Xiaomi TV Stick 4K is here and a viable Chromecast with Google TV alternative

Xiaomi may not have its smartphones in North American stores, but that doesn’t mean it has no presence here. Its media streamers — specifically the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick — have been very popular.

Now, a sequel to that product is official. The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (note the drop of “Mi” from the name) is listed on Xiaomi’s global website (h/t Android TV Guide). It shows what the device looks like and dishes out its specs and features.

Xiaomi TV Stick 4K

As one would expect, the star feature of the device is 4K support. The Mi TV Stick maxed out at 1080p, so this alone makes it worth a look for folks with 4K televisions.

The device also comes with a physical remote, which looks similar to the one that came with the Mi TV Stick. The imagery suggests it will have preset Netflix and Amazon Prime Video buttons, but those could be changed for different regions. The remote also has a dedicated Google Assistant button for issuing voice commands.

See also: The best media streaming devices you can buy

Google Assistant is on board thanks to Android 11 shipping with the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K. Obviously, Android 12 is here now, but even Google’s own media streamer doesn’t have it yet.

Speaking of which, this new streamer’s closest competitor is that Google device, the Chromecast with Google TV. The feature set, codec support, and software all closely align.

Traditionally, Xiaomi undercuts the competition with its pricing. As such, we expect this device to be much cheaper than the $50 Chromecast with Google TV. How much cheaper and where and when you’ll actually be able to get one, though, remains a mystery for now. Stay tuned, as we’re sure Xiaomi will announce this information shortly.