A multimedia hard drive is an interface that allows you to view your favorite movies or vacation photos on your HD, FHD or 4K TV. Easy to use, it often comes with WI-FI and a remote control. In order to sort through the growing number of offers, our guide recommends the leading products of the moment!
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Our selection
"Running on Android 8.1, the XIAOMI/MI BOX S is compatible with various apps, including Netflix, Disney + and Tik Tok. Watch your videos in FHD…"
"Priced at less than 15 euros, the X96 will offer you a high quality multimedia experience. Capable of 4K, it supports multiple video formats and…"
"Coming with a Siri remote, the Apple TV 4K offers the best in streaming video with 4K HDR quality and Dolby Atmos sound. The user…"
"Updated to support 4K live streaming, the Fire TV Stick supports Dolby Vision and has a more advanced Alexa remote. In addition, it works with…"
Running on Android 8.1, the XIAOMI/MI BOX S is compatible with various apps, including Netflix, Disney + and Tik Tok. Watch your videos in FHD and even in 4K HDR.
See priceThe XIAOMI/MI BOX S is very responsive thanks to its premium configuration. It runs on an ARMv8-A, 64-bit, Cortex-A53 processor with 4 cores up to 2 GHz and 2 GB of RAM. Your navigation and applications will run smoothly. Embedding an 8GB flash memory, it is capable of streaming your videos in 1080p, FHD, and even 4K HDR.
Very versatile, it is compatible with most video formats: MPEG-4, AVI, MKV, H.264, VOB, and H.265. Music is not left out, because it reads MP3, FLAC, APE (Monkey's Audio) in stereo. As an I/O interface, you have a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI and an audio line. The connection is supported by WI-FI and Bluetooth as well as Chromecast.
Priced at less than 15 euros, the X96 will offer you a high quality multimedia experience. Capable of 4K, it supports multiple video formats and has an Ethernet connector.
See the priceWith its mini price tag, the X96 Mini is capable of great feats with its 4-core CPU, the Cortex A53 running at 2 GHz, and its graphics solution: Mali-450MP clocked at 750 MHz. This basic configuration is supported by a 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of flash storage. In addition, it supports Miracast, and AirPlay standards, and has Ethernet connectors, as well as Wi-fi, and a complete connectivity: HDMI 2.0 A, AV and RJ45, among others.
Performing well, you'll be able to watch clips in 4K or FHD using H.265 HEVC MP-10, H.264 AVC and H.264 MVC video formats. Enjoy your vacation photos in HD, as it supports JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG and TIF files.
Coming with a Siri remote, the Apple TV 4K offers the best in streaming video with 4K HDR quality and Dolby Atmos sound. The user interface is intuitive with a 32GB ROM.
127 £ on CdiscountThe Apple TV 4K offers a maximum resolution of 3840×2160 pixels, 4K, offering images with better definition, more vivid with HDR 10. This involves the presence of an HDMI 2.0a port. The use is smooth, because Apple has equipped this product with the A10X chip that includes four cores, including two high-performance cores. Store your files in the large 32GB storage space.
For an immersive multimedia experience, Apple gives you Dolby Atmos sound with 360-degree spatialization, worthy of a movie theater. Operation is interactive and easy using the Siri voice remote.
Updated to support 4K live streaming, the Fire TV Stick supports Dolby Vision and has a more advanced Alexa remote. In addition, it works with platforms like Prime Video, Netflix, Molotov, etc.
47,92 £ on AmazonUnlike the second generation, this new version of the Fire TV stick has the ability to stream in 4K. Indeed, it accepts H.265 and H.264 video formats. In addition, the image definition is more precise thanks to the Dolby Vision, HDR 10 and HDR10+ standard. The WI-FI connection, MIMO 802.11a /b/g/n/ac, is fluid in part helped by the quad-core processor. The internal storage consists of a flash memory, ROM, of 8 GB.
The HDMI 2.0b connector lets through a 7.1 Surround, 2-channel stereo audio stream, compatible with Dolby Atmos. The remote control has been redesigned, it is now more reliable and allows quick navigation using the Alexa function, voice.
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The best multimedia hard drive
The best entry-level multimedia hard drive
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
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| OUR SELECTION |
XIAOMI/MI BOX S, Android
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X96 Mini Android TV Box Android 7.1
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Apple TV 4k
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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
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Running on Android 8.1, the XIAOMI/MI BOX S is compatible with various apps, including Netflix, Disney + and Tik Tok. Watch your videos in FHD and even in 4K HDR.
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Priced at less than 15 euros, the X96 will offer you a high quality multimedia experience. Capable of 4K, it supports multiple video formats and has an Ethernet connector.
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Coming with a Siri remote, the Apple TV 4K offers the best in streaming video with 4K HDR quality and Dolby Atmos sound. The user interface is intuitive with a 32GB ROM.
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Updated to support 4K live streaming, the Fire TV Stick supports Dolby Vision and has a more advanced Alexa remote. In addition, it works with platforms like Prime Video, Netflix, Molotov, etc.
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Fast: Cortex-A53 CPU
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Variety of content
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Several applications included
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4K Streaming
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Compatible with most streaming services
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Very affordable price
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Large storage space: 32 GB
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User interface: easy to get started
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Built-in Chromecast feature
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Large selection of video formats
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4K HDR 10
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New, more functional remote control
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Before you start your search, there are some criteria you should consider when choosing a multimedia hard drive.
