• expired

Xiaomi Mi Box 3 (Int'l) Android TV, Amlogic S905X, 2GB/8GB, 4K $56.49 US (~$75.33 AU) Shipped @ Lightinthebox

1751
MIBOX
This post contains affiliate links. OzBargain might earn commissions when you click through and make purchases. Please see this page for more information.

Found a coupon for this TV Box which has been very popular in the past and is a very capable media player. It's running Android TV OS with 2GB RAM, 8GB internal storage and powered by the Amlogic S905X Quad-Core CPU which is capable of 4K decoding up to 60fps.

Android TV supports a wide variety of apps including KODI, Youtube and Netflix. The device also supports a wide range of video including VP9 Profile-2, H.265, H.264, HDR10 and HLG HDR. The audio includes support for DTS 2.0+ Digital Out, Dolby Digital Plus and up to 7.1 pass through. Google Cast is integrated allowing you to stream video and music from your phone, tablet or laptop. Save time by using voice control on the remote to search more quickly.

  • Get the Xiaomi Mi Box for $56.49 (~$75.33 AU) with coupon MIBOX

Select Postal Service for shipping and untick duty tax/insurance at checkout to get the correct price.

UPDATE: Confirmed with Lightinthebox that this is the International Version (MDZ-16-AB) and not the Chinese version


Specifications

  • OS: Android TV 6.0
  • CPU: S905X Quad-core Cortex-A53 2.0GHz
  • GPU: Mali-450 750MHz
  • RAM: 2GB DDR3
  • Storage: 8GB eMMC
  • WiFi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band Wi-Fi 2.4GHz/5GHz
  • Bluetooth: 4.1
  • HDMI: 2.0a (HDCP 2.2)
  • USB: USB 2.0
  • AV: SPDIF Out / 3.5mm audio output

Update 10/5: Available again

Related Stores

LightInTheBox
LightInTheBox

closed Comments

  • +13

    This is one great price for an awesome device. Don't forget 9% cashback from CashRewards.

    • I forgot about the cashback….
      Thanks OP!

    • I thought cashewards cashback didn't get tracked if you used a coupon?

      • +5

        I just ordered and cashback tracked straight away. Got $7.15 cashback.

        • i can also confirm cashback works with coupon.

        • Don't you already have one :P
          Will need a tutorial from you on how to use this, Batraji! Beers on me! 😀

        • @alterego13:
          Yeah my brother also wanted one so ordered one for him.

      • There's no guarantee it will work but it's worked for me every single time without fail.

      • i accidentally clicked the lightinthebox link inthe post description before clicking cashrewards!? is there a prescribed way to now go through cash rewards to buy this?? or do i just clear cookies somehow? Can anyone advise the best way to get cash rewards to now track/work if i've already clicked through via the direct website?

        • From my understanding, if you've already made the order then there is nothing you can do.
          However lightinthebox.com allows you to cancel the order online (just login to lightinthebox.com and click 'orders', provide it hasn't already shipped). You can click through via cashrewards and re-order it to get the 9% cashback

        • @WaywardOne:

          Does reclicking through cashrewards pick up in the system though? Given you already accessed the website before hand (and this goes for any other CR website) doesn't it sense that you've visited the underlying website without CR prior to going through CR? I thought that was the issue in the past at least if you forgot to go through CR the first time you click through the website? Am not sure how long between your last visit it remembers this…

  • +6

    I've got a heap of Xiaomi products… but this may be one that I hold off on.

    From reading around on various places like reddit and the official Plex forums, it seems to have problems with audio in Plex, notably DTS passthrough, which looks to be a firmware issue - issues with it transcoding every single video or the A/V going out of sync etc.

    I'm not 100% sure if this has been addressed yet, but I use Plex almost exclusively so this is a deal breaker for me, for now.

    • +2

      I realise it requires the Plex Pass subscription right now, but I use the Plex plugin for Kodi(/SPMC) which is rock solid and has no issues with passthrough or hi-res audio or sync.

