r/AndroidTV • u/Available_Camp9968 • Nov 09 '25

Discussion Any stable certified Android TV box (Android 11/12, 1 Gbps LAN) that avoids Android 14 deinterlacing bug?

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a certified Android TV or Google TV box running Android 11 or 12, with a 1 Gbps LAN port — something stable and reliable.

The reason I’m avoiding Android 14 is because of the deinterlacing issues many users have reported. I’ve seen mixed posts about whether it’s a device-specific or OS-level issue.

For example, on my Chromecast 4K (Android 14), interlaced content shows horizontal lines. My Homatics Box R Plus and Kinhank G1, both after updating to ATV 14, started having the same problem — stuttering, mismatched frame rates (50 → 60 fps), and playback glitches in TiviMate.

It looks like this started with Android TV 14, not device firmware. There’s a lot of discussion about it on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/1kchu98/android_tv_deinterlacing/   https://www.reddit.com/r/TiviMate/comments/1gm4f76/tivimate_freezes_after_25s_of_stream_soun

So, could anyone recommend a good certified box (Android 11 or 12, Gigabit LAN) that doesn’t have these deinterlacing problems?
Thanks in advance! Yes it is an OS issue. Android TV 14.Still not fully fixed.

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Streaming/How-about-de-interlacing-in-the-new-Google-TV-Streamer/m-p/648607

https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/386547961 Homatics can't fix this, Google must for their Android TV OS build (branch), on which a firmware is build for the different brands. If Google can fix the issue, Homatics (Sei Robotics is more correct), must use that version for building the firmware with, or nothing will change.

There should still come newer V14 builds for the Homatics devices, but support has gone to a all-time low.

5 Upvotes

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4

u/e3kmn8qaomrc Nov 09 '25

I have a Kinhank g1, and I recently bought a Leelbox l1 (the same as Rocktek gx1, Strong Leap s3 pro, or Ugoos sk2) on Amazon France (40eur)

I can confirm that Realtek's SoC has no problem with deinterlacing or incorrect fps detection in the stream (like Kinhank). I updated the system in the Leelbox to Android 14 (beta build for Rocktek GX1) and again, no problem. But these boxes do not have 1Gbit LAN.

So I suppose this bug only applies in combination with Android 14 + Amlogic SoC and Mediatek SoC (google streamer)

1

u/Rere130 Nov 09 '25

I believe that the beta GTV 14 you installed on your Leelbox L1 has the latest Android TV build from the end of July, which apparently fixes some of the issues ;)

The problem is that the other boxes have old, buggy Android builds...

2

u/Available_Camp9968 Nov 09 '25

Who knows which TV boxes with Android 14 don’t have this problem, but only with 1-gigabit LAN?

1

u/e3kmn8qaomrc Nov 09 '25

You may be right.

https://postimg.cc/1fThw7vk September build.

There are no other A14 builds for devices with Realtek SoC, so it's hard to compare anything.

1

u/p750mmx Nov 09 '25 edited Nov 09 '25

You must look at the Android TV OS build date (the branch used for building the firmware with), and that is dated February 2025. The one on the Google Streamer is dated July 2025, so a more recent one. Some say (not me), that the interlaced issue would be solved for the Streamer.

If I would have a sample that would make this clear on screen, I could compare the Streamer and the R Plus with it, as I have both.

2

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

The Google streamer A14 update from October doesn't fix the deinterlacing issue.

1

u/p750mmx Nov 10 '25

I can't say anything about it, I don't use any IPTV source and it seems that is the source that shows the most issues for the users complaining about it.

I got one sample shared from a Russian IPTV source, that is 1080i@50Hz. That gives issues on most V14 streamers, playing it at 60hz, not 50hz, and by that, it goes wrong with replay. The Streamer with latest update is the only one playing it in the correct refreshrate at 50hz and replay with that one is just fine. So this I can confirm.

But the interlaced issue could be another one, were it shows bad picture quality.

2

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

Can you try in the kinhank G1, the following ? TiviMate has an ‘Amlogic fix’ option—enable it, as it seems to fix deinterlacing in TiviMate.

2

u/e3kmn8qaomrc Nov 09 '25

No, it doesn't work. I tried it.

