A modern smart TV set-top box has the same functionality as any Smart TV. With its help, you can watch movies in any format (even 4K with Dolby Atmos) and even without prior downloading. Watch IP television (more than 200 channels) for very little money - say, 60 rubles per month. Watch Youtube or the version for children Youtube Kids, make video calls via Skype or any messenger, play games on a wireless joystick, listen to music and radio and much, much more. The main thing is to buy the right set-top box, and in this article we will tell you which one. Together we will select a console that suits your capabilities and budget. Let’s immediately note all the unsuccessful options, a huge number of which are sold on the Internet, and focus only on the main thing - your future pleasure from the purchase.
What can an Android TV set-top box do?
Sometimes it is very difficult to describe in text what you need to see. Therefore, we recorded a special video demonstrating the capabilities of a typical set-top box on Android:
So, the key features:
- View video files in any format from any source in resolutions up to 4K. As a rule, such set-top boxes already have the Kodi media processor installed, which allows you to watch and catalog video content in a very convenient way;
- Searching and viewing video content from torrent trackers immediately, without prior downloading. I need to write specifically about this point, because the work of the HD VideoBox program is just some kind of holiday. You enter the name of the film in the search, after which you simply select the one you want and start watching. In total, from the moment “I want” to “I’m watching in excellent quality”, 5 seconds pass. If you choose a series or a multi-part cartoon, then you will be asked to choose a season and an episode. After which you will immediately start watching it.
- View Youtube(which essentially became a new television) again in resolution up to 4K;
- View Youtube Kids, a special version of Youtube for children, devoid of any adult and potentially dangerous content with carefully selected programs and channels;
- Watching a huge number of broadcast channels via the Internet(sometimes free, but often for a nominal fee of $1-2) in a package similar to or greater than standard cable packages. An additional feature is viewing the so-called archive for 5 days, when you can turn on any program of any channel from yesterday or the day before yesterday. For example, watch a missed football match or news broadcast.
- Working in game console mode: games are launched, both originally made for Android, and all kinds of simulators of game consoles, such as the legendary tanks from Dandy and games of the first PlayStation);
- Video calls from TV via Skype, with the connection of most common cameras and other instant messengers;
- Listening to high-quality music online with a direct connection to the receiver. At the moment, there are many services that allow you to connect to a huge music database for a small fee, and the tracks offered to you can be selected based on your musical preferences. No matter how stupid it may sound, over the years it becomes more and more difficult to find new and interesting music, and services like Google Play Music or Spotify do an excellent job (at least that’s how I’ve been listening to music for a long time). Therefore, if you have an Android set-top box and a receiver that has been tested over the years and that completely suits you in terms of sound, you can perfectly upgrade it.
- Listening to thousands of radio stations: similar to the previous point, you can select any radio station to your liking by launching it using a special application;
- Listening to audio books while doing housework.
What is a typical Smart set-top box?
Most “Smart TV set-top boxes” are made in China and are, in fact, an ordinary Android tablet with powerful hardware, to which many USB inputs have been added and a display has been removed. Set-top boxes not made in China are practically no different functionally, but they are more expensive. However, it is far from a fact that they are made of better quality.
As with Android tablets, progress does not stand still, and manufacturers rivet 2-3 models per year on different processors. Since there are many manufacturers, there are also a huge number of these models, which leads to terrible confusion. The funny thing is that most consoles are based on the same hardware and differ only in the quality of workmanship, the tendency to overheat and, most importantly, the degree of buggyness of the firmware.
Choosing a TV set-top box for yourself
As in any business, there are several objective leaders among manufacturers of Android set-top boxes (aka Android boxes). These are the companies Minix and Zidoo and Ugoos (I do not mention the famous Xiaomi, because the set-top box from this famous company has very strong limitations, which I will talk about). The first two companies produce high-quality TV boxes, distinguished not only by flagship functionality, powerful hardware and good build quality, but also by very high-quality firmware, which are released even several years after the product is released for sale. This, believe me, is extremely important and I will explain why below. The third, Ugoos, is also trying to take the lead and is doing quite well.
