Dear Americans if you don’t own an android media player yet, forget to scroll down the huge list of player out there. The best Android TV boxes are shortlisted for you in this review. Below are the top 4 android boxes in the USA. We personally tested all these boxes for their functionality, durability, and efficiency.
1. Nvidia Shield TV
Key Features
The latest model of Nvidia Shield offers the awesome quality android streaming experience. The box is capable of streaming Ultra HD 4K resolution. The two models of different prices are available. The lower model offers the 16 GB while the top model offers the 500 GB. The higher model also incorporates an inside hybrid drive for efficient storage capabilities for your games and other media. The Nvidia Shield offers a bunch of features like 64-bit CPU, 256-core processor, dual-band Wi-Fi, 3GB RAM etc. It features with voice command option to get your desired search results with your voice in a flash. Its LED light is on the side to avoid distracting.
Personal Experience
Nvidia is loaded with a bundle of apps. We also download many apps and its speed didn’t slow down after that heavy download. It streams 4K videos like a champ and both video and audio was spot on. The navigation through its interface is very fluent. The signal degradation doesn’t happen while streaming Amazon Prime Videos and Netflix.
It offers the best gaming experience as compared to all other devices. It is packed with the best graphics processor which is designed to fulfill the needs of both gamers and steamers. Nvidia Shield TV is a slim, smart and great looking device of solid aluminum built with a unique remote control. It automatically off when not in use. It offers excellent gaming experience with up to the mark game controller.
Pros
After you log into your Google account it will automatically link you to the Google Play Store movies and media. It will allow you to explore a bunch of apps like Spotify, Amazon Prime, CBS News etc. The player loads all types of content very fast with no buffering. It will nail your gaming and streaming expectations. Due to their affiliations with Kodi, the device is completely compatible with Kodi. You can utilize all the latest versions and updates of Kodi.
Cons
The device can stream 4K HD videos like a flash but you can face buffering with a slow internet connection. You need a good internet speed to get the most of from this device. The price of the unit is a bit high as compared to other boxes but it worth the money with awesome features and performance.
Conclusion
The Nvidia Shield is a very powerful media player and doesn’t disappoint the users. You can choose any of its models with different storage capacities. It is far best media player as compared to other competitors in the market.
See also: Top 5 Best IPTV Service Providers in the USA
2. Minix Neo U9-H
Key Features
You will find a TV box, HDMI cable, power adapter, instruction guide, Wi-Fi antenna and OTG cable inside the box. It is the HDR ready android TV box. The design of the Minix Neo U9-H is compact and nice with almost smartphone size. The Android version 6.0.1 installed in the device. It is not as awesome as Nvidia but it provides a decent punch. The device offers S912 processor and an Octa-core A53 CPU with a clock speed of 2 GHz. It is capable of 4K streaming at 60 frames per second speed. The built-in memory is 16 GB and can be extended with micro SD card.
Personal Experience
We find it a well-mannered product during our tests. We had experienced slowdowns and lags in rare times. But we think it is due to the unstable internet connection. The Wi-Fi reception of the device is very impressive with strong signals. We have witnessed good experience when we use it for games, surfing and as a media center. It works very well with all these heavy duty work. The standard remote is not very impressive but A2 Lite remote is awesome. It helped me to explore the capabilities of this media player. All buttons are working very well.
Pros
The body is made from high-quality plastic with a nice shape and will not crumble in your hands. It supports Dolby Digital and DTS, which will provide excellent sound quality. It supports many audio formats including DD+, DD, DTS-HD etc. You can play Netflix and Kodi in HD without any buffing. It will steam all types of video files with ease. You will excellent result while gaming or surfing media.
Cons
The device has 2.0 ports but not have 3.0 ports. It is not ultra budget friendly, although the features are impressive, the cost is a bit high.
Conclusion
Its interface is very easy to set-up and has a bunch of features to impress you. The device fulfills all needs of a cable TV. It will provide you a better home theater experience.
