PLDT Home Life has made a streaming box before. Its earlier StreamTV was a cylinder that turned a television smart. The new StreamTV+ is the same idea rebuilt without concessions, and its story is really about who PLDT brought in to build it: Sagemcom for the hardware, Dolby for the picture and surround processing, and Bang & Olufsen for the sound.
Price and what you actually get
PLDT Home Fiber subscribers pay PhP10,990 outright, or PhP399 a month locked over 36 months. Other installment terms exist in the application form, and the offer requires a Fiber subscription rather than being a retail device you can buy outright from a store.
In the box: the unit, a remote with IR and Bluetooth plus over-the-air updates, and an HDMI cable. That cable matters more than usual. PLDT rates the bundled one as performing as well as a gold-plated cable, since plating only resists corrosion and does not improve picture or sound.
Setup is genuinely simple
Setting this up was easy, and PLDT’s own guide matches the experience: place the box in front of the TV, connect the included HDMI cable, power on and join Wi-Fi or Ethernet, pair the remote, then sign in to a Google account. There is no app to install for voice control, because Google Assistant is already built in, which is perfect!
Why the StreamTV+ sounds like nothing else at this price
This is what separates the StreamTV+ from every other Android TV box on a Filipino shelf. It carries a built-in three-speaker system with a subwoofer, tuned by Bang & Olufsen, with Dolby Atmos on top. In use it delivers clear dialogue, controlled bass and a soundstage the television’s own speakers cannot approach, which is the whole argument for paying for this rather than a cheaper stick.
PLDT is also careful about what it is selling. Its FAQ says outright that the tuning is not the same as a standalone Bang & Olufsen speaker, since dedicated B&O speakers use larger drivers built for high-end audio alone. That is an unusually honest paragraph to find in a product’s own FAQ, and it is the right expectation to hold.
One capability worth knowing: as long as the box is powered, you can pair a phone over Bluetooth and play audio through it with the television switched off. It works as a standalone speaker.
TV upgrade, not just a TV accessory
It costs PhP10,990 rather than a new television, and it improves the set you already own. That matters most if your TV does not run Google TV, or if it is a smart TV that stopped receiving updates, since the app catalog and the software are supported independently of the panel. That is the same problem recent TV promos are trying to solve with a discount.
Voice control and the remote
Four far-field microphones sit under a top-panel mute switch, so you can say the wake phrase from across the room without touching anything. Google Assistant handles searches, playback, settings and compatible smart home devices, which makes the box a hands-free control point for the room rather than just a media player. There is a hardware mute, which is the right way to settle the privacy question.
Specifications
The StreamTV+ runs a Broadcom BCM72178 with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 at 2.6GHz, paired with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of eMMC storage. Graphics come from a Broadcom VideoCore VI with eight cores at 1GHz. It outputs up to 4K at 60 frames per second, including 4096×2160, with HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision. Connectivity is Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 with ARC and eARC, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0 with BLE.
| Specification | StreamTV+ |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM72178, quad-core |
| Processor | ARM Quad 64-bit Cortex-A53 @ 2.6GHz |
| Graphics | Broadcom VideoCore VI, 8 cores / 1GHz |
| Memory | 3GB RAM |
| Storage | 16GB eMMC |
| Operating system | Android TV 12 |
| Max video quality | Up to 4K @ 60fps (4096x2160p60 supported) |
| HDR support | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
| Audio formats | Dolby AC3/AC3+, AC4, Dolby Atmos, AAC, MP3, MS12v2 |
| Speakers | Built-in 3-speaker and subwoofer system, tuned by Bang & Olufsen |
| Microphone | 4 far-field mics with top-panel mute switch |
| Remote | Tech4Home IR + BLE remote with OTA updates |
| Ethernet | Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps) |
| HDMI | HDMI 2.1, ARC/eARC, HDCP 2.3 compliant |
| Wi-Fi | Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 2×2 |
| Bluetooth | Version 5.0 with BLE |
Placement note: the unit is a square, fabric-wrapped box, unlike the cylinder it replaces. The fabric on the sides is the speaker grille, so it wants open air rather than a closed cabinet shelf.
Apps, casting and gaming
It arrives with Netflix, HBO Max, Lionsgate Play, Viu, BlastTV+, Cignal Play and Pilipinas Live already installed, and you can add more from Google Play. Chromecast is built in. Some premium apps need device certification, and PLDT notes that on uncertified hardware they may not appear for download or may lose functionality. Android games run on it with Bluetooth controllers.
What to watch out for
A few things to keep in mind. It is not a television; it needs an HDMI port to do anything, and Dolby Vision and Atmos only reach full effect if your TV and sound hardware support them, though it falls back automatically. Quality also depends on your connection and how congested your Wi-Fi is. And buying it means a commitment tied to a Fiber plan.
The warranty is worth reading closely: 12 months on the device for defects, but only 6 months on peripherals, and no separate service center. Support runs through PLDT’s 171 hotline, with replacement at a PLDT store.
Verdict
The StreamTV+ is the rare case where the bundled audio justifies the price. Any Android TV box can give you 4K and apps, and cheaper ones will. What none of them give you is a three-speaker Bang & Olufsen tuned system with Dolby Atmos inside the streaming box itself, and that is the upgrade you are paying for. If your living room is running on television speakers, the jump is immediate and the setup is genuinely easy. If you already have a soundbar or an AV receiver you are happy with, the case is weaker.
Unit source: Gadget Pilipinas did not purchase the unit and no payment was made for this review. The hands-on observations in this review come from our installation, and the specifications are PLDT Home’s own published figures.
Software and firmware: Android TV 12 as shipped. Firmware version not recorded.
What PLDT set: The device, the specification list, the Bang & Olufsen and Dolby partnerships, the pricing, and the five-step setup guide.
What PLDT did not set: The assessment of setup ease, the sound judgement, the caveats, and the verdict.
Not independently measured: Sustained 4K throughput, input latency, power draw, and audio output levels. We did not run instruments on this unit, so no measured figures appear in this review.
PLDT StreamTV+
Gadget PilipinasWhat we like
- Bang & Olufsen tuned speakers with Dolby Atmos
- Setup takes five steps
- 4K at 60fps with Dolby Vision, HDMI 2.1 ARC/eARC
- Four far-field mics with a hardware mute switch
- Wi-Fi 6 and Gigabit Ethernet
Could improve
- Requires a PLDT Home Fiber subscription
- PhP10,990 or a 36-month installment commitment
- Peripheral warranty is only 6 months
Sources: PLDT Home StreamTV+ · PLDT Home Life · GLINT PH unboxing and setup
Giancarlo Viterbo
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
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