10 Best Android TV Boxes in 2020

Gone are the days you desperately waited for a program on television! Every day, the mere sight of its promotional ad excited your core. Just in case you had happened to be away from home on time, you might have missed out on the golden opportunity to enjoy your favorite show or movie. Know that feeling? It just kills you! But not anymore!

Today, the technology has been so advanced that you can get whatever you want in a blink of an eye, even on a television set, as long as it is smart. But, what if you don’t have one? What if you keep on salivating at your friend’s expensive smart TV and all you have is one or two hundred bucks to spend (or less than that)?

That’s where the utilitarian value of Android TV boxes kicks in! The fact that you are here reading this article means you already have an idea of what the so-called box is. So, let’s cut to the chase.

What to Look for on an Android Box?

Let’s have a look at the features that make an Android TV Box an absolute value for money. When you see a listing, make sure you check these out.

• Processor:- You need the hardware to respond to your actions real quick, don’t you? So for that, the processor should be powerful enough. Our recommendations are Tegra X1 and AmLogic.
• Memory:- The maximum an Android TV Box has these days is 4 GB. Thus, you won’t have to look for something else (unless you are low on budget)!
• Storage:- Most of the products available today offer 16 GB internal storage. However, 32 GB and even 8 GB aren’t rare as well. What if you want more than that? Get down to our list.
• Ports:- In order to have 4K video playback, the HDMI port is necessary. USB ports? Well, it’s mandatory if you wish to plug thumb drives in.
• Geeky Features:- Of course, you will encounter other features like HDR, Widevine certification, and dynamic refresh rate switching. They all contribute to enhancing the media-consuming experience.

Now that you have got an idea of selecting an Android TV box that suits your needs, let’s have a look at the best offerings.

Best Android TV Boxes in 2020

Here are some of the best android tv boxes of 2020-

10. Pendoo X6 PRO Android TV Box

Not everybody can shell out a hundred bucks just to get entertained. If you fall into this category, you should have a look at Pendoo X6 Pro. Having been equipped with a Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU and 4 GB RAM, it offers you 4K streaming without any hindrances. Coming at around $50, this Android TV box can store files going up to 32 GB.

When it comes to connecting to the internet, you can choose to go with either WiFi or ethernet. Given the box runs on Android 9.0, you won’t find it difficult to stream from Netflix and other popular platforms. Apart from the device itself, the package contains a US power adapter, remote control, an HDMI cable.

9. TICTID TX6 Plus Android TV Box

What if you think 32 GB is way too less to quench your thirst for storing HD movie files? Well, you can have a look at this product from TICTID. With double the space of Pendoo X6 Pro, it widens the horizon for you to save videos.

Speaking of the specifications, this Android TV box draws processing power from a quad-core CPU with 4 GB RAM. The OS version here is 9.0 Pie and you get to install applications with the help of in-house Google Play Store.

You know what! It is even possible for TX6 Plus to play videos in 8K quality given you have the required hardware. The additional supported features include HD CEC, Dynamic HDR, and 8Kx4K@24 video output.

A disappointing fact is it doesn’t work with any of the older TV models SONY BRAVIA and PHILIPS.

8. Xiaomi Mi Box S

The brand enthusiast in you isn’t letting you pick any of the two listed above, isn’t it the case? You must be a person who doesn’t care missing out on a few features in return for a well-known brand. Then, we have got you covered.

Assuming you are not living in a cave, the name Xiaomi doesn’t hit your ears as a new one. You won’t get exhausted with a colossal of features within 50 dollars. However, Mi Box S has every essential attribute one might anticipate to have on their Android TV Box.

Packing in a Cortex-A53 Quad-core 64-bit CPU, it supports 4K playback. Moreover, you also get Google Assistant so that you can eliminate the use of the remote for operating the box. Running on Android 8.1, Mi Box S features 2 GB RAM and 8 GB storage.

7. RK3318 Smart Android TV Box

Do you think it’s impossible to enjoy a 3D movie just by sitting inside your home? Then, RK3318 is going to change your perception. Though it has nothing extra to offer in terms of storage and RAM, you will be awestruck to know the company ships an incredible keyboard and a separate remote control inside the package.

OS-wise, you get Android 9.0 Pie with support for numerous applications. The quad-core CPU with a graphical processing unit inside aids you in running some low-end games so that you can distract your mind after binge-watching a long series.

Maybe, you have wrinkled your forehead as the device features only 16 GB space! Don’t worry, with a built-in card reader, you can always increase the internal storage.

