5 Alternatives to the Rii i8 Mini Wireless Keyboard — Including Better Options for Streaming Setups

The Rii i8 is a handy little all-in-one mini keyboard and touchpad remote, especially for Kodi, XBMC, Android TV boxes, and HTPC use. At £24.48 it’s affordable, but if you’re shopping around, the best alternative depends on whether you want a simple input device or a full streaming box.

The closest like-for-like option is the Android 10.0 TV Box X96 Mini 2021 Upgraded Version at £23.99. It’s slightly cheaper than the Rii and gets a decent 4.1★ rating. What’s better: you’re getting a complete media box, not just a keyboard, so it can actually run apps and play content on its own. What’s worse: it’s not a replacement for the Rii if you still need a keyboard and touchpad for navigating menus, entering passwords, or controlling Kodi. Choose this if you want a low-cost Android box for streaming and don’t mind pairing it with a separate remote or keyboard.

The Q PLUS Android 10.0 TV Box at £41.99 is another budget media player option. It offers 4GB RAM and 32GB storage, which is better than many ultra-cheap boxes and should make it feel smoother for everyday use. Compared with the Rii, it’s much more capable as a standalone streamer, but it’s also nearly double the price and still not as polished as premium devices. This is a good pick if you want more storage and a bit more headroom for apps.

The NVIDIA Shield TV is the premium choice at £212.16, and it’s in a different league entirely. It’s far more powerful than the Rii, with Bluetooth, Ethernet, and HDMI, and it has a strong 4.4★ rating. What’s better: excellent performance, better app support, and a much more future-proof streaming experience. What’s worse: the price is steep, especially if all you wanted was a small keyboard for Kodi. Buy this if you want one of the best Android TV boxes available and don’t mind paying for it.

For offline media playback, the Micca G3 2K Quad-HD Digital Media Player at £35.99 is a sensible alternative. It’s designed for USB drives and microSD cards rather than app-based streaming, so it’s better for playing local videos, music, and photos. Compared with the Rii, it doesn’t give you keyboard input or touchpad control, but it may be a better fit for digital signage or simple home media playback.

The MYPIN 4K Media Player at £42.99 is similar: it’s aimed at local file playback with HDMI, AV, and VGA outputs. That makes it more versatile for older displays, but again, it’s not a keyboard remote. If your goal is to browse files and play media from USB or SD cards, it’s a stronger choice than the Rii. If you need to control Kodi or type on-screen text, the Rii is still the better tool.

Overall, the Rii i8 remains the best budget pick if you specifically want a compact keyboard remote for a TV box, Raspberry Pi, or HTPC. But if you’re looking for a complete streaming device, the X96 Mini and Q PLUS give you more for your money, while the NVIDIA Shield is the premium upgrade.