Unlocking Smart Entertainment: A Comprehensive Look at the Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick Under Rs. 5,000

The Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick supports HDMI CEC, which performed effectively during my usage with a Hisense Android TV. Although I could use the Hisense remote to control many functions of the Realme TV Stick, pressing the home key returned me to the TV’s home screen instead of the Realme interface, which complicated navigation without the Realme remote.

The Google TV interface is quite distinct from the standard Android TV UI, though both are built on the Android TV operating system

Built into the Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick is Google Chromecast and Google Assistant functionality. The voice assistant provided comprehensive support for gathering personalized information, retrieving specific content from apps on the device, and more. The microphone in the remote effectively recognized voice commands.

Software and Performance of the Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick

The primary selling point of the Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick is its software; this is purportedly the first streaming device in India featuring the Google TV interface, which debuted with the Chromecast with Google TV, as the Chromecast itself is not officially available in India. The interface is built on Android TV, with the Realme TV Stick running Android version 11 and grants access to the Google Play Store for Android TV, allowing users to install any of over 5,000 applications optimized for larger screens.

The device comes preloaded with numerous popular applications, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, YouTube, and various Indian streaming services like MX Player, Alt Balaji, Zee5, Sun Nxt, and Sony Liv. Notably, most of these applications can be uninstalled if they are not required. The hotkeys on the remote launch the apps on the interface as intended. The applications function exactly as they do on Android TV devices; Google TV merely alters the appearance of the interface and affects how you access apps and content.

Google TV differs significantly from the default Android TV interface by emphasizing content and offering curated recommendations to quickly assist you in choosing something to watch. Of course, if you already know what you want, you can still enter specific apps directly. This is somewhat similar to Xiaomi’s PatchWall interface, although its curation tends to be less tailored to the Indian audience and more broad in nature.

The user interface features prominent banners for content, curated lists for various categories, options to add specific movies and shows to your ‘Watchlist’, and straightforward instructions for accessing watchlisted material. While it often suggests free streaming options, there are instances where it may direct you to Google Play Movies to rent or purchase titles. You can even pause and resume viewing content from various applications right through the Google TV interface.

The Google TV interface prioritizes content and curated recommendations, yet you can easily navigate to your selected app

A crucial feature of Google TV is its synergy with different streaming services, as it identifies which ones are installed and recommends content accordingly. I received suggestions from Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Apple TV, and MX Player. Surprisingly, Netflix wasn’t included in this integration, resulting in a lack of curated recommendations for Netflix content. You can still access Netflix directly and watch anything you wish, but the absence of this integration in India is somewhat disappointing.

Beyond the user interface, the settings and additional menus also have a different visual style. Nevertheless, the operating system retains its core identity as Android TV, functioning just as it should, with the Google Play Store appearing almost identical to how it looks on devices running the stock Android TV.

The device itself proved to be responsive and operated as expected; while it wasn’t particularly fast or fluid, it certainly wasn’t sluggish or troublesome. However, I did encounter some issues with HDR streaming; for instance, I was unable to play HDR content at Ultra-HD at 60Hz on two different TVs where I tested the Realme TV Stick. Switching the frame rate to 30Hz at Ultra-HD resolved this issue, but it is undoubtedly a flaw that Realme should address with a software update.

Additionally, it’s important to mention that my review unit unexpectedly began malfunctioning shortly after I finished the testing phase, just before this review’s publication; the user interface failed to load or permit access to the Settings menu, even after trying the device on three different TVs. Fortunately, I could finalize this review using a second unit provided by Realme, but the root cause of the issue with the initial unit is still unclear.

Conclusion

The Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick is distinctive as it grants access to the Google TV interface, which still remains quite rare. However, in most other aspects, it is an average streaming device, even considering its price. While it offers convenience, Ultra-HD streaming, and support for HDR10+, the absence of Dolby Vision is a notable drawback. Additionally, the lack of Netflix integration for recommendations within Google TV in India is something to take note of, although this is not directly a fault of the Realme TV Stick itself.

This device is a viable alternative to the Mi Box 4K, which offers comparable features, provided the more compact design of the Realme device appeals to you. However, if you can increase your budget slightly, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K remains our favorite in this category, thanks to its support for Dolby Vision, and you may also want to check out the newer Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

Price: Rs. 3,499

Pros:

• Android TV 11 with Google TV interface
• Compact design
• Affordable Ultra-HD and HDR streaming

Cons:

• No Dolby Vision support
• Some software bugs

Ratings (out of 10):

Design and specifications: 8
Features: 8
Value for money: 8
Overall: 8