The best Android boxes enable anyone to cut the cord and access streaming apps from their TV. An Android box turns any TV into a smart TV in a few steps, and I absolutely love them. You can watch Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Fubo TV, and numerous streaming apps.
Choosing the best Android box can be daunting, as you’ll find many boxes with different features. However, I took the plunge so that you don’t have to. I've tested many Android boxes and curated the 10 best ones based on features, ease of use, performance, budget, and other factors like the inclusion of the best streaming services built-in.
I tested everything from high-end, sleek Android boxes to mid-range and budget versions. Some boxes are powerful enough to double as a mini PC, while some have little processing power suitable for only streaming. Read on to learn about the 10 best Android boxes and their respective features.
Best Android box overall
✅ You need a high-performing Android box
✅ You want to use your Android box for gaming
❌ You’re on a budget
This was one of the last boxes I tested, and I was wowed enough to make it number one. The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is in the “best of the best” category. No other box I tested had this box's sophisticated hardware and software capabilities. Its processors are powerful enough to function as your mini PC.
This box supports AI upscaling and 4K resolution, a crucial feature because I prefer streaming movies in the highest possible resolution. The high-resolution audio made me feel like I was right inside the movie (hint: you might get too excited if you stream Top Gun: Maverick with this device).
The only drawback of this box is its high price, roughly $200. The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is worth the money if you prefer high-end, immersive video and audio resolution. However, there are many affordable alternatives to this box, albeit with less advanced features.
Read our full Nvidia Shield TV Pro review.
Best Android box on a budget
✅ You want a simple and affordable Android box
❌ You want to use your box for gaming
I like the Onn Android TV Box because it perfectly balances cost and functionality. It doesn’t do much outside basic streaming, but I didn’t expect many advanced features from a $30 device.
The Onn Box supports 4K streaming on various apps, from Netflix to YouTube and HBO Max. Its Chromecast support made it easy to cast movies from my smartphone to my TV. I appreciate the voice remote control feature, which saved me considerable time I would have spent typing the names of my favorite movies.
Onn is as easy as it gets. You can buy it, plug it into your TV's HDMI port, set it up with your Google account, and you're good to go. Download your favorite streaming apps from the Play Store, and you can watch endless content with this box.
Best Android TV box for hands-free control
✅ You want an Android box with great video and audio quality
✅ You like hands-free voice control
❌ You want a very affordable box
Amazon’s latest Fire TV Cube packs more advanced features. I enjoyed its improved speed and audio and its hands-free voice control. Its 4K picture quality and high-quality sound provide an immersive experience.
The new Cube has an HDMI input, which enabled me to integrate it directly with my home theater setup. I then controlled both the Cube and the home theater via voice commands.
In my experience, these improved features provide a better streaming experience than previous Cube devices, which lacked HDMI cables and effective voice recongition for languages. However, I still find myself grumbling about the $140 price tag.
Best Android box for Google Assistant
✅ You need a simple Android box with great value for money
❌ You want an Android box for gaming
This box stands out because of its simplicity. It was the easiest box for me to set up, both hardware-wise and software-wise. Its miniature, sleek design makes it easy to fit anywhere near your TV.
As the name suggests, the Homatics Box R 4K supports 4K video resolution and high-quality Dolby Atmos sound. It supports the Google Assistant, which enabled me to control it via voice commands on my smartphone.
This box is compatible with the most popular streaming platforms, such as YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, so I had no issues accessing my favorite content. At $90, it’s not a budget option, but it's not pricey. It’s an ideal mid-range Android box that’s worth its cost.
Best mid-range Android box
✅ You need an Android box with a powerful processor
✅ You want an affordable device
❌ You need a sleek-looking Android box
The Mecool KM9 Pro is an affordable yet high-performing Android TV box. Admittedly, I used it more to play Android games than stream movies, but it fulfils both functions well.
This box’s high-performing processor enables fast streaming speeds and can comfortably run high-end Android games. It’s integrated with Google Assistant, making voice search and navigation a breeze. Upgrades can be downloaded automatically to give you the latest features.
I liked the straightforward setup process and intuitive interface of this box. Plug it into your TV, connect to a Wi-Fi or Ethernet network, follow the on-screen prompts, and you’re ready. At $60, it’s an ideal Android box for budget-conscious users.
Best Android box for 8K
✅ You like watching videos in 8K resolution
✅ You want to use your Android box for cloud gaming
❌ You want a budget-friendly device
Khadas Edge packs sizable performance into a small box. With its high-end, 8-core 64-bit CPU, this box does much more than movie streaming.
