This $20 Android TV Streaming Box is Great for Pirates - Android TV Device Roundup
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- čas přidán 16. 05. 2024
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Walmart's $20 Google TV streaming device is an absolute game changer, especially as a last-minute holiday gift idea. But how does it compare to other Google TV and Android TV streaming devices? We took a look a look at 9 different models of official devices running some version of Android from companies like Google, Amazon, and... mecool? Mecool? Is that even official?
Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com/topic/15483...
Check out the Products from this Roundup:
Google Chromecast: lmg.gg/Ed6of
Google Chromecast 4K: lmg.gg/jo7t1
onn. Google TV 4K Streaming Box: geni.us/dtocLBv
Mecool KD3: geni.us/LoBW6Nl
SEI Robotics TiVo Stream 4K: geni.us/eN54mE3
Xiaomi TV Stick 4K: geni.us/PzlEuuI
Xiaomi TV Box S 2nd Gen: geni.us/AtseSbP
Fire TV Stick 4K Max: geni.us/6MGkLPW
Fire TV Stick Lite: geni.us/Hx1P
Buy an Amazon Basics 30W One-Port GaN USB-C Wall Charger: geni.us/bcuMtU
Buy a UGREEN Revodok 6-in-1 USB-C Hub: geni.us/dh1gBk
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CHAPTERS
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0:00 Intro
2:09 Chromecast with Google TV HD & 4K
5:24 Google's Streaming Device Certification
5:59 onn Google TV 4K Streaming Box
7:26 Sideloading apps
8:35 mecool KD3 Google TV Streaming Stick
9:37 TiVo Streaming 4K Android TV
11:30 Android TV 10 is better than Android TV 11?
12:30 Xiaomi TV Stick 4K v2 AndroidTV
13:40 Xiaomi TV Box S 2nd Gen
14:30 Amazon Fire 4K Max 2nd Gen & Fire Stick Lite
16:12 Performance Benchmarks
17:00 Which one should you buy?
17:42 What about Smart TVs? Conclusion - Věda a technologie
buying an original shield was so expensive for me at the time, but never having to upgrade has saved me so much in the long run, still using it after all these years.
The 2015 shield was a great purchase for me, but I sure wish they would release a 2nd gen instead of a refresh.
Had mine since 2017. Still running great.
Would have been nice if they included it in the performance benchmark.
Do you run a custom launcher on it? I've been constantly annoyed at the slowdown that has occurred with the "updates" from Google/Shield.
@@robodude-oh1mqF-launcher!
the best streaming device is the one you already have
Or the one that’s already built into your TV
Mine is a 2016 fire stick 😢😭😭😭
Yes. I have a Nokia Streaming Box 8000..about 55€.
Probably dog shit by today's standards..but works flawlessly as is, for what it's supposed to do.
@@1996ChevroletImpalaSSthe ones built into TVs are really bad
@@1996ChevroletImpalaSS Hell no. The best one is a PC linked to your TV. Ultimate freedom and no dog-sh*it UI. I cant stand the TV smart app on youtube compared to browser youtube. The only TV smart app I found to be ok on my LG oled is the Netflix one, but I dont use it anymore. Just get a cheap laptop, an old desktop or if you ballin buy a mini PC, 1 hdmi cable and your done. Will never use anything else. Also...pffft Streamio...gl to ya.
Nobody is gonna read it and may go unnoticed, but one crucial aspect of these devices is their thermal performance. My initial experience was with a first-gen Xiaomi TV Stick (I'm Brazilian and we use a lot of Xiaomi devices) and over time, thermal issues became apparent. The device overheated and eventually shut down. Unable to persist with it, I switched to a Fire TV Stick, which exhibited no thermal problems. That's why it's important to make some tests of the thermals of these devices. Even if users don't engage in extensive tinkering, software updates can lead to issues with the SoC temperature. Therefore, in upcoming videos, please consider evaluating the thermal performance of these devices. 😢
This is a great point to bring up! I hope the team at linus sees it and at least make it into some blog post or excel sheet in the video description. This would really help people in places like latin america where temperatures are higher and lower income families can't afford a fancy smart tv.
Você acha mesmo que esse cara iria fazer um teste decente e medir temperatura?
I also want a video that shows how to deal with the software and hardware issues.
For example many devices break and won't power on within few years.
Or when the device cannot upgrade to newer OS version, and then the apps can no longer work because of that.
Or after updating the system, your apps won't function properly. The technical issues are the worst.
@@DarkGhostHacker Not turning on is battery related, the internal battery dies, stops charging, the board won't boot
They probably don't see temperature as such a big issue in Canada like us here in Brasil.
Having a separate 3.5mm output is amazing. I use the Mi box S not only for TV with my own speakers, but also just standalone without a monitor to smart-ify my studio speakers and play spotify and stuff onto them
I love Linus basically giving the younger more impressionable viewers the " I know what you kids get up to, I'd much rather you did it here where I'm a yell away, rather than logging into some sketchy vague Chinese Android device god knows where " talk 😂🤣
A++ parenting, doesn't matter what context. Creating environment where your kids feel like they can just talk to you about anything without any judgment is a great way to maintain a solid, healthy relationship with them throughout their lives.
This from the guy who says and sells hoodies that say "adblock is pirating".
