Rating of the best media players for TVs 2020: how to choose

Media player for TV - what is it and what is it for

Probably everyone remembers the most popular TV set-top boxes from the recent past - the VCR. With the help of wires, it was connected to a TV, a videotape with a recording was inserted into it, and the recording was played back. Media players fulfill the same role. But its capabilities are much wider. It can be equipped with a built-in hard drive on which you can store video data, or play video content from external media - flash drives, memory cards, hard drives or from the network. The last point, in general, opens up the widest possibilities for use. You can watch videos from Youtube, online cinemas, surf the Internet using a browser. As you can see, the media player turns the TV into a real full-fledged computer with great capabilities.

Main functions and specifications of media players

Media centers for TV differ in the ability to play different types of content. Almost everyone can play audio and video files. Plus there is a small list of graphic files.

As for the operating system, there may be different versions of Android, Linux, tvOS and even Windows on board. Which one to choose is up to the end user. The presence of Wi-Fi will reduce the number of wires in the room. Although it is possible to route the cable neatly over Ethernet, the least noticeable. Support for modern video quality formats is equally important. Modern players can play 4K standard.

Which media player to choose - editorial advice

First of all, it is probably worth deciding on the type of connection of the device to the network. If you have a Wi-Fi router at home, take the wireless option. If the network is via a cable, then you can take the media player without Wi-Fi.

Fans of a clear and colorful picture are best off paying attention to the maximum resolution of the device. The highest type to date is UltraHD. It is capable of playing videos with a resolution of 3840x2160. True, here you need to take into account a couple of nuances. The first is that the video source must also be 4K, otherwise the satisfaction from the high quality of the picture may be spoiled. Second, the TV must also be able to play UltraHD.

IT IS INTERESTING!

Few people know, but the UltraHD standard includes two sub-standards: 4K with a resolution of 3840 × 2160 and 8K with a resolution of 7680 × 4320. Interestingly, there is also the so-called 5K with a resolution of 5120 × 2160.

The choice of an operating system is more a matter of getting used to a particular line. Accustomed to Android, please, there are versions with this system. Like Windows - the same thing. Well, if you are a fan of Apple products, then tvOS. In addition to the known systems, there are also different variants of Linux.

The media player must be omnivorous, that is, be able to reproduce everything that is "shoved" to him. To do this, it must be equipped with MPEG4, H.264, VC1 and others codecs. The presence of modern connectors for connection will greatly simplify the task of connecting the device and TV, as well as removable media. Therefore, the media player must be equipped with standard audio, video and HDMI connectors.

Its own memory in the form of a built-in hard drive will allow you to save content directly to the device, and then play it back as needed. Computing power in media players is determined, as in many other mobile devices, by the processor and RAM. Of course, there are also a number of other parameters, but it is better to focus on these two. The higher the performance of the system, the better. We select the RAM in the same way. Two types of cooling can be used in media players: passive and active. Active is much more effective, however, noisier. Passive - silent, but may not cope with overheating.

Overview of the main manufacturers of media players

Media players are produced by many different manufacturers. Among them, the main leading brands immediately come to mind: Apple, Nvidia, Xiaomi, Google, Pioneer, Dune, Rombica. This is just a small list, in fact there are a bunch of little-known Chinese brands out there. Sometimes you can find really decent and high-quality models among them.

Each brand applies its own characteristics, features, design. Uses its own operating system or uses an existing one. One way or another, further we will meet with several of their representatives.

Rating of the best models of media players, regardless of OS

Let's take a look at a small selection of media players across platforms and brands. Among them there are expensive and well-known models, as well as simpler and cheaper ones.

Apple TV 4K 32GB

Opens a collection of Apple's player. It is made in a laconic black style. A small box with rounded edges - nothing more. The maximum resolution that the player can reproduce is in the 4K standard. The player can play video formats MOV and MP4. All known sound and graphic are supported. The connection to the TV is via a digital HDMI 2.0 channel. You can use Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet. Alternative interfaces include Bluetooth and Ethernet. AirPlay is available to communicate with other Apple devices such as iPhone or iPad.

The performance is provided by the processor of its own production - Apple A10X Fusion. RAM in the player 3 GB, built-in - 32. All the equipment is controlled by its own development Apple - tvOS. Services iTunes, Apple Music, Netflix, Hulu, HBO are available out of the box. There is also the ability to play content such as flash. The TV player is passively cooled. You can buy this model for 13,000 rubles.

NVIDIA SHIELD

An almost omnivorous TV media player with USB from a well-known GPU manufacturer. The maximum supported resolution is in the 4K range. The list of video formats is quite wide: MKV, AVI, WMV, MOV, ASF, M2TS, MP4. The same applies to sound files - the player can read them all. The connection takes place over the now standard HDMI 2.0. There are many interfaces, you can connect anything: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2 USB, Ethernet.

The processor inside the device is installed of its own production - Nvidia Tegra X1. RAM - 3 GB. The operating system is Android 7.0. The Google Play service is available in it. The cost of the device is 13,500 rubles.

Dune HD TV-102W

A very simple but functional smart media player for TV with a large list of playable formats. Here are the main ones: MKV, AVI, WMV, ISO, VOB, MOV, MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, PCM, M4A. There is also built-in subtitle support. The maximum resolution is 1080, that is, FullHD. The set of interfaces is standard: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2 USB, Ethernet. Connecting to a TV is via HDMI.

