Recommended Android / GoogleTV boxes

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Recommended Android / GoogleTV boxes

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#3233022 21-May-2024 13:14

NVIDIA Shield does seem like the best option but seem quite hard to find?

TV is a Samsung , so Dolby Vision isn't needed. I wonder if the 2017 model would still be ok.

Have used an AppleTV 4K and it's great and snappy. But no longer an Apple house and do like to sideload apps etc.

It seems like there is a gap in the market for a well specced Google TV box to compete with the AppleTV

freitasm

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#3233023 21-May-2024 13:15

lookout: It seems like there is a gap in the market for a well specced Google TV box to compete with the AppleTV

That gap is filled by the Amazon Fire TV 4K Max.

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#3233030 21-May-2024 13:26

I have a Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K) that I can let go of with original boxing.
Bought it from PB Tech last July but had to replace TV a few months later and new TV came with Google TV.

Let me know if your interested and we can work out $, shipping etc

Senecio

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#3233032 21-May-2024 13:31

gcorgnet:

Another vote for Nvidia Shield here. These things are absolute beasts and will play anything you through at them. A bit pricey but given how long they last and how good there are, I'd be willing to spend the $$ for piece of mind.

I still have an original 2015 model Nvidia shield thats still going strong. Media playing, Plex server and even retro game emulation and it never skips a beat.

nicmair

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#3233104 21-May-2024 15:09

I've tried a few, and the one that is Miss's proof is the Tivo Stream 4k. The biggest feature, is that the channel buttons on the remote, actually change the channel, so (for those of us still watching live TV), the ability to press a button to get to a TV channel is a major plus. I use it to stream plex, VLC, and all the usual services. Its rock solid and you can remap the keys to pretty much eliminate all the TIVO bits it comes with

I brought mine about 2 years ago and love it. (big thumbs up the Matt Huisman for his work to help make IPTV simple).

pc

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#3233109 21-May-2024 15:40

nicmair:

I've tried a few, and the one that is Miss's proof is the Tivo Stream 4k.

forgot about that, just ordered one from amazon.au. i hate the google chromecast remote.

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richms

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#3233119 21-May-2024 16:16

I have seen so many recommendations for the walmart boxes that we cannot get here that I am tempted to ask someone over there to bring me one or 2 back to have a play with before I put the effort into reshippers etc as that is hard from walmart.

Richard rich.ms

pc

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#3233122 21-May-2024 16:22

richms:

I have seen so many recommendations for the walmart boxes that we cannot get here that I am tempted to ask someone over there to bring me one or 2 back to have a play with before I put the effort into reshippers etc as that is hard from walmart.

i attempted to buy the first version twice with walmart cancelling the order both times without a reason, so a local pickup would be the way to go.

the tivo 4k stream just cost me $NZ140, i guess not that much more than the onn's $US50 + shipping.

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#3233130 21-May-2024 16:38

Just ordered the tivo and 2 onns from amazon which was offering free shipping on order over $49 despite it being 3rd party sellers so will see what actually arrives.

Richard rich.ms

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#3233186 21-May-2024 17:06

richms:

Just ordered the tivo and 2 onns from amazon which was offering free shipping on order over $49 despite it being 3rd party sellers so will see what actually arrives.

the 2024 model onn? you got an amazon link? cheers

richms

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#3233369 22-May-2024 09:37

pc:

richms:

Just ordered the tivo and 2 onns from amazon which was offering free shipping on order over $49 despite it being 3rd party sellers so will see what actually arrives.

the 2024 model onn? you got an amazon link? cheers

No idea which model, just searched for onn 4k and there were 2 that would ship here from third party sellers with the free shipping so ordered one from each.

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#3234736 26-May-2024 09:27

freitasm:

lookout: It seems like there is a gap in the market for a well specced Google TV box to compete with the AppleTV

That gap is filled by the Amazon Fire TV 4K Max.

leaning toward this, does it have the ability to block certain apps or create profiles that block specific apps

e.g. block YouTube access ?

lookout

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#3234739 26-May-2024 09:46

Just an update to OP - I ended up going with an AppleTV 4K.

I know... but I feel there are too many compromises with the Android boxes that are available here (just my opinion!). If Shield was easier to get in NZ that might be the one.

Apple TV is super snappy. Great remote. New model has hdr10+ which suits my Samsung tv.

Infuse is great for videos on my NAS and Real Debrid (WebDAV).

Apple is now allowing emulators which makes it a pretty cool gaming machine too.

Just my 2c. I know they are a lot more expensive than the Android /Amazon options.

graham007

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#3234754 26-May-2024 10:51

That gap is filled by the Amazon Fire TV 4K Max.

small question :

is it possible to chromecast windows pc tabs and youtube onto this fire tv ? ( or is fire tv completely a different hardware type it doesnt talk to chromecast interface )

farcus

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#3234774 26-May-2024 12:50

I have a Mi Box S - I guess it is about 4 years old.

Earlier this year it received an update to android TV 12 which initially was a bit of a disaster - but they had another update out within a few weeks that fixed most things up.
Works really well - even with 4K content

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