Flipkart has entered into streaming devices segment with the launch of MarQ TurboStream Stick. The popularity for OTT streaming devices in India is growing at a rapid pace and Amazon Fire TV Stick is the most loved streaming dongle right now, thanks to its affordable price. However, other brands are joining the race as well. In September, we saw telecom operator Airtel launching Airtel Xstream Stick, and now, we have Flipkart MarQ TurboStream Stick running Android TV platform. The price of the MarQ TurboStream Stick is Rs 3,499 and it takes on the Amazon Fire TV Stick which is currently retailing for Rs 3,999 in the Indian market. That said, the MarQ TurboStream Stick lacks 4K support which comes as a bummer for many as it may not be a futureproof device.
Flipkart MarQ TurboStream Stick: Features Detailed
Flipkart is slowly entering into a battlefield with Amazon India; Earlier, the e-commerce giant introduced a video streaming service taking on Amazon Prime Video. And now, it has announced a streaming dongle which puts it head-on with the Amazon Fire TV Stick. The price of the Amazon Fire Stick is Rs 3,999 and Flipkart has undercut the price by Rs 500. There's also a premium version of Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K that's available for Rs 5,999.
The TurboStream Stick has been launched by Flipkart's private brand MarQ. Similar to other streaming dongles, the TurboStream Stick converts a standard television to a Smart TV by offering Android TV 9.0 OS. Similar to other Android streaming devices, the TurboStream Stick also comes preloaded with Google Play Store, allowing users to download more than 5000 apps and games for free.
In addition, the Stick also has Netflix, YouTube, Hotstar and other popular OTT apps preinstalled. The voice-enabled remote has dedicated quick launch keys of YouTube and Netflix. For the unaware, in India, it's mandatory for the brands to include a dedicated Netflix button on the remote if their Smart TV or dongle comes preloaded with Netflix. And it continues with the Flipkart MarQ TurboStream Stick.
As for the hardware specs, there's no 4K support which is disappointing to see. The Flipkart MarQ TurboStream Stick offers Full HD resolution at 60fps. It has 8GB of internal storage and 1GB of DDR3 RAM. Connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Chromecast. Other features of the stick include Dolby Digital Audio and Google Assistant support. The remote of Flipkart MarQ TurboStream Stick has a dedicated voice assistant button to do quick voice searches whenever required.
Flipkart Senior Vice President of Private Brands, Electronics and Furniture Adarsh Menon said, “Flipkart’s Private Brands strategy has always focused on helping our consumers realise their aspirations, without having to compromise on design or their budget. Appetite for streaming devices and Smart TVs has been growing in India, particularly outside the top metros.”
Flipkart MarQ TurboStream Stick: Pricing and Availability in India
The Flipkart MarQ TurboStream Stick can be connected to your television via the HDMI port. As for the price, it retails at Rs 3,499 which is the launch price. The product is already available for purchase via Flipkart. In comparison, the non-4K version of the Amazon Fire TV Stick is available at Rs 3,999 on Amazon India right now. The Flipkart MarQ TurboStream Stick runs on Android TV platform, so users can install apps and games directly from the Play Store itself. In the case of Fire TV Stick, there's Amazon App Store for downloading the apps.