Minix's flagship model is the Minix Neo U9-H, which costs about 8.5 thousand. Until recently, Zidoo had an interesting model, the Zidoo X8, costing about 6 - 6.5 thousand rubles, however, a couple of months ago it disappeared from sale, and where it remained, it costs at the Minix level, which makes its purchase pointless. There is a wonderful, but expensive older model X9s, distinguished by a beautiful metal case and the presence of a SATA3 port for connecting an external drive, costing 9..10 thousand, and a more recent budget Zidoo X7, which, alas, is simply terrible. Therefore, if your budget is limited to 5..5.5 thousand rubles, then the best option for such a set-top box is .
Thus, the most venerable manufacturer is Minix. The boxes produced by this company are noticeably more expensive than their hardware counterparts, and the point here is really high-quality firmware, which no one else on the market can boast of. The fact is that Minix is the only company that can afford to maintain a large staff of programmers who literally “lick” every function of the TV box. Because of this, where other manufacturers simply set the price of hardware and give up support for the console within a month or two after release, Minix continues to correct errors.
Until recently, I recommended buying an old Minix Neo U1 set-top box with an A Lite remote control, costing about 7 thousand rubles.
Despite the fact that it was based on a slightly outdated, but still quite powerful Amlogic S905 processor and twice the old Android 5.0, it was the most trouble-free set-top box with well-debugged firmware and excellent functionality - it’s not for nothing that most users of set-top boxes from other companies tried to install the firmware on their devices exactly from Minix.
The new Minix Neo U9-H, released at the beginning of 2017, was based on the new Amlogic S912 chip and was somewhat buggy at first. However, over the past time, Minix programmers have released several updates and the console has become simply magnificent. Therefore, Minix Neo U9-H can be safely recommended for purchase to those who want to buy a box and use it with a minimum of movements and settings.
Externally, Neo U9-H is very similar to U1, so the side and back sides of the box are shown as an illustration
The main feature of most Minix consoles is problem-free (or almost problem-free, but with readily available information on how to solve these problems) operation out of the box. Plus, Minix should be especially interesting to users with good TVs and high-quality acoustics. Because it immediately supports many codecs like Digital, DTS, DTS-HD, stable Wi-Fi in two bands (the main scourge of most second-tier set-top boxes is poor or regularly dropping Wi-Fi), support for autoframe rate, which is responsible for very smooth display of images due to synchronizing movie frames to the TV refresh rate. A simple example, a movie is shown at a refresh rate of 24 karas per second, and the screen is refreshed 60 times per second. Because of this discrepancy, some frames are shown longer, some less. As a result, we see twitching in slow scenes, which is perfectly read by the brain. Set-top boxes with autoframe distribute frames evenly. Well, and a bunch of little things that make life a little more pleasant and are completely unavailable on cheaper consoles.
Add to this regular updates, high-quality support from the manufacturer and a very active community of users on the 4Pda forum who can help with a tricky task.
Is there something similar, but cheaper?
There is a good set-top box in the world based on the same Amlogic S912, called . It costs 5.5 thousand rubles, which previously, if Zidoo X8 was available on the market, made its purchase pointless. However, the situation has changed and Zidoo is no longer available at an adequate price at the moment. Therefore, Ugoos AM3 is the most adequate choice.
Alas, Ugoos programmers are still far from being comparable to their colleagues from Minix, but at the moment this is the most polished firmware of the second-tier set-top boxes, and it is thanks to Ugoos that many even cheaper set-top boxes have been able to get normal firmware. Therefore, you can buy Ugoos and enjoy using it out of the box, or you can try to buy a set-top box for another thousand cheaper and try to reflash it with a copy of the Ugoos or Minix firmware.
An example of such a set-top box is the X98 Pro model for 4,200 rubles. It is better to buy a set-top box with 2 gigabytes of memory (2Gb/16Gb), because most set-top boxes from which firmware is ported have exactly this configuration.
This console works well with the Minix firmware version (although you will have to tinker with Wi-Fi) and it is possible to configure the auto frame rate. The set-top box has a dual-band Wi-Fi module, is spacious enough to install additional cooling (it’s quite simple there) and has good support on the forums. In addition, after the latest updates, your own firmware has become more or less normal and you may not want to change it. However, I repeat, if you don’t want to sew anything and configure cooling and so on, it’s better to take a closer look at Ugoos.
What's wrong with Xiaomi and the new Zidoo
Let's start with Zidoo - their new H6 Pro and X7 consoles were simply abandoned by the manufacturer. New firmware is not released, glitches are not corrected. It seems that the manufacturer has transferred all its efforts to its new flagships, which are sold at completely inhumane prices.
