Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is already in Czechia. Is it even worth it?

Streaming devices today represent an elegant way to breathe new life into an older TV without smart features. Instead of buying a new smart TV, it’s enough to invest a thousand crowns in a small adapter that brings a full-fledged operating system with thousands of applications to the HDMI port. This segment is now being strengthened in Czechia by another new product. The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen), which the manufacturer globally introduced at the end of March, is now also available here. It can be purchased for 1,199 CZK, but it’s questionable whether it wouldn’t be better to invest directly in the 4K model even if your TV doesn’t support such high resolution.

A leap forward compared to the first generation

The second generation of the adapter in the HD edition brings several significant changes compared to the original Mi TV Stick, which has been a popular cheap choice in Czechia for years. The most significant new feature is the quad-core Cortex-A55 processor, which replaces the older Cortex-A53. Xiaomi states a 38% performance increase compared to the first generation. The GPU Mali-G31 MP2 handles graphics.

Under the hood, there has also been a change in the operating system. Instead of Android TV 9.0, Google TV is running here, offering a more modern interface with personalized recommendations and easier navigation across applications. Support for HDR10+ for better dynamic range display, DTS:X audio decoder, and AV1 video decoder, which has become a standard for most streaming services, has also been added. Bluetooth has moved from version 4.2 to 5.0, and dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz) remains.

Specifications and package contents

The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) features 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage. The maximum output resolution is 1080p at 60 Hz; lower modes 720p and 1080i are also supported. The adapter’s dimensions are 107.4 × 30 × 14 mm, and its weight is 44 grams, which is slightly more than the 28.5 grams of the original Mi TV Stick.

Connection to the TV is provided by one HDMI port, power goes through Micro USB. In the box, besides the stick itself, you will find a remote control with a Google Assistant button, an HDMI extension cable, a USB power cable, and a user manual. A power adapter is not included in the package – Xiaomi recommends using a standard 5V/1A adapter or a USB port on the TV.

Pay attention: The 4K version might be more worthwhile

If you are considering a purchase, you should not overlook its more expensive sibling. The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) currently costs 1,169 CZK on Alza. For a slight surcharge, you get significantly better features – not only 4K resolution, but also 2 GB of RAM instead of one, a more powerful 6nm chipset, and Wi-Fi 6 for faster wireless connectivity.

Furthermore, the more expensive model supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, while the HD version has to settle for HDR10+ and Dolby Audio. Bluetooth in the 4K version is standard 5.2 compared to 5.0 in the HD model. From a paper comparison, the 4K version thus emerges as a significantly better choice in almost all respects.

Would you get the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen), or would you rather pay extra for the 4K version?