Customers highly value the ease of use, recording capabilities, and straightforward setup of the 4th Gen DVR & Streaming Player. The DVR and ample storage space are also appreciated, along with the large number of channels it can access. However, some customers have expressed concerns about its performance, connectivity, software stability, and compatibility with certain devices, as well as inconsistent reception.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 3 Showing 41-60 of 579 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Setup
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great OTA DVR!
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Posted . Owned for 1.5 years when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Make sure you have a newer router or you will be disappointed. Since Amazon pulled the plug on Recast, i was looking for a comprable replacement. TeVo has monthly fees and other OTA DVRs are too expensive. Tablo is easy to set up and with mt outdoor antenna i am pulling in over 60 stations. With the Tablo app loaded on my Fire TV Stick, I can use the remote. There also a lot of streaming shows through Tablo so there is always something to watch. I cant recommend this enough to save money & it is a must have for cord cutters!
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Reception
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Worth Replacing?
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Product allows you to watch OTA (over the air) television on your mobile devices. It was great to watch live local news and broadcast sports, but the device stopped working just after the warranty expired.
No subscription fees. But after breaking, it was the equivalent of a $8.34 monthly subscription for local and other OTA channels. Would have saved more if the device lasted longer.
Need good OTA signal. Without a good signal (likely you’ll need a good antenna set up), channels will drop and be unavailable for viewing and recording, which can be frustrating.
Need additional storage. If you’re looking to take advantage of the DVR function, you’ll need to invest in additional storage because you’ll fill the onboard memory fairly quickly (about 20 hours worth of storage).
So this device is somewhat of a unique, allowing you to stream local and OTA broadcasts, live and recorded, to your devices, with no subscription fees. SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex is a competitor but Tablo TV is the market leader.
Will replace my broken unit. I hope it lasts
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Connectivity, Reception
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Eh not good for cord cutters
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Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This item was supposed to be your answer to cord cutting by giving you your locals over the air so you don’t need that big expensive cable or satellite bill but unfortunately it feel very short it had a horrible reception and the picture would scramble and you would miss whatever you recorded because it would just stop working had problems staying connected to the internet and ran very dangerously hot all the time
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Tablo TV
Posted .
Sorry you're running into that.
The 4th Gen Tablo's operating parameters should be safe as far as temperature is concerned. However, if you feel your Tablo is dangerously hot, please disconnect it immediately and contact Tablo Support.
Cons mentioned:
Software
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Good device but non-tech fam members aren't fans
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great way to avoid channels that are from time to time blocked by cable providers who fail in negotiating with the channels for an extended period. Cox media vs Verizon was blacked out for almost two months. The installation was very touch-and-go, with many failed steps that seemed to work themselves out with multiple tries. The installation software is a bit chancy and not very mature (compared to the Roku), but eventually this device works like a charm. The only problem with this device was that on one TV (a 49 inch Sony XBR in the bedroom) the recordings appears to be 15 fps rather than 30 fps while on another TV purchased the same year (an OLED), the movement appears silky smooth. And of course, switching to the Tablo just to see one channel was a little too much for other family members.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use
Cons mentioned:
Performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Almost Perfect
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Set up is easy except for one minor glitch. On the page where you have to hit next, which is right next to the terms and conditions link, they are so close together that it is impossible to select the correct one on smaller tablets and phone screens, if you have the accessibility magnifier on it makes them large enough that they are well separated. This will solve the problem. If you connect this machine through a Chromecast with Google TV, it is best never to let the Chromecast be turned off, because if it does turn off for several hours the Tablo will develop glitches that require it to be rebooted. Sometimes, the live TV schedule will not display a full two weeks, but it usually does. I have had two recordings that could not be watched. On one faulty recording, the sound and picture were not coordinated and of such poor quality that it was barely watchable, and after 6 minutes into the show, it simply would not go any farther. I know that the original transmission was fine. Because I recorded it on another mashane.. On the other recording That I could not play back, I simply got a message that the recording could not be decoded. There is a little bit of buffering occasionally when fast forwarding or reversing. I bought the four tuner Tablo to replace a three tuner system that I have had for seventeen years. My old system also has occasional glitches, so I'm certain I can tolerate a slight amount of imperfection. I'm giving this 5 stars because the price is so low. If this were a two hundred dollar system, I would only give it four stars. For comparison, my old three tuner system cost me a thousand dollars seventeen years ago.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Recording
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Good product--fair support
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Works well recording broadcast tv so that you can watch when convenient and skip commercials. Has apps for a number of different devices.
