Formuler Z10 Pro Max Review – Powerful Specs & Great Remote Control

This Formuler Z10 Pro Max Review was written by Troy from TROYPOINT after using the Android TV Box on a regular basis for six days.

This streaming device was purchased by TROYPOINT through Amazon.  This review is unbiased and you will see that I point out both the good and bad regarding this Android TV Box.

Below, you will find an in-depth review that will provide you with the information that you need prior to purchasing.

Formuler Z10 Pro Max Android TV Box

Formuler is an Android TV Box manufacturer that caters to those who use IPTV services.

Their recent Z10 Pro Max packs a powerful punch with a strong processor, plenty of storage/ram, Gigabit port, and full-featured remote control.

They also provide an exclusive IPTV application called MYTVOnline2 that can be used for services that can be configured with an M3U URL or Xtream Codes portal login.

Formuler Z10 Pro Max is powered by Android TV 10.  That’s right…this isn’t stock Android and you get full access to the true Android TV Google Play Store with this device.

Formuler Z10 Pro Max Features at a Glance

Android TV 10
AV1 Codec Support
WIDEVINE Level 1 Support
4 GB RAM Memory
32 GB Internal Storage
2X2 Dual Band Dual Antenna (internal)
Gigabit Ethernet
4K 60fps with HDR10+
Custom launcher with no ads
MYTVOnline2
Powerful Remote Control
Regular OTA Software Updates
USB 3.0 & Micro SD ports

In this Formuler Z10 Pro Max review, I will be honing in on the features that set this box apart from it’s competitors.

Powerful Specs

The first thing that sticks out to me are the powerful specs that come with the Formuler Z10 Pro Max.

There’s no doubt that Formuler is trying to compete with the NVIDIA SHIELD with this model.  I will dive into this comparison later in my review.

One of the biggest complaints that comes from most streaming devices is the lack of internal storage and RAM memory.  The Formuler Z10 Pro Max doesn’t disappoint in either of these areas with 32 GB of internal storage and 4 GB RAM memory.

The 32 GB of internal storage is the perfect amount in my opinion.  It provides enough storage to hold all of the apps and games that you would want to install.  If you need external storage to hold movies, TV shows, pictures, etc., you can do that too by connecting a USB drive or inserting a Micro SD card.

As I said in my Formuler Z10 Pro Max First Impressions Video, I don’t really see a need to expand internal storage on this device due to the large 32 GB storage that is already integrated.  But if you need to do that, we will test to see if that works as well.

Formuler Z10 Pro Max Remote Control

I love this remote except for one problem.  It’s infrared and not Bluetooth.

I do need to point out that the infrared connection to the box works very well.  You don’t need to point the remote directly at the box and at times I actually forget that it is infrared and not Bluetooth.

Some have reported that you will start seeing some coverage issues with the remote once the batteries begin to die.  The remote uses 2 AA batteries and it would probably be a good idea to always have an extra pair ready to go.  I have a feeling that this remote sucks a lot of power.

The Z10 Pro Max comes with an IR extender that may help with coverage as well.

The remote serves two main purposes.  It works hand-in-hand with the Formuler MYTVOnline2 IPTV app and you can customize numerous buttons to your liking on the remote.

My favorite feature is the button customization options.  You can attach up to three directives for each of the buttons capable of being customized.  You can assign single tap, double tap, and long press to each button.

The Formuler Z10 Pro Max comes with an application specifically designed to map these buttons on the remote.

Since this is an infrared remote, you can also pair it with your television so it can control power, source, volume up/down.

Will everyone like this remote?  Nope.  Some like the minimal design with only a few buttons.  It all comes down to personal preference.

MYTVOnline2 IPTV App

As mentioned earlier, this device is designed for those who use IPTV services and MYTVOnline2 is Formuler’s exclusive app that supports this.

You can’t install MYTVOnline2 on other devices.  It will only run on Formuler streaming boxes.

There are buttons on the remote control specifically meant for the IPTV application such as Favorite, Groups, Info, Guide, Record, Ch up/down, and the colored rectangles.

There are probably hundreds of IPTV applications on the market today.  Some of the popular ones include TiviMate, IPTV Smarters, and Perfect Player.  What sets Formuler apart from these other apps is the integration into the remote control.

For those who like to use buttons on a remote to get around their IPTV screen, this is the perfect app.  Using the buttons isn’t mandatory as Formuler still provides the same menu items on the screen but you just need to dig around a bit to find them.

Again, this all comes down to personal preference.