Since a multimedia hard drive stores your audio or video files in a hard drive or storage space, also called ROM, it is important to know your needs and choose the capacity corresponding to that. An Android box or an HDMI stick with a storage space, also called ROM, between 8 and 16 GB will be an ideal solution for those who watch movies in a moderate way and with a maximum FHD resolution.
For those who wish to install a type of multimedia server, we recommend choosing multimedia boxes, with playback control and others, with an internal hard disk. The recommended capacity is between 250 and 500 GB for FHD movies only. If you want to back up Blu-ray, recommend a capacity of at least 1 TB.
Since
the multimedia hard drive will be used to view your videos and photos, you should choose a model in FHD or very high definition, 1080p. This is the standard for modern TVs nowadays. Obviously, this will have an impact on the price. For better definition of the image on the screen, you can choose media boxes capable of broadcasting in 2K and higher.
Since
the multimedia hard drive will often be connected to your TV, it's important to have an HDMI-type connector. Sure, you'll be able to use it on all devices via its USB cable, but you'll lose out on image definition on a quality TV. The minimum will be to have S-video or VGA connectors. Then, the presence of Jack plug, in output, will be convenient in order to connect the device to your audio system.
In
general, a multimedia hard drive will be able to read files in the H264 (HD) format, the MPEG and the others like AVI and DivX formats. If you are used to playing files in MKV, H265 (FHD) format, you will have to, beforehand, read the description of the device well. On the other hand, you must have a TV compatible with the new video formats. A high-end TV, bought 4 or 2 years ago, will not be able to broadcast a video in H265 for example.
Despite their complexity, some multimedia hard drives are unable to read certain video formats such as Matroska video (MKV) or the more recent H265. Don't panic! The solution is to re-encode your videos in a format recognized by your device. To do this, you must use a video processing software online or on your PC. To avoid losing a lot of image quality, use the H264 or MP4 video format. This is also a way to reduce the size of your video files by half and optimize your storage space.
Next, format your multimedia hard drive with the NTFS file system. This way, you will be able to handle large files without worry. Except for the PopcornHour A-110, which can decode the DRM of Canal Play, other devices are unable to play files protected by the DRM system. This is the case for files purchased on iTunes, for example, and it is not the only platform in the same case.
In order to store your legally purchased DVDs in your multimedia device, you will have to back up the film on your PC, using software such as Nero.
On online sales platforms or in stores, you have different types of multimedia hard drives suitable for all budgets and different needs.
A multimedia box is similar to an external hard drive, but with additional play and pause controls. The box, more expensive than a classic external box, has an interface, firmware, able to decode the different video and MP3 formats. It is an ideal solution for those who want to centralize their multimedia files. It's an easier device to set up than a NAS hard drive, because you only have to connect it via its USB cable.
The
Android Box is a multimedia box with a processor, RAM and a ROM that acts as a hard drive. Here, the storage capacity varies between 8 and 128 GB. Obviously, the price wavers greatly if you choose a model with better RAM and more storage space. Capable of running APK applications, it usually comes with WI-FI connectivity and various ports. It's the perfect mix for those who don't want to store multiple media files, but prefer to watch streaming videos.
The
HDMI stick is a practical solution for those who are short of space near their flat screen. The multimedia files are stored in an internal hard drive with a capacity between 8 and 32 GB. To play them, you just need to connect the key to your TV. Equipped with Wi-Fi, the best models are able to broadcast in 4K.
A multimedia hard drive is used to store your video, photo and music files. Equipped with a 2.5 or 3.5 HDD, the real difference is in the case. The latter is composed of a more powerful firmware capable of decoding video files and multimedia connections such as a TV tuner or an HDMI. If necessary, it will also allow you to make an emergency backup of your files. And, it still comes with a remote control that can be voice compatible Siri or Alexa.
An external HDD is only used to store data. It is true that you can view videos or photos on a flat screen, but only if it is equipped with a USB port. This is a basic device, but one that can be used to store data. It's a basic device, but it will allow you to store and encrypt your sensitive data with storage capacities of over 4TB.
If you want to centralize your media files in one device, the multimedia hard drive will be a perfect buy. On the other hand, if you want a more mixed use of your external device, the external HDD will follow you wherever you go. However, there's nothing to stop you from having both technologies. They are complementary.
Connect your external HDD
If your media drive has a free USB port, you can connect your external HDD to it and play its content via your media device.
Use the right HDMI cable
Not all HDMI cables are created equal. In fact, you can find cables that only support 720p, or less, on the market. For good performance, you should consider shielded type HDMI cables with FHD, 1080p compatibility, for better flexibility of use. For higher resolution, you'll need to find the corresponding cable.
Network it
If your multimedia hard drive has WI-FI, network it to your home WI-FI. That way, everyone in your family will be able to access it.
Store your media files in the cloud
If you're short on storage space and your media drive has WI-FI connectivity, consider storing your media files on the cloud.
Make a slideshow
By downloading or using Chromecast or Miracast, you can stream your vacation photos to your flat screen.
The best multimedia hard drive depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best.
As the name suggests, a multimedia hard drive should have internal storage space, an enclosure with playback controls and a remote control. It is used to store and play all types of multimedia files: videos, photos or MP3.
This depends on the characteristics of the various multimedia boxes. To be sure, please read the description of the multimedia hard drive in question. However, there are models that are capable of streaming in 4K and even more.
For example, if your multimedia hard drive is unable to read the MKV format, you will have no choice but to re-encode your video. To find out the capabilities of your hardware, read the user manual.
Yes. Go to a Playstore and download the APK games you want to play. However, pay attention to the amount of RAM, 1GB on entry-level models, and the capacity of your ROM, the storage space they are compatible with.
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