Which device should I buy?

Which one is the best?

Nintendroid’s buying guide for 2021

It can all be very confusing for newcomers in the streaming world. Most all devices work great for streaming with third party apps alone, but how else will you use your device? Hopefully the information below will help you make an informed decision and allow you to choose the device that best fits your needs, especially if it’s your first purchase. I will cover each type of device and operating system and, only those that allow “apps from unknown sources” or, third-party apps. (sorry Roku, and Apple).

Fire TV

Fire TV devices and TV’s are Amazon’s own “brand” of the Android TV Operating System. The backbone of the operating system is a version of Android TV with Amazon’s branding and user Interface over the top of it. This means that you can “side-load” (or install) most Android apps from unknown sources, most notably, regular Android apps that don’t require Google services and, that are designed for phones and mobile devices (even apps designed for the Android TV operating system). These devices pack a ton of value for performance into a straightforward package and are very user friendly.

Pros

1. Licensed DRM for HD/UHD Netflix, Prime, YouTube, Hulu, Disney +, Apple TV, etc. including Dolby audio and video options.

2. Alexa Voice Assistant with Voice remote on most models.

3. Infrared Remote for controlling other devices on most models.

4. No need for a mouse/touchpad unless you choose to use apps designed for mobile devices.

5. No need for additional apps for creating home screen icons for apps that you have side-loaded. (this is a little more difficult on Android TV devices)

6. Hands free options available with Amazon Echo, or Fire TV Cube, and other smart devices.

7. Frequent Operating System Updates

Cons

1. Requires an Amazon account linked to a valid mailing address.

2. Many third party and sideloaded apps will have blank icons on the home screen on the newer model Fire TV devices. Using a third-party home screen app may become necessary if you encounter many of your apps not having icons.

3. No SD card, full-size USB, or Ethernet ports (except Fire TV 2 box). [Some features available with other accessories like ethernet adapters and powered OTG hubs.]

4. Limited storage capacities: 2-3GB (except Cube which has about 12GB free after the Operating System)

5. Cannot use apps that require Google Services.

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Fire_TV

FIRE TV HOME SCREEN PREVIEW FOR MOST DEVICES PRE-SPRING 2021

FIRE TV HOME SCREEN ON NEWER DEVICES AND OTHERS COMING IN SPRING 2021

Personal favorite and final thoughts: Firesticks are great devices to get your “feet wet” with streaming or, for casual streamers that don’t use many apps or services, or for TV’s that aren’t your main viewing device. The 4K Firestick is the best of the “stick” models. Firesticks will require more maintenance compared to most other devices for their lack of storage and inability to uninstall Amazon’s factory installed apps, meaning, you will need to stay on top of keeping the storage cleaned out regularly and keep an eye on any remaining storage. The new Fire TV Cube is the very best Amazon device currently on the market and, my personal favorite Amazon device. It has the most storage and RAM and is the very fastest Fire TV device Amazon has made to date. The Cube won’t require nearly as much maintenance and the hands-free Alexa that is built in is a great added bonus!

Android TV OS

The Android TV Operating System is Google’s flagship OS for TV’s and devices that connect to a TV. It seems they may be transitioning to “Google TV” which has a slightly different user interface but, time will tell and we don’t yet know the plans yet for the Nvidia Shield TV.

Android TV OS features the “Google Assistant” which is very similar to Amazon’s Alexa and while the capabilities vary between the two, Google is constantly improving it. The main difference in this operating system over Fire TV is the ability to use the TV version of the Google Play Store. It is a lot more limited than the mobile version of the Play store but, like Fire TV devices, you can side-load regular Android apps that were designed for mobile devices (even those that require Google Services).

Android TV introduced what is known as the “10 Foot User Interface” which allows an unlimited number of home screen icons in your “my apps” row of installed applications (where Fire TV is limited to a specific number). Devices with the newer “Google TV” user interface however, have gone back to limiting the number of apps you can have here so this may change in the near future.

While it will be tough to make a fair comparison of pros and cons here considering all the different models, I will stick to things that exist across all of them.

Pros

1. Licensed DRM for HD/UHD Netflix, Prime, YouTube, Hulu (not available on Shield), Disney +, etc., including Dolby audio/video options. (at the time of writing this, Apple TV is still not available for Android TV.)

2. Google Voice Assistant integrated with other options available through Google Home hands free devices like Google Home, Nest devices, and the Nest speaker systems.

3. No need for a mouse/touchpad unless you use apps designed for mobile.

4. Ability to side-load most apps, including those that require Google Services.

5. Full size USB ports (on most devices) for expanding storage and using external media or accessories like a wireless mouse/touchpad.

