This TiVo Stream 4K Review comes from Troy from TROYPOINT. He’s been using the Android TV Box regularly for three days and wanted to share his thoughts.

This streaming device was purchased directly from the TiVo Website. It’s important to note that this is not a sponsored post.

In this review, I will be sharing my honest opinions about the TiVo Stream 4K.

TiVo Stream 4K Review – Initial Thoughts

Before unboxing the TiVo Stream 4K, I had a few initial thoughts. I’ve been anticipating the release of the TiVo Stream 4K.

I’m eager to see a device that can challenge the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, which I believe is the most popular streaming device available now.

Its popularity likely stems from its affordable price of under $50. Plus, it offers the capability to stream 4K content.

The Fire TV Stick 4K also supports sideloading. This allows cord-cutters to install their preferred Movie & TV Show APKs.

The TiVo Stream 4K has a price tag of $49.99. This is the same price as the Fire TV Stick 4K, which is interesting.

I appreciate the inclusion of a USB C port on this unit. It seems it will enable the connection of external devices. These could include thumb drives, Ethernet adapters, keyboards, and more.

In my view, the biggest drawback of the Fire TV Stick 4K is its lack of expandable storage. Yes, there’s a workaround available. We can expand storage on a Fire TV Stick 4K using a hack. However, the process is far from perfect.

Expanding storage lets us connect an external hard drive. And then we can format that drive as internal storage. This gives us extra space for installing applications and storing app-specific data.

Both the TiVo Stream 4K and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K only offer 8GB of internal storage. This can fill up quickly. This is especially true if you enjoy playing games on these devices. Just installing a couple of games can max out the internal storage easily.

Another aspect I find appealing is the use of Android TV as the operating system. I think it’s a good choice for this new streaming device.

Currently, the NVIDIA Shield models are the most popular systems running Android TV. Perhaps this new media player can become a worthy competitor. It’s worth noting that this device doesn’t have the same processing power as the Shield.

The Shield has been a dominant force in recent years. I doubt you’ll find many Shield users expressing dissatisfaction. There are generic Android TV Boxes available that run the true Android TV operating system. However, most of them don’t allow for HD playback of Netflix and Amazon Prime.

The TiVo Stream 4K, on the other hand, does offer this capability. Yes, the Fire TV models all utilize Fire OS. While it’s based on the Android operating system, it feels more restrictive than Android TV. I personally prefer Android TV over Fire OS because of its more flexible nature.

Unboxing & Setup

The TiVo Stream 4K comes with all the essentials for a quick start. The box contains the TiVo Stream 4K itself, a power cord, and a remote control.

It also includes two triple-A batteries for the remote and a user manual.

I immediately took note of the USB C port. It looks like it will allow for connections to several things. This might include external storage, a USB hub, an Ethernet adapter, or external keyboards.

Setting up the device was quite straightforward. After turning on the device, I was prompted to pair the remote control. This process took mere seconds to complete.

Once the remote was paired, a series of screens guided me through the rest of the setup. One thing stood out during setup.

It asked about the types of movies and TV shows I enjoy. This is a unique feature. TiVo uses this information to provide better suggestions through their interface. It’s a thoughtful touch.

their TiVo Stream app. It becomes available once you have logged in.

I was prompted to sign in with both my Google and TiVo accounts during the setup process.  This wasn’t a problem because I had already created my TiVo account. I did that when I placed the order for the media player.

I started testing all of the apps once the setup process was finished.

Streaming Services & Applications

The Tivo Stream 4K Review started by testing the “verified services and apps”. It looked at services like the Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube applications.

4K playback through YouTube worked perfectly. The video streamed crisp with absolutely no lag or buffering.

Netflix and Amazon Prime also worked just like they should. They served up HD video quality.

The device has TiVo’s app called TiVo Stream. It puts all of your streaming services together in one place.

The application comes with some free live channels. This is in the TiVo+ section of the app.

TiVo says this app is, “One place for all your entertainment.”

This is a pretty neat app for people with subscriptions to several services. Think premium services like Sling, Netflix, HBO Now, Prime Membership, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and Google Play Movies & TV.

If you don’t really use those premium services, you probably won’t find yourself in the app that much. That is, unless some of the live channels look good to you.

I’ve run into some comments online. People are complaining that the device doesn’t come with a particular app.  Keep in mind that most popular applications are easy to install. You can install them right through the Google Play Store.

Here’s the question I see the most.

