REVIEW: ZTE's Android TV Box 4K

Who has access to smart TVs often end up forgetting that there are actually still many models of televisions that do not have this technology, that is, they are TVs that even have USB or HDMI inputs, but without interactivity. online and apps from streaming.

For video game console owners, the machines end up serving as a way to put video services on their TVs. streaming, but not everyone is gamer, Is not it? In this case, there are other solutions, such as the so-called TV Box - with the ZTE, by Multi (old multilaser) recently bringing a Android TV Box 4K for the Brazilian market, that the showmetech could evaluate. Check out!

ZTE Android TV Box 4K Design and Installation

Visually, the TV Box 4K da ZTE does not deviate from the standards of this type of Android TV: it is a small, square black box, with a somewhat minimalist look — the main detail is the logo of ZTE stamped on top. When turned on, a simple LED indicates its operation, when seen from afar, the inputs USB-A on the side, as well as the connectors HDMI, AV and energy are almost imperceptible.

On the underside, small rubber and plastic pads keep the device balanced, without it wobbling or skidding on surfaces. It's honestly the standard for this type of device, especially for those that don't have a pendrive, like the famous FireStick.

Its control is quite simple, with the main keys expected from a TV Box (YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video) and with the activation button of the Google Assistant — that last one, a function that left a lot to be desired, hardly obeying me or anyone else in my house who has tested the voice control functions.

At the same time, looking on the internet, other users reported mixed results with the function, so the question remains if it wasn't implemented so well or if my family has pronunciation problems. Already the installation of ZTE 4K TV Box is extremely simple: the product comes with an HDMI cable that must be connected to it and the television, and then just turn on the source and start using the device.

Functions of ZTE 4K TV Box

The product does not hide what is its main attraction: the reproduction of 4K content — something that is still not exactly common in this category of gadgets. In the tests, the reproduction of content in this quality was great, although I confess to have noticed small stutters in the reproduction in this resolution, something that I do not observe in other products with this type of compatibility. The applications can be installed through the device itself, or through the cell phone, if paired.

The device also supports sound surround, Dolby Digital and DigitalPlus, to further enhance the 4K experience. Honestly, using it on a TV compatible with all these functions, the listening experience is incredible, but I have some questions since, doing a quick search, it is much more common to find smart TVs with these sonic capabilities than regular TVs — making the device somewhat redundant.

Finally, the main feature of the device: it is a Android TV, that is, it works, with the applications of Android made available on Play Store. Here it is important to ask a question: the programs that can be installed on it are optimized for TVs, so don't go thinking that you'll have access to simple mobile apps on it, after all, even though the system is the same, the purpose is different.

The interface of Android TV It's also a little confusing, to be honest. I am a user most of the time of a Smart TV LG, in which the system, the famous webOS, is intuitive and simple — while in the Android for large screens, the situation simply becomes a sensory overdose of images, even if the main programs — those of streaming — are in a more organized layout and at the top of the user's view.

But after all, who is this product for?

costing about R$600, honestly throughout the evaluation of the product I had a question in my head: who is your target audience? See, simple TVs, especially in 2022, by not having access to YouTube e streams become, in fact, products that need external devices — but it is almost impossible to find such a device on the market with 4K compatibility, making the product redundant in this scenario and the use of a Fire Stick much more attractive.

Now, there is another aspect not much discussed: the fact that some smart TVs has lousy operating systems, and that using a Android TV like the one ZTE can help a lot — whether in speed or even app compatibility. In this case, the product stands out, but the price range can still alienate many people, after all, regardless of the quality of the system, smart TVs aren't exactly cheap, and spending another R$600 isn't frivolous in 2022.

In this situation, then, the ZTE 4K TV Box is much more of an improvement for smart TVs that don't deliver, right out of the box, the expected user experience than a simpler solution to connect televisions. The price can be a little steep and the performance a little complicated at times, but it is undeniable that it manages to bring an effective and functional experience to its users.

Interested? You can find the Android TV Box 4K by ZTE na Amazon for R $ 529.

Technical Specifications

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