@@neo0031Adblock is definetly pirating. Whether pirating is wrong or not depengs on the situation.
@@neo0031 That takes exactly nothing from the original statement and parroting it is not the slam dunk of a statement that you think it is.
@@neo0031Linus already covered this on the video
I had my Samsung tv connected to the Internet and used a streaming app installed directly from their app library.
You can easily guess that it took only a few months for them to remove the app and made it stop working with an "update". So i agree that some of our devices should not be connected and work just fine if you don't give up control to big tech. Just remember what happened to that house that had everything connected to amazon and one false claim about racism left them in the "dark".
I'm not sure if you are talking about what happened yesterday or the day before, but they didn't "take it", they are working on a fix as we speak
genuinely wtf are you talking about
Similar thing happened on my Samsung TV. Many times when my mom would use the included apps, they would crash with "memory errors" that wouldn't resolve without unplugging the device for a bit, so we stopped using the "smart" apps and added a Roku 4K+ Ultra, which has been flawless for Discovery+ and Plex.
@@NithinJune Someone was locked out of their home because a delivery driver misheard their Ring doorbell and thought it said something racist
@@NithinJune I assume the first part of the comment is about a pirate streaming app available through the samsung app store that was removed. The 2nd part refers to a story of an amazon delivery person claiming a racist comment was made through a camera, amazon disabled all this houses smart devices even after the house provided evidence no comment was made.
I still use a Nvidia Shield for my main day to day content, it's got plenty of features and power and it's not let me down in all the years I've had it, the built in Google now and Shield controller are also a huge bonus, the controller being one of my favourite controllers of all time (my personal opinion of course)
Side load custom firmware on it and stream content for free. It's a powerful device
@@Didgeridoo42 Already on that lol
Can you watch movies/ TV shows on it like cinema hd?
@ssway28 Yep, if you can find a compatible apk file for it then you can run it. (TeaTV and FilmPlus also work great 😉)
Are there issues with side loading apps? Does it depend on which generation of shield? Are some better than others?
A common issue with android boxes is that apps and certain software doesn't work after updating certain things. Whether it's updating the OS itself, or updating the apps, it causes the apps to not work. This is a common issue I've seen. Even with official apps that are not side loaded.
You covered all the nitty-gritty details and kept the fun alive too. Appreciate you putting the time and effort into testing all these gadgets.
He did not put the time and effort, his staff does all the work - he just reads the teleprompter. But still, that was really good info.
the Onn box was my go-to Christmas gift for people last year. I bought myself one for my older TV (after trying and returning the $50 Chromecast), and loved it. Eventually, I bought ~10 more for gifts and a 2nd for myself to use on the living room TV w/ Roku built-in.
The 2nd one I bought did eventually crap out after a few months but I bought another one that has been going strong since.
I don't think it makes a great gift unless you know they don't have android on their smart TV
@@michaelxz1305 of course that’s why I asked. They all had dumb tvs or tvs with crappy built-in options.
@@michaelxz1305 not a bad point BUT as pointed out the Onn might not be harvesting as much data about you as that TV. Also it might be a responsive experience than the TV and just might have a longer update life than that TV.....
I got one for my mom before it still work flawlessly better than my xiaomi stick
@@michaelxz1305 having a spare box that turns any tv into a smart tv is a great gift regardless. Even if I stuffed it in a drawer for a year I'd still love getting one.
I made it to the sponsor ad and the winner is the Walmart Onn. Android TV. I bought this tiny black box over a year ago because of an ETA Prime video. It runs stock Android TV and is wonderful. Connectivity can be a bit spotty as it will just randomly disconnect, joke around, then reconnect. Honestly I can't really complain for $20. This item is a great way to make any screen smart for cheap. 5/5
I watched this video and then went and purchased the ONN streaming box and couldn't be more satisfied and HaPpY!! This lil box blows my fire stick 4k max away! It is sooo much faster and flawless! Thank you for your video, I would've never known anything about this lil miracle on a budget!
How does it do with normal tv
what are you using it for? i want to use it as a jellyfin client
Do unboxing video yeee
It set ads free? I'm so tired of commercials 😢.
The last time I looked at Android tvs, was about 6 years ago. Thanks for an update.
We run Roku Stick on our Samsung TV. Just couldn't do the Samsung interface and we've always loved Roku for easy of use and being able to cast to it. We also have a Fire Stick Lite for some extra content but all the other TVs in the house are Roku as well.
I bought a Roku on the first or second generation and have had several since. Maybe something's come along that's dramatically better, but I've never cared enough to look. The Roku Ultra even has an ethernet port built in.
I am a huge Roku fan! I love the audio pass though so I can put my kids to sleep and still listen to what I was watching. I am still surprised that even after several of these videos, LTT hasn't included the Roku devices as good streaming dongles.
@@MrSquirrelsagain I'm guessing that they don't run Android TV and that was a requirement for this comparison????
