What is an android stream box

What is an Android TV box and should you buy one?

Find out the best way to upgrade your TV for cheap.

This competition is now closed

Published: Wednesday, 10th February 2021 at 1:10 pm

An Android TV box allows you to stream shows or movies onto any TV, including those that don’t have smart capabilities.

Android TV boxes are a little less common in the UK compare to across the pond, with many of us choosing the smaller streaming stick over these bigger TV boxes.

A smart TV stick and Android TV box work much in the same way; by plugging into the back of a TV so that you can wave goodbye to watching all your favourite shows on your tiny tablet screen.

However, as the name suggests, all Android TV boxes run on the Android operating system, rather than those designed by Apple or Roku.

In this guide, we will do our best answer the most common questions about Android TV boxes including how they work, whether they’re worth the money and list some of the most popular Android smart TV box brands.

An Android TV box isn’t the only way to upgrade your TV, read our guide on Roku vs Fire TV Stick to find out more. Or, try our round-up of the best streaming devices.

What is an Android TV box?

An Android TV box is a streaming device that you can plug into your TV to be able to watch streaming services, such as Netflix, which are typically only available on portable devices such as laptops, tablets and phones, or on smart TVs. These TV boxes are also sometimes known as streaming players or set-top boxes.

How does an Android TV box work?

Much like a NOW TV Stick or Google Chromecast, an Android TV box plugs into the back of a TV via the HDMI port. However, once plugged in an Android TV box will look and feel different to a NOW TV Stick or other devices because they operate on different systems.

The Android operating system can also be customised so while brands like Nvidia and Xiaomi use the same basis for their streaming player, the homepage will likely look very different.

Once the box is set up, various streaming services and apps can then be accessed on your TV, rather than on a tablet or laptop, and no casting is required.

Can you watch normal TV on an Android TV box?

The streaming services, on-demand services and apps you can access will vary depending on the brand of Android TV box. For example, the homepage of the Amazon’s Fire TV devices has a live TV tab where you can access apps to watch TV including BBC iPlayer, All4 and My5.

Many of these apps require you to create an account, but are free to watch. However, if you want to watch live football on an Amazon Fire TV Stick that does require a Prime Video membership, which costs £3.99 a month.

Android TV box or smart TV stick: which is better?

Smart TV sticks have become increasingly popular due to their small size and portability. Android TV boxes, on the other hand, tend to be bigger and a little more difficult to hide on a TV stand.

The size of the device can correspond to how powerful it is. For example, many of the most popular Android TV boxes offer 4K streaming or gaming capabilities, while this is only offered on mid-range or more expensive smart TV sticks.

However, even most 4K smart TV sticks are considerably cheaper than an Android TV box. The starting price for an Android TV box is £80 and it can go as high as £200. When smart TV sticks can be as cheap as £30, it is easy to see why you might choose a smart TV stick over a more expensive TV box, especially when both devices are primarily used to give a new lease of life to an already old TV.

Therefore, it largely comes down to weighing up your budget against streaming quality how powerful you would like the device to be.

If it is just for a small TV in the spare room, a smart TV stick like Roku Premiere would do a fine job for £39.99. Otherwise, you may prefer to invest in a device that’s powerful enough to game on or have more sophisticated voice recognition technology like the Amazon Fire TV Cube or Nvidia Shield TV Pro.

• For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides.

Popular Android TV boxes to buy in 2021

Interested in buying an Android TV box? Here are some of the most popular Android TV boxes available right now.

Nvidia Shield TV Pro

With Dolby Vision and Atmos, the Nvidia Shield TV Pro streams in 4K HDR. Google Assistant is built-in to allow you to control your TV with your voice. And if you’ve tried out previous Nvidia Shield devices, you’ll be pleased to know that this Android smart TV box is 25 per cent faster than its predecessor thanks to the Nvidia Tegra X1+ processor.

Amazon Fire TV Cube

A smart TV stick and Amazon Echo smart speaker combined, the Fire TV Cube is Amazon’s most powerful TV device. A great option for anyone with more Amazon subscriptions than they can keep track of with navigation made easy thanks to voice assistant Alexa. Read our full Amazon Fire TV Cube review.

For those looking to spend a little less, the Amazon Fire TV Stick offers access to the same apps, channels and streaming services in HD streaming quality.

Xiaomi Mi TV Box S

You may be more familiar with Xiaomi’s phones than TV boxes but the Xiaomi Mi TV Box S gives you access to a range of apps including Netflix, YouTube, and Google Play. This Android smart TV box offers 4K streaming and built-in Google Assistant means you can navigate the TV box via voice commands.

For the latest tech news, guides and deals, check out the technology section. Wondering what to watch? Visit our TV Guide.

Источник

What Is An Android TV Box & What Are They For?

You’ve probably heard a lot of different things about Android TV boxes from people trying to sell you one.

They’re magic. They let you get any show you’ve ever seen and could ever want to watch.

