Looking for an compact Android tv box with storage

by MakerManNoIdea

Hi everyone. I'm fleshing out my camp setup with some entertainment. Recently picked up a compact 12v projector and discovered, unfortunately, that I cannot screenshare downloaded netflix shows from my phone (Galaxy s10 5g) to the projector.

I have tried a HDMI dongle (netflix throws error after about 5 secs), chromecast + smart view (throws same error), Samsung DEX (via HDMI dongle) only plays audio no video, chromecast + 3rd party casting app.

I am looking to pick up a dedicated Android box that I can download netflix shows and hook up to the projector when I have no internet.

Looking for something that ticks as many of these boxes as possible:

  • Netflix + download functionality

  • on-board storage or expandable (sd, micro-sd etc). Only need a couple movies, few tv episodes each time I go out (for now) but looking to download a larger library as my trips get longer.

  • as compact as possible

  • wifi

  • HDMI out

  • preferably 12v or USB powered, but can deal with 240v using my inverter

  • prefer with a remote control or media keyboard

I have never ventured down this path before, and anything I have found does not really contain the information about the ability to download shows and movies to local storage.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

clarkss12

Almost any of the "cheap Chinese" boxes MAY do what you want. You CAN download Netflix videos, but in DVD quality only.....

None of the Netflix certified devices can download videos.

sfw_browsing

If you want to tinker then you could probably get a rPi4 to do it. It checks all of those boxes and about as compact as you can get. Looks like you can put android tv on it.

Note: I didn't go in depth on if you can download via netflix so you might want to double check that part. But it seems like you can install the app so I don't know why you couldn't.

lostcrawler

LG phones to have a desktop mode similar to dex and don't give netflix issue when attaches to montior

Or go for a used windows pc stick ( perhaps used version) that should give you a lot of flexibility

Business-is-Boomin

Chromebook won't do all this for ya?

richh00

That would be the shield Pro then.

Or you could go with the tube but storage is limited to mico sd so not ideal.

Se7enLC

It doesn't meet your criteria for multiple reasons, but I can tell you that the Chromecast with GoogleTV does not seem to support Netflix downloads.

With a USB-C hub it does work with a media keyboard/mouse and comes with a remote. You can read from external drives, but you cannot write to them unless you format them as internal storage.

Crue650

Formuler alpha… get it while you can

route-dist

Not sure how much the projector costs, but it might be cheaper to get a new projector that supports hdmi properly than to get android box #2c

ECKoBASE

Mi Box S

Significant_War_1556

You can use IPTV service that will be good for you

jucca_vtr

X96 Max 3 plus and hook up SSD in USB 3.0 2.5" case. It have that combo, and it works like a charm

Kodi_Fan_Omicron

No, no, no.... Real Campers don't need Netflix.