TOP 13 Smart TV set-top boxes: review and instructions for use

A smart TV set-top box turns a television receiver into a “smart” device with great capabilities. Online viewing, IPTV television, streams and much more become available. The article contains an overview of the most popular models of 2021, briefly describes the technical characteristics, positive and negative aspects, and shows how much a device costs on average.

What is a Smart TV set-top box, how it works

A smart TV set-top box is a small computing device running an operating system (usually Android or Apple). Connects to TV via HDMI or AV connectors. Even an old CRT TV turns into a modern smart TV device using a set-top box. The operating principle is simple. Using a LAN cable, wireless Wi-Fi or 4G (if a model with a SIM card), the media box connects to the Network. In this case, it does not matter at all which company produced the television receiver: LG, Samsung or another manufacturer. You can select a video to watch using the remote control or connect a mouse and keyboard.

Standard equipment for digital set-top box

Depending on the model, the Smart TV set-top box has different configurations.

The minimum set includes:

• TV set-top box;
• Remote Control;
• power unit;
• HDMI extender;
• Power cable with USB connector;
• instructions.

To connect a mouse, flash drives, keyboard and external HDDs, the set-top box usually has an additional USB connector on the case, the second one may be on the cable. The instructions are printed in English. The main points are duplicated in drawings and diagrams.

Smart TV set-top boxes for TV with Wi-Fi

Apple TV 4K 32GB

pros

• 4K
• 3 GB RAM
• remote control with gyroscope

Minuses

• no audio output
• no Siri support in Russian

From 12,800 ₽

Apple's ecosystem model that's easy to set up. It quickly connects to the Internet and can be controlled from any Apple device. 3 GB of RAM and a powerful processor make it possible to watch movies in 4K and play heavy games. The disadvantage is that many applications are paid. YouTube does not play in UHD quality due to problems between Google and Apple.

Dune HD Max 4K

pros

• UHD with frequent 60 fps
• multi-format
• two remote controls

Minuses

• no HDD
• high price

From 49,900 ₽

Top class model. Display, HDMI audio output for multi-channel audio. It is possible to install two HDDs. For best quality, a wired Internet connection is recommended. Good for home cinema. One of the negative aspects is poorly optimized software. To play some formats you need to download third-party programs. The set-top box is overpriced.

Xiaomi Mi Box S

pros

• Android TV 9
• build quality
• voice search
• design

Minuses

• no wired internet connection
• one USB connector
• little built-in memory

From 4,690 ₽

The TV box connects to the Internet only via Wi-Fi - you need to first check the signal level of the router at the installation site. The console is compact, the assembly is of high quality. The network connection is fast and stable. The TV-box voice assistant understands Russian well. The hardware of the media set-top box is powerful. There are no interface friezes or video content. The built-in memory is small - only 8 GB.

Smart TV set-top boxes for Android

Dune HD Pro 4K Plus

pros

• UHD resolution at 60 fps
• smartphone control
• support most video formats

Minuses

• price
• inconvenient remote control

From 24,990 ₽

Model running Android 7.1. Plays most video and audio formats. Supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac protocol. Two external antennas provide a high-speed connection to the router. The rear panel contains a 3.5 mm audio output, coaxial, optical, composite ports, HDMI and USB connectors - several devices can be connected to the set-top box at the same time. High-quality image and sound, high speed, reliability and functionality turn the set-top box into a home entertainment center.

NVIDIA SHIELD

pros

• GeForce Now service
• game controller included
• voice assistant

Minuses

• HDMI cable not included
• inconvenient remote control

From 20,299 RUR

A popular media player designed for online games. Powerful hardware, a comfortable joystick, gaming Internet services from NVIDIA, 4K resolution - a good choice for gamers. To play GeForce Now comfortably, the Internet speed must be greater than 50 Mbps, so a wired connection is recommended. The set-top box connects to the smart home system. The NVIDIA Spot gadget with voice control regulates the temperature in the apartment, lighting level, etc. (the function is not yet widespread).

Beelink GT-King

pros

• Android 9.0
• 4 GB RAM
• design

Minuses

• uncomfortable remote control buttons
• no MKV support

From 9,390 ₽

Model running Android 9.0. A powerful processor and 4 GB of RAM will not only allow you to watch UHD content, but will also allow you to play heavy games. The media player connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi or cable. The controls are simple. The disadvantage is that it does not support the MKV format, so you need to install third-party applications. One of the best price-performance ratios in the presented rating.

MINIX NEO U9-H

• Display: No
• Processor: Amlogic S912
• RAM: 2 GB
• Built-in memory size: 16 GB
• Remote control: Yes
• Power supply: External
• Cooling: Passive

Price: from 9,990 rubles

One of the best smart TV set-top boxes in our selection is MINIX NEO U9-H. The gadget supports multi-channel audio codecs (DD, DTS, DTS-HD), and it also has a separate ES8388 DAC, which makes the sound of the highest quality, which is why users love this model.

There is also a simulated wireless connection for running some games, a compatibility mode with older TVs, and fast dual-band Wi-Fi with MIMO 2x2 support for the 5 GHz band. The TV box interface is represented by USB 2.0 Type-A, USB 2.0 Type-B, Ethernet 10/100/1000 ports, stereo audio output, optical audio output, 3.5 headphone jack and HDMI.

Advantages:

• Multi-channel audio support.
• Has its own DAC.
• MIMO 2x2 support.

Flaws:

• Price.
• The remote control is not very functional.

On other OS

Apple TV 4K 64GB

pros

• convenience
• high quality
• 4K resolution

Minuses

• no USB support

From 14,853 RUR

The model runs TVos from Apple. It is easy to set up - just bring your iPhone to the media console and logins and passwords for accounts, wireless networks, etc. are transferred to the device’s memory. Smartbox produces high-quality image and sound without slowdowns or lags. When synchronizing with gadgets of other operating systems, connection errors may occur. Most online services for watching videos on Apple devices will work after you sign up for a paid subscription.

