Today, almost all household appliances that you have long been accustomed to have a “smart” prefix. Smart phones, smart light bulbs, smart TVs . No, no one supplied them with artificial intelligence. Manufacturers simply mean Internet access and the ability to either remotely control, as in the case of lighting, or install applications, as is the case with TVs. But if today it is much more difficult to buy a dumb phone than a smart one, then with TVs the situation is exactly the opposite. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that it is simply not customary to change them every couple of years, which is why many continue to use LCD panels from the past or even the decade before last. But they can be made smart.
Even an ordinary TV can be turned into a Smart TV, and inexpensively
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Making your TV smart is quite simple. Especially for this, manufacturers produce special TV boxes or TV sticks, which are mini-computers with a built-in operating system, a Wi-Fi module and a number of other components that provide the TV with all the functions of smart analogues. We are lucky that they cost mere pennies.
Xiaomi Mi TV Stick - buy
Recognized industry leader - Xiaomi Mi TV Stick . This thing, like traditional TV sticks, has the appearance of a large flash drive, only instead of USB it has HDMI. With its help, the stick connects to the TV and turns it into a Smart TV, including allowing you to display a smartphone screen on it.
Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is the most popular Android TV stick for regular TVs
Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is equipped with 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of ROM for installing applications, Bluetooth 4.2, a Wi-Fi module, and it runs on Android TV 9.0. For control, the stick comes with a remote control with basic buttons and a microphone for controlling the TV via Google Assistant .
Price: 2605 rubles (with promotional code 400RADUET)
Buy Mi TV Stick
Android TV sticks like this one support almost every Android app. You can install any online cinemas, music streaming services, YouTube and much more on your TV. And since applications generally weigh no more than 200 MB, the available 8 GB will last you a long time.
Stream movies to any display
Although useful for work, stick computers can and are equally equipped for gaming. Most come with a dual-core ARM processor and a GPU that supports 1080p video. This combined with the HDMI output can turn any display into a streaming hub.
The scenario is easy to imagine. Plug in your flash drive, boot into Android, open the Netflix or Hulu app using your wireless keyboard or remote control. The interface may not match a dedicated streaming box like Roku, but the experience will be nearly identical once the movie starts playing.
Many flash computers have a USB port. This means you can also play compatible video files from an external flash memory or hard drive.
Mi TV Stick or Mi Box S
Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is a good thing, but not without its drawbacks. Therefore, it has an improved analogue - Xiaomi Mi TV Box S. This plus or minus is the same as Apple TV, but on Android. Unlike the stick, the box supports 4K video, high-quality audio speakers and comes with increased memory capacity and an additional USB connector.
Mi TV Box S is an improved version of Mi TV Stick with 4K support
Essentially, Mi TV Box S is just an improved version of the stick. If you have a Full HD TV at home and no advanced stereo system, there is no point in buying a box. Even a stick, which in terms of functionality, plus or minus, duplicates the older version, will be enough for you.
Price: 3900 rubles (with promotional code 400PODAROK)
Buy Mi TV Box S
But, if you own a 4K TV and have a stereo system with Dolby support, perhaps the best option would be the box. It will allow you to turn your old LCD panel into a kind of home theater for mere pennies. After all, the box costs only 1 thousand more than the stick.
Practical experience of use
Just a great option for old TVs, for which buying a Smart TV is a waste of money. It works very quickly. Watching YouTube and TV series has become much more comfortable. The quality exceeds the price. And this is a big plus.
I purchased the console and am happy with this purchase. The child is simply delighted. Now it turns off closer to night. The TV is far from new. It doesn’t support 4K, so this stick is 100 percent enough. Third-party programs via Google cloud, the main thing is to have an account. Now the TV without Smart has a new life. Highly recommend.
Realme TV Stick 4K
For those who like to get everything at once, Realme has released something between Mi TV Stick and Mi TV Box - Smart Google TV Stick . This, as the name implies, is the same stick flash drive with an HDMI connector, but more technically advanced. Here you no longer get 1 GB of RAM, but 2, and no support for 4K video instead of Full HD.
