Looking for a decent streaming Android box

Acid0

Acid0

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Hi

I am looking for a decent streaming Android box that wont break the bank.

The only preference I have is that it should not be out of sync with voice and video.
Be able to load DSTV and Plex on it and preferably some Apps from the normal Google playstore like LOKLOK if possible

I had a few boxes like the myGiga and other questionable imports from takealot, but would like some recommendation from the forum that actually has the box and the feedback on them.
 
I think many people here will recommend a Xiaomi Mi-Box.

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
 
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w1z4rd said:
I think many people here will recommend a Xiaomi.

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
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at the moment the Xiaomi 3rd gen as linked above or if you want more ports and connectivity included (ethernet and extra USB and audio output, micro SD etc) then there is the Acer (i recommend the Acer because of the extra ports ..... the Xiaomi needs you to add a powered active USB3 Hub if you want to connect lots of external drives or even things like USB to ethernet)

https://shopacer.co.za/acer-aitv-4k...keON80ek7sJTCpudUy0jJYp8uVyYNj6i_qXNRTMms6ZVp

both of these are the best android boxes right now because they use a newer CPU and GPU than all the other easily available models here hence they are quicker and more stable as well as allow a few extra features that the others will not, and while there are other good boxes available worldwide eg the Google TV Streamer or even the Mecool KM2 Plus Deluxe these are not very easily available in ZA and will require you to self import - the Nvidia Sheild Pro is still one of the better boxes available but the price is pretty high

many will also say that you can get the Apple TV but research that option very carefully especially if you wish to add drives and use local content hence you also need lots of media playback functionality (i personally could not use the Apple TV because i wanted to try and use the android based Usb Audio Player Pro App to try and play Audiophile grade Flac and high res music into a DAC - i managed to get it to work but the app doesn't allow you to retrieve data from external sources yet so you need lots of storage capability inbuilt into the device - so research your needs depending on your proposed use case) besides for this i would happily use an Apple TV because while it is expensive it does provide more onboard storage and RAM and works very reliably

good luck in your search and i hope you find something worthwhile that suits your needs
 
Smiggles said:
Google TV streamer
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i just had a look - its R2300 or thereabouts at Geewhiz and it has nothing that makes it better than the Mi Box 3rd Gen and Acer box to justify around R1000 more in the price - only thing where it will really create any advantage is the extra RAM ..... other than that i cant see anything that makes it worth R1000 more
 
naughty001 said:
i just had a look - its R2300 or thereabouts at Geewhiz and it has nothing that makes it better than the Mi Box 3rd Gen and Acer box to justify around R1000 more in the price - only thing where it will really create any advantage is the extra RAM ..... other than that i cant see anything that makes it worth R1000 more
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Double the ram. Remote with find my. Etc. etc.
 
Smiggles said:
Double the ram. Remote with find my. Etc. etc.
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i have that find my remote crap in some of my devices - do you know how many times i have had to use it ...... absolutely zero so IMHO its a pretty useless thing to list as a positive

as for the ram it doesn't make the unit worth almost twice the price - don't get me wrong i would love double the ram in my Mi-box but ram is pretty expensive now and it also doesn't make as much difference as it should and these Mi-Box and Acer units work pretty well as they are anyway to do the job required - those of us crying for more ram want to use the box more for local media playback rather than streaming anyway
 
naughty001 said:
i have that find my remote crap in some of my devices - do you know how many times i have had to use it ...... absolutely zero so IMHO its a pretty useless thing to list as a positive

as for the ram it doesn't make the unit worth almost twice the price - don't get me wrong i would love double the ram in my Mi-box but ram is pretty expensive now and it also doesn't make as much difference as it should and these Mi-Box and Acer units work pretty well as they are anyway to do the job required - those of us crying for more ram want to use the box more for local media playback rather than streaming anyway
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Yeah, I'm just used to 4gb. Once you're used to it you can't go back. Anything else is slow. Walmart should bring the Onn boxes here and own the market.
 
Smiggles said:
Yeah, I'm just used to 4gb. Once you're used to it you can't go back. Anything else is slow. Walmart should bring the Onn boxes here and own the market.
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as a tech enthusiast and also as a person that loves being a self confessed perfectionist for tech things i agree that the ram is definitely required but in Practice and given we are in SA where these things are not made here we cant be too fussy

yes the ONN Pro box and if someone brings in that google box in bulk and prices become a bit reasonable then those units would rule the android/GoogleTV streaming market ..... no question :thumbsup:
 
OP mibox works, it is just slow like most android boxes with 2/3 GB of ram. Also load a custom launcher such as Projectivy launcher or FLauncher to not get the Xiaomi rubbish.
 
Spontaneous spinach said:
Oh **** you right it doesn't 😪, damn same sad boat as my Google chrome box

That ethernet adapter is so pricy too and requires a power source too
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you do get adapters that don't need external power - my USB to ethernet adapter is powered from being connected to the USB port ..... also why bother about the ethernet so much - most of these ARM boxes have chips that will restrict ethernet connection speeds to 300 mbps anyway - and the wi-fi is working at 150 to 300 - even at 150 how much do you need to play a 4k file as far as i know its around 20mbps so even in a large house you can have around potentially up to 6 devices streaming 4k content on the Wi-Fi anyway

ethernet is IMHO not a deal breaker - that said it is more stable because its all on the cable and there isnt too much that can interfere with it but i got my USB to ethernet for around R250 - in my setup what was expensive is the powered active USB hub which was around R600+ and that allows me to add multiple hard drives (up to 3) all working at the same time so you can switch instantaneously (the non powered hub could allow only one hard drive at a time to work because of power requirements) plus the USB to ethernet adapter
 
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