Acer has started taking submissions for pre-orders for its 4K UHD Google TV Box. The smart TV box, dubbed AiTV, was unveiled this year during Comic Con Africa.
Acer is a Taiwanese multinational company renowned for its diverse range of hardware and electronic products, including laptops, desktop PCs, and Chromebooks. The AiTV is thus Acer’s first entry into the Google TV market.
Registering for pre-orders
Acer’s Google TV Box is not yet available for sale. However, interested users can sign up for pre-orders via the Acer South Africa website.
Once the TV Box becomes available, registered users will receive an update on how to pre-order the device, with the expected point of sale expected to be Incredible Connection.
So far, the AiTV has only been launched in South Africa, with Acer yet to announce when (and if) it will launch the Smart TV Box globally.
The final retail price for the Google TV Box has not yet been announced. However, reports suggest that the device will be available at the cost of R1499 ($86).
A look at Acer’s 4K UHD Google TV Box features and specifications
Acer’s Google TV Box will be powered by a quad-core Amlogic CPU. It will also be equipped with a 2GB RAM capacity, which is in line with the current Google TV minimum RAM requirements.
The Google TV Box will also leverage artificial intelligence and is expected to feature a dedicated 4 TOPS neural processing unit for AI applications.
One of the rumored AI applications is AI Super Resolution upscaling, which will theoretically enhance lower-resolution videos to give them a 4K UHD-like quality.
Other anticipated features of the Google TV Box include Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, Voice remote with “Hey Google” voice commands, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos Video.
Acer has also reportedly invested heavily in ports on its AiTV, with the TV Box rumored to have several ports, including USB-A, USB-C (data), USB-C (power), HDMI, Ethernet, MicroSD card, and Optical audio ports.
Designed for home entertainment and gaming
Acer describes the AiTV as a “device built for gamers, movie lovers, and music fans alike.”
However, the tech company has emphasized the TV Box’s gaming capabilities, which are likely to attract many gaming enthusiasts.
During the unveiling of the TV Box, Glenn du Toit, country manager (South Africa) at Acer Africa, lauded the device’s entertaining and gaming capabilities, stating:
“The Acer AiTV’s integrated AI and robust hardware redefine home entertainment, delivering sharper streaming and smarter features that seamlessly blend with a connected lifestyle.”
“Gaming isn’t just a solo mission—it’s a family event and we have just made it easier and more affordable.”
According to Gadget, a South African online tech magazine, the AiTV Box is also equipped with several gaming features, including XBXPlay (allows users to control Xbox devices remotely) and Steam Link (for playing Steam games).
What does the launch of Acer’s 4K UHD Google TV Box mean?
Google TV streaming boxes are becoming increasingly popular, so it is not uncommon to see one unveiled.
However, it is not every day you see a known technology brand like Acer behind such a device. It was also a rare chance to see the AiTV being launched exclusively in South Africa.
The features and specifications that Acer has announced are promising, both from an entertainment and gaming standpoint. It will be interesting to see how the Google TV Box performs in both these aspects once it becomes available.