As few as they already are, not every consumer can afford a Smart TV. However, these people do not necessarily need to be left out of the difficulty of having a television at home with access to installing applications. It is in this environment that manufacturers created the "TV Box", also known as the "Set Up Box", depending on who sells it.
There is a whole debate about the legality of these products – a lot of it, debating whether or not it is a form of piracy. The good news is that, by itself, a TV Box is not illegal (provided, of course, that it is reviewed and approved by the National Telecommunications Agency – Anatel -, but that is another matter).
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What is TV Box?
The fun of a TV Box is, in short terms, taking a TV that is not “smart”, and transforming it into a smarter device. The way she does this is also simple to understand: the box comes with an embedded operating system, which supports applications that you would not normally have access to on your older TV.
In some cases, however, the experience of a TV Box can be even more interesting than that of a Smart TV native system - since most manufacturers tend to bet on relatively closed systems (see WebOS, which many people are not fan), which ends up impacting the user experience.
The good thing about a TV Box is the fact that you don't need a lot of technical knowledge to use it: if you are in the habit of browsing apps, playing with the functions of your smartphone or tablet, then you already have a good idea how does this type of device work – it's almost the same thing, only a remote control instead of your fingers.
What you need to worry about is: a constant internet connection and good speed (there are those who speak of connections of 120 Mbps or more, but there is no consensus on this – and this speed probably refers more to 4K video resolution , something not every TV Box can achieve and those that do are relatively expensive). But you don't necessarily need a wired connection – which is great if you want a more organized environment next to the TV –, it also works via Wi-Fi.
Oh yes. And valid accounts within these entertainment apps: Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+... All of these work on a monthly subscription model, so you'll need to purchase the aforementioned services in addition to the TV Box, ok?
As for the rest, it's literally a matter of finding a free socket and leaving the device in a relatively open environment: avoid leaving your TV Box on a shelf divided by many other objects, lampshades, decorative pots and the like. This does not apply to all models, but some remote controls use infrared technology, which can undergo refraction – a kind of “deflection” of light – emitted by the control towards the device.
Below, the Technology Refugee listed some of the best-known brands on the market to help you choose yours if you're looking for such a product. It is worth remembering that the list below does not make an analysis of “worse” or “better”, but we were careful to list some advantages that one has over the other.
What is the best TV Box? Check out some options!
Apple TV (HD/4K)
Starting with the most premium item on our list, Apple TV (not to be confused with the Apple TV+ streaming service) comes in two distinct resolutions – 4K and HD – and a host of exclusive features inherent to those who already know the format of products made by “ Apple” from Cupertino.
Apple TV has 32GB to 64GB of internal storage and, depending on the version, supports Dolby Atmos sound technology, for a greater sense of immersion that, according to Apple, is comparable to being in a movie theater.
The product comes with a dedicated remote control that allows you, in addition to selecting applications, to perform voice commands to the Siri virtual assistant and, if you have an iPhone, iPad or macOS computer, make all these devices interact with each other in an entertainment ecosystem. Totally dedicated: Are you on the road and saw a series that made you curious? Just mark it on your cell phone to watch later, selecting the same mark on Apple TV.
By default, the toy comes with Netflix, Disney +, Amazon Prime Video and (obviously!) Apple TV + apps, but the virtual store – a dedicated version of the App Store – has other options depending on the availability of services.
And where does it hurt? Well, so the quality of the device follows the “Apple standard”, the price also follows this line: according to the official website of the manufacturer, the cheapest model – Apple TV HD – costs R$ 1999, while the Apple TV 4K is priced at BRL 2399 (32 GB) and BRL 2599 (64 GB). these values, it is possible to find a reasonable Smart TV all these services.
Google Chromecast
Possibly one of the most well-known “TV Box” devices (although its format is not exactly that of a box) that has been heard, the Chromecast is one of the most popular choices for those who want to combine Smart TV functions on a TV screen without smart functions.
The most recent version available in Brazil is distributed by Google partner retailers (see the list here) and, although it offers advantages very similar to Apple TV, or direct interaction with Android smartphones and tablets, it tends to be more open since, according to the Statista, more than 80% of the national market uses the Mountain View company's system.
Beyond that, Google has the Nest smart home product lineup, ranging from doorbells and light bulbs to, get this, entertainment systems, to outdoor speakers. All of them talk Chromecast via Google Assistant.
The downside is that, technically, Chromecast is not a “TV box”, but a native mirroring of an Android smartphone. There is a “Chromecast 4” in the US, which corresponds to a properly equipped Android TV system, but which is not available in Brazil. Here, we are in the third generation of the product, which ranges from R$250 to R$400, depending on the model and retailer.
