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Xiaomi Mi mini router test

Xiaomi Mi Mini WIFi router test

Updated by Timo A on the 17. May 2021

Xiaomi now produces pretty much everything and so Xiaomi also has a small range of routers on the market that not only cost little, but also promise a lot. In the test, I'll tell you whether the Xiaomi router with the designation "Mi Mini" is worth its low price.

8.5
Our rating
Technical data
Overview
Manufacturer

Xiaomi

Model

Xiaomi Mi mini router

Specifications

Type: repeater, wireless router
Interface: LAN, WAN
WiFi transmission protocol: 802.11ac, 802.11b / n / g
Security: WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK

What's in the box

1x Xiaomi Mi Mini WiFi Router
1x power supply
1x user manual

What's in the box

The small Xiaomi Mi Mini Router is delivered in a well-known cardboard box with no frills. A power supply was included, but it comes with a Chinese connector. Most dealers often include an EU adapter. There is also an operating manual, but it is entirely in Chinese.

Overview of the Xiaomi router

The Xiaomi router has two LAN and one WAN port, as well as a USB port. In addition to the power connection, there is also a reset button. A power button is completely missing. Unfortunately the LAN ports and the WAN port only deliver 100 Mbit / s. Xiaomi also used the old USB 2.0 standard and not USB 3.0 for the USB port.

Many are now probably wondering what should be so great about the small Xiaomi Mi router. Well, the small part contains the MT7620A chip for the frequency band of 2.4 GHz and the MT7612E for the 5 GHz band. These high-quality chips can usually only be found in far more expensive routers. In addition, the Xiaomi Mini Router can use the new AC protocol, which ensures a higher data rate and range.

Startup procedure

Once the Xiaomi router is connected, you just have to set it up via the web interface. The Chinese operating instructions can be found in the router's default LAN address, but everything else is in Chinese.

If you surf the Xiaomi Mi Mini, the surface is completely in Chinese. Here, however, the Google translator will help us. With it, the entire web interface can be translated into any language. If you have no internet at the beginning and the translator does not work, you should use a smartphone and translate it!

Once you have made the most important settings, I advise the router to update. Updates come out about every two weeks and can be directly on the surface, or manually import.

Web interface

 Overview page 
Here you can see which devices are connected, how much traffic they generate and how the router is busy (CPU and RAM). It also contains information about the MAC address and the current firmware.

 Home-Cloud 
On Mi router can connect a USB disk, which allows you to operate the mini as your own small home cloud. This allows you to stream movies and music, among other things. You can also move and save data within the network.

 settings: 
Here you can make the settings for the 2.4 and 5 GHz WLAN. You can change the signal strength, freely choose the encryption and the channels and even set up your own WLAN visitor.
In addition, you can make many other settings, as synonymous with standard routers.

 Advanced Settings... 
Here you can choose the transmission rate of the individual devices, so-called QoS. QoS is particularly suitable for shared flats, where disputes can quickly ensue if the WG partner takes full advantage of the line. With QoS you could solve the problem.
In addition to DHCP, DDNS, UPnP and port forwarding, VPN services can also be entered. However, only PPTP or L2TP is possible.

OpenWrt

The highlight of the Xiaomi Mi router is that it OpenWrt capable. Anyone who is a bit tech savvy can easily install a fully functional OpenWrt on this little router. For those who do not know what OpenWrt is: OpenWrt is an open Linux distribution, which replaces the Xiaomi web interface.

I myself recommend installing a modified OpenWrt version that is used on comparable ASUS router models. The so-called “Padavan firmware” is compatible with the Mi Mini Router and can be compiled via git. As a result, the functions of the router are expanded a lot and you get a clean user interface because the source code is open. In addition, this firmware is extremely stable and is constantly being expanded by a large community.

Xiaomi Mi mini router test

Xiaomi Mi mini router

8.5
Summary

I am personally convinced that the Xiaomi Mi Mini Router already supports OpenWrt at this low price, sends on 2 frequency bands and can also be used as a home cloud. The appearance and workmanship also make a lot of things optically.

What I noticed a bit negative, but for which I have found a solution, is the web interface, which comes only in Chinese. But with Google translator, that's no longer a problem.
The absolute highlight would of course have been if the Mi Mini Router supported Gigabit LAN and had a USB 3.0 port, but that was not to be expected at the price.

The range of the WLAN signal is decent. I have the Xiaomi router in the middle of the house and I can easily get a sufficient signal to the end of my medium-sized garden. The 5 GHz network is not so strong that it extends into the garden, but the 5 GHz network is not designed for that either. There is also an Android app for the router, which you can use to install additional plugins

Timo Altmeyer Avatar
author

Launched the website techreviewer.de in 2016 and has been an active editor of news and test reports in all areas of technology ever since.

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Overview
Manufacturer

Xiaomi

Model

Xiaomi Mi mini router

Specifications

Type: repeater, wireless router
Interface: LAN, WAN
WiFi transmission protocol: 802.11ac, 802.11b / n / g
Security: WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK

What's in the box

1x Xiaomi Mi Mini WiFi Router
1x power supply
1x user manual

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