Best Android TV Boxes Review
1. Amazon Fire TV: flexible, stable and easily available
Amazon Fire TV may not look like an Android device at first glance, but under Amazon's custom interface it beats the Google operating system. Because it runs on Android, you can easily install Kodi on Amazon Fire TV and load any other apps you may want to run.
You can find older and cheaper models of Amazon Fire TV on eBay or through other retailers but, if you buy from Amazon, you will receive the 2017 model. The difference, in addition to the price, is the tasty allure of 4K video output. It also boasts a faster processor and 2 GB of RAM to keep things running smoothly.
2. Nvidia Shield TV (2017): the player's choice
The 2015 Nvidia Shield TV was already the best Android TV device dedicated around and among the best Android TV boxes on the market in terms of flexibility and functionality. Now, with the 2017 model, Nvidia has managed to cram even further by reducing the size of the device, grouping it into a remote control and updating the Bluetooth gaming controller in the process. What was once the king of the Android TV box is now the only device worth watching if you want games, streaming and maximum Android flexibility.
Many of the new additions have also come to the original Nvidia Shield TV software side, so you should not update if you already have one. It is still powered by the incredible Tegra X1 mobile chip - capable of producing silky and smooth 4K videos and even playing games like Gamecube and Wii (provided you have an emulator handy). The 2017 model may have removed the microSD storage but, since it now works with Android 7 Nougat, it is possible to connect an external USB 3 drive and format it so that it runs as internal memory: we had a 4 TB disk with a small problem.
Nvidia has also announced that it will release a remote-only TV Shield bundle. This turns it from being a device focused on games into a versatile Android TV box capable of streaming 4K HDR.
3. Amazon Fire TV Stick: small, but not without problems
If you're looking for a decent Android TV box solution, the new Amazon Fire TV Stick is the perfect answer. Working in the same way as Amazon Fire TV, this small HDMI dongle can be loaded with Kodi and connected to the back of the TV so you can transmit content without a black box positioned under the display.
With portability, however, functionality sacrifices arrive. Compared to the Fire TV, the Fire TV Stick has no expandable memory and only has 1 GB of RAM. This makes it a little more complicated to make Kodi work reliably, even if it is still feasible, but it is much cheaper, so the extra hassle may be worth it. Fire TV Stick is not broadcast in 4K, although a 4K-compatible flash drive is available in the US, it now comes with Alexa's support to make Amazon's search for services a little easier.
4. GEM Box: pocket Kodi power
Emtech's GEM Box is perfect for those who want to play light Android games on a TV or broadcast PC titles on the big screen. It's also great to have a compact and low-cost Android TV box and streaming. Not only does it come with Aptoide - an alternative to Google Play - it also supports Kodi and its various builds, so it's easy to install and access Kodi content. The real disadvantage is its interface to the rather complex app, since not all Android apps work well with the GEM Box controller. This is easily solved if you like to spray an extra £ 30 on the optional remote - but you should be fine.
5. Q-Box 4K: convenient and feature-rich Kodi device
It's always hard to recommend the Android TV boxes that seem a little ambiguous and come from relatively obscure producers, but the Tonbux Q-Box offers loads of features for a reasonable amount of money. Although there are no guarantees that come with the build quality of the boxes Amazon, Nvidia or Emtech, the Q-Box offers up to 4K content, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of integrated memory, optical audio output and compatibility with the external storage.
To make things even simpler, the Q-Box is preloaded with Netflix, YouTube and Kodi. You can then add new Kodi builds easily and do not worry about the initial Kodi installation process. Not bad, really. Best Android TV Boxes Review
You can find older and cheaper models of Amazon Fire TV on eBay or through other retailers but, if you buy from Amazon, you will receive the 2017 model. The difference, in addition to the price, is the tasty allure of 4K video output. It also boasts a faster processor and 2 GB of RAM to keep things running smoothly.
2. Nvidia Shield TV (2017): the player's choice
The 2015 Nvidia Shield TV was already the best Android TV device dedicated around and among the best Android TV boxes on the market in terms of flexibility and functionality. Now, with the 2017 model, Nvidia has managed to cram even further by reducing the size of the device, grouping it into a remote control and updating the Bluetooth gaming controller in the process. What was once the king of the Android TV box is now the only device worth watching if you want games, streaming and maximum Android flexibility.
Many of the new additions have also come to the original Nvidia Shield TV software side, so you should not update if you already have one. It is still powered by the incredible Tegra X1 mobile chip - capable of producing silky and smooth 4K videos and even playing games like Gamecube and Wii (provided you have an emulator handy). The 2017 model may have removed the microSD storage but, since it now works with Android 7 Nougat, it is possible to connect an external USB 3 drive and format it so that it runs as internal memory: we had a 4 TB disk with a small problem.
Nvidia has also announced that it will release a remote-only TV Shield bundle. This turns it from being a device focused on games into a versatile Android TV box capable of streaming 4K HDR.
3. Amazon Fire TV Stick: small, but not without problems
If you're looking for a decent Android TV box solution, the new Amazon Fire TV Stick is the perfect answer. Working in the same way as Amazon Fire TV, this small HDMI dongle can be loaded with Kodi and connected to the back of the TV so you can transmit content without a black box positioned under the display.
With portability, however, functionality sacrifices arrive. Compared to the Fire TV, the Fire TV Stick has no expandable memory and only has 1 GB of RAM. This makes it a little more complicated to make Kodi work reliably, even if it is still feasible, but it is much cheaper, so the extra hassle may be worth it. Fire TV Stick is not broadcast in 4K, although a 4K-compatible flash drive is available in the US, it now comes with Alexa's support to make Amazon's search for services a little easier.
4. GEM Box: pocket Kodi power
Emtech's GEM Box is perfect for those who want to play light Android games on a TV or broadcast PC titles on the big screen. It's also great to have a compact and low-cost Android TV box and streaming. Not only does it come with Aptoide - an alternative to Google Play - it also supports Kodi and its various builds, so it's easy to install and access Kodi content. The real disadvantage is its interface to the rather complex app, since not all Android apps work well with the GEM Box controller. This is easily solved if you like to spray an extra £ 30 on the optional remote - but you should be fine.
5. Q-Box 4K: convenient and feature-rich Kodi device
It's always hard to recommend the Android TV boxes that seem a little ambiguous and come from relatively obscure producers, but the Tonbux Q-Box offers loads of features for a reasonable amount of money. Although there are no guarantees that come with the build quality of the boxes Amazon, Nvidia or Emtech, the Q-Box offers up to 4K content, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of integrated memory, optical audio output and compatibility with the external storage.
To make things even simpler, the Q-Box is preloaded with Netflix, YouTube and Kodi. You can then add new Kodi builds easily and do not worry about the initial Kodi installation process. Not bad, really. Best Android TV Boxes Review
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