Amazon Fire Stick Lite
Another very popular product in the industry is the Fire Stick Lite from Amazon. This small TV Box may even have “Lite” in the name, but believe us when we say: it beats the main options on the market very masterfully.
To begin with, the product has been redesigned, starting with its body design, now bolder and easier to fit on the TV; even your operating system, which now has smoother navigation and faster responsiveness to control. In addition, support for the popular virtual assistant Alexa has finally arrived, which allows you to enter voice sounds and saves you from having to search for your favorite series when typing letter by letter on the virtual keyboard.
Equipped with 8 GB of internal storage and pre-installed apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Telecine Play, Vix, Disney+ and even the sports game DAZN, this Amazon TV Box manages to offer the best entertainment options and, beyond that, it makes your pocket much easier at events or “Prime Day”, which the company promotes huge discounts every year.
The problem: If you're a fan of 4K resolution, then this product isn't for you, as the Amazon Fire Stick Lite doesn't go beyond Full HD (1080p). Oh, and its control does not come with TV functions, only volume, forward or backward programs and episodes and the like. More advanced functions are only found on the Amazon FireTV Stick 4K.
You can find this product on the Amazon website, at prices starting at R$249. For the 4K Dolby Atmos sound version, the price rises to R$449.
Mi TV Box S
Xiaomi has taken Brazil by preference for electronic products with premium features and intermediate prices. The Chinese company did this for smartphones, and its TV Box would be no different: the Mi TV Box S brings virtually all paid and free entertainment options in one place, from YouTube to DAZN and Telecine Play, in a package that also offers 4K resolution, 60 frames per second continuous playback and Dolby DTS audio sound technology.
As far as the system is concerned, the Mi TV Box S runs version 8.1 of Android (“Oreo”, for the hungry) natively, avoiding mirroring a smartphone and, thus, making navigation more fluid, since it is optimized for use on televisions.
Therefore, you can take more advantage of voice control support via Google Assistant, avoiding the need to use the virtual keyboard. In addition, being Android, there is some operability of smart home products, but not fully so would, for example, Chromecast.
Today, you can buy a Mi TV Box S for prices starting at R$ 585, but if you want a cheaper option (and are willing to sacrifice some more powerful functions), you can look for the Mi TV Stick, which offers full HD full resolution. , stereo sound and prices from R$ 315.
Roku Express
Possibly the newest and, depending on who you ask, the least known TV Box available in Brazil, Roku Express wants to reproduce here the fame that made it one of the main choices of consumers in the United States. Here, we have one of the most varied entertainment options, thanks to the company's policy of betting on licensing other brands, bringing them all together in one place.
On the official website of the platform in Portuguese (PT-Br), we have several different entertainment options (Telecine, Runtime, Belas Artes A La Carte, PlutoTV, Apple TV+, HBO Max, DirecTv Go, Disney+, Globoplay, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video , Funimation, a bunch of religious channels, at least one “semi-adult” option, and even some casual games), and the company is always adding new partnerships.
Think about it like this: you know that Turkish soap opera your mother found on the internet and was interested in? You won't find it on Apple TV, but it's very likely that Roku Express has it or, at least, is in the process of having it, as the company maintains its own app – the Roku Channel – where it publishes its news,
Of course, there are some cons: the Roku controller is pretty limited to the basic functions (forward, backward and volume), which means you still need a dedicated controller for your TV. Additionally, 4K resolution, voice sounds, or interactions with other devices and systems are not supported.
However, the price is very pocket-friendly, ranging from R$ 200 (autonomous retailers in the Free Market and the like) to R$ 350 (official store in Brazil).
Honorable mentions
Aquario STV-2000 and Intelbras IZY Play
The two Spanish brands are not even close compared to the other models mentioned above, but they are quite popular because they are options more in line with the Spanish TV market, and the prices are more reasonable.
In the case of Aquario, the hardware has low numbers – only 1 GB of RAM, but 8 GB of internal storage. The interesting thing is that this TV Box comes with the Play Store installed, which allows you to download extra apps on the device. However, there are some pitfalls: unlike the other options here, the STV-2000 is a mirrored version of Android Nougat for TVs, that is, it copies some functions normally seen on smartphones, which generates some inconsistencies in certain popular apps, Netflix and YouTube, where it has more errors.
This problem is not seen in IZY Play, the TV Box from Intelbras. Also popular and aimed at a wider audience, this model comes with Android TV embedded, making browsing and executing functions more fluid and simple. In addition, your control supports Bluetooth technology and connectivity to smart devices, lamps and automated sounds. Oh, and it's one of the few options on the market for audio and video (A/V) outputs for those who don't have any access via an HDMI cable, which expands the list of possible televisions for the service, which also includes even older models.
