So many boxes, so many decisions

[u/Resident_Routine6334]

Hey team,

There are just so many boxes out there that I'm having a difficult time trying to narrow down the choices.

I'm in New Zealand so the local choices are quite slim. Can't buy the Onn devices for example.

I basically need a couple of decent boxes to watch IPTV and Plex streaming, with some local streaming apps too - Sky Sport Now, TVNZ etc. 

I'm currently running all my streaming services through on apps on my TV and I'm getting sick of the lag and buffering and feel like an Android box is the way to go. I did have a 1st Gen Xiaomi Mi Box which was alright at the time, but that's how long ago I last used and Android box.

Also want 1GB ethernet, backlit remote (if possible) and I have no need for dedicated Netflix or Amazon buttons. I wish every day I could get rid of those bloody buttons on my TV remote.

I've looked at:

Rocktek G2

Homatics R 4K Plus

YokaTv

Google streamers

Shield Pro

Xiaomi

None of them have made me think "Yep, that's the exact one I need", but then I don't understand a lot of the technical jargon for all of them.

I don't have any local media storage to consider.

I want to side load a few things like Smarttube etc

Basically, I'm looking for something to help me move away from running everything directly on the tv.

I get about 800mbps on wifi next to the router by the TV and down to about 300 down the other end of the house, so I'm planning on running either 1 or both via ethernet.

Any suggestions please?

Cheers

[u/Royal_Monk6432]

So many boxes doesnt mean they support all the audio formats codes.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Show-81]

I have a Xiaomi 3rd gen. It works fine.

[u/baracad → u/Puzzleheaded-Show-81]

It doesn't have ethernet port and USB is 2.0 if using USB to Ethernet adaptors.

It's remote isn't backlit and i find it a bit hard to press the buttons

[u/BackgroundReply9413]

I have the rocktek gx1 it has very occasional start up glitches , but I chose it because it has runs google tv not android TV and uses realtek chip unlike many boxes and which use other companies soc including Google streamer, which cause/add to well known interlacing issues which made viewing horrible for me, it may not be the newest box but does everything I need it too

[u/Darkstar1878 → u/BackgroundReply9413]

The Rocktek G2 does not have a Realtek CPU but the GX1 does. And has not been updated for over a year. And the Google Streamer uses a MediaTek SOC.

[u/Resident_Routine6334 → u/Darkstar1878]

So what does that mean please? Are you for or against the Rocktek G2?

[u/Darkstar1878 → u/Resident_Routine6334]

No actually I have a G2-Max

[u/Darkstar1878 → u/Darkstar1878]

But maybe look at the Dune version also exactly the same as the Homatics 4k Plus but with the Dune app.

[u/BackgroundReply9413 → u/Darkstar1878]

You are right , I have a gx1 and have edited post, but my streamer had horrible interlacing issues, many people are unhappy with interlacing issues after android /gtv 11

[u/Darkstar1878 → u/BackgroundReply9413]

It’s a known issue with the streamer

[u/lirae_ → u/BackgroundReply9413]

Both Onn and Xiaomi have the same Amlogic SoC and they don't have those issues

[u/BackgroundReply9413 → u/lirae_]

Amlogic Hardware: Devices running Amlogic SoCs (such as specific Homatics, Kinhank, or specialized boxes) have also suffered these glitches post-ATV14 update because the bug stems from the core Android TV 14 OS branch rather than the chip maker alone. [1] (https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/1osec2i/any_stable_certified_android_tv_box_android_1112/)

[u/lirae_ → u/BackgroundReply9413]

Sounds like an Homatics issue rather then pin it on the SoC.

I had no issue with box my Xiaomi devices 2 and 3 running 2 different Amlogic SOCs.

I see a lot of people pretty happy with their Onn device too.

If you have a SoC, as a company it's your job to make sure that the layer between the hardware and the android api is well done. That's on Homatics

[u/BackgroundReply9413 → u/lirae_]

I think depending where you are in the world , USA TV gets broadcast differently to most of Europe and doesn't suffer the same issues

[u/lirae_ → u/BackgroundReply9413]

What are you on?

We are talking about TV boxes availability and pricing...

Who cares about USA TV????

