Why Video Lags?

14 October 2019

# MiBox S,  Video lags, Developer Option

Introduction

Many devices such as TV boxes,   users often experienced video lags when watching TV programs streamed from YouTube or Netflix or Kodi.  They suspected that their TV devices were the cause.  This suspicion will get stronger when they tried using other similar devices without any problem.   This article will try to explain why and attempt to describe what to do next.

Why Video Lags?

Before the TV can display a signal on the TV from the Ethernet plug,  the signal must go through several processing units as shown above.  In this complicated signal processing,  there will be video display lags.  If the delay is below 100 mseconds,  it will not be noticeable;    otherwise,  one would experience video lags such as a character “jumpings” or video “tearings” all over the screen.

What can be done?

It will depend on the make of the device and what component is the cause. The work can be time frustrating and time consuming  This article will take MiBox S as an example to solve the problem.

What is MiBox S?

It is a set top TV box developed by Xiaomi.  They have a Global model called MiBox S commonly used in countries outside China.  The box has an Amlogic 905X Soc Chip,  allowing 4K YouTube video plus Netflix video to be played.   It has a built-in Chromecast.  It is very cheap and uses Android TV OS.

What was found?

Many MiBox users tried all sort of  known methods and not able to solve the video lag problem. This is because many did not know there is a setting hidden in the Developer Module.   Most would just simply do a Factory Setting,  requiring reinstatement of installed apps again and again.

How to access this Developer Module?

Step 1 : In the main setting,  tap [About]

Step 2 : In the next picture shown in the [About] page,   tap on the [Build] tab on and off for about 7 time continuously.   Mibox will notify that the box is in [Developer] mode

Step 3:  One can check the  showing of the [Developer] mode in the main setting page

What is the use?

There are many hidden settings in this Developer mode that can mess up the Mibox operation;  for this reason,  the settings are always hidden.    However,  there is one setting change found to be useful to solve video lag in Mibox.

Step 1:  Tap the [Developer Option] as shown above and scroll down until one reaches this tab called [Don’t keep activities]

 Step 2 :  Turn this on if it is off as shown above

Why this works?

For some reasons,  Mibox likes to keep a log of  the activities when one visited a site or used a an app.  Some of these activities accumulated over time and eats up the memory. When the memory runs out of free space,  it causes video lags. 

Will there be Repercussion?

Some commented that this change might cause some videos to freeze but others said they have not experienced any problem.