Android Kodi boxes - Any good?

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

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Seen a load for the £50 mark, just wondered if they are actually any good?

Purpose will be serving audio files and video files across network.

Thanks.
 
Yes they are, pick a model and do some research. If it is any good their will be forums/reddit and everything else to tell you what they are like.

Personally, I would go with a Fire TV or the Fire Stick if you don't want to spend the extra.

A much better made piece of hardware and you get all of the extra services e.g 4od and so forth as well as just Kodi. Even better if you subscribe to Amazon Prime because all this will be accessible also.
 
The Fire TV stick seems low spec when compared to some of the newer Android Kodi boxes with more RAM, Quad core CPU etc?

All I want is to be able to share media files to another TV using folder sharing in Windows.
 
I went for the Nvidia Shield TV box, it's fantastic...Kodi is as quick as it is on the PC (sorry these are £150, but worth it in my opinion)
 
Fire TV box will do all you want with the added benefit of Amazon Prime and all the UK catch up apps.Its just went back up in price but is regularly reduced too £65.
I would avoid the Fire Stick they heat up a lot and slow down.
 
silverblack said:
Fire TV box will do all you want with the added benefit of Amazon Prime and all the UK catch up apps.Its just went back up in price but is regularly reduced too £65.
I would avoid the Fire Stick they heat up a lot and slow down.
Click to expand...

Does it need Kodi to access file shares?
 
Ive just got the Minix neo u1 i did have the T8 from Droidsticks the selling point for me was the Fake Wi Fi minix put on there Firmware update which thinks there is a Wi Fi connection even though you are using ethernet fair few apps from the playstore are aimed at phones so need wi fi enabled for data charges
 
I use Fire TV box. It's a dream for Kodi. Can't see the point in higher specs? Streams 1080 and UHD just fine
 
Is Android necessary ? or would a nowtv box sideloaded with plex be fine ? and put the ~£25 sky subsidy vs fire stick, in your pocket.
Have older white box; for newer box :
plex fine, just 1080p (no hevx/x265/4k), nowtv itself is a good/fast service, catchup good, iplayer fixed, no netflix.

If audio files meant radio streaming too, from url - afaik even for android cannot specify an arbitrary radio url (when this is available will swap myself to android)
 
use my old sony xperia z1 phone stuck on the back on my tv loaded with kodi use google voice recognition to launch it and shut it down and have a kodi remote on my current phone. linked to the tv via usb mhl to hdmi connector gets power from the tv usb slot wifi ready decent cpu and 2gb ram expandable storage. runs kodi flawlessly and its quick.

all from a phone that was sat in my draw doing nothing :D
 
if you want future proofing and 4K does the Amazon Fire Box or other Androids give netflix 4K/UHD access (I could not answer this from fire tv thread or amazon reviews)
- since if I needed 4K content netflix seems to have best technology and catalogue (with its impressive USA market penetration)
 
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I have a nas with a amazon fire tv box and its flawless,works very very well and has never let me down.

Snappy little thing and would highly recommend it.
 
If you don't like someone, suggest they get an android box. Crap hardware design, crap remote, crap performance, crap drivers, crap support. If you don't really hate them that much tell them to get a Firestick as they're under spec'd for the job.

For the rest of the world FTV4K or Shield depending on which offering best fits what they do (Prime customers buy FTV4K, gamers who may make use of the streaming features and have a compatible system are steered towards a Shield. For the rest of us it's a NUC + Flirc.

If you just want local stuff then all of the above would do it, but you really want to consider this an area where spending just a little bit more on an FTV4k is worth it.
 
... or Roku 3 or 4 (when they finally fix/release it in UK) the 3 with netflix/amazon @1080p + nowtv, with plex, usb media, a/c wireless or wired - wait for Black Friday ?
 
Avalon said:
If you don't like someone, suggest they get an android box. Crap hardware design, crap remote, crap performance, crap drivers, crap support. If you don't really hate them that much tell them to get a Firestick as they're under spec'd for the job.

For the rest of the world FTV4K or Shield depending on which offering best fits what they do (Prime customers buy FTV4K, gamers who may make use of the streaming features and have a compatible system are steered towards a Shield. For the rest of us it's a NUC + Flirc.

If you just want local stuff then all of the above would do it, but you really want to consider this an area where spending just a little bit more on an FTV4k is worth it.
Click to expand...

I bought someone a 'crap' android tv box from a well known auction site and for the price I was more than impressed. 2GB ram and a S905X quad core CPU which supports H.265 codec and 4k as well as google play store etc. Plus if your TV supports CEC then you can just use your TV remote with it instead of the one you get with it.

The FTV4K is better over all yes but for those on a budget they are worth considering, especially over a firestick.
 
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