Shield TV, versus the new Echo Tv from Amazon, vs Chromecast on a TV that already has Roku.

by he_could_get_it

I have some questions that I not sure if this is the right place to ask but here goes. First would one of these box sets work on a Roku TV TV? I assume you would plug it into an input and you could select that input from the TV Roku menu like any other input? Second is The Shield TV got anything over a Chromecast or the new Amazon Fire TV box that just came out? And vice-versa amongst those three?

Does the Chromecast still have to accept streaming from a computer or phone or cannot pull content down over your internet on its own? Does the Fire TV have content that anybody wants? Can you play games on either one of those? Like you can on the Nvidia Shield?

I'm a little lost on all this so any information would really be that nice. Especially if you can point me in the direction of like reliable research on these items. Thank you.

Ausernameneeded

All will work on Roku TV (switch inputs).

FireTV is good if you are into Amazon Prime (it's UI is very Amazon-centric). It also has more apps than AndroidTV (Shield and Mi Box).

Shield is the best for gaming if you are into Android games or better yet PC game streaming. If you looking for streaming video (ie Netflix, Vue, Hulu, etc), or light emulators than it is overkill for the price. That case Mi Box would be a better fit.

Chromecast is good for many, but you got to use you phone or tablet to use it, so imo it is pointless. Especially since Shield and Mi Box have Chromecast inside it.

It really comes down to your preference to UI and what has the most apps that you want/need. Price also maybe a factor and/or what you actually need (so you don't over or under pay). Also remember there is AppleTV.

Also, take this sub with a grain of salt. There are a few people that do hard sale tactics for Shield. Use the opinions, but ultimately keep in mind what you want and find your best match. Check YouTube for a visual of how each works and looks.

shadywhere

While everyone is going to have their preferences, all of these options are pretty good for what they do.

  • Shield TV . This is the de facto best certified Android TV device. Originally released in 2015, it is still the most powerful you can buy. It is also among the most expensive, so if you do not do any gaming, it might not be for you. It uses the standard Google Leanback AndroidTV interface. The Shield has enough power to be capable of being a Plex server (!), and has some extra goodies to support network streaming that other Android TV devices do not natively have. If you want a Leanback streaming device without heavy gaming, the Mibox might be a better option (also supports controller). Android TV is king for emulation, with the Shield TV being best, and the Mibox being suitable for 16-bit and below. FYI - Shield TV's controller microphone can be Always On, making it almost a Google Home (and kind of like the Echo TV).
  • Amazon Echo TV . Like the Fire TV, this uses Android TV with Amazon's custom GUI overlay. Not a lot of information has been released about it, but if you are already invested in Amazon's infrastructure (e.g. games, other apps, Amazon Prime, etc.) this is a great option. My understanding is that you will be able to use the Alexa function with the TV off (built-in speaker) so if you were planning on getting one in your TV room anyways and only intend to use it for general streaming, this is a good option. There are more Android-compatible apps released for the Fire TV UI than are in Google Play, but you will not have access to the Play Store through this option. Gaming is an option, but not anywhere near the level of Shield TV.
  • Chromecast . A lot of people love their Chromecast, but this is my least favorite option by far. I hate using my phone as a remote. But pretty much all of the major operators support casting to your Chromecast. It just requires a phone or tablet for use (or Chrome Browser or Google Home). Some games on your phone even support Chromecast.
  • Roku TV . If I were going to buy a streaming device for a non-tech person, I would get them this. Grandpa would love a Roku TV. Other Rokus can do some light gaming, but nothing big.

What are you looking to do with the other devices that your Roku can't do?

raptor75mlt

/u/Ausernameneeded answered most of your questions, just wanted to add a couple of things.

First of all, there is more than just the Shield and Mibox in terms of AndroidTV, so depending which country you are, check what's available for you - https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/8ghsc1/full_list_of_certified_android_tv_devices_here/

Does the Chromecast still have to accept streaming from a computer or phone or cannot pull content down over your internet on its own?

Just wanted to point out, that if you have a Google Home device, you don't need a phone or computer, you just tell Home to play something and it will play on the Chromecast.