The Aquario STV-2000 sells for R$ 285 in the official store, while the Intelbras IZY Play costs R$ 399,90, also in its own store.
Is it a crime to use a TV box?
The list above includes models that are homologated by Anatel and work only in the basic function of a TV Box: adding intelligent functions to older television models. As we said at the beginning of this text, this does not make any TV Box inherently “illegal”.
However, the way you use this product could get you into criminal law enforcement – namely, piracy. That's because, although we list only seven of the main models available in Brazil, a quick search on the internet will show hundreds of other models – some from companies that don't even operate here on an official basis.
And that's where the danger lies: generally, these other products arrive here through freight forwarders or other types of importers, who receive them and promote system changes to run, for example, open cable subscription channels, either via satellite signal opening or some link that transmits paid programming via streaming.
These products are known as “IPTV” and, although this is a name that officially refers to a legal market, criminals managed to get hold of it to broadcast their pirated products.
According to data from the Spanish Association of Pay TVs (ABTA), around 33 million people make use of illegal IPTVs. The practice infringes, among several other laws, copyright law (9610/1998) and the General Telecommunication Law (9.472/1997). And this type of penalty can impact those who sell – and also those who quit.
Merchants of this type of product are guilty of the crime of intellectual property violation (since they are pirating a program or channel that does not belong to them) and unfair competition (since they are taking their customers away from the owners of that channel). We're talking about a prison sentence of three months to one year, or payment of a fine.
Those who stop may incur crimes of interception and/or reception. Penalties vary from judge to judge, but the general understanding is that this falls under the category of simple theft, that is, one to four years in prison, plus a fine.
How it works is relatively simple: provided you have an Android device, the reseller will charge you a subscription fee – something between R$35 and R$150, depending on the person – and will provide a link to download a specific app, access it will also provide you with. You enter this information into the device and that's it.
The problem, however, goes beyond intellectual property crime: by connecting a TV Box to your home's wireless network, you are automatically sharing network traffic between all devices connected there, which can end up exposing your private information. or your family.
There are many models available that perform this type of service, it is difficult to say which ones and how many have already been caught running “traps” on their clients. Imagine, for example, that you store banking information on your smartphone, within the same network as such a box. There is no way of knowing whether the administrator of that system will receive this data – or even if he is viewing it when you access it.
In November 2011, a mega police operation in Europe took down more than five thousand servers that hosted pirated content: the action involved 700 police officers in 11 countries on the continent, an estimated total of 50 million users already identified. The action was aimed at attacking one of the main providers of pirated IPTV in the region at the request of the Italian government.
The operation coordinated forces from Germany, Bulgaria, Slovenia, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Romania and Sweden. On “D” day, all these countries moved against the providers of this type of service and managed to confiscate the servers, used to broadcast films, series, live TV channels and sports.
Brazil has also been the scene of such actions: in the same period as what was seen in Europe, “Operação 404” had its second phase triggered by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office together with Alianza (or “Aliança Contra a Pirataria da Pay-TV ”), impacting around 26 million users of pirated IPTVs, at least five of the arrests made in flagrante delicto.
The Operation stage fulfilled 25 search and seizure warrants and promoted the blocking and suspension of 252 websites and 65 streaming applications. The apps were dedicated to the clandestine transmission of movies and series. As well as hitting Spanish domains, the 404 this time also took down 27 UK and three US sites. Likewise, the Operation removed this type of content from results on search engines and removed profiles and pages from social networks.
But IPTVs are not the only victims of piracy, which also bring problems in the manufacture of these devices, disobeying Anatel's scrutiny. The agency not only inspects the provision of services, but also whether a product is within the limits of emission of electromagnetic fields considered healthy, or the use of toxic materials or certain batteries, or even the application of components of low technical safety, which can lead to explosions and shocks.
After all, is it worth it?
Yes. The first function of every TV Box is to provide access to entertainment applications to improve the experience of users who cannot or do not want to invest extra money in a Smart TV. This type of improvement is always welcome and, with the arrival and persistence of the pandemic, public scrutiny on companies that have this product on offer has been greater than ever. That is, the “usability” of each product only tends to improve.
Evidently, there is the negative side, people who use the same devices to commit the crime of piracy. But this is much more a matter of preference (and conscience) of the user, who has the ultimate power to choose where to invest his money. For this reason, it is always good to evaluate the manufacturer that is offering you a product, and to be suspicious at all times of “too good” proposals.
In the end, the cheap turns out too expensive is your decision.
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