TOP 20 best Smart TV set-top boxes for TV: 2021 rating and which model with WiFi to choose

A Smart TV set-top box is a special set-top box that helps turn an ordinary TV into a smart one.
Instead of factory firmware, such a set-top box has an operating system, with which the device connects to the Internet and provides the user with unlimited access to media content.

When choosing a Smart TV set-top box, attention is paid to the type of operating system, interface for connecting to TV and some other technical characteristics.

To rank the best devices in 2021 in terms of price/quality ratio, we analyzed expert opinions and consumer reviews and selected the 20 most reliable models.

Rating of the TOP 20 best Smart TV set-top boxes for TV in 2021

Ugoos X3 PRO

4.5/5

63 reviews

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average price

6,890 rub.

Characteristics

• RAM: 4 GB
• remote control: yes
• maximum resolution: 4K UHD
• processor/chipset: Amlogic S905X3
• operating system: Android 9.0
• cooling: passive

The fourth place is occupied by Ugoos X3 PRO. Unlike competitors, it has an external Wi-Fi antenna, which, in theory, should have affected the speed and stability of data transmission over the network. In fact, numerous tests in this area did not reveal a significant difference between Ugoos X3 PRO and other participants in the rating. Inside there is an Amlogic S905X3 processor (1.8 Hz) and 4/32 memory.

Good performance, fast response, smooth playback of 4K content. There is a gigabit LAN for stable network access, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, audio output, composite output. A special feature is a connector for an external infrared port : you can hide the box behind the TV and easily use it. The disadvantages include the lack of voice control and a simple remote control. Price - 7,000 rubles.

Pros:

• Technical stuffing.
• Remote IR port.
• Gigabit LAN.
• Wide range of image, sound and device interface settings.

Minuses:

• Price.
• Not very convenient controls. The solution is to buy an air mouse.
• Sometimes it gets stuck, especially when switching between signal sources.
• There is a defect rate (build quality).

Not a bad smart box, but some users call the purchase of this lottery model: a considerable percentage of defects (poor build quality, unstable operation). At the same time, the price is quite high. That is why the model, despite its good technical characteristics, occupies only 4th place in the rating.

Reviews on Yandex.Market

How to choose a Smart TV set-top box for TV?

When choosing a console, first of all pay attention to the type of operating system.

It is better to give preference to well-known software like Android . This is explained by the fact that well-known operating systems provide a wider selection of video content and applications in the virtual store.

The set-top box must have an interface for connecting to TV. As a rule, USB ports are used for this, but it is better to immediately choose a model with an HDMI connector and the ability to connect to Wi-Fi.

In addition, the resolution that the set-top box supports must match the TV resolution . In other words, if the TV does not have a 4K function, it makes no sense to buy a set-top box with such a resolution.

Xiaomi Mi Box S

• Display: No
• Processor: Amlogic S905X
• RAM: 2 GB
• Built-in memory size: 8 GB
• Remote control: Yes
• Power supply: External
• Cooling: Passive
• Operating system: Android 6.0

Price: from 4,400 rubles

TV box Xiaomi Mi Box S is one of the most popular and stylish models in the segment. At the same time, the smart set-top box does not have the most outstanding characteristics, but its system works perfectly and it is “tailored” for lovers of movies and TV series, and also supports playing videos in 4K and HDR.

Xiaomi Mi Box S works with many online subscription services, including the popular Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. They even have separate buttons on the remote control, as well as convenient voice control, as well as support for AirPlay and Miracast.

Among the disadvantages of this TV set-top box are not always high-quality video broadcasting and the lack of a LAN port for connecting it to the Internet via cable (the available ports are as follows: USB 2.0 Type-A, stereo audio output, HDMI output). But this is one of the most compact smart consoles in the top.

Advantages:

• Adequate price tag.
• Fast work and tailored for film buffs.
• Voice control.
• Convenient remote control with buttons for popular services.
• Autoframerate.

Flaws:

• Lack of LAN port.

How does the Smart TV set-top box for TV work?

Maxim Kirichenko

A smart TV box is a multimedia device that helps you connect to the Internet through your TV. Thanks to this, the user gets the opportunity to watch videos through a browser, search for information on the Internet, or play simple games. In fact, such a set-top box is a small computer with a multifunctional operating system .

MECOOL KM9 Pro

4.8/5

15 reviews

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average price

6,400 rub.

Characteristics

• RAM: 4 GB
• remote control: yes
• maximum resolution: 4K UHD
• processor/chipset: Amlogic S905X2
• operating system: Android 9.0
• cooling: passive

MECOOL KM9 Pro takes silver . Google certified set-top box supporting 4K HDR. In practice, this means that by connecting it to a compatible TV, you can enjoy content in HDR quality without the need for additional settings. ChromeCast and DLNA are supported: online broadcasting of images from the screen of a smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi. You can also connect to the Internet via cable: there is a 100 Mbit/s LAN connector. In addition, there are USB, HDMI, combined audio/video output, and a slot for a TF card.

