Acer isn’t the first name that springs to mind when you think “streaming box,” but there’s now room for change. 9to5Google just found a pre-order page for the Acer 4K UHD — also known as AiTV — the company’s first entry into the Google TV Box race. And, honestly? We’re here for it.

What it is and how it looks

And where you can get it

A render of the AiTV Acer Google TV Box

Source: Android Authority

Officially launched in South Africa for now (with a modest price tag equal to about $80), Acer’s first stab at a Google TV box is making a statement where others have been playing it safe. Instead of trimming down ports like it’s a design trend, Acer goes full-on connectivity buffet: USB-A, USB-C, Ethernet, microSD, HDMI, and even S/PDIF Optical Audio for the home theater diehards. There’s also a dedicated power input, which means the USB-C port stays free for actual utility — something far too rare in this product space.

Inside, the AiTV runs on an Amlogic S905X5 chip (quad-core Cortex-A510 with a Mali-G310 GPU) and even tosses in a 4 TOPS TPU for AI upscaling and smoother performance. You also get Wi-Fi 6 for solid wireless throughput. But it’s the RAM situation that has us raising an eyebrow. Acer’s press release touts 3GB, while the pre-order page lists 2GB. If it does ship with 3GB, that’s a huge win; 2GB just doesn’t cut it anymore, especially for anyone juggling multiple apps or streaming services. Fingers crossed the better spec makes it out of South Africa — if it makes it out at all.

Designwise, it’s a fairly minimal white box with Acer branding tucked in a corner and a remote that follows Google’s reference design. Expect the usual suspects on the shortcut buttons: YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube Music, plus a big “Live TV” button if you’re still living that linear lifestyle.

Acer might be new to the Google TV game, but the AiTV shows it isn’t just testing the waters. It’s cannonballing in with more ports and performance promise than most of the competition. Let’s just hope this little powerhouse doesn’t stay stuck in regional limbo. Because honestly, the global market could use a bit more of what Acer’s cooking.