Anth
142
Maybe @Comtech can do a 4k test for you.
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MarkxG
143
Yeah I asked him in my post above. curious to see if it works for him and if so what settings he has in Display. For now I replaced it with my $20 ONN 4K. Shouldnāt be long before everyone else gets their boxes so will will know soon
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Comtech
144
right now my shield and 96max are in use but i did play a 1080p youtube video when i had it hooked up next to the shield,if i get time this weekend iāll hook it back up and try it again as my tv is only 1080P but my monitor is 4k
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MarkxG
145
Cool! Yeah I was able to play 1080P no problem. The other disturbing issue is that on all my other boxes I consistently get 370-380 Mbps on wifi but after several speed tests was never able to get more than 60 Mbps on this one.
Comtech
146
OK but i use speed test by Ookla? seems so much more accurate than analiti?
iāll try to run some speed test this weekend as i get time and report back
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MarkxG
147
Really doesnāt matter what you use. you are comparing boxes not the speedtest itself. Iāve been using Analiti for years across different boxes and consistently get 370-380 everywhere. And on my phone I have the AT&T smart home app, and use Ookla on my Windows PC. All getting the same 370-380 down.
So when I canāt get more than 60 on this Box I know the issue isnāt my wifi or other boxes
Comtech
148
not my experience tested both on same box hardwiredā¦175 down with Ooklaā¦80 down with analiti ? somethingās going on just not sure whatā¦iāll stick with Ookla as itās more consistent w what my comp shows as download speed,this is with no vpn active
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Anth
149
Whats ya speeds with wifi?
Also ya tried a 4k stream?
Thanks
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Comtech
150
@Anth
iāll try it on my separate 4k monitor tomorrow during footballā¦using wifiā¦i only really have time to test during the week after we get settled in from workā¦the weekend is time to spend having a good time w family and friendsā¦my wife is from florida and sheās having a terrible time dealing w her favorite team and what happened to their quaterbackā¦iāll test wifi and post tomorrow
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Long-time lurker here, finally making my debut post!
Iāve always admired this community for being so close-knit, supportive, and refreshingly non-judgmental.
Now i got that out of my systemā¦
Iām on the hunt for three new Google TV boxes. Iāve been using 4K Chromecast dongles with expanded storage for my TVs, while my wife prefers Roku Ultras for the family setup. After a stretch of budget-watching, I am still looking for a budget solution but also more power and flexibility. I also use NordVPN on all my Google TV devices for an added layer of security.
This topic just seemed like the perfect match for my needs.
Iāve got a couple of questions that might have been asked beforeāapologies if Iām repeating anything!
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Origin story alert! Since these boxes come from China, do we have concrete evidence that theyāre free of any spyware or hidden hardware? Would it be a safer bet to wipe them and start fresh? And does our good friend Troy have a video on setting up a clean Android box, including setting flash RAM (as this box apparently does when shipped?
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Besides using USB add-on storage, can i replace the internal storage with my own lager on? Or is it all soddered in?
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Some recent posts are making me question, āIf it sounds too good to be trueā¦ā Is this box still the slam dunk it initially seemed, or has its shiny facade started to reveal a less impressive reality? Basically, is it a hidden treasure or just another āyou get what you pay forā situation?
In other words, is this a canāt-miss deal or just another case of hype over substance?
Please keep up those much anticipated reviews.
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JPM69
152
Welcome Hobbes! I miss that comic.
I wouldnāt buy this as a primary device just yet. As you correctly read the verdict is still out on this device. Right now its only a conversation piece than a must have. Iām still waiting for mine to test out.
Most of us are buying it as a backup and/or out of curiosity. The price and the specs seem(ed) good enough to try.
If you are interested in getting 3 devices i guess the price point and usage will matter.
How do you plan to use the device and whats your $ range?
I recommend staying away from firesticks just because they are more restrictive in some aspects.
Many people here would recommend the onn 4k pro at $50 each. Great device for streaming and loading a good amount of apps. Not a top of the line product but a great bang for your buck. I am very happy with my 2.