As for the Xiaomi Mi Box, it has a number of very strong disadvantages:
- Data transfer only via Wi-Fi (not the most critical, but one of them. If you have network storage at home, then sometimes it’s easier to connect the set-top box with a wire to watch some heavy Blu-ray rip)
- It runs on Android-TV - a stripped-down version of Android, for which there are fewer applications or they are more difficult to install.
- You need to reflash it to add the same Google Play for installation.
- Specific, but very important: there is no auto frame rate and the picture jerks a little in slow scenes.
There are still many minor shortcomings, which together do not allow us to recommend this set-top box for purchase.
Is there all the same, but with satellite channels, code sharing and DVB-T2/S2?
As mentioned above, through any Android TV set-top box you can watch broadcast channels in very acceptable quality. The only problem: since viewing is carried out over the Internet, the quality of the video stream has traces of compression. In other words, watching TV over the Internet is always worse than when you watch it directly, receiving a signal from broadcast sources.
Therefore, if watching TV programs is an important component of your life, you can use a special hybrid Android set-top box capable of receiving broadcasts in DVB-C and DVB-T2/S2 formats, and while receiving a signal from a satellite, you can use the so-called “code sharing” ”, which allows you to watch closed channels for free.
The most interesting models with this functionality are the Mecool KIII Pro hybrids for 8 thousand rubles and for 6 thousand.
KIII is more powerful and more expensive, but it is made on the same long-suffering Amlogic S912. In contrast, KI Pro is based on a modification of the old Amlogic S905 processor, which received an additional index D, thanks to which the set-top box has all the advantages of the proven S905, plus receiving a gigabit wired network port and fast dual-band Wi-Fi. However, users periodically complain about the quality of WiFi, just like KIII users. Thank God, this issue can be solved by connecting via wire directly to the router.
These were the advantages. And now the disadvantages and the first of them: without installing third-party firmware, it is almost impossible to use the set-top boxes. The included firmware is so poor that it's just a nightmare. For example, it was not possible to run Youtube Kids on the factory firmware; the bundled Kodi media processor was renamed and cropped, which is why it lost a significant part of its functionality. And so it is in most programs.
In addition, the “desktop” of the console itself is so illogical and inconvenient, and the box’s memory is littered with unnecessary programs that you simply wonder how it can be used at all. Therefore, if you chose this set-top box because of the ability to watch TV, you have only one way - go to the 4pda forum and install the so-called “custom firmware” you like. Those. In the case of the Mini M8S, firmware on Minix is desirable, but not required, but here it is simply mandatory.
I, as the owner of KI Pro, chose the firmware from the user Malaysk (by the way, you can always thank the author by sending a small reward to one of the wallets specified in the Readme file located in the root of the firmware). Firmware from this author is available for both KI Pro and KIII Pro, so no matter which console you choose, you should install it.
This is what the desktop looked like on the factory firmware:
and here's what it looks like for me now:
As a result of the flashing, the stability of operation and the loading speed of the set-top box increased, Kodi installed and works 100% flawlessly. All the functions described at the beginning of the article work in the same way and allow you to turn the set-top box into a very, very sophisticated smart device for any, even the most “stupid” TV. Well, watching television itself has become very, very convenient, much better than through regular IPTV.
Convenient console control
I immediately want to apologize to the readers, but this section is not completely ready yet. The fact is that the remote control that comes with most set-top boxes has only basic functionality. Whereas a good remote control can significantly expand the ease of control.
What properties should an ideal remote control for a smart set-top box have:
- Have an air mouse function. Those. you twist your wrist in the air, and the cursor moves as if you were controlling a regular mouse.
- Have a microphone so you can use voice search.
- Long battery life.
- Have programmable keys so that this remote control can replace remote controls for the TV and, possibly, the receiver.
- It is optional to have a Russian keyboard for typing tricky names of videos and films that are not determined by voice typing. The option is nice, but especially critical - because voice search closes 90% of dialing cases.
Based on these data, a Rii i25A remote control was purchased with a Russian keyboard, a microphone (there is a simple version of the Rii i25 without the “A” index, it does not have a microphone), 5 programmable keys and similar pleasant additions. The cost of the remote control was 1600 rubles. In fact, almost a third of the cost of a normal set-top box. However, after receiving the package, I encountered a number of common problems.
