Weekly Rewind
Xiaomi Mi Box review: The cheapest 4K HDR streaming box on the market comes from two names you might not know about. The hardware comes from Xiaomi, a Chinese electronics vendor that’s yet to make major inroads in the United States, while the software is Android TV, the Google-owned video platform that’s always playing second fiddle to Chromecast.
While Google’s platform still has its issues, the Mi Box’s combination of 4K HDR video, solid performance, and built-in Google Cast capabilities add up to a compelling package at $70. This is the first Android TV box with some mainstream appeal.
Chromecast Ultra review: Google’s first attempt at a premium Chromecast does exactly what it sets out to do: 4K HDR video, shorter load times, and an ethernet port for wired connectivity. The problem is that the allure of Chromecast diminishes as the price creeps upward.
For the same $70 as the Ultra, for instance, you can get the aforementioned Mi Box, which like Chromecast lets you launch videos from a phone, tablet, or desktop Chrome browser. The 4K Fire TV is just $20 more, and for $100, the Roku Premiere+ has a better 4K HDR app selection than any other device out there. The Chromecast Ultra isn’t a bad product, it’s just less purposeful than its $35 sibling.
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