Realme TV Stick 4K is cooler than Xiaomi's Mi TV Stick
In terms of capabilities, this is a classic TV stick based on Android TV with all that it implies:
- Installing applications
- Smartphone mirroring
- Voice control
- Google Play support
Price: 2949 rubles (with promotional code 400PODAROK)
Buy Realme TV Stick
As with the Mi TV Stick, the Realme solution comes with a proprietary remote control with a basic set of buttons and a built-in microphone that receives voice commands and sends it to the TV through the stick. This is very convenient, since you no longer have to write the names of films or TV series manually.
Show your message anywhere
Business owners may be interested in desktop PCs because of their potential for use with digital signage. This is the technical term for using an HDTV, rather than a large piece of paper or cardboard, as a banner, notice board or menu.
Stick computers work great in this role because they are inexpensive, small, quiet, and portable. This means they can be used with any sign, anywhere - convenient for small business owners who attend a lot of trade shows and conferences.
TV set-top box for Android TV
It is clear that set-top boxes with Android TV from first-tier manufacturers will cost more. But, if you want to save money, you can take something less famous, but no less popular and functional. For example, the H96 Max RK3318 box, which is technically superior to everything listed above.
It is not necessary to buy consoles from A-brands
This thing has 4GB of RAM and 32/64GB of internal storage, and also comes with Android 11 . This is the most modern version of Google's TV operating system currently available.
Price: from 2050 rubles
Buy a TV set-top box with Android
Essentially, this is an improved version of Xiaomi TV Box , only with a more attractive design and at a lower price. There is support for 4K, Dolby Audio, voice control from the remote control, and much more. And this thing costs only 2 thousand rubles in the basic configuration.
Stay safe while traveling
Having a computer in your pocket means having a device you control wherever you go. This is a security benefit. There are many places, such as libraries and cafes, that offer computers for public use - but how do you know they are trustworthy? They can be loaded with all kinds of malware. Even checking Gmail can be a risk.
The Pocket PC bypasses this problem. It boots from your operating system and can be connected directly to your display, bypassing the host computer entirely. And because these PCs typically run Android, they won't be vulnerable to the Windows malware that dominates public computers and networks.
Buy an analogue of chromecast
However, if you want to spend as little as possible, it is possible to purchase not a TV stick, which makes the TV smart, but a device for screencasting. This device costs only 560 rubles and, although it does not have its own operating system in the form of Android TV , it offers a mirroring function from a smartphone.
In fact, this is an analogue of Chromecast, but for a more reasonable price
Thanks to this thing, you can display any content on the TV screen - from photos and games to movies and TV series from online cinemas. Just connect the screencaster to your TV via HDMI, pair it with your smartphone and display any content on its screen.
Price: 559 rubles
Buy an analogue of chromecast
Conveniently, this model supports different data transfer protocols. With AirPlay compatibility, you can display your iPhone's content on your TV without any lag, just like you would on an Apple TV. And for the money they ask for it, it’s actually a gift.
Stay productive in a pinch
People who need to be productive while traveling usually have a laptop, but most people can't (or won't) take a laptop everywhere. The system is often left in a hotel room or at home during short trips. Most people have no choice but to rush when something needs their attention.
Stick computers partially solve this problem. If you can find the display and keyboard, you can access the computer. Many options, such as Cotton Candy, can even use a laptop display in a pinch.
Design, build quality and materials
Mecool KD1 TV Stick is the simplest device I have tested. There is nothing special here and there is not even really anything to talk about.
For example, the device body is made of matte black plastic. On the top you can see the KD1 model name and a small LED indicator. It is also worth noting that the body is divided into two parts - a smooth matte surface and a textured surface.
As for the quality of execution, I did not find any comments. The Mecool KD1 TV Stick device was made with high quality and without unnecessary extraneous sound or squeaks.
On the external interface, I found only one connection - this is the Micro USB port on the left side of the device. There is also an HDMI port on the front for connecting to your TV or other signal display source. For example, it could be a monitor or even a projector.
As you can see, the dimensions of the remote control are much larger than the dimensions of the TV stick itself. The remote control itself has a minimal number of buttons. But here there are all the necessary buttons for full use in everyday life. I also liked the presence of voice control and quick access buttons for applications such as YouTube, Prime Video and Google Play.
Okay, now let me share with you my emotions from the user interface and, of course, from the performance itself. You will also find out how hot the device gets, since there is not a single hole for the cooling system.