We have a Roku, it's really fast and responsive. But it's a god damn shame it doesn't connect to the Sony soundbar we have, which is what we exclusively use for Netflix and CZcams. So, we just have to resort to using the Mi Box S (which was honestly a mistake to buy).
i prefer roku over fire stick because the fire doesnt like a vudu
Hey commenters, I remembered Linus talked about testing a lot of HDMI cables (and other types) with The Lab. Did anything ever come of this? I'd love to check any charts comparing things so I can get the right ones :)
IIRC, there was a video showing the tester a couple years ago, but the bulk data was intended for the Labs website.
yeah that needs a followup video
Bought a Google tv 4K , for my parents for christmas. Loaded up kodi, ezra
, and paid for real deb. Works so good
I love my old 55" 1080p dumb TV. Costed $300 on black Friday in 2014, and it's still going strong! I did need to update the chromecast to the current HD, but the next thing i'll buy will probably be a monitor since my audio comes from my theatre system, and i like the control i have of non smart/connected.
Got the 4k Onn box for like $18 earlier this year and it's been great. Way better than a fire stick imo. It can be a bit sluggish but I've experienced the same with Amazons fire sticks as well.
4k on box with flauncher.
Amazing
Just had a quick look, and flauncher seems nice.
My fire sticks have been crashing and they're only a year or so old. Might have to try the onn
all firesticks except the 4k max are sluggish
@@armaghanwaqar7517 Can confirm. Have owned the regular 4K stick, the 4K Max stick, and now a current model Fire TV set, the 4K Max is substantially faster than any of the others. The TV with Fire built in is a step down. The 4K Max on another TV is better.
One thing to note with FireTV devices, anything below a 4K Max isn't guaranteed Atmos playback. Found this out when I had to upgrade from a 4K non-Max because Netflix doesn't support Atmos on it, even though Prime Video does (not sure if this has changed with newer generation devices).
But... from what you yourself has described, its a provider problem, not a hardware problem. This is more of a
_"Netflix chooses what devices to fully support all features..."_
I did my own TV Box using a Raspberry Pi4 using Google TV. It has some limitations but being free from companies while also having a working computer (with dual-boot) and the joy of DIY made it worth it
Any recommendations on guides for this? What did you use?
I thought amlogic boxes were also free on the malware, spyware, bloat and preinstalled garbage that's on many other android boxes?
Mini desktops are definitely more expensive, but logging into TV services in a browser, and pairing with a universal remote...
It just works.
It also has all the basic desktop and browsing features included.
you mean mini pc or nuc?
I bought a BeeLink microPC on Amazon just cause it was on sale. It works so much better than I expected!
using mi box s first gen since 2019-2020 and it still works perfectly fine. can run all apps and sideloading is always an option. got updated with android tv ui a few months ago and experience just got better. firestick i don't remember which one my roommates got, it was great initially but after a few weeks the lag just makes everything impossible.
For Chromecast with google tv you can even add a webcam through a usb hub and do video calling. We have a 4k and 2 hds because they are ridiculously cheap and work pretty well, just a bit slow sometimes (and i just stream right now so storage isn't as much of a concern)
@@RepentandbelieveinJesusChrist5 Why on a tech CZcams video? This isn't the time nor the place for that.
@@Princess_Auroramaybe he thinks teaching rocks to think is an insult to life or something idunno
Are you limited to just google meet or are there other video calling apps you can use with it?
@@Megatrance9000 zero idea, it's android and iirc it just works as a camera so I think so?
I’ve had the Mi box connected to my projector for a few years now and it’s been great.
I just wish Nvidia made a sequel to the SHIELD.
Android OEMs like Samsung and Google themselves really need to start making TV Boxes.
edit: considering Samsung still doesn't use Android TV instead their own Tizen OS like they used to do in their smartwatches.
Google needs to similarly partner up with Samsung to develop Android TV as well as they did with WearOS.
It's called the ShieldTV, the Shield was their mobile game device. I bought mine in 2015 and its still zipping along (unlike my previous Boxee Box and OpenHour Chameleon). And indeed it would be great if they would release a new version, maybe based on the chip they are making for the new Nintendo Switch.
mmm, i dunno. i'd like my google experience to stay as far away from samsung's garbage OS philosophy as possible.
Shield TV bro, and Galaxy watches use WearOS by Google now. They ditched tizen os a few years ago
@@alexanderlee5180He knows. He's talking about the TVs
"google needs to make a tv box".... uhhhh chromecast?
Great video. Another argument for these things is that if your TV is a few years old, it might be outdated, vulnerable and laggy.
My mom has a 5 year old sony which works fine but it's stuck on Android 9, it's very slow and a slow wi-fi. But it works well over HDMI, so with a 40$ dongle permanently connected is as good as new :)
Damn I have a 7 year old Samsung (at the time it costed $800) and I have no complaints at all. Was it a lower end model Sony tv when new?
Probably fine until Samsung stop paying licence fees to the app suppliers, then it all stops. The money gets used on the latest TVs and apps, one might think...@@santiagoqr1
WE'RE SAILING THE SEAS WITH THIS ONE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I work for a cable company. A common call is something equivalent to "no signsl" or "my tv has a bunch of stuff on the screen and i cant change channels" with the customer reffering to their home screen on the tv. One that happens once in a while is the tv was setup for their default input to be last input when the tv turns on. After a software update its now the homescreen.
If you know that someone is never going to use the smart tv features and are only watching cable dont connect their tv to the wifi. It can screw things up for them.
