Value android box for streaming tv shows

daveyeh · 03-04-2018 06:49PM #1

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 · 03-04-2018 06:53PM

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

daveyeh · 03-04-2018 06:58PM

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 · 03-04-2018 07:07PM

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 · 03-04-2018 07:08PM

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 · 03-04-2018 07:09PM

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 · 03-04-2018 07:11PM

daveyeh wrote: »

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

The firestick is wfi only.

daveyeh · 03-04-2018 07:29PM

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

daveyeh · 03-04-2018 07:35PM

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 · 03-04-2018 07:37PM

daveyeh wrote: »

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

No.

Kolido · 03-04-2018 07:45PM

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 · 03-04-2018 07:47PM

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 · 03-04-2018 07:47PM

Kolido wrote: »

Looks like the same one you linked earlier.

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

daveyeh · 03-04-2018 07:53PM

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 · 03-04-2018 07:59PM

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

daveyeh · 03-04-2018 08:09PM

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 · 03-04-2018 08:12PM

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 · 03-04-2018 08:14PM

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 · 03-04-2018 08:17PM

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 · 03-04-2018 09:41PM

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 · 03-04-2018 11:33PM

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 · 04-04-2018 01:02PM

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 · 04-04-2018 01:15PM

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 · 04-04-2018 01:22PM

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 · 04-04-2018 01:28PM

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 · 04-04-2018 01:35PM

Is the backlight keyboard worth getting?

Suckit · 04-04-2018 01:56PM

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.

Value android box for streaming tv shows

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