During the past several years, a significant number of individuals in India have switched from watching traditional satellite or cable television to watching over-the-top (OTT) videos. In order to address the OTT vacuum in the market, many Direct-to-Home (DTH) service providers, such as Airtel Digital TV and Tata Sky, launched their own specialised Android-powered Smart TV Boxes.

On-the-go consumption of both over-the-top (OTT) and conventional satellite TV programming is possible with these Smart TV devices from DTH service providers. At the same time, digital behemoths such as Xiaomi and Amazon launched specialised devices to assist consumers in streaming video from over-the-top (OTT) platforms straight onto their televisions.

What Are The Benefits Of Purchasing A Streaming Device?

The most compelling reason to purchase a streaming device is to watch the vast amount of material on a large screen that is now available on streaming services. Many excellent television shows and movies are available to be watched on traditional cable or DTH television. However, some of the best new television shows are being released by streaming services that also serve as production houses.

Aside from that, popular programmes such as Game of Thrones may be seen on streaming platforms first, even before they are shown on television. As well as those mentioned above, there are many more popular programmes and movies that are accessible to watch on-demand via streaming services, allowing viewers the flexibility of choosing when to watch anything they want.

Furthermore, you may stop when you need a break or watch a whole series in one sitting rather than having to wait to see an episode each week. Anyone who has a hectic and unpredictable lifestyle can benefit from the concept of streaming.

Amazon just introduced the Fire TV Cube in India, marking the company’s first international launch. The Fire TV Cube is quite similar to the Apple TV 4K, which was only released a few days ago. On the other hand, the Fire TV Cube is much more costly than any Android Set-Top Box (STB) provided by Airtel Digital TV or Tata Sky, respectively. There is vast discussion over the amazon fire tv cube vs Airtel Xstream nowadays.

Amazon Fire TV Cube

The Amazon Fire TV Cube, as the name implies, is shaped similarly to a cube in appearance. So, let’s gather some more Amazon fire cube details. This device might be as tall as two Echo Dot smart speakers stacked one on top of the other, but it would have straighter lines and sharper edges rather than the curved shapes that Echo speakers have traditionally featured. The device’s edges are entirely glossy black, but the top panel, which contains the Alexa action key, mute button, and volume controls, is matte black.

No matter where you put the Amazon Fire TV Cube below the television or on a shelf below it—the Alexa notification LED, which is a strip along the front top spine, is plain to view.

It has an HDMI connector on the rear and a power port, an infrared port, and a micro-USB port. Amazon includes an ethernet adapter with the Fire TV Cube, which connects to the device through the USB connection. IR extenders are also available, which may be useful for controlling equipment if you have anything concealed in a cabinet, such as a set-top box (STB).

Airtel Xstream Box

The Airtel XStream Box is a respectable gadget that can be used to make your ordinary TV smarter. It features a well-designed UI, excellent hardware, and access to a broad range of over-the-top (OTT) content.

Aside from the major streaming providers, the Airtel XStream box connection has a wealth of great material, and the majority of the people are impressed by the wide selection of movies and television programmes available. If you want to check out the XStream service as well as Netflix and other services on a single device, it’s well worth your time to do so.

Comparison Between Amazon Fire TV Cube And Airtel Xstream Box

Let’s see whether the Amazon Fire TV Cube is worth its extra price and if it’s a better choice than the Android set-top box that Airtel is currently offering.

Price Comparison

The Airtel Xstream Box costs a low price of Rs 2,499 through the company’s official website or from any of their retail locations. The Android STB may be obtained at an even lower refundable fee of Rs 1,500 for those who have an Airtel Xstream Fiber connection. In India, the Amazon Fire TV Cube cost is Rs 12,999 and can be ordered via Amazon.in.

Content Comparison

Users will be able to watch both over-the-top (OTT) and satellite TV programming at the same time using the Airtel Xstream Box. Switching from over-the-top (OTT) to satellite television, or vice versa is as simple as pressing a few buttons. It is possible to recharge using DTH packages provided by the business and simultaneously watch video material from third-party OTT sites.

Users of the Amazon Fire TV Cube, on the other hand, may watch both over-the-top (OTT) and satellite television, although at a very high cost. Users would still need a separate set-top box from a DTH operator such as Airtel Digital TV, Tata Sky, Dish TV, or any other to flip between OTT content and satellite TV with the assistance of Alexa while using the Fire TV Cube.

It should be noted that only a limited number of STBs are compatible with Alexa and voice commands. Users may just ask Alexa to ‘switch to DTH Box,’ and the virtual assistant will carry out the request.

Conclusion

Who will emerge victorious between the Airtel Xstream Box and the Amazon Fire TV Cube? Based on both price and capability, the Airtel Xstream Box easily outperforms the Amazon Fire TV Cube.

If you are still perplexed as to why the Fire TV Cube is so expensive, it is due to the fact that it is capable of playing 4K Ultra HD material. The only area where Amazon’s Smart TV Box outperforms the Airtel Xstream Box is in this category. Aside from that, the Airtel Xstream Box is capable of doing most of the tasks that the Amazon Fire TV Cube is capable of performing.