First, in order to teach the console commands from other remote controls, the Rii i25a had to be disassembled. Those. When assembled, the LED of the set-top box was stupidly unable to see the commands through the dark glass. The cover had to be removed and the remote control diode had to be bent so that it was exactly opposite the “slot” in the window.
Second: for the first two months, the remote control worked on battery power for two weeks without turning off. And after the next firmware update, it suddenly began to “die” after a day or two. It was experimentally determined that the problem was the always-on microphone, which monitored the “OK, Google” command. It was quite difficult to guess that this was the reason. I’m already silent about a very non-trivial way to configure the console to switch the language from Russian to English using the keyboard. This again doesn't work by default. You need to install the Russian Keyboard program and set the correct settings, which periodically fail.
In other words, for one and a half thousand rubles, you get a very crude device that needs to be “finished” very much. On the other hand, I didn’t find anything as functional (with an air mouse, programmable keys and a microphone). Judging by the reviews, there is a better quality Mele F10 Pro remote control, namely the Pro version, because... it has a microphone. However, a) it does not have programmable buttons; b) it is difficult to find on sale; c) it does not have a Russian keyboard. At the moment I am trying to purchase it and form my own opinion.
If you know any convenient remote control model, please share your opinion in the comments.
Extending the life of the console
As a rule, the consoles described above are unpretentious. Especially if you took Minix or Zidoo. However, there are two important nuances that beginners are not aware of. This knowledge, as a rule, comes with experience, but consoles may not live to gain this experience.
First: If you watch torrents through a set-top box, set up the save directory on an external drive. The user described the problem most succinctly ferz channel in the comments to the title video:
For those who are not familiar with TV boxes, I advise you not to overuse data overwriting to the internal memory of the device. For example, when watching TV channels in HD via TorrentStreamController + AceStream. Torrents, with their huge number of write cycles, quickly exhaust Flash memory resources. The solution is to specify an SD card or external HDD in the settings to save the torrent cache. For me and 4 other people, a $50 set-top box with an S912 processor died in less than half a year. And re-soldering the chip itself will cost a pretty penny.
We completely agree with the comment and also suggest using an inexpensive flash drive or hard drive connected via USB. The flash drive is easy to replace, and the hard drive is initially designed for such a load.
Second: If you bought a set-top box from manufacturers in the second price range, you will most likely encounter overheating of the set-top box. As a rule, when the processor temperature is reached, so-called “throttling” occurs - in this case, to escape overheating, the processor resets the frequency and the set-top box begins to “slow down and glitch.”
Even if the temperature stays just below 80 and the processor does not throttle, this is still bad. Constant operating temperatures above 70 lead to gradual damage to other components of the motherboard. In other words, constant overheating does not necessarily affect the console right now, but it will definitely affect it in the future. The forums are full of messages from users whose console dies after six months.
To understand whether your set-top box is susceptible to overheating problems, install the Cpu Temperature application on it. On average, the temperature of the console should not rise above 70°. In some complex applications, such as games or watching 4K video, the temperature may rise higher, but this should not be the constant operating mode of the console.
If, nevertheless, the problem of overheating is relevant for you, I advise you to go to the profile thread of the 4Pda forum and see how other users solve it. It is important to understand that this will not always be a so-called “collective farm” - i.e. visually scary, but a working solution. Almost always, someone manages to find an elegant way out. For example, for set-top boxes that have ventilation holes located at the bottom, you can buy a stand with a built-in fan, the power for which is supplied from the USB port of the set-top box itself.
Those. you buy such a stand, plug the power cord into a free USB port of the set-top box, and the “cooling” works automatically the entire time the set-top box is turned on.
Due to the large diameter, the fan operates quite quietly. The only unpleasant nuance that may arise is that the dimensions of the stand will be larger or much smaller than the dimensions of the console. In this case, the dimensions of the stand are 16x10 centimeters, which makes it suitable for a large number of portable consoles.
Today, set-top boxes based on Android OS for TVs are becoming more and more popular. In this article we will look in detail at what such a device is, what its functionality and purpose are.
What is an Android TV set-top box?
Most modern TVs have a built-in Smart TV feature. However, Android consoles, designed as a separate device, are becoming increasingly popular.
