The COVID-19 pandemic has uprooted our lives like no other crisis in the past many decades has. If your situation is anything like ours, you have probably long forgotten what day of the lockdown it is. This means you might’ve run out of things to do a good while ago.
After all, there’s only so much TV you can flick through before you’re left in a constant state of boredom. Let conventional TV bore you no more. We bring you the best Android TV Box 4K picks to bring some life back into your viewing routine.
The problem with television is - well, there are a load of problems with conventional television. For one, you never get to watch anything from start to finish as you browse through a myriad of channels. You either catch a movie half-way through or when it’s nearing the end. The ads are also a constant nuisance, and there’s just so much repetition.
Fret not, as we take you through our top picks for the best Android TV Box 4K to open your mundane days up to an entire world of streaming content. From free videos on YouTube to the curated selection of original content on Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video - a good Android TV Box has something for everyone.
Pendoo X6 Android 9.0 TV Box
The Pendoo X6 is one of the finest offerings on the market today. This is a smart television box that comes with Android 9.0. The device may come at a higher price tag than what we are used to seeing on Android TV boxes, but it is an absolute powerhouse.
The X6 boasts Full HD and 4K support. Furthermore, it supports 3D content so you can expect an ultra-sharp 3D viewing experience. Of course, none of this would be possible without strong hardware to back it up. The X6 features 4GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage.
Two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port mean that you can attach a permanent USB to the device for storage expansion while leaving the other ports open for accessories. A quad-core CPU and Dual-band Wi-Fi ensure that all your content plays smoothly and without buffer.
X96 Max+ Android 9.0 TV Box
This mini Android TV box is a great budget pick for anyone who wants to turn their TV into a decent video streaming hub. The upgraded X96 now comes with Android 9.0 and full 4k HDR support. Couple the box with an HDR TV and you can enjoy your favorite content with stunning color reproduction.
With the Amlogic S905W quad-core processor and 1GB RAM this little box gives impressive performance without lags or stutters. Mali-450MP GPU also delivers sufficient video processing power for most Android games.
Although there is only 8GB of internal storage, you can always attach a USB in one of the two ports to expand the storage to your desire. In addition to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, an Ethernet port is also present for direct internet connectivity.
Amazon Fire Stick 4K Streaming
For those looking for reliable streaming performance on a budget, you can’t do much better than the Amazon Fire Stick 4K. Known for their smooth user-experience and plenty of power, Amazon Fire streaming devices are quite popular among buyers.
The Fire Stick 4K is an upgrade over the original Fire Stick. It comes with Alexa virtual assistant, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, as well as 4K HDR and HDR10+ support. Powered by a quad-core 1.7GHz processor, this little streaming device does not disappoint with its performance.
Since this is a relatively inexpensive offering, you don’t get a lot of storage space or expansion options. The device comes with 8GB of in-built storage. Users get free Cloud storage for any content purchased from Amazon.
HAOSIHD T9 Android TV Box
The upgraded HAOSIHD T9 comes with the newer Android 9.0 which delivers a smoother and more optimized experience. The device is also compatible with more of your favorite devices and apps, so you don’t have to miss out on any of your favorite entertainment.
A quad-core CPU allows for smooth booting up of all your apps and stutter-free 4K playback experience. There is also plenty of RAM storage to keep the apps running smoothly. Plentiful 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage give you control over whatever you want to save for later viewing. What we like most about this device is that it offers plenty of storage expansion options. Two USB ports and a memory card slot let you add as much storage as your digital entertainment needs require.
Greatlizard TX6 Android TV Box
Greatlizard TX6 is another powerful Android box, and one of the few that have impressed us the most. Powered by Android 9.0, this TV box features a more streamlined user-experience than its predecessor.
The TX6 features all the capabilities that you would expect from a fairly high-end Android TV box. It is powered by a quad-core processor which is necessary to support the device’s 4K playback capabilities. 4G of RAM ensures that your content keeps playing without any lag.
The 64GB internal storage gives users plenty of default space for apps and offline content. There are also USB ports for users who want more storage for their content. The device features dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0.
Fire TV Cube
The Fire TV Cube is the more powerful, more capable and slightly more expensive older brother of the Stick devices. The Cube is a convergence of Amazon’s Echo smart speaker and a powerful media streaming device. This TV box comes with native Alexa smart assistant support.
