pulls together stuff you’ve bought or downloaded. It’s designed to make finding something to watch pretty straightforward.

You get the Google Play Store, of course, but it’s the version tailored for TVs. This means you’ll find most of the big media consumption apps and some utilities. If there’s an app you want that isn’t on the TV Play Store, you can sideload APK files (Android app installation files) pretty easily. One video walks you through it: you just need to go into settings, find the build number in the system information, click it seven times to enable developer options, and then you can use a file explorer to install APKs you’ve downloaded from other places. This opens up a lot more possibilities.

Xiaomi also throws in its own app called Xiaomi TV+. This is a free service packed with various channels, offering all sorts of content in different languages, including Spanish and English. It’s a nice little bonus if you’re looking for extra stuff to watch without paying more. Some might prefer how Google TV organizes content, but having both options is good.

Since it’s Google certified, Chromecast built-in is part of the package. It works perfectly for mirroring your phone or tablet screen to the TV, or casting content from compatible apps. Miracast is also there.

A neat software addition is the Google Home panel. You can access this directly from the TV box to control your smart home devices – lights, cameras (even non-Google ones), thermostats, whatever you have connected to your Google Home setup. It’s handy to manage that stuff right from your TV screen.

The remote control is a key part of the experience. It’s pretty much identical to the one from the previous generation – a Bluetooth remote that feels compact and has a straightforward layout. You get a D-pad for navigation, buttons for power, Google Assistant (for voice commands), volume, home, back, and a dedicated button for Xiaomi TV+. Plus, there are four shortcut buttons for popular services like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video. The voice control for Google Assistant works well for searching or giving commands. The remote also has an IR blaster, so you can program it to control your TV’s power and volume, which is super convenient for reducing remote clutter.

There are a few energy modes you can choose from in the settings, including an “optimized” and “high” mode that keep the network connection active even when the TV box is in standby. This is useful for some things, but I note a specific issue: if you’re using the TV box as a Tailscale VPN node to share streaming accounts (a niche but clever use case), that VPN connection unfortunately drops when the box goes into standby. It seems the “network active” feature in standby is only for certain specific functions.

Finally, software updates. This is always a big question with Android devices. If getting the absolute latest updates super fast is your top priority, a Google-branded device like the Chromecast with Google TV will usually be first in line. With Xiaomi, it’s a bit of a mixed bag historically, but looking at past generations, the expectation is that this 3rd gen box will probably get a couple of major Android version updates during its lifespan.

The Good, The Bad, and The Nitpicks 

The Verdict

So, after digging through all the details, the big question remains: is this Xiaomi TV Box S 3rd Gen actually worth your cash in the current market? For folks looking for a capable 4K streaming box that won’t make their wallet cry, the answer seems to be a pretty resounding yes. This thing really shines in the budget category. It brings a noticeable performance boost, especially with that much-improved GPU, making everything from navigating menus to launching apps feel zippier. The jump to 32GB of storage is a massive quality-of-life improvement, finally giving you enough space for plenty of apps.

It ticks a lot of the right boxes for modern streaming: Wi-Fi 6, comprehensive support for 4K HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and audio goodness with Dolby Atmos and now DTS:X. Running the latest Google TV (Android 14) ensures a smooth, up-to-date user experience, and being fully certified means all your key streaming services will work as they should, in the best possible quality. Features like Auto Frame Rate and the AI-SR, while maybe not game-changers for everyone, are nice additions at this price point.

If you’re upgrading from an older TV that’s lost its smarts, or even from an older, slower streaming box (especially a previous Mi Box with only 8GB of storage), this 3rd gen model will feel like a significant upgrade. It’s also a great pick for a secondary TV, or for anyone who just wants a reliable, feature-packed streamer without overspending.

However, it’s not perfect for absolutely everyone. If you’re a power user who really pushes your devices with heavy multitasking, the 2GB of RAM might eventually feel like a constraint. Those who absolutely need the fastest possible speeds for large local file transfers or a rock-solid gigabit wired connection might be disappointed by the USB 2.0 port and the lack of built-in Ethernet (though the USB adapter workaround is there). And if you absolutely must have a 3.5mm audio jack without using an adapter, this isn’t the box for you.

Ultimately, Xiaomi seems to have nailed the value proposition once again. It delivers a high-end streaming experience on most fronts, with features often found in more expensive devices, all while keeping the price very aggressive. It’s easy to see why we’re calling it one of, if not the, best budget TV boxes currently available. It just offers a whole lot of bang for your buck.