If you don’t like the site of blocky, black plastic set-top boxes on your TV stand, a streaming dongle is a great option. Devices like the Chromecast are super discreet and they transform any TV into a smart TV. Android TV devices have typically been of the set-top box variety, but we’re seeing more dongles on the market. The latest is the TiVo Stream 4K.
TiVo announced the Stream 4K streaming stick back at CES 2020 in January. As the name implies, this streaming stick is capable of streaming content at up to 4K UHD resolution. The device also has Dolby Vision HDR for better colors and Dolby Atmos for surround sound. The Android TV interface is controlled by the included remote, but the dongle also acts as a Chromecast.
Speaking of the remote, this is what really separates Chromecast and Android TV. The TiVo Stream 4K has a traditional Android TV interface that requires input from a remote to navigate. Along with the usual Back and Home buttons, the remote features a big Google Assistant button, Netflix button, and a TiVo button.
In terms of hardware, the dongle plugs into your TV via HDMI. The TiVo Stream 4K is powered by microUSB, but it also has a USB-C port that can be used to expand sotrage or with Ethernet adapters. Speaking of storage, it has 8GB of eMMC internal storage and 2GB of DDR4 RAM.
The company was aiming for an April launch, but that slipped slightly back to May. Starting today, the TiVo Stream 4K can be yours for just $50, which is $20 off the regular price for a limited time. There are no additional TiVo fees with a purchase. TiVo is throwing in its TiVo Plus service for free and a free 7-day trial of Sling TV as well.
Source: TiVo