6. VANKYO MatrixBox X95A 4K Android TV Box

You know, most of the Android boxes establish a connection with your television using an HDMI port. Before you jump out to buying a box, you have to verify the presence of the port on your television. What if your TV never has it?

Don’t bang your head on the wall! There’s another possibility that leverages something called an AV port. Before getting ecstatic, you need to know not many products feature such an old port. Guess what? VANKYO MatrixBox X95A does!

Although 2 GB+ 16 GB configuration might strike you as a letdown, the card reader on the back of the device compensates for the lack of storage. And, you get two USB ports, plus a LAN slot. Using Bluetooth, it’s a hassle-free experience to pair the box with an external keyboard, mouse, or speaker.

5. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

First of all, let’s clear the air! It doesn’t run on Android. Still, we couldn’t see a reason for it to be overlooked. If you are a person who wants to spend your leisure time watching series and movies (not playing games), you must consider Fire TV Stick.

Apart from being one of the cheapest Android TV alternatives, it comes from a reputed brand. Not just Prime Video, you can stream content from Netflix, Hotstar, HBO, and almost all the major media platforms.

The remote wears a clean and elegant look with a dedicated Alexa button. Skip to the streaming, Amazon has a unique X-Ray screen to display the details like characters and original actors. If you don’t want to use a separate remote, you can install an app on your phone to replace it.

Of course, there are limitations like lack of 4K output (but you can extend your budget a bit to get 4K variant), USB port, and storage expansion.

4. Roku Ultra 4K

Have you ever heard of Roku? In the digital streaming industry, it’s quite a popular name. Dubbed as Roku Ultra, this device supports all the platforms including the relatively new Apple TV. For a hands-free experience, you can rely upon Alexa.

What we like the most about Roku Ultra is it’s remote with dedicated keys for Netflix, ESPN, Hulu, and Sling. They avoid the necessity of having to press multiple buttons for opening a single service. And just like Fire TV Stick, you can leave the remote behind if you have a smartphone and are willing to install their free application.

Are you ready to blow your mind? Here it goes! Roku Ultra (this variant) comes up with a set of premium JBL headphones. In case you want something from the company as cheap as $30, just have a look at this.

3. Greatlizard TX6 Android Smart TV Box

An average digital media device user today knows RAM is paramount in delivering flawless, lag-free performance. And, the maximum you can expect in an Android box is 4 GB. You get it intact with Greatlizard TX6. Of course, there’s room for storage expansion (in-built is 64 GB).

WiFi and Bluetooth support increase the utilitarian value of the box. Allwinner H6 CPU coupled with Mali-T720 ensures you get buttery smooth playback. The extra ports include USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and TF card, reader.

2. T95Z Plus Amlogic S905X3 Android TV Box

The next up in our list of best Android TV boxes is T95Z Plus. As the title indicates, it features Amlogic quad-core CPU doubled with ARM G31 MP2. The 32 GB EMMC ROM can be expanded using an external hard disk or SD card.

Packing in a 4 GB DDR RAM, it flaunts wireless, ethernet, and Bluetooth connection with HDMI 2.0 port that supports 4K video playback. One of the distinctive features of T95Z Plus is its 3D graphics hardware acceleration.

Akin to RK3318 (check out #7), you get a backlit keyboard along with a separate remote control. And, you can regulate the backlighting as it’s on a fully purposed gaming keyboard.

1. NVIDIA Shield Android TV

So here you are, looking at the final listing! We have saved the best for the last. All the nine products mentioned above have exhilarated streaming capabilities. And, this one goes a bit far with its gaming capacities.

NVIDIA is a renowned GPU maker in the world. Coming from them, you know Shield TV excels in other products in graphic performance. They have another product in the same category, named Shield TV Pro with extended features (Yep, you should swell your budget a bit).

Returning to the regular Shield TV, it features a Tegra X1+ processor with a 256-core NVIDIA GPU and 2 GB RAM. Of course, the device can play videos in 4K and it’s HDR Ready. You can expand the 8 GB storage using a micro SD.

What we love about this is the Experience Upgrades directly from NVIDIA. Hence, you won’t be bothered by bugs (if any) for long.

Final Verdict

What did you decide? Which one did you choose to go with?

Let us make it easy for you! Love gaming? Don’t think twice, but order NVIDIA Shield TV. Looking for the cheapest and reputed product? Amazon Fire TV Stick is here for you. Oh-oh! Need an inexpensive one running on Android only? Mi Box S for the win! The scenario becomes tricky if you have a TV so old that it doesn’t have an HDMI port. In that case, you have to narrow down your choices to only one, VANKYO MatrixBox X95A.