The processor in the player is installed by Sigma Designs SMP8674. It is helped by 512 MB of RAM. There is no built-in memory, but there is Flash, which is used as ROM. The cost of the player is about 7,000 rubles.

TV iconBIT Movie FHD T2

The design of this device will be especially appreciated by minimalists. At first glance, when turned off, it seems that this is a simple lifeless box. However, if you connect it to the mains, then the blinking LEDs will blink friendly and show the current time. This set-top box is interesting in that it can reproduce not only FullHD standards, but also television standards - DVB-T, DVB-T2.

Connection to TV is possible using HDMI. Otherwise, this is an average player capable of playing a large list of formats. For reading from external media, there is a USB port that turns the set-top box into a USB player for the TV.

best media players for TV on Android

And now let's see what the market of media players with the Android operating system on board can offer us.

Xiaomi Mi Box International Version

Xiaomi is known not only for its functional smartphones, but also for its media players. This model is one of the most interesting and productive. Their characteristics are not bad - the ability to play video in 4K standard, a large set supported formats, for connection there is not only HDMI, but also stereo, audio and composite video connector. Wireless interfaces include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You can connect an external hard drive or USB flash drive using USB.

Responsible for performance is the Amlogic S905 chipset. RAM in the device is 2 GB, its own - 8. The cooling type is used passive. Such a device costs about 5,200 rubles.

Rombica Cinema 4k

A media player with a hard drive, which, however, will have to be purchased separately. Can play 4K video. The list of supported video formats is simply amazing. There are more than 20 of them. There is also built-in subtitle support. You can connect the player to the TV using classic audio and video connectors or via HDMI. Inside the device there is space for a 3.5-inch hard disk.

RAM in the device is 1 GB, built-in - 8. Cooling is active. It is a little upsetting to use the Android 4.4 operating system, which is already morally and technologically outdated, and, most likely, updates to new versions are not expected. You can buy this model for 7,000 rubles.

MINIX Neo U1

The device has 16 GB of its own memory, 2 GB of RAM. Amlogic S905 processor. The maximum video format is 4K.

Operating system - Android 5.1. In addition to standard wireless interfaces, there are HDMI, USB, Ethernet, microSD. Cooling in the device is passive. Cost - 8,500 rubles.

Google Chromecast 2015

Product from Google. Controlled using a smartphone based on Android or iOS. Can play 1080p videos.

RAM is represented by 512 MB, built-in - only 256. The cost of such a device is 3,000 rubles.

Budget media player Rombica Smart Cast v02

A very interesting media player. It is interesting primarily for its design. Structurally, it is a USB flash drive that, instead of a USB port, is connected directly to the HDMI connector.

The maximum that this media player can play is FullHD. Despite the fact that the player is very compact, it can connect to a Wi-Fi network, has AirPlay and a USB port. You can buy this small and compact player for 2,000 rubles.

How to connect a media player to a TV - general nuances

In fact, there is nothing difficult here. Any modern TV is equipped with an HDMI connector. It is standardized and has the same type on all devices. You need an HDMI cable to connect. It will be more difficult if HDMI is not on the TV. We'll have to use a composite signal.

ATTENTION!

Before buying a media player, you should make sure that the TV matches the gadget's connectors.

In general, everything is not as scary as it seems. Even if the TV and media player do not have common connectors, there are a bunch of different adapters on the market with which you can connect anything to anything. In most cases, you will need to find an RCA to HDMI cable.

How to buy a media player for TV profitably - market overview

We have collected set-top boxes for TV in one table with prices and characteristics.

Device	Features and Features	Average price, rub.
	Resolution: 4K. OS: tvOS. Outputs: HDMI. Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth, Ethernet. Processor: Apple A10X Fusion. RAM: 3 GB. Its memory: 32 GB. Supports AirPlay, IPTV, remote control, passive cooling, Siri.	14 000
	Resolution: 4K. OS: Android 7.0 Outputs: HDMI. Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB. Processor: NVIDIA Tegra X1. RAM: 3 GB. Internet radio, external power supply, voice control, remote control.	14 000
	Resolution: FullHD. Outputs: HDMI. Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, USB. AirPlay support, remote control, passive cooling.	2 220
	Resolution: FullHD. Outputs: HDMI, audio, stereo, video and composite. Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Ethernet, USB. Processor: Sigma Designs SMP8674. RAM: 512 MB. NAS server.	8 000
	Resolution: FullHD. Outputs: HDMI, audio, stereo, video, composite. Interfaces: USB. TimeShift, tuner, remote control.	2 500
	Resolution: 4K. OS: Android 6.0. Outputs: HDMI, audio, stereo, video, composite. Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, USB. Processor: Amlogic S905. RAM: 2 GB. DLNA, AirPlay, IPTV, internet radio, remote control.	6 000
	Resolution: 4K. OS: Android 4.4. Outputs: HDMI, audio, stereo, video, composite. Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, USB. RAM: 1 GB. Space for HDD, 3.5 inches, IPTV.	7 500
	Resolution: 4K. OS: Android 5.1. Outputs: HDMI, audio, stereo, video, composite. Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, USB. RAM: 2 GB. SD card slot, remote control, passive cooling.	9 000
	Resolution: FullHD. Outputs: HDMI. Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac. RAM: 512 MB. IPTV, internet radio, smartphone control.	3 500

As always, you can share your own experience of using the media player in the comments with other users.