MiraScreen G2 Wi-Fi Display Dongle

pros

• price
• compactness
• does not require a router

Minuses

• RAM size 128 MB
• does not support 4K

From 1,190 ₽

A device without a router connects via Wi-Fi to a smartphone, tablet or laptop, broadcasts image and sound from the gadget’s memory or a picture from the screen to the TV. The advantage is ease of connection, signal encryption, work with Android and iOS, low price. Disadvantages – image and sound delays, maximum resolution – Full HD. Some Android gadgets do not connect to the console.

Smart TV set-top boxes with TV tuner

Dune HD Neo 4K T2 Plus

pros

• digital TV tuner
• UHD
• functional

Minuses

• requires installation of third party programs
• bad sound

From 11,574 ₽

Smartbox with good hardware. Runs Android. The device's receiver receives up to 20 digital terrestrial channels via an external antenna. 4K video support is poorly implemented - users complain about frequent lags. The reason is crude software and poor firmware optimization, which is fixed with updates. Problems can be partially solved by installing third-party applications. For loyal fans of the brand.

Rombica Cinema T2 v01

pros

• low price
• TV tuner
• recording the broadcast to a flash drive

Minuses

• No

From 1,490 ₽

An inexpensive device for watching videos and up to 20 free TV channels. It has good functionality: it supports many video formats (including MKV) in FHD quality, and records broadcasts to a flash drive. There is a TimeShift function. It does not heat up during operation, the interface is informative and intuitive. Using a composite input, the device can easily be connected to an old TV that does not have HDMI. A good choice for a cottage or country house.

Functionality - what is a Smart TV set-top box for?

The console is used using programs, which for convenience are grouped into categories:

1. Web browser (Chrome, Firefox and others) . This category includes all programs that are used to view Internet pages. Entering information and switching between interactive browser blocks is carried out using the remote control and keyboard. To move between interactive blocks you need to use the keyboard arrows. The browser opens most Internet pages correctly and can work with Flash. All information is displayed in a resolution of at least 1920 x 1080.
2. Media . All programs that are used to play video files, photos and music located on external media are located here. Standard programs for working with media - MX Player, Media Player Classic and others.
3. Games . Here are the games that you installed on external media or downloaded directly from the Internet. Unfortunately, consoles have rather narrow functionality, so they cannot handle many computer games.
4. Watching TV (on some devices this section is called “Television”). Here are applications that allow you to watch TV in standard mode. Here you can select the type of signal that will be used for playback (standard radio signal, cable TV, satellite TV). Also in this section there are often applications for watching films and short videos using Internet sites (YouTube, Netflix, MEGOGO and others).
5. Apps . This section includes programs that were downloaded from the Internet and which for some reason were not included in other sections. These could be services for working with social networks, editor programs, maps, and other services.

Budget Smart TV set-top boxes (up to RUB 4,000)

Google Chromecast 2021 black

pros

• convenient control
• support for Android, Windows, Linux, Apple devices
• voice control

Minuses

• problems with MKV
• weak wifi receiver

From 3,156 RUR

The gadget broadcasts FHD video from mobile devices to a television screen via Wi-Fi without a router. Installs into the HDMI connector of the TV. A good way to connect mobile gadgets is to install the Google Home program. Synchronization and setup of devices will happen automatically when you select the “Device setup” option. To broadcast from a computer, you need to install the Chrome browser. Suitable for those who want to combine all their gadgets into a network.

HARPER ABX-210

pros

• Wi-Fi hotspot mode
• support 20 video formats
• good package

Minuses

• inconvenient remote control

From 3,350 ₽

Budget smart box with good functionality. Plays 4K. Connects to the Internet via cable and Wi-Fi. Serves as a network access point. The interface and content broadcasting are smooth, without brakes or lags. The console has Android 7.1 installed – additional applications can be easily downloaded from Google Play.

Selenga A4

pros

• display
• 3 USB ports
• Wi-Fi 802.11ac
• 4K support

Minuses

• unusual remote control

From 3,060 ₽

Budget Smart set-top box for TV based on Android 7.1 OS. Supports 4K resolution. Connects to the Internet via a LAN connector or Wi-Fi. The console has 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB of built-in memory. Supports major video formats. Several Internet services are preinstalled for online viewing and video streaming. The interface works smoothly, without lags. The remote control implements channel switching in an unusual way - it takes time to get used to.

How to choose a Smart TV set-top box

When choosing a media player, you need to pay attention to the following:

1. Operating system. Android is popular due to the abundance of applications and undemanding hardware. iOS is convenient and user-friendly when connecting several Apple devices into a network. Windows is demanding on hardware, which is why the cost of the gadget increases.
2. Hardware. It is better to choose a multi-core processor with high performance. RAM – minimum 2 GB. Built-in memory is required for installing applications and storing data. The minimum threshold is 8 GB. Ideally, it is a block of Samsung memory modules.
3. Interfaces. HDMI is the standard of modern TVs for high-quality video and audio signals. AV – allows you to connect old analog TVs.
4. Matrix resolution.

• Full HD. Most LCD TVs are produced with this resolution.
• Ultra FHD. Requires 4K TV.
• Wi-Fi module. Support for the 802.11 ac protocol and the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands is desirable.

GTMedia GTT2

Android TV set-top box on Android 6.0 OS. Digital and cable television tuners (DVB-T2, DVB-C, ISDB-T). An all-in-one entertainment center for your home TV. Android media player with functions for viewing digital terrestrial television.

Characteristics:

Buy TV set-top box GTMedia GTT2