Which Android TV box?

Skuxx

Hi guys,

I'm looking for some recommendations for an Android TV box?
The market seems to be swamped with all makes and models. I'm looking for something reasonably decent without spending a fortune, maybe €50-€60 if that's do able.
I had a cheap Chinese thing before from Groupon and it was useless.

McMurphy

Skuxx wrote: »

Hi guys,

I'm looking for some recommendations for an Android TV box?
The market seems to be swamped with all makes and models. I'm looking for something reasonably decent without spending a fortune, maybe €50-€60 if that's do able.
I had a cheap Chinese thing before from Groupon and it was useless.

At €5/60, just get a 4k firestick tbh.

horse7

Sometimes you can get a good deal on geekbuying

FixitFelix

McMurphy wrote: »

At €5/60, just get a 4k firestick tbh.

Firesticks are absolute junk imo

McMurphy

FixitFelix wrote: »

Firesticks are absolute junk imo

Let me see, an Amazon product, with all their customer care, designed specifically for Android TV apps complete with a dedicated remote that can be paired with the television.....

Or a Chinese android box that more often than not comes with some version of Android designed for mobiles, come with remotes that are pretty much unusable, and are prone to packing in, in their first year or two.........

Has me stumped so it does......

Trust me, been there and done that, if you're not going to get a shield or at the very least a Mii box, a firestick is the only thing that comes close.

dubrov

In fairness, the firestick is designed for Amazon apps. They throw in a few extra apps to keep the masses happy.

advertsfox

Fire Stick 4K are a great device, with lots of power, excellent remote and easy to use / sideload apps.

Xiaomi have also brought out a TV stick, this runs pure Android TV and will cost about €50. They do a Mi Box as well which are just as good.

But for the best possible device, get a Nvidia Shield Tube. Will cost you €150 but it has fantastic support and handles everything you throw at it.

Buttros

Got a firestick 4k last week from QVC for the parents. Was messing around with it and was impressed. Has apple tv, disney, prime and netflix. Dolby vision, atmos compatible.

If you already use alexa it's a no brainer I think. My 5 year old niece was requesting paw patrol via voice commands on the remote and happy out with herself

I have an apple tv myself as part of eir and it compares very well given the price difference

DopeTech

Have a read of the last few pages of this thread.

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057446012/473/#post114104672

Plenty of love for the new Xiaomi mi tv stick. It's official Android TV os unlike the cheap tat on other Chinese boxes. If you're not familiar check it out on YouTube. It's defo worth €30-€40.

McMurphy

dubrov wrote: »

In fairness, the firestick is designed for Amazon apps. They throw in a few extra apps to keep the masses happy.

Install downloader from Amazon, then pretty much any app you want after that.

Have been looking at the mii sticks just this evening, how easily available will they be?

horse7

What's your main use for it?

Uilleam an Draoi

Bought the Mi Tv stick last week - it came in 3 days, total cost 49€ shipping inc. Have to say, for a 1080p device running at 60hz it's awesome. Works perfectly fine, smooth (not the quickest thing in the world...) and the remote is light & simple. Also, it has Google Assistant built-in so, very happy with the purchase.

Ush1

Uilleam an Draoi wrote: »

Bought the Mi Tv stick last week - it came in 3 days, total cost 49€ shipping inc. Have to say, for a 1080p device running at 60hz it's awesome. Works perfectly fine, smooth (not the quickest thing in the world...) and the remote is light & simple. Also, it has Google Assistant built-in so, very happy with the purchase.

I think the only drawback on the mi stick compared to the mi box s is the stick doesn't do 4k?

Iseedeadpixels

Wouldnt mind something similar as I already have the firestick but would love to play some retro games. I find the firestick lacks in that department due to downloading roms etc and lack of memory.

JDxtra

The Mi TV stick works perfectly well and is only €45. I use it on the TV in the kitchen. Shipping from Ireland (think it was €3).

Yes, menu navigation a little sluggish - especially if you are used to the Shield, but it's fine.

Heraldoffreeent

Uilleam an Draoi wrote: »

Bought the Mi Tv stick last week - it came in 3 days, total cost 49€ shipping inc. Have to say, for a 1080p device running at 60hz it's awesome. Works perfectly fine, smooth (not the quickest thing in the world...) and the remote is light & simple. Also, it has Google Assistant built-in so, very happy with the purchase.

Ordered one of these as well, €28 from Aliexpress. Should have it by Christmas!!

Dravokivich

Ush1 wrote: »

I think the only drawback on the mi stick compared to the mi box s is the stick doesn't do 4k?

There is meant to be a 4k version.

kooreczka

Xiaomi Mi box it has chromecast built in and is way better that Amazon firestick have had both and firestick sits in the box since Mi box arrived.

Krusty_Clown

Received my Xiaomi Mi TV Stick (1080p 1Gb/8Gb) today after ordering it a couple of weeks back. So far, very impressed. Quick setup didn't work properly, but manual setup was quick and easy. Working flawlessly with Netflix and my Synology apps. Installed a couple of File manager apps (Ex-plore) and side-loading apps by downloading them from apkmirror and putting them up on Google drive was very easy. Was hoping to get it working with XBox One streaming from a console, but so far, no luck. Managed to pair the Xbox controller after a few attempts, and the Microsoft streaming app runs (side-loaded) but won't connect to the XBox. Will try again at some other point (worked fine on my phone, but wanted to get it working on a bigger screen). Will try cloud streaming, if they add me to the X-cloud beta. So yeah, definitely €28 well spent, to bring new life to an older TV. Should work pretty well with an old mini projector, for a portable media solution.