The Blaupunkt BATV10 adds Android TV 10 to any TV – be it a dumb or a smart one running another operating system.
The Android TV OS advantage is that you get Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and Google Play channels (subscriptions required) as well as access to the hundreds of Android TV apps like Disney+, Stan, Foxtel, Kayo, Binge and digital TV catch up (7+, 9 Now, 10 Play, SBS, iView) and much more.
Unlike many orphaned and generic TV operating systems, you will find the apps you need on Google Play TV Store.
Review: Blaupunkt BATV10 Android TV dongle
- Website (no company site yet – Bing Lee is here)
- Price: $99
- From: Bing Lee, JB Hi-Fi and other CE retailers
- Warranty: 12 months ACL
- Ease of setup: Simple if you have an Android smartphone – longer if you don’t.
- Country of Manufacture: China
- Blaupunkt was a German audio equipment maker from 1933 to 2015. It is now a managed brand used on various electronic products.
What is it?
It is a dongle. Plug the HDMI 2.0 into your TV, power it up via the micro-USB cable (5V/1A and separate charger supplied) and up comes Android TV. Sign in via a Google Android Smartphone, and you are go.
There is a dearth of specs (or a website). We have run all the analytics to tell you what is inside and what it does. The device is white labelled from SEI Robotics SEI400, and much of this information applies to this version, so E&OE.
SEI also white labels it for Ayonz EKO KATV10, Motorola 4K, Polaroid SmartBox S, Android TV, Dish TV Smart VU, TIVO Steam 4K, as well as the heart of products from Benq, Dynalink, Epson, Google, Polaroid, Philips Neo/Pico Pix projectors and more. It is in good company.
Main Features – Blaupunkt BATV10
- Android TV OS 10 – there will be no OS upgrades, but it should receive security updates – last update 5 December 2020
- 4K@60FPS capable and will adjust to whatever lower resolution or frame rate TV or PC monitor you attach it to
- Dolby Vision decoder and depending on the TV will display it and subsets including HDR10 and HLG
- Dolby Audio decodes up to 5.1 (not Dolby Atmos)
- Google Assistant, Google TV, Chromecast, Netflix and Prime video certified
- Wi-Fi 5 AC dual-band 2×2 Tx/Rx capable of up to 866Mbps half-duplex (4K streaming capable)
- Bluetooth 5 (can connect external speakers, keyboard and mouse if you need to via the BT Scanner app in the Play Store)
- Amlogic S905Y2 A53 Cortex processor 1.8Ghz (running in 32-bit mode)
- ARM Mali-G31 MP2 600MHz
- 2GB RAM and 8GB eMMC flash (3.5GB free)
- Remote control (IR and BT)
Amlogic S905Y2 capabilities
It will decode video up to 4K@75Hz, H.264/5, VP9, and AVS2 4K@30fps (China). It will output (depending on the TV) up to 4K@60fps in Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. If you have a 1080p TV, then it will output up to 1080p@60Hz in standard dynamic range. To be clear, whatever it receives, it will convert it to your TV panels capabilities.
Audio – It will decode Dolby Digital up to 5.1 channels or PCM mono or 2.0. It outputs 2.0 PCM stereo (Left and Right). As far as we know, it does not support Dolby Atmos or DTS.
Using Android TV
Android TV is one of the easiest TV OS with its intuitive horizontal ribbon menus. Over time it can (if you wish) learn your TV likes and present recommendations.
It has the major streaming apps out of the box, but you can download many more from Google Play. The physical limit is storage space.
One of the nice things about Android OS is that you can get digital versions of Free-to-air TV channels, so if you have lousy antenna reception but lots of NBN data, you can watch TV this way. It also has Spotify and various streaming services. Have a look at the Google Play store categories – there are heaps.
The remote has a Home Button as well as a Google Assistant Button. A thumbwheel is for navigation.
GadgetGuy’s take
Blaupunkt BATV10 adds Android TV to any TV or monitor
There are many Android TV dongles like Google TV and set-top-boxes (STB) so remember that a dongle is entry-level. STB range from low cost to the outstanding $350 Nvidia Shield TV that does have full Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, Ethernet, as well as 4K upscale (if you have a suitable TV).
The ideal buyer will have a dumb TV and want to access Netflix and other streaming services.
The post Blaupunkt BATV10 – smarten up your dumb TV (review) appeared first on GadgetGuy.
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