3. Amazon Fire TV
Key Features
Amazon Fire TV supports a bunch of widely used apps. It will provide quick access to HBO, Netflix, Youtube, Amazon videos etc. The device comes with a quad-core processor which provides ultra power for games, music, and videos. It can stream 4K Ultra HD content in a flash. Its mic button support voice search. Hold down the top button on your remote control and speak what you desired. It will start your desired search when you release the button. A good collection of free content available and Amazon Prime members can access the free movies library.
Personal Experience
The Amazon Fire TV comes with an extremely pleasant interface. It shows the recent content on the top and below that it displays recommended games and apps. There is a navigation bar in the left to control the interface. You can only access Amazon Fire TV with an Amazon account and Amazon prime member is not essential. Its voice recognition feature is very accurate and responsive.
It is capable to handle all types of heavy games. Amazon Fire TV comes with GX6250 GPU, awesome Wi-Fi support and 2GB of RAM. It is far better and faster than most of the other costly Android TV boxes in the market. You can save hundreds of dollars to cut off your cable bills after purchasing the Amazon Fire TV.
Pros
Amazon Fire TV is a beautiful device with a nice sleek design and can easily fit in the modern living rooms. Its price is very manageable as compared to its other competitors. It offers 8GB built-in memory and supports micro SD card up to 200 GBs. The remote control is not very fancy but all the buttons work well. The remote comes with 3 AAA batteries which will be supplied by Amazon at the time of delivery. You can access full Amazon store apps and a bunch of Google Play store apps.
Cons
The Amazon Fire TV does not come with the HDMI cable and you have to purchase it separately. The voice recognition search feature does not work with all the apps. Most of the content in the recommended section belongs to Amazon and many users may not like that biased advertisement.
Conclusion
The Amazon Fire TV is the poor man’s media player. It delivers top-notch performance without costing an arm and a leg. For its features and usability, it’s definitely worth checking out. At its price point, it’s clearly the king of the jungle and the best Android box for those on a tight budget. On the whole, it’s a wonderful and affordable streaming device for your TV. It clearly muscles out the majority of its competition. Also, it’s my favorite unit thus far. Amazon Fire TV is one of the most affordable media players with awesome features. It is best for those who do not afford a heavy budget.
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4. Roku Ultra
Key Features
The Roku Ultra supports HDR and 4K video playback. It has Ethernet slot, Micro SD slot, USB port and an audio slot in the front. You can do voice search through the remote. Its unique interface offers a wide range of channels. You will get Amazon, HBO Now, Google Play, Netflix, Hulu etc. The Roku media player has every feature that a user can hope to have.
Personal Experience
You can install Roku Ultra very easily. The latest version of Roku is much cooler than the earlier version. It offers a wide range of channels selection. The streaming quality is very impressive, with rare instances of lagging. The remote is in sleek design as compared to earlier models. The Roku comes with remote finding feature to find the remote if you misplaced it. Its headphone jack gives you the liberty to watch late night shows and movies without disturbing your family.
Pros
The remote work very fast as the blink of an eye. It is a radio frequency remote with a wide range. The interface of Roku Ultra offers a bunch of free content for kids. The navigation is very fluent and easy to explore with. You should use a modern router with features like QoS to Prioritize videos. Overall the player has all the latest features that a modern TV box should have.
Cons
You can not control the TV volume with remote control; it can only be adjusted when you use headphones. Sometimes the voice command feature didn’t react according to my commands. There are some gaming buttons on remote but it‘s not good as a gaming controller. Finally, the 4K won’t be supported if your TV is not HDCP 2.2 compatible.
Conclusion
If you are planning to bring Roku Ultra, it will not disappoint you at any mean. It will provide decent HDR capabilities and 4K video playback. The media player interface has a wide range of channels selection with best video quality. It is one of the best Android TV boxes with an affordable price range.
Final Words
All these 4 Android boxes will cover the users’ price range whether you are looking for an expensive player or for a budget media player. Now it is up to your choice of what you want to buy. Write your precious feedback in the comments section below.