However, if you need to use their ROKU app I would caution you. Earlier this year the app stopped working. I had to work with support for a week trying to find a fix. They finally gave up and a couple of days later it started working again. Worked fine for 6 months but recently stopping working again. Their support wants me to do a lot of troubleshooting on my end. I suggested they look at my previous case and apply that solution again. They refuse to do that.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
A Pain to Set Up Due to Software Glitches
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I upgraded from a Legacy Tablo to this 4th gen model when my old one started to fail. The setup process for this new one (registering an account, dowloading firmware updates, etc.) was so buggy, glitchy and frustrating that I was a whisker away from returning it for a refund. I'm pretty tech savvy and it took over an hour and multiple attempts for what should have been at most a 5-10 minute setup due to problems with the Tablo portal and their servers. Until your account is set-up you can't do anything with the device. Now that my Tablo is finally working the picture and sound quality of OTA recordings is noticeably better than my old Tablo, so that's good. Note that it takes a long time (plan on overnight) for the program guide to fully populate, and until it does you lose some functionality to set recordings. The need to be constantly connected on-line to Tablo's program guide servers is the biggest weakness in this device in my opinion. In the past Tablo has been pretty good about doing frequent software/firmware updates to fix these types of issues, but its pretty disappointing to still see these set-up problems on a product that's been on the market for a couple of years now.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Tablo TV
Posted .
Sorry you ran into those setup issues.
You may be happy to hear that the 4th Generation Tablo does have an offline mode which should kick in should your internet go down.
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Setup
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent Device
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great item for cutting the cable or Satellite cords. This little device plugs into your ethernet or existing coax cables and gives you all the TV channels you could want. Very easy to set up and run and doesn't cost you anything more than the device and your tiem.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
OUTSTANDING PRODUCT !!!!
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Tablo Product Review Outstanding Performance and Convenience!
I’ve been using the Tablo for some time now, and I must say it has completely exceeded my expectations in both quality and convenience. From setup to everyday use, the experience has been smooth, intuitive, and truly user-friendly.
The Tablo makes it effortless to access and record live TV without the hassle of monthly fees or complicated equipment. The picture quality is crystal clear, and the ability to pause, rewind, and record shows brings an on-demand experience to free over-the-air channels. I also love how easy it is to stream my favorite programs to multiple devices — whether on my TV, phone, or tablet — all with seamless connectivity and reliability.
The Tablo app interface is clean and well-designed, making navigation simple and enjoyable. Recording and playback options are highly customizable, and the performance has been rock solid with zero buffering or signal drops.
In an age where streaming costs continue to rise, Tablo is a refreshing and smart solution — offering high-quality entertainment with incredible flexibility at an unbeatable value. It’s the perfect blend of innovation, practicality, and performance.
I highly recommend Tablo to anyone looking for a dependable, modern, and cost-effective way to enjoy live TV and DVR functionality. It’s one of the best tech investments I’ve made — five stars all the way! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Tablo TV
Posted .
That's great to hear!
We're glad you feel that way.
Pros mentioned:
Dvr, Setup
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Easy to use for OTA TV
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Setup was very easy. So far so good with the dvr function. The apps for Apple, Firesticks and Samsung TV's are working great. It is connected to an old antenna in the attic and has better reception than my old Fire Recast box.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Storage
Cons mentioned:
Software
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Good product but needs a little “Polish”
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
First let me say I would buy this again. I 100% support their direction of providing the listings for free as well as the built in storage for recording programs. It has everything you need out of the box to work as intended.
Their software needs some work but the issues aren’t serious and Tablo should be able to correct the things that need fixing. I have the app running on ROKU, Google TV and Nvidia Shield. The software issues are almost always when you first turn on the TV. It seems to have trouble connecting to the tuner but once connected it works well.
Bottom line … the software needs some “polish” but I’m happy with the product and would recommend!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Tablo TV
Posted .
Hi MatthewY- We are so happy to hear that you are loving Tablo! We are constantly working to give you the best user experience and we appreciate your feedback. If you ever have issues know that our knowledge base articles and support team are a great resource!