Today, we’re going to set the record straight and talk about just what an Android TV box is (and isn’t) and what they’re used for.

What is an Android TV Box and What Are They For?

An Android TV box is another name for a streaming device that specifically runs on the Android operating system.

Depending on where you live, you’ll hear them called a bunch of different names, but they all refer to the same thing.

• TV box
• Streaming player
• Media player
• HTPC (Home Theatre PC)
• Kodi Box
• IPTV box
• Set Top Box

No matter what you call it, each of these devices does basically the same thing. They all let you stream content to your television, either from the internet or another device on your network.

That’s really all there is to it.

We’ll get into why all of the different names in a bit, but for now, let’s look at what you can do with an Android TV box…no matter what you call it,

What Can an Android TV Box do?

If you’ve got an Android phone or tablet, then you’re already familiar with everything that an Android box can do.

• You can stream movies from Netflix or Disney+.
• Watch live TV through Sling or Hulu
• Listen to music through Spotify or Apple Music
• Catch up on the news with BBC, CNN or Fox News
• Play games, using your PS4 or Xbox One controller
• Watch my personal movie collection with Kodi or Plex
• Control your home with Google Assistant
• And much more!

Android TV boxes have access to the Google Play Store and other app stores like Aptoide TV so you can install any of over 40 MILLION APPS!

How Does An Android TV Box Work?

Believe it or not, an Android TV box is easier to hook up than your DVD player.

It connects to the internet to grab content from an app or local machine on your home network. So you do need to have an internet connection (or access to one) to make them work.

It then sends that content to your television through an HDMI cable.

When I said it was easier to install than your DVD player, I meant it. You can actually set up an Android TV box with as little as two cables (HDMI and power).

Because they use the same apps as you have on your Android phone, you can usually transfer content between the two. For example, you can start a video on YouTube on your phone and then cast it to your Android TV box to play on your big screen television.

Can an Android TV Box Work On Any TV?

Well I’m sure that there are SOME televisions that you can’t connect an Android TV box to, but they’ll work on almost every modern TV.

All you need to connect your Android TV box to your TV is an HDMI port. They started appearing on televisions back in 2004

Portable televisions or older TV’s and monitors that don’t have an HDMI port could be a problem. If your TV has a composite (red, white & yellow), component (red, green, blue) or VGA ports (PC monitor) then there are adapters that you can buy to bridge the gap.

What Apps Work on an Android TV Box?

Android TV boxes can use any apps designed for Android TV’s (more on them later).

Those apps are specifically designed for large format, 4K or 1080p screens. More importantly, they’re designed to work with a remote control.

Most people don’t have a touchscreen television, so swiping on your TV is only going to put fingerprints on it.

But here’s the good news: There are over 40 million apps designed for Android devices and you can install any of them on an Android TV box.

There’s one huge caveat with that statement: Most apps were designed for your phone’s 1080 x 1920 resolution. They might not upscale to your TV’s 1080p or 4K resolution.

What this looks like is probably not what you’re thinking. Many apps will appear letterboxed with big black bars on either side. You lose some screen on each side, so it’s not the best looking experience.

There are a few app stores that are specifically for Android TV like the Aptoide TV store that can help you find the apps you want.

Android TV Box vs. Android TV

I’m going to throw you for a loop here, so stay with me.

Android TV is NOT THE SAME as an Android TV box!

And it gets better…

Some devices, like the Nvidia Shield TV are BOTH and Android TV box and running Android TV!

We’ve already seen that an Android TV box is just a streaming box that runs the Android operating system. So what’s the difference between Android TV vs Android TV box?

To understand the difference, we need to know what Android TV is first.

What is Android TV?

Google has been trying to gain a foothold in your home for years. When Android TV came out in 2014, it was already their second attempt at creating an operating system specifically designed for your television.

When Chromecast came out in 2013, most people thought that Google had given up on the idea of an operating system truly designed for a television. But it turns out they were just biding their time until they unveiled Android TV the following year.

We’ll talk about Chromecast in a little bit, so stay tuned.

Since it came out, most television manufacturers have started putting some sort of media center on their televisions.Most of them are just stripped down versions that can only open specific apps.

My Samsung TV has a ribbon along the bottom that can open YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and a few others. But if I wanted to install Disney+ for example, I’m out of luck.

By contrast, Android TV is a full-fledged operating system that gives you the flexibility to add whatever apps you like.

Now for the confusing part…

Android TV comes on media streamers like the Nvidia Shield as well as televisions. That’s why the Shield TV is BOTH an Android TV box AND Android TV.

In reality, it’s not something that you need to put a lot of thought into. The average user will be able to do a majority of things on either device.

Android TV Box vs. TV Box vs. Kodi Box

It’s common for people in different parts of the world to have different names for things. Android TV boxes are no exception.

As I mentioned earlier, the same device can be called a TV box, media streamers, IPTV boxes or a host of other names, depending on where you are.

The most common of them are Android TV Box (or just TV box) or Kodi Box.

