TV with Android TV or a Mi Box S.

by noxuotan

So our current setup is a chromecast gen 2 connected to a dumb TV. But come August we are moving to a new place and we are looking for an upgrade. The TV we have is small 32". We want to upgrade to a bigger one, 4k UHD. I have my eye on the Mi Box S for a while since it is an affordable chromecast ultra with more features. For media consumption we usually just cast something from our phones or PC. Hence why we were looking at Android TV platform as an option since casting is covered.

So the question is should we just pick up a TV with Android or buy the dedicated Mi Box?

fyi: We are looking at some options from TCL for the TV. Open to suggestions from other brands.

ShawnDex

Always go with the box for running Android TV, while the Mi Box S is okay, I highly suggest the Nvidia Shield I own both. NVIDIA SHIELD TV Gaming Edition | 4K HDR Streaming Media Player with GeForce NOW https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1NT9Y6

For TCL TV these are the two that I own TCL 55" Class 4K Ultra HD (2160P) Roku Smart LED TV (55S405) https://www.walmart.com/ip/TCL-55-Class-4K-Ultra-HD-2160P-Roku-Smart-LED-TV-55S405/787770978

Ep1c1nCoGn1tO

I always tell people to take a dumb tv and the Mi Box or Sheild. But nowadays almost all 4K TV are smart so it depends on the OS they are running on. But one thing is for sure, the support and longevity that the boxes will give you, its difficult to get on TV Os. Because the manufacturers do not care about updating or fixing once the device is an year + old.

iamrz1

Just a quick reminder that dumb TVs boot up really quick, smart TVs don't. It doesn't sound like much at first, but it gets really annoying after a while.

OwnStorm

I will go with Dumb Tv + Android box. Tv are meant for 5+ years. After 2 years every hardware going to be outdated (Except Nvidia Shield Tv), the newer Android box will come again in <$100.

Go for bigger and best screen panel Tv and choose your steaming box. You have flexibility to replace in minimal budget.

I got Dumb LG tv 3.5 years back. Later got Mi Box and cut the cable. Now after using Mi Box for 2 years. I am upgrading to NVidia Shield. No need to change Tv till it's screen will age.

3r0z

Give me the smartest TV ever built and I'm still hooking my Shield up to it.

noxuotan

UPDATE: So we got a 55" LG TV and a mi box S. Loving both so far. Thanks all of you for your suggestions and feedback.

ccspdk

Go for an android TV instead of a dumb TV and a box.

Advantages:

  1. much less technical problems
  2. Only one remote
  3. No ekstra cables
  4. Ability to record programs
BiggussDikkuss

Just be aware, decent modern 4K HDR TV's running Android TV Oreo - have the ability to play 4K HDR YouTube and 4K HDR Play movies. Plus some give you DolbyVision.

Technologies the old Nvidia Shield have no hope of supporting. Shield cannot even give you Atmos audio from the Netflix App for example.

Funny how all that Tech is supported in a Chromecast Ultra.

In the end it depends how demanding a user you are.

The Android TV Oreo equipped - 2019 Sony 4K HDR TV's now have a decently powerful new MediaTek chipset in them. They are much snappier setups for Android TV usage vs anything previously released from that company.

In fact it's very likely the fastest chipset combo for the Android TV Oreo OS running on any smart TV today.

And believe me when I tell you you need the most powerful chipset you can get inside any Smart TV. Buying cheap and you will regret it as the years roll bye and Apps get more demanding.

These 2019 Oreo Sony TV's and noticably faster and smoother than Mi Boxes and the Jetstream.

That new combo is going to surprise quite a few people. It certainly surprised me with its smoothness and snappiness when I tested it recently.