The very best Android boxes of 2020 can change any tv right into a smart device that may access the most recent streaming service, plus they can be used as small form-factor PCs and several can play modern games aswell.
Thanks to mobile elements getting a lot more powerful, along with improvements to the Android operating-system, the very best Android boxes could be excellent (and affordable) replacements for standard Windows desktop PCs.
Android boxes also have become extremely popular as Kodi streaming devices, to this extent that Android boxes have almost become synonymous with Kodi boxes.
But unlike the latter, Android boxes are more versatile and don’t suffer the bane to be tied to custom-made user interfaces or Android builds. And in this specific article we’ve listed the very best Android boxes you can currently buy for work, play, or indeed other things.
Best Android boxes – instantly
Nvidia Shield TV Pro
Amazon Fire TV Cube
Turewell T9
MINIX NEO U9-H
Mecool MK9 Pro
Ematic Jetstream
A95X Max
Xiaomi Mi Box S
The Nvidia Shield (Image credit: Nvidia)
- Nvidia Shield TV Pro
The very best Android streaming box and retro gaming machine
Powerful
Many features
High-spec PC gaming
HDR formats
The most recent Nvidia Shield Pro doesn’t do much new, but does not have to as a way to remain the very best streaming box and retro gaming machine out there. An Android-powered set-top-box / video game system, it’s about as powerful as streaming devices come, and is jam-packed with features that may tempt movie and gaming fans alike.
Whether you’re after high-spec PC gaming streamed to your TV, or 4K movies in multiple HDR formats, it offers you covered. It can offer less affordability than previous models however, despite a spec bump.
Read our overview of the Nvidia Shield TV Pro here.
(Image credit: Amazon)
- Amazon Fire TV Cube
The very best Amazon streaming device
Fire TV OS
Processor upgrade
Dolby Vision
Using Fire TV OS, a variation of Android, Amazon’s most recent Fire TV Cube is, by far, well known Amazon streaming device – better in so many ways compared to the Amazon Fire TV Cube that premiered in 2017. The processor upgrade and inclusion of Dolby Vision are excellent new additions and, regardless of a few shortcomings, help solidify the Cube’s spot as among the finest streaming players to be released this season.
The Fire TV Cube is definitely rock-solid with regards to performance, however the latest version introduces numerous upgrades which make it even faster.
Read our overview of the Amazon Fire TV Cube here.
(Image credit: Turewell)
- Turewell T9
Fast and efficient Android box
Android 9.0 Pie
Good interface
Decent selection of games
4K HD
Save bandwidth
The Turewell T9 Android 9.0 TV box includes Android 9.0 Pie, rendering it fast and efficient. This Android TV box offers a decent selection of games, an attractive interface (for the price), and Google Play Store support which grants you usage of an eclectic mixture of experiences. In addition, it supports video decoding and plays virtually all popular audio tracks and video formats, including 4K HD video.
And moreover, its H.265 decoding helps you to save 50% of streaming bandwidth compared H.264, providing the opportunity to play a large number of Android games on a sizable 4K screen while enjoying an increased quality experience with less buffering.
(Image credit: MINIX)
- MINIX NEO U9-H
Good budget Android box
60fps
Full HDR10 support
Cheap
Featuring speedy video that stretches up to 60fps, the NEO U9-H 64-bit Media Hub for Android gives smooth, responsive, and crystal-clear display quality because of its 4K capabilities. Better still, the U9-H offers impressive picture performance because of full HDR10 support.
Its HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology widens the colour spectrum, displaying brighter whites and deeper blacks, accentuating the contrast to produce a more natural, vibrant viewing experience. All this comes in a package that costs significantly less than £40/$50.
(Image credit: Mecool)
- Mecool MK9 Pro
Android box with Google Assistant
YouTube in 4K
HDR10
Bluetooth voice control
Google Assistant
Powered by the S905X2, the most recent chipset from Amlogic, the Mecool MK9 Pro can display YouTube in 4K and boasts HDR10 alongside HLG HDR and H.265(HEVC) video encoding for increased contrast, color and clarity.
Handily, it sports a voice control function and includes a Bluetooth voice control remote controller, enabling you to operate it box using voice commands, which is both novel and useful. With Google Assistant built-in, the Mecool MK9 Pro also helps it be simple to control your smart home as well.
(Image credit: Ematic)
- Ematic Jetstream
Miniature Android box with Bluetooth voice search
4K Ultra HD
Netflix, Hulu, and PBS Kids
60 FPS video
Bluetooth voice search
Buying your first Android TV box? Then your Ematic Jetstream 4K Ultra HD TV Box may be the one for you personally. The Jetstream 4K Ultra HD Android TV Box with Voice Search Remote is, inside our view, the perfect starting place to find out about TV boxes. It offers access to a lot more than 450,000 movies and Television shows across 4,500+ paid and free channels, including streaming services such as for example Netflix, Hulu, and PBS Kids.
The miniature (and surprisingly affordable) marvel supports 60 FPS video at 4K resolution as the included remote has built-in Bluetooth voice search technology in order that you may use your voice to browse, install, and play more apps, games, movies, and shows.
- A95X Max
Android box with original video recording
Unique video recording function
Dual band WiFi
Smartphone as remote
This well-connected Android TV box has 2.4GHz + 5GHz Dual Band WIFI, furthermore to 10M/100M/1000M Ethernet Lan, which increases the challenge of small wireless signal coverage by enabling signals to be received from all corners. In addition, it packs Bluetooth 5.0 for fast data transmission to compatible devices.
We’re fans of the A95X Max’s unique video recording function, which enables you to record videos to talk about with your relatives and buddies when desired. And who requires a handy remote control? With this model you need to use your smartphone as a remote to navigate recorded clips.
(Image credit: Xiaomi)
- Xiaomi Mi Box S
Budget Android box option
Budget box
Decent specs
Some bugs
The Xiaomi Mi Box S doesn’t compare to famous brands the Nvidia Shield TV, but if you’re looking for Android TV on a budget, it’s a choice to consider. While it’s not perfect, it includes a lot choosing it, and if you’re looking for an Android-based streaming box and don’t want to invest much, that is a decent device to choose.
However, know that you will have to endure a few bugs, a remote that doesn’t always work properly, and you won’t manage to make utilization of it for way too many high-performance tasks.
