8 best Tv boxes

The family in which this TV box is included is perhaps the most beloved of the Do-It-Yourself supporters. Matching Android set-top boxes are simple, focused on working with small TVs and are optimal for watching YouTube, as well as video content in online movie theaters or conveniently connecting to IPTV. Those who choose such simplicity should be prepared for shamanism with firmware, refinement of the cooling system and the like overhead. A less intricate version of “tambourine dances” is the use of a bootable flash drive with a proven version of any alternative system. The same LibreELEC, for example.

In addition to the affordable price, the Android Tv Box X96 mini chip can be considered as a remote IR receiver with high sensitivity. There is also a complete remote control, and HDMI-CEC technology is also supported. In other words, indirect control of the device is possible.

The best-selling brand of set-top boxes is made by Xiaomi. A significant role in its popularity was played by the fame of the brand’s smartphones, but the company’s TV boxes themselves are quite good. And, most importantly, inexpensive. There are several varieties of Mi Box, having their own advantages and disadvantages. For undemanding users who do not want to delve into the nuances of various firmware and hardware implementations, we recommend to opt for the international version of the device (model MDZ-16-AB). The console is controlled by the official Android TV system, with all the "buns" it relies on, comes with a convenient Bluetooth remote control, so it can be hidden in any suitable place, and it also has comfortable performance and provides seamless playback of content from the vast majority of online resources. For gamers, Mi Box International Version is uninteresting. The unpleasant features of the model are the absence of a wired network interface, the only USB port, the impossibility of automatically adjusting the sweep frequency and switching off the noise level, as well as idle deinterlacing.

Slightly simplified version of one of the top-tv boxes of Zidoo. The principal difference from the flagship is that there is no compartment for installing a hard disk, and alternatively, it is proposed to connect an external drive. From our point of view, it is even more practical. The prefix is ​​based on the Realtek RTD1295DD chip, belongs to the premium segment and is really capable of much. For example, in capable hands, it easily turns into an interesting hybrid, simultaneously performing the functions of a router.

Alas, but the talent of X9S does not include high-quality work with YouTube. Moreover, this is such a specific feature of the Realtek platform and it is expressed in chaotic frame passes, regardless of the permission of the video being watched. Once again we emphasize - this is the only significant problem of the Zidoo set-top boxes, they do everything else perfectly. Nevertheless, we lower the estimate for the recommended box, as far as YouTube’s share of the average video content consumed is about 15%.

Another manufacturer who considers it important to optimize the firmware of their TV boxes. Or considered, as far as there are rumors about the departure of key specialists of the company. In principle, given the level of the last update, they can be considered confirmed. Actually, it is this fact that caused such a low NEO U9-H rating, although the TV box is very good and is the direct heir of the legendary NEO U1. At the heart of the console is the Amlogic S912-H chip, which differs from its “basic” version with official support for multi-channel audio codecs (DD, DTS, DTS-HD). In practice, this means that the corresponding streams will be decoded in the box itself, i.e. An external receiver will fit easier. As chips, the device can be considered a separate ES8388 DAC, a special compatibility mode with old TVs, Wi-Fi simulation (wireless connection required for some games), as well as good speed characteristics of this interface (2x2 MIMO for 5 GHz band).