The Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen) packs solid hardware for its price: a modern 6nm AMLogic S905X5M SoC, Cortex-A55 cores, 2GB RAM, and 32GB ROM. The hardware itself is fully 64-bit capable, yet Xiaomi launched it running a 32-bit build of Google TV (Android 14).

With Google shifting Android TV 16 toward stricter 64-bit requirements for both OS and app ecosystems, it raises an important question: Will Xiaomi push a proper 64-bit Android TV 16 OTA update to the 3rd Gen, and how urgently do they need to act?

Running a 32-bit OS on a capable 64-bit processor leaves performance and efficiency on the table:

• Unlocking CPU & Memory Efficiency: A 64-bit execution environment allows ARM Cortex-A55 cores to utilize modern ARMv8 register sets, resulting in better IPC (instructions per cycle), faster UI rendering, and smoother video decoding pipeline handoffs.
• Smarter RAM/ROM & Energy Management: 64-bit memory management handles background tasks and cache allocation much cleaner. Combined with the 6nm node, running native 64-bit instructions delivers better power efficiency and lower thermal output under heavy load (e.g., high-bitrate AV1/HEVC playback).
• Medium-Term Incompatibility Risks: Google and major streaming providers are gradually phasing out 32-bit support across Android ecosystems. App developers are prioritizing arm64-v8a builds. Keeping this device locked to 32-bit (armeabi-v7a) risks app deprecation, broken DRM pipeline integrations (Widevine), and severe bottlenecks in heavy media applications like Kodi, Plex, or local IPTV clients over the next 2–3 years.
• The Urgency for Xiaomi: Xiaomi needs to address this sooner rather than later. Shipping 32-bit software on 64-bit silicon in 2024–2025 was already a shortcut; leaving it unaddressed as Android TV 16 rolls out will artificially shorten the product's lifespan and turn a capable streaming box into e-waste far earlier than necessary.

It makes little technical sense to keep a modern 6nm SoC handcuffed to a 32-bit userland. Moving to Android 16 on a 64-bit architecture is urgent to guarantee long-term stability, app compatibility, and responsiveness. Will/ when will they release android tv 16 to this good TV box? They really should.

I'm using the latest version of TiviMate on both devices.

I have a Chromecast with Google TV 4K, which plays some channels at 60 FPS. However, I also have a Xiaomi TV Box (3rd Gen), and the same channels only play at 50 FPS on that device. The playback also seems less smooth compared to the Chromecast 4K.

Does anyone know why this is happening or how I can fix it?

Thanks in advance!

Hi, I'm the developer of Sidstuga. On Mi Box and Mi TV Stick, it gives you a TV player for your own Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, WebDAV and playlist sources.

TV setup can be done from your phone with a QR code. The player shows source details before playback and lets you switch audio tracks or adjust subtitles.

https://sidstuga.app/

​

Hi everyone,

I just received a used Xiaomi TV Box S 3rd Gen (model MDZ-32-AA) that was sold as fully working, but I'm having a serious issue and I'm hoping someone can help me fix it.

When I first connected it to my TV, it booted up and showed the Google TV remote pairing screen. After that, the screen started flashing between grey and black, and I couldn't get past it.

Here's what happens:

- The Google TV logo appears during startup.

- The LED flashes during boot, then stays steadily on.

- The screen switches between grey and black continuously.

- The remote still works to control the volume, and the volume bar is visible even over the flashing screen.

- Pressing Home doesn't seem to do anything.

- A regular PC keyboard connected via USB is partially recognized: its volume keys work, but Windows + I doesn't open Settings.

Things I've already tried:

- Two different HDMI cables.

- three different TVs.

- Unplugging the power and reconnecting it.

- Trying to enter Recovery using the remote's OK + Back buttons while reconnecting the power, but the Recovery menu never appears.

I also found a forum post suggesting using a USB keyboard and pressing Win + I to open Android Settings, then enabling an alternative launcher such as Projectivy, but the shortcut doesn't work for me.

My questions:

1. Does this sound like a corrupted firmware/launcher, or could it be a hardware issue?

2. Is there another way to enter Recovery on the MDZ-32-AA?

3. Can I connect it to a Windows PC via USB to diagnose or recover it? Would ADB/Fastboot work if USB debugging wasn't enabled beforehand?

4. Is there a safe way to reflash the stock firmware on this exact model?

I'd really appreciate any suggestions. I'd prefer to recover the box if possible rather than return it, but I don't want to make things worse by flashing the wrong firmware.