I am sure there are a bunch of midrange devices that meet or exceed the onn 4k pro as well. Others can offer input.
Then there is Nvidia and Ugoos and some other high end devices. But that depends on what you need from the device. I have an Nvidia Shield tv pro and love it but i dont use its full capabilities. I am happy with the device and knew i was paying premium but i was ok with that.
Search around TP for other threads about devices. Dont be afraid to ask questions even if the thread is old. Its preferred than starting a new one.
Iāll leave some of the technical questions to others.
Welcome again!
MikeN
153
Answering your question - looking for Google TV
One missing from above article is Formuler GTV
One error is Formuler Z11 pro is NOT Google TV (Operating System : Android 11) but is a very good box - see Troyās full review
US webpage, Formuler Z11pro is listed as Android TV but in specification is Android 11.
Home screen for Formuler GTV
Home screen Formuler Z11 pro
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MikeN
154
Troy has ordered one of these boxes (posted above 2nd Sept) - expect a full review soon.
You may need to become a Patron to read the full review when available
MarkxG
155
Hey Hobbes, welcomeā¦I would NOT recommend this box. Total FAIL for me. Scroll up to read my post above but in summary IMO this box is rubbishā¦2 reasons
1.) I get 370-380 Mbps down on all my other boxes and canāt get more than 60 Mbps on this one
2.) Cannot play 4K sources on this box
The good news is Iām only out $11 hereā¦YMMV but giving you my honest experience. And I am not against these cheap china boxes. I had 2 T95Z Plus boxes that delivered flawless performance for 6+ years. And about the Malware on these boxesā¦Please thereās far more important things to worry about than the Boogeyman hiding in your box. Thatās just click bait and not true. Thereās no concrete evidence of Malware on these boxes despite the articles that are published on this
As @JPM69 says, I have and would also recommend the ONN 4K Pro. This is a tremendous Box at a very good price point
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AMD237
156
I second @JPM69, the Onn 4k pro will be the most performance for anywhere near that $50 mark. Mecool has the KM2 Plus in the $80-90 range, but not sure if it is really any better than the Onn. My personal preference is sticking with tried and true brands and not the random Amazon boxes, but they could be an option for decent price points.
I would not recommend trying to solder new hard drives in these boxes. It really isnāt worth the risk imo. Utilize the USB or get yourself a Buzz U5 for just under $200. These you can expand with a 2.5" SATA hard drive.
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Anth
158
Hello @Hobbes_Is_Real congrats on your first post.
I would recommend the onn 4k pro as well, as your coming from a certified device that is also certified. Price and specs are amazing.
My main device at home is the amazon firecube 3rd gen, which i prefer over my nvidia shield pro 2019. Im always looking for new devices tho, if i was going to spend say over Ā£50/60 for a new device i would be looking for a google certified device, not stock android.
As for the android box from china, i have 2 on order which will be here 24th Sept, they will not be my main device, i will be using 1 just for offline video playback in my caravan (if it works lol)and the other just to mess about with at home.
Comtech
159
havenāt had time to test mine thru hard testing yet with all the football going onā¦maybe mid week? iāll get around to it eventually but for the price? i really only bought it to mess around with as itās something newā¦my main ones are set and the wife watches tonās of football as sheās all in w her home teamā¦i got luckyā¦lol
i donāt understand why some peepās are freakin out about the performance of this cheap china box? it cost me like 12USā¦running speed test and trying to play 4k video on an cheap china boxā¦itās interesting but not high on my thingās i must do listā¦lol
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JPM69
160
No worries @Comtech . I dont think anyone is freaking out. I think we are all hoping you found a diamond in the rough at a discount.
I dont think 4k is out of the question on devices out now. A $20 ONN has it. I am hoping for it to be at least on par with that. But we shall see. No big money at stake so no one here should be complaining too much. We all rolled the dice.
Mine is slowly making itās way to me. Eventually Iāll find out if I like it or not.
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MarkxG
161
100% Agree. I had flawless performance with my 6 year old T95Z Plus cheap China boxes. Good speeds on wifi and 4K so thought I might get the same for a $11 box. No big deal.
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