The best Android TVs and sticks we should buy

Although smart TVs have made their way into many homes, many consumers are still stuck with non-smart or "dumb" TVs.  Fortunately, there is a quick and easy way to "silence" these smart TVs.  All you have to do is plug in the Android TV Box or Android TV Stick and all the TV features work on the Android TV platform.  There is no shortage of these Android TV boxes in the market, but in this article, we have listed some of the best ones.  So check out some of the best Android TV boxes you can buy.

The best Android TVs and sticks we should buy

Note: We have added Android TV boxes and Android TV sticks to this article.  There's no real difference between the two other than the form factor and the fact that they're generally budget-oriented and lack some high-end features.

NVIDIA Shield TV:

Nvidia Shield TV has been around for a long time. The company launched this particular device in 2020 but it still maintains its leading position with its performance and reliable features.  This particular machine has incredibly powerful specs, offering a host of impressive features, including support for Nvidia's GeForce NOW cloud gaming service.

Nvidia Shield TV, as you can see, is made in a very compact form.  Significantly smaller than many other Android TV devices on the market, including its sibling, Nvidia's Shield TV Pro.  It's tube-like housing also separates it from a sea of ​​other Android TVs of the same design.

It doesn't have as many ports as the more expensive Nvidia Shield TV Pro model, but it still has all the essentials, including an HDMI port, a microSD card slot, and an Ethernet port.

In terms of specs, the NVIDIA Shield TV is powered by its Tegra X1 processor with a 256-core NVIDIA GPU.  It comes with 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of expandable storage via a microSD card.  The NVIDIA Shield TV comes with built-in voice control and supports both Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa.  All shield TV comes with Chromecast 4K built-in.

The best thing about the Nvidia Sheild TV is the remote.  The Toblerone Shaped Shield is unlike anything else on the market.  It not only fits comfortably in the hand but also offers many functions.  It supports Bluetooth and IR commands and the microphone is voice-activated.  The Shield TV remote also has backlit buttons, making it easy to use at night or in a dark room.  It is also a remote finder to find it when you lose it, or when it hides under a pillow or a bed.

Shield TV offers everything you would expect from a new set-top box in 2022.  It includes support for 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos content.  Shield TV also uses AI upscaling to upscale HD content to 4K so it looks better on your TV.

More importantly, Shield TV also supports GeForce NOW, Nvidia's cloud gaming service that lets you play PC games on your TV without spending money on powerful game consoles.

Although it has been around for several years, the NVIDIA Shield TV still receives regular updates to promote new features.  NVIDIA's Shield TV currently costs $150, and we think it's worth considering if you're still using an older TV that lacks sharp features.

Power users who demand better options can also consider buying NVIDIA's Shield TV Pro, but then you'll have to pay an extra $50.  Clip TV Pro comes with a traditional-looking housing and you can read more about it in the following sections.

NVIDIA Shield TV runs on the latest version of Android TV and comes with Chromecast support built in.

Functions:
Pros: Reliable performance, comes with a great remote, supports GeForce NOW.

Nvidia TV Shield Pro:

Our flagship NVIDIA Shield TV is the best Android streaming device on the market.  It offers all the essentials you'd expect from a modern streaming device and more.  But what if you are a power user and every day you want something that fulfills your needs even better?  Well, that's where the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro comes in.

This particular streaming system offers everything that makes the classic Shield TV great but comes with some significant upgrades.

The first thing you notice about the TV Pro is its larger form factor.  It is significantly larger than the regular model due to some additional features.  You can configure it to support SmartThings Device Control Center.  It also has two USB ports for connecting things like external storage, keyboards, and more.

The model has also received a specification upgrade over the regular model.  It comes with 3GB of RAM instead of 2GB, and you also get 16GB of storage instead of the standard version's 8GB.

The Pro model's specs, especially the extra memory, make it a better gaming machine overall.  It is better suited for handling more demanding Android titles that may require more than 2 GB of memory.  And just like the regular Shield TV, the Pro model also supports NVIDIA's GeForce Now service, which lets you stream some of the fastest PC games.

So, all in all, the device is more powerful and should keep up with the more powerful users.  You can also use it as an auxiliary model, which is another nice feature.

But aside from the obvious difference in specs and form factor, there isn't much difference between this and the standard Nvidia Shield TV.  This means the Pro model also comes with the same remote control, with a traditional electronic layout of dedicated instrument controls.  There's also a large Netflix button on the bottom, with a fully programmable button on the top right.

The programming used in the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is the same as in the standard model.  It runs Android 11 running Android TV out of the box and even comes with Chromecast 4K built-in.  There's also support for Google Assistant and Alexa, so you can choose whichever virtual assistant suits your streaming needs.