Another reason to use these is that most cheaper TVs reach their pricepoints by skimping on things people can't see, like the SOC they use for their "smart" features. Add-on SOC sticks like these are a good way to deal with that: Buy the TV you want based on picture quality and price, and then augment it with the SOC stick that suits your preferences.
I've been using the Onn Google TV box. It works really well for me and does 4k like my tv supports. I've had a few bugs here, and that go resolved. When I lose the remote, I can use CEC through the tv or use the Google TV app as a remote. I've used Roku for years, but this is more flexible. Cheaper than all of the rest too.
I have had every version of the Onn boxes and sticks. They're worth every penny.
Tell me you're poor without telling me you're poor
@@Gurziak🤡
@@Gurziaktell me your compensating for something without telling me your compensating for something 😂
@@rockandrollrockandrollrock6930 poors be mad and stay mad
Not sure if thumbs up help but here you go. Keep up the good work. Love the group continuing to try and work in new directions. Wish you the best
I just bought the Onn boxx for my sister and Mom's 2016 smart tv which started losing apps two years. The Onn box was a fantastic option which I would have overlooked if not for this video. They're both very happy and it feels snappy enough to me that low latency isn't an issue. Thank LTT
Great video guys. All the questions I had going in were answered throughout including using a non-googled device like Roku or Firestick. I also wonder if you are going to bring up just using the app to build into the TV what you did and personally I don't use them either. When I bring home a new smart TV I connect to the Internet to update to its latest version, Then promptly reset all the network settings and that's the way it stays for the rest of its days.
The Nvidia Shield Pro has been such a good investment now for all these years. Easily the cleanest experience.
Words cannot express how much I love mine (with HDO for Android TV ;)
@@ipetloudog Same here. I also have an Onn box attached to another TV and for $20 I have no complaints.
@@ipetloudogthat's sad since HDO is extremely compressed.
yup, being able to mount network shares on the Shield TV is awesome and wish more Google TV boxes would allow this
I'm a big fan of Roku Ultra 4K (the box - not the dongle) which provides Dolby Vision, 1GB Ethernet, a Plex viewing client, and USB to watch MKVs on a thumb drive. My version is 2022; I think the newest model includes Atmos. Oh, and the remote is a joy to use
That is what I have and it works great and it hardly ever crashes. I have a 3rd Gen Fire TV cube for my bedroom TV and Amazon is forcing more and more ads every time they upgrade the firmware. I just bought another Roku Ultra and I am going to remove the Fire TV Cube from my Amazon account and give it to a neighbor.
Why is it the only stream box that comes with Ethernet nowadays is also one that doesn't run Android? I just wanna plug an AndroidTV directly to my router man
OrangePI One used to be 12.5€ + shipping (3€) and that running a custom Kodi OS (can't recall the name now) is surprisingly fast considering the 512Mb RAM and 0 issues with video decoding thanks to proper GPU support on the thing, haven't tried android on it though with 512Mb RAM that is not a good idea... I'd say the OrangePI 4 or 5 (at a much higher cost but still within the price range on this video) would kick the butt of any of these. And yes CEC support is present :P (even on the One)
I wish the shield TV lineup was in this comparison but I totally understand they're in a completely different product bracket
They are slow as shit. I just tossed my 2019 pro because it's horrible now. Apple tv 4k is WAY faster
@@huskers1278 Congrats on your downgrade.
@@huskers1278 nonsense, apple doesn't have ai upscaler, doesn't support Dolby Vision, Atmos, DTS and additional metadata when combined with Plex
@@huskers1278 They can still be perfectly fast if you replace the stock crap launcher with a third party one and follow a "debloat" guide which uses ADB to disable or remove a lot of the telemetry and bloatware stock apps
@@huskers1278 You can always install lineage on the Shield to improve its performance and get rid of homescreen ads
I have a samsung series 6 TV that has slightly outdated software and is missing a lot of features and streaming apps. Instead of buying a new TV I bought a streaming box and it’s honestly like a new TV. Highly recommend!
One reason I like having a box is for travel. Many hotels don't have streaming devices, so I can use mine. Also, even if they have one I like that I don't have to log in. I can just use my already logged in one. It's a lot more convenient.
Damn. Went out and bought an ONN box for my old 24" 768p tv. Too good a deal to pass up.
May she never die.
I've been using xiaomi stick for a while and I can say it's pretty good. It's the cheapest in my country for some reason and the back button relocation didn't bother me at all since it's my first android tv. What I especially like about it is that I can plug it into my TV's usb port for power and it works flawlessly. What I do dislike is the storage, only 4 gigs.
Im not letting xiaomi near my internet ever again. Their constantly ping to the chinese government server
one thing I don't like about Mi Stick is the remote control. Why the heck it's frequently disconnected and to why it's so it's so hard to connect back?!
@@xhogan89x So does google microsoft etc. though maybe not as frequently. I don't do or have anything there that I necessarily want to keep private sooo ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
And it's the only alternative that actually has chromecast.
@@pixelman2626although i had 4 mi box s (not the stick version), i never encountered connection issues with the remote. I only had some issues with the wifi connection on some of my boxes that disconnects and would only connect again after a restart.
Btw for anyone wanting to use ethernet with your mi box or stick devices....don't bother
If buying isn't owning, piracy isn't stealing.
