TiVo Stream 4K review
Our Verdict
TiVo Stream 4K is an affordable streaming device with high-quality video, merely it's not a compelling purchase over rivals.
For
- Speedy 4K streaming
- Supports most if not all services and apps
- Remote offers like shooting fish in a barrel access to live Telly
- Supports external storage
Against
- Constrained live Television receiver offering
- Poor recommendations
Tom's Guide Verdict
TiVo Stream 4K is an affordable streaming device with high-quality video, but it'southward not a compelling buy over rivals.
Pros
- +
Speedy 4K streaming
- +
Supports most if not all services and apps
- +
Remote offers easy access to live TV
- +
Supports external storage
Cons
- -
Constrained live TV offering
- -
Poor recommendations
TiVo Stream 4K: Specs
Size: three ten ii x 0.half-dozen inches (housing); 5.75 ten ane.75 x 0.9 inches (remote)
Number of channels: v,000+
Ports: HDMI, USB-C, Micro-USB
Max video resolution: 4K at threescore fps
Supported HDR formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Supported audio formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos
The TiVo Stream 4K has a lot going for it – a sleek design, a phonation-enabled remote, the ability to cast from your telephone and an Android Tv platform with access to thousands of apps. And it all comes with a $50 toll tag. Unfortunately, our Chromecast with Google TV review shows how that device (which came out later) makes the TiVo Stream 4K redundant.
The TiVo Stream 4K tries to stand out with its own app, which aggregates content from other channels, including Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney Plus and HBO Max. What TiVo actually wants to highlight is the integration of live Television receiver, yet it'south limited to but a few services.
- What is Google Chromecast?
Nevertheless, the Google Assistant feature works well and the interface is piece of cake to use (though the recommendations are bad). This TiVo Stream 4K review volition testify that if there weren't a brand-new $50 streaming device running Android TV on the market, the TiVo Stream 4K would exist a very attractive and unique alternative to the Roku and Burn Television set Sticks.
TiVo Stream 4K: Price and availability
The Tivo Stream 4K costs $49.99 and is available for purchase now at Tivo.com or Amazon.
TiVo Stream 4K: Design
Similar to many other streaming devices, the TiVo Stream 4K is a dongle with a "tail" that plugs directly into the HDMI port on your TV. The rectangular dongle fits into the palm of my paw. It'south lightweight and unobtrusive, and completely hid behind my tv. This is similar to the Fire Television receiver stick and Chromecast with Google TV, where your TV makes the streaming device's blueprint virtually irrelevant.
On the other end from the tail is a micro-USB port to connect the power cable. There's also a USB-C port that could connect to an external drive or Ethernet adapter, if you don't want to rely solely on Wi-Fi.
The remote (which comes with ii AAA batteries) is a pleasing peanut shape with piece of cake-to-identify buttons, including a directional pad, ability, volume, channels and Google Banana.
A few buttons make the TiVo Stream 4K remote better than its competitors (including the new Chromecast). The Guide button takes you to the Stream app live TV grid, while the Alive button plays whatever aqueduct/plan you last watched. There's besides a dedicated Netflix button (which the new Chromecast does have).
The merely negative about the remote is that the numerical keypad seems unnecessary. I didn't employ it even in one case while trying out the device.
TiVo Stream 4K: Interface
The TiVo Stream 4K interface is a tale of two sections: Android Tv set and the TiVo Stream app.
When I start set up the TiVo Stream 4K, information technology immune me to choose my streaming services, much like Fire Tv set and Roku. Then, information technology prompted me to personalize recommended content by selecting shows and movies that I like. You can skip this pace — and you should, because the choices I made hither led to some disappointing and head-scratching recommendations. For case, I liked a few true criminal offense shows, which resulted in TiVo suggesting I picket a bunch of crime drama procedurals (including the entire NCIS franchise). No, thanks!
The Android TV interface consists of a domicile screen listing your apps in a row beyond the tiptop, very similar to Fire TV's dwelling house. The outset is the TiVo Stream app, followed by the ones I selected when setting upward the device — Netflix, Sling, Prime number Video, YouTube, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Peacock and Google Play Movies & TV.
Scrolling down, the rows display featured thumbnails of various shows and movies from those corresponding apps. So, in the Netflix row, I got Umbrella Academy, Friction match and several titles for which I have zero interest. But at to the lowest degree that gave me a preview into what was available on each service; on the Fire Television set home screen, for case, you lot those content rows tout just Amazon-native content, either from Prime number Video or IMDBTV.
