The Best IPTV Boxes

These days, fewer people are signing up for cable television. With so many incredible movies and shows to choose from online, it can be difficult to justify spending extra cash on traditional television outlets. Plus, standard broadcast stations only allow you to watch your favorite shows or movies when they broadcast them unless you pay even more for a DVR. In our modern age, there’s no shortage of online streaming services to pick from, whether you’re a diehard Netflix fan or a new Disney Plus subscriber.

Of course, there is one extra way to watch television. IPTV—which stands for Internet Protocol Television—stands to be the solution to this problem. This technology allows you to access live TV on demand using the internet. You don’t have to worry about a limited selection or missing out on your favorite content because you were at work or an important engagement. Many options you will see on our list can also be called streaming devices, which can turn your ordinary TV into a smart TV. They often come with app stores that let you download various streaming apps available. Here are some of the best IPTV boxes you can pick up in 2022.

There’s a reason the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max has tons of positive reviews from customers on Amazon. Due to its quality, power, selection, versatility, and affordable price tag, Amazon’s streaming stick takes the top prize in this roundup. From the start, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max’s design and size are outstanding, packing a ton of power into a small USB-like box. The physical components revolve around the small “stick” itself, which is plugged into your TV, and an Alexa voice remote, which lets you control your Fire Stick with both your voice and the usual buttons included on most remotes. The box also contains a power adaptor, two AAA batteries, a USB cable, and an HDMI extender. All you have to do is plug the stick into your TV and a power outlet, connect to the internet and enjoy.

With over 15,000 skills, games, and apps, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO NOW, YouTube, Amazon Video, NBC, WatchESPN, Disney Plus, and much more, you’ll have a wealth of entertainment at your fingertips. While many of these services still keep standard subscriptions, services like IMDB TV and Pluto TV offer free, ad-supported content to keep you entertained for hours without a subscription.

In the tech world, we’re always cautious regarding voice control and activation features; however, the included Alexa Voice remote works flawlessly. All you have to do is say your favorite show out loud, and boom—it’s on your screen, ready to roll. The remote has all the necessary buttons you may need and preset app buttons for top streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video. If you’re already an Amazon Prime member, you’ll have access to Prime Video, featuring thousands of movies and TV episodes at no additional cost. And since the device is running a modified version of Android, you can actually install plenty of content right to your device just by using the in-app installer. Kodi, for example, is one of the most popular ways to install third-party software on your device, making it easy to add outside sources of entertainment.

You might know of cheaper versions like the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick 4K, but the latest 4K Max variant promises high-performance 4K streaming and Wi-Fi 6 support, which weren’t available in its predecessors. Amazon says the 4K Max is their most powerful 4K Streaming Stick so far. You can rest assured that you will have a terrific cinematic experience at home with this device because it supports Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos. It features the same 8 GB storage its cheaper rivals have, but its RAM is now at 2 GB, like the Fire TV Cube. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max also has a new Live View Picture-in-Picture feature, which allows you to view the live feed of your front door camera on top of whatever content you’re watching. With such a powerful device, you don’t even need to spend over $1,000 on a fancy TV just to access online streaming programs.

Pros

• Affordable
• Alexa support built into the remote
• High-performance 4K streaming
• Wi-Fi 6 support
• 4K Ultra HD resolution
• Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos support
• Live View Picture-in-Picture
• Improved RAM

Cons

• No access to Google Chromecast or Apple AirPlay
• Lots of ads
• Search capabilities and homescreen previews could be improved

Specification

• Price $34.99
• Processor Quad-core 1.8GHz MT8696
• GPU IMG GE9215, 750MHz
• Storage 8 GB
• Output Resolution 2160p, 1080p and 720p up to 60 fps

The Amazon Fire TV Cube is among the premium streaming devices offered by Amazon. Indeed, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max claimed our coveted number one spot on this list of IPTV units, but the reason why its slightly more expensive cousin is at #2 instead of #1 is twofold: first, we don’t think the added cost is justified for the average consumer, and second, there’s just a little too much bulk in the standard Amazon Fire TV Cube unit relative to the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. As with everything tech, however, this all comes down to personal preference.

This box supports 4K Ultra HD for true-to-life picture quality, and you can watch high-definition content on Amazon Video, Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and more, even without a 4K TV. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Atmos. It also includes 75% more processing power than the previous generation Amazon Fire TV, a dedicated graphics engine, better Wi-Fi support, 2 GB of memory, 8 GB of storage, and expandable storage of up to 200 GB via USB drive. Since Amazon makes the device, it’s no surprise that it comes with Alexa built-in. It has a 40mm speaker that allows you to access Alexa even when you’re TV isn’t turned on. Customers get a one-year limited warranty, a voice-enabled remote, two AAA batteries, a power adaptor, an Amazon Ethernet adaptor, and an Amazon IR Extender cable. The Amazon Fire TV cube would cost you $119.99, but you can get a 50% discount if you have an Amazon Prime account.