😂😂im stealing this comment
Okay linus earned back a sub from me with this video. I havent watched many roundups content lately because i have left the desktop pc chat for two years now but glad i popped in to check out these
Shield Pro user here. Bought the 2019 edition before the pandemic and the best thing about is the set it amd forget it nature. I have media on different drives so being able to connect external storage was a bonus. App performance and picture quality have been great, can't recall any significant problems. I think its still good to last a few more years which is great but i dont think Nvidia plans on coming out with a new upgrade given their focus on the big AI money out there.
I'd expect a ShieldTV 2 to be honest. NVIDIA is working with Nintendo on a next generation Tegra chip complete with AI features. I feel like NVIDIA wouldn't pass up the opportunity to utilize that chip in more than just the Switch 2.
@@nihren2406 I doubt we will see a shield two. Nvidias business model was pc game streaming and console style Android gaming, which both flopped. Typical TV boxes combat piracy by being neutered and low powered. Having a tiny onboard memory and an external file limit of 4 gigs for example. The Shield is just too powerful to live and too cool to die.
I'm surprised there's no Roku device, technically on par with Chromecast and FireTV but of course most dominant in the Canadian market.
I'm very happy with Roku 4K+ Ultra boxes for streaming Discovery+ and Plex.
@@jshklsn where's evidence on that? (Reddit doesn't count).
The internal Roku media player is crap.
Chromecast with Google TV 4K is one of the very few devices on the market that fully supports Dolby Vision profile 7 (aka disc DV). Even Shield TVs can't handle enhancement layers.
The OG Nvidia Shield TV from 2015 is the best value piece of tech I've ever bought, seemed expensive in 2015 but as it's still supported I've never had to upgrade, friends have gone for cheaper options and have had countless different boxes
The best shield is the newest one
The one's built into the TV last about a year before they crawl and it makes you want to throw your remote at the TV. I gave up on them a long time ago and use the Fire TV 4K max devices. Fast and just works
I will cling to my Nvidia Shield pro for now. If only they would just release an upgrade finally they have a new Tegra chip now. They just need to add AV1 and HDR10+ and bring everything else forward and it would be perfect.
I originally had a 2015 and 2017 Shield TV for my living room and bed room TV. I was able to get two 2019 Shield TV off ebay for about $250 and was able to sell my old shield tvs for about $220. Not a bad upgrade for $30 for the new remotes and AI upscaler. Only thing that the shield doesn't do is HDR on youtube. But I'm not complaining as I also got the 3rd gen apple tv 4k as well.
Yeah, it doesn't but how many HDR CZcams videos are actually worth watching these days?
The HDR and Dolby Vision works when it really matters for the semi 4k apps and natively installed movies.
As a Xiaomi TV user. I found that back button in the center is way more intuitive and convenient.
You will rarely exit the app like CZcams, Netflix, so home button use way more less. Pressing something in the center is very easy. I can do it without looking at the remote or without knowing which direction of the remote is now. It’s bluetooth, any direction works.
What I find is a good cheap option is the Chromecast with Google TV which is about 30 to 40 bucks depending on if you get it on sale, and it's even powerful enough to use Steam in home streaming.
I've found most of the onn stuff to be very nice for is price. I use 2 of their 160hz gaming monitors and think they look great IMO. Especiallyfor $99 each
I have the TiVo and I love it! The remote is awesome (input button is a godsend) and it has indeed been very responsive. It is also frequently on sale. Sad to see that it probably won't have a follow up.
Just bought one for 24.99 on amazon. I think it may be a great deal for me at that price, lmao
@@TarterSauce I got it for that or 30 about a year ago. Definitely an excellent value upgrade compared to the ancient fire stick I used to have. Hope you enjoy it!
@@TarterSauce You would have been better off getting the Fire Stick 4k which is on sale for the same price right now. I was about to get the ONN one until I saw that. Having support for all Dolby audio and vision, as well at other worthwhile things, was the deciding factor. It's listed for $29.99, but there's a coupon code on the page for $5 off.
@@MAKExEVIL if you want a buggy OS and frequent power cycling, get the Fire TV Stick 4K. I returned mine and bought a Roku Ultra. Absolutely no issues with it.
used to enjoy Chromecast using my phone as tv remote, my wife had more problems using it, so we switched to a fire-stick. Great Video , lot of options out there.
Shield Pro is my endgame streaming box, got 2 of them, experience is pretty much perfect, plays everything, supports everything i care about.
I just keep alerts for Nvidia Shields on local used markets and pick them up when cheap.
Every TV in my house and many friends' houses are now running what still is the best all around TV box.
I don't understand why Roku and Nvidia Shield aren't talked about here? I know it's a budget video, but shouldn't we get a comparison to see if budget is the right movie, or we should shell out the big bucks?
The video is specifically about Android boxes. Roku uses their own OS, and the Shield hasn't been in production for years.
Roku has a real problem with app support. Most major streaming services support it, but Roku is very restrictive in how the apps can access the hardware, which keeps many developers away, and limits the features available.
Those limitations along with a very simple interface make it a great option for less tech savvy family members with limited requirements. It's been my go-to for retirees, as long as the streaming services they use are supported. I especially like the TVs with Roku built in, as you can label inputs "DVD player" etc, and they just get listed alongside the apps in the same interface.
