Unfortunately, I am a stupid customer of Airtel who uses all it’s major products - Broadband, DTH, Postpaid Mobile(2 nos.) and a sufferer of its pathetic customer services.
Few months back I ported 2 mobiles from Vodafone to Airtel and with the family rental plan I got 1 year subscriptions of Amazon Prime and Zee5. I used the Amazon Prime, but not Zee5.
Now, on 29-Feb-2020 in a bad moment of decision I purchased the Airtel XStream Box to upgrade from my HD box by paying Rs. 2249. The box was installed quickly. Then started the ordeal of BAD, in fact PATHETIC customer service of Airtel. Read below to know more about the Pros and Cons of Airtel XStream and Cons and only Cons of Airtel DTH Customer Service.
Customer Service:
Sales guy confirmed me that the XStream box comes with 1 year of subscription of Amazon Prime and Zee5. But when the box was ready to use, installed the Zee5 app and created a login with the same mobile no. there was no subscription found because app was asking me to make a payment for the subscription.
Next I called 121 and the customer service agent was quick to declare that it is not her issue and she can’t do anything about it. She advised me to contact Zee5 despite the fact the XStream Box and subscription was sold to me by Airtel and not Zee. Then I spoke with the Team Lead who took me to Airtel Thanks App and used the Zee5 subscription offer that came with my mobile rental and was unused.
When the subscription showed up on TV, it showed only for 1 month. The XStream box didn’t come with Zee5 subscription and the subscription that came with my mobile rental was for 1 month only, not for 1 year.
Therefore, at both ends Airtel is fooling customers who are paying high for their poor products and pathetic customer service.
Like it or not Airtel gives no way to return this darn product and go back to the previous HD box.
Airtel XStream Review:
PROs:
Make your non-smart TV an Android based smart TV.
Box looks good.
Remote is bluetooth enabled and hence works from any direction.
Fresh GUI and brings all contents of TV and Internet apps are brought together at one place.
CONs:
Picture freezes for a few seconds when TV channel is changed. It didn’t happen in my previous HD Box.
Although there is availability of Parental Control and screening of Mature content, but nothing works. It shows mature contents and advertisement of Adult Web Series on the Home screen. There is no way to remove such Ads / contents / banners. I have never used such apps, nor do I intend to but my family and children at home are subjected to see them and get intimidated to watch them. This is the most disgusting thing that angers me whenever I start surfing the box to watch something.
Sales guy said that I can attach external SD card to increase memory or USB drive to watch contents. Neither of them work. Although it shows a popup about the USB drive, but there is no way to browse the contents of it.
Even after 84 hours my profile on the XStream box with my Customer ID, RTN and pack details are not updated.
I use a 55" Samsung FHD Smart TV with incredible picture quality, but unlike the claim of Airtel the XStream box is not giving me any enhancement. In fact online picture quality is inferior to my TVs direct online picture quality. Airtel claims 4K picture quality but in fact the quality is not more than 720p. FYI, I have a 100 MBPS Airtel broadband and all the apps are 1060p HD enabled.
VERDICT: STAY AWAY FROM AIRTEL XSTREAM BOX AND SAVE YOUR MONEY, TIME, EFFORT AND FRUSTRATION FOR OTHER PROBLEMS OF YOUR LIFE.