What most of us want from an Android TV Box is something intuitive to use that will play our content at the best quality possible without a lot of friction and pausing and which doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The Transpeed Android 10.0 TV Box has been built with exactly this aim in mind.
One of the most affordable Android TV Boxes on the market at the moment at well under $70; it has the best specs you are likely to see under $100. Updated for 2020, it runs off the latest Android operating system, Android 10.0, which means the smoothest and most intuitive watching experience. With a high-spec quad-core and CPU, it can deliver 4K with ease.
The Transpeed might not do as much as some of the premium boxes, but for the price-tag, it has a lot of power and offers great value.
But let’s dig into the details. Here is everything you need to know about the Transpeed Android 10.0 TV Box.
Our Rating
We are scoring the Transpeed Android 10.0 TV Box four out of five stars.
Balancing the specs vs the value for money, it is easy to recommend this box. You get the latest operating system running on powerful hardware that can deliver 4K. The power combined with the mini-keyboard remote also means it is better for other online activities than some devices.
But there are a few key things missing. First and foremost, while this box has the specs to deliver 4K, it will only unlock the likes of Netflix and Prime Video in HD. This is a licensing issue common among boxes that aren’t from the big name brands. So, while it is frustrating, we don’t blame Transpeed for this problem, but rather the market itself.
The second issue is there is no voice control with the remote control and it does not integrate with smart systems such as Google or Alexa. This won’t both some people, but will completely rule out the Transpeed for others. It just depends on you.
Specifications
So, I keep saying that this is a high-spec machine for the price-tag, so let’s take a look at the actual specs.
- RK3318 Quad-Core 64bit Cortex-A53 and Mali 450MP2 GPU – which means this box is just as powerful as options that come with a premium price-tag.
- Android 10.0 operating system – for the best compatibility with all the latest apps and programs.
- 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM – which means lots of operating power and plentiful storage for all your own content. You can expand storage by up to another 2 TB using MicroSD or a mechanical hard disk via USB.
- USB 2.0 and 3.0 – so you can connect traditional devices such as headphones or do high-speed transfers via USB 3.0.
- HEVC H.265 and VP9 – this fast decoding saves 50%on bandwidth, which is what unlocks hi-resolution streaming.
- 4K Resolution – and it is compatible with the Widevine certification, so you should be able to stream Netflix and Prime Video in HD, but you aren’t authorized to get their content in full 4K.
- 2.4 GHz/5 Ghz WiFi and GB Ethernet Connection – for the fastest and most stable connection to your home network.
- Bluetooth 4.0 – giving you more options for connecting headphones, keyboards, game controllers, and more.
- Wireless Remote and Mini-Keyboard – as well as a pretty basic standard remote, you get a mini-keyboard, which makes going online much easier than for many TV boxes.
Review
Considering how affordable this TV Box is, we are certainly impressed, but there are a few things missing that you could certainly get if you were willing to pay more for a premium box.
But power is not one of those things. The quad-core and CPU are both top of the range, with only a few of the much more expensive boxes offering greater horsepower. This, combined with HEVC H.265, which cuts down the bandwidth needed for decoding by about 50%, means this box can deliver 4K with ease. It doesn’t deliver the 6K and 8K that some boxes are promising, but considering how little context there is out there, that is a higher resolution than 4K and not something that we are too worried about at the moment.
It uses the latest Android 10.0 operating system. Not all boxes have chosen to do this, with some sticking to the Android 9.0 operating system created specifically for Android TV. Which OS you prefer is down to preference.
I like 10.0 for this system, as it makes doing some of the non-streaming things you might want to do on your TV easier. This includes online browsing and gaming.
Transpeed has considered this and made it easier by further including a mini-keyboard remote control in the package. Anyone who has tried Googling with one of those streamlined Smart TV remotes will know just what a good thing this is.
However, this does not mean I forgive Transpeed for the poor quality of the standard remote that also comes with the box. It doesn’t even come with batteries included. That might not seem like a big deal, but it reflects the low priority and low quality of this remote.
It’s not attractive, doesn’t do anything special, and doesn’t include voice control, which will be very off-putting for some users.
As an extension of this problem, this TV box is not compatible with smart home systems such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. While this won’t bother a lot of users, anyone who has gotten used to working with their TV box in this way will find this very frustrating.
It feels like an oversight and is probably the main thing that differentiates the Transpeed from premium TV boxes.
The other thing most people will not like about the Transpeed is that it will not let you stream Netflix and Prime Video in 4K, only 1080p HD.