Pros mentioned:
Recording, Setup
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Tablo-4th Generation a great OTA DVR
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought the Tablo to replace an old Channel Master that stopped working. The 4 channel was hard to find but Best Buy had me covered! The unit was easy to setup on my phone and FireSticks. The Tablo doesn't work directly with my Samsung or LG smart TV's. There is an App update coming to update that so I'll be able to use it without the FireStick. It's great to be able to view the TV guide, and schedule recordings, on either the TV or the Tablo phone app. The only issue so far is I haven't been able to get the the Tablo app on my wife's phone to connect so she can view the guide. All in all a great DVR for over the air TV.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Setup, Storage
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Good hardware-software in development
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Bought this to replace Directv with OTA and a streaming service or two.
Added a 2tb hard drive and Mohu antenna, hard wired the Tablo to router (fiber internet).
Followed instructions to load updates, format drive and scan for channels. Relatively easy setup, then added Tablo TV app to our Roku Express 4k+ and setup shows to record, mostly for my wife who will be main user on TV in living room.
We will need to add another Roku for second TV as both our TV's are Samsung and Tablo has no app for them or PC's yet for 4th gen Tablo's.
The only reason for only 4 stars is lack of apps mentioned and other devices not mentioned.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Recording
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Table 4 tuner 4th Generation
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I really like this tuner. It was a breeze to set up. It did ever for me. Told me what to do as I set it up and put on internet. The reception is great. I hooked it up to antenae and it brought in 145 channels. &2 were streaming. And the recording is excellent thus far. Need improvement on the looks of guide and how you advance the guide. And it need a better reverse and fast forward option. But for the price it is great.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Setup
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Tablo
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Easy to set up and use. Easy to Navigate after downloading the app.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Chipper
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Device is hooked up to an antenna in the attic. Over 120 channels were found. The device communicated better with the house router by not using direct wire. My only concern is that the unit sometimes buffers over 30 seconds before opening up a selected live channel or recorded program. All in all a good way to cut the cord.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Connectivity
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Replaced a previous one
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
We bought this unit to replace one that quit working after a year because we were famimiar with how it works and appreciated our abikity to watch and record up to four channels at a time. There are some frustrations -seems to lose connection on occassion when we stop watching and turn it on later, but a simple reset (unplug and pause about 10-15 sec) and plug in again) and it works fine again. Reviews of other options didn't convince us to switch to a different brand.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Setup
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
Doesn't works as expected, too many issues
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I was very excited when ordered this device, thinking and planning the replacement of my 4-Tuner 1TB Fire TV Recast that works but sometimes disappears from my LAN and also only works with Fire TV streaming devices.
Received the Tablo today and I setup took about 30 minutes for installation, firmware update and channel scan, plus install of the App in all my Android TV devices and a couple of Fire TV Cube. Everything is connected by Ethernet(Wired), no Wi-Fi.
The first thing I noticed is there's no channel surfing via the remote, you have to scroll using the TV Guide or press down until it shows a list of channels, the UI is not very intuitive.
Main issue, is not very fast when changing OTA channels, takes a few seconds or simply gives you an error or dark screen. Gets very hot, even without usage.
I'm returning it, is not worth the hassle for an unfinished product.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use
Cons mentioned:
Performance
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Not worth the frustration
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Don't buy, at least as of 11/2/25. The basic setup is very nice if it wasn't so glitchy. I love the new app and recording options, but it is plagued with decode errors that do not auto retry (I have to click on "retry" and video will resume until the error occurs again). I've received constant errors on strong strength antenna channels and even on streaming channels that have nothing to do with antenna strength. My old Tablo still works fine and the WIFI strength in this room is excellent. I wish I could bill Tablo for all the diagnostic time I've put in. I've finally given up on it and taking it back for a refund.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Storage
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Everything I need!
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Cutting the cord with this made the transition easy. I live near Atlanta and have plenty of OTA channels available. The free ones available from Tablo are a great perk! With the four tuner version I am able to record 4 different OTA shows plus 4 of the streaming channels at the same time. I added an external 2 tarabyte HD that is probably 7 years old and it works great. After using it for about a month there are a couple of things that should be added to the user experience but they are not anything that make me regret this solution. I would buy it again without hesitation. Using it with T-Mobile home internet with no complaints