6. Ethernet ports (not available on all devices)

7. Ability to increase the internal storage for app installs (requires an adapter on devices that lack full size USB port).

8. Operating System Updates

Cons

1. Requires additional apps to open or create home screen icons for side-loaded apps designed for mobile devices.

2. Volume controls are integrated into the operating system like mobile devices on many devices unless the remote included specifically states that it has IR functions. (new Shield remotes have IR.)

3. Android TV version of Play Store is very limited compared to the mobile Play Store. (but you can sideload 95% of regular mobile apps from the mobile Play Store. Many of these will still work with a mouse or touchpad keyboard.)

More info for officially licensed Android TV devices:

Mi Box S – https://www.mi.com/global/mi-box-s/ Tivo Stream 4K – https://www.tivo.com/products/stream-4k Jetstream Box – https://9to5google.com/2018/09/12/jetstream-android-tv-4k-hdr-box-price/ Dynalink – https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dynalink-Android-TV-Box-Android-10-Support-full-HD-Netflix-4K-Youtube/981542272 Nvidia Shield – https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/shield/

*note – there are several devices on the market, like the “MeCool” brand devices, which run on Android TV OS but are NOT fully licensed. Only those listed above and a couple others are officially licensed by Google, Dolby, and Netflix.

HOME SCREEN PREVIEW ON NVIDIA SHIELD (AS OF FEB. 2021)

HOME SCREEN PREVIEW ON OTHER ANDROID TV DEVICES (AS OF FEB 2021)

Personal favorite and final thoughts: The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is by far, my favorite Android TV device and is, arguably, the best device for streaming, period. Ask anyone who owns one. If the Shield is out of your budget, or has more features than you think you may need, my second choice would be the Mi Box even though it lacks an Ethernet port. Just weigh your options and needs and, keep in mind, if you buy the Shield first, you won’t have to make the decision later that you should upgrade.

Google Chromecast with Google TV

The latest streaming device to hit the market is Google’s very own “Chromecast with Google TV” dongle style streamer. The main difference between this and the older version of the Chromecast is the ability to install applications and sideload third-party apps. It is very similar to a Firestick or the Tivo Stream 4K in that it is a dongle style streamer that hangs from the back of the TV where the HDMI input is. This new device also features the new “Google TV” interface which is like a mix of the traditional Android TV user interface, and Amazon’s Fire TV interface and falls somewhere in the middle.

Pros:

1. Extremely small size and smaller remote

2. Remote has IR functions to control your TV’s volume

3. A little more storage available versus Firesticks with the ability to uninstall several of the factory installed apps. (still only about 3GB left after the operating system though)

4. Google Voice Assistant built into the remote

5. Good processing power speed (quite a “snappy” device for its size)

6. Google TV Play Store apps and offers its own apps like Apple TV that aren’t yet available on other Android TV devices.

7. Ability to increase storage by adding a powered USB type C hub (only certain model hubs are compatible.)

Cons:

1. No external inputs of any kind like Firesticks. (You can add small, powered, USB type C hubs but only certain ones will work with the new Chromecast and finding a list of compatible devices isn’t easy nor straightforward.)

2. Cannot write to external storage if you do have a hub and external storage connected.

3. Installing “apps from unknown” sources takes a little more setup compared to other similar devices. You have to enable “Developer Options” first before you can turn on unknown sources (third-party app installs).

4. The new “Google TV” UI is more restrictive compared to other Android TV/Fire TV devices and seems geared toward users who use, or will use, paid streaming apps and subscriptions. Your “my apps” row is tiny on the home screen compared to all the other paid content shown.

HOME SCREEN PREVIEW OF THE CHROMESCAST WITH GOOGLE TV (AS OF FEB. 2021)

First impressions and final thoughts: For now, I wouldn’t really recommend it for new streamers. Only those who are more experienced with the ins and outs of streaming devices will find their way around the caveats of this new device. There are some things I like about it but, having tested it for a couple of days, I will probably pass it on to someone in need. I will say though, if you are a streamer who uses mainly paid subscriptions (Netflix, Disney +, Apple TV, etc.) this may be the device for you.

Android Boxes

Android Boxes come in many shapes and sizes and can be one of the most difficult devices to choose from. There are hundreds of models but most have either AMLogic or Rockchip hardware inside. These types of boxes are based on a mobile version of the Android Operating System which has been adapted to fit the TV screen. This means they use the same versions of apps that your phone or tablet use so you will need a wireless mouse, airmouse, or touchpad/keyboard combo to use them to their fullest potential as most apps from the Play Store are designed for touch input. This is not to say that no apps will work with the remote, they certainly will, but most of those that do are third party apps like the ones you find on Filelinked.

