Devices
Best Devices for IPTV in the UK
Firestick, Smart TV, Android box, Formuler, MAG, phone or computer — an honest comparison of every IPTV device class, with clear recommendations by budget and use case.
By Nexlivo Team · Published 27 August 2026 · 2 min read
Every device class can run IPTV well — the question is which suits your TV, budget and patience. Here's the field, compared honestly.
The quick answer
| You are… | Get… |
|---|---|
| Starting out, any TV | Firestick (4K model if your TV is 4K) |
| Happy with your recent Samsung/LG TV | Nothing — use the TV's own apps |
| Wanting the best interface money buys | Nvidia Shield or Formuler Z-series |
| On a MAG box already | Keep it — registration takes minutes |
| Watching on the move | Your phone/tablet, apps are free |
Firestick — the default for a reason
£25–£60. Plugs into any HDMI port, installs every major player app, and turns a 2010 dumb TV into a streaming TV in ten minutes. The 4K and 4K Max models are meaningfully faster than the basic stick and worth the difference. Weaknesses: limited storage, and Amazon's interface pushes its own content. Setup tutorial.
Smart TV apps — zero hardware, one remote
£0 if you own the TV. Samsung (Tizen, ~2016+) and LG (webOS, ~2016+) install players from their own stores; Android TVs get the full Play Store. Cleanest living-room setup there is. Weaknesses: older TVs run apps sluggishly, and TV app stores occasionally drop or delay player apps. See the Smart TV hub for per-brand guides, and Firestick vs Smart TV if you're torn.
Android TV / Google TV boxes — the flexible middle
£35–£180. Chromecast with Google TV is the value pick; Nvidia Shield is the performance pick with proper Ethernet on the Pro. Full Play Store, TiviMate runs beautifully, and boxes outlive TVs. Weakness: unbranded cheap boxes are a lottery — stick to known names. Setup tutorial.
Formuler — the dedicated IPTV box
£100–£180. Built for IPTV and nothing else: MYTVOnline software, remote with real guide keys, instant channel changes. If live TV is the main event in your house, this is the premium experience. Setup tutorial.
MAG boxes — set-and-forget
Registered once by MAC address, then they simply work — no logins, ever. The interface is dated next to TiviMate or MYTVOnline, but the housemate-proof simplicity has real value. Setup tutorial.
Phones, tablets and computers
Free with hardware you own, ideal as second screens — kitchen, commute, office. iPhone/iPad, Windows and Mac each have a guide.
Whatever you choose
Two universals: wired beats wireless for the main TV (why), and test with a trial before committing — every device above works with the Nexlivo free trial, so the comparison that matters can happen on your own screen.