What is the best cheap dongle for your TV in 2026?

Although it is true that 4K dominates marketing, HD streaming is still the king of the second homes, bedrooms and old TVs who refuse to die. If you want to convert a standard television into smartwith a simple dongle you can achieve it and for less than 50 euros.

Today, there are two devices of this type that are leaders: the Fire TV Stick HD and the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen). We confront both throughout this post so that you can choose one of them to give a second life to an old television that you have at home.

Technical data sheet of the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) and the Fire TV Stick HD

At first glance, in this comparison table you can already see how these are similar and what they are not. dongles. But so that you are clearer about the best option for your TV (and your own tastes and needs), we are going to delve into their differences.

Software and philosophy: customization or recommendation?

This is the main difference between both models, since you are not buying just hardware but you are choosing the operating system that you will see every time you turn on the screen.

The Xiaomi device works under the latest version of Google TV. One of its great advantages is neutrality, since Google recommends content based on what you seewithout aggressively prioritizing its own platform. In addition, having Chromecast integrated is a lifesaver, since you can send content from your mobile directly, with just one touch.

Instead, the Fire TV Stick HD uses Fire OS. Here, you could say that Amazon is the owner and this shows. The interface is fluid, but designed for you to consume Prime Video content. One of its strong points in 2026 is its integration with home automation.

So if you have a smart home with the Alexa ecosystemyou can see who is knocking at your door (if you have a Ring video doorbell) or ask the voice assistant to turn off the lights in the living room, for example. Of course, you have to be prepared to see banners of advertising for their own series on the home screen, something that not everyone likes.

The controller: the physical connection with the content

Both controls They work via Bluetooth (which prevents you from having to point them directly at the TV); The sensations of use are different.

Xiaomi bets on the extreme minimalism. Its buttons are very quiet and have dedicated shortcuts. Of course, Google’s voice assistant delivers, but sometimes it may seem a little slower, especially when processing complex requests.

On the contrary, Amazon’s command is already a reference. Is ergonomic, robust and the button intended for Alexa works instantly. Voice search allows natural commands and the system gets it right.

Performance and memory management

On paper, both devices are entry-level, although there are some differences in performance.

Don’t be fooled by the RAM numbers, which are still frozen at 1 GB in both models. The secret of this renewal (in the case of Xiaomi) is purely hardware: the processor makes the leap in architecture A53 to A55while the graphic section is modernized from a Mali-450 to Mali-G31 MP2. How does this show up on a day-to-day basis? It doesn’t change the number of apps you can keep in the background, but rather the pure speed at which the stick responds.

Both models, on the other hand, decode the AV1 codecsomething vital in 2026. This means that it allows you to watch HD streaming with superior image quality while consuming 30% less data. If your connection is unstable or you use your mobile as a hotspot, AV1 can significantly reduce interruptions during playback

In this section we would also have to talk about connectivity. Here the Amazon Fire TV Stick stick out his chest with his WiFi 6 compatibility (compared to WiFi 5 of the Xiaomi model). If you have a modern router at home, the connection is stronger and has less latency, something you will notice a lot, especially if you use cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or Amazon Luna.

Why buy the Xiaomi Stick HD (2nd Gen)?

Although still It is not officially for sale in Spain (at the moment we have only found it on Powerplanet for 59.99 euros), if you want to wait to get it dongle from the Chinese manufacturer in other stores, these are the reasons why it would be worth waiting to buy it.

• You send a lot of content from the mobilelsince the built-in Chromecast is much more stable than Amazon’s mirroring system. It’s perfect if you project photos from your gallery, videos from social networks or Chrome tabs to your TV.
• Do you like to enjoy a Clean interface without intrusive ads.
• Want customize your home screen to the millimeteruse apps that are not in official stores or you want full access to the Google Play Store.
• You live in the Google ecosystem and control your lights, cameras or speakers using Google Assistant. The integration is native and much more natural.

Why buy the Fire TV Stick HD?

The Fire TV Stick HD (2026) is now available in the US for $34.99, but still It does not have an official release date in Spainalthough the price of your new streaming device appears in the Amazon store: 49.99 euros. These are the reasons why I would encourage you to choose this device over the Xiaomi one.

• You are an Amazon Prime user and your main consumption is Prime Video and you want the smoothest experience possible within that catalog.
• You are looking for simplicity, especially for older people. The Fire TV Stick’s control and its voice search with Alexa are more fluid than those of Xiaomi.
• Your WiFi is somewhat unstablesince thanks to the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6 In this new 2026 model, the Amazon device manages interference much better in apartments with many neighbors, avoiding annoying loading interruptions in the middle of a movie or series.
• You have a smart home with Alexa. If you use Ring cameras or echo speakersthe Fire TV Stick will be an extension of them. You can ask him to show you who is at the door and you will see the camera in the corner of the TV (PiP) while you continue watching your favorite series or movie.

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Images | Amazon and Xiaomi

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