Rating of the best TV boxes

Audio and video equipment

With the transition of terrestrial television to digital broadcasting, many users were faced with the fact that their televisions stopped working. Going to buy a new one is a pointless activity, because it is much cheaper to buy a digital set-top box. With its help, a whole range of relevant opportunities in the field of digital television will be realized.

Best 3D Smart TV Boxes

Apple TV 4K 32GB

The undisputed leader in smart TV set-top boxes is the smart Apple TV 4K with the best RAM - 3072 MB, which is three times more than most, including more expensive gadgets. The modification in question received 32 GB of flash memory, but the model also meets with more memory.

In addition to support for Internet radio, Bluetooth, AirPlay technology for wireless data exchange with iPod, iPhone and iPad, the Smart TV set-top box also pleases with compatibility with many audio and video data formats. It even recognizes images with high TIFF color depths. But the most important advantage of the smart tuner is the best data transfer rate over the Ethernet interface, reaching a record 1000 Mbps. In many ways, it was this feature that made the model many times more popular than its predecessor. Also, everyone praises the minimalistic remote control. The touchpad and Siri voice control make it very easy to control.

Invin W6 2Gb / 16Gb

Built on the basis of the Amlogic S905W microprocessor, this smart set-top box for TV has a built-in flash drive with a capacity of 16 GB. The speed of the system is provided by 2 GB of RAM and OS Android 7.1. Support for 18 popular formats and a dozen of the most common codecs allows you to view digital video, audio files on any TV that has a composite or HDMI input. Elegant design, diminutiveness of the device and reliability of assembly are noted by the owners as another of the advantages of this model.

The playback quality of the set-top box is the highest - 4K UHD. In addition to all the advantages of smart devices, Invin W6 2Gb / 16Gb has a 3D graphics hardware accelerator, which provides the best dynamics on the widescreen when playing online. Access to the popular Play market portal allows you to install any game or application. The set-top box already has a browser and many useful programs, such as Facebook, Youtube, Skype, etc. In addition, the model has voice control via a microphone built into the remote control. It can also be used when talking in instant messengers, which is very convenient because there is no need to connect a headset.

iconBIT XDS 16

For its characteristics, iconBIT XDS 16 has a rather attractive price, which makes this smart console a worthy choice. The Android 6.0 operating system allows you to implement a huge number of multimedia applications and games from Google Play on the screen of an old TV. When watching IPTV, it is better to connect the set-top box to the network via a cable, since the Wi-Fi channel in this case may not be able to cope with the volume of the digital signal.

Nevertheless, a "weak" wireless channel is not a reason to refuse iconBIT XDS 16, especially since the price for its hardware characteristics is quite interesting. There are 2 USB inputs - you can connect a wireless keyboard / mouse and use a USB flash drive or use an external hard drive. Support for 3D, MKV video container and other popular formats (reads almost all video files) makes the XDS 16 digital smart set-top box competitive in its segment. In addition, it supports 5.1 surround sound home theater operation.

The best Smart-TV set-top boxes with support for digital TV

Dune HD Neo 4K T2

Only this model can be recognized as the best set-top box that gives access to both Smart TV and digital content. The developer, referred to by many experts as the world leader in digital media players, has equipped his brainchild with the latest technology.First of all, the novelty of 2018 received two reliable operating systems: Android 6 and the unique Dune HD platform, found only on devices of this brand. Android is installed by default, but the user is given a choice.

The set-top box with a distinctive futuristic design supports almost all existing file types, as well as HDR, 10-bit color and 2020.B, is equipped with DVB T, DVB T2 and DVB C tuners. There will be no problems with connection, thanks to HDMI, composite and even optical entrances. At the same time, Dune received two USB connectors and a slot for memory cards. The miracle gadget is controlled by both a remote control and a smartphone on Android or Ayos.

World Vision T62A

This set-top box for digital format allows you to watch the broadcast in analog broadcasting - the output interface is represented not only by the HDMI channel, but also by the composite and coaxial loop connector that connects to the TV. On the front panel there is a USB 2.0 input for storage, and in the same port on the back you can install a Wi-Fi antenna and significantly expand the capabilities of a conventional DVB-T2 tuner. In addition to digital broadcasting, the World Vision T62A is excellent at decoding cable TV signals.

With the antenna, the functions of viewing IPTV and Youtube, monitoring news channels, and much more are opened in the set-top box. It should be borne in mind that not all Wi-Fi adapters are supported. The new models use the modern JX 3235 processor, thanks to which the set-top box operates in HD format and supports wide-format image output. The digital signal receiver has excellent anti-interference and high sensitivity, which ensures reliable broadcast reception. The owners appreciate the presence of learning buttons on the remote control that can control the TV (turn on, volume and switch TV / AV).

Mecool KIII PRO 3/16

The Mecool KIII PRO 3/16 prefix runs on Android 7.1 TV OS and easily turns an ordinary TV into a smart one. The connection to the network is carried out both via a wired Ethernet channel and through a fairly powerful Wi-Fi. If the wireless distribution in the house has a heavy load, then for the full use of online broadcasting (IPTV, Youtube, Peers TV and others), it is better to connect via a cable. The presence of Bluetooth and two USB 3.0 allows you to connect two universal gamepads to use the smart console as a game console. Graphics chip
ARM Mali-T820MP3 with performance up to 750 MHz provides support for 3D games and video.

