The variety of these devices on the market makes the consumer think about which characteristics of SMART TV set-top boxes are still worth stopping at. Let's consider what you need to pay attention to before purchasing the selected model:

1.Processor

MainlySMART TV set-top boxesare used to work with the Internet and various applications. For higher performance and operating speed, first of all, give preference to multi-core processors. The higher the processor frequency and the more cores, the faster the SMART TV BOX works. To watch video in FULL HD 720p quality, 2 cores (Dual-core processor) with a frequency of 1.6 GHz are sufficient, for FULL HD 1080p quality, 4 cores (Quad Core processor) with the same frequency are sufficient.

2. How to connect to a TV

To ensure excellent picture quality and sound signal transmission, use the HDMI port. If your TV does not have this connector, you can connect using the VGA and AV ports. Also, don't forget that there are many converters and adapters available now.

3. Form factor

Usually, SMART TV set-top boxes come in the form of a flash drive or a box. The operating principle is the same for both. Box-set-top boxes are larger, but have more connectors. Flash drives overheat much faster.

4. Internet connection type

All SMART TV set-top boxes have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter, which is usually not very powerful. If you already use wireless Internet at home, place the router as close to the TV as possible. If you use a standard RJ45 Internet cable, then buy a set-top box with a built-in Ethernet port. This will significantly simplify the connection. If it turns out that the set-top box does not have an Ethernet port, you can use a special LAN-USB adapter. It is connected to the set-top box via USB, and the RJ45 cable is connected to the adapter.

5. Reading formats

The Smart TV set-top box can read files of a wide variety of formats. Before purchasing, make sure the set-top box you choose can handle MP4, WMV, MKV, WMA, and DivX formats. A card reader allows you to use memory cards, and an external hard drive can be connected to the set-top box via USB, so the issue of internal memory is not critical. There are models with built-in memory of 4 GB, 8 GB, and more. But this is not the most important parameter. Pay attention to models with 1-2 GB of DDR3 RAM, no less.

6. Powering the set-top box

Most models use a standard 220V power supply. However, some devices are powered by the USB port on the TV. Be sure to check with the seller to avoid power supply issues.

Have a great choice and happy shopping!