Value android box for streaming tv shows

daveyeh

I'm looking for a cheap(ish) Android box - would you buy this?......or recommend what I should buy?

€35

Model: Mini MX9
System: Android 4.4
CPU: RK3229
Core: Quad Core
RAM: 1G
RAM Type: DDR3
ROM: 8G
Decoder Format: H.264,H.265
Video format: 4K,AVS,H.264,H.265,MPEG1,MPEG2,VC-1,VP9,WMV
Audio format: AAC,AC3,APE,DTS,FLAC,MP3,OGG,WAV,WMA
Photo Format: BMP,GIF,JPEG,JPG,TIFF
Support 5.1 Surround Sound Output: Yes
WIFI: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Interface: AV,DC 5V,Ethernet,HDMI,SD Card Slot,SPDIF,USB2.0

Kolido

Amazon fire stick can be got for around 30e when on sale. Highly recommended for the price.

daveyeh

Kolido wrote: »

Amazon fire stick can be got for around 30e when on sale. Highly recommended for the price.

Thanks, good for streaming tv box sets etc?

Also, does this look decent?
https://www.gearbest.com/tv-box/pp_715049.html?wid=44&currency=EUR&vip=4415476&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqcrVttWe2gIV75PtCh3k0gg2EAQYDyABEgKdMvD_BwE

(Sorry for being clueless, but I am clueless!)

Kristopherus

Kolido wrote: »

Amazon fire stick can be got for around 30e when on sale. Highly recommended for the price.

You have to have excellent wifi for the the firestick to work to its full potential.

Kolido

Yeah the fire stick steams video pretty good. I use 3rd party apps and have no issues.

The one you linked to, specs look okay but Im not familiar with this model so hard to say how reliable it would be. At that price though, I wouldnt expect too much.

daveyeh

Kristopherus wrote: »

You have to have excellent wifi for the the firestick to work to its full potential.

Good to know, I usually plug an ethernet cable into the box.

Kristopherus

daveyeh wrote: »

Good to know, I usually plug an ethernet cable into the box.

The firestick is wfi only.

daveyeh

Do you need to have amazon prime to use the fire stick?

daveyeh

Any comments on this one...?

https://www.adverts.ie/media-players/2017-android-7-1-smart-tv-box-2gb-16gb-media-player-internet-streamer-x96-mini-netflix-kodi-youtube/14481482

Kristopherus

daveyeh wrote: »

Do you need to have amazon prime to use the fire stick?

No.

Kolido

daveyeh wrote: »

Any comments on this one...?

https://www.adverts.ie/media-players/2017-android-7-1-smart-tv-box-2gb-16gb-media-player-internet-streamer-x96-mini-netflix-kodi-youtube/14481482

Looks like the same one you linked earlier.

dermiek

there are hundreds of different types of android boxes on the market, only thing I'd advise is don't get one with 1Gb RAM. you need at least 2GB. Most have 2Gb, some have 3Gb. In my opinion, 1GB boxes buffer too much.

daveyeh

Kolido wrote: »

Looks like the same one you linked earlier.

:pac: Yeah, you're right! D'oh.

daveyeh

dermiek wrote: »

there are hundreds of different types of android boxes on the market, only thing I'd advise is don't get one with 1Gb RAM. you need at least 2GB. Most have 2Gb, some have 3Gb. In my opinion, 1GB boxes buffer too much.

I have an old, now practically useless, MXQ which has 1gb ram. It was painful to use.

corks finest

Know u said cheap,I did cheap for years,ended up scrapping them, bought Nvidia shield,,,,best there is

daveyeh

corks finest wrote: »

Know u said cheap,I did cheap for years,ended up scrapping them, bought Nvidia shield,,,,best there is

Thanks for the suggestion, 3gb looks tempting!

dermiek

daveyeh wrote: »

I have an old, now practically useless, MXQ which has 1gb ram. It was painful to use.

I had one of those. i agree it was painful. Don't know the make I have now, it has 3GB RAM/32GB storage. Runs perfectly. That and a MAG256. Both excellent.