Although the Stick devices also supported Alexa voice-commands, the functionality in the budget devices is limited to the remote control. A dedicated button on the remote control needs to be pressed to activate voice recognition.
The Cube, on the other hand, works like a smart speaker. A simple Hey Alexa will wake the device up to your commands. The Cube supports 4K HDR playback and comes with a hexa-core processor, as well as 16GBs of internal storage.
SkyStream Two Streaming Android TV Box
The SkyStream Two is the solution for all those users who are tired of the unreliable performance of cheap Android TV boxes. The original SkyStream achieved tremendous success. This would explain all the hype surrounding the upgraded model prior to its release.
New customers as well as loyal fans were not disappointed with what the SkyStream Two has to offer. The device comes with the reliable and stable Android 7.1. The device also offers great optimization for battery consuming apps.
The device adapts itself to your usage pattern so it runs faster and more efficiently. The 3GB DDR4 RAM also greatly enhances app and playback performance. The SkyStream Two is shipped with 64GB internal storage and an abundance of storage expansion options.
NVIDIA Shield TV
Easily the most expensive of all our recommendations, this video and videogame streaming device is also one of the most versatile. Built as much for the casual streamers as it is for gamers, the Shield TV is a powerhouse of performance.
On paper, the Shield TV’s specs don’t look very impressive. However, the device has the experience and the support of NVIDIA - the authority in graphics processing hardware. The Shield TV caters to a more demanding user with its lag-free 4K HDR performance and smooth games’ streaming.
Despite this, it does not forget the casual user and offers impressive FHD to 4K upscaling for video content. The Shield TV may be an expensive device, but it is only slightly so compared to many of our recommendations.
MINIX NEO U9-H Android TV box
When it comes to Android streaming media players, MINIX has made quite a name for itself. The company has released a slew of streaming devices with varying capabilities. The U9-H is among the company’s more recent offerings. It is also one that delivers tremendous value.
The MINIX NEO U9-H is a feature packed offering, powered by an octa-core 64-bit processor. The powerful chipset achieves smooth app performance along with seamless 4K video playback.
The included 2GBs of RAM give enough operating memory to the device to minimize lags and stutters. The device comes with 16GBs of internal storage, three USB ports and a memory card reader. The MINIX NEO U9-H is probably the best Android TV Box 4K streamer at its price.
EASYTONE T95Z Plus Android TV Box
The T95Z Plus from EASYTONE isn’t as new an offering as some of our picks, but it deserves a spot on this list nonetheless. This is a beautiful device with a sleek hexagonal honeycomb design. However, its sleek exterior, although impressive, pales in comparison to its internal hardware.
When the T95Z Plus first came out it offered excellent value for money through a blend of powerful hardware and affordable pricing. This is truer today as the prices have considerably fallen while the hardware remains as capable as ever.
The T95Z Plus comes with Amlogic’s octa-core processor for smooth operation. The 3GB RAM and 32GB storage ensure that apps have enough memory to provide you with a fluid entertainment experience.
Accessories
Amazon Ethernet Adapter for Amazon Fire TV Devices
Since we are discussing the best in digital entertainment devices, we would be amiss to ignore a neat little accessory designed specifically for Amazon Fire Stick devices. The Amazon Ethernet Adapter adds the much-needed ability of allowing a direct internet connection from the TV devices.
A Wi-Fi connection works great for your day-to-day video streaming tasks but falls short of delivering impressive performance when it comes to more demanding 4K streaming activities.
Unless you have an expensive wireless router, the performance will not leave you impressed. The Ethernet Adapter is a cheap way to connect your device to the internet for optimal download speed.
Conclusion
Catch up on the television series that you have been putting off for months, discover something new on your favorite streaming website, or learn a new skill on YouTube. With this ongoing crisis having us confined to our homes, make the most of this time.
Don’t spend it switching aimlessly between television channels that keep repeating the same content over and over.
Stay safe but stay connected to the outside world and to a library of entertainment. Turn your conventional TV into a smart device and ditch the small screen of your laptop. With our picks of the best Android TV box 4K streaming player, bring your entertainment to the big screen for an immersive and comfortable viewing experience.