Xiaomi's Mi Box, the cheapest 4K
HDR streaming box on the market, comes from two names you might not be familiar with.
The Shield TV is already an excellent 4K
HDR streaming box — albeit a pricey one at $ 200 — so if you're thinking of buying one or own one already, Tablo Engine is an easy and inexpensive addition.
Not exact matches
That's a measly $ 240 for a 4k capable,
HDR enabled
box that you can use not only to
stream movies but also play some pretty fantastic games with as well.
It is nice that the Apple TV 4K supports Dolby Vision in addition to the
HDR - 10 standard that other
streaming boxes offer.
The fact that Apple's
streaming box is the only one to support Dolby Vision — a proprietary enhancement over the
HDR - 10 standard — is just icing.
Sure, the Chromecast Ultra is cheaper than most 4K streamers, but for the same $ 70 price, you can instead get Xiaomi's Mi
Box, an Android TV set - top with a proper remote control, 4K
HDR streaming, and Google Cast built - in.
Compared to other 4K
HDR streaming devices such as the Xiaomi Mi Box and Chromecast Ultra, the Roku Streaming Stick + ($ 70) supports more sources of 4K and 4K HDR
streaming devices such as the Xiaomi Mi
Box and Chromecast Ultra, the Roku
Streaming Stick + ($ 70) supports more sources of 4K and 4K HDR
Streaming Stick + ($ 70) supports more sources of 4K and 4K
HDR content.
It's also one of a handful of
streaming boxes with 4K
HDR video support, alongside the Roku Premiere +, Roku Ultra, Xiaomi Mi
Box, and the original Nvidia Shield TV.
BFGDs are high - end, 65 - inch, 4K, 120Hz
HDR displays — complete with NVIDIA's G - Sync technology and integrated NVIDIA SHIELD set - top
streaming box — that they are calling «buttery - smooth» for gaming.
For
HDR fans, the Mi
Box will also support the
HDR10 standard once Android 7.0, «Nougat» hits the new
streaming player.
The $ 69 price makes it a pretty tempting offer, considering that Xiaomi says the Mi
Box will
stream in 4K, display
HDR content, and support both a Bluetooth remote with voice commands and a game controller.
To paint a picture, this
streaming box is one of the only devices available on the market that's capable of playing
HDR 4K video at 6 FPS.
The SHIELD Android TV
box is more than powerful enough to let you enjoy 4K
HDR streaming on your TV, and on top of that you also add Dolby Atmos or 7.1 surround sound to the package.
Apple's newest
streaming box features a handful of upgrades designed to optimize performance for sparkling 4k
HDR content.
The new Apple TV 4K can play 4K and
HDR video for the first time, but it's one of the most expensive
streaming boxes available.
The big benefit here is a new option to have the
streaming box automatically turn off
HDR when you're watching SDR content.
I've been thinking about what a third - generation Fire TV
box might look like ever since AFTVNews reported a couple weeks ago on a rumored mid-tier Fire TV device — possibly a souped - up
streaming stick — with 4K
HDR support.
Roku is replacing its entire lineup of
streaming - video
boxes, keeping the Roku Stick while introducing five all - new products, two of which support 4K and
HDR (high dynamic range) video decoding.
If you're new to the world of
streaming boxes — as many people are — and have bought a slightly - too - fancy - but - go - on - it's - a-treat 4K
HDR TV recently, the new Apple TV 4K is an excellent thing to place under your new set.
The previous Fire TV
box already did 4K, but this one can now play it at 60 frames per second and adds
HDR (high dynamic range) as a brand new feature to Amazon's
streaming devices.
The Mi
Box can also
stream in 4K at up to 60 frames per second, with
HDR - 10 to be enabled with Android 7.0, but you're on your own to find supported content.
Hybrid Log - Gamma (HLG) will likely end up as the format for 4K
HDR streaming, and no set - top
box supports it right now, so don't get too attached to any of these options.
The latest 4K
HDR - enabled Apple TV is one of the best media
streaming boxes around, but it's been lacking something important since the day it launched: Amazon Prime Video.
Because it runs Android TV, the NVIDIA Shield includes all of the apps that Google's own Nexus Player and other similar set - top
boxes feature, but NVIDIA of course has its own tricks: the ability to
stream 4K
HDR from Netflix and Amazon Video, the only piece of hardware currently capable of doing that.
Sources familiar with Apple's plans say the set - top
box will finally deliver 4K video
streaming with support for
HDR, and a greater focus on live television content like news and sports.
Streaming sticks: Then there are the 4K streaming sticks, which offer 4K HDR programming, but without the bells and whistles of a dedic
Streaming sticks: Then there are the 4K
streaming sticks, which offer 4K HDR programming, but without the bells and whistles of a dedic
streaming sticks, which offer 4K
HDR programming, but without the bells and whistles of a dedicated
box.
Most
streaming set - top
boxes only send an
HDR signal to a TV when they are playing
HDR content.