Best 16GB box for under $100: 4K, native Netflix, Kodi compatible, Google Play

by jd613a

EDIT #2 on 12/14: I jumped in with both feet and grabbed up a Pro when it went on sale yesterday! I hope I have a great experience, especially since I just wiped out a year’s worth of passive app earnings in a single purchase 🤑

EDIT TO ADD: since the Shield (8 GB) is on sale today for $129, might it be good enough, instead of Shield Pro which I cannot find on sale? Or does it have the same storage issues as other 8gb boxes?
I guess I should have mentioned I need 1 USB port for my keyboard’s dongle, and it doesn’t seem the Shield has one, so I might have to get a new keyboard too :(
~~~~~
I’ve gone through too many boxes over the past 7-ish years looking forward a good one; the only one still working well was sold to my friend years ago. 
I’m raising my budget to around $100, and I hope there is still a BF deal out there (or Cyber Monday coming tomorrow) for a box with at least:
•16 GB storage (8 GB keeps filling up)
•4K output
•Netflix, native in at least HD (if not 4K)
•Kodi-compatible 
•Google Play compatible (I’m done with side-loading apps where the next update is always incompatible)

Calierio

Shield is the only correct answer to this question. Save up more.

BarfingMonkey

just get the shield pro and stop settling

Se7enLC

It's super annoying how even the bargain-basement options can meet all of those requirements except the storage, and it seems like the ONLY option for something with more storage is the Shield Pro for WAY more money.

Going from 8GB to 16GB is such a tiny amount of cost at manufacture but nobody seems willing to produce it. They all just keep copying the reference design.

To answer your question, the device you're asking for does not exist.

AlternateMrPapaya

Mecool makes some very good boxes, many for under $100. Some do have HD Netflix.

ext23

Mecool KM2 with an SD card for storage. Will be less than $100 all together, and meets your requirements easily.

reddit_reaper

Save money and get the shield pro. The performance of the entire os and all apps is superior to everything else. There's literally no other answer that should even cross your mind. Have always hated the replies saying "shield is overkill" it's really not. When i want everything to work smoothly, have constant up updates for forever pretty much, and rarely if ever lag, shield is the only answer

Chopp_Suey

I'd find a used shield on Marketplace or Craigslist. Or just wait and save up for a new one. It lasts ages.

pedaltractorracer

Shield pro.

Done.

House_of_Gucci

Chromecast with Google TV + a usb hub/sd card reader + usb stick/sd card.

bgrated

Come on. Amazon stick 4k

lukacz

I bought fire tv cube for £60 on BF. The only missing bit is Google play but I don't find it to be such a big problem. Most apps are still available on Amazon app store.

The box is very snappy. I only wish it had Google assistant instead of Alexa.

rotrap

I got the chromecast w/google tv and kept hitting the storage limit. I then added a cheap usb hub and a 240gb small form factor ssd drive that all together was less than a hundred for everything and it has been working fine now. I first tried with a usb drive but the performance was terrible.

spuddy-mcporkchop

Minix box had mine 7 odd years still fine, 4k 2g ram l use kodi daily as well as stand alone iptv app youtube

ditto3000

Cube is $80 right now.