For IPTV the memory decides, not the storage: 4 GB keeps zapping instant with a big channel list, 2 GB does not. That leaves two sensible buys. The Z11 Pro Max (around €180) has the same processor and 4 GB as the Z12 Ultra and is the best value. The Z12 Ultra (around €209–229) adds the backlit BT3 remote, Wi-Fi 6E, Dolby Vision and Atmos, Android 12 and 128 GB; take it if you want the newest box and the remote. The Z12 Ultra SE looks like the Ultra but has 2 GB, and the Z12 Pro and Z11 Pro are the 2 GB budget models: fine for a small list, not for 30,000 channels.
The five Formuler boxes side by side
| Z11 Pro | Z11 Pro Max | Z12 Pro | Z12 Ultra SE | Z12 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory / storage | 2 GB / 16 GB | 4 GB / 32 GB | 2 GB / 16 GB | 2 GB / 64 GB | 4 GB / 128 GB |
| Processor | RTD1319C | RTD1319C | RTD1319C | RTD1319C | RTD1319C |
| Android | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Wi-Fi (all have a gigabit port) | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Dolby Vision + Atmos | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Remote | IR1; BT edition available | IR1; BT edition available | BT1 voice | BT3 backlit voice | BT3 backlit voice |
| MyTVOnline | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 (via the official update) |
| Dutch shop price | around €155 | around €180 | few shops stock it yet | around €189 | around €209–229 |
| Our verdict for IPTV | Small lists only | Best value | Small lists only | Nice remote, too little memory | Best box |
What the differences mean in daily use
- Memory (2 or 4 GB): the one spec that matters. MyTVOnline keeps the channel list, guide and artwork in memory; with 30,000 channels a 2 GB box reloads and stutters when you zap through categories, a 4 GB box does not.
- Storage (16 to 128 GB): only matters if you install many apps or record to the box. For live TV, 16 GB is plenty.
- Wi-Fi 5, 6 or 6E: irrelevant if you use the network cable, which we recommend for any Formuler. On Wi-Fi, 6E only helps with a Wi-Fi 6E router.
- Dolby Vision and Atmos: you need a TV and sound system that support them, and most live IPTV streams are not delivered in Dolby Vision anyway. Nice for films from apps, not a reason to pay more for IPTV.
- The BT3 remote: backlit keys, Bluetooth so the box can sit out of sight, and voice search. This is the upgrade you notice every evening, and the reason to pick a Z12 Ultra over a Z11 Pro Max.
- MyTVOnline 3 or 4: version 4 is the newer interface and ships on the Z12 Pro and Ultra SE; the Z12 Ultra gets it through Formuler's official update. The Z11 boxes stay on version 3, which works fine with our Xtream login, guide and catch-up.
Which Formuler for whom
Most households: Z11 Pro Max
Same processor and memory as the flagship for around €180. If you find the BT edition, take it; the IR1 remote needs line of sight to the box.
Want the newest, with the backlit remote: Z12 Ultra
€30–50 more buys Android 12, the BT3 remote, Wi-Fi 6E and Dolby Vision. It is the box we put first in our top 3 for 2026.
Small list, tight budget: Z11 Pro or Z12 Pro
With a few hundred favourite channels both are quick enough. If you take our full list, spend the extra €25 on the Pro Max instead.
The Z12 Ultra SE: only if the remote matters more than speed
It has the Ultra's remote, Wi-Fi 6E and Dolby Vision, but 2 GB of memory. For €20–40 more the Ultra removes that limit; for €10 less the Pro Max is faster.
Formuler against Google TV and Fire TV: the 3 best IPTV boxes of 2026
Before you order: four checks
- Model name in full: Z11 Pro Max, not Z11 Pro; Z12 Ultra, not Ultra SE. Shops mix them up in titles and photos.
- EU version with a European plug and a Dutch or Belgian seller for the warranty; grey imports are cheaper and cost you the warranty.
- No box with a subscription code inside. A Formuler with a preloaded reseller playlist is tied to that reseller; buy the box empty and add your own subscription.
- Old stock: a Z8, Z10 or Z Alpha is still sold here and there. They work, but for new money take a Z11 or Z12.
The full IPTV box buying guide
Smootv on a Formuler: two minutes
Open MyTVOnline, go to Connections, press Add Portal, enter the portal address, username and password from our message, and the channel list, guide and catch-up load. No activation and no extra app: MyTVOnline is included with the box for life. You can keep HOT IPTV Player or IBO Player for your other TVs with the same login.
MyTVOnline setup, step by step with screenshots
M3U or Xtream Codes: which one do you need?
Questions about Formuler boxes
Is the Z12 Ultra worth the upgrade from a Z11 Pro Max?
Not for speed: same processor, same memory. Upgrade if you want the backlit BT3 remote, Android 12 or Dolby Vision for films; otherwise keep the Pro Max, it will run MyTVOnline 3 happily for years.
Does my old Formuler (Z8, Z10, Z Alpha) still work with Smootv?
Yes. MyTVOnline 2 and 3 take the same portal details. The menus are slower with the full list, so add a few favourite categories rather than all 30,000 channels.
Formuler or a Google TV box?
Formuler if IPTV is your main TV: the remote and MyTVOnline are built for it. Google TV Streamer if you also want Netflix-style apps and casting in one box for €119, with HOT IPTV Player as the app.
Does Smootv sell Formuler boxes?
No. We sell the subscription and help you set up the box you buy; that keeps this comparison independent.
Formuler ordered? Test Smootv on it for free
Request the 24-hour trial and mention Formuler; we send the Xtream login and the MyTVOnline steps in one message.
