In the fiercely competitive world of streaming devices, a new champion has emerged, and it’s not from one of the usual tech giants. Xiaomi, a brand long celebrated for delivering exceptional value, has done it again. The newly launched Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) is making waves, not just for its compact size and affordable $45 price tag, but for its raw performance that, according to fresh benchmarks, handily outperforms Google's own flagship streaming dongle.
For cord-cutters seeking a buttery-smooth streaming experience, this development is a game-changer. The age-old question of whether to prioritize brand loyalty or pure power is being answered with compelling data.
Benchmarks Don't Lie: A Clear-Cut Victory for Xiaomi
Independent testing, as meticulously documented by AFTVNews, puts the performance gap into stark relief. Using the industry-standard Geekbench benchmark, which measures a processor's computational power, the results are undeniable.
- The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) achieved an impressive single-core score of 1,078 and a multi-core score of 2,695.
- In a direct comparison, the Google TV Streamer 4K lagged behind, managing scores of 917 and 2,527, respectively.
This significant lead in CPU performance translates directly to a snappier user interface, faster app loading times, and more seamless multitasking. But the story doesn't end there.
GPU Performance: An Even Wider Gulf
Where the difference becomes even more dramatic is in graphics processing. Using the GFXBench T-Rex (Offscreen) test, a measure of a device's gaming and visual rendering capabilities, the Xiaomi stick scored a whopping 1,957.
The Google TV Streamer 4K, by comparison, managed a score of just 1,031. This near 2x performance advantage means the Xiaomi TV Stick isn't just better for streaming; it's a far more capable device for cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or NVIDIA GeForce NOW, delivering a smoother, more responsive gaming experience.
According to the detailed report from AFTVNews, this performance isn't a fluke. The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) shares its DNA with the Xiaomi Box S (3rd Gen) and the wildly popular Walmart Onn 4K Plus. All three are powered by the same potent heart: the Amlogic S905X5M system-on-a-chip (SoC). This common architecture explains their virtually identical benchmark scores and establishes the S905X5M as the new performance king in the budget streaming segment.
The Secret Sauce: The Amlogic S905X5M Chipset
The benchmark results make one thing clear: devices featuring the Amlogic S905X5M SoC represent a significant generational leap over older hardware used in competing products like the Google TV Streamer 4K. This chipset is the engine behind the lightning-fast performance, enabling support for all the modern video standards you'd expect, including AV1 codec decoding, which is crucial for efficient 4K streaming from services like YouTube and Netflix.
Global Availability and The Price-to-Performance King
This creates an interesting market dynamic. For US-based consumers, the Walmart Onn 4K Plus remains the undisputed price-to-performance champion at just $29. However, its availability is strictly limited to the United States.
For the rest of the world—Europe, Asia, and beyond—the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) is the new go-to recommendation. At approximately $45, it offers identical performance to the Onn device, bringing top-tier streaming power to a global audience.
Potential buyers should note one key specification: the TV Stick comes with 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage. For most users, this is perfectly adequate for a healthy library of apps. However, if you plan on downloading a large number of apps or games, you might want to consider its sibling, the Xiaomi Box S (3rd Gen), which for a slightly higher price, offers a much more generous 32 GB of storage.
The Verdict: A New Leader in the Streaming Stick Arena
The evidence is overwhelming. The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) isn't just a minor upgrade; it's a statement. It proves that you no longer need to pay a premium for top-tier performance in a streaming dongle.
While the Google TV Streamer 4K offers a clean software experience and the convenience of the Google ecosystem, its hardware is now demonstrably outclassed by this new, more affordable contender. For anyone outside the US, or for those who simply want the fastest-performing device for their money, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) is the new benchmark to beat.
Ready to supercharge your TV? You can check the latest price and availability for the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) on Amazon by following this link.
Post a Comment