The remotes that come with these boxes, in most cases, are very cheap and have poor on-screen mouse controls so you’ll definitely want to purchase an accessory with your new device like a small touchpad keyboard. You will also be limited to mobile versions of apps except in cases where official Android TV apps will install to them (and many of these will require a shortcut maker app to create an icon) or third-party apps that already work with remotes. Even then, most of the remotes that come with these boxes use infrared to control the box, where other devices use Bluetooth so that the remote doesn’t need to be pointed directly at the device. These boxes do have a very wide range of uses however and, in most cases, side-loading apps is very easy.

Pros

1. Most have SD card, multiple full size USB ports, and an Ethernet port.

2. Highly customizable experience using various third party launcher apps. You can customize the boxes to operate much like either a tablet or an Android TV device.

3. Works well with a wireless mouse even with on-screen keyboards and gesture controls.

4. Full Mobile version of the Google Play Store.

5. Perfect for playing Google Play Store games that work with a mouse or game controller

Cons

1. Unlicensed DRM. Premium apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney +, etc. will be limited to the mobile versions and Standard Definition resolutions in most cases or may not work fully. (YouTube may also be limited to certain resolutions.)

2. No OS updates in most cases and limited (if any) support. Firmware updates, if available, usually need to be upgraded manually and will require a PC.

3. Limited remote functions as most apps are designed for touch input.

4. Most included remotes will not have voice functions nor infrared support for your TV or other devices.

COMMON “STOCK” (OR FACTORY) PREINSTALLED HOME SCREEN

CUSTOM HOME SCREEN USING ATV LAUNCHER PRO APP

CUSTOM HOME SCREEN USING MICROSOFT LAUNCHER

My favorite Android TV Box device as of 2021: I would probably go with the X96 Max Pro Plus with 4GB of RAM. There are several models with different amounts of RAM and storage and the 64GB models would be great. The last Android TV box I bought was probably in 2019 and was, one of my favorite brands, a Tanix box. While they are great in their own right, I no longer recommend these types of devices to new streamers for various reasons. The main reason being they do have a higher learning curve compared to newer, licensed, devices.

More info and reviews for many boxes (including TV OS) This channel reviews most newer TV Boxes as well as licensed devices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-v54XQalOcx5yco3aTixrg Charts for top rated devices: http://chigztech.com/charts.html

In conclusion, no matter which device you choose, just make sure it will meet all your streaming needs. Consider storage space, speed, the ability to easily add peripherals or connect to Ethernet, and whether or not you will need the ability to use licensed paid apps. Consider the costs of buying extra adapters or peripherals for a device, compared to a device which might already have these features built in and whether or not having a voice remote and the ability to control your existing TV’s power and volume from the device remote are things you might need or find useful.

With many devices you will find that, once you have bought the device, extra peripherals or adapters, USB storage, etc. you will have already spent close to what it would have cost to just buy a device that already included these features. It’s also not always straightforward for how to add storage, external peripherals, or whether or not they have to be Bluetooth or use a USB port.

Consider for a moment if you bought a Firestick or another dongle style device like the Tivo or new Chromecast. You will find down the road that, if you want to add storage or Ethernet, you will need to buy a special adapter and that only certain kinds will be compatible. You may also find that adding storage requires you to do extra work like typing in ADB commands in a special app, or having to format your USB device to a particular format with a PC first. Then you may find that if you want to use something like an external keyboard or mouse that it must be Bluetooth or that you will have to plug in another adapter, into the special adapter you already purchased, just for the ability to add peripherals. Things can get complicated quickly.

Finally, just consider all your options and needs, especially with your first device purchase. It may seem tempting to buy a cheaper device to start with but as you get more into streaming you will quickly learn that the cheaper devices, with less capabilities, should be more for TV’s that aren’t used as often or that aren’t your main streaming TV. The device you use the most should definitely have more options and features.

Final Thoughts overall: In 2021, personally, I would recommend either the newest models of the Amazon Fire TV Cube, or, the Nvidia Shield TV Pro. These are the very fastest devices on the market with the most amounts of storage in a “licensed” device. They each get regular system updates and are backed by the great support of Amazon and Nvidia. You won’t be disappointed with either.

Also, if you’re into retro gaming emulation, or casual gaming, the Nvidia Shield TV Pro is the best streaming device that will also let you play many of your favorite retro games (with some setup on your part) or, will let you play modern games as well with: Nvidia Games (aka GeForce Now), the Xbox Game Pass app (requires a paid Game Pass “ultimate” subscription), the Google Stadia game streaming service, and will allow you to stream games you own from your PC. Any kind of gaming or emulation will be much more limited with other devices.

I hope this information helps you in deciding the best devices for al your streaming needs!

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