Xiaomi teams up with Google to bring the Mi Box Android TV set-top box in the US

Chinese company Xiaomi is looking to enter the US market, but it's not a smartphone that will mark this achievement. We reported last month that while Xiaomi plans to introduce a few of its smartphones in the United States, the first product the company will launch in the country is a set-top box.

Fast forward a few weeks and it looks like Xiaomi is testing the waters in the US with its new Mi Box Android TV set-top box. The new product is now available for purchase in the country for just $69, which is a great price considering its features.

For example, the Mi Box supports 4K Ultra HD video content playback at 60 fps (frames per second), so you'll be getting the sharpest image quality and smooth video playback. Moreover, the device supports the new HDR10 standard, which can be enabled from Android 7.0 Nougat onwards. This particular standard is supposed to improve colors and contrast to offer a much better picture quality when used with compatible TVs.

Xiaomi's Mi Box is packed with a quad-core ARM Cotex-A53 CPU and Mali 450 graphics processing unit, coupled with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. Naturally, users can add additional storage via USB. It's also worth mentioning the set-top box features Dolby Digital Plus and DTS Surround Sound for a more immersive audio experience.

Mi Box also benefits from Google technology since it comes with built-in Google Cast that allows users to share their small screens, casting TV shows, movies, music and games from the mobile device to bigger screens.

The sales package also contains a Bluetooth remote control that supports voice search and commands. This can also be used as a controller for the games available on Android TV.

“We are thrilled to bring Mi Box to our fans in the U.S. in collaboration with Google. This is a significant milestone for Xiaomi, as it is our first opportunity to demonstrate to consumers here in America the power of what makes Xiaomi extraordinary: our promise of innovation for everyone,” said Hugo Barra, Vice President, Xiaomi Global.