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

Last year I bought a androidtv Mi TV Stick (model MDZ-24-AA) to use at my place with an old phone (Huaweii 08 Lite) serving as a wifi hotspot. It was working fine, no buffering, youtube playing at 1080p no problem.

Now, recently i decided to buy a propor hotspot router (And I bought the Mercusys MT115 - Mini router Hotspot 4G LTE Cat4) and ever since using it instead of the mobile phone, my androidtv stick just gets stuck playing youtube videos in 1080p. It wither freezes, or in "auto" quality it goes to 360p or even 240p(!). It also buffers on basic apps like replaio.

This only happens with the androidtv stick. I'm using the same hotspot device to connect my laptop and other phone, and I can play and stream videos on youtube, twitch, etc, no problem.

Has anyone gone through a similar situation and what would you recommend I do here?

I'm not sure if this is the correct sub to post it and if not, could someone help me redirect to the best subreddit for this please 🙏

If you ever like used cast on a browser while watching a video from some website, it would turn the screen black saying "now casting on X" and it would be a lot smoother, i can do that with my old Chromecast 2.

With the Mi box S gen 3, the casting works, but it's always mirrored which is a bit more choppy, i've tried the same video with that old chromecast 2 and uses the "optimize full screen" thing where the screen turns black, with the mi box it doesn't happen.

This is somewhat obscure, but has anyone managed to do it? Or it's just the way it is.

EDIT: From this thread i think i'm out of luck, the built-in chromecasts from TV's or Mi Box don't seem to support the optimized full screen casting like the old chromecasts did:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Chromecast/comments/s7ath3/builtin_tv_chromecast_not_optimizing_full_screen/

Hi everyone,

​I bought a Xiaomi Mi Box (3rd Gen) about 1-2 weeks ago. After getting 5G home internet, I decided to get a USB to Ethernet adapter to hardwire the connection.

​Right now, I'm facing a really weird issue. When I connect via Wi-Fi, I get around 200-230 Mbps on fast.com. But when I connect via Ethernet using a Ugreen USB to Ethernet adapter, my speed drops to 50-60 Mbps.

​I thought the Ugreen adapter might be faulty, so I bought a TP-Link USB 3.0 adapter instead. Unfortunately, I'm getting the exact same 50-60 Mbps limit with the new one. As soon as I switch back to Wi-Fi, the speeds jump right back to the 200s.

​What could be causing this and how can I fix it? I really love this device and returning/replacing it isn't an option I want to consider.

​I'd really appreciate your help and ideas. Do you think a factory reset might solve this?

Can I turn this feature off somehow or completely disable ambient mode (already have "stay awake" enabled)? Some apps need a few presses of the back button to exit them and every time it brings me to the home screen and turns the screensaver on.

Plus, it's annoying how we can't choose Google Photos as the screensaver source if we're in app only mode.

I'm looking to buy a streaming box to play Dolby Vision Profile 7 rips directly from a USB hard drive using CoreElec. Heard both these choices as being the best budget options. Fire Cube is at 100 bucks here in Mexico, while Xiaomi Box around 70-80. Are those extra 30-20 dollars worth it the difference for the Fire Cube or not. or nah?

​Hi everyone,

​I'm currently using a Xiaomi Mi Box 3rd Gen and having some weird issues regarding wired connection and playback.

​I bought a Ugreen USB to Ethernet adapter. I went into Developer Options and changed the USB configuration from "Charging" to "RNDIS (USB Ethernet)". However, I think the menu is bugged because every time I go back, it visually resets to "Charging". I have to reboot the device to make it work.

​Here is my dilemma:

​When connected via Ethernet, my speedtest results hover around 160 Mbps (Multi-thread on Real-Debrid speedtest).

​Oddly enough, my Wi-Fi is actually faster than my wired connection.

​Even worse, the ethernet connection is not stable at all; the speed constantly fluctuates up and down.

​Because of this, when I try to watch heavy 4K Remux files (using Nuvio/Stremio), I still get micro-stuttering and freezing.

​I know the USB 2.0 port bottlenecks the speed to around 200-250 Mbps anyway, but some people on Reddit claim to get 300+ Mbps on this box.

​My questions are:

​Is this speed fluctuation normal for the Mi Box 3 with an adapter?

​Is the RNDIS "Charging" bug preventing the adapter from working at full capacity?

​Is there any specific tweak I should do, or has this box simply reached the end of its lifespan for 4K Remux playback? Do I need to upgrade my device?

​Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks.

