Watching your favorite shows or movies on the small screen of your mobile phones can be really frustrating at times. While there are many ways to stream those to your TV screen, using an Android TV box is one of the best.
Android TV box is nothing but a normal TV set up box which runs on an Android operating system just like your smartphones. It enables you to run most of your android apps on your TV. They come in different shapes and sizes, features, capabilities, etc.
Common features of an Android TV Box
Even though different Android TV boxes have different features, some common features that you may encounter include:
- Built-in Chromecast – You can easily use the Chrome browser on your TV with the help of this feature.
- Google Assistant – It gives you the advantage of voice search making your daily life convenient.
- Bluetooth – This feature enables you to connect with different types of devices like speakers, keyboards, phones, etc.
Why should you purchase an Android TV Box?
Android TV box enables you to customize your Google apps and services. It gives you flexibility and integration. You can actually ‘Netflix & chill’ with the help of an Android TV Box.
Starting from watching your favorite shows or movies to playing your best games, an Android TV box covers it all. A change from your phone to TV not only enhances your watching experience but also relaxes your eyes.
Almost all Android TV boxes are equipped with Google Assistant which makes your daily life easier. Pausing, playing, adjusting volume, etc. can be done just with the help of your voice. You can enjoy almost all the features offered by your mobile phone on your TV.
If you are looking for the best android TV boxes at a reasonable price, you are absolutely at the right place.
Here we have gathered a list of the 10 best android TV boxes which you can buy in India (2023)
Airtel Xstream Box
Airtel Xstream Box is a DTH television box manufactured by Airtel that turns any ordinary television into a Smart TV. It allows you to watch online shows or movies via various OTT (over-the-top) apps such as Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, Netflix, Zee5, etc. on the big screen of your television.
It provides you the features of voice search with the help of Google Assistant, Bluetooth connectivity, and allows you to use your smartphone as a remote with the help of a built-in Chromecast.
It weighs approximately 22 kilograms with 50 x 50 x 50 cm dimensions. It offers 5000 plus apps, 4K picture quality, and Dolby sound. The best part is that it is compatible with all devices. It runs on the Android 9.0 Pie-based Android TV Operating System.
However, it also has some drawbacks like it does not support video calling and you also need a separate internet connection with good speed if you want it to run smoothly on your TV.
It is available with 7 days HD Sports Pack, 10 days replacement, and a 1-month warranty on Amazon. If you are looking for the best android TV boxes under 5000, Airtel Xstream Box is one of the best options.
Tata Sky Binge+
Tata Sky Binge+ is a setup box that allows its users to watch Live TV and OTT contents from apps like Eros Now, Zee5, Voot Select, etc. both with the help of a single device.
You do not even need to switch between different HDMI ports. You can access past content too up to 7 days. It has a built-in Chromecast to enable voice search.
The best part about having Tata Sky Binge+ is that you get customer support 24*7 in about 13 languages along with a 1-year annual service commitment.
You also get a year warranty, easy relocation services, and multiple recharging options to make your daily life convenient. It is a perfect blend of a traditional setup box and a streaming device.
Amongst the many benefits, it has some setbacks too. It does not allow a user to use it just as a streaming device. You must have an active connection for regular channels to enjoy the streaming service. Another drawback is that it does not support Netflix.
You also get a free 6 months subscription to many OTT apps including Hotstar Premium, Voot Select, Zee5 Premium, etc. and 3 months subscription to Amazon Prime Video. All in all, given its price, Tata Sky Binge+ is a good choice.
Mi Box 4K
Mi Box 4K Ultra HD streaming player is equipped with the latest technologies such as Android 9.0, 4K HDR 10, and 2.0 GHz Quad-core 64-bit processor to provide you with the best and realistic experience. It also provides you with Google Assistant Voice Search, built-in Chromecast, and Ultra HD content.
All you need to do is follow three steps to stream your favourite content – attach your Mi box to your TV with the help of HDMI cable provided in the box, connect your internet, and stream your content.
It has a user-friendly interface that enables you to discover more content by scrolling through recommendations. It is compatible with all devices – smartphones, tablets, and even laptops.
You can call or text and stream content on your TV at the same time without any interruption. It also supports high-speed streaming and HD video playback.
It gives you an option of Data Saver which enables you to stream movies directly on your TV instead of phone and watch 3 times more without losing much data.
Some other features include Cortex-A53 Quad-core CPU, Mali 450 GPU, 2GB DDR3 RAM, and 8 GB eMMC. However, you should also consider the drawbacks it brings with it – Dolby vision audio is not available, remote quality is not up to the mark, uses an older Bluetooth version.
NVIDIA Shield TV
NVIDIA Shield TV covers all the qualities that are needed to make it the ultimate streaming media player for a modern home.
It is 25 percent faster because of its new Tegra X1+ processor. It allows its users to enjoy a cinematic experience with the help of 4K HDR entertainment, built-in Google assistant, and thousands of apps & games. It has impeccable sound quality – Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Digital Plus.
