what's the best android iptv box ?
- Thread starter parmanan
- Start date
That depends a great deal on lot of things.
Do you want one that will have options onboard that will allow a connection to an iptv server.
Or do you want to use a 3rd party application to connect to that server.
Do you want to have the option to have an onboard 'Market' , which is where many apps can be installed from.
Or with STBs, you can also side-load these applications thru an .apk app.
Most STBs will do that side-loading function just fine, but not all will have their own Market and also allow side-loading too.
The STBs that have their own 'Market' are generally also the ones that have their own onboard iptv connection abilities, as opposed to a 3rd party app used to connect and maintain a iptv server connection.
If you are gonna load alot of apps, then you would want large Storage Capacity. There are a few more reasons for larger capacity, but generally for the average user, 8 to 16 GB is plenty large.
RAM (Flash Memory) is important and should have at least 6 GBs and with DDR4 ... the DDR3 is still in use and okay as well.
Them STB Androids I mentioned that have their own onboard iptv connection functionalities, are in a class on their own and their are only so many of those. They run a Middleware application, which is the connection abilities.
They are also Androids, which means that they have similar abilities as compared to other Android STBs.
And speaking of which, there are literally thousands of them 'other' Androids.. some better then others.
Some IPTV Boxes (not many) are not Androids but are Linux Boxes. Most of the Mag Boxes are like this. They do have the Middleware onboard so they can connect to a server but some do not have the abilities to install or side-load apps. Basically they are good only for one thing, which is IPTV connection to a selected server. Mag does have a couple Andriod versions thou. I generally stay away from Mag boxes for other reasons not needed to explain here.
The STBs listed below are all Android boxes and also all do carry that onboard Middleware.
BuzzTV, Dreamlink, Formuler, EZ Media Box, Global Box
And other Androids (even your phone) can connect using 3rd party applications (Kodi, iptvXtra, STB Emulators, and some Players such as Perfect Player, ProgTV, VLC, Playlist Loader and etc).
Firesticks are an Android as well and they do need a 3rd party app to become a server iptv box.
There is also something else to consider here, These programs , such as IPTVXtra give abilities and functionalities that most simply Middleware programs do not.
Remember thou, that them STBs listed with onboard Miiddleware, can also use these same methods as 'other' androids do.
And also some middleware boxes have better abilities then other Middleware boxes concerning certain things, like m3u Playback is one thing. Them Dreamlink T3 boxes are about the best at that ability, which is small part of the full spectrum of things to consider
Some Players make possible to use your Windows Laptop to with IPTV services. So in essence your Laptop could be considered the best IPTV Box
VLC Player is one.
Then there are the 'bells and whistles' with such things as maintaining your STB and certain boxes give different abilities.
The Buzz boxes have some unique abilities as far as home screen functions and much more secrets. The T3 and Z8 have some cool tricks too.
I could continue this a long time.... but there is the basics.
As far as which is best ? ummmmm, it would be any of the above, depending
And there are more specs to consider too.
Here I only lightly mentioned about the DDR Ram and storage capacity and left out much more.
Things like codecs for movie playback are something that a Player takes care of and them Players can be installed and removed at will on these androids, so that type of thing is not as important to be looking for.
Worry about codecs when you install and test Players.
Some boxes will have an older Android OS onboard and probably best to stay away from them... Get at least Android version 6 on any STB you purchase, with recent higher versions are better but not always the most recent version is best.
I think we are at Android 9 now.
Do you want one that will have options onboard that will allow a connection to an iptv server.
Or do you want to use a 3rd party application to connect to that server.
Do you want to have the option to have an onboard 'Market' , which is where many apps can be installed from.
Or with STBs, you can also side-load these applications thru an .apk app.
Most STBs will do that side-loading function just fine, but not all will have their own Market and also allow side-loading too.
The STBs that have their own 'Market' are generally also the ones that have their own onboard iptv connection abilities, as opposed to a 3rd party app used to connect and maintain a iptv server connection.
If you are gonna load alot of apps, then you would want large Storage Capacity. There are a few more reasons for larger capacity, but generally for the average user, 8 to 16 GB is plenty large.
RAM (Flash Memory) is important and should have at least 6 GBs and with DDR4 ... the DDR3 is still in use and okay as well.
Them STB Androids I mentioned that have their own onboard iptv connection functionalities, are in a class on their own and their are only so many of those. They run a Middleware application, which is the connection abilities.
They are also Androids, which means that they have similar abilities as compared to other Android STBs.
And speaking of which, there are literally thousands of them 'other' Androids.. some better then others.
Some IPTV Boxes (not many) are not Androids but are Linux Boxes. Most of the Mag Boxes are like this. They do have the Middleware onboard so they can connect to a server but some do not have the abilities to install or side-load apps. Basically they are good only for one thing, which is IPTV connection to a selected server. Mag does have a couple Andriod versions thou. I generally stay away from Mag boxes for other reasons not needed to explain here.
The STBs listed below are all Android boxes and also all do carry that onboard Middleware.
BuzzTV, Dreamlink, Formuler, EZ Media Box, Global Box
And other Androids (even your phone) can connect using 3rd party applications (Kodi, iptvXtra, STB Emulators, and some Players such as Perfect Player, ProgTV, VLC, Playlist Loader and etc).
Firesticks are an Android as well and they do need a 3rd party app to become a server iptv box.
There is also something else to consider here, These programs , such as IPTVXtra give abilities and functionalities that most simply Middleware programs do not.
Remember thou, that them STBs listed with onboard Miiddleware, can also use these same methods as 'other' androids do.
And also some middleware boxes have better abilities then other Middleware boxes concerning certain things, like m3u Playback is one thing. Them Dreamlink T3 boxes are about the best at that ability, which is small part of the full spectrum of things to consider
Some Players make possible to use your Windows Laptop to with IPTV services. So in essence your Laptop could be considered the best IPTV Box
VLC Player is one.
Then there are the 'bells and whistles' with such things as maintaining your STB and certain boxes give different abilities.
The Buzz boxes have some unique abilities as far as home screen functions and much more secrets. The T3 and Z8 have some cool tricks too.
I could continue this a long time.... but there is the basics.
As far as which is best ? ummmmm, it would be any of the above, depending
And there are more specs to consider too.
Here I only lightly mentioned about the DDR Ram and storage capacity and left out much more.
Things like codecs for movie playback are something that a Player takes care of and them Players can be installed and removed at will on these androids, so that type of thing is not as important to be looking for.
Worry about codecs when you install and test Players.
Some boxes will have an older Android OS onboard and probably best to stay away from them... Get at least Android version 6 on any STB you purchase, with recent higher versions are better but not always the most recent version is best.
I think we are at Android 9 now.
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If looking to use Shooty's IPTVXtra application (as we are in his sub-forum so I see), then check in on some of our members that test some of these Android boxes (other then Middleware boxes)
http://iptvtalk.net/forumdisplay.php?17-Android-TV-Boxes
When you open the sub-forum link above, once opened then scroll down till you see members threads with other androids besides what shows there in the top portion of that page.
BIG Thnx for the testing and reporting Guys
And Shooty may have some ideas about these androids best used with IPTVXtra
http://iptvtalk.net/forumdisplay.php?17-Android-TV-Boxes
When you open the sub-forum link above, once opened then scroll down till you see members threads with other androids besides what shows there in the top portion of that page.
BIG Thnx for the testing and reporting Guys
And Shooty may have some ideas about these androids best used with IPTVXtra
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