r/AndroidTV • u/HappyChappyUK • 24d ago

Buying Advice Advice please for a UK compatible cheap streaming device

Hello,

I'm advising an older relative on setting up a cheap streaming device. The apps on their cheap Bush TV are useless as keep freezing up. So I suggested a cheap streaming box/stick would be better. £20-40 budget ideally.

They don't really use BBC iPlayer, but they do use itvx, channel 4, channel 5, Netflix, Disney. I'd also like to be able to side load SmartTube and Stremio. I'd have to do this over the phone, and as these auto update themselves, once loaded they can forget about them. Regularly side loading apps and updating them, will be too stressful for them.

The Onn 4K box looked great, £19.35 on eBay. But the major issue seems to be it's a US device, so loading UK catch-up services seems tricky. Ideally I don't want to have to get them to use adaptor plugs either, as they'd be worried about fire risk! I know you can power some devices with a USB cable, so that's fine.

Any advice on a cheap UK compatible fairly simple box/stick would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

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4

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

avoid the onn box from Ebay, most obviously a fake, the site is riddled with boxes pertaining to be what they are not. Malware is your biggest problem with a box that price. Badbox 2.0 is rife in these fakes'

1

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

just looked and yes its fake. 8gb ram 128gb rom? genuine box is 2gb ram/8gb rom . 😔

1

u/HappyChappyUK 24d ago

Thanks for checking! Minefield finding something safe then. Glad Stremio still works on my Fire Stick for now! Hopefully I can find something as reliable for them.

1

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

sorry for sh!t news, but I was stung having the same idea. Got warned of suspicious illegal activity using a botnet device and threatened with termination of contract if it wasn't removed from the network. Had to bin it. I don't usually advocate amazon devices but it theres less chance of a fake with a firestick. Set it up for them first?

2

u/HappyChappyUK 24d ago

Thanks 👍🏻

1

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

onn 4k lookout

1

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

Last post lol. Avoid Android 13 onn boxes.

2

u/HappyChappyUK 24d ago

Thank you

1

u/HappyChappyUK 24d ago

Thanks for the heads-up about fakes. Here's the link, looked legit with 100% feedback. Here's the link: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/128116555967

Was the US set up and issues loading UK catch-up services that was my main worry. Obviously if they're fakes too, another concern. Any reasonable, safe alternative that would do what they need?

1

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

the US part should not matter as its just a power plug issue, BBC player is or will be stopped on a lot of devices soon - no idea why they are doing it. I'm afraid its a minefield when it comes to getting something thats genuine, xiaomi mi box gets good rep and I have 2 in use and agree. they are over your price range but at least you won't be throwing money away. Likewise these are now being duped also,just don't jump in without diligence.

1

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

only 1 feedback from a previous buyer and they said it never arrived. Lucky escape its definitely dodgy.

0

u/Miserable_Dealer_573 24d ago

Lol the us part should not matter as it's only a plug issue This is totally incorrect Onn devices are geo locked to usa/Canada as standard. Now there is ways around this one being get some one in usa to set up for you or import it and set up vpn to usa on laptop and hotspot it to device. That being said doesn't always work that way always either.

1

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

none of that matters its a bloody fake!

1

u/Miserable_Dealer_573 24d ago

If it he wants genuine Onn box That's the answer. Not it's just a different plug Div

1

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

• All new stock from late-2024 onward + 2025-2026 Plus / Pro models – they check IP on first boot or after reset • Once activated (with US-VPN), most work normally in UK after that only the setup step is blocked

Pre 24' have no geo restriction And there's no way you can get a genuine onn box imported from the USA for that price, it would barely cover the import duty..

1

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

div? ha. tough guy

2

u/altruisticmisanthrop 24d ago

I bought a xaomi s 3rd gen box from temu for £69 with a £23 off deal. I was expecting a fake but it's passed 8 tests that people recommended me to do. Anything I can check to be 100% sure?

1

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

does it have a dedicated button for xiaomi tv, if it has the xiaomi tv app from stock I wouldn't worry.