Is it possible to install 3rd party apps or sideload apps onto the TiVo Stream 4K?  Yes, you can.

I installed our Downloader application onto the device. I used Google Play to do it.

Then I installed a few apps to test out. I put on Cinema HD, Kodi 18.6, Xanax APK, MX Player, and TiViMate IPTV Player.

Every single app worked perfectly when I tried them out.

Here’s something I observed while I was exploring the menus and using shortcuts. I noticed how responsive the entire system is.  The TiVo Stream 4K is super snappy.

Photo Gallery

TiVo Stream 4K Remote

TiVo has crafted a truly exceptional remote control. It’s evident they put a lot of thought into it. 

The remote feels remarkably durable. Plus, it’s designed to fit snugly in your hand.

Let’s explore what each button on the remote can do. I’ve provided a handy description below.

This remote offers the convenience of controlling your television.  However, I haven’t personally had success pairing it.  TiVo really should publish some clear instructions. Users need to know how to properly sync the remote with their TVs. Currently, there’s no information available on this.

There’s a way to accomplish this using the settings menu on your TiVo Stream 4K device.

Expanding Storage & Adding Peripheral Devices Through USB C or OTG

During my testing, the USB C port exhibited compatibility issues with certain external devices.  Some devices connected intermittently, while others failed to connect altogether.  For the time being, I’d advise against relying heavily on this USB C port.  Hopefully, TiVo will address this with a firmware update in the future to enhance its reliability.

If you’re looking to connect standard USB devices, you’ll need a USB C adapter.  Luckily, I had one readily available from my Samsung phone, as it was included in the box.

I was quite thrilled to discover the inclusion of a USB C port on the TiVo Stream 4K. This opens up a world of possibilities. The port does indeed function for connecting the majority of external devices.

During my tests, I successfully connected a USB hub, Ethernet adapter, USB drive, and wireless keyboard, all without any issues.

My USB drive was promptly recognized by the system, allowing me to expand the internal storage as demonstrated in the video below.

In my attempts to expand the internal storage, I experimented with various USB flash drives.  I observed that smaller drives tended to perform better than larger ones, with some being recognized while others were not.  The system would occasionally freeze on the “Formatting USB Drive…” screen.  In other instances, it would either revert to the TiVo Stream 4K’s home screen or undergo a complete restart.

I then decided to try connecting an OTG cable to the box, and this proved to be a more stable solution compared to using the USB C port directly.  OTG cables have gained popularity among Fire TV Stick users due to their ability to facilitate the connection of external devices via a USB port.

I successfully connected a UGREEN USB 3.0 Hub Ethernet Adapter 10/100/1000 to the OTG cable, followed by a 256GB Sandisk 3.0 USB drive.  Both devices were recognized without a hitch, and I was able to expand the device’s storage capacity.

However, I encountered some inconsistencies. After trying a different configuration and then returning to the aforementioned method, it ceased to function.  This leads me to suspect a potential issue with the device’s power delivery. It’s possible that after prolonged use, it struggles to handle the additional power demands of these external connections.  Perhaps a future firmware update will resolve this issue, but for now, it remains a possibility.

Nevertheless, I managed to restore functionality by repeatedly disconnecting and reconnecting the external devices.

I want to extend my gratitude to one of our subscribers, JC, who kindly provided me with instructions on enabling external storage on this device.  Their guidance was invaluable.

For a more detailed explanation, please refer to the video below.

How to Expand Storage on TiVo Stream 4K Video

 

Download/Upload Speed Tests

For the following speed tests, I utilized the Analiti Speed Test app.

My internet service provider offers a 400 Mbps download speed plan.

During these tests, I established a connection to the 5Ghz band of my Asus AC3100 Router.  The router is situated in the same room as the TiVo Stream 4K, approximately 20 feet away.

For VPN services, I’m currently using IPVanish VPN, connected to the Chicago Server 04 (chi-a04).

While it’s feasible to connect a USB Ethernet adapter through either the USB C port or the OTG cable, I opted not to test those speeds.  This decision was made because this particular accessory isn’t included with the device itself.

TiVo Stream 4K Download/Upload Speed with VPN Off

Download Speed: 317 Mbps. This indicates a robust wireless network card, capable of achieving impressive speeds.

Upload Speed: 126 Mbps

TiVo Stream 4K Download/Upload Speed with VPN On

Download Speed: 64 Mbps. This speed is ample for streaming 4K content smoothly.

