Best Android TV Boxes in the UK Compared for 2022 | Buyer’s Guide

These devices run the Android TV operating system and are used to watch network TV shows, on-demand videos, or video sites. Android TV devices come in various designs and with different capabilities. Depending on the model, it can be a dongle designed to be plugged into your TV set or a set-top box. Generally, they have extra features, such as Google Assistant, Bluetooth connection, and additional ports allowing you to plug in a keyboard, a gaming controller, a mouse, and other peripherals.

Which Android TV box is best? An Android TV box provides greater flexibility, customization, and integration with Google services and apps. When compared to a Smart TV, Android TV offers more features, has a simple interface, and is an open platform, meaning that companies can create apps that can run on this system. Both Smart TV and Android TV can be connected to the Internet via a LAN cable or Wifi as well as gaming consoles like Xbox. Both run apps and online streaming services. The major difference is in the OS they use and the key advantage of Android TV is access to Google Playstore. The only downside of this option is that it may be a little bit slower than Smart TV.

Best Android Boxes Compared

If you are looking for a high-performance TV box, go for the NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV Pro. It is up to 25% faster as compared to models of the previous generation thanks to its advanced NVIDIA Tegra X1+ processor. The device features a 16GB storage capacity and a 4K HDR streaming media player.

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Dolby Atmos technology delivers surround sound, moving audio around you, while Dolby Vision gives you a superior picture with striking brightness, ultra-vivid color, and lifelike detail. The TV box includes the remote control with motion-activated buttons, voice search, and lost remote locator. You can control the device hands-free by means of built-in Google Assistant.

The Shield TV Pro model offers versatile connectivity with dual-band AC Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0., and Gigabit Ethernet. With this device, you can access YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, and thousands of other apps and games. On top of that, the TV box has a stylish and functional design with two USB 3.0 ports. With dimensions of around 2.6 x 16 x 10 cm, it takes up little space while the remote fits perfectly in the hand.

Best Android Box for Gaming

If you need something even more compact, opt for the Nvidia Shield Android Tv 4K HDR Streaming Media Player. This model has a unique tube shape and measures as little as 16.5 x 4 x 4 cm. Like the Shield TV Pro model, it features the Tegra X1+ processor, an Ethernet port, along Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and AI upscaling technologies. However, the Nvidia Shield TV is £50 cheaper, meaning it has fewer features. To begin with, it offers only 8GB of storage and has no USB ports for external storage, only a microSD card slot. So if you need to add extra memory for something like Plex, choose the Pro version. Nor can the Shield connect to any third-party peripherals. Moreover, the Pro version has 3Gb RAM as compared to 2Gb of RAM in the Shield.

For gaming, the Shield Pro version would certainly be better as it offers NVIDIA's full suite of gaming services and features. The standard Shield TV box is great for streaming videos but is not good enough to stream games. It is less powerful and can have problems with running some Android games that require 3Gb of RAM.

And finally, the Shield TV Pro offers more smart-home options and can host a media server. It has the ability to act as a hub for Samsung SmartThings, meaning it can be used as a command center for light bulbs, smart outlets, security cameras, and many other devices. While being fully compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, the standard Shield TV model cannot be a smart-home hub by itself as it requires a smartphone or other device for running a hub.

For those on a budget, I’d suggest buying the Mi TV Box S 4K Ultra HD for under £100. As compared to the Nvidia Shield, the Mi TV Box supports fewer video and audio formats and does not have Dolby Vision. As for networking, the Mi TV Box has no Ethernet and uses Bluetooth 4.1, whereas the Nvidia Shield is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 technology.

Anyway, it is an excellent choice for the money as the device features high-speed 4K processing and the latest 4K HDR technology. Like the Nvidia Shield, it offers 2Gb of RAM and 8Gb of storage but lacks a microSD. With all this in mind, it is safe to say that the Shield TV box has the edge over the Mi Box. Additionally, we have tested both models and found out that the Shield TV is smoother and faster, although it has the same 2GB of RAM.

Best-Selling Android TV Boxes in the UK | Comparison Table