The heart of the console is the Amlogic S905X2 processor . It features high performance and low heating levels: there are no problems with operational efficiency. In support of 3 GB of RAM and 32 permanent memory - games, applications, Online TV and torrent - everything is available out of the box. Minimalistic remote control - simple, convenient controls, including voice commands. Price - 6,500 rubles .

Pros:

• Price.
• Compactness.
• Technical stuffing.
• ChromeCast and DLNA support.
• Voice control.

Minuses:

• The remote control is inconvenient.
• No voice control.
• Sometimes it freezes.

An excellent option for those who are limited in finances, but want to get a high-performance model with 3/32 memory capacity. 92% of Yandex users. The market is recommended for purchase, and we join them.

Reviews on Yandex.Market

Device capabilities

The way the Smart TV set-top box works allows you to use a lot of possibilities on it. And this is not only entertainment, although the functions of the multimedia center are also excellent. Here is a small list of what using a Smart TV set-top box can bring:

1. Multimedia center on your TV: photos, videos, music that you can play and show on the big screen.
2. Surfing the Internet, playing videos on YouTube and videos from any services, including free online cinemas.
3. Installation of any applications from the Play Market, including games, utilities, news services or office programs.
4. Connecting additional devices: remote controls, mice, keyboards, touchpads.
5. Additional Android features, including voice control.

There are still quite a lot of advantages, you can find others for yourself. But it is worth mentioning the disadvantages:

• audio and video are reproduced by the TV: the set-top box cannot improve them;
• when buying a device, you need to understand a little about gadgets, although the information from this article should be enough;
• the device takes up space, adds an additional remote control to your “collection”;
• these are additional costs.

As you can see, there are much more advantages. Knowing how a Smart TV set-top box works, you can use it more effectively and unlock the full potential of your TV. And once you set up the set-top box, you can take it on trips or transfer it to a new device. I hope all the information about how these gadgets work will be useful to you.

Interface connection to TV

To watch online TV, there are currently several ways to connect Smart devices to a TV using a cable. The standard port on modern TVs is HDMI. The advantage of this standard is the simultaneous transmission of high-quality video and audio. Some Smart Set-top boxes also have a microHDMI port. Then you must purchase an HDMI cable that will have an HDMI connector for your TV on one side, and the correct plug for the connector on your TV box on the other.

You may be interested in: Internet in a private home

Here you need to look at which TVs are suitable for standard HDMI cables, and which ones need interpretations from the “HDMI-VGA” or “HDMI-AV” series. For an ordinary TV that has been “registered” in your home for ten years, you can look for a suitable set-top box with composite connectors. In practice, there are different options for such connections: 3.5 Jack-3RCA, 3RCA-3RCA, etc.

How to use and why do you need a Smart TV set-top box?

There are a lot of options for using Smart TV set-top boxes. Well, I’ll probably watch it on YouTube first. I only use the console for this. Well, sometimes I also watch TV channels and movies through MEGOGO with a paid subscription.

You can go to the application store (Google Play) and install all the necessary applications and games. Weather, applications for reading news, file managers, players, applications for various online cinemas, etc.

You can read more about installing applications in the article installing applications on Xiaomi Mi TV Stick via an APK file or Play Store (relevant for all Android TV set-top boxes).

Of course, you are probably interested in how to watch movies, TV series, cartoons and TV channels via the Internet using a Smart set-top box connected to the TV. This is what the console is mainly bought for. There are two main ways:

1. Watch with a paid subscription through various popular online cinemas. There are a lot of them. For example: Wink, Okko, MEGOGO, Ivi, Amediateka, START, Netflix. You can watch movies, TV series, TV channels and other content. Everything about them is as simple and convenient as possible. Everything works very stable. You just need to choose an online cinema, subscribe (usually you can try for free), install the application on the console and you can watch.
2. Watch all this for free through applications like HD Videobox, TorrServe. You need to install these offers on Android TV set-top boxes via an .apk file (instructions in the link above), since they are not available in the application store.

You can also install a browser to view sites. Watching movies through a browser on websites is difficult and not very convenient.

Vontar X96 mini

• Display: Yes
• Processor: Amlogic S905W
• RAM: up to 2 GB
• Built-in memory size: up to 16 GB
• Remote control: Yes
• Power supply: External
• Cooling: Passive
• Operating system: Android 7.1

Price: from 2,150 rubles

Vontar X96 mini is the simplest and most affordable Wi-Fi smart TV box on our list. It has a super-compact size and filling for average performance, but this is quite enough for watching videos on YouTube, IPTV channels, films and TV series from various online cinemas. The kit comes with a convenient remote control, but there is no voice control. But there is support for HDMI-CEC technology. The model's interface is represented by the following ports: Ethernet 10/100, composite video output, HDMI, two USB 2.0 Type-A.