      That said, the biggest issue I have with the Mi Box is that its HDMI-CEC is screwy. If the box is powered off ARC is broken. Have to make sure the Mi Box is powered up when watching TV. Still happens with the Nougat beta too.

      • Good to know! At least Xiaomi are generally very good with updates so you'd imagine they'd sort out something sooner than later.

        I've a Philips soundbar that I used to use with ARC and had similar problems so I switched to optical out instead!
        Not a fan of ARC because of that!

      • +1

        You can also use the PlexKodiConnect addon with Kodi and that works flawlessly

    • Does anyone know how well this can handle mirroring the desktop? Chromecast 2 fails at this and can only just keep up at 720p but it lags every 2 mintues or so. 1080p and you can forget about it.

      This has a ton more RAM than the Chromecast 2, has anyone tried to mirror your desktop and play a movie? Does it play smoothly?

      • +1

        Why not just have the box play the movie? Playing a movie on a desktop and mirroring it is a very network traffic intensive way around.

        • For starters the Chomecast is incapable of playing any x265 videos as it is incapable of decoding it. Next is the issue of convenience, I can easily use unified remote to pause, play, next episode etc. Furthermore, it remembers the position of any of the last 20 files I played. This is a feature that is missing from any existing app like Plex or Netflix and I don't need an internet connection to watch my HD videos. I can also find and play any file on my computer without getting up from any position inside the house (even outside).

          Would be good if anyone who owns one could let me know the answer.

        • +2

          @supersabroso:
          If you run Kodi in the Xiaomi mi box it will remember where you are up to in every single file you play, and should work with a universal remote for the functions you want (or configure the included remote to do the same). It also does not require an internet connection and is happy to play off plugged in USB sticks or hard drives, or play off a shared network source.

          If you configure Kodi to use a central database, then any front end Kodi client will know where you are up to for any file played anywhere in the house.

        • @supersabroso:

          I don't understand your comment. Plex remembers where you are up to, and if you're mirroring your desktop, you're already re-encoding your h265 videos so why not have Plex transcode it and have no hiccups? And you don't need an internet connection to use Plex on your local network.

        • @dazweeja: Chromecast can't handle it without stutter. Plex is incapable of handling x265 or has that changed?

  • +2

    Cheers, just decided yesterday to grab one next time there was a deal…that was quick! :)

  • +10

    Awesome price!

    …and for those wanting better control over Kodi (eg: change the middle / select button to Play and Pause with a short press instead of a long press / double press), see here:

    https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2589689&…

    • I am personally finding SPMC to be a lot better. It's quicker and plays files over network better than Kodi.

      • Could you please tell me what do you do with SPMC?
        Do you add the normal fusion add ons?

        Sorry I am new to KODI and SPMC

        • +1

          Yep, in my usage, it is identical to Kodi.

          SPMC was started by a chap that was on the Kodi developer team, however, due to infighting, he left and started SPMC.

          SPMC has a strong focus on Android OS as the Kodi team aren't happy with supporting Android due to the flooding of 'Kodi boxes' on eBay.

          I use it for addons and for streaming from my NAS and the moment I switched, it just seemed a lot faster with less buffering.

          I've since uninstalled Kodi from my MiBox. Your mileage may vary, though.

        • @rorymeister:
          Didn't know this existed will give it a try.
          Thanks mate.

      • +1 for SPMC on our Google nexus player and it works great & it plays old tv rips very well we were using the WD HD Live with B Rad firmware but always had some shows that wouldnt play …. so thats why we got Nexus player .

    • +1

      Wow. Thanks for sharing this! I've been using XBMC/Kodi for about 10 years (since Xbox classic) and on my Mi Box this has been driving me crazy.

  • +4

    EU plug..

    • Probably a silly question but assuming you need to use it and it can't be powered just by USB?

    • +1

      hi dear, our system Automatic add the AU plug for every order, so you don't need worry about that

      • +1

        oh dear. lol.