I don’t blame Transpeed for this. The box is certainly up to the job, but the streaming services are blocking devices that aren’t from the big, name-brands from delivering their 4K content. So, I see this as a market problem rather than a problem with the box.
But regardless, if you are looking to access these streaming services in full 4K, the Transpeed won’t deliver this for you. This could be the main feature your decision about this box hinges on.
Comparison
Whether the Transpeed Android 10.0 TV Box is right for you depends on whether there is something else out there that better suits your needs, so let’s compare it to the competition. We will have a look at two of the premium boxes, the Skystream Pro 8K and the NVIDIA Shield, and two similarly priced options, the Pendoo T95 and the Amazon Fire Stick 4K.
Transpeed Vs The SkyStream Pro 8K
The SkyStream Pro 8K is quite a bit more expensive than the Transpeed, costing $125, which is almost double the price. What do you get for the extra dollars? Well, something that can deliver 8K content for one thing. This is going to be a deciding factor for many of the tech-heads out there. But for most streamers, this shouldn’t be a priority for the simple fact that there just isn’t that much 8K content out there to stream.
While the SkyStream definitely has a better remote control and can integrate with either Google Voice or Amazon Alexa, it’s core problem is the same. It is not currently authorized to deliver content from a lot of the streaming services in 4K.
So, while those looking for 8K should check out our detailed review of the SkyStream Pro 8K, if you aren’t, it is probably not worth the investment over and above the Transpeed.
Transpeed Vs The NVIDIA Shield
The NVIDIA Shield is probably the most powerful TV box on the market and also one of the most expensive, so a comparison between these two might not really be fair. The NVIDIA Shield features a fantastic Tegra X1+ core, but you do need to pay around $200 for the privilege.
But you won’t have any of the problems you see with the Transpeed. The remote is fantastic, voice control excellent, and it integrates with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It will also allow you to stream from your favorite premium streaming services in full 4K, which is what a lot of streamers are really looking for.
So, yes, the NVIDIA Shield is a lot better than the Transpeed, but also costs at least three times as much.
Transpeed Vs The Pendoo T95
The Transpeed and the Pendoo T95 are very much on a par in terms of price and specs. They both cost about the same, and have very similar hardware that delivers a very similar experience. They also have the same problems in terms of not unlocking premium streaming services in 4K and not integrating with smart home systems.
The main things that differentiate the two are that the Transpeed comes with the superior mini-keyboard and it also has more storage, both built-in and expandable. This gives the Transpeed the edge as it is easier to use with the mini-keyboard and is better if you want to use the machine as a media hub.
The Pendoo does deliver 6K, which the Transpeed doesn’t, but again, there is not so much 6K content out there.
Transpeed Vs The Amazon Fire Stick 4K
The Amazon Fire Stick 4K is only a little bit more expensive than the Transpeed and has two important features that the Transpeed lacks.
Obviously, the Fire Stick integrates perfectly with an Alexa home setup, and it also comes with the very good Alexa remote included.
Secondly, you are authorized to stream 4K content from Prime Video, Netflix, and other services with the Fire Stick. If this is something that matters to you, the Fire Stick is probably the most affordable streaming device that does this.
The problem with the Fire Stick is that it runs Fire TV, a locked-down version of Android. You are blocked from downloading certain things from the Play Store, and you are constantly pushed towards Amazon products. There are certainly workarounds with this that allow you to customize your stick the way that you want it, but this is the main reason most people steer away from these Amazon Fire products.
Where To Buy
If you are considering the Transpeed Android 10.0 TV Box, it is available from Amazon. Transpeed hasn’t yet established itself as a big name in the TV box market yet, so you might understandably feel less confident buying this box online than some other brands.
But the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and whatever they release next will probably get a bit more attention thanks to the quality of this current box.
The Verdict
The Transpeed Android 10.0 TV Box is a great choice for anyone looking for powerful, up-to-the-minute tech but at an affordable price tag. That is why we give it four out of five stars in our review.
But there are definitely some things missing with this box, which means it will not be a good choice for everyone.
Principally, it is not authorized to deliver Netflix and Prime Video content in 4K, only 1080p HD. This is a common problem with Android TV Boxes due to the market, which shouldn’t be held against the brands, but that doesn’t change that the box won’t currently do this for you.
The second major issue is there is no voice remote, and third, it does not integrate with smart home systems such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. This won’t matter to some, but for others, it will mean that it simply won’t integrate with the rest of your home entertainment system.
Have you used the Transpeed Android 10.0 TV Box? What do you think of it? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below or via our social media.
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