Best brands to go with?

by TheMarmo

I really, really like Android TV (OS). But my current TV is just not cutting it. I’m not complaining. I knew going in that a budget TV was going to give me issues eventually. I just wanted to give Android TV a try and see if I liked it and I needed a cheap set for then and there.

Well, I’ve fallen in love with the OS. And I’m ready to purchase something long term. Can anyone give me their personal experiences with sets that perform well, and continue to perform well over time? I really want something that won’t slow down to a crawl on me after a few months of use. I’ve heard good things about Sony of course, anything else to consider?

Main-Reputation8641

My general opinion is to purchase a non-smart tv and true AndroidTV box. The list in this post is a good place to start looking. Boxes have more memory and storage as a rule. You also have more options for personalization. The choice is yours, but the millions of us who own boxes can't be all wrong.

latinriky78

Most people here will recommend you the Nvidia Shield, the Mi Box and the new Chromecast with Google TV, BUT they are NOT the only ones, there's more, so the "best" brand for you depends on your budget and needs, therefore:

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH NETFLIX AND PRIME VIDEO FOR THE UNITED STATES ONLY:

- AirTV Mini (More info at airtv.net/products )

- AT&T TV (More info at att.com/tv/device-features )

- Tivo Stream 4K (More info at www.tivo.com/products/stream-4k )

- T-Mobile TVision HUB (More info at t-mobile.com/tvision/services/hub )

- Verizon Stream TV (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at verizon.com/products/verizon-stream-tv-gen-2 )

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH NETFLIX AND PRIME VIDEO FOR THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD:

- Chromecast with Google TV (more info at tv.google )

- Dynalink TV dongle (More info at dynalink.life )

- JBL Link Bar (More info at jbl.com/refurbished-home-speakers/JBL+LINK+BAR-.html )

- Mecool KM2 (More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Nokia Streaming Box 8000 (Only for Europe. More info at nokia.com/shop/streaming-devices/nokia-streaming-box-8000

- Nvidia Shield TV (The most expensive but powerful, recommended for gaming. More info at shield.nvidia.com )

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH ONLY PRIME VIDEO FOR THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD:

- Formuler GTV (Gigabit ethernet. Exclusive MYTVOnline2 app for IPTV. More info at formuler.tv/gtv )

- Mecool KM6 Classic Edition (AV1 hardware decoding. More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool KM6 Deluxe Edition (AV1 hardware decoding. Gigabit ethernet. WiFi 6. 4GB of RAM. More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool KT1 (AV1 hardware decoding. DVB-T2/S2/C tuner built-in. More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool Now (An Android TV device with a built-in camera and microphone, suitable for videoconferencing. More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

- Mecool KD1 TV Stick (More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 10% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)

CERTIFIED ANDROID TV BOXES WITH NETFLIX AND PRIME VIDEO CERTIFICATIONS THAT USE THE NOW OLD AMLOGIC S905X SoC:

- Xiaomi Mi Box S (More info at mi.com/global/mi-box-s )

- Ematic Jetstream (More info at androidtv-guide.com/streaming-gaming/ematic-jetstream-tv-box )

For more info about all certified Android TV devices, head over to www.androidtv-guide.com website.

redavid

the main television brands using Android TV / Google TV are Sony and Hisense. both make a variety of models in different sizes at different price points. Hisense just announced their new 2021 models (U6G, U7G, U8G, etc) which should see their still-great 2020 models (H8G and H9G) start to get bigger discounts at resellers. personally, i'm quite happy with my H8G

if you do want a box, the Nvidia Shield and Chromecast w/ Google TV are the best options

thisismisteral

This is not the answer you're looking for, but I hope it's at least somewhat helpful to you.
I used to be a keen proponent of Android and went through several boxes in the early days, aiming to get a good experience on my TV. Though this was a long way back, and things have definitely improved, at that time, I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't get the full flexibility and performance that I wanted.

It was at that point that I built an HTPC - literally, a computer devoted to the living room, connected to the TV. I have honestly never looked back. It started as a media consumption machine, grew into one that could handle games as well, and has been used every day for...six years? Maybe more.

I strongly recommend looking into the pros and cons of building yourself a nice little rig for the living room, with space to upgrade in the future. The building and the use of this machine has been a continual joy. Best of luck in your search for solutions, whichever road you end up going down!