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In this video, I go over the best Android TV Boxes.
Check them out here
► 7. Xiaomi TV Box S 3rd Gen - https://geni.us/P9IerV
► 6. Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) - https://geni.us/7WtcAPr
► 5. Google TV Streamer 4K - https://geni.us/dbLKu
► 4. Mecool KM9 Pro Max
► 3. RockTek G2 - https://geni.us/RHLg7bH
► 2. MECOOL KM7 Plus
► 1. Nvidia Shield TV Pro - https://geni.us/vQYBrE
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TIMESTAMPS
0:28 Most Budget-Friendly Android TV Box
1:50 Best Ease Of Use
3:10 Best Android TV Box For Google Home Users
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0:00
If your TV feels slow or limited then an Android TV box can fix that. It gives you a wide range of
0:06
apps, better streaming options, and more features than most built-in systems. But once you start
0:12
looking for one it's easy to get stuck between good options and cheap clones. So to help you out
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I did the research for you and narrowed it down to the seven best Android TV boxes. And if you
0:23
find something you like I'll leave links to all the TV boxes in the description below
0:28
First up is the Xiaomi TV Box S 3rd Generation, which I ranked as the best budget-friendly
0:34
And right out of the box, you get everything you need to start streaming. The HDMI cable is included, so the setup is just a quick plug-in and Wi-Fi sign-on
0:42
It runs on 4K at 60fps, so the picture stays crisp and fluid
0:47
And if your TV also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, you can expect better contrast and more natural color, especially in darker scenes
0:56
Now for sound, Dolby Audio and DTS X help the sound feel fuller and more cinematic whether
1:02
you're watching a movie or just playing a game. Now inside it uses a quad core processor up to 2.5 GHz with solid graphics to keep menus
1:11
and playback smooth. Now the 32GB storage is also a nice bonus and having this much space means you can keep
1:19
more apps and still have room for updates. And with Google TV, everything sits in one clean home screen with recommendations that
1:26
that save you from hopping between apps. Plus, you can use Google Assistant on the remote
1:30
to search with your voice. And Bluetooth 5.2 helps it respond quickly
1:34
from across the room. And when you wanna share something from your phone
1:39
Google casts it and puts it on the TV with just a tap. But if you want a streaming box
1:43
that gives you modern features without costing too much, then you can't go wrong with the Xiaomi TV box S third gen
1:50
Up next is the Amazon Fire TV Cube, which I ranked as the best ease of use
1:54
and this is a good fit if you want voice control to handle the search in. It has built-in microphones and speakers so Alexa can catch your voice
2:01
and do the basics like open apps, search, and change volume. And it also works like an echo device when your TV is off
2:09
You can ask it about the weather, playing music, control smart home devices
2:13
or even make video calls if you plug in a webcam through the USB port. Now I'd say this is one of the fastest fire TV options
2:20
It runs an octa-core processor so apps launch fast, menus scroll smoothly, and there's no lag when you switch between things
2:27
It's also one of the few streaming players with an HDMI input
2:31
so you can plug in a cable box or console and switch without juggling remotes
2:35
Besides that, it includes Wi-Fi 6E for smoother streaming on a compatible router
2:40
plus an ethernet port for a wired setup Now on the back there an IR extender port which helps if you plan to hide the cube inside a cabinet and it looks and sounds great as well And this has
2:51
4k and up to 60 fps along with Dolby Vision, HDR support and Dolby Atmos if your speakers support it
2:58
It also upscales some HD content which can make older shows look sharper on a 4k screen
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So if you want a streaming device that can make your entertainment setup easier then you won't regret getting the Amazon Fire TV Cube
3:10
Up next is the Google TV Streamer 4K, which I ranked as the best for Google Home users
3:16
And this one's built for those who already use Nest speakers, Google Home, or Pixel phones
3:21
Now the best part is the Home panel. It brings your smart home controls into the same place
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where you can watch content, and you can open it and control lights, check cameras, and manage devices
3:31
without stopping what you're watching. It also supports Matter, and it can act as a thread border router
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so newer smart devices can join your Google Home setup more easily, even when you mix brands
3:42
Now for performance, it's a big setup from Google's older TV streamer
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Google says the processor is 22% faster, RAM doubles to 4GB, and storage jumps to 32GB
3:53
And you also get 4K HDR, plus Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG
3:59
so colors look richer and highlights pop more on a compatible TV. Adobe Atmos is here too and with the right sound bar or speaker setup it can add more
4:08
surround like sound. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 5 for wireless streaming, Bluetooth 5.0 for pairing headphones
4:15
or game controls, a gigabit ethernet port for wired connections, and a USB-C port for power
4:21
I also really like the remote. You can set the shortcut button to your favorite app or the home panel and if it goes missing
4:28
you can ring it from the streamer or another google assistant device
4:32
Google also brings in AI search and recommendations so you can describe what you're in the mood
4:36
for and get personalized results. So if your home runs on Google and you want your TV to match that same rhythm, then you
4:43
can't go wrong with the Google TV Streamer 4K. Next up is the Mecool KM9 Pro Max, which I ranked as the best mid-tier Android TV box
4:53
And you're getting official Google TV on Android 12, which means the Play Store works properly
4:58
and Google Assistant voice search is built in, and Chromecast is ready whether you want to cast it from your phone
5:03
And at the core, a Realtrek quad-core processor with Mali graphics keeps things moving
5:09
And it isn't the fastest chip on the market, but it's more than capable of handling 4K streaming and lighter tasks without stuttering
5:17
Now, many cheaper boxes can stream Netflix in HD, or they don't support it at all
5:22