Selecting the TiVo Stream app (or pressing the TiVo-branded button on the remote) takes yous to a unlike homepage. At the top are rows of recommended shows and movies, based on the personalization stride I mentioned to a higher place. Equally I said, TiVo thought I'd want to watch NCIS: New Orleans, Chicago Fire or Last Man Continuing, but I really don't. The moving picture choices, Black Panther, Bill and Ted Face up the Music and Little Women (2019), fared better.
Below that, the home screen displays rows based on genres, like "This Twelvemonth's Emmy Winners," "Living Room One-act Club" and "Simply '90s Kids Will Retrieve," providing much more than interesting and relevant recommendations.
Then you get separate screens for Boob tube Shows, Movies, Sports and Kids. At that place's as well a folio for My Shows, which houses what are essentially favorites/bookmarks. When I added Outlander, the TiVo Stream app displays where I can watch it (Netflix, Starz, Prime Video, Google Play) besides as "May Also Like" suggestions. When I select i of those services, the relevant app opens to play the content; this is similar to how the Apple TV app provides content.
What the TiVo Stream app really wants to sell you on is the Guide, which pulls in alive Goggle box from Sling, Pluto and other free channels. This is really great — if you're a Sling subscriber. Unfortunately, if y'all use YouTube TV, Hulu With Live TV or Fubo TV, the TiVo Stream app won't pull them in. You tin notwithstanding employ those apps separately; they merely aren't integrated into the Guide.
Even if yous subscribe to Sling, the TiVo Stream app doesn't provide admission to all of Sling'southward features, such as recording or managing your DVR. Substantially, the Guide is simply a shortcut to watching live TV. It's still a nice-to-have, since Fire TV'southward Live department doesn't do much except feature apps similar Sling, Philo, Pluto and others.
TiVo Stream 4K: Streaming services
The TiVo Stream 4K works with just almost whatsoever streaming service you can think of. You can download the apps of Netflix, Sling, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN, HBO Max, Peacock, CBS All Access, Fubo, Philo, Starz, Peloton, Tubi, PBS, and more than.
HBO Max used to be hard to find on other platforms, but it's since landed everywhere — including Roku and Burn down TV. Peacock eventually establish itself on Roku, but is still missing from Fire TV.
TiVo Stream 4K: Functioning
The TiVo Stream 4K operated smoothly and with very few hiccups. I plugged it into a TCL Smart HDTV, running off a medium-fast domicile Wi-Fi network.
The device supports streaming up to 4K UHD (at 60 fps) and HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats. When playing shows and movies, the video resolved almost instantly to total Hd. Merely sometimes, I noticed a bit of buffering time when opening apps (particularly Sling) or after selecting a show.
Otherwise, the TiVo Stream 4K felt zippy and fast when scrolling through menus and the guide. The Chromecast with Google TV offers similarly snappy and speedy operation.
TiVo Stream 4K: Search
The Google Assistant search part returned good results quickly for entertainment-related queries. When I said "Brad Pitt," the TiVo results included the actor'due south contempo movies including Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Advertising Astra. I could click on any title and get info on where to watch it.
I could also use Google Assistant to open apps; I just said "Hulu" and it loaded upwardly.
Search also works with more general questions, but the results aren't as useful. I asked Google Assistant to show "tacos near me" and the results showed me several restaurants. However, I couldn't select whatever to meet farther info.
TiVo Stream 4K: Features
Since the TiVo Stream 4K runs on Android Boob tube, information technology has Chromecast abilities, and then you tin can cast easily from your mobile phone to your tv screen. Roku and Fire Telly are much more express in screen mirroring. The TiVo'due south virtually-twin, Chromecast With Google Television set, does have casting functionality.
TiVo Stream 4K: Verdict
The TiVo Stream 4K is a great, very affordable 4K streaming device. The Android TV platform works smoothly, the alive Tv set integration app is useful if you lot're a Sling subscriber and the Google Assistant-enabled remote is well-designed. It's as well compatible with just about every streaming service out there, including HBO Max and Peacock. And information technology's just $50.
So, what's the catch? TiVo's biggest problem is that it has a twin: The new Chromecast with Google Tv. They are essentially the aforementioned device. TiVo does come up with its own Stream app, which aggregates content from multiple channels. However, the interface didn't wow me with helpfulness and TiVo's personalization is definitely a problems, not a feature.
Just a few weeks ago, I would have said the TiVo Stream 4K is an fantabulous alternative to Roku and Fire Boob tube. But with the launch of the new Chromecast, it doesn't stand out as much.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/tivo-stream-4k
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