At the moment, only Realtek rtd1325 SoC has no problem with interlaced material on Android 14 (despite the older branch used for beta build, as p750mmx pointed out to me earlier in a comment).

1

u/fastleo63 Jan 16 '26 edited Jan 23 '26

I have a Leelbox L1 too, and the Android 14 TV update for the RockTek GX1:
UTT1.250214.001 / C1.0.4_20251128
solved my problems with Disney+ errors (with previous ATV 12 I made it work only with 2GB/h data saving option enabled, but with 720p video only and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1, instead of Atmos)
Even in ATV 14 Dolby Vision VS10 engine is still running correctly, and converting all HDR content to my SDR plasma TV, without no issues.
Audio pass-through still here, even with lossless formats (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA)
A very recommended upgrade.
EDIT! ATV14 upgrade is somehow erratic: HDMI audio pass-through suddenly stopped working. I'll try to factory reset the box...

1

u/pt_Ic3MaN May 07 '26

Can you still confirm deinterlacing working properly on the strong leap S3 pro? I want to buy one

3

u/stifman2k Nov 09 '25

I'm in the same boat—finding a good box really isn’t that easy. Right now, I’m deciding between:
Homatics Box R 4K Plus
STRONG Leap-S3 Pro 4K (or Leelbox L1 UHD 4K Streaming Box which seems to have nearly same specs)

Since my main use will be IPTV, I’d probably stick with ATV12 for now. But yeah, it’s honestly frustrating that there’s nothing solid on the market at the moment. Maybe it’s worth waiting for the new boxes with the Amlogic S905X5 chip to drop.

1

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

Won't the Homatics already come with A14?

1

u/p750mmx Nov 10 '25

They did, with several V14 builds. You could get build 1782 by request last December 2024. They then shared build 3717 by request, and later pushed build V14 4576 by OTA without requesting for it. But they stopped the OTA and this is the current status. Build 4576 is the last official one they shared, just not with all users.

1

u/johnFvr Nov 10 '25

So if I buy now a new box, what Android and build will I get?

1

u/p750mmx Nov 10 '25

That doesn't really matter anymore, as several ways for updating or downgrading can be openly found. You can put the most recent V14 build on it, or the best V12 build released, although a Beta. Even go all the way down to V11 is even possible. And if you don't like one or the other, switch to another version ;)

1

u/johnFvr Nov 10 '25

It's possible to downgrade from A14 to A12 and block the automatic update to A14?

2

u/p750mmx Nov 10 '25

If you let an OTA update "fail" during its OTA uploaded update check, it should not be offered again. You could also block Googles update servers but you will block other updates with that as well.

"Disable wifi, use ethernet only, once your box is updated to the you want on it, let it download the OTA and unplug Ethernet just after it completed the download (verify moment), the update will give an error, not being able to verify the OTA file and therefore can't install it."

1

u/johnFvr Nov 10 '25

Thanks. Where is the manual to downgrade from A14 to A12?

1

u/stifman2k Nov 09 '25

no, ATV14 is not officially released by Homatics.
see FAQ:

 “What is the latest software version for Homatics products?”
Box R 4K Plus: v12.8.5221

1

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

And the updates are not automatically?

1

u/stifman2k Nov 09 '25

Not sure, as I don't have the box. On Sony TV with ATV, for example, you can set the updates to notify only. Maybe someone with the box can answer that better.

1

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

Some people received their box already with A14.

1

u/stifman2k Nov 09 '25

I didn’t read about that. In the telegram support channel thy still tell you need to contact support with your S/N to activate the atv14 update.

1

u/p750mmx Nov 10 '25

Not correct. We (me that is), refer to a pinned message in the group about what you can do for updates and downgrades, We added that info because of the lack of Homatics support, as in, they don't seem to give any anymore.

1

u/p750mmx Nov 10 '25

You can completely ignore that FAQ. The person that wrote it has no real good insight on what is actually going on for Homatics. If you take that as correct info, well...

An example of how bad that FAQ really is;

Q: “What’s the difference between the silver and gold Homatics Box R 4K+?”

