Android TV advice sought for new box

by electricalkitten

Hi guys, i'm looking for recommendations for a certified android TV device.

Currently I haven't Amazon fire stick 4K, but the deafult launcher is unusable. I am very happy with ATV launcher installed and set as the default launcher, for example, but Amazon spend their life blocking changing the default launcher. I won't upgrade the Firestick which means the Prime Video app stopped working 6 months ago. And I paid for an annual Amazon Prime Video. :-(

What fast devices are there that I can depend upon to :

  • let me change the default home launcher ,
  • that are Android TV certified,
  • that have reliable 4K
  • that do automatic scaling like Amazon FS does on my TV,
  • that do 4k Netflix and Amazon Prime Video,
  • that have an SD card slot or USB slot.
  • that can run VPN s/w. e.g Hide.me or NordVPN?

I had considered an nVidia device but again I would have a stressful home launcher like that of Amazon FS, and one that would need hacks to use ATV or similar that I could not depend on.

I have looked for a year and not found anything, yet.

pawdog

The Shield doesn't have a launcher like Fire TV other than the top ad banner everything else is removable or rearrangeable.

Kodi_Fan_Omicron

let me change the default home launcher

All AndroidTV/GoogleTV devices can change the launcher, not automatically though; either need to run some ADB scripts or a LauncherManager.apk software will be needed to change the launcher.

that do automatic scaling like Amazon FS does on my TV

Scaling??? You talking about Amazon's Auto-Frame-Rate matching feature? Because the majority of AndroidTV device's hardware all run Amlogic CPU's, and by default the Auto-Frame-Rate feature is broken in all Amlogic device software, so NO Auto-Frame-Rate matching for streaming apps. Google has fixed this common AFR issue in AndroidTV 12, but currently the only device with 12 software out-of-the-box is the Chromecast HD(2022).

I had considered an nVidia device...

Nvidia ShieldTV Pro still the best AndroidTV device made. Nothing else to consider if the ShieldTV is on your shortlist of options.

i'm looking for recommendations for a certified android TV device.

For under $100, the best option is the Dynalink tv dongle, with user installed LineageOS now that the Dynalink has an "Official" Lineage AndroidTV 12 build available.

Teenager_Simon

You can try the Onn 4k (can attach a dongle to add ports) ; otherwise, just get the Nvidia Shield Pro.

At the end of the day, the Shield is the best product but it's old hardware and not that impressive- but it's the most stable and capable (there have been issues) in the Android TV market.

PomegranateMinimum96

I have 4 Chromecast with Google TV devices and they work great.