MiBox or DishTV?

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mdf

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#290235 29-Oct-2021 09:59

We've got an Android Smart TV (Sony Bravia) that is a few years old now and seems to have developed assorted glitches - apps randomly restarting and buffering/jittery playback. I've tried factory resetting, but still getting issues. I suspect that it's internal "smart" hardware is just too old for modern apps so looking to essentially make a brain transplant.

I wanted a Shield, but seems unavailable at the moment and need to do something soonish. PBTech is having an entertainment sale this weekend and has the Mi Box S 4K @ $113 and the DishTV SmartVu+ 4K at $171. Neither seems to get completely glowing reviews but I just need something that is available to fix current issues.

From what I can tell, hardware is similar (slightly more storage on the Mi), Mi has the nicer remote, Dish has better support (without sideloading at least) for NZ-related apps. Only the Dish seems to have ethernet though, so I was leaning that way unless a USB-Ethernet adapter will work with the Mi Box?

Or will I just be disappointed by a sub $200 box and should just get an Xbox Series S or something similar?

tanivula

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#2803327 29-Oct-2021 10:06

I have the original MiBox and it works at treat with a USB hub that has an ethernet port. Some work better than others, but I'm sure there will be a list on the internet somewhere. I had a uGreen one I believe. Mine is plugged into a 1080p TV (the spare) and decoded 4k x265 stuff without any problems. HDMI CEC works great. I don't use mine often (it stays on standby) but when I have needed to, everything works great.

I think both units will work with HDMI CEC, so the quality of the remote might be of a moot point, unless you want to use the google assistant.

Edit: storage will be important to you based on what Apps you're likely to install... Thinking of Kodi, then go MiBox with the larger storage.

Wakrak

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#2803328 29-Oct-2021 10:07

Nvidia Shield has been at a decent price on Amazon AU recently. I did a deal on em over at Cheapies. Don't know when it'll go back to these prices though:

Nvidia Shield TV Pro 4K (2019) ~AU$297.10 Delivered; Nvidia Shield TV 4K (2019) ~AU$210.40 Delivered

ANglEAUT

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#2803385 29-Oct-2021 10:27

I've got a 16GB Nvidia Shield 4K available for $240 if you are interested.

I've used the SmartVu+ (NOT 4K) & it was bad enough that I chucked it after a week.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

dt

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#2803397 29-Oct-2021 10:57

having all 3 I would put them in this order

shield > mi box > smartvu

I really didn't like the interface of smartvu.. was very clunky, unintuitive, buggy and slow but would come down to if you wanted freeview support or not over the mi box at those price points

I was in the same boat as angieaut but gave it a bit more of a decent go for a month and as I didn't need freeview I ended up replacing it with another mi box

Mi boxes are decent little boxes but also aren't even in the same league as shields, they are the king of android TV but depending on where you're putting it might be a bit over kill? [we have ours in the living room]

If LAN port is a must, I bought a usb to r45 adapter for $20 from pb for the mi box we have in the bed room it works fine but I found the one in the spare room where I watch TV occasionally is connected over wifi and works perfectly fine even when streaming 4k plex content

I would also be wary of mi box reviews, a lot of people don't understand that android and android tv are completely different products and they try and use them in ways they aren't meant for.. i.e "useless box wont let me install chrome!! 1/5 stars"