I am in the market for an Android TV box that can play my movies from USB - all in the .avi and .mkv formats. Also if it doesn't natively support it - can I just download VLC player on the box and they will play? I have no idea how Android TV boxes work - can you just install any app on them? I'm so lost right now but thanks in advance guys.
You can also install KODI and play anything. VLC is also possible.
AndroidTV is basically Android with a special UI and apps that are formatted to work on TVs. You can side load apps but they won’t by default show up in the menu. Instead there’s Android TV apps (sideload launcher is one such app) that open those regular Android apps you sideloaded. So if there isn’t an AndroidTV app that’s available for what you are looking for you can sideload it and use a launcher instead.
any android tv if you can install vlc/kodi
vlc is android tv approved
mx player
Android TV box is just like an Android phone, except that it has Android TV versions of apps in the Play Store. And therefore, you could install the apps as long as they are compatible with Android TV interface. and Yes, you can download VLC player to the Andreoid TV box