Rating of the best TV boxes of 2022

You can’t call this prefix a budget one, but it’s also impossible to position it as a working “out of the box”. Especially if the AX95 DB is recommended for HD content. Firstly, this TV box is frankly bad business with the standard cooling system. Secondly, its stock firmware copes with this task mediocrely, not least due to the lack of manual throttling settings. Nevertheless, more than 10% of AX95 DB owners do not change anything in the device and are quite satisfied with it (judging by the results of a survey on the profile branch of a well-known forum). Actually, the superiority of TOX1 is determined precisely by this scenario of its use, since the first one has a software AFR and a gigabit port. On the other hand, the AX95 DB is doing much better with Wi-Fi, and after uploading an alternative firmware on the Ugoos core, extended functionality appears.

Our review of the best TV boxes for Android continues with the X96 MAX TV box. For comfortable viewing of video content with quality up to 4K memory configuration 2/16Gb is enough. But when it comes to the X96 MAX, demanding moviegoers should focus on one of the versions of the set-top box with 4 Gb of RAM. First, they use a more modern type of memory to organize RAM. Secondly, there is a dual-frequency Wi-Fi module. Finally, the presence of a Bluetooth interface may come in handy for someone.

The manufacturer has upgraded the recommended TV box with a fresh single-chip system (X96 MAX PLUS), but the differences between the Amlogic S905X2 and S905X3 are more about the ability to process voice commands faster.

This TV box cannot be called a complete out-of-the-box solution. Its stock firmware has problems with autoframe, voice search, access to the Play Market, HDMI-CEC operation, and a couple of other unpleasant features. In general, direct hands and the installation of «custom» are highly desirable here.

The weak point of budget TV boxes is most often the Wi-Fi module. As a rule, manufacturers use inexpensive, outdated components that do not have good sensitivity, which is why you have to place the router in the same room with the set-top box and TV or pull a twisted pair cable. Against the general background, the recommended model definitely stands out for the better, although its planar antennas are located very poorly. Actually, it is for this reason that we did not position the A95X F3 prefix as a solution that works out of the box — it will not interfere with a slight refinement.

Additionally, the developers of the device saved on a gigabit Ethernet port and high-speed memory. Well, do not forget about the impossibility of obtaining paid content due to the limitation of the DRM level in the «regular» Android. Everything else in the A95X F3 box is implemented perfectly: the ability to control from a smartphone is provided, voice search is supported in the shell, there is HDMI CEC and dynamic HDR.

The family that this TV box belongs to is perhaps the most loved by DIY enthusiasts. The corresponding Android TV boxes are simple, designed to work with small TVs, and are optimal for watching YouTube, as well as video content in online cinemas or conveniently connecting to IPTV. Those who choose this simplicity should be prepared for shamanism with firmware, finalization of the cooling system, and similar overhead costs. A less intricate version of the «dancing with a tambourine» is the use of a bootable USB flash drive with a proven version of any alternative system. The same LibreELEC, for example.

In addition to the affordable price, a remote IR receiver with high sensitivity can be considered a feature of Android Tv Box X96 mini. There is also a complete remote control, and HDMI-CEC technology is also supported. In other words, indirect control of the prefix is ​​​​possible.

Ugoos is one of the few TV box manufacturers that pays due attention not only to the development of the circuitry of such devices, but also to the continuous improvement of the accompanying software. And it is no coincidence that it is with the stock firmware of the AM3 model that they recommend replacing their own software with more affordable TV set-top boxes on the profile branch of the w3bsit3-dns.com forum. The main thing is that the main components of the devices match (chip and memory). The reverse is also true. If you initially plan to install custom firmware, there is no point in buying AM3. For these purposes, some clone is quite suitable and cheaper.

There is one more reason to look at the set-top box from Ugoos — this is practically the only TV-box based on the Amlogic S912 chip, which has automatic switching of the scanning frequency depending on the parameters of the content being played (autoframe rate).

The best TV boxes for users who do not want to hear about firmware and design improvements at all are Xiaomi TV boxes. At the time of writing the review, the inexpensive Mi Box S model is relevant, and it fully meets the needs of the vast majority of users focused only on watching videos. Moreover, from any source and in the highest possible quality. The set-top box normally works under the control of the Android TV operating system, i.e. has a level of access to licensed content sufficient for the friendliness of paid online services such as Netflix, and is also inherently predisposed to voice control.

Everyone has long been accustomed to the tempting price tags for the products of this brand, but in this case, the low cost also has unpleasant reasons. For example, Mi Box S cannot process interlaced materials normally. In addition, the recommended model does not allow you to turn off system noise reduction, which is why even 4K movies will be somewhat “blurry”. Finally, the Xiaomi TV box does not come with a wired network port.

A serious advantage of the considered set-top box is the presence of a certified Android TV, thanks to which it is able to recognize voice commands and is ready to cooperate with other mobile equipment. At the same time, the “voice” will work only with the original Mecool remotes. Keep this nuance in mind. The second major shortcoming of the KM6 Deluxe is the lack of Netflix certification.

Certain inconveniences are also capable of delivering some specific features of the firmware. In particular, the KM6 Deluxe has a non-system AFR, which will be manifested by flashing when switching the refresh rate (channels), and after exiting the long sleep mode, the device interfaces may not work properly. Finally, the Bluetooth antenna is highly directional here, so the correct spatial position of the TV box will most likely have to be selected.

Of the nice chips, we note Wi-Fi 6, a gigabit LAN port, as well as support for HDR and the open AV1 format.

This budget gaming TV box is actively criticized (and quite rightly) for frankly “raw” firmware, forgetting to mention that Ugoos updates it almost weekly. If we take into account the state of affairs with the brand’s budget line of smart set-top boxes, as well as with the predecessor AM6, then the probability of getting a suitable product in the end is quite high. At least, there are weighty prerequisites for this. The hardware platform is powerful — it easily pulls games of the PUBG Mobile class and «tanks» at medium graphics settings. The high heating of the device is prevented by a metal case and a solid heatsink on the processor / memory. In turn, external antennas are designed to deal with the shielding effect. We have already mentioned the software, but we will add that voice search at the application level is perfectly implemented in AM6, it is possible to flexibly configure Root, reassign keys on gamepads, and there are a lot of useful things. However, we will not dare to give a higher rating to Ugoos AM6 Plus, despite the Dolby Vision / Dolby Atmos licenses (which is how the Plus version differs from the Pro version). Too mixed reviews about this set-top box.

Xiaomi traditionally offers the most budgetary version of the set-top box for Android. Unlike the brand’s affordable smartphones, the Mi TV Stick cannot boast of advanced filling per investment unit, but this TV box is officially certified by all popular video content providers, including Netflix. Moreover, a separate button is even provided on the remote control with the recommended stick to connect to the latter.

Please note that Mi TV Stick exists in a single hardware implementation, so it is not capable of processing any 2K / 4K in principle, no matter what individual sellers add to its name. Among other shortcomings, we especially note decent heating under load, far from the most nimble interface and low Wi-Fi exchange speed.