There is no perfect streaming box for the UK market

by brandscill92

Over the past couple of weeks I've been trying to find the perfect single streaming box for the UK market and I'm convinced it doesn't exist.

The Nvidia shield lacks All 4, Apple TV Plus and Now TV streaming apps. Plus it can't do HDR for YouTube and Google Play Movies

Mi Box S lacks all the UK streaming apps other than ITV Hub

Apple TV can't take advantage of UHD from the BBC nor can it do HDR or 4K on YouTube.

Amazon Fire TV 4K is missing Now TV and doesn't do Dolby vision for Apple TV plus content.

Roku perhaps has all the apps but it doesn't support Dolby vision

My B7 LG OLED lacks Apple TV plus but has all the other apps and supports BBC UHD and YouTube 4K.

Each option has a disadvantage, which leads me to just sticking with the built in apps

The fire TV looked so close but I'm also put off by the interface and all the ads.

I want Android TV to be the one but it seems the worst sorted in the UK.

Sorry this has become a bit of a rant. Perhaps sometime has a great setup they can advise on in the UK

sbadham

I'm in the UK and have the JBL Link Bar (which has it's own set of problems). I've looked at getting an Apple TV 4K and plugging that into the Link Bar to get over some of the app availability problems of Android (amazed that the ecosystem is as broken as it is).

I also use Google Home devices and Chromecasts and at this point I'm thinking that the Chromecast is massively better than anything Android TV tries to do.

For the price the Chromecast "just works" for most stuff. It even bridges the gap between the Apple world and the Google world in that the apps on my iPhone XS are Chromecast enabled.

For me it seems that Chromecast is a better option while the more complicated devices introduce a bunch of unmanaged problems that the manufacturers don't seem to be worried about.

BiggussDikkuss

Sorry this has become a bit of a rant.

No it's not a rant really, you just need the combo that works for you personally - one Single device is not going to do it all.

I'm not really brand loyal of a Fanboy of any of them at all. I just wanted something that works out of the box and gets great ongoing support. Price be damned.

I'm not in the UK but in a 25fps/50Hz territory down under - so for me auto Frame Rate Matching Apps support was really important (24p video and 50Hz is a really Nasty & Tricky combo) - along with great local Apps availability.

And for that only the Apple TV 4K ticked most of the boxes.

Any other holes in Apps support are handled by my Panasonic OLED - like 4K HDR YouTube. Don't care about Google Play.

I had to avoid Android TV because of lack of Netflix / Prime - Frame Rate Matching support and if it were the Shield the always ongoing Colorspace and Picture upscaling issues. Apps support is a problem with Android TV too where I am.

BTW: Unless it's been resolved Amazon and Disney were in dispute over Advertising with the Disney+ App on FireTV devices. So you cannot automatically expect the Disney+ App on that platform.

[deleted]

I can't help but wonder if you'd be better off with something like a Mac mini (don't tell anyone I said that) or a PC.

They aren't ideal the interface with the boxes is much better for a TV but done kind of air mouse it might work

BMox81

As another person mentioned, if you can just use the internal apps on your 4K TV for UHD content on iPlayer and YouTube, then the winner is the Apple TV. No issues with it in my house.

Was debating getting the Shield again so maybe we’ll see some updates soon. Won’t hold my breath though...

link6981

you’d be surprised how many people this way not just in the uk.

hawkeye2604

I'm with you completely. I actually don't mind the built in apps on the LG, all work well with the magic remote and it's pretty snappy. I just wish they'd release the Apple TV app on there and I'd be happy.

Have you tried the new Attenborough in 4k HLG? Looks unreal

[deleted]

Ive a basisc mbox which works fine for me with a little research you can download any app ,i stream apple tv, amazon tv,netflix,all live uk channels,usa channels, iptv, zero buffering all in fhd...its called kodi with real debrid.........box cost me £57 on amazon three yrs ago