I personally prefer finding the button or menu item that I need to click on the TV screen.  I doubt that I would use most of these dedicated buttons on the remote as I find it quicker finding the button that I need on the screen and clicking that with the OK button on the remote.

I still feel that TiviMate is the best IPTV app on the market today as their seamless design makes it very easy to use the application without all of the buttons.

It would be great to see a manufacturer such as Formuler team up with TiviMate and come up with a remote that would provide the dedicated buttons to those that want them.

Don’t get me wrong, the MYTVOnline2 app works very well, I just prefer not using the dedicated buttons and I like the fluidity of TiviMate better.

The MYTVOnline2 application is also capable of recording.  I tested this feature on two TV shows and it worked great.

The application is also capable of recording on frequency often referred to as season pass recording.  You can schedule recordings to happen on regular intervals such as week, day, and time.  Perfect for daily news shows, or regular broadcasts that are hard to find in the free on-demand applications.

Custom Launcher with No Ads

This is another big one in my book.

We’ve seen the big streaming box companies start including advertisements in their launchers (user interface).  These ads are meant to drive consumers to purchase streaming services so they can watch their favorite movies and TV shows.

We don’t get that with the Formuler  Z10 Pro Max!

Formuler provides a clean-looking launcher that can be somewhat customized.

There’s a dedicated menu item on the home screen at the bottom called Launcher Settings.

You will find a settings panel for the launcher when you can edit your own groups to appear on the home screen and much more.

You can even add your favorite IPTV channels and recent channels to the launcher.

The launcher also allows for changing the wallpaper, setting parental controls, and defining a startup app.

The Formuler Z10 Pro Max does not support 3rd party launchers such as Wolf Launcher.  I tried activating Wolf Launcher with Launcher Manager for Android TV and it didn’t work.  I personally wouldn’t want to use Wolf on this because I want the option of displaying my favorite and recent channels on the home screen.

Sideloaded Apps on the Formuler Z10 Pro Max

I installed the free TROYPOINT App with Rapid App Installer so I could quickly install all of my favorite streaming apps and tools.

I tested Kodi and Syncler and paired those with my Real-Debrid account.  My favorite public domain movies and TV shows played perfectly through the Formuler Z10 Pro Max.

There’s no reason why most side-loaded streaming apps shouldn’t work on this Android TV Box.

See Formuler Z10 Pro Max Buying Options on Amazon

AV1 Support

AV1 will soon become the new standard coding format for delivering video over the Internet.

The Formuler Z10 Pro Max does support this format which is great to see!

Formuler Z10 Pro Max Expandable Storage

Although I see no reason to expand internal storage on this device, I still tested it.

I used a 256 GB Sandisk 3.0 USB Drive in this experiment.

Here’s the process.

1  Click Device Preferences.

2  Click About.

3  Click Build 7 times to become a Developer.

4  Go back one screen and Click Developer options.

5  Enable Force allow apps on external.

6  Click Storage.

7  Click External drive.

8  Click Erase & format as device storage.

9  Click Format

10  Wait for Formatting USB Drive to finish.

11  Go into an application within Settings and move to USB drive.

12  It works!

As you can see from the above image, expanding internal storage on the Formuler Z10 Pro Max does work.

Once you complete this process, moving forward, all applications will automatically be placed on external storage but you can move the apps back and forth by doing what I displayed in screenshot 11 above.

Formuler Z10 Pro Max Upload/Download Speeds

I used Analiti Speed test app for the following tests.

I have 1 GB Fiber download speed plan through my Internet Service Provider.

During the WiFi tests, I am connected to the 5Ghz band on my Asus GT-AX11000 (Great router by the way).  This router resides in the same room as my Formuler Z10 Pro Max  (approximately 20 feet away from wireless router).

I’m using IPVanish VPN as my VPN on Chicago Server 04 (chi-a04).

Gigabit Download/Upload Speeds

VPN Off: Download = 814 Mbps & Upload = 322 Mbps

VPN On: Download = 156 Mbps & Upload = 102 Mbps

WiFi Download/Upload Speeds

VPN Off: Download = 302 Mbps & Upload = 203 Mbps

VPN On: Download = 98 Mbps & Upload = 94 Mbps

As you can see, the download and upload speeds of this Android TV Box are very good.  Remember, all you need is 20-30 Mbps to stream 4K content, anything more than that is overkill.

See Formuler Z10 Pro Max Buying Options on Amazon

Formuler Z10 Pro Max & Netflix / Amazon Prime

The Formuler Z10 Pro Max is not certified by Netflix or Amazon.  Yes, you may be able to find an application to side-load and use but you won’t get maximum HD quality.