I'd love an nvidia shield

Suckit

The Tanix TX2 is a great little box for low price. Handles everything.
https://www.lightinthebox.com/p/tx2-tv-box-quad-core-rk3229-2gb-16gb-wifi_p5978047.html
These ship quite fast even with all of the current delays my last order took a week. They also give you the option of tax insurance for around €1 which means if you get any extra charges at the door they will refund you. I didn't.
It often drops in sales to around €25. €32 is still decent for it.

As corks finest said, if you can spend another €150, then the Nvidia Shield is decent.

daveyeh

Suckit wrote: »

The Tanix TX2 is a great little box for low price. Handles everything.
https://www.lightinthebox.com/p/tx2-tv-box-quad-core-rk3229-2gb-16gb-wifi_p5978047.html
These ship quite fast even with all of the current delays my last order took a week. They also give you the option of tax insurance for around €1 which means if you get any extra charges at the door they will refund you. I didn't.
It often drops in sales to around €25. €32 is still decent for it.

As corks finest said, if you can spend another €150, then the Nvidia Shield is decent.

Thats a good price for a 2gb one!

Tempted by this too...
https://www.androidtvboxes.ie/collections/android-tv-boxes/products/x92-android-tv-box-3gb-32gb-octa-core-top-of-the-range

Suckit

daveyeh wrote: »

Thats a good price for a 2gb one!

Tempted by this too...
https://www.androidtvboxes.ie/collections/android-tv-boxes/products/x92-android-tv-box-3gb-32gb-octa-core-top-of-the-range

My personal opinion is that you would be mad to pay that, when for a relatively small amount more you could get the shield in a sale or on Warehousedeals etc. (It is always on sale).

https://www.geekbuying.com/search?keyword=X92%203gb

Even then, the Xiaomi Mi Box might be a better option

corks finest

dermiek wrote: »

daveyeh wrote: »

I have an old, now practically useless, MXQ which has 1gb ram. It was painful to use.

I had one of those. i agree it was painful. Don't know the make I have now, it has 3GB RAM/32GB storage. Runs perfectly. That and a MAG256. Both excellent.

I'd love an nvidia shield

It's the business

daveyeh

As tempted as I am by the shield, the xiaomi mi box looks really good to me!

Can anyone tell me if this is a decent price for this model?

https://www.tomtop.com/p-pas0029b-eu.html?currency=EUR&Warehouse=CN&aid=gplaiecd&mid=10000016502&utm_source=SEM&utm_medium=Google+PLA&utm_campaign=TT_PLA_IE_CD&utm_content=3707&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0a-8osig2gIVAZ3tCh2h_QXWEAQYASABEgKau_D_BwE

I wouldn't be playing games on a box so maybe the shield isn't the best option for me.

s7ryf3925pivug

The fire stick is great but crippled in Ireland. You cannot watch prime video on it, which is pretty much it’s raison d’etre. Your subscription here allows you to view only on mobile devices; misses the point of 4K content really.

I think most providers are region locked on it in fact. Netflix and Plex work (though I don’t think they have one that supports hdr for Netflix content). If price is a concern then better off just getting a chromecast, assuming you have a phone or tablet that supports the apps you want to use.

Suckit

daveyeh wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if this is a decent price for this model?

https://www.tomtop.com/p-pas0029b-eu.htm

I wouldn't be playing games on a box so maybe the shield isn't the best option for me.

It is €65.15 delivered in two days from Italy (No extras to pay at door) on Geekbuying - https://www.geekbuying.com/item/-Official-International-Version--XIAOMI-Mi-Box-4K-H-265-Android-Box-387938.html

Decent price. It can drop below €60 but not often, and very rarely from an EU warehouse. It is normally around €70.

daveyeh

Suckit wrote: »

It is €65.15 delivered in two days from Italy (No extras to pay at door) on Geekbuying - https://www.geekbuying.com/item/-Official-International-Version--XIAOMI-Mi-Box-4K-H-265-Android-Box-387938.html

Decent price. It can drop below €60 but not often, and very rarely from an EU warehouse. It is normally around €70.

Thanks for your input, I think I'll get that one!

daveyeh

Is the backlight keyboard worth getting?

Suckit

I have not tried that actual version, but it is up to you. If you don't mnd paying an extra €10 for it, then go for it.
The remote with it is decent enough though.
Also, you can buy an airmouse remote for €10 from Amazon.