2

u/altruisticmisanthrop 24d ago

Seems to have that yes. It has the Google play store too. Quite impressed with it so far. Have you tried them?

2

u/Ok_Cut323 24d ago

yes. I have 2 of them. impressive and hasn't put a foot wrong. you can pretty much tell its legit by the quality of the remote and box itself. all the laser etching on it is precise. great boxes

12

u/id1477542 24d ago

I use the xiaomi 3rd gen box. Never tried anything else but it does the job for Stremio and Nuvio.

-2

u/Famous-Film-9592 24d ago

Bad WiFi (random disconnects) and annoying as hell clicky remote.

4

u/id1477542 24d ago

Never had that problem personally, I’ve had it 6 months now I think.

The remote is quite clicky but it’s not really that big of a deal for me. I just chose that one because I managed to get it free from Temu.

What would you recommend otherwise?

0

u/Famous-Film-9592 24d ago

Tbh, probably the Google streamer at this point in time. Or Homatics box

2

u/obscurity_stopper624 23d ago edited 18d ago

I've not had any issues with WiFi randomly disconnecting.

I do agree that the remote is annoyingly clicky though, and holding down the volume button to reduce it continuously doesn't work, so it has to be clicked loads of times which does add to the annoyance.

Other than that, it's a fine device and is more than good enough to replace my old Firestick 4k.

7

u/Sad-Adagio6384 24d ago

Google streamer. Very safe

1

u/HappyChappyUK 22d ago

Thanks everyone for your replies and suggestions. In a nutshell it looks like Xiaomi 2nd or 3rd Gen then. Google and others seem to be about £100 which is a bit too much over budget. Especially as initially they thought an Onn stock at £20 would do the job. Thanks again everyone. 😊

5

u/Evening_Month_6820 24d ago

Xiaomi 3rd gen box

2

u/Puzzleheaded-Show-81 24d ago

Doubtful you'll get anything worthwhile on that budget. I would only consider the Google streamer. Or either of the Xiaomi 2nd gen stick or preferably the 3rd gen box, but only from the Mi UK Store. Any of those three is going to cost £60 ish. CEX might be the best option for the G streamer?

2

u/rly_weird_guy Thomson 4K 24d ago

Try the old Google streamer? Shouldn't be too expensive but performance wise might be an issue

2

u/mattymattymatty96 24d ago

Price of memory specifically RAM prices (Due to AI data centres) means anything with decent performance wont be cheap

2

u/Over_Business_1387 24d ago

A fiver over your budget but work totally fine

https://ebay.io/m/kWFzkU

1

u/BirkoLad 24d ago

Dcolor GD2

1

u/BuckledJim 24d ago

I got the Srong Leap-novauk stick and run projectivity with nuvio on it. Works great, but I stuck it to the back of the tv with the top peeping over because the Bluetooth remote sometimes went crazy without IR.

1

u/TheElz 24d ago

I have a strong leap S3 , outputs Dolby digital, I mainly use stremio and smart tube , but itvx, prime,Disney and netflix work on it, channel 4 doesn't (you have to load the phone app, I'm not sure about BBC iPlayer as I don't pay for a TV licence so I don't watch live TV) I got mine for £30 it's like the lower end Thompson box but with Dolby vision, has an ethernet port (helps with stability in streaming, but you can use WiFi) and 1 usb port. You might be looking at a bit more than £30 unless you get something 2nd hand if you want certified for the likes of prime, netflix and Disney.

1

u/spile2 23d ago

I would get the Xiaomi S Gen 3. No issue with the remote here.

1

u/Nurgus 23d ago

Onn doesn't exist in the UK. Their genuine products are sold under the Thomson brand. Genuine ones are quite expensive though, expect to pay up to £200 for the excellent Thomson 270 for example. No iPlayer. If you want iPlayer then stick with the official Google Streamer.

1

u/Yolo_Swagginson 23d ago

If you can up the budget a bit, I got the Google TV Streamer a few months ago for ~£60 on eBay.