The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is on sale now for $200, which is $50 more than the regular model.  You get a lot of extra features for the price, but it mostly comes down to personal preference.  You won't necessarily miss out on a deal with the standard model, but we think power users will find more value in the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro than the standard model.

The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro costs $50 more than the standard model, but with a few extra features, it's worth adding to the overall package.

Functions:
Advantages: More powerful than the regular model, can be used as a plex server, can control household appliances.

Google Chromecast TV:

Google Chromecast with Google TV easily stands out as one of the best streaming devices on the market.  NVIDIA's flagship TV may not be a streaming box, but there's a lot to like about the Google Chromecast, especially for the asking price.  It is very easy to connect Chromecast to your TV and launch Google TV.  We find it a big problem in the living room.

The best thing about the new Chromecast is its shape.  It's basically a TV stick that connects to your TV through an HDMI port.  The device itself is quite portable, which we can't say about most of the other influential devices mentioned in this roundup.

While Chromecast usually hides behind your TV, we appreciate Google's efforts to offer it in three colors: snow, sunrise, and sky.  With the new Chromecast, you also get a color-matched remote, which is a really nice touch.

Both the remote and actual NVIDIA streaming are smaller than the Shield TV, so it's perfect for those who want smaller streaming around the house more easily.  In terms of hardware, Chromecast supports everything you would expect from a modern, high-end streaming device in 2022.

It offers 4K HDR streaming, supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos and is reliable for all your practical needs.  According to the specs, it is powered by an Amlogic S905X3 processor and has 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage.  It also has 802.11ac (2.4GHz/5GHz) Wi-Fi connectivity.

The biggest differentiator to consider is the new Google TV interface.  It is very similar to Android TV in the features it offers, but the interface is much more elegant.  Google TV pulls content from the streaming service of your choice, meaning you get great recommendations so you can easily find something to watch.

Google TV isn't the best when it comes to live TV integration, so you should look at other options if that appeals to you the most.  It integrates well with Google's YouTube TV, but unfortunately other TV apps don't have the same treatment.

The new Chromecast with Google TV costs $50, which is very impressive considering all it brings to the table.  This makes it one of the most popular machines in the US, if not the largest.  We can easily recommend Chromecast to people looking for simple on-demand streaming features.  

It is also often discounted on Amazon and Google online stores, so keep your eyes peeled.  There is also a cheaper version of Chromecast that leaves a few features for a relatively affordable price.  But we think it's best to buy a newer model like Google TV and get the remote with it.

The new Chromecast with Google TV is a simple and relatively affordable device for the ordinary user.

Functions:
Pros: Compact form factor, supports 4K HDR, comes with remote control.

Tivo 4K stream:

NVIDIA Shield TV and Shield TV Pro are great streaming devices, but let's not deny that they also come with a hefty price tag.  After all, $200 is a lot of money for a streaming device.  So if you don't want to spend that kind of money to power your regular TV, we recommend checking out the TiVo 4K Stream.

You can now buy this particular streaming device from Amazon for just $36, making it even cheaper than the new Google Chromecast with Google TV.

Don't be fooled into thinking that the TiVo Stream 4K's lower price does less of a favor for art.  It's packed with great features that make it one of the leading convergence devices out there.  Like the other streaming devices in this collection, the TiVo Stream 4K supports 4K HDR content that works with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

As for the hardware itself, the 4K Stream TiVo is similar to the Google Chromecast.  There's a small box with an HDMI socket on one end, a micro-USB charging port, and a USB Type-C port for connecting other accessories and peripherals.  It connects to your TV via HDMI to turn it into a Smart TV.  It basically unlocks your access to a variety of media and streaming like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.

In case you were wondering, the TiVo 4K Stream also comes with a remote control.  It's physically larger than what comes with Chromecast, but also supports more features.  It has an ergonomic design that makes it easier to hold and use for everyday use.

It features numeric keys, dedicated media controls, a Live TV button, and more.  There's a lot to love about this particular outburst of thought, of course, but not without considerable irritation.

Stream TiVo 4K also has its own user interface built on top of Android TV.  Basically, it is offered as an additional tool that you can use on standard Android TV.  It offers the same features and functionality as the original Android TV programs, except that it has a different visual style.  It's a bit redundant and seems like an unnecessary addition to the standard Android TV experience, but you do get pre-packaged apps to download content.

The Stream TiVo 4K's display is powered by an S905YE processor and has 2GB of RAM.  You also get 8GB of storage, which is the same as the other options except for the NVIDIA Shield TV.  All in all, there's not much to complain about with the TiVo 4K Stream, especially for the asking price.  Now for $36 with TiVo, you get what you pay for.  boxing

Tivo Stream 4K is one of the cheapest Android TV boxes you can find on the market today.

