I want to buy a not too expensive TV box. I don’t need 4k or hdr support, I only want true Android TV os and bluetooth support. But it seems I have literally only one choice, the Mi Box. And I’ve heard bad things about its reliability on this sub. Why is it, with all the popularity Android has, that the choice between TV boxes is so very poor?
Get an nvidia shield. I absolutely love mine!
Have the shield and the mibox had both since they came out while the shield is more powerful the mibox is just as dependable if your just doing 1080 and dont want to do power user stuff it is fine if you read into more of this you will find out it's people expecting way to much from a $70 device connected to thier $3000 tv
It felt like Android and Google just accepted Android TV's second class fate. Them wouldn't investing to it this year too with a Pixel branded setup box proves their commitment to this. Atleast Wear OD will get Pixel Watch next year but don't expect Google to do the same for Android TV next year too.
I bet they're more focusing on Google Home, especially the smart displays (which basically a smaller non interactable Android TV) and unfortunately that still dumb Chromecast
I have both Shield and MiBox. For the MiBox I've added a usb Ethernet adapter. The MiBox is perfect for a second TV up to 1080p
As an owner of both a shield and mibox, absolutely go for the mibox if you have no interest in gaming. It's an amazing value, and punches way above what you'd expect for its weight.
Question: Why Android TV over Roku, Apple, Linux, etc?
I think there are a couple problems for Android TV. Most people are well served by a normal android box. Because there are so few Android TV devices, not many applications have been written to support the extra interface extensions.
For media playing, Kodi has done a wonderful job of serving up media on a normal Android box. It integrates very well with many different remote controls and devices. Many people setup their device to just boot right into Kodi.
If you are willing to consider an Android device with Kodi, you will find a wide range of device choices.
Another interesting option is to load these same devices with Libreelec to take advantage of such features as Bluetooth audio...
Disable all the unnecessary bloatware install filelinked apk. Use my stores code 94716960. I have 220 readily updated and modded apks leanback versjons and patches nearly all of which will work on android tv devices . Also there are 2 legit unlimited access urls and codes groups on facebook that will give you more content than any man on earth has access too if you want pointed in the right direction Dm. It’s all about where ya look and who you trust
Look at the Channel Master Stream+ to see if they run sales on Black Friday. It incorporates OTA and a DVR for OTA if you attach a hard drive. It doesn't have Netflix or Amazon apps yet, but you can side load them.
Nobody has suggested it yet, but the M8s Pro L box runs Android TV and is available on Gearbest on sale for $70 right now. I have read good reviews about it and have one in the mail.
Black Friday is what, six weeks away? Wait till then and get a Shield.
What other platforms really have more than 2-3 devices? Higher and lower powered. Fire TV, a box and a stick and some TV's . Roku has about 50 (lol) but really a box and a stick and some TV's, Apple TV, Android TV, the Shied and the MiBox and some TV's. Because it's called Android we think it should have dozens of devices but in the TV category it matches the competition pretty closely.
To answer OP it's probably simple supply and demand. There isn't a big market for these things and there is already a good $70 one and really good $180 one. If Google made a $100 Pixel Player it would be perfect.
Most TVs come with Android or Roku built in, and otherwise the average person probably buys Apple TV unfortunately.
That said, my Mi Box works great I use it every day on my 4K TV.
If you have not already reached your own conclusion - Android TV is a niche product vs the Roku, Amazon and Apple competition that have been in the market for far longer. That is not what the Android TV crowd here in this sub-reddit want to hear.
With the exception of the NVIDIA Shield, Google has basically given the ATV OS away to dirt cheap media player or Smart TV manufacturers that have minor or declining market share. There would be more Android TV devices in the Set Top Box or Pay TV market worldwide these days, and those are not sold via regular retail channels.
The cheap Android TV development model is fundamentally broken, you have too many entities poking there noses in and in a lot of cases not talking to each other during device development:
As an example, the Oreo Xiaomi Mi Box:
- AMLogic the Chipset manufacturer, supplies the Software development Kit, inc the drivers and the underlying shiny new buggy Linux Kernel
(that new Kernel is why there are WiFi / BT and audio passthrough problems)
- Xiaomi manufacturer the Hardware and add minor mods for BT remote controls
- Google supply the Android TV OS.
- Virtually no Firmware testing done before release, Xiaomi just compile the Firmware and distribute.
- No English support forum
That is at least three companies having input into a single media player.
(tongue in cheek) - what could possibly go wrong ?
Especially when the parties involved do not talk to each other enough, and there is very likely a language barrier involved in there as well.
The NVIDIA Shield: (a lot better)
- NVIDIA roll their own SDK, bug bust drivers from 3rd parties and modify their own Linux Kernel
- NVIDIA manufacturer their own hardware
- Google supply the Android TV OS.
- NVIDIA have an English support forum, AND try and comprehensively test Firmware before release.
Apple TV... well they basically control everything in a robust and considered manner, and it shows in the end product.
The MI box is buggy as hell specially on 4k. Wifi problems cec problems lost audio 4k Netflix problem wake up problems were you have to mash the remote 20 times that's just a few. And the shield has none of those problems the shield just works that's why this sub trying to push the shield hard. I think a Roku might suit the OP. Oh and no Amazon prime on the MI box
The Amazon devices (firestick , firetv etc) run Android and are usually far cheaper than no name Chinese boxes, they run Android so you can sideload apps. Add a usb hub and you've got Ethernet and any connection you want
If you don’t need 4k then the mi box is good.