but this one streams Netflix Prime Video Disney and YouTube all in 4K And switching between abs can take a couple seconds but once you in a show playback stays smooth and reliable Now picture quality is also great here too
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You get 4K HDR with HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, plus auto frame rate to match the frame rate to your content
5:46
And audio includes Dolby Audio. It also handles audio pass-through, which is important if you're running sound
5:51
through an AV receiver. And on top of that, the Bluetooth remote doesn't need a line of sight and 32 gigabytes of storage gives you room to build
5:59
out your setup. Now wireless is dual band 2 with 2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz for steadier streaming
6:06
and around the back there's an HDMI 2.1 port, optical audio, a 3.5 millimeter jack and ethernet
6:13
plus two full size USB-A ports on the side. So if you're trying to find the middle lane between
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budget and premium, then the Mecool KM9 Max Pro wins my vote
6:24
Up next is the Rocktech G2, which I ranked as the best for Dolby Vision streaming, and
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this is the one you get if you want the best image your TV can produce
6:33
Most streaming boxes already give you regular 4K, which looks good, but Dolby Vision adds
6:37
that extra refinement. It helps bring out more detail in dark scenes, while keeping bright areas controlled
6:44
The colors also look more balanced instead of just washed out or overly boosted
6:49
Now inside is a 2GHz quad core Amlogic processor with Mali graphics handling visuals
6:54
And that's enough power to play 4K video smoothly at 60fps. And it also works with AV1 which is a newer video format that delivers good quality while
7:03
using less internet bandwidth. And for the internet it has wifi 6 on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz
7:11
If you want to plug in an ethernet cable, it has a gigabit port that reaches up to 1000
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megabytes per second. Bluetooth 5.0 is also available for wireless headphones or controllers and it also handles
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HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG which are other high quality video formats. So whether you're watching Netflix, Disney Plus, or YouTube, you're getting the best
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version of that video available. And the audio is just as good as the video
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It has Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD so on a proper system, you'll hear sounds coming from all
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directions, not just left and right speakers. So if you want your movies and shows to look
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significantly better than basic 4K, you'll love this one. Next we've got the Mecool KM7 Plus
7:50
which I ranked as the best value, and you get way more than the price would suggest here
7:55
It's fully Google certified, Netflix streams in full 4K, and the software is proper Android TV
8:01
and not a cut down version. People also love it for cutting down the menu digging. Everything
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shows up in one home screen neatly organized with suggestions that match your viewing habits And the interface also looks modern and makes browsing way easier than older streaming boxes Now Adobe Vision is not included but HDR10 and HLG are here so both still provide solid HDR
8:23
performance. Now the remote is the familiar Google style and it's honestly one of the nicer ones to
8:29
use. There's quick launch buttons for your main streaming apps plus built-in Google Assistant for
8:34
voice search. Now it connects to Bluetooth for the box itself and infrared for TV, power, and volume
8:41
so you can control everything without pointing directly at it. Now there's also HDMI, Optical Audio, AV, Ethernet, and a 3.5mm jack grouped together on the main connector area
8:51
while the other end carries two USB-A ports and the microSD slot
8:56
Now just be aware that the 16GB of internal storage is pretty limiting
9:00
so you may want to use a USB drive or the microSD card if you plan to install a lot of apps
9:05
But if you're after a legitimate streaming experience with all the official approvals
9:09
then the Mi Cool KM7 Plus is your go-to choice. Finally, at number one is the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro
9:17
which I ranked as the best overall. And the reason is simple. First, it's the only device on the list
9:22
that handles streaming, gaming, personal media libraries, and smart features at a high level
9:27
Another highlight is the AI upscaling. This takes HD content and enhances it to 4K in real time
9:33
using machine learning. Now, of course, this is more than a simple upscale
9:37
It studies each frame and rebuilds extra detail so the picture looks sharper than the original
9:43
And you also get something special called the Plex Media Server. And unlike other streaming boxes that only play Plex videos, this one can store and share them too
9:53
Plug in a hard drive, add your media and it organizes everything for you. Then other devices in your home can also open the Plex app and watch from that same library
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You don't have to worry about formats either. It includes the premium HDR options so the picture always shows up in its best version
10:09
And for sound, it features Dolby Atmos and high quality pass-through. It also has gigabit ethernet which is a big deal because it gives you high quality streaming even when your wifi is crowded
10:20
And with GeForce Now, you can play AAA games like Fortnite or stream games like Cyberpunk 2077 from your PC game library without only a console or gaming PC
10:30
That said, the Android TV interface looks more traditional compared to newer Google TV layouts
10:35
And since it lacks Wi-Fi 6 and AV1 hardware decoding, newer routers and newer streams don't get the same benefit
10:42
But if you want the most powerful, versatile, and capable streaming box, then the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is the perfect choice
10:49
And that's all for today. I hope this list helped you choose the perfect Android TV box
10:54
And if you find something you like, don't forget to check the description to find links to all the Android TV boxes mentioned in this video
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