Xiaomi Mi Box brings Android to your TV (pictures)

Feel like the world doesn't need another set-top box? Xiaomi begs to differ.

Its Mi Box, shown off here at the Google I/O conference, runs off of Google's Android TV platform and can stream 4K video onto the TV.

Xiaomi's VP of International, Hugo Barra, shows off the puck. It does everything that an Android TV does and will receive all the same updates.

In addition to playing music and movies from a variety of services, the Mi Box has Google's Chromecast technology built-in, which means it can fling whatever you're watching on your phone to the TV's larger screen.

Barra didn't disclose pricing or a release date -- it's coming to the US, but no word on a UK or Australian release. He does say he thinks it'll be "interesting" compared to rival offerings.

Running on a quad-core processor, the Mi Box has 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, and both a USB and HDMI 2.0a port.

Speak into this controller to search for shows and games on the TV.

Barra demonstrates how that works.

This game controller accessory won't come in the box (you have to buy it separately), but it will connect to a variety of TV models.

Here's a closer look.

Xiaomi faces stiff competition in this space from companies such as Roku and Nvidia. Learn more about what you can see and do on the Mi Box here.