Pretty sure Linus already has videos regarding Nvidia Shield 😊
Got one of the ONN devices on sale for $5 over a year ago, honestly was one of the best android tv sticks I've ever had.
Make sure the net is fast enough and you can use it for Moonlight/Sunshine streaming. I have a dummy hdmi plug on my PC so have a spare screen, whatever I dump on that goes to my projector.
I have a Fire TV 4k that is connected to a cheapo travel router with no net access, so no ads. It does one thing and does it well. I can also add a hub and content directly if I want.
I'll root and flash it when that ability becomes available.
Don't forget that not everyone has a SmartTV. Personally, I find it MUCH more feasible to go buy the ONN for $20 and plug it into my 36 inch TV that I've had for 12 years and still works great, than go and buy a new 36 inch TV for 10 times the price!
If that TV only does 1080p, there's an Onn streaming stick for $15. No 4k, but, if you don't need it on the TV, there's no reason to pay extra for it.
Still think the Shield Tv devices are so worth it. The Ai upscaling is really good.
I've enjoyed mine overall, but it's still a buggy slow mess most of the time.
@@bazookatooth that sucks. I have lucked out and mine has worked almost flawlessly. I only have to reboot it like once every week maybe?
@@X133rx Rip at that point just have a RTX mini PC with the video upscaler enabled.
@@0Synergy I see your point. I just wanted something that did the thing out of the box. I have heard getting full features out of Netflix can be a pain on windows. A mini pc is however a much better value for sure.
I got tired of streaming devices and just bought a mini pc with a ryzen 5560u.
I've been hooking up an old laptop to the tv, and use a wireless mouse&keyboard to control it. Much more flexible!
Still running the 2nd gen Chromecast (I think?) and still runs completely fine! Works great for easily streaming media from supported services, for all other things I use the PC running Ubuntu that's right by the TV. Can be clunky fo sho, but works fine for my purposes.
with more and more companies making android/linux based handhelds for gaming, I wonder if we might start to see more streaming boxes pop up from the same brands. Like imagine essentially a steam/lenovo streamer than can run desktop games at 720/1080p! Most of em already have a remote based navigation ui and support or have built in streaming apps for video services too.
They intentionally make these boxes super low powered and neutered to combat piracy. They want to stay in the sweet spot where they are only really useful for Netflix. The Shield was a fluke, and the whole industry learned from it
@@b1llygo4t the people making the boxes outside of Amazon have no reason to care about piracy. People can easily do that with Plex anyway or a simple USB 😂
I have been using Roku since the original Netflix streaming box 15+ years ago. I haven't had to upgrade the Roku often, and they are also low-cost. I did pick up one of the ONN Walmart boxes to see if it was any good for $15, and it does work well; I just didn't need to keep it attached to anything. I always tell people not to use the built-in trash, and for a little bit, you can have a good streaming box that gets updates, unlike your TV.
I have the micool km6 classic. It performs great and also it is Google certified. It has all the ports that anyone need. But there are a lot more options available right now.
And also if anyone wants the best performance with all the ports, and also with higher storage but doesn't want to spend that much, go for the A95XF4 4,128 GB. Keep in mind that this is not Google certified but this one offers the best specs possible in the lowest price.
I gotta share something with you guys. The our Sony 49X700D TV has bad sensors and they've only gotten worse since 2016. I bought a Yamaha Yas 101 to improve the home experience with Air Surround Extreme and minimal built in bass. I discovered how to train your TV remote to use the soundbar to a basic degree by RTFM ;) so I won't have to use the included remote for anything past bass, Clear Voice, or UniVolume. Turns out setting this up DECREASED LATENCY BIG TIME! Soundbars with IR repeaters RULE! While's it's not instantaneous, it makes the TV feel like 2016 new again.
Would have been nice to see the Nvidia Shield included as well in these benchmarks for comparison
I would have absolutely destroyed everything else.
But the Shield is 150€.
LTT wanted to stay within a budget of $100.
More stuff oriented for pirates please!
I'm loving my Roke Express 4k+. It accesses all my pay services, i cast to it, it integrates with my Google Home Mini smart home stuff, and the included voice remote and remote app for Android are killer. It does Dolby vision, HDR10+, etc, It's frequently on sale for $29 or even $24 USD, which is the retail price of tge renote alone, so its basically free if you buy the remote. It has hundreds of streaming live tv channels. I think it's a steal. My old chromecast, firestick, Android TV boxes etc have just sat there useless since i switched to the Roku.
Great video! I do like to keep up1111 with this stuff. Ill probably buy that onn. unit to play around with it. Thanks for what you do, you are appreciated! Have a great day!
I have one Xiami TV Box S 2nd gen. I paid around $60 with shipping.
Totally worth the price, and the remote is bluetooth. Which is a big plus compared to those cheaper devices that still have IR controller.
I have two of the onn boxes. They work just fine, as expected. The Bluetooth audio works nicely. Dolby digital gives me 7.1 content no problem.
I don't have any 4k displays, but all the 1080p stuff has worked flawlessly. The only issue i have is with freezing, sometimes it just goes to a black screen and is non responsive. I have to unplug the power for a minute and plug it back in. And that happens every 3 or so weeks.
Mine are well over 2 years old, so might be time to replace, but i have no other problems!