        • Femail dear

      • just make it more clear, EU to AU Power Plug Adapter

        • I never received one in my order

  • +2

    What is this for?

    • +33

      You definitely need 2 then

      • +1

        LOL :D

      • +1

        Thanks, need to buy another TV…

  • Comes up as AU$80.78

    Subtotal( 1 item ):AUD $ 85.79
    (+) Shipping Charges: Free
    (-) Coupon Savings:AUD $ -5.01

    The coupon code "MIBOX " is valid! Your discount is AUD $ 5.01 (expiration date: 05/31/2017)

    Am I doing something wrong?

    • +8

      Their AU rate is somewhat inflated. It's usually better to pay in USD with a card using its own rate in PayPal. Cards like 28 Degrees and Citibank Plus don't have currency conversion fees.

      • Good deal mate.

        Paid via PayPal - chose USD then let PayPal do the conversion -

        $78.33 AUD

        $1.00 AUD = $0.721238193 USD

        Probably could've let the bank do the conversion but didn't seem to see the option to do so.

        • +1

          Probably could've let the bank do the conversion but didn't seem to see the option to do so.

          You have to pay from a card on your PayPal rather than from an attached bank account

        • @Agret:

          I did pay from a credit card connected to my account (28 degrees), not a bank account - didn't give me the option either. Had USD at the top, but the final payment at the bottom was converted by PayPal automatically.

        • +1

          @caprimulgus:

          You need to click on 'conversion rate options' then choose 'your provider rate'
          This will charge in USD at your nominated cards rate.

        • +3

          @caprimulgus:

          PayPal have recently made the PayPal conversion as default (sneaky!) so one needs to change it to "use source bank conversion" option by clicking "conversion rate options".

        • PayPal have recently made the PayPal conversion as default (sneaky!) so one needs to change it to "use source bank conversion" option by clicking "conversion rate options".

        • @batrarobin: I can't find "conversion rate options" where is it within PayPal?

        • @caprimulgus: my experience is same as you. Can't see any options anywhere to pick a conversion option.

        • +5

          @Vietsoldier:

          When you are making payment through paypal, it shows your this option just under where the amount is shown like the following :

          $78.33 AUD
          $1.00 AUD = $0.721238193 USD

          You need to click on the currency conversion rate shown in bold above.

        • +2

          @Vietsoldier: FOUND IT!!!! they bloody hide the ability to change the currency within this text "$1.00 AUD = $0.721238193 USD"

          If you click on the text the options to pick other conversion options appear!!! I have this problem all the time and now I've finally found out the fix. Bloody Sneaky!!!

        • @Vietsoldier: Thank you all! I did with my commonwealth bank debit card via paypal and finally shows AU$74.67, very good deal.

        • @Vietsoldier: Tried, unfortunately in my safari browser, click on the bold text only shows time and date, no other conversion options.

  • +1

    Sorry NFI but if I have a tv that I can already access Netflix, YouTube etc what are the other benefits of this?

    • +8

      Provides better media playback as the chipset is likely to be much better than what is found in your TV.

      • Awesome thanks. Sounds like a good enough reason to buy

        • +4

          H.265 hardware decompression at 2160p…

      • +3

        Android tv

    • +1

      A lot

    • Movies/TV Shows. Kodi.

    • +1

      KODI

      • Is there a quick way of describing KODI?

        • Yes. :) Longer answer: media player software

        • @Gav:

          Thanks!

  • +2

    Cheap. I've already got chromecast though. Any reason I should get this?

    • +9

      no

      • +2

        Haha, thank you.

    • +8

      This runs Android TV, it has a UI, a remote, and you can install apps on it. It has Kodi, Plex, netflix, etc. I much prefer that than using a phone to push media to a TV.

      • And it has Chromecast built in

        • Sorry - the 'google cast' function mentioned on listings is basically the same/is what you use to send to a chromecast normally? So a mobile with chromecast could push to this android tv box? Or any android tv box?