We are no longer deducting rating points due to not playing nice with Netflix or Prime.  Due to the numerous amount of free streaming apps available, nobody needs these lousy services anyway.

Support for Tuners

The Formuler Z10 Pro Max supports the following tuners so you can receive live television in this fashion as well.

This is a pretty cool feature as there are some IPTV services that don’t offer your local channels and you can get them with one of these tuners connected to your Z10 Pro Max for free!

Formuler Z10 Pro Max Specs

Output Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160)
CPU : Realtek RTD1319
GPU : ARM G31 MP2
RAM: 4GB DDR4 @2400MHz
Storage: 32GB eMMC
Operating System : Android TV 10
Wireless : Dual-Band 2×2 AC Wireless
BT : 5.0
Ethernet : 1000M (Gigabit)
Video decoder : 4K@60fps, AV1, H.265(HEVC), AVS, H.264(AVC, MVC), Real, MPEG1/2/4, VC-1
Audio decoder : MPEG-1 Layer 1,2,3(2-CH), MPEG-2 Layer 1,2, HE AAC V1/V2
Support Language: Global
DRM : Widevine L1, L3
Length: 105mm
Width: 105mm
Thickness: 21mm
Color: Black
Power Input : 1
USB3.0 : 1
USB2.0 : 1
HDMI : 1
Gigabit LAN : 1
Micro SD Card : 1
IR Extension : 1
Power rating : 12VDC / 1A
Power Consumption : Max. 12W
Standby Power : Max. 0.5W (Ultra low power)

What’s In The Box

Formuler Z10 Pro Max Android TV Box
Remote Control
HDMI Cable
IR Extender
Power Adapter
2 AA Batteries
Setup Guide

What I Like

Android TV 10
32 GB internal storage
4 GB RAM
Gigabit network port
USB 3.0 and Micro SD card ports
Strong wireless speeds
Customizable remote control
Customizable launcher with no ads
Add favorite/recent IPTV channels to home screen
Frequent OTA software/firmware updates
AV1 support
Fast download/upload speeds

What I Dislike

High price
Additional customization options for launcher similar to Wolf Launcher
Doesn’t work with 3rd party launchers
Remote is IR not Bluetooth
No voice assistant option with included remote

Final Thoughts on the Formuler Z10 Pro Max

This is one of my favorite “off-brand” Android TV boxes that I’ve reviewed.

I really like the customization options with the remote control and launcher (user interface).

It checks off all the important aspects of a great streaming device from large internal storage/ram and excellent network connectivity.  They also issue continual updates unlike most other generic Android TV box companies.

The question is, “Is the Formuler Z10 Pro Max worth $169?”

If you’re not an IPTV user, I wouldn’t recommend this device.

If you are a regular user of Netflix or Amazon Prime, stay away from this device because it isn’t’ certified for either.

If you’re someone who likes a remote control with a lot of buttons with some being customizable, you will like this system.

Formuler Z10 Pro Max VS NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro

There’s no doubt that Formuler is trying to compete with the extremely popular NVIDIA SHIELD.

Many will say, “If I’m going to spend $169 on a streaming device, I might as well buy the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro for $199.99.”  That comment definitely carries some weight.

A few differences that I notice here.

 I like the Formuler Z10 Pro Max launcher better than the ad-riddled NVIDIA SHIELD launcher.  But, we can install 3rd party launchers on the SHIELD making this a non-issue.
I like the Z10 Pro Max remote control better than the NVIDIA SHIELD remote.
Formuler Z10 Pro Max supports AV1 and the SHIELD does not.
Formuler Z10 Pro Max comes with more storage than the SHIELD.
Netflix and Amazon Prime work on the SHIELD but not on Formuler Z10 Pro Max.
I like the upscale options in NVIDIA SHIELD that I haven’t seen in any other streaming device.
NVIDIA SHIELD will update their devices to new Android TV operating systems, not sure we will see that with Formuler.  Yes, Formuler does release software updates but will we see a jump from Android TV 10 to 11?

I don’t think that you can go wrong with the Formuler Z10 Pro Max if you’re an IPTV user, want a powerful remote control, and don’t need Netflix or Amazon Prime.  Oh, one more thing…you’re willing to pay approximately $169 for the device.

I would love to hear from those of you already using a Formuler Z10 Pro Max.  Tell us what YOU like and dislike about this Android TV Box below in the comments.

I rate the Formuler Z10 Pro Max 4.6 out of 5

See Formuler Z10 Pro Max Buying Options on Amazon