Because they run on the Android OS, it’s common to hear them called Android TV boxes, or simply TV boxes, throughout the world. Occasionally you’ll hear other devices like a set-top box or cable box simply called TV boxes as well, but that’s incorrect.

A set-top box or cable box is the device that your cable company gives you so they can make sure you’re legally using their service. In the past, you used to have one cable box per television, but some companies will let you use one box per household.

We’ve already talked about how an Android TV box is more like a Roku or Amazon Fire TV than your old cable box. In fact, the Amazon Fire TV IS a type of Android TV box because it runs a customized version of Android 6 (source).

If you live in Europe, you’re probably used to hearing Android boxes called Kodi boxes or Kodi players. Kodi, which was originally called XBMC for Xbox Media Center, is one of the most popular media centers in the world. Similar to Plex, Kodi lets you access your own media from a local machine on your network.

What made Kodi so popular is the open-source addons that its community developed to stream movies and TV shows from the Internet directly. According to the MPAA, there were approximately 38 million Kodi users throughout the world. Many of them used some sort of Android box to stream their content, so it’s no wonder that people started calling them ‘Kodi boxes.’

No matter what you call it, they all do the same thing: stream content to your television.

Android TV box vs Amazon Fire TV

As I said earlier, the Amazon Fire TV is a type of Android TV box. That goes for all different versions of the Fire TV by the way.

According to Amazon, a Fire TV is any device that runs their specific version (or ‘fork’) of the Android OS. Fire OS 5 was the first one to come out and is based on Android 5.1 (Lollipop). Fire OS 6 is based on Android 7.1 (Nougat).

Both are specifically optimized for their hardware so the performance is good, even though they’re very old versions of Android.

Android TV box vs Chromecast

The Chromecast is a special beast, even though it was also designed by Google.

Chromecasts are primarily designed to take content from your phone or computer and display it (cast it) to your television.

There’s a new Chromecast with Google TV which has a version of Android TV on it, but it just came out in late 2020.

Many televisions have Chromecast built-in. For those that don’t, you can buy an inexpensive device that looks like an HDMI dongle with a small hockey puck on the end.

I have a Chromecast on one of my older televisions and it’s built-in to my living room TV. I don’t use it very often, but it’s useful when I find a video on my phone that I want to share with everyone else in the room.

Content is limited to the major apps: YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, etc.. You’re not allowed to install your own apps, so if you want to watch something different, you’re out of luck.

Android TV Box FAQ

Are TV boxes legal?

Absolutely. Even though the major manufacturers and movie studios hate Android TV boxes, they’re perfectly legal. But, like most things, you can do illegal things with them and that could get you into trouble.

It’s easy to find news articles about dodgy Android boxes where you can stream movies that are still in the theatres directly to your living room television. And, in fairness, you can configure any of these devices to do that. Depending on where you live, that may not be entirely legal. But if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s pretty easy to do because these devices are so flexible and tweakable.

At their core though, an Android TV box is just a media player.

Are Android TV boxes free?

Android TV boxes aren’t free, but they’re not expensive either. Most range in price from $50 all the way up to $150. Anything more than that had better be cutting edge technology or come from a company that provides excellent service.

It’s common to see scammers at county fairs or flea markets trying to sell Android boxes for $300-$400 each. Their sales pitch is that you can get ‘free movies and TV for life.’

Don’t fall for it. They’re not selling you anything that you couldn’t do on your own by following a video tutorial on YouTube.

Where to Buy Android TV Boxes

Although there are many different companies that make Android TV boxes, you can actually find a pretty decent selection of them on Amazon. If you live outside the United States, there are companies like Geek Buying or GearBest that will ship anywhere in the world.

I recommend digging a little deeper and trying to find a really good company to buy directly from the source. Going through the manufacturer will usually get you better support and firmware updates. When there’s a new model coming out, it’s common to see them offer discounts for existing customers as well.

Tim Wells got his first computer at the age of ten and hasn’t stopped tinkering ever since. After discovering Android TV boxes in 2013, he created a popular Android PC Review website and guided it to over 8 million pageviews before stepping away in 2018. After a brief hiatus from the industry he’s back at the helm of AndroidTVNews.com to bring Android TV and TV boxes to the forefront of the streaming world. When he’s not writing, he spends as much time as he can with his beautiful wife and his bulldog.

Recent Posts

When I set up a brand-new Android TV box, the first app I install is always the Downloader app. Every. Single. Time. You see, there are a few apps that aren’t available on the Google.

The NVIDIA Shield TV is already one of the fastest Android TV devices on the planet. But if you’re like me, you always want a little more speed, right? Then this article is for you. I’ve.

About Me

Hi! My name is Tim Wells and welcome to Android TV News! Back in 2013, I bought my first Android TV box and I’ve been using TV boxes and Android TV’s ever since. In this site, I’m sharing all the tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years, so you don’t want to miss it.

Read My Story report this ad

Источник