Composite or HDMI connectors are used to connect to TV, and the presence of a DVB-T2 receiver allows you to watch channels and digital broadcasting. The set-top box handles most video formats, including MKV containers. For such functionality, Mecool KIII PRO needed an eight-core Amlogic S912 processor, 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal flash drive. In addition, the stated hardware performance allows the smart box to support 4K UHD image quality.

Best Smart TV Boxes (IPTV)

NVIDIA SHIELD

The premium class digital set-top box runs on Android 7.0 TV system. This OS is somewhat different from the usual operating system, since it has some adaptation, which completely turns an ordinary TV into a real smart one. There is no navigation bar, no status bar, the home screen is fixed, and the Google Play Store only has Android TV apps. In addition, the interface adjusts to the TV screen, and menu navigation using a very convenient remote control (there is a touch volume control and a microphone for voice control) does not require additional manipulators.

The set comes with a game console (one), but the range of its IR transmitter is only a couple of meters. But it is possible to connect other gamepads via Bluetooth. RAM in 3 GB and a powerful quad-core processor NVIDIA Tegra X1 2.01 GHz makes it possible to enjoy serious games (in terms of hardware requirements) without freezes and glitches. The built-in memory allows you to upload up to 10 GB of various content.Connection to a TV is possible only via the HDMI 2.0 interface, so the set-top box is not suitable for too old TV. The media player works great with IPTV, Youtube and other online services, supporting the highest quality 4K UHD playback.

Xiaomi Mi Box International Version

The sleek model in a classic case with slightly rounded edges is the best solution for those looking for an inexpensive 4K TV set-top box. Developed by a well-known Chinese brand, this representative of Smart TV devices successfully copes with high-definition movies. Also, buyers note that they were pleasantly surprised by the high-quality sound and "omnivorous". Unlike cheaper devices, Xiaomi reads without problems not only such common formats as MKV, AVI, WMV and MPEG4, but also high quality FLAC, APE files, as well as a number of rare standards.

Despite the Android operating system, the set-top box can boast not only Bluetooth and DLNA, but also "apple" capabilities available mainly only to expensive Apple developments: AirPlay and a remote control with voice search. At the same time, the tuner, like devices twice as expensive, received 2048 MB of RAM and 8192 MB of Flash memory.

Google Chromecast 2015

Oddly enough, it was the world-famous Google brand that became the creator of the most profitable Smart TV set-top box. At the lowest cost for this category, the gadget received an adequate set of useful properties, support for the most common formats, and even more. The TV tuner provides access to hundreds of Internet radio stations over Wi-Fi, which will surely delight music lovers.

The set-top box is also suitable for playing high-definition video files encoded according to the VC-1 standard. In addition, it is compact and, in the opinion of buyers, very convenient to use. The Android operating system, successful work with YouTube, the Google Play market and other prominent services have brought the basic model into the ranks of the demanded and simply the best add-ons for the TV. However, the manufacturer still saved on some things. The size of the RAM is only 512 MB, and the flash memory is 256 MB. Also, the set-top box is devoid of a remote control.

Galaxy Innovations Lunn 28

The smart box supports most video playback formats and is quite fast. The connection to the network via a wireless Wi-Fi channel with support for the Miracast standard ensures the playback of a digital transmission of an IPTV signal without delays and freezes. Ethernet cable connection is also possible. In many ways, Galaxy Innovations Lunn 28 is in no way inferior to its more expensive counterparts - 2 GB of RAM and a modern Amlogic S905W processor. The internal storage is small (8 GB), but will allow you to record the desired transfer.

The processor also supports 4K UHD quality, which is just an excellent parameter for its price. Running on Android 7.1, Galaxy Innovations Lunn 28 provides access to Google Play, YouTube, StalkerTV and other services. The set-top box can be connected via a composite or HDMI 2.0 interface, which makes it possible to use it even on some translators of the last century. The convenient remote control has programmable buttons to control the main modes of the TV - with its help the owner will be able to control both devices.

Criteria for choosing a set-top box

When choosing a digital media device for your TV, consider the following:

Powerful hardware. The processing speed of the video signal and the stability of the operation of the set-top box depend on the performance of the processor and the amount of memory. These indicators largely determine the practicality and relevance of the device.
The presence of a wireless interface and its characteristics. If the plans are to turn an old TV into a smart one, Wi-Fi connection will be preferable - no need to lay a cable to the router. In this case, the quality of signal reception plays an important role. It is better to test reliable reception at a distance of your router and TV before buying.
Operating system type.There are devices running various operating systems, but Android remains the most popular. When choosing, consider the firmware version - in any case, it should not be too outdated.
Simple controls. The presence of a remote control (some models allow you to use the owner's smartphone for this purpose), a clear menu and interface will facilitate everyday operation, so this aspect also requires attention.
Additional features. Support for memory cards or connecting a hard drive, voice control and many other "chips" can significantly expand the functionality of the device.
The last selection criterion is the cost of the device. It must be balanced with the specifications and quality of the set-top box. If the choice is made solely on the basis of price, there is a high probability that the purchase will not be able to fully realize the desired features.