The best IPTV apps for Android TV

• TiviMate — the most television-like interface of the lot, with a proper guide, recordings and multiple playlists. Some features need the paid version.
• OTT Navigator — fast, handles very large lists well, and is generous in the free version.
• IPTV Smarters Pro — the one most people have seen before. Easy to set up, a bit heavier on older boxes.
• Televizo — light and tidy, a good choice for a 1GB or 2GB box.
• Sparkle TV — modern interface, strong guide, popular with people who watch sport.

• XCIPTV Player — simple, quick to configure, fine for a second television.
• IPTV Pro — paid, no adverts, very stable playback.
• Perfect Player — tiny, free, and still one of the quickest to start on a modest device.
• Kodi with the PVR IPTV Simple Client — flexible if you already use Kodi for films.
• VLC — no guide to speak of, but it will play almost any stream you throw at it, which makes it a good test tool.

On a device with 2GB of memory or more, TiviMate or OTT Navigator give the best everyday experience. On an older 1GB box, go lighter: Televizo or Perfect Player will feel quicker than a feature-rich app that keeps stalling.

If you record, check the app supports a USB drive on your box before you build a routine around it.

• Add the playlist, then the separate XMLTV guide address.
• Set the time zone before you judge the guide.
• Pin your favourite channels — a list of thousands is only usable with favourites.
• Use hardware decoding for anything above Full HD.
• Put the remote down and test one 4K channel for a few minutes at peak time before deciding the setup is finished.