Novices who don’t know which is a good network set-top box will mostly refer to the ranking list when purchasing. A well-known authoritative digital website announced the latest ranking of network set-top boxes in 2023. Is the result fair? I purchased the top five network set-top boxes at my own expense, and conducted in-depth evaluation for more than ten days. Today I will talk about my real experience in detail to see if it is worthy of the name :
Brand on the list: Taijie WEBOX 60 Pro network set-top box
Reason for listing : The highest configuration within 300 yuan, cost-effective ceiling
Taijie is actually the earliest brand of network set-top boxes . It has been in the audio and video industry for more than ten years. From a professional perspective, I recognize it very much. Due to Taijie's strict quality requirements, the official website is often sold out, and every time a new product is released, it often triggers a rush to buy.
Hardware Configuration
Taijie launched a TV set-top box WEBOX 60 Pro with a strong configuration, priced at 299 yuan, but the configuration performance is enough to compete with other products of 399 yuan! 2G memory, instead of Flash storage, directly adopt higher-quality EMMC 32G storage, the latest Android 11 system, change the single-band WIFI of friends and merchants, and directly use WIFI6 to have a stronger network signal! The performance running score is almost the first within 300 yuan!
video experience
In terms of fluency, the experience of the Tektronix set-top box is definitely the smoothest network set-top box I have ever used. Needless to say, normal-definition videos are smooth and not stuck, and can be played in seconds. During the peak hours of network usage at eight or nine in the evening, watching 4K high-definition videos can also be loaded in seconds, and there is no ad placement. The entire playback experience is very smooth.
Zero pole system
One of the most important reasons for many users to purchase Tektronix set-top boxes is Tekjet's "Zero-Extreme" system. Except for video software, other functional software is rarely installed inside the system, so that users' video experience will not be affected.
quality workmanship
In terms of craftsmanship, Taijie is equipped with Apple-level craftsmanship standards, which is very difficult. And in order to ensure the service life of the box, Taijie Box also retains exclusive cooling holes to ensure the heat dissipation performance of the box. Even if it is used for a whole day, there is no need to worry about heat dissipation, which effectively improves the service life of the box!
Taijie WEBOX 60 Pro is the most worth buying within 300 yuan. If you have a higher budget, you can choose the hot-selling flagship 40Pro max. The large memory experience of 6+64 is better.
Brand on the list: Tmall Magic Box 7 network set-top box
Reason for listing: voice remote control
Tmall's Magic Box is a smart network set-top box launched by Alibaba. Its main function is TV shopping. The built-in video resources are mainly from Youku, and the system is equipped with Alibaba Cloud OS system.
appearance design
Tmall's Magic Box 7 is the latest flagship model launched by Tmall, and its appearance has changed greatly from previous generations. First of all, in terms of color matching, it abandons the traditional red and black collocation, and instead chooses a technological blue design, which is very technological. In addition, the box is also equipped with an ergonomic remote control that can control the box and the TV at the same time. Support intelligent voice search, Bluetooth connection function. In terms of interface, it comes with a USB2.0 interface and a standard HDMI interface.
Hardware Configuration
In terms of hardware configuration, the box is equipped with an Amlogic S905L3 quad-core processor, supports 60-frame decoding, HDR10 ultra-clear image output, and has surround sound effects. It is equipped with Android system and built-in 2.4G+5G dual-band Wi-Fi. In terms of memory, it has 2GB+16GB memory storage space, which is basically enough for daily household use. In terms of content, it has access to platforms such as Youku and Wasu, allowing users to expand more functions by themselves, covering application software such as iQiyi, Mango TV, TV Taobao, and Doudizhu.
Brand on the list: Xiaomi 4S MAX TV set-top box
Reason for listing: open application market
Xiaomi is still very competitive in the TV set-top box. Although many users complain that there are many advertisements in the Xiaomi box, what they refuse to deny is that Xiaomi's technical strength is remarkable.
Hardware Configuration
In terms of configuration, this "Fourth Generation Mi Box Ultimate Edition" is equipped with a "64-bit quad-core high-performance processor" Amlogic S905X3, which has 4 CPU cores of the A55 architecture. Equipped with "quad-core A53 processor" in theory, there will be a certain improvement. It also therefore supports decoding support for 8K video.
operating system
The Mi Box has always been equipped with the self-developed MIUI operating system, which integrates film and television resources with a waterfall layout, and the resources are very rich. Mi Box supports HDMI CEC function, and has rich application software, and the application market is relatively open. If you are not satisfied with the software that comes with you, you can download the software you like independently.
Brand on the list: Skyworth (Skyworth) network set-top box Q+ second generation
Reason for listing : Support 4K
Skyworth insists on being a "thorough productist", with Hong Kong Skyworth Digital Holdings Co., Ltd. as the leader, it has more than ten industrial companies including Shenzhen Skyworth-RGB Electronics Company, Overseas Development Company, and LCD Device Company.
Hardware Configuration
The hardware is equipped with Amlogic S905 processor, based on 64-bit A53 architecture, and built-in Mali-450 GPU unit. In addition to supporting 4K resolution output, with the support of 1GB/8GB RAM/ROM, it can almost meet the needs of daily use and low power consumption. Bluetooth 4.0 allows wireless connection to Bluetooth speakers, game controllers and other Bluetooth devices, expanding entertainment essentials and bringing a more perfect entertainment experience.
Video resources
The content covers 100% of the films in domestic theaters and Hollywood blockbusters from international first-line film companies such as Warner, Paramount, and Disney, as well as top IP dramas, popular American dramas, NBA exclusive broadcast events on the entire network, animation, variety shows, Rich resources of various types such as documentaries. From rankings to popular channels, from movies to sports, the careful editing of the Skyworth box operation team has reduced a lot of trouble for finding movies.
Brand on the list: iQIYI TV Fruit 5S PLUS network set-top box
Reason for listing : Screen mirroring artifact
iQIYI is a well-known video software platform in China, with many exclusive film and television resources under its umbrella. TV Fruit 5S Plus is iQIYI TV Fruit's new generation of AI screen-casting smart hardware, the main function is screen-casting, and it also supports video playback.
appearance design
The first impression I got when I got this network set-top box is that it is so small and convenient! The appearance of the TV fruit is a miniature square shape, made of ABS plastic, and the weight is only 30g. There is a big "IQIYI TV fruit" logo printed on it. It is very light to hold in the hand, and can be carried in a pocket or in a bag. It doesn't take up much space at all, and it can be used in hotels for business trips and offices.
video experience
What is the most important thing about watching videos on a big screen? That is the look and feel, which includes evaluation dimensions such as clarity, sound effects, and fluency, among which the most important is the clarity of the picture quality. iQIYI TV Fruit 5S Plus supports DRM hard decoding, so you can watch Hollywood blockbusters with 4K resolution without pressure. Both the color saturation and texture of the picture are of a good level.
Which network set-top box is better? The evaluation results shared today hope to help you understand the ranking of network set-top boxes. The overall performance of the shortlisted brands is good. You can choose according to your budget and needs.