Its purpose is to act as a kind of computer system that uses the screen of your TV. Just like a tablet or phone, it has RAM and a processor. The device has full functionality of an Android gadget.
The Android set-top box allows you to connect your TV to the Internet. By connecting a flash drive to it, you can use it to watch movies or listen to music.
When you connect the set-top box to the TV via the HDMI port, a menu appears on the screen, very similar to the menu of a regular Android. This device allows you to download applications from the Play Store. You can use the large TV screen not only to watch movies and shows, but also to play your favorite games and useful applications. A regular TV with built-in Smart TV does not have such extensive functionality.
There are five desktops on the screen, which you can fill with the applications you need. It is possible to duplicate the screen of your phone or tablet. This is very convenient for viewing content from a mobile device on a large screen.
Android set-top boxes also have IPTV. With its help, you can watch many terrestrial TV programs without being tied to your television provider. Their remote controls usually support the air mouse function.
You can’t ignore the ability to watch millions of videos on your TV from the YouTube channel in high quality. This is also possible thanks to the Android console. The quality of the video depends on the speed of your Internet connection.
The undeniable advantage of these devices over a regular Smart TV is the ability to switch between application windows just like on a regular computer. For example, you are watching a video on a YouTube channel and at the same time following the progress of a football match via an IPTV channel. To do this, simply pause the video on YouTube, minimize the application and open the broadcast window. During a break in the match, open YouTube again and continue watching from the same place.
When turning off the TV, you don't have to turn off the set-top box. It remains in standby mode, which is also quite convenient. It doesn't have a screen, and it doesn't have a battery either. The open application or video remains in standby mode.
2. Size and shape factors of Android consoles
The first thing that influences the choice of console is its appearance. How it will look is a matter of your taste and personal preference. The design of the device does not affect its functionality and the set of functions is the same for almost all models.
As a rule, all consoles are small, rectangular in shape and enclosed in a black case. There are also more original models made in a futuristic design. Such models will fit perfectly into a modern interior.
In addition to full-size devices, the assortment includes so-called “sticks”. Such devices look like an ordinary flash drive and connect to the TV via an HDMI port. The advantage of such models is mobility and minimal size. This is especially important if your TV is hanging on the wall. Among the disadvantages of the sticks are the lack of USB ports and limited functionality.
An important parameter that you need to pay attention to when choosing an Android TV set-top box is the processor and graphics core. It is recommended to buy devices with at least a 4-core processor, although the best option is with 8 cores. As for graphics, the best options are Mali-400 or Mali-450 cores with 4 or 8 cores, respectively.
The next important parameter for the set-top box is the size of the RAM. For normal operation it must be at least 1 GB. The size of the built-in memory is not so critical, because at any time it can be increased with an external USB drive or MicroSD card.
3. File format support
Android TV set-top box supports almost any video, audio and photo file formats. You can watch videos in Full-HD, MP4, MPEG, AVI, MKV, etc. formats on your TV, listen to music in MP3 format, view photos in JPEG, PNG format, etc.
4. Options for connecting the Android set-top box to the Internet
Android set-top boxes, depending on the modification, may have an external or built-in antenna. They can be connected to the Internet via WiFi or using an ethernet cable.
5. Advantages and disadvantages
Android TV set-top box has a lot of advantages:
⁃ turns any TV into a Smart TV;
⁃ provides five desktops that can be equipped with different applications at your discretion;
⁃ has a convenient air control;
⁃ supports multitasking. We allow you to switch between applications, just like on a computer;
⁃ opens access to applications from the Play Market;
⁃ allows you to view files from any external media;
⁃ supports many file formats;
⁃ supports torrent technologies;
⁃ if you have a camera, it allows you to communicate freely in video chats and instant messengers.
The only downside to using the device is that it requires a Google account when connecting the set-top box to the TV for the first time.
Many modern TVs are already equipped with built-in Android-based software. The cost of such equipment is quite high. The best option for viewing photo and video files, working with applications or playing games from the Play Store on a large TV screen is to buy a convenient Android console for your TV.
Today, TVs with Smart TV functions have practically replaced computers for some people. They have everything you want: games, applications, Internet, video communications, a huge amount of music and films in any quality. This has caused most buyers to turn away from TVs that do not have such features. Now, most people are willing to spend a huge amount of money in order to buy such a “smart” device. But what should those who do not have enough funds do?
