I’ve been having this issue for some time, but it’s time to face it. What are the best Android TV Box that we can find today? The offer is shockingly broad, so today we will try to shed some light and perspective on the world of “smart boxes” for TV.
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The first thing to say is that the quality of the TV Boxes varies considerably according to their price. Although depending on the use we want to give, it is possible that an economic model is enough for us.
The 10 best Android TV Box of the moment – 4K playback, HDR, Netflix and much more
The world of Android TV is not a market that evolves too much, and for a couple of years, more or less, we can find the same devices topping the list of the best within its guild.
It is advisable to point out that, with the exception of honorable exceptions (Nvidia or Xiaomi), most TV Boxes have quite deficient controls for something other than navigating the Android menu and playing content from a pen drive.
If you want to have a full experience and navigation, it is best to buy a good wireless keyboard or an air mouse. They do not usually cost more than 10 dollars, and the change is really drastic.
Now, let’s take a look at the best devices to bring Android into the living room TV and turn it into a smart TV with all the letters. Let’s start!
1 # Nvidia Shield Android TV
The Nvidia Shield is the Ferrari of the Android TV Boxes. It is a device that is more oriented to video games, but its function of Android TV fulfills it perfectly. A good interface, an excellent design, compatible with almost all streaming applications of the moment and a remote (in addition to a gamepad itself) ideal to navigate.
- Nvidia Tegra X1 processor
- 3GB of RAM.
- 16GB or 500GB of internal storage.
- Android TV Operating System (Android 7.0).
- Support 4K HDR or HD 1080p.
- HDMI port, 2 USB 3.0 ports, micro USB, micro SD and Ethernet port.
- We can stream from PC and play directly on TV (Nvidia GameStream).
- Support for Nvidia GeForce NOW.
Approximate price * – $198.79 (see Amazon )
2 # Xiaomi Mi TV Box
If we look for an Android TV Box a little cheaper, one of the best options is the Xiaomi box. One of its greatest functionalities are the voice commands – through the microphone included in the remote control. In addition, it is one of the few Android TV that is officially approved to play 4K content on Netflix. An easy-to-use interface and navigation complete the picture of virtues of this interesting device.
- 64-bit Cortex-A53 4-core processor running at 2.0GHz.
- 2GB of RAM.
- 8GB of internal storage.
- Android 6.0.
- Support 4K HDR at 60fps.
- A USB 2.0 port and HDMI output.
- Bluetooth 4.1 + EDR connection.
- Supports 5G WiFi.
Approximate price * – $ 80.99.05 / € 55.99 (see Amazon / GearBest)
3 # MECOOL BB2 PRO
The MECOOL BB2 PRO is the last TV Box that has entered the house and the truth is that I am very satisfied with it. It has the perfect hardware combination to be able to move everything you are asked for – an Amlogic S912 Octa Core CPU, 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal space. In addition, it has WiFi antenna and dual-band WiFi connection (2.4G + 5G).
With these components and a good command we can see streaming content from Netflix, YouTube, KODI, listen to music on Spotify and play classic emulators to perfection.
- Play content in 4K, and has HDR and H.265 HEVC.
- Android 7.1.
- 2 USB ports, micro SD card slot, HDMI, AV, an optical port, and Ethernet.
- Mali-T820 GPU.
- Dual WiFi 2.4GHz + 5.0GHz.
- Bluetooth 4.0
Approximate price * – $ 90.68 (see on GearBest )
4 # Amazon Fire TV Stick
The truth is that “the spike” Amazon is not an Android TV Box as such. It has its own system and uses the Amazon app store. However, it is a good option if all we want is a device that allows streaming content from Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Movistar + and use a few apps without too many complications. It is not very powerful, but at least, what it does well.
- CPU MediaTek Quad-Core ARM 1.3 GHz.
- Mali450 GPU.
- 1GB of RAM.
- 8GB of storage.
- 1080p resolution up to 60fps.
- Bluetooth 4.1.
- HDMI output.
Approximate price * – € 59.99 (see Amazon )
5 # A5X Max
This TV Box is the most powerful that we can find in Android TV of Asian origin. It has 4GB of RAM, something that very few devices of this type currently equip. In addition, it accumulates up to 32GB of internal space, great for storing ROMs of emulators, photos, music, and video. It also has a lighter version of 16GB.
- 1 USB 3.0 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports, SD card slot, HDMI, and Ethernet port.
- Rockchip 3328 Quad Core CPU with Cortex A53.
