Best box for streaming

by Dentifrice

Hi,

I’m thinking about buying my first android tv box. I had an eye on the Shield but maybe it’s overkill for me ? I just need streaming only and it doesn’t support Dolby vision. No games.

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I need or will use :

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  • 4k with HDR. Support for dolby vision (shield doesn’t support dolby vision, only downside)
  • Netflix
  • Plex (client only, not PMS)
  • Amazon prime video
  • kodi
  • be able to sideload apps

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I was thinking about the Fire tv 4k. Can you install any android app ? Do you have access to all google play store apps ? (I remind you I know nothing about android).

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Any other box recommended in the same price range ?

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thanks

iptonic3d

No brainer Get the shield you will only regret it later on I have android boxes,but the shield is in a different league

jayemecee

Problem is there isn't a mid tier for stream boxes. You have the shit tier (Chinese android boxes), the low tier (xiaomi MI box, that actually has Android TV and is a good low budget option), then you have the God tier (Nvidia shield) there's nothing in between.

LeOmare

Xiaomi MiBox S can do all listed above

indianacpl

No such thing as overkill, hate that term. Shield will do what you want, minus Dolby. Your already asking about sideloading apps so that tells me you plan on doing more stuff in the future. Get the shield.

Wife said my .50 cal rifle was overkill for chipmunks till she shot one at 700 yards lol.

BiggussDikkuss

DolbyVision = Amazon FireTV 4K or Apple TV 4K

Dolby Audio Licence if you want 5.1 audio from Netflix, Prime Video etc that stream 5.1 DD+ audio - and you only have an old DD only audio receiver = Amazon Fire TV 4K or Apple TV 4K. Shield has no Dolby Audio Licence.

Kodi works best on the NVIDIA Shield. Has to be Sideloaded into the Fire TV 4K stick.

If you want auto Frame Rate Matching and pretty seamless SDR and HDR color output switching, the Apple TV 4K kills all other media players. In fact Netflix is terrific on the ATV 4K because of these features.

There will be a lot of people recommending the Shield in this sub Reddit. But in reality it's lacking anything Dolby related because of it's old (vs the competition) Chipset. However vs the Fire TV Stick 4K, Shield has an actual Android Google Playstore. The Fire TV Stick does not.

Having said that the Fire TV Stick 4K has a much better wireless remote vs the pathetic, touch sensitive one the Shield uses. Amazon's Apps store also has better Apps availability vs anything Android TV. Amazon's Fire TV OS is simply a more popular, widespread platform with larger market share.

I suggest looking over here:

https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=336151

There is no perfect media player.