Thats the only issue I have with android TV is that if you TV is set to go-to sleep instead of turning off it will start to freeze
The final straw for me was when I got a full volume TurboTax ad in my bedroom. Screw you Amazon.
Been running Chromecast and Chromecast 4k for years. Very happy with it. But I'm not doing much beyond streaming at the moment.
My parents bought a Vizio Smart TV over 10 years ago. It still works flawlessly but all the built in apps stopped working years ago. They just use a Chromecast now.
Love the two ONN boxes I have (in addition to older Roku Ultra). They just work. Still need to do the work of reprogramming the specific buttons though... :)
I appreciate this video which came in handy at the right time, I previously did have a fire stick when they first came out (which died and the replacement ended up dying) which Amazon refunded me the money. Looking at the benchmark it seems that the fire stick 4k is the winner, the only issue that I do have with these streaming sticks or boxes is the limited and somewhat cramped storage. Sideloading a few APKs and with any updates that get done, pretty much would fill it's internal storage. I do agree with some of the choices on the which one should you buy section, the Chromecast (kinda useless without a device to cast from), the Fire stick for it's performance but the ONN box is actually not bad, I set one up for a parent and sideloaded some apps to it and it rocks pretty well (but again, internal storage is cramped)
The Chromecast he recommended is not a Chromecast stick, it's Chromecast with Google TV, you don't need to cast anything I'd even say that's not it's primary function as I bought it for my parents on Black Friday and haven't casted anything. It has a Google TV interface similar to the other streaming sticks. That's why it comes with a remote so you can use it like an android TV box. I agree cramped storage is crazy. Memory is so cheap these days but even if they want to keep the devices cheap they should make external storage easier to work with and not require dedicated external storage you can't access remotely or use in Fat 32 (yuck).
tbf the storage can be expanded with a $5 otg cable and a flash drive. The fire sticks support formating the drives to act as internal storage too. Speeds won't be amazing but it's better than nothing. I've even seen some wacky setups with terabytes of hard drives attached to fire sticks lol
@@alphacompton Thank you, that actually makes more sense on why it's on the list! That's one thing that I don't understand, why these low powered devices can't have more than 8gb of storage, more than half (close enough) is taken up by the OS and not much is left lol... I had a Sony Google TV back in the day (now it's used as a Spare), had about 4gb of free space out of the box lol
@@SenorJC Would it be fast enough to run apps off of, that's really the issue and can apps by sideloaded on to expanded storage, I don't know if it's like android where you can expand the storage so it seems like it's internal storage
@@harryisawesome0420yes to all assuming the firestick is running fireOS 7+. Any USB 3.0 drive should be fast enough to run apps off of, 2.0 is when things can get slow.
Edit: apps can be moved to external drives on devices running fireOS 6 but it has to be done manually with ADB commands. I would look up some tutorials depending on what kind of setup you have.
Also, gaming systems like Xbox and PlayStation also provide the same functionality and a lot more extra features. Would be awesome to get your review on that functionality on both systems
also for 150 bucks you could get mini pc, where you could install anything you want...
TRUTH 🙏🏻@@RepentandbelieveinJesusChrist5
What nothing about the Global Polar Shift?! #Nonprofit 🧐@@RepentandbelieveinJesusChrist5
@@s.i.m.c.a for over a decade, using a mini pc was my go to answer but as my main TV and main PC both have excellent HDR screens now, my opinion has changed. Computers do not output reliable HDR for movies and do not support Dolby Vision. MadsVR plugin translates Dolby Vision but does not output dynamic HDR metadata based on my research. For everything else a PC is better like you don't even need to use another machine to download and transfer your legally obtained Blu-ray rips from.
The consoles are good for casual streaming but keep in mind, no console outputs Dolby Vision HDR. The Xbox series can only play Dolby Vision on a few games but not for streaming or Bluray playback. I haven't checked since last generation but I don't know compatible external media on a flash drive is.
last year i purchased an amazon tv that had the streaming stuff built in just so i wouldnt have to turn on my xbox just to stream netflix or something. been quite happy with it for the price i paid for it. and not to mention the decent audio setup you can have with it with just a couple of compatible amazon alexa's and their subwoofer. its not as great as a decent audio setup if you have one of those but it beats the built in speakers by a landslide.
Thank you so much for making this video LinusTechTips !!! I just got a S90C OLED and Dolby Atmos system and want to play Plex with Dolby Atmos passthru but everyone said you need a Nvidia Shield PRO. I appreciate the info on all these devices!!!
That's a super valid argument against using TVs' built-in software at the end. One of those articles happened to me--my Fire TV now defaults one level above, autoplaying ads instead of defaulting to the strip with inputs, settings, and customizable/commonly used apps. Still, I would love to see a roundup of TVs with built-in apps and features. I realize that's all TVs nowadays, but specifically I'd like to see products like Fire TVs, Roku TVs, and any other series that are advertised as set-top box replacements. Even if it's a video saying "hey we know they're compelling but stop getting these TVs" and going more in depth on the final topic of this video while pointing out some of the silver linings, I would like to see it.
From what I've seen, the only way to get a not smart tv easily is to buy a big computer monitor. They cost easily $100 plus over the smart tvs. Smart tvs are cheap cause they make back that lost money with the ad stuff built in.
