If you are looking for a cheap, reliable way to turn an old TV, monitor, or projector into a modern smart entertainment hub, Xiaomi’s newly expanded streaming lineup has a brand-new contender.

The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) has officially made its global debut at £39.99 in the UK (around $53 USD).

But this release comes with a major twist. Xiaomi now offers both an HD and a 4K version of their second-generation sticks. While the 4K model boasts better raw specs, the budget-friendly HD version quietly holds a massive remote-control advantage that might make it the smarter buy for your bedroom or guest room TV.

Let’s dive into the specs, performance upgrades, and how these two sibling streaming sticks stack up.

What’s New in the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen)?

The second-generation HD model is a complete platform overhaul designed to run Google’s modern ecosystem smoothly on budget hardware.

1. Massive 38% CPU Boost & AV1 Decoding

The original Mi TV Stick was notorious for lag. Xiaomi has addressed this by swapping the outdated Cortex-A53 processor for a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 CPU paired with a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU.

According to Xiaomi’s internal lab benchmarks, this provides a 38% boost in CPU performance.

More importantly, the chip adds hardware-level AV1 decoding. AV1 is the modern, highly efficient video codec used by Netflix and YouTube. It uses significantly less bandwidth to stream high-quality video, preventing buffering on weaker Wi-Fi networks.

2. High Dynamic Range (HDR10+)

While the first-generation stick was strictly Standard Dynamic Range (SDR), the 2nd Gen HD stick adds HDR10+ support. If you plug this into a compatible television, it will dynamically pull far more detail out of dark corners and bright highlights.

3. Google TV & Netflix Certification

Unlike generic cheap Android TV boxes that require sideloading sketchy app files, the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is fully Google and Netflix certified. It runs Google TV out of the box, pulling content recommendations from all of your subscriptions directly onto a unified home screen.

The Hidden Advantage: HD vs. 4K 2nd Gen

Many buyers assume that spending more on the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) is an automatic upgrade. However the budget HD stick has a major physical advantage if you have an older TV:

The IR Blaster Quirk: The cheaper Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) retains an Infrared (IR) blaster on its remote, allowing you to easily control your TV’s power and volume directly. Shockingly, the more expensive 4K (2nd Gen) model dropped the IR blaster entirely, relying solely on HDMI-CEC. If your older TV doesn’t support CEC perfectly, the budget HD model actually offers a much better one-remote user experience.

Here is how the two devices compare side-by-side:

Feature / Spec	Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen)	Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen)
Output Resolution	1080p Full HD @ 60Hz	4K Ultra HD @ 60Hz
RAM	1 GB DDR4	2 GB DDR4
Storage	8 GB eMMC	8 GB eMMC
HDR Formats	HDR10+	Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Audio	Dolby Audio, DTS:X, DTS HD	Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS HD
Wireless	Dual-Band Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.0	Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.2
Remote IR Blaster	Yes (Controls TV power/volume)	No (HDMI-CEC only)
Est. Retail Price	~£39.99 / €49.99 / $53 USD	~€65.00 / $73 USD

The 1GB RAM Catch: What to Expect

While the upgraded processor makes navigating Google TV much smoother, Xiaomi kept the system memory capped at 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage for the HD model.

What does this mean for real-world use?

• The Good: For dedicated, single-app streaming (opening Netflix, YouTube, or Disney+ and hitting play), the stick performs flawlessly.
• The Bad: With only 1GB of RAM, this device is not built for heavy multitasking or mobile gaming. With 8GB of internal storage, you will have roughly 4GB to 5GB of usable space after the OS—enough for your core streaming apps, but heavy app collectors will quickly feel the storage squeeze.

Global Pricing & Market Availability

The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is rolling out internationally across multiple key regions:

• United Kingdom: £39.99
• Europe (Italy/Greece/Czechia/Poland): CZK 1,199 / €49.99
• Southeast Asia (Malaysia): MYR 239

(Note for US Buyers: While the HD model is designed primarily for global markets, it is easily importable, while the 4K 2nd Gen model is currently widely available on Amazon US for around $74.99).

Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

If you are trying to breathe new life into an older 1080p bedroom TV, guest room monitor, or a projector, the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) is the absolute best value on the market. Thanks to its built-in IR remote, it behaves like an integrated TV appliance, requiring only one remote to control everything.

However, if you have a main 4K television and want premium Dolby Vision visual processing, a faster Wi-Fi 6 connection, and 2GB of RAM for heavier multitasking, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) is well worth the extra cash.

If you are looking for a new streaming Android TV Box – Android TV Stick check out our guide for the best Android TV / Google TV streaming boxes for 2026 here.

Reclaim Your Speed: Exclusive 83% OFF IPVanish VPN Deal

To bypass network limitations and keep your viewing history private, running a robust network virtual private network (VPN) is absolutely mandatory on premium streaming boxes.

IPVanish remains the absolute gold standard for high-performance hardware like the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick 4K. Unlike stripped-down budget networks, IPVanish natively integrates with Google TV architectures to deliver uncompromised speeds capable of keeping up with the Xiaomi’s Mi TV Stick 4K processing power.

By securing your Mi TV Stick or Android streaming box with IPVanish, you get:

• Instant Throttle Prevention: Military-grade encryption completely hides your web traffic from your ISP. Because they can no longer see what data you are pulling, they cannot artificially slow down your connection during high-definition streams.
• Unmetered Freedom: A single subscription secures an unlimited number of simultaneous devices, shielding your entire ecosystem under one roof.
• RAM-Only Privacy: Your traffic data is never logged, kept, or tracked, ensuring your digital footprint remains entirely your own.

👉 Claim your exclusive 83% OFF deal and secure your streaming devices with IPVanish today!