A cheap mini keyboard that can seriously improve your streaming setup

Is the Rii i8 worth buying? Yeah, if you’re after an inexpensive mini keyboard for Kodi, Android TV boxes, Raspberry Pi, or HTPC use—especially at its all-time low price of £24.48. With a 4.2/5 rating from 2,727 reviews, it’s clearly helped a lot of buyers, but don’t expect it to magically solve every TV setup issue.

First impressions

The Rii i8 really leans into convenience: it’s a 2.4GHz mini wireless keyboard with a touchpad, multimedia keys, and a compact shape that works well for couch surfing. You don’t have to wrestle with a full keyboard and mouse on your TV stand anymore.

The UK layout is a bonus for UK buyers, and honestly, the black finish keeps it pretty low-key next to most streaming boxes or smart TVs.

What does it do well?

The main draw is straightforward—it combines keyboard input and mouse control in one small gadget. The built-in touchpad makes it easy to zip through apps, menus, and web pages on stuff like Kodi, XBMC, Android TV boxes, HTPCs, IPTV setups, Smart TVs, Mac, iOS, and Raspberry Pi.

Multimedia function keys get a mention in the listing, and those should speed up common actions compared to fumbling with a regular remote.

You get a rechargeable, removable lithium battery and auto sleep/wake, which just makes sense for something you use in the living room. The Rii i8 isn’t built for all-day desk work, but it fits how most people use a TV box.

If you only need something compact for quick searches, app installs, menus, and the occasional bit of typing, it’s got the right specs for the job.

How does it perform in real use?

The review count says a lot: 2,727 reviews and a 4.2/5 average show that plenty of people find it useful. Still, there’s a catch you shouldn’t ignore—it usually works well on smart TVs, but some smart TVs just don’t support external input devices.

That’s not a tiny detail; it’s a real compatibility warning.

The Amazon listing points out a Fire TV quirk too. If you want to use it with Amazon Fire TV, you might have to sideload apps using app2fire on Android before they’ll run on Fire TV.

So, it’s not always plug-and-play everywhere, and you might have to fiddle with setup on certain devices.

Build quality and practicality

They definitely aimed this at portability, not luxury. The “mini” size and built-in touchpad make it easy to stash nearby, but there’s nothing in the data about premium materials or any claims of ruggedness.

The removable battery is handy since you can swap it out instead of tossing the whole thing, but remember, this is a budget accessory—not some high-end controller.

Is it good value for money?

At £24.48, the Rii i8 sits at its all-time lowest price, and the price history shows it’s also the average and highest recorded price in the available window. So, the price seems steady and fair, not jacked up.

For a keyboard-touchpad combo with lots of reviews, it’s a lot cheaper than high-end options like the NVIDIA Shield TV at £212.16. It even undercuts the Q PLUS Android 10.0 TV Box at £41.99 and the Micca G3 at £35.99—though, to be fair, those aren’t exactly keyboard competitors.

If you just want a simple input device for your streaming box, this is a cheaper add-on than replacing your whole setup with a more expensive media player. But if you need something that works flawlessly on every smart TV, the savings might not be worth the gamble.

How does it compare to alternatives?

Stacked against the NVIDIA Shield TV, the Rii i8 isn’t a media streamer—it’s just an accessory—but the price gap is massive: £24.48 versus £212.16.

If you’re looking at the Q PLUS Android 10.0 TV Box (£41.99) or Micca G3 (£35.99), the Rii i8 is still the budget pick, though those are media players, not input devices.

So, the Rii i8 really makes sense as a companion for your existing box, not as a replacement.

Final take

The Rii i8? Honestly, it’s a practical, low-cost keyboard for the living room that actually does what the spec sheet says. For a lot of people, that’s all you want anyway.

I’d say the touchpad stands out, and the compact design really makes it easy to stash anywhere. It works with a wide range of devices, which is a relief. Plus, £24.48 is the all-time low—hard to argue with that.

But let’s be real: compatibility is the catch. Some TVs and setups just refuse to accept external input devices, so you can’t count on this as a fix for every system.