        • @SaberX:

          Correct

    • +2

      Kodi

  • Is the site decent or do you have to wait 3 months for delivery

    • +1

      They are decent sellers. Bought many items before, delivery range from 3-5 weeks.

      • not so decent delivery

        • cheap international post is always slow.

        • @maxdba: and interesting if you see the routes they take

  • +4

    This POS has so many issues with Netflix. The one I got was a dud. I have another coming in a few weeks. Hopefully that's not a dud either.

    I can't recommend this unit.

    Just google "Xiaomi Mi box Netflix"

    • Sorry but why did you order another one then? That does not make sense. The box is terrible, unfortunately I have got one!Netflix does not work even in hd, most apps need to be sideloaded and those don't work well. Better off with a chinese normal ones, cost a fourth of this and are much better imo.

      • I ordered one after the other, separately, from different stores - as I realised I needed 2 units. Had no way of testing one before I ordered the other due to the delay in delivery…

        • +3

          netflix works fine on mine, very happy with it, brilliant

        • +3

          @forenzic:

          Same here. Zero issues. Very happy with mine. Just wish it had Ethernet built in and one more usb.

        • +1

          @rorymeister: u can use an unpowered usb hub, i have a cheapie 4 port attached, no issues

        • +1

          @forenzic:

          I am going to get a usb Ethernet hub. If anyone can link one that works it'd be appreciated.

        • +3

          @rorymeister: Sorry for the late reply, I was posting on whirlpool about my experiences with USB 3 to Ethernet adapters (Ones that work and don't), and saw someone linking to this post about the MiBox 3, just noticed your question which I was posting about in Whirlpool (Sorry, I can make anything into war and peace).
          Anyway, there are many devices that say they are compatible for the MiBox3 to Ethernet and do not need drivers to work, but I purchased a couple on eBay that did not work, and the sellers ignored my questions afterwards ($9 and $10 each).
          I ended up buying two that did work, one also has three USB 3 sockets to add local drives or flash drives to the MiBox3 as well.
          Aliexpress and eBay have them if you search (Aliexpress is better with cashrewards, but eBay sellers look cheaper at this moment)
          http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ugreen-USB-3-0-Gigabit-RJ45-Ether…
          http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ugreen-3-Ports-USB-3-0-Gigabit-Et…
          or
          https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Ugreen-USB-Ethernet… and chashrewards makes it cheaper.
          I got mine when UGreen were having about 40% off on their Aliexpress store (Discounts change so often). These work without need for drivers, and I love the one with the 3 X USB3 sockets, like having a NAS with all the hard drives I have attached to it, plus fast internet on my Ethernet now. I was annoyed at wasting time and money on the cheaper ones that don't work (Life)

        • @Op54:

          Thanks for the response!

        • @Op54:

          Great post mate. For a non tech savvy - the links you posted: one can attach an USB hub to the mi box 3's usb port? It would then allow you to run Ethernet through this hub, and additional usb ports that can connect external hard drives and usbs for direct media? Is this correct? And would one usb port be able to push that much additional power through to a hub? Not sure how the whole physical technology side of things work - never knew this was possible?!

          Thanks ! :)

        • @SaberX: Some USB to Ethernet devices do not work with the MiBox, the ones I show above do. The one with the three USB sockets on it (All USB 3 speed, not that the MiBox is USB3 anyway), you can connect up to three USB hard drives or flash drives to the the Ugreen 3 port unit, it uses the power from the MiBox to run those drives. I currently have a Seagate 4TB (self powered) hard drive permanently connected to it, and of course that does not use any power from the MiBox, so that is no issue, the next port has a portable Toshiba 1TB drive in that draws power from the MiBox, and works without issue, the MiBox power runs that fine, then I use various other USB drives in the 3rd port, at the moment I have a 128GB USB3 flash drive, that that runs just fine using power from the MiBox to work, while also having the Toshiba 1TB plugged in. While running the MiBox3, when I run my media player (Kodi) on the MiBox, all three external drives are shown, and I can surf all media on all drives. It just works. With this device also connected to my Gigabit Ethernet through to my router (Other side of the house), I can also play media from my home PC, and from the attached NAS I have on that Router/ 4 port gigabit Switch.