Upload Speed: 38 Mbps

Gaming

To evaluate gaming performance, I paired my NVIDIA Shield game controller with the TiVo Stream 4K. I then proceeded to test a few games that I had installed from the Google Play Store.

As anticipated, the gameplay experience was incredibly smooth. I didn’t encounter any lag whatsoever.

Google Play offers a diverse selection of excellent games available for installation. Sadly, this is an aspect often overlooked by many cord-cutters.

TiVo Stream 4K Review – A Look at the Specs

• Processor: Amlogic S905Y2
• RAM Memory: 2GB DDR4
• Internal Flash Storage: eMMC 8GB
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n/ac 2.45/5G MIMO 2T2R Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth: 4.2
• Video Decoding: H.265 HEVC [email protected] up to 10bits HDR 4K*2K@60fps, H.264 AVC [email protected] up to 10bits HDR 4K*2K@60fps, MPEG-4 ASP@L5 up to 1080P@60fps, AVS Jizhun Profile up to 1080P@60fps, MPEG-2 MP@HL up to 1080P@60fps, MPEG-1 MP@HL up to 1080P@60fps, RealVideo 8/9/10 up to 1080P@60fps, WebM up to VGA.  Also HDR; Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG, Video Codec; VP9 Profile 2(up to 4K x 2K@60fps
• Video File Format: Supports *.mkv, *.wmv,* .mpg,* .mpeg,*.dat, *.avi,* .mov,* .iso,* .mp4,* .rm,* ,jpg,* .bmp,* gif etc…
• Video Output: HDMI 2.0a, HDCP2.2
• Aspect Ratio: Auto, Full screen
• Video Resolution: 4K@60fps, 1080p/i, 720p
• Audio Decoding: MEPG, AAC, HE-ACC, OGG, OGA, FLAC, ALAC, Ape, M4A, RM, MPEG-1 layer1/2, MPEG-2 Layer II, Dolby Digital/Digital Plus.  Additionally Dolby Atmos, DTS, WMA, WMA Pro (WMV optional)
• Audio Mode: Mono/Stereo/Left/Right
• DC Input Range: 5V/1.0A
• Power Consumption: 5 W
• Interface: HDMI 2.0a, Micro USB2.0, USB-C
• Certifications: FCC, UL/ETL, HDMI, HDCP2.2, MPEG LA (MPEG2, H.264, H.265), HEAAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus.  It also has Play Ready, Google, Netflix.

The Things I Like about the TiVo Stream

• Plays 4K media files without any issues
• The interface is very responsive
• It utilizes the Android TV operating system
• Both Netflix & Amazon Prime work in HD
• The USB C port works with almost every external device I tried it with
• The OTG cable functions as expected
• It allows users to sideload apps that aren’t in the Google Play Store
• The TiVo Stream App is great for people who have premium services
• Download speeds are quick, both with and without a VPN

What I Don’t Like

• Expanding storage requires some settings changes in developer options.  It would be nice if it just worked like the NVIDIA Shield.
• You need instructions to pair the remote with the television
• The internal storage is a bit low at only 8GB
• There’s no Gigabit Ethernet port

My Overall Thoughts on the TiVo Stream 4K

I’m a big fan of the TiVo Stream 4K.  Anyone who needs more storage will appreciate that you can expand it with an external drive.

At the time of writing this, the TiVo Stream 4K is on sale for $49.99.  According to their website, that’s $20 off the normal price.  TiVo’s website also says this offer ends on 5/27/20.  If the price goes up by $20, I think most people will probably choose the Fire TV Stick 4K instead.  I don’t think the average person will feel like the benefits of the TiVo Stream 4K are worth paying an extra $20.

It’s good to see a new device like this come out.  It’s a real competitor for the Fire TV models, and it lets you sideload apps, which is great.

Right now, I’m not sure whether I’d rather have the TiVo Stream 4K or the Fire TV Stick 4K.  It’s a tough call.

If you know that you need more than 8GB of internal storage for apps and games, I would recommend getting the TiVo Stream 4K.  However, if you’re not planning on installing a lot of apps or games, then I’d say stick with the Fire TV Stick 4K.

I hope you found my review of the TiVo Stream 4K helpful.  Let me know what you think or if you have any questions in the comments.

Click Here to Learn More about the TiVo Stream 4K

I’ll update this article and the overall rating if TiVo releases any updates that add new features or improve existing ones.

4.2 out of 5 Stars