Advantages:

• Minimum price tag.
• Super compact size.
• Convenient remote control.

Flaws:

• Not suitable for watching 4K content or playing games.
• Not the fastest filling.

Independent connection of Smart set-top box to the Internet and TV

Do you have a good TV and have no plans to change it in the near future? Do you have an old TV set, but really want to join smart viewing technology? You don't need to change anything. Remember: every TV can become Smart! Hide your soldering iron - by tampering with the TV, you risk damaging its circuit board and voiding the warranty. It's simple - you need to install and configure the set-top box for your TV. How?

If your TV has an HDMI connector (the new one definitely has one), then you connect it to the set-top box with an HDMI cable. And with the Internet, your standard TV becomes a multimedia entertainment center.

How to connect a Smart set-top box to the Internet? When you're dealing with equipment that requires access to the World Wide Web, you usually have two simple methods at your disposal. The first way to connect to the Internet is a wired connection. Before purchasing a cable, measure the distance between the set-top box and the router. Buy a cable with a reserve; it is better if it is longer than if its length is not enough. Connect the Smart device and the router with a cable, and then set up the connection.

The power supply of the set-top box can only be connected after it is connected to the TV cable. If everything is ready, start the console using the remote control. Before connecting, do a full reset. This action eliminates possible errors that occur after the initial firmware.

The set-top box will display a connection message on the TV screen, which will then take you to the customizable settings. If this does not happen, go through the set-top box menu to the “Network” section and select a wired connection. The configuration screen will guide you through every step of setting up web access. Typically these actions take no more than a minute. Of course, the wired method is not always convenient, especially if the TV is at a considerable distance from the router. A cable running across the entire room can get in the way, so it would be better to resort to wireless communication, which is supported by almost all modern devices.

How to connect Smart TV to the Internet without cable? In the Network section, this time select the Wi-Fi connection settings. The screen should display a list of all detected networks nearby. Once you have found your network, confirm the connection. In the next step, enter the access password and select the option to have the set-top box remember the network (you will not need to enter the password every time you connect to the Internet). This is enough to access the network.

A smart box will be useful even for an old TV and will significantly expand its capabilities. You connect the set-top box to it with the correct cable, and then connect it to the Internet using a traditional cable or WiFi network. Thanks to this small device, even old TV models get a new life - you just need to use the necessary connectors.

What is a SMART TV set-top box and what does it provide?

Progress does not stand still, and today technical innovations have expanded television media functionality so much that using one device we can watch TV shows and videos from the Internet, install various applications and even play games! On the TV, well, or in it)) LCD or plasma TVs purchased literally 3-4 years ago become incomplete due to the lack of the ability to watch your favorite films and TV series Online... But it’s stupid to throw it in a landfill or take your favorite sofa device to the dacha just for a reason lack of SMART TV!

This review will focus on choosing a smart set-top box for connecting to any TV. Even to a CRT Horizon or a computer monitor, not to mention an LCD TV!! But first things first.

What is a Smart TV set-top box?

Smart TV set-top box

- let’s say this is a mini computer that has its own operating system (usually Android or iOS), which connects to your TV using an HDMI or AV cable, while turning your regular TV into a modern multimedia device with the ability to fully connect to the Internet, etc. .! The characteristics of your TV, which actually acts as a monitor, are completely unimportant. All the functionality is contained in this small box - there is Wi-Fi, USB outputs (with the ability to connect a keyboard, mouse, flash drive, etc.) and memory with a processor... The smart console is responsible for all this!

Your TV is just a monitor for displaying media content from the set-top box! The only thing that is important is the resolution of the monitor (TV) - the higher it is, the higher quality the picture will delight your eyes! Well, a prerequisite is the presence of the Internet - wired or wireless Wi-Fi. And the higher the connection speed, the higher quality content you can watch.

The device can be in the form of a flash drive or in the form of a box. Mini consoles in the form of a flash drive (stick) are usually a very budget option and its capabilities are very limited. In addition, reliability is extremely low - due to their small size, they do not have a radiator; due to their close location to the TV, these set-top boxes quite often fail due to overheating.

Classic boxing smart consoles

As a rule, they have uncut processors with passive or even active cooling. These set-top boxes resemble a Wi-Fi router; in most cases, you can even connect wired Internet, keyboard, mouse, camera, joystick and other peripheral devices to them. .

What is needed for a smart console to work?