Most of the less functional TVs are in no way inferior in quality to their elite counterparts. They often also have higher resolution, video signal quality, good color reproduction and audio system. At the same time, such a TV can have any screen diagonal, and they cost an order of magnitude less than devices with built-in Smart TV capabilities.
If you already have a relatively modern TV or are just planning to buy one, then you should know that making it “smart” is quite simple. To do this, you will need to additionally purchase a Smart TV set-top box. It is relatively inexpensive and significantly increases the number of capabilities of your TV. In fact, with its help, any TV can become smart and turn into some kind of computer with an Android operating system or, in some cases, Windows.
Possibilities
When choosing which Smart TV set-top box is best to choose, you should consider where and how you will use it. A lot will depend on this. By choosing a Windows-based console, you will have access to all standard computer programs. On the one hand, this is convenient, but on the other hand, existing programs may not be enough for Smart TV. A much wider variety of programs have been developed for Android consoles.
In addition, most of them already initially have several of the most popular Internet browsers, programs for accessing social networks such as Odnoklassniki, Vkontakte, Facebook, Twitter, as well as programs for Internet telephony. In addition, there is a pre-installed chat, as well as applications for working with spreadsheets and text files.
The Smart TV set-top box allows you to listen to your favorite music, radio, watch videos, TV channels and movies online in various resolutions and quality. You will have access to maps and special widgets that help you monitor the weather, course, etc. You can also download and install any other applications and popular games. Most of them are available for free, but if you want to open up more features or prefer a certain program, you can buy it by connecting a payment card.
Connection type and interface
You can connect the Smart TV set-top box to your TV using an HDMI cable. If your TV does not have such a connector, then this can be done using an HDMI-AV cable. Usually such a cable comes with the set-top box, but if for some reason you don’t have it, you can purchase it separately.
You can connect the Internet to the Smart TV set-top box using an Internet cable, which must be inserted into the appropriate connector, or through a Wi-Fi router. The second method is more convenient. Moreover, you can create a home local network and listen to music or watch movies stored on your computer. You can also connect a USB flash drive or an SDMMS class memory card to the console, which must be inserted into the built-in card reader. If you wish, you can also connect a tablet or smartphone to the Smart TV set-top box.
For greater convenience, some types of Smart TV set-top boxes can be connected to computer wired or. You can also connect a special remote control. Sometimes such data input devices are included, but most often they have to be purchased separately.
In addition, it should be noted that all Smart TV set-top boxes can be divided into Android HDMI mini PC and Android TV box. The first option differs in that it does not have separate audio outputs and a Wi-Fi antenna. At the same time, it has USB and mini USB ports, a card reader and an HDMI connector. The second option, in addition to all of the above, has a microphone output, an audio output, a connector for an Internet cable, a Wi-Fi antenna and more. The number and availability of certain connectors and ports depends on the model of Smart TV set-top box you choose.
Technological features
As already mentioned, set-top boxes for Smart TV can be either Android-based or Windows-based. Windows may seem like a more convenient and familiar option for most people, but experts still advise choosing devices with the Android operating system.
This is due to the fact that few programs have been developed for Smart TV set-top boxes based on Windows. Having a set-top box running on Android, you can find and install a huge number of different games and programs for listening to music, watching movies and TV channels, reading text files and editing them, processing photos and more. In addition, such devices are several times cheaper with the same technical characteristics.
In addition to the operating system, you should also pay attention to the speed of the Smart TV set-top box and its performance. It mainly depends on the processor and its clock speed. Mostly on the market now there are set-top boxes with 2-4 cores. The more there are, the higher the frequency should be. This guarantees the speed of the system and the absence of glitches and freezes.
Also pay attention to the graphics processor, as this is an important detail in this device. The quality of drawing details depends on it, especially during dynamic scenes. It is better to choose Smart TV set-top boxes with a graphics processor that supports Full-HD resolution and has an eight-core video stream accelerator.
The amount of RAM is no less important. For normal operation it must be at least 2GB. Also, before purchasing, do not forget to check with the seller what formats the Smart TV set-top box supports. If the most common formats are not available, then it is better not to take it and look for something else.
Note.
Let's assume you have already decided to purchase Smart TV set-top box. We decided on the characteristics and price, selected several models, and...were faced with a new question - Windows or Android?