I liked its support for 8K resolution, although most streaming apps don’t offer movies in 8K; I stuck to YouTube to enjoy this feature. YouTube and Vimeo are the only mainstream options that support 8K streaming, but that’ll likely change soon.
This box has a 16 GB RAM and a graphical processing unit (GPU). I put it to work running high-end Android games, and it performed excellently. Khadas Edge2 is more of a mini PC than a mere Android box. It’s an expensive choice though.
Read our full Khadas Edge2 review.
Best Android box for performance on a budget
✅ You want an affordable and powerful Android box
✅ You want a sleek device
❌ You want an Android box with a large storage space
I’ve tested many Xiaomi devices and observed that they offer high value at affordable prices. I was pleased to discover that the TV Box S is no different. This Android box offers similar performance to high-end boxes but at a more reasonable price.
With 2 GB RAM and 8 GB ROM, this box handles streaming and games excellently. It supports 4K resolution and Dolby Vision audio. I like its sleek look as much as its intuitive interface.
The drawback is that this box lacks a built-in Ethernet port. You’ll need a USB-to-Ethernet adapter to connect to a LAN, which adds extra costs.
Best Android box for storage space
✅ You need an Android box with a sizable storage space
✅ You enjoy controlling an Android box with your smartphone
❌ You want to play high-end Android games
Google is the company behind the Android ecosystem, so it isn’t surprising that it has a custom Android box. This box has a sleek, minimalist look like no other. I almost liked it more for its form than function, but it excels at both.
Like most high-end Android boxes, this one supports 4K resolution and high-definition Dolby Vision audio. It has 32 GB of storage space, enough to install many streaming apps and watch my favorite shows during testing. I also played games, although I observed some lag, probably because of my external controller.
This box is integrated with Google Assistant, enabling hands-free control. It’s one of the most capable Android boxes available.
Best Android box for beginners
✅ You want an affordable and simple Android box
❌ You want a large storage space and powerful processor
Ematic offers a simple yet powerful Android TV box. This basic box granted me access to popular streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu.
This Android box supports 4K resolution and Dolby Vision audio. However, I found the 8 GB storage space limiting. I couldn’t store many games, although movie streaming wasn’t a problem.
This box is basic and affordable, making it suitable for beginners. It doesn’t offer high-end features but is ideal for streaming high-quality movies daily.
Best Android box for SD cards
✅ You want an Android box with an SD card slot
❌ You want a very affordable option
I loved that I stumbled upon the RockTek G2. It’s not a popular Android box, but it offers great value for money.
This streaming box supports 4K streaming and Dolby Vision audio and has built-in Chromecast to project content from your smartphone to your TV. This box also has powerful processors, which I leveraged to play games online.
A unique feature of the RockTek G2 is its SD card slot. I had an old SD card lying around and was able to stream content from it. This box provides access to dozens of streaming apps with your favorite content, but at $150, it’s a pricey option.
Best Android box: Frequently asked questions
What is an Android box?
An Android box is a portable device that connects to your TV via an HDMI port. It runs the Android operating system on your TV, converting any bland TV into a smart one.
With Android running on your TV, you can download popular video streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube and stream content endlessly on your TV. You can also run Android games, although performance varies depending on your box’s processors. Likewise, you can surf the web from your TV or play media files from an external USB, hard drive, or SD card.
An Android box works via a straightforward process: you’ll connect it to your TV with a HDMI cable, then connect the box to the internet. During the initial setup, you need to sign in with an existing Google account or create a new one. This Google account lets you download streaming apps or games from the Play Store.
With your account set up, you can download your favorite streaming apps, sign in, and watch movies. You can also download games from the Play Store and run them on your device. Some Android boxes have powerful processors that run sophisticated games without hassle.
How to choose the best Android box for you
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When choosing an Android box, consider your budget and use cases. If you want a simple box capable of streaming movies, you can choose budget-friendly options like Ematic and Onn. If you want a box capable of playing or streaming games, you should target high-end options like the Nvidia Shield TV Pro and Khadas Edge2.
The good news is that you can find suitable Android boxes at every budget level. Options range from as low as $30 to as high as $200, so you can choose which one best suits your needs.
How we tested the best Android box
To test the best Android boxes we set each one up with a standard HDTV and Windows 10 desktop PC, to explore how it could be used to better facilitate TV and game streaming. We looked at issues such as ease of set up, features available, and what options might be useful for expanding the general experience. The aim was to push each Android box platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.
Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
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