A couple of questions to help me find my box

by sddeckoff

So, I have to appleTV 4s, and I love em . I am very excited by the fact that android TV comes with chromecast capability as well, which is very important for me. In a nutshell, I need what appleTv offers plus the chromecast function. Here is what I need:

1080 video.

Preferably IR remote - I use Harmony 650, and I love it. And I really hate to have more remotes than one per TV. I would by one with hub if I had to, Id rather not.

Preferably a newer model, so it would last me some years. Not concerned with gaming at all. Nvidia seems to be the standard, but it's steep price , no IR remote is the reason Id rather get something else.

Also, I am very concerned with the apps I have access to. I

Plex, Netflix, HBO go, Youtube, Kodi or at least a decent fork ( I use MrMC with Apple TV) and NFL gamepass europe. I would really love to be able to check which apps are available for the androidTV. After some googling, I found a page that lists like 15 apps, and that is. Is there a good STB emulator for apple TV. Watch NRL app?

regards

JimboLodisC

Since you're asking the Android TV operating system subreddit, we're going to recommend one of two devices that are readily available: Shield TV and Mi Box. So look at specs for those two and pick one. Since you are looking for IR, grab a Shield TV with IR ( only the 2017 version of the 16GB doesn't have it, the other 3 models do )

Otherwise, I just cannot recommend a junkbox running touchscreen Android.

chaos36

I use a Harmony 650 remote with the Nvidia Shield TV, works great. It's weird you have an $80 remote but are worried about the box price. Really the Shield is the best box there is and i haven't really heard of many issues with it. But if price worries you, there is the Mi Box. I have heard some complaints about it, but i haven't had any myself. I have the Shield in the living room and Mi Box for a bedroom.

BiggussDikkuss

Seriously just buy a Chromecast to supplement what you already have...

Or wait to see what Mi Box S Firmware quality is like when some decent detailed reviews come out. The Mi Box's have an inbuilt IR receiver.

Currently the new Jetstream 4K Ultra is better than the Mi Box, especially if you have weak WiFi due to it's Ethernet connectivity.

Not sure if the Jetstream has an inbuilt IR receiver, usually these types of AMLogic - Android devices usually include a hidden one.

A warning here, cheap Android TV devices will be no where near as polished as Apple TV 4/4K hardware. Nor will Android TV have the same depth of Apps support vs Apple's tvOS gets you - especially if you are using devices outside the USA.