Pros

• 4K UHD support
• Expandable storage via USB
• Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Atmos support
• Alexa built-in
• Comes with a voice-enabled remote

Cons

• Pricey
• Takes up more room
• Too much Amazon content on its home screen
• Need to purchase an HDMI cable separately

Specification

• Price $119.99
• Processor Hexa-core (Quad-core at up to 2.2GHz + Dual-core at up to 1.9GHz)
• GPU ARM Mali G52-MP2 (3EE), 800MHz
• Storage 16 GB
• Output Resolution 2160p, 1080p and 720p up to 60 fps
• RAM 2 GB

The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro might be the right option for those with no budget limitations and who want a streaming device packed with premium features. It runs on an Android TV system, so you will have the Google Play Store for downloading all your favorite apps. It has 16 GB of storage, 3 GB of RAM, and the Plex Media Server. Its NVIDIA Tegra X1+ processor made it faster than its predecessor, and it does a fantastic job in upscaling standard HD content to 4K using AI. The device supports crisp 4K HDR streaming, and its Dolby Vision HDR capabilities ensure that you will feel like you’re in your very own private cinema. Aside from the visuals, you will also be impressed by its audio performance because it supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus.

Users can navigate through the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro using their voice because it has Google Assistant integrated into its system. You also have the option to use an Alexa, Amazon Echo, or Google Home device to control it. A feature you’ll find beneficial is Chromecast because you can effortlessly cast content from your mobile devices. This device isn’t only ideal for those who love watching TV programs and films because it has unique features for gamers as well. It can turn into a gaming rig thanks to its GeForce NOW Cloud Gaming capabilities. You can find free-to-play games, but getting a paid membership allows you to access 4K HDR GeForce RTX 3080 gaming servers.

Pros

• Powerful processor
• Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Digital Plus support
• Android TV system
• Google Assistant and Chromecast built-in
• GeForce NOW Cloud Gaming

Cons

• Expensive
• Interface could be better
• Storage isn't expandable

Specification

• Price $199.99
• Processor NVIDIA Tegra X1+
• GPU 256-Core
• Storage 16GB
• Output Resolution 3840 x 2160p at 60 fps
• RAM 3 GB

You can turn any HDTV into a live TV and streaming powerhouse by buying the Google Chromecast with Google TV. This device lets your stream your favorite shows and movies in 4K HDR, and you’ll love how it has Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+ support. Users can easily download their favorite apps from the Google Play Store, and what’s unique about it is that it can display content from various apps on your home screen. It can give you recommendations on what to watch depending on your viewing habits and subscriptions. The Google Chromecast has a minimalist design, and it comes with a remote that matches its aesthetic. Its remote is voice-enabled, so you can instantly access Google Assistant with a press of a button.

Users can create custom profiles for their kids so you know that you have appropriate parental controls in place when your children are watching TV. You can cast content from your phones or tablets onto your TV using this device since it has Chromecast built-in. You might’ve assumed that setting it up could get complicated, but it’s actually pretty simple. All you need to do is plug it into an outlet and the HDMI port of your TV, add batteries to the remote, and download the Google Home app on your phone for a quick setup. The device isn’t entirely perfect yet because its system still has bugs here and there, but for its price, you are guaranteed an enjoyable viewing experience in the comfort of your own home.

Pros

• Minimalist design
• Google TV system
• Google Assistant and Chromecast
• Voice-enabled remote
• 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+ support

Cons

• Still gets buggy at times

Specification

• Price $39.98
• Processor N/A
• GPU N/A
• Storage N/A
• Output Resolution Up to 1080p HDR, 60 FPS

For those who don’t need the most power and advanced IPTV box on the market and would prefer a highly affordable one, you can opt for the Roku Express 4K+. This streaming device usually costs around $39.99, but you can get it at a discounted price of $29.99 in 2022. It supports 4K HDR picture quality, and you can expect it to have excellent wireless performance because it supports dual-band wireless. The Roku Express 4K+ lets you download various apps that can offer you the show or movie you want to watch. You don’t need to have a smart TV for the device to work since it will work on any TV with an HDMI port.

Like most of its rivals, it comes with a voice-enabled remote, but you can also access its voice control capabilities using the Roku app. The device can even be controlled by Google Assistant/Alexa-enabled devices or the Apple Home app/Siri on iOS devices. We know many people like watching their content with their audio on full blast, but on occasions wherein you don’t want to disturb people, you can connect your headphones to your phone and enjoy private listening using the Roku app. The setup process for the Roku Express 4K+ is quick and easy because you just plug it, connect to Wi-Fi, and begin streaming.

Pros

• Affordable
• User-friendly interface
• 4K HDR streaming

Cons

• Roku Voice assistant could be better
• Lacks Dolby Vission support
• Wireless range is limited

Specification

• Price $29.99
• Processor ARM Cortex A55
• GPU OpenGL ES 2.0
• Storage N/A
• Output Resolution 3840 x 2160p at 60 fps
• RAM 1 GB