Generally, the processors in the TVs are lacking compared to some stand alone boxes. There are the ads and the concerns of planned obsolescence as well, but I I won't connect my TV to the internet for the potential security issues alone. I'd be interested to see a similar video with more expensive options like the Roku 4K, Shield Pro, Apple TV, Dune, etc...
I am intersted in what kind of processor a Roku TV has vs an external roku box.
if you go more expensive... mini pc or nuc or bust
For me, The best choice was The realme stick. 4k HDR+ and Google tv vanilla.
Btw, it's possible to put the Google tv home screen on the xiaomi by sideload
Speed it up by going into developer and change settings from 1 to .5 on all 3 of the options about 3/4 of the way down list options.
I don't feel guilty about adblocking because ads can't be trusted to not be malicious, they're a known malware delivery vector. I'm not going to walk through a crackhouse just to make sure you get an extra nickel for my viewership. I don't block or complain about video sponsors because they also pay you and don't give me viruses, and even occasionally have products that are relevant to my interests, while being way less intrusive to boot.
Exactly! That "circumventing ads is piracy" take is terrible.
i am getting literal scam ads on youtube tv now, scared my mother will fall for something like that. reminds me all about facebook and instagram scam ads again that are not even legal but i still get them.
@@justinthatguy fr💀
@@cj.wijtmans fr💀
I liked my Onn box. The main downfall is it doesn't have a warranty. After 2 months I had weird audio issues even after multiple factory resets and they wouldn't do anything. But for $20 I just bought another one and it's been working fine for over a year.
Audio not playing on starting a program? I have the same issue. Takes multiple restarts
lol living a country with no mandatory warranty laws
@@parthenocarpySA For me the audio would start cutting out every 5 or 6 seconds for like a half a second until I restarted and it would be good for awhile.
@@ms3862 Yeah, it's lame. But it's $20. It would probably cost half the cost of the product to ship it out lol. Better than paying $60+ for a Mi box with the exact same specs.
the mi box is amazing i have the mi box 4 and the 3.5 port helps alot with connecting a speaker reciver
I have H90Max. 4GB Ram, 64GB Rom for my children from last 4y.
Working flawlessly up till this date.
I'm surprised Roku didn't get a mention here. I get the target of the video was legitimate Android TV Boxes, but in this category the Roku streaming devices are very good and very competitive. I get that they are locked down and a number of privateer options don't work on it, but for casting, watching and using with standard content, Roku is really good and much better than many built in TV crap.
Roku has been my #1 go-to for yeeears; it had a Plex app, which for me is all I need for personal videos, and the adverts are really unintrusive (and with a little effort, can be disabled)
I just bought a TV with Roku (replacing a broken TV that had an AppleTV) and decided to try it for a while. It has won us over. Apple TV is probably the highest quality option out there, but every time there is a big software update you have to log back into every streaming service (none of which use your Apple Account) has been pissing me off for more than a year. Roku does not do this, and the jellyfin app plays music something the AppleTV version does not.
Roku sucks. Its for old people.
Steam link? Emulators? Nah dawg we aint lookin at netflix
No they are not and you cannot unlock them.
*_Roku has entered the chat_*
The final notes on TV really hit the mark on me. I'm experiencing a really slow interface in my TCL TV, and this video got me thinking if rooting an android TV is something people actually do like with smartphones, or is everything to sketchy to go after.
Definitely not worth the chance of breaking your TV compared to the expense of picking up one of these devices.
FireTV 4K Max + SmartTube = Life 💙
remember guys piracy is morally correct
My favourite fact is that the old anti piracy "you wouldn't steal a movie" add used a pirated song in it
I'd be keen to see a similar test of windows based mini pcs - I use one with steam streaming and it's a surprisingly nice user experience.
We bought the onn last year when we were staying with my grandma for a week to stream occulus gameplay, and we used it for netflix, hulu, etc, after we were done. For the price i was suprisingly satusfied with the interface and features.
Walmart also has a 1080p version for $15 as well
I'm really concerned about the performance of moonlight, Steam link, or other game streaming services. As well as how convenient connecting peripherals can be.
My CC4KwGTv runs moonlight well, with higher latency than my tab S8 ultra, but connecting peripherals has been poor.
Raspberry Pi with LibreELEC/Kodi, Kodi remote app on old phone/tablet, PLEX for now but probably migrating to JellyFin or just Kodi soon.
(I also have a small wireless keyboard with trackpad I got a long time ago)
Any issue I've ever had with it, usually connectivity related, has been solved with a reboot, or the last resort of reimaging the sd card.
LibreELEC is the best TV experience I have ever had by a country mile, including traditional TV providers and current options like Chromecast and the like. I personally use Jellyfin as the server for my 'Linux ISOs'.
You should really try USB boot from cheap SSD
@@V-ns7iy why? the pi is just sitting behind the tv as a front end. my media is on the plex server/nas
do i get steam link app that way?
For what it is worth, I have been using TiVo for a couple of years and am completely satisfied with it. The design of the controller is is better than Chromecast"s - if for no other reason it is less likely to slip out of one's hand.
Well, I do not have much choice here. We only have the Chromecast and the Fire Tv Stick here, everything else I would need to import. So it is great to know those to are good to use.