At the annual Google I/O conference keynote, Xiaomi announced today that it is working closely with Google to soon launch 4K Mi Box the is powered by Android TV.
In addition, Google VP Clay Bavor also announced that Xiaomi will be one of Google’s first Android partners to commit to making Daydream-ready devices in collaboration with Google. Daydream is Google’s platform for high performance mobile VR, built on top of Android N.
Mi Box supports 4K UHD video content playback at 60 frames per second, for the sharpest image quality and smoothest video playback. In addition, Mi Box supports the latest HDR10 standard (to be enabled from Android N onwards) and the updated HDMI 2.0a specification.
With supported content being made available by leading content providers such as YouTube, Netflix, Vudu and FandangoNOW, high dynamic range (HDR) TV technology promises improvements in color and contrast, delivering a significant leap in picture quality.
Equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU and Mali 450 GPU, as well as 2GB DDR3 RAM and 8GB eMMC flash, Mi Box provides powerful performance for a smooth streaming and gaming experience. Users can also add as much additional storage as they need to Mi Box via USB.
Mi Box also delivers rich and vibrant audio with Dolby Digital Plus and DTS Surround Sound, creating a cinema-like experience right within the living room.
Google Play, YouTube and many apps
Users have no lack of entertainment options in 4K and HDR on Mi Box thanks to Google Play for Android, where popular streaming apps such as Netflix and Hulu can be downloaded. Mi Box ships with the official YouTube app, which offers a wide range of support for 4K and HDR content for a great viewing experience. Mi Box will also come with video and music streaming apps that offer special perks, including Sling TV, Pandora, Vudu, and more to be announced.
With personalized recommendations on Google Play, YouTube and other apps appearing automatically on the home screen, users can effortlessly discover new favorite content. Mi Box also has built-in Google Cast technology that lets users easily cast TV shows, movies, music and games from their mobile device to the big screen — thousands of Cast-enabled apps are available for Android and iOS.
Hugo Barra, Vice President, Xiaomi Global said: “This is a significant milestone for Xiaomi and I am really excited to be working closely with Google to bring such a great product to our fans in the US. I believe US consumers will truly enjoy the Android TV experience on Mi Box, which brings stunning 4K HDR video and a wide variety of content to your living room.”
Mi Box will launch first in the US, with other global markets to follow. Details about its availability and pricing will be announced soon.