SOME WORDS OF WARNING TO THOSE CONSIDERING THIS
I had the previous box and I loved it but ended up getting rid out of due to a handful of frustrations that came along with it. I can't say for sure that this new model has the same problems, but I suspect that they haven't changed at all since they are not hardware issues (the hardware seems the same anyway) and not all specifically Mi Box issues either. The problems I can remember are:
The Chromecast built-into Android TV is not functionally the same as a physical Chromecast. Casting certain apps to it doesn't actually "cast" them at all. This is not specific to the Mi Box, but seems to be the case with Android TV boxes and Android TV televisions. This also limits what Google Assistant can do in some cases.
Casting Netflix results in the built-in Netflix App being remote-controlled, instead of cast. When that works it's great and you cant even tell. When it doesn't work you want to throw your phone at the TV. And it will fail to work a lot of the time if you don't live alone, because if the built-in Netflix app was last used by a different Netflix profile than the one trying to cast something, it will usually shit the bed on you and require you to find the remote and switch Netflix profiles on the TV.
When the Mi Box goes to sleep, it takes down the Chromecast with it! This was the worst part of it. I bought a Mi Bax specifically so that I would have a Chromecast + a remote-based UI for guests/kids/emulators/etx. But you simply cannot cast while the box is sleeping. You can try to avoid sleeping the box but then you lose the convenience of using just a single remote (the Mi Box remote) and have find your TV remote to turn off the TV alone. But wait! If you are using HDMI-CEC, which you need to in order for casting to turn on your TV and set the input automatically, then your TV will turn off the Mi Box with it! I tried playing with the HDMI-CEC options but there are no options that help.
I can't recall the other unresolved others issues I had. Hopefully they've remedied them or will remedy them soon. However only the 3rd point above is something that can be addressed by Xiaomi. The others are Google's and or Netflix's to resolve, and they are not quick to fix things. It took years to be able to ask the Google Home/Assistant to cast things to Netflix on Android TV (probably a similar issue to my 2nd point above). It worked fine on Chromecast.
As to not be all doom and gloom.. one area where the Mi Box works better then a Chromecast is HDMI-CEC volume control, which came in an update on the model I owned. The original firmware used software volume control (like Chromecasts do) which is not ideal. Also the box was generally fast and fun to use. I loved the size and feel of the remote. It's such a great product. Easily would choose it over a Roku or a Chromecast if it weren't for the issues I mentioned. It's so close to being perfect.
Also for those asking, yes you can install Steam Link, and RetroArch, and Kodi, and many other things. They are in the Android TV/Google Play Store. And things that aren't in that don't appear in the store can be sideloaded. Many regular android apps work fine. Bluetooth controllers such as the Xbox One S controllers work great in RetroArch etc as well.
To those saying that they'll stick with Roku.. I don't know what your point is. The video is targeted towards people who are thinking of getting or already own a Chromecast. I have a Roku as well, but it's gone to live with my parents. They're great. Very simple to use. They just work. Chromecasts work differently and have more capabilities.
To those saying they'll stick with Shield TV.. well.. of course you would. It's a higher end Android TV device! Why would you downgrade to a lower end Android TV?