Of course, if you work in the IT industry and you have long developed the habit of disliking everything related to Microsoft and adore everything related to Linux, then there was no problem for you - according to the characteristics of many Android Smart TV consoles are absolutely in no way inferior Windows mini pc– smart TV set-top boxes on Windows.
But there are some differences in functionality. Windows is an operating system that everyone is accustomed to perceiving as a stationary, bulky (“heavy”) operating system for office and gaming computers. And Android is like something “light”, mobile, the operating system of smartphones and tablet PCs. There is still a grain of truth in this. It is also reflected in Smart TV set-top boxes.
Android TV set-top box– this is lightness and convenience. Don't burden it, and it won't burden you. Search? - Catch it. Need an application urgently? – Play Market will not only deliver it directly to the device, but the system itself will quickly install and prepare for use. Video on demand, applications for every taste, many of which are free, speed in operation, wireless synchronization with mobile devices, online TV, weather and news widgets, personal assistants - it’s a lot of time to list.
But in order to watch a movie on a Windows mini PC, you will have to at least tinker with a flash drive.
However, it is worth noting that Smart TV set-top boxes on Windows are a full-size workstation. Since the operating system on such devices is predominantly desktop (and not mobile, as is the case with Android), then it will run all the programs that can be installed on a desktop computer - office applications, music players, and, most importantly, games. After all, when else will it be possible to play World of Tanks, Assassin’s Creed or even Quake while sitting on the couch with a joystick in front of the TV? This is what a Windows console can afford you. Also, as a rule, Windows mini PCs are equipped with Intel processors and graphics accelerators, which for some users can be an additional bonus in favor of Windows.
In any case, it's up to you to decide. Even 5 years ago, many would have preferred mini PCs running Windows as a platform with a more familiar interface. But now, when it is increasingly rare to see a person on the street without a smartphone, and when Android is increasingly becoming part of our lives, the decision is made in favor of a more convenient, necessary and suitable gadget.
So, if you need a fast and convenient mini-PC with which you can access the Internet directly from your TV, while quickly answering Skype and switching back to TV, then Android Smart TV is your option. But if you are used to massive multifunctional systems, and also don’t understand your vacation without a couple of hours of computer games, then feel free to take a Windows mini PC.
Today we decided to make a small rating of the best TV set-top boxes on Android, which look the most interesting in the spring of 2017. A modern TV ceases to be a means of watching TV shows, turning into a full-fledged entertainment center with a lot of possibilities. It is TV Boxes that allow you to get entertainment for every taste, from watching any movies to playing games. We tried to select the most diverse popular models, because there are many consoles on the market that repeat each other. Read in the rating which Android TV set-top box is suitable for your home and which one is worth buying in the near future.
NEXBOX A 95X - the most popular Android TV set-top box
Android TV set-top box TV-Box NEXBOX A95XThe A95X joined the shelves of online stores relatively recently, when Amlogic introduced its cheap and powerful chip. The success of Android TV from a little-known Chinese company came instantly.
To date, the TV set-top box has been ordered by almost 15,000 people on AliExpress alone, making it the best-selling product in this category. High popularity was ensured by the ideal price/quality ratio, in which for 1800-3000 rubles (depending on the amount of memory) we get a high-quality build, a set of ports for all occasions, the current version of the operating system, as well as 4K support.
Regarding memory volumes, the manufacturer invites the user to choose how much he needs:
- 1+8 GB,
- 2+8 GB,
- 1+16 GB.
So, if you don’t play modern games, then you can safely order an Android TV set-top box with a minimum amount of RAM and permanent memory - the system will work smoothly. Its whole appearance speaks of its origin: cheap materials, typical shapes. However, it’s difficult to find fault with the assembly; what’s more, the matte plastic on the top is pleasing, eliminating the task of constantly scrubbing off your own fingerprints. The processor, as already mentioned, here the S905X from Amlogic is the golden mean. It is very productive and inexpensive, which directly affects the price of Android consoles.
NEXBOX A95X falls into the category of set-top boxes that have been updated to the latest version. In addition, you can count on further updates to the device, given its popularity. The set-top box supports a lot of video and audio formats, works with 4K content, and copes with this task honestly, without trying to use software enhancement.
NEXBOX A95X is an ideal solution for those who don’t want to bother with searching, reading reviews and reviews. Do you want to try out all the delights of Android TV for an inexpensive price? Your choice is A95X.
