Best Android TV Box in 2022
What is the best Android TV box in 2022 for streaming Netflix 4K quality and other streaming services.
The best TV box is a generic term and what is the best for one may not work well for another.
Most important in 2022 is to be able to stream content form the major platforms such as Netflix, Disney, HBO and the list goes on.
Nvidia Shield TV 2019 Nvidia Shield TV Pro 2019
Best Android TV Boxes so far.
The Nvidia Shield is agruably still the best Android TV box you can get in 2022.
The updated Nvidia shield TV box models are Nvidia Shield TV and Nvidia Shield TV Pro.
Nvidia Shield TV
Laungched in 2019 by Nvidia, this 4K Android TV box can play anything you throw at it.
The Nvidia Shield TV boxes can play Netflix in 4K full quality. Not due to hardware speed but due to DRM certifications and Google Widevine level 1 minumum certification.
Key features
AI upscaling, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision are some of the best features on this TV box.
Built with all integrated power supply and it has an Ethernet port for blazing speed media transfer.
Specs for the normal user: 3 GB RAM memory looks low but it manages to play DRM streaming service you may want to watch. You can even play games on it but this is not about games. Runs on Android TV 11. Android 11.0 powered by Android TV with Chromecast 4K built-in.
Good or bad?
What’s good: Runs on Android TV OS 11, Fast speed, Ethernet port, The remote.
Problems: Expensive, Memory could be more, Price again, Ports / Connectivity.
Nvidia Shield TV Pro
The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is a better version of the Shield TV and it includes more ports and conectivity options.
Aditional featured
It has aditional memory storage plus 2 extra USB ports for running a Plex Media Server and connecting high capacity hard disk drives.
Both Shield TV boxes come with the unique designed remote control. AAA bluetooth battery powered remote.
The remote has motion activated backlit buttons which can help when trying to use the remote in the dark.
Both Shield TV and Shield TV Pro run on Android TV Os an operating system developed by Google especially for TV and it really makes consuming content on the TV so much easier. There is Google assistant with voice commands to search for a YouTube video and start playing with one command only.
Both have Chromecast Built-in to easily add media to queue for the TV or control the playback form your phone.
Good or bad?
What’s good: Runs on Android TV Os, Faster speed, Ethernet port, Extra USB ports for storage, the remote.
Problems: Expensive, Memory could be more, Game Controller to be included.
Xiaomi Mi Box S
Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K streaming Android TV OS box is the low cost alternative to the Nvidia Shield.
Biggest problems on the Xiaomi Mi Box S
The Xiaomi Mi Box 4K S box has 2 GB RAM instead of 3 GB(Shield) and it does not have an Ethernet port.
You can connect only thru Wi-fi to the internet but can use fast Wifi technology to reach the speed of ethernet.
As long as your Xiaomi TV box is not too far from the wireless router and the Wi-Fi signal is strong enough, You can stream content in 4K without any problems.
Powered by Android TV 9 OS, it updates automatically to Android TV 9.
Storage
Storage is not much at 8 GB but this is mainly for apps data. Any local media can be mounted thru the USB port included.
You can use a USB Hub to extend USB ports connectivity.
Best things about Xiaomi Mi Box S
Now that the negatives are out of the way, The Xiaomi Mi 4K S TV box can play Netflix in 4K full quality and same as the sheild any other streamign services.
Chromecast built-in
Mi Box S has Chromecast Built-in.
You can easily play media from your phone the TV or control the playback form your phone.
You can also do screen mirroring from the phone to the tv.
Google Assistant with Voice Commands
Using Google Assistant is easy to find media to play or perform searches without typing.
4K HDR
Watch 4K HDR content on supported TVs or automatically convert HDR content to SDR when watching on non-HDR TV sets.
Audio
It supports Dolby Audio and DTS high quality audio playback.
Connectivity
Hdmi 2.0a port, USB 2.0 port, Audio Out, Power connector, Wifi 2.4GHz and Wifi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4GHz/5GHz, Bluetooth 4.0
Good or bad?
What’s good: Android TV OS, It just works, Plays Netflix and all in full quality, Remote
Problems: No Ethernet port Wifi Only, Only 1 USB port and USB 2.0 speed, RAM only 2 GB can be slow sometimes
Nvidia Shield VS Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K
Comparing the Nvidia Shield vs Xiaomi Mi Box 4K S is useful because they both run on Android TV OS and can offer the Android TV experience with Neflix 4k in full quality.
While Nvidia Shield TV 2019 has 2 versions, a light version and the Pro version. The Shield TV is still much more expensive than the Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K.
I just need to play Netflix easily
Get the Xiaomi Box S.
Half price usually and the RAM difference doesn’t matter if you don’t want to play games on the TV box or run Plex Media Server.
I want to run Plex Media Server
Get the Nvidia Shield Pro.
The Shield Pro has the extra port and extra processing power to handle Plex Media Server.
I want to play games
If you want to play games on the TV box, you should get the Shield TV Pro but actually an actual game console like Playstation 5 or Xbox will serve you much better and would play movies also.
I don’t care about using Android TV OS or Netflix
There are lots of TV boxes that run on default android and will probably make a list in the future.
This is ok if you don’t need to watch Netflix in 4K or Netflix at all.
On many TV boxes, Netflix, HBO, Disney will not work at all because of Widevine DRM certification missing.
I want the best TV box
The Shield TV Pro 2019 is the TV box for you if you want to have the best and don’t mind to pay a bit more.
I want to pay less for a good Android TV Box
Get the Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K and you will enjoy it as I do evry day.
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