Hello everyone! So, my co-worker just told me about Android and Apple TV boxes. I don't have cable tv because it's ridiculously expensive and this seems to have solved all my problems. Anyways, what can you guys tell me about the differences, what it really is and any hidden costs behind them. Thanks guys! (Also, I'm in alberta, Canada if that makes a difference?)
You might consider waiting for the next-gen Nvidia Shield or Mi Box. It's not clear if Google is going to produce another Android TV box or not. We do not recommend cheap imported non-Android TV devices. This subreddit is not associated with those. This subreddit is about official Android TV devices.
Get an OTA antenna for reliable, high quality HD video, for live events (SuperBowl/Olympics), news, or emergency weather/disaster situations. This is also a good way to offload your TV viewing from your broadband connection. DVRs are an option. Go to TV Fool and post a link to your report in /r/OTA for antenna suggestions. Be sure to mention if you want an indoor, outdoor, or attic antenna and if you want single or multi-room viewing or DVR suggestions.
Don't get Apple tv
Roughly:
Nvidia Shield TV is the best. Supports 4k, 24Hz playback, all the various HD audio codecs can be bitstreamed. You can attach USB HDDs. Has Plex (including a GPU-accelerated transcoding server if you wish), Kodi, and Emby clients. It doesn't come with a normal remote control as part of the standard package.
Apple TV is basic, but functional if you have a lot of other Apple devices - iPads, iPhones etc.. Has Plex and Emby clients. Remote is included, is a touchpad type unit, which I wasn't fond of, but you may like. It's definitely a cut-down box that relies on a server elsewhere such as Netflix, MLB streaming, or Plex/Emby servers doing the heavy lifting.
Ignore anything except those two.
What phone do you have?
In my home we have just about everything Apple except for our tv setup. I just felt that Appletvs ecosystem is too small. Most of the popular apps are on both platforms, but I wanted emulators, TVMC, dolphin/chrome/Firefox browsers and my pick of any apk that I thought might be worth a look. That's what set them apart to me.
From the post and suggestions of $$ probably talking about an Android "TV" box which are not actual Android TV devices so we can probably just end this post.
Disagree with most of the responses on here. As a current Shield owner and a former Apple TV 4th Gen User, there are FAR more available streaming channels on the Apple TV than on AndroidTV (unfortunately) unless you are going to use less legal sources. That said, also have the Roku and have found that to be a great, easy to use device with a very good app selection.
Are you blackhat or whitehat?
The question is, do you buy into Apple's ecosystem and have an iPhone, or do you have Android and prefer Android Apps?
Apple TV is good if you're really into apple services.
But if not, then you will not find a better set top box outside of a computer, than the Nvidia Shield TV.
Depending on this answer, (Apple, Android, or doesn't matter), I'll have more questions for you.