- Mali 450 Penta Core GPU up to 750Mhz.
- Support for video output in 4K.
- HDR10 and HLG modes.
- Android 8.1
Approximate price * – $ 80.99 / $ 76.45 (see on Amazon / GearBest )
6 # Khadas VIM2 Max TV Box
The Khadas VIM2 Max is much more than a simple Android TV Box. It is closer to a Raspberry Pi, both in concept and in usability.
We can install Android and use it as a normal TV Box, or we can install Ubuntu or OpenELEC / LibreELEC and go a step further. Everything will depend on the party we want to take out and the time we are willing to invest in it. The perfect device for fans of experimentation and customization.
- Amlogic S912 CPU Octa Core at 1.5GHz.
- 3GB of DDR4 RAM (also available 2GB version).
- Mali-T820 GPU.
- 64GB of internal space.
- 2 USB 2.0 ports, a USB Type C input to charge the device, SD slot, HDMI output and a LAN port.
- WiFi 2 × 2 MIMO with RSDB.
- 4-bit 4K decoder.
- Programmable MCU.
Approximate price * – $ 139.99 / $ 169.9 (see on GearBest / Amazon)
7 # Tanix TX28 TV Box
The Tanix TX28 is very similar to the A5X Max mentioned a little above, but with a slightly more elegant design and a small LED screen. In addition, it incorporates WiFi antenna – something that will help us receive a better signal if we have the router at a distance.
- RK3328 Octa Core CPU at 1.5GHz (the equivalent to SoC Amlogic S912).
- 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM.
- 32GB of internal storage.
- Android 7.1.
- You can play content in 4K Ultra HD at 60 frames per second.
- Native decoding H.265.
- Support for HLG HDR.
- Dual-band WiFi (2.4G / 5G) and Bluetooth 4.1.
- 1 USB 3.0 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports, micro SD card reader, Ethernet port and HDMI output.
Approximate price * – $ 41.99 / $ 59.99 (see on Amazon / GearBest )
8 # VIDEN W2 Smart TV Box
The best-selling TV Box from Amazon right now. It is a device that is not very powerful, but that can come in handy if all we are looking for is a TV Box that can play multimedia content from an external drive or memory, watch YouTube videos and surf the Internet a bit.
- Processor Amlogic S905W Quad Core.
- 2GB of RAM.
- 16GB of internal space.
- Reproduction 4K UHD.
- Native decoding H.265.
- 2 USB ports.
- Android 7.1.
Approximate price * – $ 45.99 (see Amazon )
9 # Alfawise H96 Pro +
A really versatile TV Box. Alfawise is one of the best-known Chinese brands in the world of TV Boxes, and although it does not develop high-end devices, it moves wonderfully within the most attractive and efficient middle range. This Alfawise H9 Pro + is presented as a smart box with a great value for money.
- Amlogic S912 CPU Octa Core at 2.0GHz.
- 3GB of RAM.
- 32GB of internal storage.
- WiFi dual-band ac (2.4G / 5G).
- Android 7.1.
- Hardware decoding H.265 and HDR.
- Supports Airplay, Miracast, and DLNA.
- 2 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI 2.0 port, Ethernet, AV and SD card reader.
Approximate price * – $ 83.84 – $00.50 (see GearBest)
10 # Beelink GT1 Ultimate
Beelink is another of the great Asian manufacturers of TV Boxes. His most popular device is the Ultimate GT1, a box with serial root, with 3GB of RAM DDR4, the always efficient Octa Core processor Amlogic S912, and 32GB of internal space for apps, games, and files.
- Android 7.1.
- 2 USB ports, micro SD, HDMI, Ethernet.
- WiFi 802.11 dual-band AC.
- UHD 4K at 60fps.
- Supports H.265, and decoding by Hw VP9-10.
- 3D noise reduction filter.
Approximate price * – $ 63.07 / $ 98.99 (see GearBest / Amazon )
Note – The approximate price is the price available at the time of writing this post in the corresponding online stores, such as Amazon, or GearBest.
I notice the X99 android box was not on this list. I have this box long with a Nvidia Shield (16MB internal storage version w a 128 GB flash) and the X99 performs just as well with the 7.1 Nougat OS, 4 GBs of RAM and 32 GBs of internal storage. Another neat feature is it also comes with a remote that has an air mouse built in. It is more flexible in terms of customization than the Nvidia with very stable performance. These X99 boxes seem to be being bought up at a rapid rate and not sure how much longer they’ll be around. It is a better performer than the H96 Pro.