Licensing decides more than processing power
These devices are almost identical in hardware and quite different in what they are allowed to play. The decisive specification is invisible: DRM level. A device certified at Widevine L1 can play a service in HD or 4K; one at L3 is limited to 540p on the same service, with the same processor and the same app installed. Next comes which HDR formats are supported, since Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are separately licensed and rarely both present. Third, and specific to this catalogue: audio passthrough, because a box that decodes Atmos internally but cannot pass the bitstream will not feed an AV receiver properly. Last, the dull one that fixes most complaints — an ethernet port. We compare maximum resolution and refresh, HDR formats, DRM certification level, audio passthrough, storage and ethernet.
4K · Android TV · 2 GB RAM, 8 GB storage · DVB-T2 tuner built in · over 100 free channels stated
A streaming box with a broadcast tuner inside it — which makes it the only device here that receives free-to-air television as well as streaming it.
Best for: A German household that wants free-to-air channels and streaming from one box.
≈ 65 €
4K · Google TV · voice search remote · reference platform for service licensing
The reference platform for streaming licensing — which is the specification that actually decides picture quality on this shelf, and the one no listing publishes.
Best for: Any television or projector that needs a modern streaming source with the broadest service support.
≈ $169 / 101 €
4K · Google TV · 32 GB storage · Wi-Fi · LAN · USB ports
A Google TV box with an ethernet port and 32 GB of storage — the two specifications that fix the problems streaming sticks actually have.
Best for: A television at the far end of a house from the router, where a wired connection is available.
≈ 80 €
4K · HDR10+ AND Dolby Vision · Dolby Atmos · Wi-Fi and LAN · HDMI · illuminated remote · tied to the waipu.tv platform
The only device here that supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision — two separately licensed formats — and the only one built around a single German platform.
Best for: A German household already subscribing to waipu.tv, where the box is part of the service.
≈ 129 €
Android TV · 4K UHD · HDR · Wi-Fi and LAN · 150+ HD channels via MagentaTV · live and catch-up
An Android TV box built around MagentaTV — a national television service — which combines broadcast channels and streaming apps in one interface.
Best for: A MagentaTV subscriber who wants channels and streaming apps in one place.
≈ 155 €