It is compatible with all – Alexa, Google Home, and Amazon Echo and supports almost all the connector types such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet. It weighs approximately 385 g; its memory storage capacity is 8 GB and requires 2 AAA batteries. Its dimensions are 16.51 x 3.99 x 3.99 cm.
Remote is one of its main highlights having motion-activated backlit buttons, voice & Bluetooth control, IR blaster, customizable button, and even a built-in remote locator. You can also access AAA gaming but for that, you need to purchase a game controller separately.
Some of its drawbacks include its awkward tube design, fine-tuning required by its setup, its unpolished operating system, and its high price.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Amazon Fire TV Stick is one of the best selling streaming media players having the new second-generation Alexa Voice Remote. It is easy to set up as it comes with your Amazon account pre-registered which enables you to enjoy your favourite titles just by plugging it into your HDTV.
Given its price, Amazon Fire TV Stick offers a good number of features like Dolby Audio, picture quality up to 1080p, quad-core ARM 1.3 GHz processor, 8 GB internal memory, Bluetooth 4.1 + LE, and Alexa Voice Support.
It weighs approximately 32 g and 2 AAA batteries are also included in its box. You can get started by taking three simple steps – Plug in your Fire TV Stick, plug the charger into a socket, connect to Wi-Fi, and you are good to go.
However, one of its major drawbacks is that it is not compatible with all the devices. Some other disadvantages include too many advertisements and no distinct streaming features.
Mi Box S
Mi Box S is powered by Android TV offering a high-performance storage capacity with a powerful Quad-core CPU and 3+2-core GPU. Its fast and stable service allows the user to enjoy a high-quality video experience.
It is available with the latest Android version 9.0 and high clarity 4K HDR. It also supports 4K Ultra HD resolution and has built-in Chromecast. Having a built-in Google Assistant, it makes your life easier by allowing you to search just with the help of your voice.
It weighs approximately 0.45 g with the dimensions – 10 x 10 x 2 cm and requires 2 AAA batteries which are included in the box. It gives you 8 GB DDR3 RAM, 2 GB digital storage capacity, and 8 GB hard drive size.
The best part is that it supports 1080 p Full HD resolution to give you a realistic watching experience. It has a standing screen display size of 43 inches.
However, it is criticized for some drawbacks such as laggy 4K streaming, small memory size, etc. Also, it does not let you cast if the box is off.
But, given its price, it is one of the most efficient boxes available. It is easily available online on Amazon with 10 days replacement option and a 1-year warranty.
VIBOTON MXQ Pro 4K
If you are looking for an Android TV Box for normal use, you can easily opt for VIBOTON MXQ Pro 4K. However, it is not suitable for heavy usage because of its hanging issue.
Getting into the details, it comes with 2 GB RAM, 16 GB ROM, and 64 Bit Quad-core processor. It supports almost all video formats including 1080 p, AVC, AVI, AVS, etc.
The maximum resolution supported is 2K*4K. It weighs approximately 300 g and you can connect it with the help of Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet, and HDMI.
However, it has a long list of drawbacks which include:
- It does not support Bluetooth.
- It does not support Jio TV or Netflix.
- It is not meant for heavy usage, hangs a lot.
- The length of the HDMI cable provided is short.
- It does not catch the Wi-Fi signal beyond 3 meters.
It comes with an HDMI cable, power adapter, remote control, and a user manual. It is best if you purchase it only for normal use. It won’t be a good option for heavy usage or if you wish to watch Netflix.
Rampotox H96 Max
If you are looking for Android TV Boxes under 5000, Rampotox H96 Max is probably one of the best options because of its great memory. It gives you 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and 32 GB of EMMC memory.
It works on the latest Android 10 Operating System giving you a rich experience. Its perfect stability, productivity, and performance offer an improved user experience.
Getting into the technical details, it is powered by the CPU RK3318 64 Bit Quad-core A53 and Penta-Core Mami-450 Up to 750 Mhz+ GPU. It supports all connector types – Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, etc.
Its weight is approximately 322 g with the dimensions – 21 x 16 x 6 cm and does not require any battery. It supports all OTT like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It supports both 2.4G and 5.0G Wi-Fi.
Having the latest updates, there is no significant drawback. However, you should avoid this box for a 75 inch 4K TV. All in all, it is a complete package at a reasonable price. You can easily purchase it from Amazon with 10 days replacement option and a 1-year warranty.
Conclusion:
Small screens of your mobile phone not only make you frustrated but also exert great pressure on your eyes. Having an Android TV Box brings a solution to all these problems.
It enables you to make complete utilization of your Television’s big screen. It is always better to upgrade yourself in this continuously growing digital world. We are sure that the above list would prove helpful while making a decision. However, the final decision depends on your needs, choice, and preferences.