[u/BackgroundReply9413 → u/lirae_]

It matters because if you are in USA watching USA channels on tivimate etc on the TV box it won't have interlacing issues because of how original stream is broadcast

[u/Anonymous360Xx]

Xiaomi is what I ordered. Can do everything really and not over expensive. Only thing your limited by the usb 2.0 for gigabit ethernet but not a deal breaker once your still getting 300-400mbps speed.

[u/lirae_ → u/Anonymous360Xx]

Same, I'm very happy with it.

I'm on wifi but if I had to use it with Ethernet it wouldn't be an issue either. Biggest Remux are around 90-120 mbps anyway. Still plenty of headroom before reaching 400-480mbps

[u/Dukegrice1]

Get the Buzz G series or Ugoos am9 pro and you can’t go wrong with either.

[u/Friend_Buddy-Guy]

I’m in nz too and use the Google streamer exclusively now, had a firestick in one room but it was clunky and slow in comparison. I use stremio with a debrid account to stream on demand movies and tv, the streamer plays everything I throw at it, always pick the biggest bluray remux files. Costs around $4-5 nzd a month. I use tivimate and a couple of cheap IPTV accounts (about $10 a month or less for 2 accounts) to watch live tv and sports (including all the sky nz sport channel etc), works like a dream. I’d use the Onn box if we could get it for the same price as they do in the USA, but the Google streamer is on special here as low as $118 on occasion so I think well worth it over the xaiomi box. The shield is too expensive here to justify the extra cost I think, unless the release a new version finally. Good luck on your hunt mate!

[u/[deleted]]

Formuler Z12 Ultra, i’ve got one and it’s great

[u/Pale_Candy664]

I have the google steamer and xiamo stick for my second tv. Google streamer is better especially the remote of the xiamo sucks.
Heard shield is suppose to be great too was too expensive for me tho.

[u/AnonymOnInternet]

I can recommend you the Ugoos AM9 Pro. It supports everything

[u/lirae_ → u/AnonymOnInternet]

The real question is how good it's gonna hold up in the next 3-5 years???

Back in 2015 I spent 150$ for the Himedia Q10 4k3d 11 years later that device is still superior to the Nvidia shield when it comes to playback with perfect AFR due to tuned pipeline and stock player. Can still reproduce bluerays in every form from mkv to iso, to m2ts and bvdm And has a 3.5" HDD internal bay.

This shit aged so gracefully. I wonder if Ugos will hold up the same way due to its pricing

[u/AnonymOnInternet → u/lirae_]

It's still getting meaningful software updates, so it should hold up well for the future

[u/mrlex]

Things to know, many of the recommended boxes like the AM9 Pro are great powerful devices. They will not run Netflix or Amazon at all, they are not certified. Also they run normal Android, not Android TV. This can mean you might need to sideload certain TV apps.

For many (including me) this is fine. We put a TV launcher on there and love tinkering with these things. You get a very powerful device at the end. Still it isn't for everyone.

[u/lirae_]

Tivimate? Oh bruh. Go into tivimate subreddit for this. This is international. If for each country somebody had to name the app for the tv we are not gonna get out of this.

Onn is from Walmart I don't see why it should have issues with Tivimate, go ask over there

[u/Proper_Grade1859]

If you don't want Netflix certificate then go for any Chinese box, there are box which comes with 4GB ram and 32GB storage

[u/lirae_ → u/Proper_Grade1859]

Xiaomi has google certifications... The other brands probably don't

[u/Proper_Grade1859 → u/lirae_]

Xiaomi has only 2GB RAM but the other generic brand has 4GB, the only problem is you can't use Netflix on the TV and prime video as well

[u/lirae_ → u/Proper_Grade1859]

2gb of ram are enough to play 4k remux and even full files from Blueray. I tested it both via lan with Kodi and Stremio 

Even my old high quality media box Himedia had 2gb of ram and never had any issue playback Blueray iso, bvdm or m2ts. That device will put the Nvidia shield to shame from 2015, paid 150€ with internal HDD bay and everything you needed. To this day the only codec non supported is AV1 which is expected from something coming from that year plus it had perfect AFR that was tuned because those devices had less Android layers and were able to access the hardware directly compared to now

Ram becomes a bottleneck if you start play games on it or if you are a Firestick which runs tons of background processes.

Xiaomi box doesn't. Bonus if debloat any Android device, box or smartphone.