Features:
Pros: Affordable price, small form factor.

Xiaomi Mi Box S:

Unlike the cheaper Mi TV Stick, the Mi Box S has a slightly larger footprint that requires dedicated space on your desk or TV box.  But an important factor in better fitness is that it helps the characters.  Mi Box S supports 4K HDR at 60 fps, Audio and DTS 2.0.  All this paves the way for a fantastic multimedia experience on your TV.

The best thing about Xiaomi Mi Box S is that you can have a world-class Android TV experience.  This is one of the biggest differences between this one and TiVo's 4K Stream, as the latter has its own user interface on the side rather than Google Android TV.

Notably, the Xiaomi Mi Box S also comes with features like Chromecast, which we have come to expect from modern confluences on the market.

In addition, with the Mi Box S you get a very good remote control with a minimalist design.  It's not as small or ergonomic as what you get with a Chromecast or TiVo Stream 4K, but you get just the right buttons to get the job done.  It's also worth noting that Xiaomi doesn't provide AAA batteries for the remote, while others do.  It's certainly not a deal breaker, but something to consider before making a purchase decision.

Also, the Xiaomi Mi Box S does not support live TV, so keep that in mind.  You need an extra app like a TV stand to watch live TV with this particular streaming box.  That's a little early, considering the 4K Stream TiVo comes with pre-built apps.  Fortunately, installing new apps on the Mi Box S is no problem at all, like a breath of fresh air.

But what is not good about the Xiaomi Mi Box S is its performance.  The same chip can be found in the much smaller Mi TV Stick.  You get 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage to keep up with current usage, but it probably leaves you behind in terms of performance.

The lack of internal power sticks out like a sore thumb, especially since the new Chromecast and TiVo Stream 4K have better internals.  Depending on your usage situation, you'll see a noticeable difference in performance, but the top end devices will likely beat the Mi Box S to keep you going.

The Xiaomi Mi Box S will now cost you $60 in the US, which means it's still very affordable compared to the competition.  For example, the NVIDIA Shield TV will set you back $150, which is a steep price for many users.

So if you don't mind sacrificing some features and considering an affordable streaming box, get the Xiaomi Mi Box S by clicking the link in the box below.  The Mi Box S is called Mi Box 4K in India and you can read our review to know more about it.

The Xiaomi Mi Box S is one of the most affordable Android streaming devices you can buy.  It may not be the most versatile option out there, but it certainly gets the job done.

Functions:
Pros: Affordable price, supports 4K HDR.

Best place to buy android TV or sticks:

The Android TV and Google TV platforms weren't exactly a hit in the US, dominating the older market, perhaps even slowly revived by Roku boxes and Amazon Fire sticks.  Year-to-date data shows that Fire TV tripled its U.S. market share in OTT dongles in the six years between 2015 and Q1 2021 along with Roku.  Google still has reason to celebrate, at least in Europe.

Data provided by research company Omdia and reported by FlatPanelsHD indicates a growth in Android TV panels - not dongles or boxes, but real TVs for your mind - across Europe, occupying a respectable position in an ailing market of the...  offer television sector.

According to research by Omdia, Google's smart TV platforms have grown from less than 10% to over 20% market share since the beginning of 2019.

Over 90% of new TVs in Europe have an app platform, a significant increase from 80% in 2019. The smart TV segment is currently led by Google TV/Android TV, LG webOS and Tizen BONE.

According to Omdia analyst Paul Gray, the growth of Android TV in Europe is due to the wide range of TVs available in multiple price segments, including premium offerings and entry-level TVs.

The huge ecosystem of apps and games accessible through the Play Store is also a factor in Google's rise in the European smart TV segment.

Predicting the future of the smart TV segment, Gray said there could be a "third wave" with cloud gaming.  This is due to emerging cloud gaming platforms like Amazon Luna, GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and of course Google Stadia, which has seen its ups and downs since its inception.

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Source: Flat Panels HD

Omdia speculates that the controversial FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar could boost TV sales for the second half of 2022.  However, the market research firm expects things to get a little rougher in 2023 before returning to magnitude between 2024 and 2026.

Here are some of the best Android TV boxes and streaming sticks you can buy in the US right now.  NVIDIA Shield TV is arguably the best Android streaming device you can buy right now as the Pro model is geared more towards power users.  Chromecast with Google TV is clearly one of the most affordable streaming devices to rival TiVos Stream 4K. This list is constantly changing, so we'll keep an eye out for new streaming devices and see if they can be added to this list.  So why are you thinking about buying a streaming device for a "dumb" TV?  You know in the comments.