1) TV or even a trivial computer monitor with HDMI or AV input (tulips) 2) Availability of the Internet. Necessarily!! Speed ​​not lower than 3 Mbit/sec. The higher the better. 3) Preferably a mouse or keyboard. It's much more convenient. 4) A comfortable chair or sofa. But a chair will do too!! 5) Access to the outlet. Those. electricity 220v)

Functions and capabilities of smart consoles:

Let's try to figure out how a smart set-top box can be useful for us:

• watching movies online, without pre-recording to a disc or flash drive with a resolution of up to 4K;
• watching videos on YouTube and other similar resources;
• viewing more than 1000 TV channels via the Internet using IPTV technology;
• be present on popular social networks;
• access the Internet via Wi-Fi or a wired network while sitting on a chair...or sofa!!
• watch your favorite movies and TV series by inserting a USB flash drive into the console’s connector;
• play modern Android games on a large TV screen;
• control the “wiser” TV using connected devices: keyboard and mouse;
• a wide selection of programs: from weather forecasts and video players to office applications and karaoke;
• connect the webcam to the TV and use the Android Smart TV set-top box and communicate with friends and family on Skype or Viber;
• access to Google Play Market - the entire virtual showcase of content and applications for the Android mobile operating system is available

You can, of course, consider an alternative to a smart set-top box - this is a unit without a monitor or a Windows-based laptop connected to the TV in the same way as a smart set-top box. But the inconvenience and high price deprive such a decision of common sense! For these purposes, it is best to buy a smart console

! A smart set-top box is actually an Android tablet with a screen that serves as your TV!

Advantages of android smart tv over other similar devices

Let's try to figure it out: wouldn't it be better to buy a new TV or connect a computer the old fashioned way? So a smart set-top box is also:

1. user-friendly interface
2. low price
3. there are no restrictions on installing third-party content (unlike the built-in SMART TV in modern TVs)
4. powerful filling at a low price. (unlike the built-in SMART TV in modern TVs)

But there are also disadvantages and we must talk about them:

1. The need to run additional wires to the TV and to the outlet. Sometimes this is difficult to do if it was not planned in advance.
2. Another remote control. The TV remote control is usually not compatible for controlling a smart set-top box.

There are so many of them. Which one to choose??

When choosing a Smart TV set-top box, you should pay attention first of all to the following characteristics: Android version, RAM, processor and number of cores, video processor, number of USB outputs, as well as the presence of rhinestones or decorations. Joke :).

version .

At the time of writing (March 2021), the current version of Android 7.1. There are still budget models on sale with version 4.4. We will not recommend them. But the version of Android 6 or higher will be quite modern and will be relevant for at least another couple of years!

RAM.

One of the most important parameters. All computer owners know that “there is no such thing as too much RAM.” The bigger, the better! We recommend looking at consoles with 1Gb of RAM or more. But 2Gb is better. For those who like to play or have a modern model with power reserves, it is worth considering models with 3-4Gb of RAM.

Processor and
video processor
.
Everything is simple here - the more cores the better. Most consoles have a quad-core processor. It is enough for most tasks. From inexpensive to time-tested models, we recommend paying attention to Android smart set-top boxes
running the modern OS Android 7.1. If you plan to watch 4K content or use it as a game console, it is better to consider the option of a smart console with eight-core Amlogic S912 processors in conjunction with a modern ARM Mali-T820MP3 graphics processor. This is, for example, the Invin CSA96 model on the Mali-T864 MP3 super processor.

Connecting the set-top box to the TV and the Internet:

The smart set-top box can be connected to the Internet using a wireless Wi-Fi connection or a LAN network cable connector. If the connection is made via a cable, you will need a special connector; if it is not available, a LAN-USB adapter is used.

The connection to the TV is via the HDMI port. If the TV model is outdated, you can use the AV connector, but the picture quality with this connection method will not be high.

Additional accessories

The included remote control in most smart TV set-top boxes usually has a standard set of functions, and the ease of use for managing media content is quite controversial. Typing text in the address bar of a browser or, for example, entering a query in a YouTube search using a classic remote control is extremely inconvenient! The cheapest solution to this problem is to buy a wireless mouse. Prices for mice start from 15 rubles! However, we recommend purchasing a universal multimedia control panel or aero remote control. Managing a smart device quickly and conveniently is not a luxury, but a necessity. Now you can play games!

If you wish, you can also buy a camera for video calls in many instant messengers such as Skype, Viber, etc. For those who like to play, smart consoles also support connecting various game joysticks and gamepads. But unlike mice and keyboards, when purchasing these accessories, you must always look at the compatibility of the equipment with the Android OS.

Go to the catalog and choose a smart console!

More detailed advice before purchasing a smart set-top box can be obtained from our managers by calling the website OLED.By 375-29(44)-7521000