TV Box reccomendation for Christmas 2020

by kenpolz

Hello everyone,

I'm new to IPTV streaming and am looking to purchase an Android TV Box/Stick for use with IPTV and also streaming services (Netflix / Prime Video / Apple TV+ / Disney+ / HBO GO).

I've read quite a few posts here on Reddit and it seems the unanimous streamer app reccomendation is TiviMate, so I'm looking for hardware devices that support it specifically.

As I have no experience and there are literally hundreds of devices available, and the availability and price of them is extremely different across the world, I'm looking for your opinions. It seems I have five choices. Prices listed are in my country (Brazil) as of today.

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Android no-name chinese boxes, such as "Tanix TX9" - U$ 40 ----------------------------------

upside: cheap, easy to find and widely used

downside: not official "Android TV", limited (or none at all?) support for streaming services and limited (or none at all?) updates for operating system, awful remote control

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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (3rd gen) - U$80 ------------------------------------------------------------

upside: cheap, official support for virtually all streaming services and official updates for operating system

downside: modified Android, has Amazon Bloatware and TiviMate needs to be sideloaded

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Xiaomi Mi TV Stick (1GB/1080p) - U$60 and Mi Box S (2GB/4K) - U$90 -------------------

upside: official Android TV, cheap, easy to find and widely used, official support for virtually all streaming services and official updates for operating system

downside: old hardware and cheap remote control

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Chromecast 2020 with Google TV - U$120 -----------------------------------------------------------

upside: new interface, as official as it gets

downside: as it was recently released, it's not yet widely available on my country so prices are absurd

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nVidia Shield - U$ 280 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

upside: excelent upscaling

downside: expensive and hard to find on my country

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I'm leaning towards buying the Fire TV Stick 4K. Amazon has official widespread support in the country, the hardware is quick, and price is affordable. If the Chromecast 2020 didn't cost over half as much, it would be my choice. The nVidia Shield costs more than I'd be willing to spend at this first moment.

gme86

Just change my fire stick 4k to the fire cube. Mostly for iptv and streaming. The stick is very good for is price but the cube give a smoother experience. The bonus of alexa is nice but not must (and the stick have alexa with the help of remote). Dont think you should buy a cheap/xiaumi stick, if you have a good quality tv connect it to a good streamer.

Dont know about the new chomcast but the navidia and apple 4k are good but expensive. If use kodi the cube is top. Good luck.

syncrypto

I'd go with the Firestick TV 4k.

Hands down the best value for money

juan_carlos__007

I've owned firestick, firestick ultra 4k, android tv (hisense tv) and chromecast (not the newest google tv one). I really love fire tv sticks for the following and many more reasons I can't remember: It comes with and amazing remote controller Alexa ready, can com with other alexa stuff like light bulbs, security cameras etc Can connect to blueetoth earphones Can attach more storage with an adapter Can conect directcly to ethernet cable with an adapter Most of the bloatware can be deactivated Can install apps like cinemahd, mobdro, smart youtube through downloader app To me it seems like a flagship that has a lot of research been put into it. Chromecast is very tricky it gets stuck and you gotta disconnect and reconnect to gain, not seamless. Android tv is good I would say with more posibilities than firestick but firestick is more user friendly. If I was to buy the best android tv I would go with nvidia shield.