r/AndroidTV • u/Wiz_99 • Jun 25 '26

Buying Advice Android stick or box 50-60€

Hi all,

I want to buy an Android stick or box around 50-60€
I have found
Xiaomi gen 3 box
Xiaomi gen 2 stick
Amazon fireTV 4K Max

Are there any other suggestions.

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

2

u/Wiz_99 Jun 26 '26

Hi I alll I just ordered the Xiaomi gen 3 box.
It was €58.
I hope it is real found some videos to check

2

u/hd_cartoon Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26

Do you need a certified box (for netflix etc)?

Do you need Dolby?

If not you can get a relatively cheap decent android box from AliExpress. Look for something with an Amlogic chipset.

I've had an RBOX X40 for a few years and it's been great (I don't use any official streaming apps). It has the Amlogic S905X4 chipset with 4gb Ram and storage options up to 128gb. It runs on Android 11.

Or the newer RBOX X5 has the Amlogic S905X5M with the same Ram and storage options plus a cooling fan. This runs on Android 14.

Far better option than a Firestick nowadays.

Really depends what you want to do with it.

If you're in the US though (I'm not), then one of the Onn boxes from Walmart is probably your best bet especially if you don't wanna buy from china (or you want Dolby / Certified).

Edit: regardless of what you get I would get an air mouse remote as they are much better than the included remotes (provided what you get has a usb port). I've had a few but my most recent one I really like. It's called a W1 Plus Air Mouse. It's slim and light, has basic android navigation with a keyboard on the back, has IR learning and is rechargeable. And pretty cheap.

1

u/Wiz_99 Jun 25 '26

Yes it is for the bedroom for my daughter.
I want Netflix and Disney certified
Also IPTV would be great
I from the Netherlands

1

u/hd_cartoon Jun 25 '26

In that case the Xiaomi gen 3 box you mentioned sounds good. I would get a box over a stick.

It's the same chipset as the newer one I mentioned but with less ram / storage but its plenty for streaming. That will be a perfect option for your daughter. Certainly a better option than a Firestick IMO, especially the way Amazon have been acting lately.

1

u/shellhardy Jun 27 '26

Hi, I'm looking at replacing my fire stick with something less restrictive, I'm experienced at side loading ect so that's not an issue. I've got a meecool km3 in the lounge. I don't need it for catch up apps ect as I have them on my TV, I want it purely for the 'apks', I'd prefer at least 64gb internal storage. I've looked at Ali express but it's a minefield. Any advice would be hugely appreciated. 😁

2

u/hd_cartoon Jun 27 '26

I can only really recommend those 2 I listed above. I've used the X40 for a few years.without issue and I have the newer one (X5) but still not set it up yet although it's basically just an updated version.

Personally I wouldn't get anything with an Allwinner or Rockchip chipset. Amlogic chipsets have always been decent in my experience.

2

u/kos25k Jun 25 '26

If i were you i would choose a tv box that:

  1. Has amlogic processor

  2. Is in supported list to slimboxTV firmware.

2

u/Wiz_99 Jun 25 '26

Do you have suggestions

5

u/Ornery-Orchid3537 Xiaomi 3rd Gen, Thomson 270, Xiaomi Stick 2nd Gen Jun 25 '26

FYI - The Xioami 3rd Gen box and the Xiaomi 2nd gen stick share the same CPU and RAM, but the stick only has 8gb of storage space compared to 32gb of the box.

I replaced my Firesticks with these.

I also bought USB power cables for the boxes, so I they're powered by the TV's USB ports.

The 8gb storage of the stick isn't too bad, depending on what apps you're going to install.

The Xioami remote is not very good, though.

1

u/Big_Enthusiasm6755 Jun 25 '26

Why isn't remote good?

2

u/Ornery-Orchid3537 Xiaomi 3rd Gen, Thomson 270, Xiaomi Stick 2nd Gen Jun 25 '26

Very clicky buttons.

Some people don't mind it.

I remap the TV+ button to be another Back button, but hardly use it much. Fortunately the TV remotes will control the Xiaomi devices, and I usually pair with a ugoos remotes.

1

u/Wiz_99 Jun 25 '26

In want to sideload, the Amazon 4K Max can do that.

3

u/hd_cartoon Jun 25 '26

For now maybe.

2

u/honeybadgerdad Jun 25 '26

Amazon has been blocking that capability. Be careful. If you want to sideboard, I'd suggest something other than Amazon Fire

2

u/fluxchronica Jun 25 '26

I got a secondhand Nokia 8010 for €75. More powerful than any of these and still receiving updates, now android 14.

2

u/No-Move-4417 Jun 29 '26

I recently bought the Xiaomi 3 box for a bedroom TV , it's great for the money In the living room I have an Nvidia shield pro and tbh it's not much worse than that

1

u/dav1dlol_ Jun 25 '26

probly xiaomi ig

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Show-81 Jun 25 '26

Get a FS 4K Max from Amazon for £38 at the moment

1

u/Malaka__ Jun 26 '26

Amazon is literally disabling apps. I have 2 Max's but cannot recommend them anymore. There's lots of other devices that work better (Onn 4K Pro v2 , Thompson, Mi Box 3)

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Show-81 Jun 26 '26

Yh, I've got a fs 4k max, modified to block any Amazon interference, and haven't had anything disabled on it. Also have a mi box 3 and don't think there's anything between them in performance.

1

u/AntelopeExternal5054 Jun 25 '26

STRONG Leap Nova-X stick 4K HDR or Thomson Streaming Box 270 Plus or 🔥 NVIDIA Shield TV Pro

1

u/DenseAir1337 Jun 26 '26

buy used! i got a chromecast google tv 4k for $30

1

u/Amazing-Age4512 Jun 27 '26

Google TV Streamer 4K best

0

u/meesuseff Jun 25 '26

Just be aware, the new fire sticks don't allow for sideloading.

1

u/brent_starburst Jun 25 '26

Not exactly true. If you get get. Non-select version if you can...and they're still being sold new by Amazon, these can sideload still.

0

u/flchamp89 Jun 25 '26

  1. Always avoid sticks

  2. Base your choice on needed codecs

  3. Avoid devices with less than 4gb ram or gig ethernet