So first of all I have browsed a bit the posts and I need your advice on following:
which brand has most consistent and quality updates (I would like to avoid surprises like bricking, getting bugy updates, etc.)
what is better choice Android TV set or Android box?
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Nvidia Shield is probably the most expensive but it's worth every penny, amazing devices and even the 2015 model still gets updates.
Experience with 7 Chinese TV Boxes and been using the Nvidia Shield 2019 pro also.
The experience of those chinese TV Boxes when paired with an air mouse is nearly on par with an android Tv Box imo.... What is best is that you can add ALL the apps listed in the playstore unlike the Android TV version which needs to be sideloaded but do not work well with the nvidia remote so you end up needing an air mouse or app (many legit TV steaming apps I use do not have an Android TV version)
Chinese boxes never get updated so buy one with the latest OS and ride it until 4-5 years and get a new one. (I've never had an experience breaking bug in any of those devices though) and oh Netflix is limited to 576p....
On Chinese boxes, adguard works and actually blocks ads.
The Nvidia gets updated and bugs fixed frequently. The stand out feature(s) of the Nvidia is the AI upscaling, the blazing fast box.
Both options are great. Pick any depending on budget and needs but use an air mouse if you use a chinese box.
It also depends on what you want or expect from the box? Is it for watching movies/series/iptv? Or gaming? Etc.
An android box is a much cheaper and better choice most of the time. If your TV is still good, then you don't need to buy a new one.
Xaiomi are kind of known for their unstable updates, so I would avoid their products.
It's too early to tell how the Chromecast with Google TV will fare with updates but it's very powerful (stable in my experience) and great for the price.
The TiVo stream 4K seems really good too if you're in the US.
Hand down though, the NVidia shield products are the best although they're incredibly expensive.
There are plenty of other devices (I'm sure someone else will post a list), but not all of them have Netflix/Prime DRM compatibility
Nvidia shield
Shield 2019 hands down (the pro, not the tube).
Just got a Sony Bravia with Android, and I have to say it's worlds better than the shitty Android box I trialed a couple years ago.
So much easier to use, app store is there, sideloading is still an option. Kodi, if that's your thing, is still an option. Everything with the android box was a pain in my ass and I ended up returning it.
I suspect the Chromecast with GoogleTV will be your best bet. It's a fantastic device, plenty fast, and feature-rich (compared to Roku/Fire Stick/Apple TV). As to updates, it is probably safe to assume that Google will support it at least for a few years since it appears to be a serious challenger to Roku, Amazon, and Apple, whereas the older Chromecast lacked a UI and remained fairly niche. I own/use all of the big streaming devices (along with a variety of non-mainstream ones as well) and the Chromecast with GoogleTV is currently my favorite. The only thing about it that frustrates me is that although it has 8gb, only ~4gb is usable and that can get used really quickly if you install some games. The good thing is, you can add external storage if you get an OTG dongle.
If you want a box you may consider this list:
Certified AndroidTV/GoogleTV boxes for the US only:
- AirTV Mini (More info at airtv.net/products )
- AT&T TV (More info at att.com/tv/device-features )
- Tivo Stream 4K (More info at www.tivo.com/products/stream-4k )
- T-Mobile TVision HUB (More info at t-mobile.com/tvision/services/hub )
- Verizon Stream TV (More info at verizon.com/products/verizon-stream-tv-gen-2 )
Certified AndroidTV/GoogleTV boxes for the US, OR Europe OR the rest of the world:
- Chromecast with Google TV (more info at tv.google )
- Dynalink TV Box (More info at dynalink.life )
- Formuler GTV (Prime Video only. Gigabit ethernet. More info at formuler.tv/gtv )
- JBL Link Bar (It doesn't have a USB port. More info at jbl.com/refurbished-home-speakers/JBL+LINK+BAR-.html )
- Mecool KM6 Classic Edition (Prime Video only. 10/100 ethernet. AV1 hardware decoding. 2GB of RAM. More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 15% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)
- Mecool KM6 Deluxe Edition (Prime Video only. Gigabit ethernet. WiFi 6. AV1 hardware decoding. 4GB of RAM. More info at mecoolonline.com where you can get a 15% off with the code "mecoolbox" at checkout)
- Minix Neo T5 (No Netflix/Prime Video. Gigabit ethernet. Remote control doesn't have a microphone. More info at minix.com.hk/products/neo-t5 )
- Nokia Streaming Box 8000 (Only for Europe. More info at nokia.com/shop/streaming-devices/nokia-streaming-box-8000
- Nvidia Shield TV (The most expensive but powerful. More info at shield.nvidia.com )
- Xiaomi Mi TV Stick (up to 1080p only. More info at mi.com/global/mi-tv-stick )
For more info about all certified Android TV devices, head over to www.androidtv-guide.com website.