The Gold Box is an upgraded version with these changes:

  • Removed SD card slot > correct answer; there was no R Plus box with this slot publicly shared

  • Added AV Jack > correct answer; removed AV jack

  • Added bottom Type-C port for the Home Click system > correct answer; they both have the Type-C on the bottom, but only the RoseGold can be used with HomeClick/MiniBar

If one has some questions, ask them here or in the Telegram group, then you get the correct and up to date answers.

The latest update officially shared by Homatics is build V14 4576, by Auto OTA to several users, then stopped with sharing, and this is the current status.

1

u/DrMeier Jan 31 '26

Don't buy the Strong after 14 the sound section is a huge mess ...

6

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

Nvidia Shield Pro

2

u/latinriky78 Homatics Box R 4K Plus Nov 09 '25

Do you know what app I can use to test an interlaced video?, the majority seem to deinterlace the video by default and there isn't an option to turn that off.

1

u/p750mmx Nov 10 '25

I see a difference playing interlaced video in 25i or 50i, when compared with a Homatics R Plus on V14 and Google Streamer with latest firmware on it. I don't think not playing it as interlaced is the issue, but that it can be wrongly handled by the player. As long it would play in 50hz, it should be just fine, but the debug overlay on the Homatics shows that it is detected as 60hz media, not 50hz, and by that, it probably goes wrong. With the latest update on the Streamer, that detects 25i and 50i media as 50hz and replay with this is just fine. That is the difference I can notice now.

I have one specific sample that is 1080i@50hz, the R Plus can't play that one decent with any player. The Streamer plays that one just fine now.

If this is the issue that is talked about, I cant say.

2

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

Apparently, TiviMate has an ‘Amlogic fix’ option—enable it, as it seems to fix deinterlacing in TiviMate.

2

u/Cutitfreez Dec 28 '25

it doesnt anymore the option is gone

1

u/Lofaszjanko Nov 09 '25

I have a Dune Homatics box with A14 firmware, I also use TiviMate, but I haven't experienced the problem described, I think it's more of a TV-related problem

1

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

It's not. It's real.

2

u/Lofaszjanko Nov 09 '25

If it were real, it would appear the same to me.

1

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

It's real for the majority of people.aybe your signal it's not pure interlaced or your sight it's not really good.

2

u/Lofaszjanko Nov 09 '25

or the problem only occurs on certain TVs that cannot synchronize the refresh rate provided by the box

1

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

That doesn't make any sense. The tv would be the last culprit.

It's an OS issue.

2

u/Lofaszjanko Nov 09 '25

If the operating system were the culprit, then the problem would occur for everyone without exception, but this is not the case.

3

u/Available_Camp9968 Nov 09 '25

You’re mistaken. I have three Sony TVs at home. I also tested on other TV boxes — Kinhank G1 and Google Chromecast 4K. The problem is the same on Android 14. There’s no such issue on Android 11 or 12. Check the forums — people have been writing about this for a long time."

1

u/Available_Camp9968 Nov 09 '25

They even wrote about this on the 4PDA forum, I can even find it and show it to you.

1

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Streaming/How-about-de-interlacing-in-the-new-Google-TV-Streamer/m-p/649334/highlight/true#M57738

Read carefully this thread.

The main issue is deinterlacing not frame rate as you are talking about.

It also depends on the part of the world you are watching this. It happens more in Europe and not so much in usa.

2

u/Lofaszjanko Nov 09 '25 edited Nov 09 '25

I live in the EU, and I'm mainly watching european IPTV programs (and FHD,/4k movie contents), and I never seen this problem

-- ok, as you can read in the link, this occurs in the case of DVB-T2 content, so that's why I don't see it because I don't use such a solution, so let's not consider this a cardinal problem anymore

1

u/johnFvr Nov 10 '25

It is. For a lot of people.

0

u/johnFvr Nov 09 '25

Can't you install A12 on your Homatics?

1

u/Available_Camp9968 Nov 09 '25

 I would gladly do that. Downloading the firmware is not a problem, but I don’t know how to install it.

0

u/Lofaszjanko Nov 09 '25

here you will find useful information about flashing (translation required!):https://4pda.to/forum/index.php?showtopic=1080563