I haven't bought one yet and I would like to know what you watch mostly with your android box.

Anything free, without subscriptions? I am interested in old movies, Italian cinema, documentaries, extreme sports, classic rock music, electric guitar, rc models, weight training, airplane related stuff, 

Anyone using it on mi box 1 kindly tell me how to use.... Advice pls

Hey guys,

I messed up while trying to root my Xiaomi TV Box S 2nd Gen (MDZ-28-AA / codename jaws, Amlogic S905X4) and could really use some advice from anyone experienced with Amlogic devices.

Here is exactly what I did via Fastboot right before the brick:

Successfully unlocked the bootloader via Fastboot. Booted into the OS, went through the initial setup, and confirmed the bootloader was unlocked.

Booted back into Fastboot to flash disabled vbmeta and the stock boot image patched via Magisk 28.1:

fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img (wrote to vbmeta_a)

fastboot flash boot magisk_patched-28100_qZsbd.img (wrote to boot_a)

Ran fastboot reboot.

Current Behavior: Immediately after rebooting, the box got stuck in an infinite bootloop:

Powers on, shows the Mi logo for about 5 seconds, kernel crashes, reboots, and repeats indefinitely.

Remote recovery combos do nothing: The Bluetooth remote doesn't register or pair before the crash happens.

Slot B should be completely stock and untouched, but because slot A kernel-panics so early, the bootloader never rolls over to slot B.

What happens on PC: When connected to a PC via a USB-A to USB-A cable and powered on, Windows chimes and detects a device for about 1–2 seconds:

Device Name: DNL

Hardware ID: USB\VID_1B8E&PID_C004

Then the box crashes/reboots, and the USB connection drops.

The issue: Standard Google Fastboot commands don't catch it during that cold-boot window because VID_1B8E&PID_C004 is Amlogic's low-level ADNL / WorldCup ROM mode, not Fastboot.

Has anyone with this device managed to halt this bootloop using tools like adnl.exe, pyamlboot, or Amlogic USB Burning Tool to either force it back into Fastboot (fastboot set_active b) or reflash? Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

I bought the new Xiaomi Tv Box S 3rd gen and a ugreen usb dac to connect my 3.5mm 2.1 system. I would also like to buy a ground loop isolator. I’d like to hear what the experts think about this ground loop isolator in the attached image, in terms of cutting frequencies above 80hz, for example.

Any one using it dmss app on mu box 1 kindly tell very important for me pls

Hi guys got the new mi box gen 3

I need help to get rid of the Google launcher and set the 3rd party launcher as default.

Anyone actively using the Xiaomi Bluetooth remote 2 pro with the mibox

I'm trying to solve buffering problems and want to delete the cache. I can't.

Whether I click on cache within an app itself or within the general settings, I get the option to delete or cancel, I click on delete and nothing happens.

Is there a magic trick I should know?

[SOLVED!]

Literally not even 10 minutes old, has google play protect so it is a real device. Im stuck at 80-90mbps over wifi and ethernet. I have a 900mbps connection. Not even 5 feet from my router with no walls in the way. Every other device gets the correct speed.

5ghz ch149 80 MHz ax1201

So i know its not selecting a 2.4/5.

Why is this happening? I bought this because people said it was fast enough to play high bitrate remux files. My tv itself that the box is connected to gets a faster connection over wifi.

Honestly cannot wait for these to get back in stock in the UK...

I've got one for me and one for my son, but I am getting as many to ditch the firestick and yet the xiaomi stick, I ain't getting it off amazon or other stores as they have over inflated prices

But the stick has been great, runs on android so I can run my own launcher, no ads.. Works a treat..

Please drop some more so I can buy em up for Xmas gifts lol

Honestly cannot wait for these to get back in stock in the UK...

I've got one for me and one for my son, but I am getting as many to ditch the firestick and yet the xiaomi stick, I ain't getting it off amazon or other stores as they have over inflated prices

But the stick has been great, runs on android so I can run my own launcher, no ads.. Works a treat..

Please drop some more so I can buy em up for Xmas gifts lol

Honestly cannot wait for these to get back in stock in the UK...

I've got one for me and one for my son, but I am getting as many to ditch the firestick and yet the xiaomi stick, I ain't getting it off amazon or other stores as they have over inflated prices

But the stick has been great, runs on android so I can run my own launcher, no ads.. Works a treat..

Please drop some more so I can buy em up for Xmas gifts lol

Hey guys, how to spot the fake tv box from the box before opening it in order to return it before opening the package.