          NOTE: that there will be a load limit that the power from the USB on the MiBox would not be able to drive, and I am sure if I connected up 3 external USB hard drives, that have standard hard drives (Not SSD) in them, and they were not self powered (Having their own plug packs), that the power draw would most likely start to cause stuttering, or one or more drives may not spin up, I have two un-powered USB drives (One a hard drive, the other a flash drive), and then one self powered 4TB drive, they work fine. I hope that war and peace above helped you a little.
          I love my MiBox3, way better than my old DuneHD3 media player that is around the $700 mark, this sub $100 player craps on the Dune Media Player. Best purchase in years (Just wish it had its own Ethernet socket, so I did not have to do all this stuff)

        • @Op54:

          Thanks for the feedback! very useful. I will probably get one of these usb to ethernet hubs then since I would only have one or so external non-self powered USB drives connected. It's more the ethernet ability and to connect one or two hard drives that would be of use? I only really need one or two USB ports than 3, but i guess this evergreen has been tried and tested. The first ebay link only gives the ethernet, and the second link gives 3 usbs, so there's nothing inbetween it seems in order to conserve costs?

          But anyway, good to know that this is even possible - never would have thought ethernet could transmit fine over an USB connector! I am now just trying to work out ordering my mi box - can't work out whether to bite the bullet and pay $25-28 more for the ability to get expedited shipping… but once i do I will definitely consider getting these USB hubs :)

      • Netflix works fine on mine. You don't need to sideload apps that are on Android TV, but obviously if they're not released on Android TV you'll have to sideload them.

        • What does sideload mean? Not available on the play store for android tv? Or are all apps on play store technically downloadable?

        • @SaberX: sideload means to basically download the app on your PC or from the web and then push it to your phone from there instead of from the Google play store. You can do this to install apps that aren't available in your region or aren't available for your device.

          The Google tv devices have a vastly smaller list of apps in their play store, so if you want to try an app that's not in there you have to sideload it. It's not guaranteed to work, but it could work well enough.

        • @MrFunSocks:

          Oh, i didn't know that works? on your mobile phone for example you used to get non compatible apps that didn't show up when you searched.. so if i had gone into chrome or firefox, and loadedt he play store I could have installed it onto my mobile phones then (may or may not work properly)? Or is it different when it comes to android tv (the ability to sideload) ?

        • @SaberX: You essentially do the same here, only Android TV doesn't have a browser as far as I know, so you'll need to install them to it some other way, usually via adb.

          You could sideload Chrome, and then probably install them the same way you did it on your phones through Chrome. I haven't done it so couldn't confirm though.

    • +3

      to quote 'refdaddy' on en.miui.com

      There is zero problems related to your MiBox!!!

      It is an absolute requirement for Netflix, in order to support 4K, EVERY piece of output equipment MUST support HDCP 2.2

      By your own testing, your output device fails to support the requirements specified by NETFLIX 4K streaming, ie HDCP 2.2

      Try if you have a different HDMI port which may correctly implement HDCP 2.2 security. Try at a friend who may have a more modern TV with legit >HDCP 2.2. support.

      Barring that, there are HDMI switches that can fake out Netflix to think your TV supports higher DRM levels. Maybe on page 16-18 of this thread by a >loser named Dr Pepper. Sorry, the bugger changed his name to kepnitral. He finally conceded that his TV was the problem and found a switch that >cured his issue.
      Here are his switch results

      """http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX55937This one is HDCP 2.2 compliant and my Netflix now works if I route through this box.
      http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/rocketfish-rocketfish-4k…

      There are other cheaper solutions on Amazon

      Netflix's requirements are much more stringent for AndroidTV boxes…

      It appears that the issue isn't actually with the box and more then likely with your TV.

Login or Join to leave a comment