Xiaomi MI BOX – stylish, high quality, modern
Photo: Android TV set-top box Xiaomi BOX 3 MI BOX is one of the best-selling products of the Chinese company, not counting smartphones and fitness bracelets. When creating its Android TV set-top boxes, Xiaomi was clearly inspired by similar devices from , so we have a laconic and stylish design for little money. The set-top box turned out to be very compact and ideally complements the TV without disturbing the interior of the room. MI BOX is assembled with very high quality: matte plastic is pleasant to the touch, perfectly fitted parts and not a single squeak.
Like most modern set-top boxes on Android, it is equipped with fairly powerful hardware, which, coupled with good optimization, ensures fast operation and launch of any content. The processor is from Amlogic, but the exact model is not disclosed by the company, runs on four computing cores with a clock frequency of 2 GHz. The chip is complemented by 2 GB of RAM, which is more than enough. Well, for files – 8 GB. Only the most demanding users will be dissatisfied with the “filling”.
Operating system – Android 6.0. On top of it, the manufacturer rolled a proprietary shell, which will make using the “green robot” on a TV set-top box a more comfortable and exciting process. The most necessary applications are already pre-installed, and the manufacturer regularly provides fresh updates, taking care of its users. In addition, the set-top box is compatible with other Xiaomi devices, which allows, for example, to quickly display photos from a smartphone on a large TV.
As befits a high-quality set-top box from a well-known company, MI BOX allows you to watch movies in , and supports all popular formats. The branded remote control deserves special attention (its twin brother is similar to the remote control of Apple set-top boxes, but Android TV manufacturers have not yet presented a similar one). The remote control is really very good, and not only in design and ergonomics. It allows you to conveniently control the MI BOX interface and enjoy playing games.
MI BOX is an Android TV set-top box for users who care about quality and design, for which they are willing to overpay and give up the most powerful hardware. Today, the average cost of a set-top box in Russia is 7,000-8,000 rubles. The most popular seller on (more than 9,000 orders and about 2,000 5-point ratings) offers a model for about 4,500 rubles.
X 92 – best performance at low cost
Relatively recently, Amlogic introduced a new powerful processor S912, which is aimed at the multimedia player segment. Naturally, it also interested manufacturers of cheap Android set-top boxes, who were able to make the most of it thanks to the chip. One of the first consoles that I received was a model with a simple name.
Android TV box X 92 does not stand out with any sophisticated design; we can only note the glowing company logo on the top of the device. It is presented in a typical form for TV Boxes. But it was well assembled, received an antenna to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal and a small display that displays useful information.
The set-top box is strewn with various ports, which contain a huge number of peripheral devices. The X92 is well built using quality plastic.
However, the most interesting thing lies inside it. As already noted, this is a new S 912 chip, which has 8 Cortex-A53 cores operating at a clock frequency of 2 GHz. So that you understand, these are really excellent characteristics that will be relevant in the next two to three years. In addition, the chip is supplemented with an updated Mali-T820MP3 graphics core, which is capable of running any modern game. But the manufacturer did not stop with a powerful processor, equipping the console with a decent amount of memory.
Options available to choose from:
- 2+16 GB;
- 3+16 GB,
- 2+32 GB;
- 3+32 GB.
As you can imagine, there is plenty to choose from. All characteristics are seasoned with modern wireless interfaces, for example there is Wi-Fi so that you do not miss the new episode of your favorite series.
It is clear that the Android TV set-top box X 92 with such and such a processor can easily play video with any resolution up to . The set-top box is omnivorous in terms of formats, supports a lot of applications and runs Android 6.0, which receives regular updates. It is difficult to identify any serious disadvantages of the X 92 - today it is one of the best on the market.
X 92 is the choice of users who demand speed, high performance and the ability to connect a lot of additional devices. The cost of the set-top box ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles, depending on the amount of memory and the scope of delivery (for an additional fee you can get a miniature wireless keyboard).
T95Z Plus – powerful can be beautiful
Photo: Android TV set-top box Sunvell T95Z plus |
Updated: 05/14/2019. Prices are provided by online stores for information purposes. Differences in price may be due to different configurations. Sometimes higher cost means more RAM and ROM. Carefully look at the product characteristics on the online store page! |
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