Nuvyyo Tablo 4th Gen Review: Cheapest and Best TV Antenna DVR

Pros

Affordable, with no ongoing subscription fees

User-friendly interface

50 hours of recording space, including streaming channels

Two weeks of guide data provided

Cons

No offline downloads or external streaming capabilities

No “info” button for currently playing shows on Roku

In 2024, Nuvyyo Tablo 4th Gen stands out as one of the best and cheapest TV antenna DVRs on the market. While live TV streaming has become the norm, the idea of recording content from an OTA (Over-the-Air) antenna still remains a valuable option for those looking to save on subscription costs. At only $100 (or $80 on sale), the Tablo 4th Gen provides an affordable solution to record and stream OTA TV and dozens of FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels, without needing a subscription.

 

The Tablo 4th Gen may lack a few advanced features, such as remote viewing or scheduling recordings when away from home (although these are promised in future updates). However, its unbeatable price and simplicity make it a top choice for anyone wanting to record OTA TV content.

 

What Is Nuvyyo Tablo 4th Gen?

The Nuvyyo Tablo 4th Gen DVR is designed for mainstream consumers, making OTA TV recording easy and affordable. For an additional $20, users can choose the antenna-included model, which comes with everything you need. Unlike most other DVRs, the Tablo 4th Gen has no ongoing subscription fees, allowing users to record over-the-air (OTA) TV and access FAST channels like HSN, Fubo Sports, and AMC Thrillers, making it a cost-effective alternative to paid TV services.

 

The device comes with 128GB of built-in storage, enough for about 50 hours of HD content recording. Users can also expand storage with an external USB hard drive (up to 8TB). The Tablo 4th Gen connects via Ethernet for the best performance but also supports Wi-Fi.

 

What sets this DVR apart is its ability to stream and record not only OTA TV but also over 40 FAST streaming channels, with more being added regularly. The DVR can be controlled through apps available for Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV, as well as iOS and Android devices. Apple TV and Vizio TV apps are expected later this year.

 

Performance

Setting up the Tablo 4th Gen is simple. I connected the antenna, Ethernet cable to the router, and powered up the device. The Tablo TV app on Android immediately recognized the device, and I was able to set it up within minutes, following the installation of updates.

 

The Tablo app is intuitive and features a top-down menu system that organizes content into sections such as the live two-week guide, your recordings (Library), and discovery sections for shows, movies, and sports. The integration of FAST channels is seamless, offering a wide variety of content to watch and record. However, certain limitations exist: Roku users, for example, won’t find an info button to see details about the currently playing show. Additionally, while you can pause live TV, you cannot record shows directly from the live view without going back to the guide.

 

While these limitations may frustrate some users, the Tablo 4th Gen still performs well for its price. Recordings depend on your antenna’s reception, but overall, they looked sharp when played back on 4K TVs.

 

Should You Buy It?

For a long time, TiVo has been the gold standard in the DVR market, but the Tablo 4th Gen makes a strong case for being the best budget-friendly alternative. Although it lacks some advanced features like remote streaming or recording from live TV, its low cost and lack of subscription fees make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to save money while still enjoying live OTA TV and FAST streaming channels. With promised updates on the horizon, this affordable DVR is only going to get better.

 

Whether you’re looking for an inexpensive way to watch and record OTA content or are just looking for a solid TV antenna DVR, the Tablo 4th Gen is a great option to consider.

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