Which streaming device to buy

R

rxuser

Beginner
I was looking for a streaming stick or box device. After going though multiple reviews im still very confused.
Fire stick 4k max was looking good but it seems to be out of stock. Anyone can share their experience with the devices and guide in what can i Buy ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: transform878
I have used 3 streaming devices so far and my experience is:
firestick 4k max - is running without any problems but it starts with a loud noise but the apps inside has lower volumes
Apple 4k TV - Quality is very good but I am facing intermittent wi-fi issues. Now Netflix is not logging in for some reason
Nvidia shield TV - was not using for some time and I find the remote is having problems
So brand name and higher cost does not always work perfectly
 
  • Like
Reactions: rxuser
If you are considering getting those android boxes given by dth platforms. then don't expect much. I've used airtel xstream and tata play boxes and they are average, nothing good interms of picture quality, 'just does the job'.

I have seen my frnd's apple tv box, it is so good, the whole UI is so fluid, the box and features offered are very likeable, but for me, it isn't worth spending that money on such a device for ott content, but if budget permits, it's great.

Nvidia shield though great on paper and has good reviews, not directly available in our country, so the only good thing left is Firestick 4k max.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rxuser
rxuser said:
I was looking for a streaming stick or box device. After going though multiple reviews im still very confused.
Fire stick 4k max was looking good but it seems to be out of stock. Anyone can share their experience with the devices and guide in what can i Buy ?
Click to expand...
Get a good android tv instead. No need for those extra boxes to maintain and wire clutters. One device does the job.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: rxuser and transform878
nRiTeCh said:
Get a good android tv instead. No need for those extra boxes to maintain and wire clutters. One devices does the job.
Click to expand...
The older TV I have is good enough just want to add streaming capabilites to it so buying new TV just for android I don't think would be wise.
 
krsamy said:
I have used 3 streaming devices so far and my experience is:
firestick 4k max - is running without any problems but it starts with a loud noise but the apps inside has lower volumes
Apple 4k TV - Quality is very good but I am facing intermittent wi-fi issues. Now Netflix is not logging in for some reason
Nvidia shield TV - was not using for some time and I find the remote is having problems
So brand name and higher cost does not always work perfectly
Click to expand...
How much did the shield cost and where did you get it from ?
 
rxuser said:
The older TV I have is good enough just want to add streaming capabilites to it so buying new TV just for android I don't think would be wise.
Click to expand...
In my vicinity, have seen people use and struggle on these devices hence advised. I'm now using an android tv and no issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rxuser
the mibox s has/had served me really well these past few years with my 'non-smart' plasma tv. no need to spend a bomb on shield/apple tv if you dont really require the features & capabilities of these powerful boxes or arent going to utilize them to their potential.
 
rxuser said:
I was looking for a streaming stick or box device. After going though multiple reviews im still very confused.
Fire stick 4k max was looking good but it seems to be out of stock. Anyone can share their experience with the devices and guide in what can i Buy ?
Click to expand...
If you are going to use it for just OTT content then FireTV stick is good enough. If you are going to use it as client then Nvidia Shield. I have 1st gen Firetv stick, Roku, Nvidia shield. I end up using my android tv most unless i want to stream movies stored on my laptop or HDD for which i use Nvidia Shield.
 
I have been pretty happy with Chromecast with Google TV 4K over the past 1.5 years. Still gets security updates and the interface works decently well. Of course, sideloading is not an issue at all and almost all apps are available on the store.

Used Fire TV for years before that and absolutely hated the interface. Within a few years sideloaded apps became incompatible because of the old Android version. Mirroring using Miracast was worse and the app availability on store is poorer compared to Google/Android TV with much older versions. And of course now Amazon is dumping Android altogether for their own Linux-based OS, so support will end soon.
 
t3chg33k said:
I have been pretty happy with Chromecast with Google TV 4K over the past 1.5 years. Still gets security updates and the interface works decently well. Of course, sideloading is not an issue at all and almost all apps are available on the store.

Used Fire TV for years before that and absolutely hated the interface. Within a few years sideloaded apps became incompatible because of the old Android version. Mirroring using Miracast was worse and the app availability on store is poorer compared to Google/Android TV with much older versions. And of course now Amazon is dumping Android altogether for their own Linux-based OS, so support will end soon.
Click to expand...
Amazon is dumping android ? Then I should avoid the firestick since I don't have confidence that everyone would go ahead and port their apps for whatever os they make. Amazon store is still very low on apps.
elan said:
If you are going to use it for just OTT content then FireTV stick is good enough. If you are going to use it as client then Nvidia Shield. I have 1st gen Firetv stick, Roku, Nvidia shield. I end up using my android tv most unless i want to stream movies stored on my laptop or HDD for which i use Nvidia Shield.
Click to expand...
Does the roku support casting android devices with low latency ?
 
Last edited:
rxuser said:
The older TV I have is good enough just want to add streaming capabilites to it so buying new TV just for android I don't think would be wise.
Click to expand...
Seems like fire stick should be good enough for your use case. U can get 3rd gen fire stick near to 2100inr during sale.

If u don't have 4k tv, there is no need to get fire stick 4k as you cannot use it's 4k capabilities with ur tv, only upside is it has better hardware than 3rd gen but also costly too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rxuser and ibose
Okay wanted to drop an update. I bought the newer 2023 model Firestick 4K MAX 2 months ago and the thing has been really good also the storage upgrade, streaming performance seems very nice.
 
nRiTeCh said:
Get a good android tv instead. No need for those extra boxes to maintain and wire clutters. One device does the job.
Click to expand...
Isn't it recommended to not do so? In my ongoing research for TV, I have read lot of people recommending not to connect TV to wifi as software updates can bring up issues which are hard to fix till new updates come and reverting to old version of updates or firmware is impossible. Streaming devices can be replaced and are cheap if things break due to software updates.
 
yabbadabba said:
Isn't it recommended to not do so? In my ongoing research for TV, I have read lot of people recommending not to connect TV to wifi as software updates can bring up issues which are hard to fix till new updates come and reverting to old version of updates or firmware is impossible. Streaming devices can be replaced and are cheap if things break due to software updates.
Click to expand...
So far in my 5yrs none of my android tvs have exp. any software issues. Its a matter of personal choice though to pet so many similar devices, tangled wires and multiple internet connected devices!
 
One big advantage of having a separate device is that I can plug it into another TV/Monitor and have everything already setup and logged in.
 
Top Bottom